Teaching, hula hoops and childhood faith

Today: Psalm 70-73

Today is Mother's Day. And of all things, today I tried to teach my mother how to hula hoop. She works with elementary-aged kids who dared her--on the playground--to learn how. I hadn't hula hooped in about 20 years, but I picked up the hoop she brought home and found that surprisingly, I could still swing with the best of them! :) As I was instructing my mom, "You have to move your hips like this and keep your feet planted like that...", I thought about some of the many things she taught me (so far, anyway!).

My mom taught me how to sing. She taught me (and dozens of other kids!) how to read and how to write. She gave me life--but she also introduced me to some of the best things in my life. Perhaps most importantly, she and my Dad taught me about God.

Today my pastor prayed a prayer of salvation with people who invited God to lead their lives. He asked the congregation, "How many of you remember this moment in your own life?" I do. For me, that moment did not happen at a church altar in front of thousands of people. It happened on my front porch. It happened when I was a preschooler who said something like, "Mommy--I want to ask Jesus to live in my heart." That day, Mom led me in the most important prayer of my life.

I thought about that day and lessons from my parents when I saw David's words to God here:

You keep me going when times are tough—

my bedrock, God, since my childhood.

I've hung on you from the day of my birth,

the day you took me from the cradle;

I'll never run out of praise...

You got me when I was an unformed youth, God,

and taught me everything I know.

Now I'm telling the world your wonders;

I'll keep at it until I'm old and gray.

I realize that everyone reading this post may not identify with it or with my life story. And that's okay. The main point of this post (and this excerpt from the passage) is to confidently express the fact that God is Someone you can lean on--whether you start at 4 or 104!

Maybe no one told you that when you were a child. My Mom and Dad didn't know God until they were in their 20s...they were learning about Him as they were teaching me and my sisters. They taught us to trust in God and they also taught us to never stop learning. I am forever grateful. Free hula hoop lessons could never make up for that...but I'll keep teaching them anyway. :)

Tomorrow: Psalm 74-77

Names on my parents' fridge...and Jesus' heart

Today: John 16-18

I will finally admit this, at least to the world of Facebook and anyone reading this blog: My parents are cool...for at least a few reasons. Today is their 33rd wedding anniversary (Yay--that's one!). Another reason (and perhaps part of why they've stayed together that long!) is because they believe in the power of prayer.

How do I know this? Well, there are lots of reasons, actually. But one way I know it's true is because of the names on their refrigerator--my parents pray for people they don't actually know.

Yes, they prayed for me and my sisters before we were ever born. They've prayed for my husband (probably about that same length of time!)--one of the most amazing guys on this planet!--who still remains a bit of a mystery to all of us. And I'm sure they've prayed for their grandkids already (yeah, there aren't any of those yet either). None of those names are on the fridge list, though.

The names on their fridge rotate periodically--when they hear about an extended family member who is addicted to drugs, for example. Or when a friend-of-a-friend is in a car accident. Or when someone they met in the church parking lot is struggling with MS. My parents don't actually know a lot of the people listed on their fridge. But these are the names and situations they think about each time they get a cup of water, reach for some blueberries or grab the milk.

Do you know that someone prayed for you before you were born?

Maybe it wasn't your mom, dad or grandma. But guess what? Jesus did...in the passage we read today.

Take a look (the parentheses are mine...hopefully that's kind of obvious) :)

I'm praying not only for them (the disciples)

But also for those who will believe in me (umm...this could include you!)

Because of them and their witness about me.

The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—

Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,

So they might be one heart and mind with us.

Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.

The same glory you gave me, I gave them,

So they'll be as unified and together as we are—

I in them and you in me.

Then they'll be mature in this oneness,

and give the godless world evidence

That you've sent me and loved them

In the same way you've loved me.

There you go...Jesus prayed that you would be "one heart and mind" with Him and with other people who believe in Him, too. Even more amazing? He said that the same glory God gave Him was given to us. Holy cow! He prayed that love and unity would bind us together--and that love and unity would show people that God is real. Your name may not have been on Jesus' fridge, but it was always on His heart...and it's on mine, too...at this very second.

Tomorrow: John 19-21