Day 8: A Little Girl Praying

Today we didn't take the usual opportunity to "look for" or "listen for" God. I had intended to but then God appeared to me in a most unexpected way.

As I walked down to the swing set, I noticed my daughter was not behind me. Instead, she was sitting on the steps leading out of our back door.

"What are you doing?" I asked. I could see that she was whispering but couldn't tell what she was saying.

"Praying, Mama," Kate said.

"Oh," I said. I didn't know what to say really. But my heart was bubbling with pride.

"What were you praying for?" I asked.

"For Easter eggs and Gram Gram and Papa and Mops and Pops," she said. (Those are her grandparents.)

Then, she stood up and ran to the swing set: "Let's swing!

The heart-melting moment was over. But in that brief minute, I saw God in the innocence of my child.

Where have you seen God today?

Day 7: Another Butterfly

"Isn't it beautiful, Mama? Can we catch it?" Kate asked.

"Uhhh...I don't think we can catch it, honey. It's too fast," I said.

"Where's it goin'? To its home?" Kate queried.

"I don't know. Maybe," I said as we watched the beautiful orange, black and white butterfly from a distance.

"We have to be quiet, Mama," Kate told me. Could she tell I was new at this?

"Why do you think God made this butterfly, Kate?" I asked.

"I dunno," she shrugged.

"So we could experience its beauty and wonder, maybe? So we could know that God is a God of beauty and creativity who loves us and wants us to experience beauty, too?"

"Yeah!" Kate eagerly agreed.

"Kate, did you know you are more beautiful than this butterfly?" I asked. "You and Cora are much more beautiful. God shows me His love of beauty in you and Cora every day."

Do you see the beauty of God in your children? He made them for you to love and enjoy and to show you that He is a God of beauty.

Day 6: Daylilies

[Note: This is yesterday's post. I apologize for the tardiness.]

Kate, Cora, and I sat outside on the front porch. I suggested no talking for one whole minute so that we could listen and look for God. The eight-month-old, of course, was excluded. For about 50 seconds, Kate sat quietly, without moving.

But by then she'd had enough and announced, "Let's not be quiet anymore."

So, I asked her, "Did you see God or hear Him talking to you?"

"Yes, Mama," Kate said, "He's right there!"

"Where?" I asked, wondering what she was pointing at.

"Right there!" she insisted, getting up and walking over to the edge of the steps.

"In the flowers?" I asked.

"Yes, Mama. In those beautiful green flowers," she announced matter of factly.

These are the green flowers she was pointing to. She was actually pointing at the stems and leaves, but the flower was too beautiful not to photograph.

After a brief discussion of the beauty of flowers and why God might have made this particular kind, my energetic toddler began running in circles all over the yard. That is the attention span of a two-year-old.










Where have you experienced God today?

Day 5: A Bird Singing in the Midst of a Storm

It was 5:30 a.m. Thunder rumbled outside, shaking the house. The baby was crying, and the rain poured down so hard, I could almost see the weeds growing in our garden. The power had gone off, and Daniel was getting ready for work in the dark. I said a little prayer as he showered, fearful of the lightening. I couldn't sleep. Thunderstorms always terrify me, especially living in Middle Tennessee, where tornadoes pop up in a moment's notice.

But then I heard a beautiful sound rising up amidst the booming thunder and pounding rain. It was a bird, and it was singing in the tree right outside my bedroom window. Not a frantic cry for help but a sweet melodious song shut out the clamorous noise outside and filled my entire being with peace.

It was God.

I knew it as soon as I heard the "chirrup chirrup chirrup." He was speaking to me through the music of His creation, calming me, easing my fears, and assuring me that everything was going to be all right.

And it was.

Shortly thereafter, the baby stopped crying, and we both drifted off to sleep.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sometimes God appears when we least expect it to show us that He is there with us even when we are scared and feel all alone.

Sometimes God doesn't just want us to look for Him; He wants us to listen for Him.

Thank You, God, for speaking to me through that little bird today. Thank You for taking away my anxiety and filling me with peace.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear?" Psalm 27:1

Day 4: White Butterflies

My daughter returned from her grandparents this afternoon, so while baby sister napped, we resumed our search for God in the backyard. Kate saw this beautiful white butterfly fly by us while we sat on the iron rocker out back, talking about God.

She jumped up to chase the butterfly, but it fluttered quickly away.

We walked around the house talking, listening, and looking. Kate kept asking me, "Where is God?" And we talked about how God is everywhere: in His creation, in the dirt of the ground, even in us. Kate was intrigued by this idea of God being inside her. She didn't quite grasp that idea, but then again, neither do I.

Then it happened. That pretty white butterfly took a chance and flew right past us, alighting on my lavender bush.

"Mommy, mommy, look! The beautiful butterfly! It's God!" My two-year-old daughter said.

And she was right.

Where did you and your children see God today?

Are you taking the 30 Day "Come & See God" Challenge? Share with us what you are discovering and learning about our Creator and Sustainer.

Day 3: Spiders, Oh My!

Are you participating with me in "The 30 Day 'Come & See God' Challenge"?

I hope so! We are slowing down, opening our eyes, and looking closely at our Maker's world.

My daughter has gone for a visit with her grandparents for the weekend, but I have decided to continue the challenge for the next few days without her. Mamas need to "see" God, too. :)

Here's what I saw while walking in my garden this morning:

Yes, I was reaching down to pick some lettuce and nearly picked this little guy. Wowza!

Now if my daughter had seen this spider, she would have said, "That's di-sgus-ting!"

And my brother would have probably screamed like a girl and high-tailed it back to the house. Or stepped on it. He's a stalwart arachnophobe.

But I just stared in awe.

Spiders don't frighten me, albeit they are creepy with their eight spindly legs and multiple eyes. And the fact that they liquidize and grind up their prey before eating it is pretty horrific. Still, a spider's ability to produce silk and construct intricate webs to catch its prey reveals true artistry and skill that can only attest to God's perfect design.

God made spiders to achieve a specific purpose, too. For the farmer or gardener, the spider is an ally in eradicating those pesky bugs that eat and destroy our plants.

We can certainly see God's creativity and forethought at work in the spider despite the spider's frightful appearance. Spiders are pretty amazing creatures, aren't they?

Where have you seen God today? Will you share? You can send a link from your blog or just post a comment below.

And if you haven't already, would you consider following Growing in His Glory or subscribing via email? We would love to have you!

Day 2: Raindrops on Hydrangeas

As the rain poured down, Kate and I went out and sat on our porch swing to watch. The leaves on the hydrangeas filled with water. I thought, "This is the perfect place to see God."

Here's our conversation:

Me: "Kate, do you know who made the rain and where it comes from?"
Kate: "I dunno."
Me: "God. God made the rain. Why do you think He made the rain?"
Kate: "Why?"
Me: "To water the earth. To give the plants a drink. You know how you get thirsty and need a drink of water? Well, flowers and trees and plants like those in the garden need water too or they will dry up and die. God takes care of His creation. He knows what everything needs and provides for it because He loves what He made. "
Kate: [Running and jumping up and down...She is only 2.] "Can we go swing?"

At this point the rain had stopped, so I acquiesced.

We raced to the swing set to get some swingin' in before another storm broke loose. It wasn't two minutes before the rain started falling again. Still, Kate got her swinging in even though she was drenched by the time we made it back into the house.



There's just something about a rainstorm that draws you closer to God. You feel His presence coming down with each drop, giving life, providing nourishment, and slaking your thirst.

Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to us in the rain. Thank You for cooling off the hot earth, for watering the plants, for giving sustenance to all Your creation. Thank You for knowing our needs and always meeting them in Your way and in Your time. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Where have you seen God today?

Day 1: Finding God in Zinnias

Yesterday, I issued my 30 Day Challenge to "Come & See God."

I really want to be intentional in looking for God in the day-to-day and to show my daughter what we can learn about our Maker by examining the works of His hands.

This morning while the baby napped we played on the swings and ran to the garden where we saw...

ZINNIAS!

Here is our conversation:

Me: "Kate, look at these flowers!"
Kate: "They're bew-ti-ful, Mommy! Can I smell them?"
Me: "I don't think they smell, but, yes, you can smell them. What colors do you see?"
Kate: "Red and orange and pink."
Me: "Do you know who made these flowers?"
Kate: "Daddy."
Me: [Laugh] "No..."
Kate: "Mommy!"
Me: "No, God. God made the flowers. He created them; I just planted the seeds. But God made the flowers grow."
Kate: "Can we pick some?"

Now there was absolutely nothing deep about our discussion. Short and sweet. We stopped, looked, smelled, and talked briefly about God and His creation. It's a start!

Now my daughter knows that God, not Mommy or Daddy, made the zinnias.

Thank you, God, for the beauty of your creation.

How have you and your children seen God today?

The 30 Day "Come & See God" Challenge: Teaching Our Children about God through His Creation

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--His eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

-Romans 1:20

My two-year-old daughter has recently started wanting her own money. I think she understands that it holds value and, well, it's shiny and pretty to hold and count. She's also become a little stingy with her pennies. No, she doesn't want to buy anything with them; she just wants to put them in her wallet and know they're there.

"Mine's. Kate's money," she shouts as I attempt to pick up the coins she has dropped on the floor, right in the path of baby sister.

"No, Kate, that money belongs to God. It is God's money, not yours. Everything we have--our money, this house, your toys, my clothes--comes from God and belongs to God. He is the source of all our possessions," I very calmly try to tell her.

After our discussion my daughter begins announcing that she has "God's money" and that her coins "belong to God." A little too proudly, I patted myself on the back and went on my way. I felt pretty good about our first money lesson and my child's receptive response.

But as I have been thinking about that day and as I've read and reread Sally Clarkson's chapters on "The Gift of Inspiration" in The Ministry of Motherhood, I have felt a little ashamed. My daughter knows her colors, shapes, numbers and can even identify all the letters of the alphabet. She knows many Bible stories, who Jesus is, and understands, in a childlike way, that God is everywhere. She knows that God created the world in six days and that on the seventh day He took a nap.

Yet, when have I ever said, "Come! Look! See that beautiful flower? God made that! God is amazing, isn't He?"

It's a shame, I know. As adults, we have become so desensitized to everything; there is nothing new under the sun, as Solomon said. We're so busy rushing from one activity to another that we never take the time to slow down and look at a beautiful flower. I mean really examine it and see God in its design. Instead, we yawn and rush back to our TV programs. "It's just a flower," we say.

Let's be honest: I'm guilty.

But for our children, the wonders of nature are new and exciting. They are also the perfect opportunities to share who God is and what He has done.

So, beginning today, I am starting a personal challenge. Why? Because I want my children to know God and to see Him in His creation and because I want to slow down and really see Him again.

Your challenge, if you choose to accept it:

For the next 30 days, look for God in creation and show your children. Talk about what you find: Take time to talk to them about what you see and find out what they see. Talk about God: His power, His love of beauty, His creativity, His sense of humor, His eye for color, symmetry, and design. Talk to God: Thank Him for His creation and praise Him for His awesomeness.

This challenge means having eyes like a child and being able to see the extraordinary in the ordinary.

It means taking time to look closely and to truly marvel at the works of God's hands.

It means finding God in places you would never have expected.

I will be posting a new picture of what we find each day for the next 30 days, and I invite you to link up and post yours, too.

Will you take the 30 Day "Come & See God" challenge with me? I hope you will!

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

Psalm 19:1

This post is linked to Women in the Word Wednesdays at www.goodmorninggirls.org.