The Power of Prayer

The most amazing thing just happened. At 8:49pm I powered down my computer, saying to myself, "Kristin, for real--walk away." Seriously. The computer is so addicting. (and yet, here I am--back to it. You'll understand why. I just had to blog!!)

I mentally forced myself to head not for the T.V. or for bed, but for my leather easy chair to spend some time with God. 

As much as I teach teens the importance of daily time with God, I struggle to put it into practice. I know you understand--do as I say, not as I do. Yaddy yadda. 

Well, tonight was going to be different. As I sat down in the chair, I checked my CrackBerry one last time and noticed a prayer request email from a friend at church. I read the email, and started to pray. Pretty much I decided to pray because if I don't pray then and there when I say I'll pray for someone, I often forget to pray at all. So I've made it a practice to at least send up that very first prayer when I make the promise to pray. Make sense?

Praying for this young man undergoing lung transplant surgery, led me to pray for a young dad at our church who is struggling with cancer. I was, for the first time in weeks, spending real prayer time with God.

Not prayer time on the fly, at the stoplights, in between feedings, and amidst emails. I was actually sitting still, eyes closed, no other sounds around me. 

It had been a while since I'd done this. Man, did it feel good to talk with my Father. 

Prayers for others led to prayers for myself, prayers to change me, convict me, discipline me....those prayers led to praise and thanks. Praise for being the God of Peace, Strength and Love. Thanks for answered prayers and guidance.

I was getting all misty eyed, talking to my Savior when the phone rang--Erik's ring tone.

Hmm....keep praying to God? Or answer call from the Husband? I figured God would understand that I needed to make sure Erik didn't need something. So I answered.

And that's when the amazing thing happened. 

See, for a week, I've been praying HARD for a certain someone to come to a certain student retreat next weekend.

Well, tonight, that certain someone signed up.

God answers prayers. Period. Sometimes He takes a long time (i.e. Joshua Nelson Lindeen). Sometimes His answer is not what we wanted (i.e. all the prayers for healing that didn't end with healing). And sometimes, He answers quickly in the way we had imagined.

Praise be to the God of answered prayers! 

May He continue to answer, as we continue to pray.

Hmm....Pictures from Month 3....

Missed a couple on the previous blog! Ha!

3 + 3 = 6

Dear Josh: 

I cannot believe the Little Buddy is 6 months old! So much has changed ... you're so alert, active, and developing your own little personality. People kept telling me that as you grow, it just gets better. Well, they're right! What a joy you are in our lives. I tell you all the time--"Joshua, Mommy loves you, and you are my joy! You crack me up!" You are seriously funny. I can't wait to watch you continue to develop into the Little Man you're going to be. 

You're grabby, and smiley. Drooly (oh. so. much. drool.) and giggly. Slightly crabby and very opinionated (I suppose that continues to escalate?) Here are some of my fav pics from the last 3 months, since that last picture blog. 

Pumpkin Patch

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Philippians 1:9-11

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.

I have had this passage underlined in my Bible for years. I believe I even inscribed the reference on a bracelet for my sister as a bridesmaid gift for my wedding. I've always loved this prayer of the Apostle Paul's; it's poetic, and--I think--a solid example of how to pray for those I'm mentoring. 

But today, I decided to not just gloss over it and smile warmly at the words. I thought to myself, "Hm, maybe I should study this a little?"

So here are my thoughts: 

The word "abound". What does that mean? To Grow? To Increase? 

"Abound" –verb (used without object)

1. to occur or exist in great quantities: a stream in which trout abound.

2. to be rich or well supplied (usually fol. by in ): The region abounds in coal.

3. to be filled; teem (usually fol. by with ): The ship abounds with rats.

I guess definition #2 works best, as "abound" is followed by the word "in" in the verse. 

So, Paul's prayer is that our love is "rich and well supplied" 

in knowledge and insight. 

Um, what does that mean? 

My love should be rich in knowledge (of what? Christ?) and depth of insight (into Christ? Scripture? People?) so that I can have discernment (makes sense) and be pure and blameless (makes sense). Is it that as I increase in knowledge of Christ and insight into His teachings that my love for Christ will grow, and will produce in me discernment and purity? Is it that Christ fills me with fruit as I abound in love and knowledge of Him--all for God's glory? 

It's amazing to me that I can "love" a passage of Scripture ... and really have no idea what it means. :) I will be meditating on this for a while, I think.

Dear Josh: Cereal is Not Poison

Dear Joshua,


My beloved son, who refuses to sleep longer than 2.569 hours and who loves to smile at Stanley the Monkey nightlight at 3am:

Oatmeal cereal is not of Satan. 

It is not poison; it is not brussel sprouts. 

It is cereal. With milk. That's it. Pretty simple. 

Must we go through such theatrics?

Almost 6 months old

"Please stop the torture!"

First attempt, months ago.

4 months old

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