Zephaniah 3:17
17 The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
I have seen and heard and read this verse in Scripture many times but the Holy Spirit has used this verse to challenge myself as a mom in big ways over the last few months. Isn't that fascinating?
Before Jayden was born, the Lord gave me a very specific prayer that I prayed for him for many months while he was in the womb. The prayer was that Jayden would be strong and courageous, a mighty warrior (one day for the Lord) but that he would also be full of compassion. After several months of parenting Jayden and watching his personality develop each day, I realized that I was watching that specific prayer come to life in such a way that has been mind blowing. He is so strong-willed, very determined, a warrior, yet he is so full of compassion towards others if he thinks they are sad or hurt, etc.
While these all can be wonderful qualities, training and disciplining a strong-willed child comes with great challenges. We have gone through seasons where receiving discipline over and over again was well worth it to Jayden to continue doing what he was already doing. There have been days where it seems the training is not working and we must be doing something wrong as parents yet we are reminded in those times by God's grace to re-evaluate ourselves, stay consistent and continue asking for God's wisdom daily. KEEP AT IT!
Then there are other days we experience Jayden listening and obeying so well. We watch him smile so big as we rejoice and clap and make a big deal of his choice to be obedient! We see him even hesitate in moments as he is determining which choice to make and his JOY when he knows he is making the right one.
It all boils down to the fact that, Jayden wants his own way (Isaiah 53:6) and training him to choose otherwise is really hard, especially without the Holy Spirit helping at this point! The beauty of this journey is how it is constantly sanctifying for Rance and I as parents to see our own tendencies be revealed in these days of training.
As much as I would love to go into great detail about the background of the book of Zephaniah, I will say that the context of this tiny book blew me away. There is a culmination of God's grief, His wrath, and His unending grace and love being shown throughout but it was chapter 3 that greatly challenged me to continually ask myself:
What causes me to DELIGHT in Jayden? Do I DELIGHT in him whether he responds well or not? Do I DELIGHT simply because Father has entrusted Jayden to Rance and I on this earth? What is the ultimate goal in teaching him to listen and obey? Does Jayden hear his mama and daddy rejoicing and singing over him?
I never really understood the pleasure we could possibly bring to our Heavenly Father or the delighting He feels towards us until I became a mom (and Rance would agree, when he became a dad). Every day I am experiencing tiny glimpses of this pleasure and delight as we watch Jayden learn and grow. Whether Jayden responds well or does not respond well at all, I contemplate Father's patience and love for me each day as a mom as I am still learning how to show off the glory of His grace to Jayden. Rance and I do not expect perfection from Jayden just as Father does not expect perfection from us. Ultimately, we desire for Jayden to obey us, not out of duty or guilt, but simply because he does not want to disappoint his mama and daddy. That is why we SHOUT and applaud and REJOICE when he chooses to respond well. On the other hand, when Jayden chooses to disobey, our goal is not to reprimand him and scold him but to show grief and disappointment (not by guilt though). We want him to learn that obedience itself is DELIGHT and that in his obedience to us, he is pleasing God! This is easier said than done, can I get an amen?!?!
Unimaginable God - knowing all that he knows about me - still delights in me and showers me with His grace as I take refuge in Him. We desire to do the same with Jayden all the days we are on this earth. Can you imagine a more beautiful song than God Himself rejoicing over you in singing?
*View one*
After much prayer and evaluation, we have moved forward in completing one room in our basement to have a separate, QUIET place to continue doing ministry well out of our home!
*View two*
Our time in Nahunta with my family at the beginning of July consisted of lots of farming, tractor riding, and letting loose (in the mud)!
Theres is just something about Pa (my dad) that Jayden adores and I can't blame him, I think he is great too!
*We were thankful for our time in the models with Brooke & Mrs. Dana while in eastern, NC*
*What a CELEBRATION*
While Brooke put her faith and trust in the Gospel (life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus) at a young age, she was never baptized by emersion. As she began to pursue the Lord through discipleship over the last few years, she gained a clear understanding on the purpose of baptism and wanted to make this public declaration of her faith. Rance was honored to baptize her along with Pastor Jared Grantham (at Brooke's church) while we were out east!
Pictured above are copies of the models which have now been translated into several different languages and are being used to train and equip others across the world.
Finishing touches have been taking place over the last month to work towards finalizing the office building!
Lindy & Eli joined us for a weekend in July and we are continually encouraged by their pursuit of the LORD.
*Rance thoroughly enjoyed being able to lead the GAMES for Vacation Bible School last week*
The last night of VBS, right before Rance was about to share the Gospel with everyone, Jayden fell and we had to rush him to the ER where he ended up getting 3 staples in his head due to the deep cut. He hasn't skipped a beat since!
We are so thankful for fresh garden veggies from friends! Are they not the best?
A lot of fellowship/bonding happens over a meal and this weekly discipleship study group is no exception!
*Thank you for your continued love and support for our family and Eternal Truth Ministries*
Prayer Requests:
- Baby girl or boy's entrance into this world in the upcoming weeks.
- Rance's preparation for WISE guys and FCA as school starts soon as well as other speaking opportunities, discipleship groups, Sunday School preparation, etc.
- Jenni's desire to do well and continue thriving in a new season of life!
