Book Review: The Ministry of Motherhood, Ch 7

Chapter Seven - Inspiring a Sense of God's Powerful Presence (Emphasis mine - my comments italicized)
This is an awesome chapter. The main point is that we can see God's presence in nature, circumstances and we need to take the time to point God's presence out to our children. This made me think of several friends who seem to be naturals at noticing and appreciating God's creation. Several of you know Jodi through her blog and SHS. She and her family have led me to spend more time noticing the little things that God has created for us to notice and enjoy all around us. This is another excellent chapter that is very hard to choose a few quotes from.
"When I first became a mother, I would never have guessed that the words Come, look! would be so important to my children's faith training. But as we all grew together, I came to understand the importance of pointing out to them the abundant evidence of God's power and glory and presence that surrounds us." p81.
"God is more powerful, mysterious, and wonderful than we can even imagine. He cannot be contained by our thoughts or definitions and is in a sense wild and untamable and bigger than we are in every way. And yet he is also a God who goes to great lengths to reveal himself to us, to remind us that he is present in all the minutes of our lives. If we have eyes to see and ears to her, the evidence of his power and presence is all around us. And those moments when we see him revealed teaches us so much. Even in the darkest moments of our own small lives he gives us reason to trust him, to anticipate the miraculous, to dream of resurrection life and the hope it brings." p 82. YES! This makes me need to take a break and click on the youtube at the top of my blog. ::snort::
Sally speaks of how even the disciples had to remember to look beyond their daily lives to see God's power and presence.
"If we desire to pass on that gift to our children, we will always be on the lookout for opportunities to tell them to "look" and "observe" and ponder. We must be ready to point them to signs of his living presence in our daily lives - and also to point beyond our circumstances to him who is beyond the limitations of this world. This awareness of Divine reality helps open their hearts to God's will and pleasure at any moment and to lift them above the tedium of the mundane." p 85 This is what several of my friends have encouraged me to do. To take time to look, observe, ponder and discuss nature in the context of the Creator with my children. Not that I didn't do this - always on a camping trip - but in the busyness of life in a city....I'd forget.
"A child who does not have the opportunity to marvel at the bigness of God, the wonders of his creation, and the reality of his supernatural work will tend to measure the questions about "who God is" according to his or her finite, limited perspective." p 85. This is good. It's not about getting a break from the house or books....those park trips, lake trips, nature walks, camping trips are about broadening a perspective. LOL
All of page 85 is really good - but to long to quote.
"When we are ready to receive the grace of his power and presence into each moment of our lives, we cannot help but look differently at all our daily activities. When we learn to look and listen and ponder, our everyday moments can be transformed by the knowledge of a God whose companionship brings joy, "wind to our wings," and the possibility of a miraculous touch at any moment." p 86
"As we inspire our children to look for God's glory and purposes in their lives, we help the learn to expect the supernatural grace that is always available to us." p 86
I love this prayer:
"Creator God,
We praise you, Father, for the magnificent gift of your creation. Help us learn to find a quiet place in the midst of each day so that we may see the evidence of your fingertips. (Love that imagery). Teach us to lead our children to heaven's throne as we stop to observe the stars, the seasons, the birds, the storms, and all that you made. May we all learn to wonder at your greatness and worship you for your handiwork. Amen." p 86