I got to teach second and third graders about initiative on Sunday, or they taught me.
I miss teaching Sunday school but with my new role at church as Leader Of Leading Leaders And Other Musical But Less Leadery People or whatever, and with my time on the road a couple weekends each month, well, I don’t often have the opportunity on Sundays to talk Bible with the attention-challenged little people I love anymore. Dang it.
Big people are so boring.
But, like I said, this Sunday I got to sit with the kids again. We talked about Nehemiah and what he did when he found out his hometown was creamed in a war – the wall around the city was broken, the gates were burned and the people returning to it were vulnerable to attack but too poor or unskilled to rebuild the town.
“What did he do when he heard about all this?” I asked.
“Nothing,” one boy said.
“Look in the bible. We read it. The answer’s riiiight there,” I pointed to a line in the first chapter of Nehemiah’s diary.
“Nothing,” he said. “He just prayed.”
We talked about how praying sometimes feels like doing nothing – But it’s really an important part of taking initiative. Initiative, the lesson book said, is seeing a problem and then doing something about it. Praying is a good first thing to do when we see a problem, especially when we don’t know what else to do or can’t do what we know needs to be done.
My nephew Nathaniel is in this class. When I asked the kids what problems they’d seen this week he raised his hand. He’s a man of few words. “My mom’s eye,” he said.
I told the class about Amy’s cancer, the surgery to remove it, the multiple visits to the hospital since then to correct eye pressure and torn stitches, the headaches and nausea and just how hard it’s been for the whole family to live without mom up and about and doing all the stuff moms do to make our world go ’round smoothly.
Another boy talked about “poor people” around the world who need houses and clothes and food.
Another girl said she just moved to town. I asked her if she’d made many friends yet. She shrugged her no and lowered her head to stare at the carpet.
Sickness. Poverty. Alienation.
Three kids in the circle took initiative and volunteered to do something about them.
“God, please make Amy’s eye work right.”
“…give them food and better houses…”
“…and help her make friends. Amen.”
That’s something.
How can I pray for you this week? I’d be honored to take a little initiative.
Monica says:
Always through the mouths of babes, no? I love it. We moved to another state a year ago, and have lived in three different houses. We’ll be moving into our fourth place next week. It’s not the end of the world, and certainly, certainly, there are people suffering through more than this. But if I see another box I’ll just scream. And I worry about my two kids, and am desperate for stability for them. But I know they are resilient; God will take care of us ALL. Praying for Amy and that God will touch her with His healing power.
Win says:
My husband and I are seeking God’s will regarding buying a new house. We can afford it but the question is whether that is His plan for us or not. We have been wrestling with this question for some time now and I have even embarked on a once-weekly fast for five weeks to try to ensure that I am in a place to hear clearly from God.
Currently we have no debt (including no mortgage) and give 25% of our gross income back to God, which is way above “average” but again, I don’t want “average” I want God’s will, whatever that may be.
Would you please pray that we would clearly hear the voice of the One who is The Way?
Krissy says:
This is an awesome initiative! I’ve started off the day with a pretty hefty migraine. I wouldn’t miss it at all if it were to go away.
Stephanie says:
My husband is a good, kind man but he made a mistake. His mistake is going to take a huge financial toll on our family and very possibley result in his losing his job.
Please pray for us. Pray that God help me give him all the love and kindness in my heart and that He will lead our family through this to a better place.
Thank you so very much.
Princess Leia says:
Moses is an awesome example of this principle. As he’s leading the Israelites through the wilderness, whenever they have a problem, his first stop is prayer. Except for the times that he messes up. The times that he messes up are the times that he doesn’t stop to pray first, he just acts.
Anyway, we close on our house tomorrow. We know they haven’t completed all the things we asked after the inspection. We’ve already rented our condo out and have been “homeless” for two weeks already (one of which was vacation, but still – we’ve been staying with a friend this week).
All in all, small beans, but important to us.
Kristy says:
We are working through the same Sunday School curriculum with our third graders!
Thank you for taking the initiative…could you please pray for my depressive tendencies? I’m in the middle of a funk right now and my husband and kids would love it if I was back to my normal fun-loving self.
Kelli says:
We’re really seeking God in some decisions regarding missions and our family. It’s overwhelming and we’re not entirely sure which direction to move in, but know we need to move. We need to take initiative, as a matter of fact. We’re just not sure which direction to plunge. I’d love others to join me in prayer over this!
Heather EV says:
Money for school. I have no clue how I’m going to pay for this next semester.
Kelli says:
I feel like I need to clarify. We’re looking at short term missions opportunities as a family, not full time. We have two options. One is logisitcally and financially much easier than the other. We’re praying over which opportunity to take and trying not to be intimidated by the more difficult option. It’s a blessed situation to be in and we don’t want tot take either option for granted. Seriously, thanks for letting us share burdens and joys. π
jen says:
“Praying is a good first thing to do when we see a problem, especially when we donβt know what else to do or canβt do what we know needs to be done.”
Great lesson!
I’m also learning that prayer is a good place to start when we DO know what to do or at least when we think we know what to do. That’s what I have been learning; as much as I want them to be, my ways are not His ways. I always need to bow before I act.
Praying with you for these requests.
Cheri says:
Great message. This is the area that God has been guiding me through over the last few months. Not only praying but trusting and waiting on the Lord for he will not disappoint. And listening for God’s voice. As David marched against the Philistines in 1 Chronicles 14:8-17 and did as God instructed to wait until he heard the sound of marching in the tree tops before he attacked. Praying and doing it in God’s way and time not ours.
Please pray for my daughter Sara who is fighting depression which has caused her over the last 4 years to isolate herself from supportive family and friends, lose employment, stopped numerous attempts at going to school and she doesn’t want to seek spiritual or emotional help at this point. I know God has a plan for her and he planned for me to be her mother.
Thanks again for you insight, inspiration and prayers.
rhonda says:
Praying over these requests along with you…
Mine is a little thing, but as a mom its a big thing to me…my youngest has switched schools and hasn’t found “that friend”…she had lots of friends at her old school and just hasn’t fit in yet. This school is a magnet program and academically is a great fit for her (and her older sister is there so its easier on me and her dad) but we wonder if we should move her back to her “home school”…praying for wisdom and friends for her…
Thank you. Mr. Mom Blogger. π
Brandy says:
Out of the mouth of babes. How beautiful.
Please pray for my mother, father, and sister. That the Lord would send someone their way to lead them to Him. I talk with them when I can, but they’ve all told me they don’t want to talk “religion” with me π
And, also, please pray we have patience and trust His timing (myself especially). We’d like to add another blessing to our family.
I’ve read over each comment and have prayed for each one as well.
Many blessings, Shaun!
Katie says:
My friend Kaitlyn, 16, has VERY bad Lyme Disease. Praise God she’s slowly improving but there are always concerns. Just to paint you a picture, she and her family of five having been living in two-bedroom apartment for over two years while she’s getting treatment, and she just sat in the living room for the first time. The smell of flowers, the sound of her own chewing, any physical touch, any light, etc. are all excruciatingly painful for her.
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kaitlynsilinski
Katie
keith says:
I’d like to stop going through the motions and live in real Christian community but am not sure what to do first. I need help with this. Thanks for praying.
Heather says:
Really? If you’re offering, I’d be grateful. My husband is bipolar and it’s really rockin our world and breaking my heart. Thank you…
Bethany says:
I love this blog today!!! It’s so what my heart needed to rest on. I can pray when I don’t know what else to do, when the answers seem to far away they are really not because He has them in His hands.
I would love prayer. God is calling me to a deeper faith and trust in Him and with that I am having some difficulties, mostly financial. I just want to trust that He will provide for every need yet something always gets in the way. I just want to believe Him above all else
Erin says:
For direction and vision. I am desperate for God’s vision for me. I have dreams and desires to return to Uganda for missions…but lack vision for it. I just want to be where He is most; I want to bring Him glory. There are so many oppressive unknowns, but I try and rely on His Word and goodness. So…for vision, not just passion; for a clear call to where He needs me.
Charity says:
Really? Thanks. We serve overseas w/ the IMB and are really feeling an attack of some sort (spiritual) on our family and those we are trying to reach. Not even sure how to pray- protection? strength? Thank you!
dream_in_black says:
love the post. it’d be nice if you could pray that i would make friends at my church. and that i’ll have the courage to talk to one of my teachers about the weird things in my head. and pray that it’s Asperger’s or schizotypal or anything but schizophrenia
Matthew W says:
1) Next week starts my second half of student teaching; I’ve been at the high school in town, but starting next week I’ll be at an elementary school. I’m really looking forward to it–I generally like kids better than adolescents–but it will take some getting used to.
2) My grandmother fell and broke her hip last week and had surgery to repair it. We’re trying to figure out what we’re going to do with her for rehab, and what we’re going to do about my grandfather (he’s got a mix of Alzheimers and Parkinson’s and the doc has told us not to leave him alone).
3) Currently, my mother is having to spend the night at my grandparents’, just in case my gfather has an emergency. She hasn’t seen my HS-aged sister much in the past week and it’s taking a toll on mom emotionally. She’s also wondering why her brother isn’t stepping in and helping any.
Kathy says:
I, too, heard this class description from our kindergartner yesterday after church in Duluth Mn. Small world, big lesson.
We are having relational & financial struggles due to, in part, my on-going depression and how it causes me to ‘check out’ of everyday life. I want to be free, I want to go to God’s abundant, living water instead of dregs of tepid water in broken cisterns – I need to learn to take initiative!
I’m praying for you, too. Thank you.
Rebecca says:
The past few years have been very, very hard. I would really appreciate it if you would pray that I would have clarity and wisdom to discern the next steps to best take care of my children. That line from Rich Mullins stays in my head–“I can’t see where you’re leading me, unless you’ve led me here…” And right now, my here is so dark and hard and heartbreaking. Please pray I will see His presence.
Thank you Shaun. You and Becky and your family are faithfully in my prayers. I’m glad your out there doing your thing while I’m here doing mine. It’s comforting somehow.
Rebecca
Kit says:
Pray for these guys for me:
http://gracechildrenministries.webs.com/
I’ve become friends with Praveen and this situation tugs at my heart. They need help and I need clarity on what God is doing in my heart with all this.
Thanks!
Paula McClintock says:
That I would know the reality of God’s love. Really struggling.
Pamm Muzslay says:
I am struggling mightily with my food addiction right now. I just finished reading David Platt’s Radical and couldn’t help but think, “How can I leave everything for Jesus when I can’t even leave my Cocoa Krispies?” And gluttony’s one of those “really visible” sins, y’know? It just kinda shows up all over . . . no hiding it when it feels like you’re walking around with a big “G” right on your big butt . . . thanks for the prayers.
Tiffany says:
This is so great. You can pray for our family as we (im)patiently wait for a court date in order to travel to Ethiopia and become legal parents of our sweet boy.
(Also – if you are interested – my husband preached this Sunday for Compassion Sunday at our church, and I thought you may be interested in hearing it. I posted a link on my latest post.)
Jabber Jaws says:
Thank you for this. Please pray for my sweet girl Maddy. She is a young 13 year old and is aching for a best friend. This school year has been very tough on her and she is so lonely. I hate to see it.
JessicaBowman says:
This is big initiate prayer week for us.
We’ve just been confronted in the last couple of days with the huge opportunity to move to the Atlanta area to live among thousands of refugees in run down apartment complexes. Total immersion with internationals. We haven’t even told anyone else about this yet, we’re just praying about it and asking for clear signs from God.
So since no one on here knows our friends or familes, maybe all you Shaunmombloggers can pray about it for us.
misty says:
I have a friend and a friend of a friend who is involved in an affair. Could you please pray for them?
Thanks for all you do! I saw you in Knoxville at Lonsdale Baptist Church…but when we left you were talking to others and I didn’t want to interrupt to introduce myself but – thanks for sharing your music and your passion and also Tyrus. You both ROCKED! π