Aspire Ministries
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Aspire To Be All That God Created You To Be
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WEAVING BASKETS OF PRAYER AND PROTECTION

 


 
Madaline McFarland
 
 
 
 
Do you remember the first time you held your baby?  I do; all three.  Each birth was very special in its own way; however, there was one thought that was the same every time.  The first moment I held each of my boys my heart overflowed with love and I would say to myself, "There is nothing more beautiful in the whole world!"  Something magical happens while holding a new baby.  They don't know the meaning of shame but only trust.  Because of that purity they can win hands down in any stare contest.  Sometimes it feels as though they can see straight into your soul.

There is such a beautiful peace and innocence about them those first few hours, then reality hits home. Your baby is no longer safe from the world hidden away in the Father's hands.  He has become part of this sinful self~gratifying world in which we all live and is in need of a Savoir.  As you lay there drinking in this new life and introducing youself a deeper bond grows, a bond of love and a promise of protection.  Then it happens!  Nurses arrive to get the baby for test, shots, pricks, etc. and the process of letting go begins. 

These are the moments that we must cling to our faith and believe that the Father who held them so gently in our womb is able to extend His hands through space and time to keep our little ones covered and protected from this new world.In the blink of an eye those first eight weeks are gone.  For some of us that meant going back to work and placing our new babies in the hands of a caregiver.  Others get to hang on for a bit longer but the process of letting go is inevitable.  The first sitter, the first day of school and of course... the first sleep over, YIKES! 

I remember coming home after dropping my oldest off for his first sleep over.  I had somewhat of an anxiety attack.  What had I done?  I just dropped off my second grade son for a birthday sleep over!  Do I really know these people?  What was I thinking?  I called and checked on him several times throughout the evening then decided to stay up to pray for a while.  I was never so relieved when he called at 12:30am saying he wanted to come home.  I had my keys in hand and was out the door in a flash!

I remember another time of letting go. Having been divorced, there were times when I had to let my son go and visit his dad.  It was never a big deal when he lived nearby and went for an overnight. However, when he moved nine hours away and I had to let my baby go for two weeks, that was a different story! During that time the Lord brought me peace and comfort in such a sweet way.  It was from a well known Bible story about a little baby and a very special Mom, her name is Jocabed. 
Jocabed was a descendent of Abraham, a child of Israel.  She was also a married mother of two, one boy Aaron and one girl Miriam.  It was a perfect little family; however, they lived in a time of great turmoil in the land of Egypt.  Joseph and all those in Egypt loyal to him had died.  The current Pharaoh became fearful of the Israelites numbers and prosperity so he sent out an order that every male child born should be killed or thrown into the Nile River.  It was during this time that Jocabed found herself again with child.  Time came for the baby to be born and it was a boy.  Her reaction to this baby was very similar to the ones that I had with my own boys.
 
“So the woman conceived and bore a son.
 And when she saw that he was a beautiful child,
 she hid him three months.”
Exodus 2:2
 
 After that sweet time of bonding had passed, reality came near.  What was she to do?  How could she keep her son from such a horrific fate?  As she drew near to the voice of the Lord Jocabed knew what to do.  When she could no longer hide the child, she made basket and covered it with pitch.  She swaddled him up, placed him in the basket and with every ounce of faith she had in her God she placed him in the Nile.  Yes, in the same crocodile filled river that was meant for his death!  However, the baby did not die. Jocabed knew that God had a special plan for this child's life and she trusted that His ways were higher than her own.  She clung to the knowledge that Jehovah Jireh was a God who provided and protects those He loves.  
 
God used the river that the enemy had planned for evil to carry this baby into destiny.  With his sister keeping a close eye on the floating basket, little Moses was drawn out of the water by Pharoh's daughter.  He was then adopted into the palace and raised as a prince in Eygpt. 
 
How did God reward Jocabed for her faith?  He gave the baby back to her!  Miriam was able to speak to the princess and recommend Moses's Mom as a nurse for the child until he was older.  God provided protection for Moses during his formative years.  From infancy to grade school Jocabed was able to be near Moses and feed him not only physically but spiritually as well.  Moses continued to grow and once again his mother had to let him go. He was no longer in need of a nursemaid, young Moses was being educated by the best of Egypt.  Would he be pursuaded into worshiping the gods of Egypt?  Would his heart become filled with pride and turn against Israel?  Would he remember the things that she had taught him about the God of Israel? Once again she clung to God's promises covered him with prayer and let go.  She watched from afar as he grew into a wreckless teenager trying to push the limits and discover his identity.  She watched as he made a terrible mistake that caused him to run for his life.
Is that what Motherhood is about? 
 
Must we be destined to turn our kids over to the world and keep our fingers crossed that they will survive?  No my friend, Motherhood is about weaving baskets!  Baskets made with strands of truth that we have taught our young ones woven together with the promises of God and sealed by prayers of protection.  We place them into the river of life with all its sickness and dangers and just like Moses, the Lord will return them to us to nurture. This basket will continue to protect them as they grow and will carry them home safely from their first day of school whether it is the first grade or their first year in college.
 
So I charge you to get on your knees and start weaving.  If your children are still at home teach them God’s Word and begin to strengthen the reeds of truth that will keep them afloat during times of perill.  Weave these reeds with prayer into a basket of protection and seal the cracks by calling forth the promises of God, declaring His words in their lives. God wants us to hold Him to His promises by believing that they are undoubtedly true.  Stand on His Word and speak it into the life of your kids no matter what their age.  A good place to start is by speaking Psalms 23 and 91 over your children.  Read aloud over them and personalize it by placing in their name or claim the scripture for your whole family.  Better yet, teach them to speak God’s Word over themselves. Come into agreement with one another as you claim Scriptures in your lives and create a three~strand cord or “reed” that can never be broken.  Even if they seem to have forgotten for a while the truth is still with them.  It will be a pillow to them in the night hours.
 
 
“Train a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not turn from it.”
 Proverbs 22:6
 
For those of you, who have a child that is running away from God; remember that it was in the desert on a lonely mountainside that Moses found his destiny.  He did not make his way there because he was running to God.  Moses was running away from responsibility and the call on his life when he ran into the “Burning Bush”.  Then once again the Lord brought him home.  Isaiah 42:10-13 says, as you turn your worry into praise, the Lord will come forth like a mighty man of war and protect your child from His enemies. So trust in the Lord and hold Him to His Word. 
 
     “I will bring the blind by a way they did not know;
I will lead them in paths they have not known.
 I will make darkness light before them,
And crooked places straight.
These things I will do for them,
And not forsake them.”
Isaiah 42:16 
 
It matters not what the circumstances are, our Lord is mighty to save!
There is no place that your prayers and proclamation cannot reach. You can rest in peace knowing that God has good plans for your child’s future.  Isaiah 43:1-2  
 
    "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.  
    Indeed before the day was, I am He;
And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand;
I WORK AND WHO CAN REVERSE IT?”
Isaiah 43:13
 
So let’s start weaving ladies.  There is no time to lose!  God has sent His Holy Angels as Messengers to deliver these baskets of proclamation, protection and prayer via air mail if necessary.  They are standing by waiting for you.

ISAIAH 44 PRAYER
 
Father we thank you today that you are the Lord that created each one of us in the womb.  I praise You that you chose me even before I was born to be Your child and because of that I will not fear.  You have promised to pour out Your Spirit on those who are thirsty.  Please flood the dry ground of my spirit with Your Presence.  I proclaim Your promise that the waters of Your Spirit will cover not only me but also my children and grandchildren for many generations.  I stand on Your Word that my descendants will walk in Your blessings and will prosper and bring forth good fruit like trees planted by the water.  Teach me Your ways, O Lord.  Guide my tongue as I speak words of encouragement and discipline.  Help me to stand fast in Your ways O Rock of my Salvation.  I rest in knowing that Your ways are perfect and that You can not be moved nor can Your Word go forth without completing that which it is set forth to do.  Weave through me truth and knowledge as I study Your Word so that I may send it out with my children.  As they share what is in their “lunch baskets” may the multitudes be fed.
 
 
BLESSINGS AND GRACE,

ASPIRE MINISTRIES
 Ephesians 3:16-21

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