A Summer Blessing: A Liturgy of Intentionality and Joyfulness

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They're the joyful agains our children shout on the swings, the

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exhausting agains of cooking and laundry,

and the difficult agains of discipline.

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So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

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So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

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to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

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We believe God's Word is

the key to untangle from the

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confusion and overwhelm we feel.

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Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

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Stephanie: Welcome to the again, podcast.

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I'm your host, Stephanie Hickox.

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And this is brought to you

by entrusted ministries.

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As delightful as summer is it opens up

a world of potential and possibilities.

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I would love to cover you and

your children with prayer.

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So that you may enter this season,

joyfully and intentionally.

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Before I get to that prayer.

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I want to take a moment to encourage you.

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About what to make a

priority to this summer.

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We all know that before we

know it, our calendar pages

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are going to turn to August.

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Or even September.

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And it will feel that the summer flew by.

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And hopefully we'll have plenty

of memories to look back at.

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That we've created with our children.

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But I want to encourage you.

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To take this opportunity.

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At, as your routine is going

to change that you make.

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It a habit and a commitment.

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To spend time in the word episode

seven, untangling our commitment

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to the word, practical ways to

prioritize time with the Lord.

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Jenna.

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And I talked about just how we made

our time in the word of priority.

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Having young children.

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even if you have children, Swarming around

you, you can make time to be in the word.

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I think this was one of our most

practical episodes, so I really

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encourage you to look back at that.

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James clear the best-selling author of.

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Atomic habits.

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Says that to create a habit.

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We need to define when we will do it.

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And where we will do it.

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And we also need to say the

identity that's tied to it.

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For example, instead of saying this

summer, I plan to read my Bible every day.

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You would say this summer?

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I will open my Bible.

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Every day at 7:00 AM.

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In my favorite chair.

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So that I can become a person

that knows and loves God deeper.

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That might look absolutely

different for you.

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It might mean opening up the word.

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At the breakfast table with

your children every day.

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But setting a time and a location.

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assigning an identity.

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And a reason for why you want

to accomplish that habit will

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make it so much more likely.

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To have been achieved.

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So I encourage you, whatever

your summer bucket list may be.

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That being in God's word

would be at the top of it.

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And we would love to help equip

you for being in the word.

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We have a curriculum entitled.

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Get the word out that Betsy and

David Corning have been developing

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for over 20 years through

their own personal devotions.

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And we are getting ready

to launch that shortly.

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Betsy, and I are in the process

of recording some episodes

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to explain just how fruitful.

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These Bible study tools

can be in your own life.

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So stay tuned for that.

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All right, let's get to that prayer.

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Heavenly father.

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We humbly come before you.

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And ask for peace and joy to

reign in our homes this summer.

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May the sound of laughter and

praise characterize our days

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and let it begin with us.

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May we embrace duties with diligence

and model for our children that our

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blessings, are gifts to be stewarded,

not annoyances to attend to.

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May we train our children in holy

habits that will bless their futures.

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But never value the task over the child.

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May we be salt and light.

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But protect us from harmful encounters.

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When difficult topics

need to be addressed.

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Give us your words.

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So that we may highlight the

goodness of your commands.

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Open doors and open hearts so

that eternities would be changed.

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Allow us to be part of

connecting the loss to you.

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Oh, savior.

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May the sunshine be a reminder To bask

in your goodness and embrace your rest.

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Help us to also train our children

to love you with all their strength.

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And model for them to get up and move.

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Help our times of work to be

diligent, any efficient that we may

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be fully present with our children.

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May we know and understand that

our presence is one of the greatest

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gifts we can give our children

and not rush to substitute it with

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experiences and extravagances.

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When blessings do come, may we

give you all the glory and may

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it inspire us to give generously.

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Give us eyes to see who we

should serve and hands that

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rush to write words of gratitude.

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And lips that quickly speak

words of encouragement.

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May we faithfully point our children

to your redemption and goodness,

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without picking up the weight of

their salvation and sanctification.

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Please protect us from accidents

and injuries and pestilence.

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But when we encounter difficulties,

may we feel you at our side.

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Give us wisdom to know when to seek

additional help and when to be patient

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with the wisdom you've already provided.

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And when suffering and trials occur.

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Help us to see our goodness in them,

training our minds, that in all things

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you are working to make those who

are yours into the image of your son.

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When we are overwhelmed, help us to

run to your word and not to the world.

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Give us insight to know which

solutions to seek first and which

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should be tackled another time.

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When we need to press in for

practical wisdom, help us to lay

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down comparison, perfectionism,

shame, despair and discouragement.

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Guide us to systems that are maintainable

and bring order in our homes , but

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let us never forget that the only

true peace is found in your presence.

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When we need to course

correct or set a new standard.

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Help us to do so with

kindness and humility.

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So that our children are more

apt to adapt to a better way.

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When we are tired, teach us to

lessen our lists and order our

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days with hearts of wisdom.

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Help us to let go when it is wise

and give us strength to persevere

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when you are calling us to press on.

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May we set wise boundaries for ourselves.

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Make us aware of what produces

anxiety, fear and overwhelm in us.

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And provide us with the courage

to lessen those influences.

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When we feel lonely, teach us to run

to you and not take it lightly that

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you have called us your friends.

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Still teach us to diligently

seek fellowship with your people.

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May every perfectly right Berry or evenly

roasted marshmallow, we bite into lead

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us to praise you oh, perfect father.

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And delight in the simple gifts

you give your children every day.

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Teach us to diligently plan and

prepare; but let us hold our plans

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loosely when the unexpected occurs.

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Teach us to embrace your

agenda over our own.

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Do not allow us to ignore the

sandpaper sound of sibling disputes.

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But help us to see these

instances as opportunities to

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teach abiding relational lessons.

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Guide us to know when we are needed

and when to allow our children to

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arrive at solutions independently.

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May we motivate them joyfully but never

robbed them of doing the right thing for

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the right reason, which is to please you.

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Oh Lord.

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Help us train our children and

make them aware of the majesty,

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power, and danger of water.

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While also helping them delight

in its joys and possibilities.

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Allow us to guide our children

and purity and righteousness.

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Teach us the battles to fight for

their goodness and your glory.

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Yet, guide us to increase their freedom

in an age appropriate manner that prepares

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them to serve you on their own someday.

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May your word and your voice be the voice

we cling to most and would we increasingly

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live in the freedom you purchased for us.

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Then, and only then will we

be the mothers we long to be.

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And even when we have been patient,

kind, and loving h elp us to delight

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that we pale in comparison to

our perfect heavenly father.

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In the mighty matchless name

of Jesus Christ we pray.

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Amen.