Kristin McLendon

Kristin McLendon: October 2012

Friday, October 26, 2012

Praying for the Kiddos

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

During our days here together we've talked a lot about being in the Word and praying--for it is the root of having an Isaiah 32:18 home! We've already shared some resources on how to pray for our husbands, so I thought it would be good to take a moment to share some resources to help us in being faithful for praying for our children.

The best resource is the Word. If you never have before, I'd encourage you to ask the Lord for a word for your children. When I was pregnant, the Lord gave me Isaiah 54:13 for my child, "All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children." I now use this Scripture to pray for my little Jude.

A classic resource is Stormie O'Martins "The Power of a Praying Parent" along with her book of Prayers.

A resource that I have just recently stumbled upon is the blog, Oh, Amanda. She's got awesome resources, including free Scripture prints! That's not all...she has a free e-book: Praying God's Word for Your Kids. Go get it now!

Just yesterday I discovered these: Children A-Z Prayer Cards. You can use these to teach your children Scripture, but you can also use them to pray specific Scriptures for your children. (She also has pregnancy and husband prayer cards.)

Lastly, the same website that has the prayer calendar for praying for our husbands, has a prayer calendar for praying for our children...Free! Click here to download it.

I'd love to hear from y'all in the comment section if you have a specific resource that you use to pray for your children! Before I head to bed, you want to know one other secret of mine? Each morning after I've had my cup of coffee, and Jude is awake, I head upstairs to get him. But--before I open the door, I get on my knees in front of his door. It's usually just a quick moment, but a moment long enough to surrender our day together to the Lord and most days I simply ask that Jesus would make Himself known to Jude (oh, and I usually ask for an outpouring of patience and that Love would abound :).

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

D.A.W.G Day...or maybe just a moment

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

Tonight let's talk about the third portion of this Scripture--"in quiet resting places."

There was a time in my life that D.A.W.G. days were the norm. I knew they were crucial to my well being and they were top priority. (BTW-D.A.W.G. equals Day Alone With God). These were days that I turned everything off. The cell phone. The computer. It was just Jesus and I. We went on walks together. To the beach together. We had lunch together and lots of cups of coffees in random coffee shops where no one knew me.

These days don't happen as often as they use to. And if they do happen, they aren't normally a whole day anymore. It may just be a morning. Or an afternoon. I'm very thankful that I have a husband that knows how vital my "alone" time is. Just last week he came home from work and told me to leave--and not come back for awhile (in the most loving and endearing way). It may have been because I sent him a picture like this one....

Oops. Not my best wifey moment (and if you can't tell--not my best mama moment either).

None the less-I went and found this spot. And Jesus and I had a late lunch together.

Maybe it's just me, but I whole heartedly believe that alone time is vital.
For the wifey.
And the hubby.
If you haven't had a moment alone, I encourage you to do that soon. And do what you need to do to make sure the hubby has a night off too. Just remember--the key is to get away, separate yourself from the distractions of everyday life, and enjoy His presence. Even if it is just for a moment.

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Monday, October 22, 2012

Heaven on Earth

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

Upon moving to RiverStone over four years ago now, one of the biggest blessings was the women that poured themselves out to love on me. I was overwhelmed by their love for someone they had just met. I spent the first few years at RiverStone in weekly prayer meetings with them. I was so deeply encouraged by the way these women loved Jesus. I left many mornings, thinking, do I even know Him? And would dive in even deeper to seek out this man Jesus. They stretched me. They encouraged me. They knew how to call things forth in the Spiritual realm....and in me! To find out that women could be that powerful in the spiritual realm, and still wipe snot off of kid's noses was good for this ole heart and I wasn't even a mama yet.

A few years into RiverStone one of the women that had become dear to my heart got suddenly sick and was gone before we even could process it. You know how you just have those moments that are significant in your life? This is one of them for me. Even though I had only known Julia for a little over a year--her life marked me. It was at her memorial service that someone stood up and said, "Julia knew how to do Heaven on Earth." I have carried those words with me now for almost three years now and I process them daily.

Julia knew how to encounter Jesus when she was doing the dishes or doing the laundry. She did not separate the two. She knew how to commune with the Lord in the daily mundane and no matter what it was she was doing, she was enjoying the sweet presence of Jesus. While thinking of those words, I've come down to one thing. It's a choice. We can choose to be bogged down by the mundane. We can choose to believe our identity is in the dishes and laundry, or we can choose to believe that we are a daughter of the King. Chosen. Chosen to encounter Him every minute of every day with every ounce of our being.

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Jump On In

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

We've talked some here during our 31 days to an Isaiah 32:18 about the importance of daily being in the Word. I wanted to encourage you tonight that if you have ever struggled with what to read during your daily quiet times--to jump on in with the She Reads Truth Plan...and today is a great day to jump on in! They launched a new plan today and they are studying Philippians. Reminds me of a time when my high school girls small group took an entire year to study the book of Philippians--but don't worry--the She Reads Truth gals broke it down into 11 days. So...not too huge of a commitment and you know where to begin for the next 11 days!

If you have a smart phone, download the YouVersion Bible App, then search for She Reads Truth under plans. Don't have a smart phone? No worries, check out their website, and you can even sign up for daily emails (www.shereadstruth.com and click here for the specific link to the start of Philippians). Jump in, and enjoy that cup of coffee....and His sweet Word!

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Friday, October 19, 2012

He Knows.

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

"Throughout the day today, pause in busy moments and remind yourself that you need only to be consumed by Him. Not the carpool line, the endless to-do list, the dishes, or whatever is distracting you. Ask Him specifically to focus your mind on Him, and ask Him to make Himself bigger in that moment than everything around you."

--Words above are by Angie Smith in Mended.

I posted the above on day eleven and I'll just be honest with you that the "whatever is distracting you" is the amount of throw up I've had to deal with lately. I needed to be reminded to specifically focus my mind on Him and to ask Him to make Himself bigger in that very moment. That's an Isaiah 32:18 home--that no matter what is going on. No matter how many unplanned baths we have to have a day, Jesus is bigger. He is Lord of our home. He is Lord of my heart. Today, breathe deep. No matter the circumstances, He knows. I find deep rest and peace in that, don't you?

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Monday, October 15, 2012

Day Eleven

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

"Throughout the day today, pause in busy moments and remind yourself that you need only to be consumed by Him. Not the carpool line, the endless to-do list, the dishes, or whatever is distracting you. Ask Him specifically to focus your mind on Him, and ask Him to make Himself bigger in that moment than everything around you."

--Words above are by Angie Smith in Mended.

I'll be back tomorrow to discuss. :)

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Things don't always go as planned....

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

Today is October 14th-and Day 10 to an Isaiah 32:18 home. So no, things did not go as planned for this blog series. Jude got sick this week and all attention was on him. I was talking to a friend over the weekend of how I hadn't blogged in a few days and was feeling the weight of it. She looked me in the eye and said, "Isn't that what having an Isaiah 32:18 home is all about? Your family is your priority and you laid your blog aside." This is 100% truth....that I needed, and wanted to share it with you in hopes it would encourage as it encouraged me. It's okay that things don't always go as planned, but gosh darn it I sure did get a lot of snotty kisses this week and deep in my heart I enjoyed every moment of it.

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Involve the Kiddos

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

I did say "kiddos" in the title--not to imply that their are multiple kiddos in the McLendon household or that there will be any time soon. Just making sure we are clear.

Moving on. :)

Todays post will look different for most people, but bottom line I hope it's an encouragement to do it in some way shape or form. When I was pregnant the hubs read the Word over my belly each night. Loved, loved, loved this. I knew it was just the beginning. I had this elaborate plan for when Jude was born that we would sit nice and neatly at the dinner table together each evening and when the meal was over we'd read the Word together. After much trial and error and our carpet being destroyed in the process---Jude now eats in the kitchen--on top of a floor that can easily be cleaned up. His attention span is only held long enough to get the amount of food he desires into his mouth and the rest fed to the basset hound. This time span is usually shorter than the amount of time it takes for us to eat, so he's down out of his chair before we are done. There's not much of a window between dinner time and when I whisk Jude upstairs to wash the day off of him. While I wash the kid, Robert cleans the kitchen. It's when all of this is done Robert and I get in the Word together (Day 8).

All that to say, my elaborate plan of being a family in the Word together has not panned out. But I know it will. Eventually. In due time--because it is at the very top of my goal list.

In the meantime, I wash my son with the Word in other creative ways. When he's in the bathtub (which coincidentally is the longest amount of time you can get him to sit still), for those few minutes he is in the high chair. Our favorite tradition is each Friday morning him and I start our morning off watching the Passion 2012 session that the leaders read Ephesians. It is marvelous. A lot of times I just like having this playing in our home so that the Word is being spoken.

Praying as a family is also a goal--for now we involve Jude in the blessings of the food (which he now folds his hands, closes his eyes--peeks, and then says Amen. By far cutest thing ever). We pray over him each night and whisper sweet blessings over him.

To wrap it up, I want to share one of my favorite blog posts ever written that I refer back to often. It's encouraging--no matter what stage of life you are in. Click here to read 6 Ways to Develop the Habit of Daily Family Bible Reading by Ann Vonskamp.

Be encouraged tonight that if I can say anything at all--it will be messy at times--but involve the kiddos in the praying and the reading of the Word---whatever and however that looks like for you!

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Read the Word-Together

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

Day 8. Let's combine a few things together. Hopefully we're in the Word, we're praying for our family, we're praying with our husbands and for our husbands. Tonight let's get in the Word together....with our husbands.

Robert and I have tried many things over the years and nothings really stuck. I do think right now we are on to something. Once the baby goes down, we open the Word together. Before the tv comes on. Before the computer is opened. We read the Word together. And my husband has picked the book of Daniel for us to read together. After we read the Word tonight it spurred on quite a deep and long conversation--which is so good for this ole heart.

So get in the Word--together :)

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Pray...together

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

I hope you haven't minded us being camped out on the "secure" part of this scripture these past few days because I'd like to stay here just a little while longer!

We've all heard the saying "couples that pray together, stay together." Yes, this is good. We've talked about praying FOR our husbands, but let me encourage you tonight that a "secure dwelling" can be found in praying WITH your husband. Find what works for y'all. Before the day starts, at dinner time, after the kids go to bed. Spend time together coming before the throne of Jesus. Make it a priority that once a day you've spent time praying together.

Not married? Have a roomie? Pray with them! I think it's equally important to spend time with the person you live with inviting Jesus into your home.

Enjoy these moments!

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Let's Be Intentional Shall We?

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

Yesterday I saw these words on twitter, "Do something unexpected with someone you love today." Good right? I didn't put these words to action yesterday--but I did today. I already knew today was going to be jam packed-I had an early Saturday morning meeting that was going to leave me about an hour before we had to leave for a wedding. My meeting ended a little early-so I rushed home and announced, let's have a picnic! Off to subway we went and took a short walk to a field at the base of the mountain. It took me awhile to get over the fact that we no longer live on the coast, but I love this mountain that God's given us to enjoy! And today....was absolutely beautiful....

Day 6. I love the spontaneous....problem is I think we get so bogged down in the everyday routine that we miss the opportunity for good quality time with the ones we love. So yes-do the spontaneous. Do it soon--but let's make a long term goal together to be intentional and schedule in those quality time moments that memories are made of. Whether it be date night with your husband or a trip to the zoo with the whole fam--do it! And do it often! Because being intentional with the ones you love---leads to giving your family an Isaiah 32:18 home.

And we did make it to the wedding--another beautiful picture of the goodness of Jesus!

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Friday, October 5, 2012

Praying for our Husbands

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

Diving into "secure" a little more today. How did it go praying Psalm 91 over your home? I'd love to hear any Scriptures that you have that you have used to pray over your homes!

As we looked at yesterday, "secure" means free from or not exposed to danger or harm; safe. I'm going to step out and say-- I believe a way we can make our home "secure"... is to love our husbands well.

Our babies need to know that their home is secure and one of the best ways for them to know it? To know that their mommy and daddy's relationship is secure. They also need to know that it is priority. A safe and secure home has a marriage that is solid. Your husband also needs to know his home is secure, just as much as you need to know it too!

Before we go on, I must confess that we do not have the perfect marriage--I do not want to convey that message. It is something we must daily work on, and the reality is this blog series was birthed out me desiring to offer my family a better home (because if we are being honest, it was starting to get quiet chaotic!)--which in return offers a better marriage.

Moving on--how do we love our husbands well?

As with everything we can go back to the beginning of this series of being in the Word and starting our days with Jesus. We're just able to love better when we know the love of the Father and how He feels about us. So keep digging into the Word. For today, I'd like to encourage us to make our husbands a constant in our prayer lives. No matter the state of your marriage today--pray for your husband.

Sometimes we need a little help--so a prayer guide that I have found recently--but haven't been faithful in praying--until today because we are holding each other accountable--can be downloaded here.

I truly believe a secure dwelling can be found when we have a secure marriage. To have a secure marriage means we have spent time before the throne on behalf of our husband.

**And to my friends that haven't met their husbands yet--I would strongly encourage you to still spend time praying for the man that the Lord has in store for you! Wouldn't it be wonderful to learn that he had been praying for you before you met!**

**Do you have resources or Scriptures that have helped you in praying for your husband and/or home? Please share them with me in the comment section!**

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Praying Scripture Over Our Homes

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

Day 4. I'm excited to dive into this new section with you...."in secure dwellings." Dwellings--we'll use this to refer to the homes that the Lord has given us (if we want to be technical-the dictionary refers to it as "a building or place of shelter to live in; place of residence; abode; home). Secure. That's the word I want to focus on today. The literal definition of secure is "free from or not exposed to danger or harm; safe."

Tonight we are going to look at the spiritual side of making our home secure and this one is going to be short and quick--because there's something I want us to do together. There's no one better than the Lord to entrust our home to and ask him to make it a safe, secure, "not exposed to danger or harm."

So tonight, before we move on in our series, I want to encourage you to take a moment and pray Psalm 91 over your home. I'd even like to encourage you to do this often -- even daily. Declaring God's word over your home is powerful. Shall we?

Psalm 91

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge—

no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the adder;

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he knows my name.

When he calls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation."

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The Rule

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

Yesterday we dove into the first part "peaceful habitation." I truly believe a peaceful habitation begins with us in the Word. I thought we'd camp out here for another day if you don't mind. With the challenge to be in the Word more, I thought I may share some thoughts and resources since this is so dear to my heart.

I have a rule. It is--I must drink one cup of coffee before Jude wakes up. More importantly I MUST SIT STILL to drink that cup of coffee AND read the Word...before Jude starts his day. I can truly say that how my day is going to go can truly go back to my rule. If I did not wake up and spend that quiet time, things seem to not go well. I'm not the best mama I can be. So for Jude's sake--his mama needs to be in the Word and needs quiet before he's full throttle!

With that being said--what are some of my favorite resources?

I use to be anti devotionals. I've come a long way. I still don't think one should depend solely on a devotional to hear from Jesus. So--the Word. It's good. Start there. Ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you. Journal. I'm such a huge fan of journaling. I believe we should record the revelation Jesus gives us. Write a love letter to Him. Daily communion with Him through writing. It's so good.

Now, there's a group of women in our church that I adore and look up to and they turned my heart to devotionals by suggesting I read Smith Wigglesworth Devotional. Warning--only read this if you want to be strettttcchhed. Amen.

I recently have been reading Prayer by Smith Wigglesworth and the Lord has daily been speaking to my heart though this. (Side note--Amazon just told me that I ordered this book back in November 2008--I recently discovered it on my shelf and it's been so timely!).

Community and accountability. Get this in your life! Find even if it's just one person to hold you accountable to being in the Word. Just one person in your life that will ask you how your relationship with Jesus is....

Moving on before that becomes a soapbox there are some awesome online communities that you can get involved in. Read blogs that encourage your inner man. One of my favorite online communities that is out there is She Reads Truth. If you aren't sure where to start in the Word--this community is an awesome one to be apart of. Go there now.

Ah, it's good isn't it? So who's going to get up in the morning and have that cup of coffee? Remember the coffee is good--but the be still part is where it's at. :)

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

If Mama Ain't Happy

"My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:18

To begin diving into this verse together I thought we'd break it up into a 3 different parts---the first one being, "a peaceful habitation."

Dictionary definition of "peaceful"--not argumentative, quarrelsome, or hostile. This makes me giggle. Yes, all three of those things I do NOT want in my home. Hostile? Doesn't that just get a little bit of a giggle out of you? Jesus, please never let my home be hostile.

I so desire my home to be a place of refuge for not only my family, but those that need a safe place to run to. So yes, peaceful is the word. So how do you get a "peaceful" home?

We all know the saying, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." In our home it's more if mama hasn't hung out with Jesus, it's not going to be pretty...or peaceful for that matter. My husband knows me well--and in his sweet kindness he knows exactly when to say "why don't I watch the baby and you go have some alone time." Yes, those blocks of time are priceless--but it's my responsibility to make sure I am daily in the Word. To wake up early. To make Jesus my priority. Before the rest of the house stirs---I have had communion with the Lord.

We had a special event at RiverStone this past weekend--our dear friend Annie Downs came to speak and she brought her friend Ellie Holcumb to lead us in worship. Ellie said something that pierced my heart while she was explaining her courtship with her husband. When they first started dating her now husband told her that he would let her down as he is human--that she must make her relationship with Jesus the center of all--because He will not let her down. YES--a peaceful home is found when we are in the Lord's presence--and we are not expecting man to fill those deep yearnings within. In the chaos of last week I was looking for my husband to fill things that were only meant to be filled by Jesus. I've heard this before--but needed the reminder to this weary soul.

Peaceful habitation equals mama in the Word. Peaceful habitation equals constant communion in the Lord's presence. When you are in His Word, when you are resting in His presence, when you make your relationship with Him priority--peace will reign.

And on a practical side--to get up early--means going to bed early--that really is the start to a peaceful habitation.

I know none of this is a new revelation--but it's so good to be reminded of isn't it?

So on that note, good night friends. :)

Labels: 31 Days to an Isaiah 32:18 Home

Monday, October 1, 2012

Why Isaiah 32:18

Y'all today has been rough. I knew last night the moment I put it out there that I was going to do this--I needed to go ahead and write day one because I knew I would talk myself out of it. But, I decided to wait and I don't even have words to say how discouraging of a day today was. I not only was ready to not write a blog (for 31 days mind you) but I was ready to never teach again. To say the enemy had a field day on me would be an understatement (there's power in recognizing it right?).

With all that being said...here I am in a much more vulnerable state than I was 24 hours ago when I said I would do this-but it all goes back to that tugging on my heart that Jesus wants to work something out in me and hopefully encourage others in the process. Writing this blog tonight is declaring the enemy will not win. I know He's given me a voice and I will not let the enemy steal it.

Isaiah 32:18 says, "My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." I found myself studying this verse over the weekend and feeling an urgency to FIGHT for this for my family. Last week in the McLendon household was anything but this-therefore I am making it my goal to fight in the spiritual realm for this to be true of our home.

I'll back up a little bit to bring you up to the Isaiah 32 revelation. Two weeks ago I was on a trip of a lifetime to New York City with my Mom and Sister for a week! It was incredible. Came home and was trying to get settled back into routine and normalcy (and all that comes with that). Half way through the week we took our son to his 18 month WELL visit. While there he tested positive to strep. Y'all---I did not handle this well in my heart. This positive strep test resulted in 48 hours of confinement, no school for him, which meant little productivity on my part. The whole time all I could think about was all that I had to get done and the huge weekend I had before me. Thankfully in the midst of it I learned to embrace the forced quality time I had with my son. But my patience level was next to nothing and did not fair well for the hubs who was having to leave to go to work at 4:30 in the morning. Pastor Tom says that marriage is not hard---when it becomes hard it's because of selfish reasons in our own hearts. I can realize now that every struggle that I had last week was because of selfish reasons in my own heart. We did survive the 48 hours of confinement. We did survive the multi big event weekend. But to say we aren't wounded would be a lie.

Which brings me to this series. 31 Days to a home that is peaceful, secure, and quiet. And I know it begins with me---so this 31 day journey is going to be digging into my heart, but not just on a spiritual side--a practical side too (because a peaceful, secure, quiet home involves-dare I say it- chores). It also involves me being healthy and the journey that hopefully will take place to make that happen.

So there you have it. Day One. And let me go ahead and say thank you for being along for this journey with me. It's because of you that I was encouraged to step out and do this. I'm thankful for each one of you. I'll see you tomorrow. I promise. :)

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