21 Days of Prayer For Our Sons

Recently a friend of mine shared a post from the MOB Society on Facebook. I went and checked into it and LOVED it! It took me a bit of searching, but I finally discovered that MOB stands for "Mothers of Boys!" :) That's me! I'm a mother of two boys. That's right - only two. When they were younger, I would be asked if I had three or four children. My response was, "No, I only have two. They just move around so much that it seems like three or four," then flash them a big smile. :) The MOB Society is a place for godly mothers of boys to share their experiences. I have longed to belong to such a group for a long time. There's something about knowing that I am not alone that brings peace and comfort.

I LOVE my two boys, very nearly 10 and 7. They are my miracles. Before I married Mr. Gehrke thirteen years ago, my body was inflicted with uterine fibroid tumors. At 24 I underwent a myomectomy to remove the tumors. A few months before the surgery, my doctor told my parents that it was very likely that I would never be able to have children. Instead of despairing I turned to God. I spent many hours with Him. I delighted in time with Him. And in return, He gave me Hope! (Jeremiah 29:11) He gave me dreams and visions! He showed me who I would marry (Mr. Gehrke)! One night I dreamed of my children (a boy and a girl - another story for another post), and He asked me to place them on an altar. I had an idea of what Abraham must have felt when God asked him to place Isaac on the altar. So, after much hesitation, I did as He asked and was filled with such peace. With the promise that I would have children someday, I did not give up. By the time of the surgery, my doctor was now saying that if I had children, they would have to be born by C-Section. Praise God that I live in a time with such medical advancements!

Back to the topic - 21 Days of Prayer For Our Sons... I have been praying for my children since they were a "twinkle in God's eye." And we have raised them to be young prayer warriors as well. I've never really been one to read a prayer. Perhaps it was the church culture in which I was raised. But this event being sponsored by the MOB Society has caught hold in my spirit. I've signed up. I'm looking forward to it beginning May 1, 2012. Knowing that I will be praying alongside countless other Mothers of Boys encourages me. I am reminded of Matthew 18:19-20, "Jesus said, 'I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.'"

If you are a "MOB" and would like to sign up for the 21 Days of Prayer For Our Sons, visit http://www.themobsociety.com/2012/02/announcing-the-next-21days4sons/ and follow the directions. You will also need to get the ebook "Warrior Prayers" (http://www.themobsociety.com/warrior-prayers/).

Being a mother of boys is full of challenges, but I am blessed that God saw me worthy to be a mother to boys. :)

The Boys - December 30, 2011

The Busyness of Life

Life can easily become filled with busyness. Our family has experienced much in the past ten months.

• New life - kittens being born
• Death - my mom (C's) being very ill, finally diagnosed with lung cancer that quickly became aggressive, taking her life in three short weeks from diagnosis
• Broken bones - our oldest boy, S, tripped and broke the right wrist, he's left-handed
• Responsibility - S raised two market goats for the county fair, did very well :)
• Confidence - when my mom was ill, A & I ent to see her; I ministered to her and Dad with my guitar - she told me she was proud of me; also I played and sang at her memorial service
• New vision - our youngest boy, M, got fitted for his first glasses in the fall - he can see! :)
• Healing - S had his tonsils out the day after the fair; C went to Hawaii with her sister in October and painted pictures; A picked up a virus the boys had gotten at school - 3 months later he was finally well
• New priorities and appreciation for each other - in January a nearby mountain "ate" our ATV - praise God that Andy was clear of it before it went down the mountainside! Stuff is stuff! An ATV is easy to replace - a life is not - and it was covered by insurance
• Turn-key pets - some of our pets have moved on to places unknown, one to a new home down the road, bird dog no longer with us; new pets have shown up and adopted us - one new cat (the Mama and all her babies are gone) and one new little dog who showed up January 30 and is still with us

Through all of this our faith in Jesus has grown stronger. Our family is healthy. We have learned to listen to what God's plan is for us and obey. All that happened over the past 10 months helped prepare us to do just that.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:11-13