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Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

The Things you Find under the Dryer…

The hot water heater stopped heating my water on Tuesday. We kept waiting for it to heat back up, after our power loss, due to a nearby tornado touch-down on Tuesday night…but it didn’t. Just as my husband and I were about to leave for a short anniversary trip, we came to terms with the fact that the schedule we were facing upon returning was not conducive to the absence of  hot water in our bathrooms (or dishwasher or washing machine).  My man is a handyman par excellence. He is NOT a man who can easily pay someone else to do, while we are gone, what he knows how to do himself. So, of course, we didn’t go. (It was my decision, in view of my schedule, for the record. (It’s podcast week, company week, and a four-day-out-of-town trip week, for me.)

In the process of pulling out the dryer to get to the hot water heater, lots of debris (a.k.a filthiness…and lost socks and tiny toys) emerged from beneath  the dryer. A sealed envelope with two love birds hand-stamped on the front emerged in the pile of dust and miscellanea. I opened the sealed envelope thinking, “I wonder what nice note I failed to give my husband…and on what anniversary?”

The envelope contained the following weeklong checklist I’d prepared for a homeschooling moms’ retreat several years back. It was a list I needed to see  while watching my husband laboriously removing that mammoth water heater from that small laundry hall, while I was working like crazy, too, and  bemoaning the fact that I was home rather than in the Westin, where we had planned to be that night. Maybe someone else needs the list, too.

Here’s the handout the ladies all received that year in their own sealed envelopes. Of course, this list is adaptable to all Christian families, homeschooling, or not.

For your faithful provider:

Pick a week in each month and complete the following: Then start over and pick a week next month. Fill your year with gratitude and respect for this man  who makes your homeschool possible: 

Massage Monday–Massage night. You’ve got this. Just five minutes while you thank him for making your home school possible. 

Text Tuesday–Text him, out of the blue, about how your world is better because he is a faithful provider. 

Wisdom Wednesday–Wisdom WonderMan. On the way to Bible class, thank him for trying so hard to be a wise spiritual leader. Then at Family Bible Time, have each child thank God for a wise dad who makes good decisions for your family. 

Thanking Thursday–Thank God. Spend five minutes in prayer while the kids are napping or working. Spend the whole five minutes thanking God for various attributes in that man that are good and praying about the ones that are challenging. 

Fix-up Friday–Fix-up day. Do casual Friday, but still make it a make-up day or a good-hair day. Think about three things you love about your husband’s appearance and tell him throughout the day, even if you have to text him. 

Suggestive Saturday–Suggestive day. Say or do one sexually suggestive thing. This will make his week-end. I know you can think of something he would love!

Servant Sunday–Servant day. Have each child think of one special thing he/she can do for Dad that day, and help him accomplish it. Coffee in bed. Brag on his sermon, if he is a preacher. New socks in his drawer. Money out of piggy banks for a milkshake on the way home from Sunday night services. Teens should write notes of appreciation or send a meme or GIF that says as much. Give dad a baseball that has a sweet note about how he’s the MVP (Most Valuable Parent) in the child’s world. Girls can ask dad for a breakfast date on Monday morning. Just be creative!

 

 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

For All the Precious New Babies

 

Many sweet sisters I love have given birth in the last few weeks. Several are making plans right now for new babies to come home. What a huge life-changing event for parents This is my prayer for all those mamas and babies.

 

God Bless the Babies

God, give them strength as they enter our lives.
Give wisdom to parents as each of them strives
To make for them places in our world to grow.
Teach them Lord. We’re so small.  There’s so much we don’t know.

God bless them as they to your wonders awake.
Bless them, dear Lord, when their first steps they take.
They’re  so small.  May their scratches and bruises be small.
May mama’s kiss make it better each time they may fall.

Lily Annette Colley

Help them to learn, Lord, just what they should know
To take them in life where you want them to go.
But in all of this learning, may they never forget.
The One who has made them and walks with them yet.

Give them courage when Satan first gets in the way.
May they stay near your word. May they kneel down and pray.
May they put on you Lord.  That’s my most fervent prayer;
And for all of their days cast on you every care.

Olivia Leigh Benavides

When the time comes, Oh God, that they must go away,
In that “letting go”, Lord, still hear us pray.
God, bless the babies.  Look down from your throne.
Watch over them gently, for still they’re your own.

Give them shelter, dear Lord, from this world’s raging storm,
In a place where your love shines; a place that is warm.
Give them people to help them seek you throughout life.
Give them one of your own, for each husband or wife.

And one day may they know the joy we now feel,
Of a life just beginning, but precious and real.
May something we put in their hearts make them sure

That even souls in the womb are yours, precious and pure.

 

Amos Hiram Moon

So Father, my prayer is for  life you’re now giving;
And, more, for sweet souls that will always be living.
Our task is so great.  We’re so small.  May we see
That “through Christ I can do all, for He strengthens me.”

CCSig

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

When Kids Have Doubts about Faith–12 Suggestions

  1. Answer (begin researching and compiling information) important questions as immediately as possible. Involve your kids in the process. They love discovering the answers!
  1. Do not stop researching important questions about faith until the child’s mind has settled and faith’s doubts are answered. Choose the addressing of doubts over other time commitments that are about temporal things.
  1. Never answer with the lazy answer “Just have faith in the Bible,” without showing both internal and external (Biblical and extra-biblical) evidences for that faith.
  1. Never become frustrated or angry with sincere questions. 
  1. Put your kids in environments in which there are good and studied people who have developed great faith. 
  1. Fill your home library with resources from Apologetics Press. (www.apoloageticspress.org)
  1. To answer alleged contradictions in scripture, check Christian Courier for studied resolution. (Particularly, study together, while they are teens, the “Notes in the Margin of my Bible” books.– www.christiancourier.com)
  1. Have an interactive family Bible time every day in which the kids are able and feel comfortable asking any questions and bringing up any doubts or challenging scenarios. 
  1. Show your children support for your local elders and have your children develop relationships with these godly men (and other men and women who are scripture-dependent in daily decisions). 
  1. Take advantage of the current immorality in the climate of our country. When it is “in the face” of your children and family, use those situations to show your children the scriptural “protection” God gives His people from the consequences of sin. Talk through the culture’s bold rejection of morality, especially as it relates to your community, and let God’s word echo the warnings when you encounter this brazen rejection. 
  1. As your kids grow, frequently point to the passages and examples in Scripture about persecution and prepare them for boldness even when the culture is mocking Christianity.
  1. If your children are enrolled in the public school system, constantly be vigilant. Be aware of the power that the system has to mold their thinking and their philosophies about truth. Constantly investigate, discuss with them and respond with time and diligence.
Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Intersections of Lads to Leaders


I’m pretty sure I heard 30-plus speeches this weekend about Joseph and how his brothers meant the pit, the slavery and the bloody coat, for evil, but God meant it all for good. I heard a lot about Job and even more about the intended and massive eternal good that God meant through the abuse that happened at the cross.  

And I never needed to hear any message more. It was THE powerful balm for my weary soul. His timing is always perfect! He meant this weekend for my good and, yes, of course, I can claim the promise of Romans 8:28 (that I heard quoted several times) in all the things that occur in my life. Events, occurrences, schedules and mishaps are not all about me; but of course they ARE all about Him IN me and in you and in every faithful child. How can He take every single one of His called children this weekend across multiple convention sites and make the paths of our lives converge into one good thing? It’s because we are called according to His purpose and we claim that promise from an infinitely resourceful God. As one of my grandchildren said in her speech, “Like I said, I can’t even imagine it. But it’s no wonder I can’t even imagine it. God said He can do exceedingly, abundantly more than I can even ask or imagine.” 

It strikes me on reflection that we are blessed in His family with so many intersections at a big event like Lads to Leaders. This (Nashville convention, this year) was the biggest convention in the history of Lads and it was full of wonderful cross-over reunions for most of us. 

Lads is a physical family reunion for many of us. I got to be with all of my grandchildren except 3 week-old Lily. I got to hear them all speak. I got to hear them all lead a song. I got to see two of them teach with puppets and I got to see two of them achieve high scores in Bible Bowl. One of them got the Keepers award and a couple of them achieved the Good Samaritan Award.  I got to hug and talk with cousins and sisters and brothers-in law and nieces and nephews. I’m so thankful for family.

Lads intersects with Polishing the Pulpit. Hundreds of PTP friends reunited in corridors and ballrooms. It made us remember good times and it made us say “I’ll see you this summer!” I’m so thankful for PTP.

Lads is an intersection of people from every congregation I’ve ever attended. There were people  with whom I grew up and people from Henderson and  Pulaski and Collierville and Jasper.  Great memories of rich blessings of friendship in Him just overwhelmed me. I’m so thankful for His providence. 

Lads is an intersection of prayer groups. Sisters pray with sisters. We become extremely close as we beg God together. But getting to hug sisters who are pleading for various sicknesses and trials is a gift. I thank God for the praying sisters. 

Lads is an intersection of the sixties-something me and the six-year-old me. People I’ve known from the Adamsville church for all my life walked up and said “I’m ____________.” Then there were big embraces and fond memories just came pouring back. I’m so thankful for a childhood among His faithful people. 

Lads is an intersection of Christian camps. Teen girls, over and over, shouted “Mrs. Cindy!” We took pictures and we said lots of “Are you coming this summer?” And there were lots of “OHHH yes! I can’t wait.”s. I’m thankful for youth events that bind them (and us) together.

Lads is an intersection of Diggers. Digging Deep is a bond of Bible study and fellowship that I do not take for granted! And seeing one or more of you Diggers at an event is a priceless collision!  This weekend, I saw hundreds.

Most importantly, Lads is a great intersection with the future of the kingdom. Of course, I know that it’s not likely that every single young person who participated this year will be in heaven. (That’s the way the devil works!) But every single one of them has the individual power from heaven to get there! I’m still going to pray for every one to be there, because He is the God of more than I can imagine!  I’m also praying that they all take the skills they are learning and just keep on using them year ‘round, year after year, to bring other souls to the cross. I’m so thankful for the display of a bright future for the kingdom. 

Praise God for the children. Praise god for the Kingdom. Of such IS the kingdom. 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

A Few, Very Biased Thoughts…

She just keeps pushing them, putting in the effort to keep them going, switching hands every now and then, breathing deep and pushing them again. This morning Hannah  woke up with an achy throat and body and she asked herself if she could really adult today. Then she put in a day of school, took them to piano and karate and gave the meds to the one who is getting past strep. She talked with their doctor and she postponed her own doctor appointment to keep their “swing” going. I asked her last night about doing something fun with a friend. She said “What would that even look like right now?’ She spoke twice last weekend at a ladies day and is gearing up to go speak four times at a retreat where we both will speak (and Colleyanna will, too.) Somehow she got one ready for a 59/60 on the Bible bowl test and she has three who are, altogether, doing 13 events at Lads to Leaders. Her house sometimes looks like a tornado has hit (like mine) and, on most weeks, a big colony of ants could probably live a long time in her van. She had to go around the outside of her house for one of the kids and make sure every window was locked last night before bed. Tonight she is vigilant with one who is afraid of the storms outside. If they only knew how big are the storms from which she daily protects them. (All good parents do this!) She travels four-plus hours (in a day) every other week to get the kids to an important appointment. She stays an extra 45 minutes or an hour after worship services so her kids can play foursquare and Frozen with the children of other faithful people. She has struggled through some hard things to keep them in the best academic and social place. Most of all, she is doggedly determined to give them the best spiritual place. She holds them up before God every day and night and she holds it together when I think I would buckle under the weight. She is thankful when I might be bitter; hopeful when I might surrender. I do not tell her enough, so Hannah Colley, I’m telling you: You are pretty amazing and amazingly pretty to the biased ones down the street. Papa and I are utterly exhausted trying to keep up with your crew and we cannot imagine how you must feel when your head hits the pillow for a precious few hours at night. I know I am biased in the biggest maternal way, but sometimes I have to express the big bias. I also know that your  job could not be done without the children of God who rally around you in a myriad of ways  (but especially in prayer) every single week. We are so proud of the amazing work you are doing, with His  blessings, in the kingdom,  through the three little people we love so much.

There are three more little people we love just as much in Jackson, Tennessee.  It’s these further-away little people who give us joy just as BIG, without quite so much of  the BIG-tired.  We are infinitely and daily grateful for the parents God has given Maggie and Ellis and Lily. We love them deeply, and we are so thankful they are so sufficient in Him and in each other in their Jackson home. The bias, again,  is self-evident, but we cannot thank Him enough for the kind of man Caleb Colley is; for the depth of his spiritual focus, the selflessness that characterizes his leadership and for the loving way He proclaims the precious gospel. We love what he writes, the great logician that he is, and the way he does it all with humility.  We thank God every day for Rebekah, who walks faithfully beside him and is the embodiment of faithful motherhood to Maggie and Ellis and Lily. We are amazed at the Bible knowledge she has put in the two little souls she’s already been teaching. She is the best disciplinarian mom we have ever seen and she does all this while organizing the women’s lectureship at North Jackson and writing books that are valuable to the sisterhood and putting together curriculum for children all over the kingdom, and speaking to ladies groups on a regular basis.  (As an aside, we are equally amazed at the artistic talent that she has given the kids, because we KNOW it did not come through any Colley genes.) 

I know it may sound self-serving to reflect and write about the spiritual qualities of these children I love so much. But, just because they are mine, should I fail to thank and encourage?  Anyway, if that’s the case, I don’t see why, so there…I said it. I’m so thankful that He has given me the inestimably joyful gift of children who walk in truth.  I did not do anything to deserve this gift. It is HIS blessing and the product of HIS truth and the influence of HIS people, but there is no greater joy ( 3 John 1: 4).

We can’t wait to make a trip to meet Lily. Did you enter your guess about her weight and birth time? https://thecolleyhouse.org/wp-admin/post.php?post=19056&action=edit The time is soon and this mammy has a place reserved in her arms, lap and heart already. 

Bless Your Heart by Cindy Colley

Mama’s K.I.S.S. #78: Nursery Sanitation Crew

As you know, if you’ve been reading, for quite some time, I’ve occasionally been running little installments called “Mama’s K.I.S.S.” I know that lots of readers could give many more and far more creative ideas than I can offer, but these installments are just a few tried and true and mostly old-fashioned ideas for putting service hearts in our kids.  This is number 78 of a list of one hundred ways we train our kids to serve. K.I.S.S. is an acronym for “Kids In Service Suggestions”.

Somebody in your congregation, if you are a young church, is already taking the time and effort to sanitize the nursery class each week. Every little plastic car that rolls on the table while they are singing “The wheels on the car go round and round…on the way to Bible class/“ has to be rubbed down with a germ-killing wipe. The linens on the changing table have to be washed and replaced. The table -top that has their little bucket safety seats has to be disinfected and the little clocks they hold during “Tick-tock, time for Bible class” do, too. The diaper pail has to be emptied.

Why not ask the nursery teacher if your teens can do this job for a month of Sundays? You can supervise them if they are young and inexperienced. It’s a great time to teach them how to sanitize while teaching them how to serve. (This one is on almost the same level as the washing of feet in the upper room. It’s not a pretty job. That pail has a stench. But it’s a really necessary job.) This service is valuable in the development of your young “department of sanitation.”

Then at the end of your month, leave a little surprise on the table for the teacher:  a little goody basket or a candle or a box of chocolates.  Include  a note that tells her how much she’s appreciated. After all, she may be the one who is changing the diapers AND emptying the pail. Include this verse in a card.

Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish (Matthew 18:14)