Get Back In Your Toddler Bed

I write this post at 2am because my son has started to develop bad sleeping habits. As a parent you know that at any age that effacts you as well, especially when your child is a 15 month old toddler. We are expecting our second son in just 3 short months. So our first has been in transition out of the nursery into his big boy room. He has a toddler bed that he has been sleeping in just fine, until the ladt week or 2. He has figured out that he can get out of his bed whenever he wants.

I decided that if letting him "cry it out" worked in the crib then it may be worth a shot in his big boy room. We have a monitor and anything hazardous like his night light is in full view so we know he is safe. Tonight I shut the door when we put him in bed and after 2 times of crying at his door for less then 2 minutes he put himself in bed and pulled his covers up over himself. SUCESS!!!

The night progresses, we get up with him 2 or 3 times and began playing the same game... Finally, I told my husband that I needed him to trust me. Our son's bedroom door was closed so I decided to let him cry it out. He cried then went and put himself in bed. He did this twice and he is now sleeping. SUCCESS!!!

As I was watching the monitor and waiting God showed me that often times this is what we do.

We are just like my toddler. We may be going through something that we don't like or even understand. We have gotten out of out safe place with God, out toddler bed, and we're at the bedroom door just crying!! Like my toddler who had no idea mommy was watching and very alert to his needs, we feel alone and are wondering where our Heavenly Father is and why is he not opening the door to pick us up and us back in bed?!

It is hard listening to your child cry, even for God. Maybe God is not answering our cry because He's eaiting for us to go climb back up in bed ourselves. A wise pastor once told me, "God will not do for you what you can do for yourself." Take this trial like Paul teaches us, with thanksgiving and praise!

Whatever your hurt is today, remember to give it to God! Stand strong in faith and be alert to the tasks God may need you to do on your own!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford

What Are You Counting?

While I was reading in 1 Chronicles, which seems to be a re-cap of everything I just read in 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings, I was struck with curiosity. Why was it such a big deal when King David took a census (a count) of all of his warriors?! (1 Chronicles 21) Joab was all puffy about having to do this because it was evil and then God punishes David for it. What's wrong with counting people?

So I did a little bit of reading on this matter and then it was all obvious. You see King David is the same little boy who killed the giant name Goliath. He is the same boy who was a shepherd. The same boy who was taken from his father's home to play the harp for King Saul so Saul wouldn't be tormented. David was the same warrior that fled from King Saul who was trying to kill him. This same man went on to become a "man after God's own heart" and one of the most famous Kings of Israel.

We see that God brought David up from a "lowly" position in an average family and through a whole mess of stuff! He used David to do great and mighty things!! Now in the middle of King David's reign when things are going great he decides that he should know just how awesome he is. He measures his awesomeness by how strong his army is.

The issue here is that King David is now becoming prideful. He is probably starting to rely on the strength of his army instead of the strength of God. This is all a heart condition! I believe if David would have went at this with the attitude of "let's take notice of how amazing and faithful God is by measuring the army He has built!", then there wouldn't have been an issue. God loves us and wants us to have great things in life. But, God also knows great things (possessions, stature, relationships, platforms, etc.) are temporary. God would rather us be poor and have humility and love for him then to be wealthy and only have our wealth.

So today I want to challenge you to take a moment and reflect on the priorities in your life. Ask yourself if this is a priority because it is something you're wanting to achieve a higher status for you, or is it a priority because out of this come glory to God? Make the necessary adjustments. God is a faithful and just God. He gives mercy and grace and will help you readjust your priorities!

~Awaken Us~
Brenna Stanford