Sometime in December, Brian woke up one morning and said, “I want us try something different today. Let’s start teaching the kids how to hear from God.”
He gathered us in the living room and pulled out his cell phone. Brian asked us if there were people each of us wanted to pray for as a family. We all had a few people on our hearts, even the kids, so Brian wrote all their names down in a new journal. He looked at the kids and said, “Okay, we’re going to try something different. We’re going to take one person or family at a time, and we’re going to set the timer on my cell phone for one minute. For one minute, I want us all to be quiet and see if God gives us pictures, words or senses for any of these people. We’ll wait for one minute for each person, so you kids don’t feel like it’s going to last forever. God speaks to me and your mom so we can encourage others, and I think He has a lot He wants to say to you kids too.” Pascaline and Blaze’s eyes were big.
Can I say that ever since Brian started this exercise in our family, every thing has changed. We do this a couple times a week. Our journal is already filling up with dozens of pictures and words for people. The kids have had ideas to mail a certain card or gift to another kid they know. And sometimes they have pictures that blow our mind. It’s been an amazing adventure.
The other day, Blaze, who is only four years old, had a picture for me. And when he explained the picture to me, I felt like it was not only for me but so many people right now. So without wanting to offend anyone, I thought I’d share it today.
When the timer went off, Blaze piped up and said “Mama, I had a big picture and it wasn’t about Batman Lego’s!” (up until this point, Blaze had a sense that we should give every person Batman Lego’s. ;))
“Mama, there was a wide sea that stretched so far, farther than I could see. Across the sea stretched a breakable bridge. You were on the bridge mom and holding on tight because the bridge was so breakable. Then sharks started jumping out of the water, trying to bite you and eat up the bridge and you! Just when you thought the bridge would break, God’s hands swooped down, surrounded you, and led you across the bridge. The breakable bridge broke apart behind each step you took, but God led you all the way across. You were never hurt. The sharks never bit you. The breakable bridge never broke on you.”
You can imagine that I sat there literally stunned. God was speaking to my heart right through my four year old.
I had to share this one with you b/c in the last couple weeks I’ve received several emails and had several phone calls with photographers, newbies and pros, who feel like their bridge is breaking from underneath them. Economic times make the bridge feel more unstable than ever. And I’m sure we could all list a handful of sharks that feel like they are waiting for us to fail and fall into the water.
And yet, I do believe that God is in the midst of all this. Blaze is right. God is reaching His hand out to us and covering us, leading us, helping us to the other side. He has not forgotten you or me. If you feel like you are barely keeping your footing on that breakable bridge today, I pray you would feel His peace surround you. His hand guide you. And your hope refreshed, that yes, you will make it to the other side.
On a side note, I want to wish my wonderful, amazing husband a happy birthday. Brian’s birthday was on Saturday this last weekend, and we didn’t really get to celebrate him b/c I was sick from all the immunization shots. If you have a minute, will you wish him a happy birthday too? This one man has ushered so much healing and restoration into my life. And to watch him teach our kids how to listen to God…how does a wife express how much something like that means? Words cannot express how much my heart celebrates Brian.
Happy Birthday honey. I love you with all my heart.
Happy Birthday Brian! I hope you have a very special day! You deserve it! Thank you for all you both do everyday! HUGS
Happy Birthday, Brian! May this next year be full of wonderful moments and endless blessings.
Me Ra, thank you so much for sharing this initimate glance into your family. It really spoke to me as I’m sure it did to many others.
Oh, so wonderfully written. What a special family you two have and an inspiration. Your willingness and seeking out of God’s voice blows Chris and I away. We love you both.
What a great way to start my day! Thanks so much for the encouraging words…I love God’s amazing ways!
Brian, what a great leader and example you are from the Lord! I truly admire that. Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday Brian!
Thanks for sharing and HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY to Brian!!! I imagine with the way you guys approach life, any particular day of celebrating isn’t that important when you are thankful for each special moment or day that comes your way. 😉
Happy Birthday to my other favorite Brian. 🙂 You (and Me Ra) have inspired and led me to more than you can imagine…
What a gorgeous post, in so many ways. I’m a little speechless. 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRIAN!
What a beautiful post.. I know a whole lot of people are feeling that breakable bridge these days! It is a scary time in this world, but what a wonderful reminder of God’s hand leading us and keeping us from harm. And that such a message could be delivered through a 4 year old? WOW!!! Just shows what God is ready to tell us when we take a moment to sit down and really open our ears and hearts! Awesome!!!
Happy belated Birthday to Brian!!! What an amazing husband, daddy, friend and source of inspiration you are!!!
Thank you for another beautiful and timely post that God used to speak to my fearful heart. What an amazing lesson you are teaching your children and the rest of us who get to glimpse into your life through your openness.
Happy Birthday Brian.
Happy Birthday Brian!
You are a wonderful father and leader for your family. But we are all blessed to have you touch our lives.
i am covered with goosebumps right now. first, i just love what you are instilling in your children. what an amazing blessing it is to hear the voice of God and to teach your children to listen is so inspiring.
it took me years to know God was speaking to me and how to listen to that voice.
happiest of birthdays to you Brian!!! may God send down his richest blessings on you and your family!
Happy Birthday Brian! Me Ra, Pascaline, and Blaze are so lucky to have you in their lives!
Me Ra: thanks so much for sharing Blaze’s “picture” with us! It warmed my soul!
Happy Birthday Professor!~ 😉
WOW…..you have no idea how I needed to hear someone say these words. Thank You Me Ra. Happy Bithday to Brian!!!
Beautiful. What an inspiration! I loved this idea! I remember a very influential person in my life (who was extremely successful both spiritually and professionally) said to me in her late 60s… “If there is one thing I wished I would have done better, the one thing I think would have been the absolute most important to teach my children, it would have been how to hear the voice of the Lord in their own life. How to personally receive that revelation and direction. That one thing is what makes the greatest difference in all of our lives.” I agree. And Brian’s idea is fantastic (and surely inspired) for teaching this to your own children. Especially from a young age! What a great way to encourage their faith, and also…to learn from them!
Happy Birthday Brian! Keep being so great!
MeRa – beautiful story. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Brian – Happy Birthday! May God continue to bless you both in your marriage, your family and your career!!! Hope that you celebrate well with your loved ones near.
Sara
I love it! You two are amazing parents.
And you don’t know how much I LOVE that Blaze was seeing batman logos! LOVE IT!
Thank you for sharing this piece of your family with us. God gave Blaze such an amazing picture. Amazing.
Hey Brian! Happy birthday! You don’t look a day over 20!
What a beautiful picture God gave Blaze! Sometimes I wonder what I am missing out on when I am not listening to God because of the amazing things He shows us when we are quiet and listening. 🙂 How beautiful that you and Brian are teaching your kids to be still and listen. (I am logging this in my memory for when my hubby and I have kiddos. And yes, we still plan to have kids even after all the stories you mom’s were telling at the PUG last week) 🙂
MeRa, it was so wonderful to meet you at the PUG! You are such an encouragement to me, and to so many others! Thank you for ALL you do to encourage others. What a wonderful gift God has given you and Brian!
And Brian – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
I hope Brian has a happy happy birthday!
Your family continues to awe me! I love hearing the stories of your kids!!!
-abbey
This was very encouraging to read. Thank you for sharing your heart and being so open 🙂
Happy Birthday Brian! You are one lucky guy to have MeRa, but she is equally as lucky to have you. You both rock!
Happy Birthday Brian!
On a side note, this blog post was exactly what I needed to refresh from what seemed like an impossible new year. Thanks Me Ra and thanks to you Brian!
He truly works in mysterious ways! I honestly believe that God speaks through my children everyday to me. What a fun exercise, I will have to try it out with my own!
Happy Birthday Brian!!
Happy Birthday to Brian!!!
Thank you for the wonderful message. I will be hanging on to that.
what a fantastic post. wonderful! what great leadership from brian. that’s good encouragement for me.
happy birthday brian! remember, it’s your way…all day!
so after I wiped the tears from my eyes (Blaze, I love you and your breakable bridge – you’re an amazing little boy!!!!) , my husband came in and I asked him why one earth he wouldnt let me take a picture like that of him? He said, “Cause that guys actually GOOD looking.” 😛 *sigh – I love that photo of brian! I wish Eric would let me take his picture!!
Happy Birthday Brian!!!!!!!!
That was just a lovely post. Thank you for sharing.
Happy Birthday Brian!!!
Happy Birthday Brian! Wishing you the most special and memorable year to come! You deserve it!
Out of the mouths of babes…amazing. What a proud mom you must be! And a belated Happy Birthday, Brian! Hope this year brings you much joy and many blessings!
It’s amazing how little ones are innocent enough to hear God’s word and understand it while us adults have a hard time when the obvious is in front of us.
Happy Birthday, Brian!!!!! I hope your birthday is amazing!
Happy Birthday Brian! Thanks for that little one armed hug at the table at the PUG meeting. Do you remember doing that? I didn’t even know I needed one until I got it! You make a phenomenal “sensitive ponytail man”, and you don’t even need the ponytail!!!
Oh and I just shared this post with my two kids…thank you
What an AMAZING idea, Brian! I will have to do this wih my girls. Love it!
Hope you have a WONDERFUL year! Happy Birthday!!
Happy Belated Birthday, Brian. Thanks for taking a few moments to freely talk with me about photography & business (in Chicago). They meant the world. Today, I was driving home from a newborn session saying, ‘Thank you, thank you.’ Pictures are turning out more like I imagine & have been wanting them to look for a very long time. Thank you for opening this door to me & giving me new tools for a trade that is so enjoyable. Thank you.
Wow! Teaching your kiddos to hear the voice of God. That is AMAZING!! Your kids will never ever forget this Brian. How many of us wish we learned to hear God’s voice alot earlier in life!
Happy Birthday!
awesome post Me Ra !!
happy birthday Brian !!
<3
Aw, how could you not post a comment to a blogpost like that?? brian, u are the man of the hour/day/week/month/year. what a beautiful, inspired idea to teach hour children. and me ra, to hear your child interpret God’s message to you — I can just picture your face, listening, realizing, as the words spilled out of blaze’s mouth.
happy birthday brian! that picture of you is adorable, too!
Happiest of birthdays Brian! I hope that this year is your best ever and you are richly blessed. You are indeed a blessing to your family and an inspiration to many. Keep up the good work!
Thanks for sharing Me Ra. What a truly special story. 🙂
WOW! What a HUGE blessing to have a man lead your family in this way! Happy Birthday Brian…I would sing the birthday song to ya in Italian Opera (used to work at Macaron Grill) maybe a rain check…Thank you Me Ra for sharing…now I’m encouraged to do this for my children…I thought they were too young. My mother has been wanting me too…I think I will…thank you.
That was the perfect way to end my devotional. It helps me persevere and continue to pray that my household will one day serve Jesus together. I wanted to thank you for your heartfelt offer of prayer at last weeks PUG. Your genuine heart and demonstration of the love of Jesus is inspiring. You truly are a ‘good and faithful servant.’
WOW. That was amazing! “From the lips of children & infants…you have ordained praise” Happy belated birthday, Brian!!
The bridge has never been so long or so unstable, but God is good and I know he has a safe landing for my family…He is carrying us as we hold on with all of our might.
Me Ra- I know I sent some prayer request e-mails, if you care for updates, my photograpy blog has turned into updates, prayer requestes and personal therapy for me on all the insanity. There is also a new album on FB.
Brian- I always think of you on your special day cause you and my sister share the same birth date. I hope you have a blessed year that far surpasses your visions and dreams.
I look forward to being back in Oregon as a family so Scott and I can try starting a journal with our own children. Thank you for sharing Blaze’s encouraging vision. It is just what I needed to hear right now.
Thank you for sharing. I LOVE this idea. I hope you don’t mind, but I am stealing it. I have an 8 year old, a 5 year old and a 20 month old. We have a regular time set aside to pray for friends and families. We have a tradition of keeping all the Christmas cards we receive in a basket. Then throughout the year, we pull one each night and pray for the family represented. I have never had a great idea yet though on how to teach them how to hear from God. So THANK YOU.
I hadn’t finished reading your post when I made my comment. I was just so excited about what I HAD read that I had to comment. Then I went back and read the rest of the post.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAN!!!!
What a sweetie pie! Happy a little late Birthday!
I am feeling like that lately….like my bridge is breaking….ugh!
Happy Birthday Brian!!!! 🙂
Joyeux Anniversaire Brian! I am grateful for all the support you an Me Rah Koh give to women photographers. I am an Beginner with a capital “B,” and I greatly appreciate everything you do here. I DREAM of meeting you both one day at a seminar.
Santé!, Nicole Renée
Love that story! I have been bad about doing my 15 minute journal like the one I sent to you. This looks like a great alternative on days when I just can not get to it! Better yet, a great way to start or end each day!!
Reminds me of something I wrote last spring… ” I sat at the computer in my office while Jake (age 5) waited for me at the door about 15 feet away. This is a typical scene around here and one that causes much guilt as a working mother. Until I think about what the waiting can sometimes mean to a small child in the presence and safety of a loving parent. I realized how quite Jake had been for some time. I became still and glanced at the computer screen and the words “God’s voice speaks” jumped out at me. I looked at Jake in a flash and he said “Mom, I think God is only in the wind” (as opposed to everywhere as previously considered). I met that comment with a closer physical proximity and a sacred space of silence and reflecting. After some time I said. “Did you ever consider that maybe the wind is one of the ways God talks to us, too?” I gave him some space to soak that in and then said “sometimes I think maybe when I look at a flower I can feel God with me. And I sit with that flower like you are sitting with the wind right now”. A little more silence and then “Mom, I think God is also trying to talk to me when I tune my guitar… and when I strum”.
Just had to share that with you! Thanks for the great idea. I’m off to find a blank journal! Hope to say hi in person in Vegas! 🙂
Happy Birthday Brian!
You are such a fun guy!
I wish you much happiness & peace in your life 🙂
Wow! I did not expect to be so inspired and encouraged by God, through you. I have heard your name as a fellow photographer, but I didn’t know anything about you I simply thought I’d check out your site. Thank you for encouraging us “newbies” cause there are so many times I wonder if I’ll ever have enough clients to make an actual living but I know it is what I’m meant to do as mine and my husbands way of ministering to others and giving them something to hold onto via the pictures we take for them. I also struggle as a mom raising little ones while trying to run a business from home.Thank you for the encouragement to stop and listen to what God is putting on their little hearts and also for the encouragement to model Christ to them at every age.