Families With Grace

Helping Christian moms create homes filled with grace, love & faith

Prayers for your children: Part 2

7 More prayers parents can pray for their children

Prayers for your children: Part 2

As Christian moms and dads, we have a responsibility to our children in so many ways from teaching them and caring for them to praying for them. In fact, prayers for your children is one of the most important tools you have as a parent.

While I pray daily for my children, I sometimes can get stuck in a bit of a prayer rut. I can find myself praying for my kids in the same ways or about immediate needs of theirs. However, I want to be intentional about praying for all aspects of their lives and their futures.

So, I am continuing with two weeks of prayers for my kids. And I’d love for you to join me on this journey of intentional prayers for your children. Today is part two of the prayers. Prayers for your children part 1 includes seven Bible verses and prayers just like this post does. You can pray them in any order. Combine them to end up with two weeks of intentional prayers for your children!

Why we should keep praying for our children

As we are continuing on with prayers for our children, I want to encourage you to keep going and keep praying. In my life, discouragement is one of the tools Satan uses most to get to me. Through the years, I have learned the best way to combat that is with prayer. I talk to God when I’m feeling discouraged about what I’m doing and whether it’s even worth it. I’m honest with Him and ask for help, wisdom and discernment.

And sometimes we can even feel discouraged in our prayer lives. I have prayed for situations and people so many times and am not able to see God at work. Yet, through faith and what His Word tells me, I know He is working even when I cannot see. So I mustn’t give up and neither should you!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

The Bible constantly reminds us to pray without stopping. As we continue on with intentional prayers for our children this week, may we devote ourselves to prayer, be watchful and be thankful that God is working all the time.

Their mental health

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

God, I ask that you be at work in my children’s minds. Lord, help them with their mental health. Cast out any anxiety, fear and self-doubt they have. Replace it with goodness and strength that comes from you. Fill my children with your peace and calmness so they may live fully in your power and love. Protect them from any influence that brings harm to their mental wellbeing. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Their relationship with God

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5 (NIV)

Father, be with my children. Open their hearts and minds fully to you. If they do not know you as personal savior, help them to come to know you as personal savior. And if they do know you, Lord, strengthen and deepen their faith. Help them to stay connected to you in spite of all they have going on and the temptations in the world. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Their relationship with siblings

“Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.”

1 John 2:10 (NIV)

God, grow my children’s relationships with one another. Help them to love each other and treat each other with kindness. Give them grace and compassion for one another. Build their relationship with each other so that they may be friends as well as siblings. Lord, keep hard feelings from growing and festering among them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Their relationship with parents

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
   and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
They are a garland to grace your head
    and a chain to adorn your neck.”

Proverbs 1:8-9 (NIV)

Father, I ask that you help my children to have a good relationship with my spouse and me. Lord, give us wisdom as we parent them to be the kind of parents they need to raise them according to your will and plan for their lives. Help both our children and us to show grace, love and compassion to one another. Keep us close as they grow. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Their physical health

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

3 John 1:2 (NIV)

God, please be with my children physically. Meet their physical needs and help them to remain healthy in every way. Lord, let their bones continue to grow strong and their bodies function well. Help them to enjoy good health. And if they do have health struggles, Father, help us to turn to you and remember that you are always in control and always good. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

A prayer for your children's safety: Father, protect my children. Keep them safe when they are with me and safe when they are without me. Put a hedge of protection around them to protect them from the evil one and his schemes. Keep them safe in every way, everywhere they are. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Their safety

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”

2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)

Father, protect my children. Keep them safe when they are with me and safe when they are without me. Put a hedge of protection around them to protect them from the evil one and his schemes. Keep them safe in every way, everywhere they are. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Their future

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

God, give my children wisdom and discernment as they grow and decide the path for their lives. Help them to seek and find your will and plan for them. Lord, renew and refresh their minds so they can be open to what you have for them. Open and close the right doors for them according to your will and plan. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Find prayer cards with these prayers for your children on Etsy

Prayers for your children: Part 1

7 Prayers parents can pray for their children

As Christian moms and dads, we have a responsibility to our children in so many ways from teaching them and caring for them to praying for them. In fact, prayers for your children is one of the most important tools you have as a parent.

Prayers for you children: 7 prayers parents can pray for their children

When I was pregnant with each of my children, I prayed for them. Now that they are here, I continue to pray for them. As a mom, in fact, I pray for my children more than I pray for myself. And I think that’s OK. God has blessed me with these children and I want to honor Him in raising them.

But sometimes, I can get a bit stuck in a prayer rut. I can find myself praying for my kids in the same ways or about immediate needs of theirs. However, I want to be intentional about praying for all aspects of their lives and their futures.

So, I decided to start with two weeks of prayers for my kids. And I’d love for you to join me on this journey of intentional prayers for your children over the next couple of weeks (or however long it takes you). We’re starting today with seven prayers and I’ll share seven more next week in Prayers for your Children: Part 2.

What the Bible says about prayer

Even before we get into the actual prayers for our kids, I would be remiss if I didn’t start with the Bible. In the verses about prayer I looked up before writing this post, some verses in Jeremiah stuck out to me. Many Christians are familiar with Jeremiah 29:11, which says in the NIV, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

I love God’s promise to secure our futures as His children. I love it even more to know He’ll secure the future of my own children. But, the two verses that follow this one really jumped out to me.

 “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (NIV)

God doesn’t just have a plan for our future and our children’s future, but He also listens to us and makes Himself available to us when we seek Him. It’s with that in mind that I want to enter into this period of prayers for our children.

Their day

“This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

Father, I ask that you be with my children as they go throughout their day today. Lord, watch over and protect them in every way everywhere that they are. Surround them with Godly influences. Help them to have the strength they need for anything and everything they may face today. Give them courage to stand up for you and stay strong in their faith. Remind them of your goodness and presence throughout the day. Help them to conquer their challenges and count their blessings. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Their friends

“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

Proverbs 12:26 (NIV)

Lord, be with my children and their friendships. Help them to find the right friends who will be good influences on them. Lead them to friends who love and serve you. Father, be at work in their relationship with their friends. And if there is a friend in their life they need to move away from, help them to know that. Bless them with good friends who will uplift them, encourage them, make them laugh and be good for them. Protect their friends and help them to know you even better. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Their teachers

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”

Titus 2:7-8 (NIV)
A prayer for your children's faith

Father, I ask that you guide my children’s teachers. Even if they don’t know you, Lord, help them to be a good influence on my children. Bless my children with teachers who have integrity and are knowledgeable about their subjects. Help their teachers to understand what my children need and help them to meet those needs as my kids grow and learn. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Their faith

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Lord, help my children to know you more completely and fully. Help them to truly understand what it means to have a personal relationship with you and walk in confidence and faith with you as they go through life. Father, help them to not remember a time they haven’t known about you. Grow their relationship with you. Soften their hearts and open their minds to all you have to teach them. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Their future spouse

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”

2 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV)

Father, guide my children to the right spouse at the right time for them. And, Lord, I ask that you be with their future spouse now. Surround that person with good, Godly influences and help them to come to know you as personal Savior early on in their life. Protect their hearts and minds in every way so they are whole and ready when they meet my children. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Their wisdom & discernment

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

James 1:5 (NIV)

Lord, I ask that you be with my children and give them the wisdom and discernment they need. Help them to know your will and the path you have for their lives. Father, help them to identify and turn away from any person or other influence who draws them away from you. Protect them as they grow and learn. Surround them with people who encourage them in their walk with you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Their spiritual protection

“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”

Proverbs 18:10 (NIV)

Father, protect my children spiritually. Remove any spirit tempting them. I rebuke the hold of Satan around my children in the name of Jesus. Strengthen them and protect them from spiritual attacks. Lord, help them to know they can always run to you and you will keep them safe. Keep them from those who want to draw them away from their walk with you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Find prayer cards with these prayers for your children on Etsy

8 Mexican recipes your family will love

Easy Mexican recipes you can make for dinner tonight!

8 Mexican recipes your family will love!

When it comes to cuisine, I can count on Mexican cuisine to almost always be a hit with my family. In fact, I have shared more Mexican recipes on here than any other type of cuisine. Since I share recipes for things we actually eat, I guess that makes sense.

So I decided it was time to pull them together into one handy post so you can easily find some Mexican recipes when you’re planning a quick and easy family dinner. I love recipes that don’t take a long time or a lot of special ingredients. All of these recipes fit into that category!

Baked quesadillas

This easy baked quesadilla recipe is one that I’ve been making for years. I wanted to figure out a way to make quesadillas that weren’t greasy but were crispy. And I wanted to be able to make multiple quesadillas at a time. Of all the Mexican recipes I’m sharing, this one is the easiest to customize for the various tastes in your family. My daughter and I love these quesadillas with chicken. My guys like them with taco meat or bacon. I plan to try making them with pulled pork soon because it’s my latest go-to meat!

Easy baked quesadilla recipe

Taco pizza

If I were to pick another type of food that tends to go over well with my family, pizza would be it. So it’s no surprise that combining pizza and tacos works well. This taco pizza used a crescent roll crust, which makes prep even easier. Drizzle it with a bit of French salad dressing (or maybe salsa) and you’ll be in love!

An easy, delicious taco pizza recipe

Taco ranch meatball soup

When it comes to Mexican recipes, this one is probably far from authentic, but it uses the flavors of tacos so well that I had to include it in this list. This taco ranch meatball soup recipe is yummy. The real star of the dish is the meatballs. Even my husband and son who aren’t big on eating meat love these meatballs. They are just that good. It’s easy, hearty and oh-so-delicious!

Taco ranch meatball soup recipe

Taco cornbread bake

The cornbread base of this taco cornbread bake comes from a box mix and adds just the right flavor. Corn and Mexican flavors pair well together. I like this taco cornbread bake because you get that flavor without the corn. It’s something different. Of all the recipes, this one is the least attractive in appearance but trust me, it’s scrumptious!

Taco cornbread bake recipe

Stuffed peppers skillet

I first made this stuffed peppers skillet at my daughter’s request. I made some tweaks to it, and it’s definitely one of our favorite Mexican recipes. Using a boxed rice mix as a base, this stuffed peppers skillet is delicious and is a great way to sneak in some extra veggies for those who aren’t big veggie eaters!

Stuffed peppers skillet recipe

Pantry salsa

I live in the Midwest. Getting fresh vegetables for salsa year-round isn’t always the easiest or cheapest! Keeping them fresh can also be a challenge. But this pantry salsa recipe uses ingredients you’ll find in your pantry, including canned veggies, to come together into a delightful dip for your tortilla chips!

Easy pantry salsa recipe

Taco soup

My family loves this taco soup recipe. It is in our regular rotation. I love how quickly and easily it comes together. My husband, daughter and I like it most in a bowl that we dip some corn or tortilla chips into as we eat. The soup is thick enough, though, that my son prefers it wrapped in a tortilla with some sour cream and cheese like a taco. No matter how you eat it, though, it’s a quick and yummy weeknight dinner option!

Taco soup: A 20-minute delicious weeknight dinner!

Baked sopapillas

And you can’t forget about dessert! These easy baked sopapillas use flour tortillas and are ready in just a few minutes. They have a sweet, cinnamon flavor without being too strong. Of all the desserts I make, this is definitely one of the easiest!

Easy baked sopapillas recipe

Why breastfeeding in private works best for me

How privately breastfeeding my children is the right choice for us

I wrote these words originally back in April of 2013 when my youngest was a couple of months old and my oldest was 3. This is part of my story of breastfeeding and what worked best for my children and me.

Sometimes I read something that really irks me. This was the case last week when I came across a link to an article titled “If you don’t support breastfeeding in public, you don’t support breastfeeding” on Huffington Post. It made me roll my eyes. And it made my blood pressure rise a notch or two.  Let me explain.

First, I’m proud that nursing is working for my son and me. I had to exclusively pump milk for my now 3-year-old and that left me with many mixed emotions. Forming a working nursing relationship with my son has been precious to me, even during the times when I’m exhausted and seriously doubting my decision to nurse. (I’d wager every nursing mother has had those moments and powered through them.)

Why breastfeeding in private works best for me

However, I don’t feel like I have to nurse my son in front of everyone to be proud that nursing is working for us. It’s our own private journey we’ve taken together. Sure, at home I nurse him in front of my 3-year-old and my husband. I’ve nursed discreetly a couple of times in front of my mom, but that’s where I draw the line. If anyone else is at our house I go to another room with the door closed.

The main reason I breastfeed in private has to do with myself.

Here’s the important message why: I do this for my own comfort. My OWN comfort. I think my extended family would be supportive should I stay near them and nurse my son. However, I’m not comfortable that way, even with a nursing cover. For now, at just over two months in, I find the nursing cover almost creates more trouble than help. I still need to see him and what he’s doing. I would be too uncomfortable to nurse sans cover in front of others for my own modesty reasons and just plain comfort. (Just so you know, my own modesty includes not showing my breasts, cleavage or even bare belly.) And so, my boy and I head off on our own during feeding times.

Not everyone needs to be part of my breastfeeding journey.

Second, random strangers are not invited to be part of my breastfeeding experience. I long ago had to get over the judging looks I’d sometimes get in public when I gave my daughter a bottle. At first I wanted to scream at those people that I was giving her breastmilk. I wanted to scream even louder that they should mind their own business and just be happy I’m feeding my child. Please know that I have no problem with formula-feeding moms. We all do what is best for our babies. Keeping them fed is most important no matter how we do it. I worked through those feelings last time and I refuse to let them they creep up this time. My choice is to either nurse in the car, which I’ve done a couple of times, or to pump and take milk with me.

And I know that pumping and taking a bottle gets some moms in a tizzy. They decry the torture of the breast pump. As someone who has logged hours upon hours upon hours upon hours hooked to a breast pump, I can say I’ve never found it torturous. In fact, the pump has been kinder to me than my baby. It never turns its head away while still attached to me. It never gets mad and bites down. My breast pump just stays attached and keeps a steady rhythm.

They also decry supply issues. These are the same kind of women who would say that you can’t build and maintain a milk supply with a breast pump. They irritated me last time around, too. I have the proof that’s possible since my daughter got breast milk from me via a pump and bottle for her entire first year and just beyond. Yes. It can be done.

I know that right now my milk supply isn’t completely established, so I have to be careful. Supply is established at 12 weeks; I’ll hit 10 weeks tomorrow. I know these things even more so based on my previous experience. Because of that, I’m careful about pumping and making sure that if I miss a feeding from the tap with my little man that I’m pumping enough around that feeding time so my supply doesn’t suffer.

Just last week, for example, my husband and I had a chance to go to dinner and a movie. I took my pump along with the car adapter. We parked behind the movie theater so I could pump before we went in since my son was getting a bottle at home from my mom. This time around I’ve pumped extra milk to have a bit of a stash built up. So I’d daresay that pumping has actually helped me build and increase my supply in conjunction with nursing. And it gives me a bit of a cushion to know I have milk for my son in case something happens and we need it in a pinch.

My baby drinks faster from a bottle.

The other benefit to giving my son a bottle is that feeding him goes faster. He takes a bottle in 10 minutes. With nursing, he takes twice that or more by taking at least 10 minutes per side. Having 20 minutes to sit anywhere in public is often a challenge. So, I’m more comfortable with a bottle. Thus far he’s had a bottle at church, two restaurants and two doctor’s appointments. He’s not minded. He’s had a chance to actually get his fill before we had to switch activities, and I’ve pumped within an hour at most of each of these bottles. We’re both happier.

Most importantly, this makes me most comfortable and at ease so it benefits my baby the most. We’re both more relaxed.  I know how I’d feel nursing in public. The thought of it makes me feel antsy. That’s never a good feeling to associate with nursing. And it’s sure not helpful to my son who picks up on my emotions and reacts to them.

I don’t owe it to society to breastfeed in public. It’s not going to further advance breastfeeding. I only owe it to my baby to make sure he’s fed. And I will choose to do that in a way that feels most comfortable to me.

Breastfeeding in public doesn’t change anyone’s mind.

To say that I don’t support breastfeeding because I don’t nurse in public is offensive and downright incorrect. I have proven that I support breastfeeding by tying myself to a pump for a year to make sure my daughter got breastmilk. I have proven it by allowing my son to latch on and use my breasts for sustenance when, quite frankly, sometimes I’d rather be doing something else — like sleeping. It’s not about me, though. It’s about my children getting breastmilk. I’m happy to provide that for them.

What I support most is feeding babies however works best and is most comfortable for them and their mommies. For some that’s with formula. For some it’s with pumped milk through a bottle. Others nurse directly at the breast. Still others use a combination of methods. For me, I am most comfortable giving a bottle in public or going to the car. If a nursing mama is comfortable nursing in public, she should go for it. I don’t have an issue with anyone else nursing in public. I just know that it’s not for me and I don’t feel I should be chastised for that.

And I am not keeping nursing on the back burner by not nursing in public. Seeing me nurse in the middle of the mall is not going to change anyone’s mind about breastfeeding just as seeing political posts on my Facebook News Feed is not going to change my mind about my own political views. I don’t owe it to society to nurse in public. It’s not going to further advance breastfeeding. I only owe it to my baby to make sure he’s fed. And I will choose to do that in a way that feels most comfortable to me.

Taco soup recipe

This taco soup recipe is easy to make and delicious!

When it comes to food, Mexican flavors are always a hit for my family. I know if I make taco or Mexican anything, it will likely be a hit, even for my pickier eaters. And this taco soup recipe is definitely one of those recipes. All four of us like this recipe.

Taco soup: A 20-minute delicious weeknight dinner!

My husband, daughter and I eat it as soup using corn chips to scoop it up in. My son prefers it wrapped in a tortilla shell with some sour cream and cheese to eat it like a taco. It’s thick enough that you can do it either way. It’s a hearty taco soup that comes together quickly and easily.

While my family loves tacos and nachos, I try to work in the same flavors in different ways to keep our menu more interesting. I’ve shared recipes before for taco ranch meatball soup, taco pizza, taco cornbread bake, easy baked quesadillas, stuffed peppers skillet, pantry salsa and easy basked sopapillas. This taco soup recipe fits right in!

Time to cook

The base of this taco soup is meat. I use ground beef for this, but you could also use ground turkey or even chicken if your family prefers. I usually use about 1/2 pound of ground beef, because my family isn’t big on meat. But when I recently made it and took photos, I used a full 1 pound of ground beef because my parents were eating with us and I wanted to have plenty to serve. Cook the meat first in a large skillet or pot. Drain it and keep it in the same large skillet or pot.

Next, you basically add in everything else: tomato sauce, corn, enchilada sauce and chili seasoning. If your family likes black beans, add them in here as well. My daughter and I like black beans, but my husband and son don’t. So I leave the black beans on the side. (I buy canned black beans, drain them and put them in a bowl. The soup heats them just fine when you add them in!)

Taco soup recipe ingredients in the skillet

Stir everything together and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes to let the flavors really combine and everything to heat through.

Taco soup cooking on the stovetop

The soup is a thick and hearty soup that is perfect for scooping with corn chips or tortilla chips!

The thick and hearty taco soup is great for scooping with corn chips or tortilla chips.

Time to serve

Once the soup is finished simmering, you’re ready to serve it up. You can put corn chips or tortilla chips in your bowl first and then add the taco soup, but we don’t do it that way. Instead, we serve the chips on the side for scooping the soup with.

Taco soup in the bowl

I also suggest topping it with shredded cheese and sour cream. It’s so yummy!

Taco soup topped with shredded cheese and sour cream

Taco soup

This hearty taco soup recipe is easy and delicious. It's a great family dinner that even your pickiest eaters will love.
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
  • 1 15 oz. can black beans drained
  • 1 15 oz. can whole kernel corn drained
  • 1 10-oz. can red enchilada sauce
  • 1/2 envelope (0.5 oz.) chili seasoning mix
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese for topping
  • 1/2 cup sour cream for topping

Instructions
 

  • Cook the ground beef in a large skillet or a pot. Crumble and chop it well. When it is browned, drain the excess fat and return to the same skillet or pot.
  • Add in the tomato sauce, black beans (unless you are serving them on the side), corn, enchilada sauce and chili seasoning mix.
  • Bring the taco soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Serve in bowls topped with shredded cheese and sour cream. (This pairs well with corn chips or tortilla chips for dipping and scooping!)
Keyword family dinner, kid friendly, Mexican recipe, taco, taco soup, weeknight dinner
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