Tuesday morning a group of women gathered and prayed about how to weave "inner court" ministry to the Lord into our lives. The following are our notes from the time. I hope it is an encouragement:

Practicals for "pitching our tents toward His presence"

• The Lord gave a picture of a woman painting. Meaning: creative activities are a meeting place with the Lord (even things you have thought are not a good use of time).
• Feel free to ask others to watch your kids so you can have one on one time with the Lord.
• Invite a friend over to worship/pray and let the kids run around/play/do their own thing within that.
• Read the Word with your kids (their kids' Bible alongside yours), gleaning for yourself while engaging and teaching them.
• Fun kids' resources: The Fabulous Bentley Brothers on YouTube, jellytelly.com,
  
• Bible teaching
• Put up scripture around the house (laminated in the shower, dry erase marker on the mirror, etc), so as to ignite meditation on the Word.
• Worship (with kids/in front of the kids) •Incorporate a type of Suzanna Wesley "apron over the head"--be comfortable boldly worshiping/engaging with the Lord in your home as a sign & example to others (ex: Carrie's dad's unashamed singing to the Lord!)
  
• Renew a mindset of the Lord as your husband: loving him is a about your heart before it can be what am I doing for him? We also need periodic "dates" to have one on one with him.
• Speaking/praying in tongues as an act of faith & unity, agreeing with the Lord in unseen spiritual matters.
• Ask the Lord each morning if he wants you to fast, what from, in order to set yourself up for more intimacy through prayer that day. Quote worth remembering: "Self-pity is the fastest way to lose my grace [to fast]."
• Understand that we have immense control over the atmosphere of our home. Play worship music to intentionally stir up prayer & engages my spirit. Its a blessing to anyone who enters.
• Remember that we're laying a foundation for our kids--the highest place we go, they get to start!
• other resources: Bob Sorge sermon: "Embracing Your Inheritance"-when Jacob blesses his sons,
  
• 'Quotidian Mysteries'-how a mother's life is similar to monks',
  
• 'Practicing the Presence of God' by Brother Lawrence
• Spirit 105.3 will text a verse of the day to your phone--it is a great way to start your day focused on God. If you want to give it a try, text: 23754 with Bible in the message. See their website for details: http://spirit1053.com/textmessaging.php?articleID=61
  
• •Ask the Lord how secular humansim comes into my parenting where the focus is more on the kids' development, than on the 1st commandment.
  
• Integrate our kids into our pursuing/communing with the Lord.
• Ask the Lord how do I saturate my life with Him?