History for breakfast

It’s not unusual to see the history book with on our dining table, tucked among the breakfast things.

Our school day begins with prayer and then a history lesson, often while our son eats.

Last fall I discovered that our son’s interest in history grew a great deal if I could relate the people or place we were studying into something or someone he’s familiar with.

So, our American history lessons are often dotted with family.

Like the day after we read about Sherman’s march in the Civil War.

I read through an old family letter which told about my grandfather’s grandpa.

“On November 16, 1864 he enlisted for one year as a private in the Union army, (Company C, 17th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry) at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He joined his company on January 29,1865 at Pocotaligo, South Carolina. At enlistment he had given his age as 18 and used the name John Shuck. Shuck was his mother’s maiden name. (At some point they discovered his real age; 16) he was drummer boy in General Sherman’s army. Atlanta was burned on November 15th 1864, and the march to the sea was started immediately. Sherman entered Savannah in mid-December and started the march North in late January 1865. Through an affidavit signed by Grandpa we know he was on the march from Savannah to Goldsboro, North Carolina. The soldiers still plundered and laid waste the land. It was cold, wet and no tents were provided. Grandpa suffered from rheumatism and consumption in the winter and spring of 1865. Grandpa was honorably discharged on July 14, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.”

Although, he was interested by the fact that his grandfather was part of a famous march, Jase wasn’t glad about the suffering it caused to many, nor was he happy to hear about the illness of his grandfather, which marked his life permanently.

He was very glad the Civil War put an end to slavery in the United States.

This sparked questions and he wanted to hear more about Grandpa John.

Our history lesson turned into an extended family heritage study.

This rolled into Grandma Thekla and other moments of history, like the Chicago fire.

Grandpa lost everything he had, but both Grandma and their first child were safe, because both Mother and daughter had been sent back to Germany to visit her family as Grandma wasn’t feeling well with their second child.

Grandma’s doctor had prescribed an ocean voyage to help Grandma’s morning sickness and God used it to keep both Grandma, her expected baby and their little daughter safe.

(Not to mention that my great grandfather was the last of their six children.)

Grandpa John and Grandma Thekla

That day’s history lesson/family heritage were an opportunity.

Learning just to gain head knowledge is of little use, but to be able to look at the experiences of those from another era and see that God was working even then, that is valuable.

As we study history, I pray our son is learning so much more than names, dates, and the accomplishments of mankind.

I pray he understands that people have sin and therefore often harm themselves and others.

I pray he finds identity, not in who his great great grandparents were, but in being a child of God.

I pray he finds inspiration, for history is full of incredible people God used in amazing ways.

I pray his faith in Jesus grows daily, whether he’s studying or working or enjoying recreation.

For life is a gift from God and I want to use my gift well, and I know our son does too.

Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 NKJV

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for those You have used to record history, that we might grow in the understanding that mankind is flawed, but You are faithful. Thank You for using our family to teach both myself and our son. Thank You for the best truth of all, we have hope in Your eternal salvation! Lord Jesus, I pray for those who struggle to see Your hand at work in their lives and the lives of others. I pray that their understanding will be opened and they will be brought to a knowledge of Your goodness, Your mercy, Your grace. Lord throughout history we can see the tragedy of sin and the stain of wickedness, but through Your Word we can see that from the moment people chose sin rather than faith You have been making a way by which we can be saved. Lord Jesus, thank You! Thank You for life and the opportunity to live wholly for You. Thank You for truth and the reality that this world is not all there is. Thank You for Your love which washes away our sins. Thank You for Your Sovereignty, which: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 NKJV) I love You, Jesus. Amen.

January 8, 2022

Today’s prayer:

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Psalms 127:3 NKJV

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your gift of children. You have made such a wonderful blessing when You created mankind and set us in a family. Lord, thank You for godly fathers and godly mothers. Lord Jesus, thank You for those who love You and walk with integrity and truth, loving as You have shown us in Your Word. Thank You for those who are standing in the place of father or mother to those who are in need of such. Thank You for the older fathers and mothers who continue to be examples of integrity, truth, honor, self-sacrifice, and godliness to those younger than themselves. Lord, my heart longs for each child to be treasured and cared for as You intended. Please help the fatherless, the needy, the orphan, the abused. Please restore justice and righteousness. Lord Jesus, please teach each one of us how to walk in Your ways. Thank You. Amen.

A story about legacy

He wore jeans and a button up shirt.

Held an old Bible in one hand.

His grey hair and aged completion didn’t hinder his voice which was strong and pleasant.

He began with apologies.

“I don’t really feel comfortable talking in front of a lot of people, but sometimes you just have to give glory to God.”

He cleared his throat as if to steady himself and then began.

“You know we just celebrated my dad’s 100 birthday.”

This family is well known in the area and many heads moved in agreement and even some verbalized their feelings at this.

It had been such a community event the local diner had a flyer just to make sure everyone knew about the party and where it was being held.

As he continued he described the week just completed.

“You know Dad was a quiet man, private and we had all been praying God would take him home in his sleep, that he wouldn’t suffer.”

After a moment he continued.

“That’s what God did Thursday night. He took Dad in the quiet, without pain. He didn’t suffer.”

Eyes were dabbed throughout the room.

“I just wanted to say, that the gentle godly man you knew here at church was the same man he was at home.”

“He was an example of godliness in our home and our family.”

He shared the privilege of being able to care for his father the last few years and what a wonderful relationship he had with him during the end of his father’s life.

He finished by reading from Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 NKJV — Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.

He finished with these words because they reflected the life of his father, a man who glorified God.

Pastor preached directly afterwards about being people of integrity.

It was so fitting.

Here was an example of a man who was well known in his community and whose 100 years will be remembered by his family and others as a godly man.

A man of integrity hearts be inspired to live in such a way as to give glory to God.

Let us be people of integrity.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for Your Word and Your truth lived out. Lord, thank You for those who live godly lives no matter the circumstances. People who are honest, gentle, faithful, and full of integrity. Lord, please help me to be a person of integrity. Please place a guard upon my heart that I might not fall into sin. Please teach me Your statutes daily. Lord, let those who are called by Your name be an encouragement to others, spurring each other on to live righteously before You. Thank You, Jesus for Your blessings. Thank You for this story of a godly man and the legacy he has left behind him. May Your name continue to be glorified in those who are called by Your name. Amen.

Tomorrow, will be…

our wedding anniversary.

We have been married for twenty-four years, tomorrow.

As I pondered how to express my deep gratitude and joy at this milestone, I decided to scroll through some pictures.

Although, it will only give a tiny fraction of our lives together, here are some memories:

This is the last professional photograph of my parents.

The same month we celebrated our first wedding anniversary we lost my dad in a freak accident.

These two pictures are of our first child, and the beginning of joy.

Although, we made many mistakes while learning to be parents, we couldn’t be more thankful for the way God has worked in her life.

Words escape me, there’s nothing which express the joy my husband and I shared on the day of our daughter’s wedding.

The only thing that has come close was the birth of our grandchildren!

Faye has Papa wrapped around her finger!

Of course Bubba also holds a special place!

Through all the highschool achievements, basketball and track, we had no idea God was going to take her gift of music and put her through University!

We were so blessed to watch her receive her diploma in music.

The Lord knew exactly what He was doing when He gave us Sis first. She has taught us more about ourselves, the Lord, and perseverance than we could ever have taught her. We are so blessed to be her parents.

When our oldest girl was three months from turning three, our second daughter was born.

I never understood what “fun” really meant before she was born.

Here, she’s helping water our steer.

She too has been blessed with gifts and we enjoyed many a basketball game or track meet, cheering on our Bell.

We were so grateful to God for the blessing He bestowed upon her during her years in sports.

She was also blessed to travel to the UK more than once and Africa.

I love this picture of Daddy and daughter on her wedding day.

August they celebrated their first year together, here we all are at their wedding.

When Sis was five and Bell had just turned two, God blessed us with Anne.

Our sweet, gentle, quiet, and shy third daughter, she’s always been full of love.

Although, she did compete in basketball and volleyball, we discovered she has asthma and she dropped sports, but loves to dance, bake, and paint.

She redid her bedroom furniture two summers ago.

She also worked very hard at homeschooling and passed her GED this last spring.

Her graduation photo.

She’s also a favorite with Faye from the beginning.

When Anne was three months old, my husband’s mother nearly died from a stroke.

My husband’s mother.

It handicapped her permanently, but she’s still the wonderful loving mother she’s always been and we praise God for every day we have her on earth.

As one can imagine, it was a difficult season.

But God chose to bless us again when Anne was a few weeks away from her second birthday we had our son, Jase.

He has helped us see the world from a unique perspective, it wasn’t until he was five he was diagnosed with a Communications Disorder. It was obvious from a very young age that Jase was unique, it has taken many years for us to learn the challenges he faces daily.

He has taught us things we would never have known.

We praise God for him!

He enjoys fishing, hunting, golfing, art, and building things.

He is a treasure daily.

Inside these twenty-four years God has worked through us and in us.

We have moved, lost loved ones, changed jobs, learned to live with little and abundance, watched our children become adults (or stand on the verge of it), dealt with health issues, and walked with God, both as individuals and as a couple.

These years have been full to overflowing with God’s mercy and grace for us.

I find some of my favorite memories are just us being a family, so here are few last pictures of the kids just being kids.

I praise God for my husband and the beautiful family He has blessed us with.

May we glorify His name daily!

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for my husband. Thank You for our marriage. Thank You for the love and blessings and gifts You have given me through my husband and our children. Lord, please continue to guide us as we walk daily with You and one another. Lord, You alone are the One who has brought us this far, who has blessed us so much, who has given us all we have. Please help us to be a light that shines brightly, leading others to You. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

Handsome, my love,

Thank you for the last twenty-four years. Thank you for leading our family and loving us. Words do very little to express how I feel, but I praise God for you. I am praying for you every day and trusting the Lord for the future ahead of us. I can not imagine my life without you. I love you.

The joy of family

It was a lovely week, which ended in a lovely weekend.

Our Anne was able to come home for the week.

My mom’s foot has healed so well that she is no longer under restrictions.

Thus, Anne could be here.

Our Bell was also here for a few days, Thursday through most of Saturday.

To add to the blessings, we got to watch Bubba and Faye on Saturday while their parents had a day together.

Although, Bell had to leave Saturday night, everyone else stayed over.

Yesterday, we all drove South.

Anne was to return to Grandma’s.

Handsome and I needed to restock the booth, and of course Tim and Sis were returning home.

The house felt empty when we got back, but I know that’s simply the “drop down” after all the excitement.

Not unlike the feeling one gets when Christmas is over and it’s time to pack it all away.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to see how valuable each stage or season is.

To cherish time with others, but to also realize there is value in alone time.

To see God working in us when we are together and when we are separate.

Because He knows every season and is working through each one.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV — To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

And I want to hold tightly to Him in all things.

Not unlike the small yet wonderful embrace of my grandson or granddaughter, I want to cling to Jesus with that kind of innocent pure love.

But that kind of relationship requires me to let go of other things.

I can’t cling to Jesus if I’m trying to hold on to the world, or even other people.

He has to come first for me to give Him my best.

I’m so thankful for it.

Because I can find joy, pleasure, and wisdom in any stage.

Philippians 4:11 KJV — Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Paul spoke in respect to physical needs, but the truth is applicable to all of life.

I’m still learning this lesson, but it’s a beautiful journey and a blessed walk.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for Your Word and Your truth. Thank You for my family and the gift of time together. Lord, thank You for teaching me so much daily and showing me how blessed each stage is. Lord, I want to cling to You more each day. Please continue to help me learn how to let go of other things and hold fast to You. Lord, I praise You for all Your wonderous works! I love You, Jesus. Amen.

A lovely vacation

The past week Handsome (my nickname for my husband) was home on vacation.

We did something we’ve never done.

We stayed home together.

Past vacations have been a kaleidoscope of different activities, whether together or separate.

Twice my husband and I went to the UK and left the kids with Grandma.

Handsome and Jase have had many camping trips which included either hunting or fishing.

Two different years the kids and I flew to the UK.

Once, the three younger, my mom, and myself flew back East to visit her family.

Handsome and Bell went to Africa to attend a wedding a couple years ago.

But rarely do we all take vacation at the same time and never without a schedule.

God had put it on my husband’s heart to not schedule the time outside of previous commitments.

He and Jase headed south Tuesday, as our son had a quick doctor’s appointment and my husband had a dental appointment.

Handsome did inquire into our son’s desire for the vacation and Jase mentioned the coast.

We took Wednesday to drive over for the day.

The majority of our time was simply spent at home.

Yesterday afternoon, Jase and my husband went fishing at a nearby pond Handsome had recently discovered on a walk.

I had to laugh when I received the picture above.

Obviously the fish weren’t biting if the pole was still enough to become a perch.

But it was an excellent example of our week, and if it were a word it would be:

Restful.

Throughout the week, my husband commented on what a great vacation he was having.

I praise God for the gift!

His direction to my husband was perfect, His guidance was better than anything we would have come up with.

Because He knows what is best for us.

I again was struck by the beautiful things which occur when we trust in the Lord and follow His lead.

His work truly is perfect.

Deuteronomy 32:4 NKJV — He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for Your direction and guidance. Lord, thank You that You give us rest, not just physically, but eternal rest from striving against sin and spiritual death. Your salvation brings us rest. You are just and upright. You hold truth and grant us it in Your Word. Lord, thank You for Your perfect ways. Thank You for Your faithfulness, goodness, and love. Lord, thank You for teaching us daily to trust You and not to lean our own understanding. Lord, in all my ways, I want to acknowledge You. Thank You for teaching me how to do that. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

Good Saturday morning

As a child I loved Saturday mornings.

I’d run from my room to the giant pillow in front of the TV and watch cartoons.

The afternoons always seemed a let down.

For some reason they were a lot less enjoyable than any other day of the week, but upon reflection it probably had to do with my perspective.

What was there to look forward to after the cartoons were over?

I love that adulthood has brought a clearer perspective.

I still enjoy Saturdays, but my joy comes from something much more satisfying.

It comes from extra time with the Lord and my family.

Some Saturdays are busier than others, but most of the tasks focus around things we do as a family.

None of us “rush” our morning unless the schedule requires it.

Often, it’s the day we get in the most talking.

Personally, I try to carve out extra time in prayer as well.

I no longer look at Saturday as my moment of self-interest, but instead as an opportunity for building.

It’s a chance to build relationships.

No matter the schedule, the expectations, nor the duties, I pray you are able to spend some of your Saturday enjoying the blessings of the Lord and building upon your relationships.

Especially with one which is most important.

After all, life is constantly changing, but Jesus is forever.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for this beautiful morning. Lord, I do not know what today holds, but I know Who holds me in today. Please continue to polish my heart to be more like You. Please fill me with Your Word and help me to see Your truth. Lord Jesus, thank You for so many blessings. Thank You for our family and another day to praise You. Thank You for sustaining us and providing for us. Thank You for loving us always. I love You, Jesus. Amen.

A post for my wife. I love you!

  For 8 years my wife has been writing Patiently Hopeful. She has faithfully posted prayers and thoughts from her morning time with our savior Jesus. For the first time since the blogs beginning my wife will not be posting. Today she lies in bed with a migraine and has asked me to write out a prayer. For my wife (Hope) prayer and praise are her life line. Many nights she will be up praying for hours. She has been on her face before the Lord for our children, and myself many times. Therefore this morning when she asked me to write a prayer for her blog due to being ill I felt it not only an honor but a humbling experience to sit behind the keys. With that said though, my apologies to you the reader it is not every day a spouse will allow a post to go up on their personal blog without reviewing what was written. I feel it necessary to seize this opportunity not to only pray but to allow you the reader into our lives a bit. But before that I would also like to thank you all for supporting my wife Hope. Never have I met a person who selflessly serves others with the zeal my wife does. Every like, comment and repost she praises the Lord for.

  Job wrote “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) This morning while holding my wife’s hand as she vomited into the toilet this verse came to mind. In between the coughs and tears I could hear her voice praising the Lord for the “tent” she has been given. I have been married to Hope for 23 years. With our first child she had torn her cervix. Going un noticed we left the hospital and went about our business only to have the tear worsen causing a hemorrhage. I was told she would have to stay in the hospital over night due to the loss of blood. “God is good” would be her first words in the morning. In the early years like many money was tight. I think this was the beginning of the prayers in the grocery store. Hope would walk through the isles with a few dollars in the account and pray “Jesus your will be done today, how do I shop for my family”. The Lord would bless us with our second daughter while I was in school and working full time at a local mill. I would leave the house at 3:30am to be to work by 4am work tell 4pm only to drive 40 min to make it to my night classes by 5pm. School would be out at 9-9:30pm and we would start it all over the next day. This lasted for almost four years during that time my wife would be taking care of the kids, running women’s ministry at our church and still find time to write prayers down on note cards. I would find them in my shirts, lunch box, school books, and even in my dressers. We would move to England to help in a church. The Lord would teach us what it meant to be humble. We sold everything we owned with the exception of a vehicle. The house, kids toys, clothes, furniture, was all gone. Landing at the airport in Manchester we had only the clothes in our suitcases and money from the sale of the house. We were not allowed to work in the UK and felt that the Lord did not want us to ask for support. God would show us what it was to wait for his provision. The day we moved into our home in England the tenants before left a kitchen table. Walking in Hope began to cry when asked why by one of our children (we had four by then) she said “I asked God for a table like this a few years ago, it took me selling mine to him to provide this one”. We learned so much in England about the provision and character of God.

When we moved back home the sicknesses came. First the women issues and hysterectomy. At one point in the journey, I would carry my wife into the doctor’s office. She weighed just over 90lbs. She had not been able to keep food down for several days, her cycle would last for weeks, anemic, unable to get out of bed she would need help any time she had to move. Hopes prayers would fill our house. We would sit on the bed as a family, she would have home schooling while laying there helping the kids work out problems. All the while quoting scripture about healing, and Gods goodness. During this time I was starting up a business trying to make ends meet. Hope would be in bed often when I left to go to work and still there when I came home. Bible laying beside her prayer journal open. Hope would get better and take on responsibilities at our church helping with the home schooling co-op. She would pray for each child by name every morning, pray for their families, and for our community. I walked into our room to find Hope staring her clothes in the closet. I asked what she was doing and she said “every day I wake up I ask Jesus what he would like me to wear today, I was just waiting for an answer” As crazy as this sounds to some it has become normal place around our house. Now my adult children do the same!

A few years ago when Hopes heath started to decline and she became bed ridden again due to immune issues and asthma our family made a transition. Before I think we prayed for Hope out of selfishness. My prayers would sound something like “please heal Hope Lord we need mom to be healthy”. But now we pray for understanding what the Lord is doing. Excitement of what God is going to teach us. We pray for the ability to like Job say “blessed be your name”. This bout with illness has been the longest yet. Hope may never be physically whole again. But I know she would never trade it for the relationship she has with the Lord is nothing like I have ever witnessed. Praise God for my wife.

Would you please pray with me?

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for this day. Thank you we have the ability to serve you today. We are not guaranteed tomorrow Lord so today please give us the ability to know what you want us to do. Jesus we want to serve you with our whole hearts today. We are nothing but dust Jesus but you are God. You have the ability to use this dust to glorify our Father in heaven. Jesus I so bad want to do your will and to be selfless in what I do please help me today not to think of myself but to be your hands and feet. Jesus please show me what it is to love. How to love my enemies please show me Jesus today how to be a puzzle piece in this broken world that links some of it together. Jesus today there are many people hurting. Our hearts go out to them I pray that you would be the rock, the foundation in their lives. Jesus please help us to lead the hurting to the rock. Father I am broken over the sin in the world but acknowledge that just as I am broken over it I have also been a part of it please forgive me Father and teach me to forgive. Lord many in the world are sick we ask for healing as we know you can. But we also know that you walked by several people that were sick because it was not their time. Jesus if it is not Hopes time for healing I pray we would be able to endure for your glory. Please show our family what you are doing in the spiritual realm. God I know that all things work together for the good of those called to Christ Jesus. I also know that Hope has been called by you, so we are excited to see what good you are doing with her sickness. Jesus I will praise you today no matter what the outcome of today brings because “Naked I came, Naked I return, but blessed be the name of the Lord” Jesus I love you with all my heart and thank you for what you are doing in our family.

Amen

Yesterday was…

Thanksgiving for our family.

My husband went to work on Thursday so we had already made plans to celebrate on Sunday.

We sang some Christmas carols.

(I know we were blending two seasons, but we love Christmas music and sing it as early as possible.)

We read the Pilgrim’s story.

My heart breaking all over again for the sacrifices those dear people made.

Then we took turns writing what we are thankful for in the back of the book.

My husband carved the turkey and we discussed a few memories while filling out plates.

“Well, two years in a row. We over cooked the broccoli and cheese.”

“It must be that old crockpot. It wasn’t in there more than an hour.”

“Remember how people were eating your honey-butter straight out of the dish while we were in the UK, Mom?”

“They did?! I don’t remember that.”

“Yeah, it was for the cornbread, but Daddy caught them passing it around like a side dish.”

“What’s in these mashed potatoes? They’re really good.”

“Butter, sour cream, milk,…”

“Do you remember the play we put on at the school?”

“Yes, and how the one line he did turned the play into a comedy!”

“I think of him every time I read that!”

It didn’t take long for talking to subside into eating.

After cleaning up most of the family played a board game twice and then a card game..

Later, we watched three episodes of the Chosen.

(If you’ve not seen Season One of the Chosen, you can download their app for free. Dallas Jenkins is the creator and it’s wonderful.)

It was a lovely day of thankfulness and family.

Something my husband and I cherish and realize won’t always be.

Our children are growing up so fast and we know they belong to God.

We want them to go, to do whatever God calls them.

We want them to be people completely surrendered to His perfect will.

Which means we have to surrender our own desires and plans.

Because they only live under the same roof with us for a season.

A season we are so thankful for.

No matter what the future holds, may we never spend so much energy preparing for tomorrow that we miss the blessings of today.

As my husband began his prayer yesterday: “Lord, we really have so much to be thankful for…”

He’s so right!

We have today.

Dear Lord Jesus,

It’s true, we have so much to thank You for. You have given us so much each and every day. Although things can be scary and the future still seems so unpredictable, I thank You that You promise to never leave us. Thank You for providing for us. Thank You for carrying us through. Lord, please continue to help us see the blessings in today. Please help us to live wholly unto You in each day. Lord, we want to serve You, to be close to You, to love You. Please help us to do so. Thank You for yesterday. Thank You for today. I praise Your holy name, Jesus. Amen.

November 23

Today’s prayer:

For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people.
I Samuel 12:22 NKJV

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for choosing the Israelites. Thank You for opening that door of salvation to the Gentiles through Your death and resurrection. Thank You for being so faithful, so loving, so true. Lord Jesus, please let me and my family honor You no matter the circumstances. Please hold us fast to Your ways and Your Word. Lord, please do not allow us to look on any evil or worthless thing, that our hearts might not be tempted away from serving You. Lord, please let us be wise and aware of the tricks and snares of the enemy. Please help us to see the pitfalls and avoid them. Lord, please bless my husband. Lord, please continue to make him a Mighty Man of Valor. Please let his words be truth, his thoughts pure, and his ways steadfast before You. Lord, our sons, please let them be Mighty Men of Valor. Men of renown who are faithful, full of integrity, wise, and loving. Lord, please let me be a woman of worth, godly in my attitudes, my actions, and purposeful with my time. Lord, please help me to be of soft heart and filled with Your praise, unafraid of the future. Lord, please let our daughters be the same, women who follow You and are an example of quiet strength, beautiful surrender to Your will daily. Lord Jesus, thank You for so many blessings. Please reach those who have yet to know You. Let Your name be spread throughout the whole Earth. Lord, please stop the violence against the innocent and the helpless. Please raise up leaders of integrity and honor, who will stand for justice. Lord, please open the eyes of the blind and hard hearted, that they might see You and turn. Thank You so much for salvation! Thank You for Your faithfulness and love. I praise Your holy name, Jesus! Amen.