Psalm 5:3 KJV — My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your faithfulness. How great is Your love. How true are Your words! What joy there is in praising You daily! Lord Jesus, You alone are worthy of all honor, all glory. You alone are good. Thank You for sustaining us. Thank You for holding us in Your arms. Thank You for Your gift of salvation. Truly, You are alone are awesome. Lord, please heal the sick, comfort those who mourn, provide for the needy, supply all that is lacking to the helpless, return the prodigal, and save the lost. Thank You, Jesus. I love You, Lord. May the whole Earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Your name. Amen.
Leviticus 19:5 KJV — And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will.
Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your Word. Lord, although we no longer sacrifice animals upon an alter, there’s something so profound in the peace offering being made by their own will. Peace offerings were to be an individual choice, not a mandatory offering. Lord, I want to offer You myself as a peace offering. To set aside my desires and my agenda for You. Lord, there is no peace outside Yours. Mankind can not have peace without You. Thank You that it is a free gift to us when we accept Your salvation. Lord, thank You for being the Savior of the World! Lord, please heal the sick and hurting, please help the fatherless and widow, please comfort those who mourn, please return the prodigal and save the lost. Thank You. Amen.
I wanted to write and let you know that for the next seven days, beginning tomorrow, I’m going to simply post my daily prayer and scripture.
Sunday I normally post this, but I feel the need to set aside a week.
Many things have been occurring in my life.
My health has been a bit more trying lately.
And in times of stretching, I find I need so much more time with the Lord.
So, instead of blogging, I’ll be praying.
I hope you will join me.
Also, please feel free to let me know of anything I can pray for you.
It’s a pleasure to lift others in prayer.
Ezekiel 22:30 KJV — And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for today. Thank You, that You want us to stand in the gap for others. To lift up our friends, family, neighbors, and even our enemies in prayer. Lord, thank You for speaking so clearly through Your Word. I do not understand everything, but I thank You for what I do understand and I praise You for what You have taught me. Lord Jesus, I am lifting up my husband today. Please be with him and help him. Lord, please provide for all he needs and shine through him to those around him. Help him be the man of God, You created him to be. Place a guard around him and keep him from the snares of the enemy. Lord, I lift up our children. Please speak with and guide each one. Let their hearts cling to You alone. Watch over them and help their Dad and I to encourage and be a godly example both of people who love You and of people who live one another. Lord, I lift up the sick, the hurting, the needy, the broken, the fatherless, the helpless, and the hopeless. Please, touch each where they are. Bring them closer to Yourself through their circumstances. Let them turn away from anything which would come between them and You. Thank You Jesus for Your faithfulness, mercy, grace, and love! You are incredible! I love You. Amen.
Being a Grammy has been more fun than I could ever have imagined.
My husband can tell you I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.
As a teen I used to say, “I can’t wait to be that sweet grey-haired old lady who gives out cookies to kids.”
I’ve learned a great deal since my teen years about being an adult and dealing with children.
Parenthood taught me a lot and I’m still learning daily.
Now as a Grammy I’m learning more.
Proper boundaries are super important.
My husband and I value our daughter and son-in-law too much to purposely ignore their “do”s and”don’t”s.
We have enjoyed getting to watch them teach Faye things.
I’ve also enjoyed sharing moments with her as a Grammy.
Something we’ve done, since the weather has allowed, is go outside and pet the plants.
It might sound strange, but I wanted her to be safe.
Before she was old enough to understand this lesson, she got a handful of my potted indoor plant and jerked out a large section.
I didn’t mind the damage to the plant, but it brought to my attention the need for her to learn what is okay and not.
Since both her parents had taught her the word gentle and it’s meaning, I thought she’d be able to put it into practice in the garden.
After all, little people often put what is in their hands in their mouths and many plants are not for eating.
So, she went on many garden walks with me and knows how to handle the plants.
She gently touches them, sometimes over and over with her little fingers very carefully.
She has pulled a few blooms off now and again, but each time is another opportunity to instill in her how to touch without harm.
So, I was extra blessed when we got to see her with Bubba.
Her little hand reached out to explore this new sibling and her momma cautioned, “Gentle.”
Softly, like on a rose petal her hand touched her brother.
Then she let go.
All of us made all kinds of happy noise as her little pink lips placed a gentle kiss on him.
It was adorable!
I’m already praying for their relationship as brother and sister.
I pray they will love and support each other.
That they will look out for the other’s best interest.
That they will grow to be great friends.
Most importantly, that they will know Jesus and put their trust in Him.
That they will encourage one another in righteousness.
What a wonderful gift God gives when He blesses a family with a child!
Truly they are precious in the eyes of the Lord.
Psalm 127:3 KJV — Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Matthew 18:10 KJV — Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for children. What an incredible blessing it is to be with them. Lord, often it can be difficult to know what to teach and what to let go of. Sometimes our own desires get in the way of hearing from You as to what is best. Please help our children be wonderful godly parents. Please help us to be parents of integrity, truth, and love. Lord, help us know how to support our children as they support the little ones. Please help us to not grow weary in doing good as we have fewer children at home. Please help us to finish well. Thank You so much for these blessings. May we honor You in all we do. Amen.
The other people were equally following the rules.
Some I’d seen before.
A few new faces as well.
Since September, I’ve been regularly seeing the receptionist and nurse.
I feel warmth for them both.
I’d stop and speak to them if we were to meet elsewhere.
(For those who know me you’d expect this.)
Yes, I’ve even hugged them in gratitude.
But not since the virus.
As I looked at the receptionist, I smiled.
She was more than 6ft away, but behind her mask, she was smiling too.
When my turn came, the nurse was also smiling, behind her mask.
After returning to my seat, I picked up my crocheting and began to wait while working.
I also prayed, as I felt led.
Due to the office size, everyone’s conversation is easily audible.
Although, I try to mind my own business, I hadn’t missed a young man who was relating the fact that his wife had developed allergies after the birth of their baby and how compassionate she was to him because of this.
His seat was to my left and I prayed for his wife, his allergies, their marriage, and their baby.
I noticed other people in the office.
Especially a white haired, short-statured lady in front of me.
She seemed rather frail, and my prayers for her included God ministering trust in Him to her.
It seems the elderly are suffering so much these days and it breaks my heart.
Not long before my time was up the young man to my left had reached the anticipated “good to go” from the nurse.
He quietly packed his things, including a shiny laptop which sent reflections of sunlight streaming into my face.
I knew it wasn’t anything, but an accidental happen-stance.
So, I bent my head closer to my work and continued to count stitches.
To my surprise his voice came next.
“Ma’am, I’m sorry if I bothered you with my laptop. I didn’t mean to get sun in your eyes. I hope you don’t mind?”
I looked up and smiled behind my mask.
I shook my head and replied.
“No, not at all. Just one of those things.”
His eyes looked a bit squinty, like he wasn’t sure.
“Well, I’m terribly sorry for bothering you.”
“You didn’t. Really it’s fine. Thank you for apologising, but it’s really fine.”
I was still smiling behind my mask.
Of course the young man had to keep his distance, so I can’t be certain, but he looked less concerned.
Infact, I think he was smiling behind his mask too.
That night I related to my husband my joy at running across a polite young man who cared for others.
Upon reflection of the whole visit, God revealed something.
I’m going to have to learn a new skill.
I’m going to need to read people’s eyes behind their masks.
I never thought time with the public would come to this.
But I know God wants me to remember those are people behind the masks.
People He loves dearly.
Whether I agree with these policies or not, I can continue to love others.
I can continue to stand fast in prayer for my fellow man, my country, and the world.
I can continue to be sure that my mask does not keep in the love that God wants to show to those around me.
So whether someone is hiding behind a cloth mask or a fake representation of themselves, I need to love and pray for them.
And of course there are many, many, many, people who have their protective gear on to protect those they are treating.
They too need prayer.
I’m also praying that God will help me, that my eyes will shine the warmth, love, and compassion that my smile can no longer communicate.
Although I’ve been guilty of saying, “I’m over the mask”, I’m trying to adjust my attitude to thinking about who is behind each mask I see.
And I’m praying for a renewed perspective.
Not to simply wait out the things which are uncomfortable, but instead to find the truths God has for me within it.
After all, nothing is permanent, except Jesus Christ and life with Him.
John 5:24 KJV — Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He has mercy on us. Psalms 123:1-2
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for all You have done and are doing each day on our behalf, especially those things we never see. Lord Jesus, this season we find ourselves in is unparalleled to anything we’ve ever experienced, and it’s uncomfortable. All the parts of living daily have been pulled apart and it’s unsettling. Lord, please touch those who are hurting, the ones suffering, the ones grieving, the little children who are watching fear grow bigger and bigger around them. Lord Jesus, please bring healing, restoration, and peace. Please bring our hearts to Your Word and let us find all we lack. Lord, You alone hold all that is valuable in both this life and the next. Thank You. To You be all glory and honor, Jesus. Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Psalms 124:8 NKJV
At times the simplest of questions can be complicated.
To have a conversation with the Creator of the universe, it seems logical there would be some code and in what manner the conversation can take place and what is expected from the person wanting, seeking, asking.
After all one wouldn’t walk up to the President and just begin talking as if he were Joe the next door neighbor.
Yet our God wants us to be real with Him.
Jesus told the disciples not to pray long fluffy prayers in front of others or the ones made of words spoken over and over because it was all done for the
“show” or the expectation that praying a certain way would get results.
God knows us better than we know ourselves.
He even knows what we need better than you or I.
Yet He asks us to speak with Him when needs arise.
He warns us there are things we can do to stop the conversation between our hearts and His ear.
Yet it is not because He wants communication to end.
It’s like a cell phone, if you step outside the area of signal, your call is cut off and the conversation is over.
When we choose to sin we are stepping outside the signal, allowing our hearts to grow hard, it cuts our ability to listen, to hear the gentle voice of the Lord, or to see His hand in our everyday.
Thus to pray means to communicate with God, understanding Who He is, while confessing anything that might block our ability to listen and being real.
Not worrying about the fanciest words or the smoothest recital of the needs or wants or fears, not using many repeated words, as if to grease the lock so this prayer will be answered.
(Unless you’re pouring out your heart and all you can do is repeat yourself, which is entirely different. )
But realizing the opportunity is for the building of a relationship.
By all means share with God the things which worry or upset you but move on into seeking Him on behalf of others, ask for He’s teaching through the Scriptures, through circumstances, through others around you.
Talk with Him about your desires, give Him the opportunity to speak with you about your dreams, lean on His counsel for relationships, chat with Him about the things you would share with a friend, understand the “praying without ceasing” Paul spoke of.
However it is much harder to do than it sounds.
The words and noise of the everyday every moment come crashing in and cause it to be so difficult.
I am sure that is why Jesus often went away to pray.
It may sound silly and feel awkward but getting alone, in the quiet is often an ideal way to communicate with the Lord.
There’s very little about this life which is more important than spending time with God.
After all we were created by Him.
To ignore the relationship He wants with us, each of us, is a sad opportunity lost.
patientlyhopeful 