prayer challenge - Day 2

Today, let’s pray Ephesians 5:1,2 - that we would “therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God, as a fragrant aroma”

Love. It’s the point of the Law and the prophets. It’s God’s supreme commandment - that we love Him, and that we love our neighbor. As we pray this passage today, let’s ask God to show us specific ways to walk in love today. How can we imitate Him to the people we come in contact with? How can we give ourselves up and present a fragrant aroma to God today?

Spend a few minutes listening to the Holy Spirit so He can tell you specifically how to love today…

Prayer challenge - Day 1

Welcome to our commitment to a month of praying without ceasing! I can’t wait to see what God does in us, for us and through us. I’d love to hear from every one of you as you go through this month. Share how He moves in your life!

Today let’s pray for the salvation of our family members. This is the most important thing we can pray. That God would “open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, from the dominion of Satan, to God” Acts 26:18

If all your people are saved, then rejoice! Praise His name for His excellent mercies to you!

And then pray for the children yet born into your family, the generations to come - “that they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God but keep His commandments” Psalm 78:5

reminder

Prayer challenge begins tomorrow!

We want to pray so that God will answer our prayers with “yes” and “amen”, don’t we? So we must pray according to His will. In the gospel of John (15:7), Jesus says “If you abide in Me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you with and it shall be done for you”. That is a powerful promise! That we can pray His words - His will - and He will do it. Pray in faith, believing that He is good and faithful. Pray His Will - His Word - and know that He is answering.

For the next 31 days, I will share Scripture that we can pray. Verses to proclaim. Promises to stand on before His Throne.

Do not fear, my sisters. We can trust that God is faithful. I am not talking about some “pie in the sky - name it and claim it” philosophy. I am talking about trusting God to respond to the promises He gives us in His word. We are not going to take things out of context and declare that God has to fulfill our personal agenda - rather, we are going to align ourselves to His mighty Truth and ask Him to do what He has already said in His Word. We are going to have a glorious time in His presence!

To receive the daily prayer guide delivered to your inbox each morning, subscribe to this blog (go to home page to add your email and be sure and confirm subscription). I will send these out every morning - I will try and post on FB but for sure the blog will send out updates. The blog mail server sends out after 7 each morning but the blog will be up earlier than that - just in case you do your praying at 6 or so :)!

I hope you’re with me!

To the Mommy at Baskin Robbins

I don't know your name.  Or your story.  But for just a moment yesterday, you were me.  Or I was you.  You loaded two adorable little girls in your minivan and called a quick "Buckle up!" over your shoulder.  They appeared to be about 3 and 6 and you dressed them alike.  Except for their blonde ponytails, they were mine a couple of decades ago.  I couldn't be sure but I think I even saw an infant seat on the other side.  You were me.  Hurried and a tad bit harried.  Yep, you were me.

And I just wanted to call out to you and hug you and look in your eyes and tell you that you are a great Mom.  I don't know what brought you to Baskin Robbins an hour before dinner but the milky smears on the little's one face that didn't get quite wiped off tell me it was worth your trip.  Way to go, Mommy.  Way to go.  I'm glad you didn't worry about it ruining their dinner.  It probably did but there'll be dinner tomorrow and next week and the week after.  And there won't always be time for an ice cream cone.  There'll be things to hurry to forever but you won't always get to dress them alike and fix those ponytails.  I am so glad you did today.  Way to go.  You are doing a great job. 

I don't know your story, it is true, but I'll bet you wonder sometimes if you are doing a great job.  Even good enough.  But I'll bet you are.  And I wish I could speak life into you and promise you that what you are doing matters.  I wouldn't tell you to "enjoy it because it'll be gone too soon".  Nope.  I would tell you that you are a doing a worthy work and I would cheer from the sidelines.

Parenting is hard. It is the greatest blessing of my life but it is hard.  Every single stage has tough parts to it and no matter in which one we find ourselves, we think it's the hardest.  And we try and convince anyone in another stage that our current one is tougher.  But I remember the "dress-alike-ponytail" stage.  I loved it.  And I wondered if I would survive it.  I think the Marines stole their theme line from Moms -- MOTHERHOOD is the toughest job you'll ever love!!

Ice cream Mommy - keep it up.  Way to go.  I hope you got donuts from the shop next door, too.  Just because they asked. And I hope you didn't even worry about a sugar high or what anybody else thought.  I hope that somehow, across the parking lot, you could sense my silent applause.

Next time I see you - or one of the hundreds that seem to be my reflection in the mirror - the ice cream's on me.  Atta girl!

Originally posted on September 12,2013