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Saturday, November 1, 2008

Just Something Fun!

These are Hilarious!
Enjoy!




Friday, October 10, 2008

Trusting God with ALL of it!

Isn't it hard sometimes to trust God witht he little things? Oh, we call on Him and will ask pray requests for the BIG things- someone is really sick, someone is dying, someone is hurting... but what about the small stuff?
What about the little prays- pray for deer unting seasons, prays for the bread to rise this time, pray for the little one to fall asleep right away tonight... what about those things?
Do you think that God is too busy to care about and answer those prayers too?
I don't. That's why I pray them!
That is why when my father-in-law mentioned he was going deer hunting and asked for me and the kids to pray he gets adeer this time- I did pray. I tucked the kids in bed and as we prayed, we prayed for Grammy's camping trip and that he would get a deer. I know that my father-in-law wasn't picturing me down on my knees in deep praying, crying and wailing about his request, but why shouldn't we fervently pray about those things too?
If it is important to us, it is important to God!
If he takes the time to number the hairs on our head, don't you think that He would take time to answer your 'little' prayer?

No matter what it is that is on your mind. Maybe it is for you to get all green lights on your way to work so you don't ave to speed and will still be on time... maybe it is for a favorite dish at your favorite restraunt to be on 'special' this week so you can sae some money... maybe you've been trying t make homemade bread, dessert, pizza or something and it isn't turning out just right.... maybe you just need a blessing--- God cares! He will answer adn He will prove to you that He is hearing your prayers!

A few weekends back we had a women's brunch. The night before the brunch I went to bed really late (or early the next mornig I should say- 4 A.M.) I was worn, tired and has just feeling stretched as a mother, wife, teacher, etc. I was praying in the wee hours of the morning and told God that I just needed a blessing. "Anything!" I told Him. "I just need to know You hear me and I just need to know that you care. I will take ANY blessing you want to give!"

The next morning I went to the women's brunch. I had awesome fellowship with other women, heard a inspirational message, worshipped to outstanding praise and worship music and felt God's presence in the room. Before dismissing, our lovely women's leader Chris did a drawing. She had a few little gifts to give away. The last name she picked out was mine... guess what I won: A little leather Bible in a cute little bag. It was so cute- the bag and Bible matched. It was small so it would be easy to carry to church with the twins- one in each arm... but that is not what got me... what got me was that I asked for God's blessing- I told Him I'd take anything- and He gave me HIS Word!

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You!
Thanks is all I can say... thank You that You heard me!
Thank You that you cared enough to say 'Here, here is the answer!"
In Jesus Name, Amen

Blessing,
Praying Mom

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Praising God

Today is just one of those days that I feel so deep to just PRAISE GOD!
Praise in the dictionary says: to express approval or admiration of (that's just ONE of the many, but the one I like best for today!)

To express approval or admiration of God!
I praise Him for the new, the old, the trials, the hardships, the good, the bad.
I praise Him for the still small voice and the thunderous calls He sometimes uses to get my attention.
I praise Him for the husband He has blessed me with, the children He has entrusted me with and the future He has planned for me!
I am praising Him because I approve!
I am admiring all that God has done in my life, even when it is hard, even when the puzzle seems to be missing pieces and I can't find them or make out what the pictures is supposed to be!

What do you have to praise God for!?!
What can you 'express your approval' for in your life that God has done?

God inhabits the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3) inhabits means to live or dwell.
When we praise God, He comes to live within us. He comes an make residence in our hearts! It's an invitation for God to come be apart your of your day and life.

Maybe you are facing something that you just can't get a hold of the words to bring it to God. Or maybe you come before Him sometimes and just don't know what to say: PRAISE HIM! Just praise Him!

He is worthy!
He deserves!
Just Praise Him!

Blessings,
Praying Mom

Other Scriptures about praise:
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him;
bless his name!
Psalm 100:4



Oh give thanks to the Lord;
call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Psalm 105:1-2


About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. Act 16:25-34


Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15

Saturday, September 6, 2008

A House of Prayer... Part 2

(BEFORE READING- Scroll down to MP3 Player and play My Desire by Jeremy Camp.)

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
God's Spirit lives in us and therefor we are the temple.

The same way Jesus spoke of the Temple on earth being a House of Prayer, so we should be a House of Prayer... What does that mean?

Always praying... always being in an attitude that is pleasing to God. Well, let me put it this way- always STRIVING to be in an attitude of prayer and be pleasing to God in our thoughts, actions and intentions!
There's that word again- intentions.
Ask yourself, why I am doing __ or ____. Is it for the pat on the back? IS it because no one else has stepped up to take the toddler Sunday school class so you decide to 'just do it'? Are you singing on the worship team or choir just to be on stage and show off your wonderful voice? Are you pulling your hair out with all these activities and extra things you have taken on your plate and unsure where you are going to find 6 extra hours a day to accomplish them?
Step back... ask yourself and God why you are doing these things.

God wants us to be intentional not only in our 'spiritual' life but in our life in general!

Be intentional!
Live- but live totally sold out for Jesus!
Make everything you do for Him, because of Him or to Him!

Let your desire be what God desires!
Your return to God can be in everything... letting Him us you in EVERYTHING. Not just ministry within the church walls, or in the sermon or the preaching or the teaching of a class, but in EVERYTHING!

I pray you let God help you live intentional for Him!

Letting your heart and mind always be in prayer to Him is a good way to live intentionally for Him. That doesn't mean lock yourself ina room and pray 24-7 on your knees... it means always having you mind and heart set on Him. Saying those little prayers as He bring people to your mind.
So your driving to pick up your kids from soccer practice and an old friend pops into mind... say a prayer for her. Not just a "God please bless___." a REAL prayer, a pray that you would want someone to say for you!
When you get woken up from a sound sleep and ___ it on your mind.. GOD woke you for a REASON! PRAY!
There are lots of opporurtinites for us to change earht and shake Heaven with our prayers. Though our 'Quiet Prayer Time" with God is importnat, so are the INTENTIONAL prayers throughout the day!


THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER!


PRAYER:
Lord, I want my life to have purpose! I want to be someone who points all eyes back to You! In everything I do! In homeschooling my kids, in maintaining my home, in my business, in my ministry, in my worship, in my whole life! I want to live intentional in all I say and do and think! I want the mind of Christ to be my mind. Lord, I know you an touch many lives that might not ever lace foot in a church, and Lord, I ask that you allow me to put myself aside so that I can let your light shine through me and let me point all eyes, honor and glory given- right back to You!
Lord, You deserve all the glory, so take it!
Thank You Lord!
In Jesus Name, Amen


Be encouraged!
Intentional living takes some faith sometimes,
but mostly it is about getting out of the way and letting God live through you!
Keep on keepin' on!
Prayers always,
Praying Mom

A House of Prayer...

'My house shall be called a house of prayer...'

Remember the story of Jesus over turning tables in the Temple? Running out money changers and those selling the animals for the offering?

I watched an excellent video today, a sermon by Jim Cymbila from the Brooklyn Tabernacle in NY. He spoke an awesome message about God's House being a house of pray. It got me thinking- Do I treat God's house like I do my house? (Ouch! The dust in piled high at the moment and the kitchen needs a good scrub!) Am I really treating God's House (the church building) as a House of Prayer? I am going there with Him in mind and ready to devote myself to Him for the time I am there- placing my full attention on Him?

One thing that Jim pointed out in his sermon (though not his main point) was that the people that Jesus drove out of the temple were SUPPOSED to be there. You needed the correct money type (currency) to pay your taxes/temple fee and those selling animals there were needed. Many people could not bring animals from their home due to the distance and conditions. BUT the point Jim made was that they changed it from a heart of worship to a means to rip the fellow worshipper off. Charging and an arm and a leg for the sacrifice needed knowing that the people would pay!

SO- has my attention shifted from going to God's House for worship and time with Him to a social gathering or a just because it is Sunday?

My prayer:
Lord, I know that I have let the reason for going to your house slip away... why I go, I sometime don't really know! But I know that you want it to be because I want time with you. I want it to be for the time with you. I want it to be all about You, Lord. So Lord, please forgive me! Forgive me for making it in to something that it was not meant to be and help me make it all about YOU! All about You and what You want to do in and through me!
In Jesus' Name, Amen

I challenge you: Take a look at your intentions. Not just in going to God's House (your church) but in your daily activities. They can all be all about God and for God's glory! If you need to, ask for God's forgiveness. Ask Him for help to make him the center of it all!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

#2 Pray that our past be used by God...

What a hard topic, hu? Our past. Something so many want to sweep under the rug and never talk about. But have you allowed God the opportunity to use your past?

I just met a friend who has had a real tough life. A divorce, a diagnosis of an incurable condition, questions from family about her unwavering believe in God- yet she is allowing God to use her past. She told me that she really feels that God has a 'motivational speaker' ministry upon her life. WOW! How many of us would openly share all we've been through~ our faults as well as the faults against~ to the world?

Not many would step up to the challenge, but lets thing about it!

Saul (Paul, before he was Paul he was Saul- did I lose ya?) Anyway- before he was a sold out believe and messenger of Jesus Christ, he was a persecutor of the church. He openly persecuted Christ's followers. In Act 9:1 it says he breathed out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. Act 8:1 says that Saul gave approval to Stephen's stoning.

Now on his way to prosecute more of Christ's followers (Acts 9:1-18) Jesus appeared to Saul, blinded him and then told him to go into the city and he would be told what to do. Jesus sent Ananias to pray for Saul. The 'scales' were lifted from his eyes and he was baptized and become a follower. He spend several days with Ananias and many began to talk, asking 'Isn't that Saul, the one who persecuted the followers of Christ?' The wanted to kill him, but he stood firm to show Christ is Lord.

Yet- though Saul had a horrible past, one that we might feel didn't deserve a second chance, went on to be a great follower of Christ, helping plant many churches and being lead my God's Holy Spirit to write books in the Bible.

Well- we like Saul can make our mark in this world. Maybe God won't inspire you to write a book, or to plan a church, but God has planted you right where you are and wants to use your past to change the future.

I didn't grow up in church. I didn't start attending until I was 11 years old. (Went occasionally with Grandma as a young child, but nothing serious came of it at that point- I was not a 'believer'.) Even after becoming a Christian at age 11, I still never fully followed the way God wanted me to. I felt ok going to church on Sunday, participating in Youth Group activities and was ok, I was just 'getting by'. But I had many down falls. I became suicidal at age 13, I felt worthless being teased at school I had problems with the local gangs because I didn't ant to 'join' them and I had only a small circle of friends who talked bad about me behind my back (we were in middle school- what can you expect!) but I felt all alone. In high school I became what is know as a 'cutter.' I would cut and burn myself when things got hard.

To understand some of why we have to go back to when I was little.... I was sexually abused as a little girl, by someone very close to our immediate family and who we trusted very much. This went on for about 3 years before I got up enough nerve, at age 12 to tell my parents it was happening. It caused great pain to my immediate family and well as our extended family, as this person was very close to all of us and we felt he need to share and protect the others. It was about this point in life I felt horrible and didn't want to live any longer.

So, as I grew up with this baggage- feeling dirty, worthless, useless, and like I chad nobody I could trust, I began to get in trouble. I fought in school. I skipped class. I got bad grades. I got involved in relationships that were bad for me. I became addicting to needing 'someone' by my side so I felt worth something.

It never worked. I always felt lonely, until I finally gave it all up to God!

I stand here today- free! Free from guilt (though the abuse wasn't my fault, I always felt it was), free from sin (and my list was pretty long), and free from chains of my past! God has allowed me countess times to share my story with girls and women who have been through things just like me. Abuse, neglect, suicidal thoughts, relationship after relationship looking for someone to 'love' her. And God has allowed me to know that my past has been thrown into the sea never to be thrown in my face by Him. And I can know that though I was a sinner then, I am forgiven now!

So what's your story?
Allow God to use it.
God uses our past to change the future!

Think if Paul would have been ashamed of where he had come from. Afraid of what others would think? Imagine if he would have stayed quiet. What would have happened to the church?

Who have you denied freedom from by holding back your testimony?

Maybe your testimony is that you were born and raised in the church, shelter by God from harm, drugs, sex... maybe you have served God all your life... PRAISE GOD! What a testimony! That too can touch peoples hearts and change lives.

Though I got involved in many things I can stand a say that God did keep me! I never did get involved in drugs or alcohol or gave into the temptation of premartial sex or the gangs that threatened me if I would not. God allowed me to save myself and be pure for my wedding night though I had countless relationships. Though my friends did drug and drank and it was all available to me, God protected me from those addictions and experiments. PRAISE GOD!

Those are awesome things I am able to share with others.

Why not pray and ask God to show you who needs to hear your testimony? Who can be set free by hearing how you came to know Christ and what he saved you out of?

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you first of all that you have taken my past sin and thrown into the deepest sea never to remember again. Lord, remind me that there are things in my past that you can use to minister, touch and heal others with. You can use my past to set others free and I ask that you show me how I can use my testimony to help others. I have a story Lord, and it may not be the prettiest or the most fun to share, but I know that you want to use me to bring others to the saving knowledge of your grace and I say YES! Yes, Lord, use me! Use my past. I surrender to You. Be my Savior and my shelter and allow my life to be pleasing to You! I love you Lord and desire to be a vessel you can use. Use me!
In Jesus name, Amen

Be encouraged!
Praying Mom


P.S- Thanks "Friend", you know who are, for the encouragement. That is why we were able to chat the other night and you know- though I went to bed a 3:30 AM- I woke up refreshed and energized this morning and have had a great day with God! THANKS AGAIN! Keep on keeping on and keep sharing your testimony! -Your praying friend

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

A mother who prays... has kids who pray!

I have found that through the last couple days that I have been sick, my kids have prayed for me. They might be simple 6yr old prayers; "God, bless help Mommy to feel better so she can play with us." But they are still prayers and God hears them!

I have been down with a really bad head cold for about three days now. I am feeling lots better today and hoping that I can get some good rest tonight.

I just want to encourage you to let your kids see you pray. Make a sign to put on your bedroom door MIP- Mom in Prayer and let the family know know that you can not be disrupted except for emergencies. Maybe your one-on-one prayer time has to be 15, 20, 30 minutes before the kids get up... this is areal hard one for me... I am NOT a morning person. Maybe you are like me and once everyone has gone to bed, you quietly walk in each room and prayer over each member of your family I do this and then when I lay down in bed, my hubby normally rolls over to hug me, so I start praying for him.

My kids see and hear me pray often. Sometime when my day is going bad- or good for that matter- sometime when a friend calls for prayer or when I get a new prayer request from a local prayer chain I belong to. My kids know I am a praying women and I know that they know I believe in the power of prayer. There is no better way to teach than by example!

Good Bless and Keep Praying!
-Praying Mom

Saturday, August 23, 2008

#1~Prayer for Good Health

Right now in my household we are playing 'pass the cold to the next person'. I am sure everyone has played this horrible game before in there family It doesn't matter that you use Clorex wipes and Lysol on everything, or that you seclude the sick person from everyone else and give everyone 100 glasses of Orange Juice eachday... they share the germs!

Well, it brings me to my first prayer topic:
Prayer for Good Health

Let's prayer for the health of our family, whether you are all well all the time (Praise God if that is you!) or you have someone who is always sick. God is a God of healing. His word says that 'By His strips we are healed.' (Is 53:5) So let's claim it in our families!

PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, Your word is true! It has stood the test of time and has been dug through by so many scholars and it still stands whole today. Your promises are the truth and we stand on them today. We pray life, health and wholenss into our kids, our husbands and ourselves today.
We speak to the sickness that is in bosied right now to be gone. We speak to sickness that wants to creep in to lose it's effect and be gone in Jesus Name.
Lord, I thank you because cancer, colds, migranes, insomnia, MS, diabetes, Lupus--- you are bigger than each and every one of these and you are the ultimate Physican!
Jesus, take our bodies and make them whole in You.
In Jesus Name, Amen

I encourage you to uplift each family member by name right now- maybe you have a daughter who constantly gets headaches....maybe your son deals with catching every little cold/bug that goes around....maybe your husband has a bas back... God is bigger tahn all of it... lif toyur family up to Him and TRUST and BELIEVE that He can and WILL heal them.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Why I Pray

I pray
because He tells me
to bring my requests to Him!
"If any one of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. " (James 1:5)
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Phil 4:6)
"Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened." (Matt. 7:7-8)
I pray
because He is my source
of life and strength!
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He wil not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youth gro tired and weary, adn young men stumble and fall; but those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint. (Is. 40:28-31)
I pray
because prayer changes things!
"The prayers of the Christian are secret, but their effects can not be hidden." (Howard Robbins)
"The prayers a righteous (wo)man are powerful and effective." (Jame 5:16)
"If you ask anything in my name, I will do it." -Jesus (John 14:14)