Just a Moment, Moms Praying

On Our Hearts: Bland No More

2010-09-08T00:01:00.002-05:00

Have you ever made a meal and then discovered that you left out that one key ingredient? That one seasoning or spice that provides all the flavor? Instead of a mouth-watering feast you ended up with a tasteless flop. Spices enhance the flavors; it's still beef, chicken or potatoes only better, much better. Of course you could live without it, but if there's no zip what's the point?

This is how God feels about you when you're bland. Are you lacking flavor in your spiritual walk? Are you just vanilla for God? Do you enhance the room when you gather with friends and family or are you weak and forgettable? Do you sprinkle God's love everywhere you go and leave a pleasant taste for Jesus? You don't have to be a culinary expert, just ask God to infuse you with His word.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the seasonings that enrich our food and our lives. You have given us so many flavor combinations; some sweet, some savory. Lord, show us how we can add flavor to the lives of those we touch. Forgive us for being tasteless and indifferent. We no longer want to be bland, we want to be You so that others will hunger for You. You have given us all the ingredients, we just have to follow the recipe. When we measure and integrate Your word into our lives, it's easy to reveal the heavenly banquet that You have prepared. You are the Alpha and Omega, Lord - that means that You are the one who cultivates the thirst and then You are the one who quenches it. What a glorious God you are! You are the sweet aroma among the stench of our society. Praise You Father that You are able to use us to pour out Your flavor on the world.

Amen

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage." Matthew 5:13

On Our Hearts: Knight in Shining Armor

2010-09-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

He leaves his socks by the bed or forgets to put the cap back on the toothpaste - that's right ladies, I'm talking about your husband. That one you stood beside and vowed to love and to cherish. Time has passed and you may look at him now and think he's just an ordinary guy, but he's still your knight in shining armor. Yes, I realize we don't live in medieval times and your husband probably doesn't resemble a noble knight no more than your home resembles a majestic castle. But he desires the adoration and respect just as those brave knights of ancient days had.

Is your knight's armor a little rusty and in need of some polishing? Well then get out the cloth and start scrubbing. Just like the silver your grandmother handed down to you, it's not going to get sparkly and shiny just by sitting in a drawer. Your husband is the same way. You may not have intentionally left him to sit idly by while you take care of the kids, the house, your job or whatever else you've committed yourself to. Take the time right now to take care of him. He's just waiting for you to carefully reveal the hidden layer that attracted you to him. However, instead of using polish apply words of praise. Instead of a soft cloth try buffing him with hugs and kisses. Make his armor shine so bright that he's reflecting you!

Father God,

Thank you so much for the man that you have given me to be my husband. You have divinely put us together to glorify you, Lord. Help me to overlook his blemishes and imperfections. Instead show me my flaws Lord and give me your wisdom and guidance that I may overcome my own faults. Lord show me how I can demonstrate true love to my husband. Give me the desire and ability to make him shine. Even when he I feel he is least deserving, may I still give him the honor he deserves. Let me fulfill his righteous desires and be the wife he longs for.

Amen

"A wife should put her husband first, as she does the Lord. A husband is the head of his wife, as Christ is the head and the Savior of the church, which is his own body. Wives should always put their husbands first, as the church puts Christ first. Ephesians 5:22 - 24

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Ephesians 6:10, 11

On Our Hearts: Three Simple Words

2010-09-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

Just do it. What do think when you hear those words? Perhaps a popular shoe company comes to mind. Maybe you see images of sculpted athletes in their quest to achieve success. Hard to believe that just three simple words (and a large advertising budget) would have the ability to motivate and inspire. However, I think there is another set of three words that has an even greater ability to touch lives. God is love. Some poets, song writers, and artists have spent their entire lives trying to portray what love is and there's the answer right there in the bible. It's so simple, and yet so lost on so many people. Fortunately God doesn't need a mega-million advertising campaign complete with sports stars, two-page magazine spreads, or a 30 second TV spot during half-time - He's got you!

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your love. 1 John 4 tells us that we must love one another, but in order to do that we must accept your love. We are so thankful Lord that you are able to love us despite all the despicable things we have done. You love us unconditionally, and now it's our turn. It's our turn to share that love with the world, to reach out to those who don't know you. It's our responsibility to show our family, our neighbors, and everyone we come in contact with who you are, God. Let us wait no more, we're done with excuses. Lift us up over the obstacles that stand in our way, remove the fear that holds us back and show us those who need your love the most. Lord, we are moms with a special assignment and we will go. We will go out in our community, our nation and then to the world to tell others three simple words: God is love.

Amen

"Real love isn't our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other." 1 John 4:10,11

On our Hearts- Parenting

2010-06-22T00:01:00.000-05:00

Since becoming a mom of two, I cannot tell you how many times I have compared my two girls. Maybe not intentionally but my oldest is the first and only experience I have. My two daughters could not be further apart in personality, demeanor, and attitude. I often catch myself exasperated by my youngest who is three and recently I have realized I have been unfair. 'Little bit' is as strong-willed as they come, determined to get her way, but incredibly loving and loyal. I have been reading up on how to parent a strong willed child, what I have learned is less about her and more about myself. You see, as a mom it is my job to look at her as she is, not to compare her to her older sibling or anyone else. Does God compare me to another? We are all created uniquely, individually, and purposefully. I truly believe that 'Little bit' will grow up with these wonderful traits to achieve whatever she wants. I need to remind myself that I cannot parent both of my children the same because they are not the same. What motivates one will not necessarily work for the other.

Father,
Being a mom is hard, being a parent is hard. I know as a child of Yours I have failed, faltered, not listened, and have been defiant. I pray that I can be a good parent to both of my children, to parent them individually, to look at them as unique. You have created each of them purposefully, and I am so grateful for that. Help me to be a good mother, to not just try to parent them but remember to pray for them and with them. Help me to stay calm in the moments I need it, to step back and look at the whole picture. Help me to embrace 'Little bit', direct and guide her the way she needs to be.

Amen

"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day." Psalm 139: 13-16

Special Day Scripture: Mom

2010-05-09T00:01:00.003-05:00

This week's Saturday Scripture was delayed in order to honor the most important women in the world. All of you!

Happy Mother's Day!

A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.

She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She's like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.

She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she's put aside, plants a garden.

First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.

She's skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She's quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.

She doesn't worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.

Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.

Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.

She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
"Many women have done wonderful things,
but you've outclassed them all!"

Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!

Proverbs 31:10-31

(The Message)

On Our Hearts: Journey of Faith

2010-05-06T00:01:00.000-05:00

This particular blog post and prayer is going to be a little personal. Here Micki will share with us an event that changed her life forever. Although Micki's circumstances may be a bit different from the rest of ours, I believe that we can all see a little of ourselves in her faith journey.

Ten years ago today, my life changed. At the time, most would have said for the worse given the circumstances, but I will just say it changed. On that day, I suffered many physical injuries as well as a traumatic brain injury. The memories I have are choppy at best. I had many physical injuries to deal with that left me at times unable to care for myself. Of my four limbs, only my left leg was un-injured, this made it hard to get around as you can imagine. The healing process was difficult and long. There were numerous surgeries, months and months of very limited mobility. I don’t have very many clear memories of the time, and have very fuzzy memories of my sisters wedding. I do remember laying flat on my back unable to care for myself and thinking ‘God, did you really need to get my attention that bad? Was I that lost that it really took you putting me here on my back unable to move, to get my attention?’ Now, I am not saying He created the accident to get my attention, but wow, it got my attention and I was in a position to do nothing but listen and seek.

The physical injuries and recovery took well over two years, but that was the easy part of the recovery as I look back. The hardest part was the brain injury. It is easy to describe to someone a broken arm, leg, or knee surgery, but it is hard to describe the mental and cognitive injuries. It is hard for someone to grasp the concept of not being able to read and comprehend what the words mean anymore. When I say my head felt like it was wrapped in cotton balls and I was trying to find my way out, not many can relate. The emotional volatility I experienced was so severe. I was unable to multitask, read and comprehend it, or hold a normal conversation. Often the words that came out of my mouth did not make any sense and I could not ‘find’ the words that I was looking for.

A few years ago someone asked me how I got through it. It sounded so ridiculous to me. Why would I choose to lay there and write my life off? Just because I had challenges didn’t mean that I couldn’t get some sort of life back. I basically had two choices: to lay there and let it get the best of me or try to be myself again. When I say get myself back it was more about accepting who I had become as a result of the accident and in a way grieving the loss of my old self. I had to realize I would not and will not ever be who I was, or have the exact same personality. But I know now that is ok.

During this time, I can only credit my faith for this success. I truly believe without it, I would have not made even one-fourth of the recovery I have made. Why? It was hard work. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. Marine Corps boot camp was easy compared to the rehab and battle I did. It was day in and day out with no or very little progress. Week after week of the same thing wondering if I improved at all, days and days of crying because I couldn’t stop. ‘Brain storms’ where I was so overwhelmed I could not do, think, or function. Through the fuzz, I had to keep holding on to the fact I could ‘get better’. My then boyfriend, now husband was amazing. He accepted me exactly how I was. It was ok not to be the old Micki.

Before the accident I was lost, a bit of a risk taker, I had a career but no real commitments. I only had as many possessions that I could pack up the car and leave. If I felt like moving I could, where I ended up I would. Of course that is not what happened. I have been married for almost 8 years and we have 2 young girls. I am so thankful for my life; for my experiences. I still struggle and am reminded daily of my injuries. Many days with physical pain and every day the cognitive challenges that remain. I have recovered well and adjusted. I have been taught many modifications, but daily I have to work at them.

I am no longer bitter, I am not sorry it happened. I am grateful for my faith. I am grateful for my family. I am thankful for each day and the challenges they present. For the gift of my family and for my husband accepting me for who I am today. I look at the world with a grateful heart and I am grateful to my God for my second chance.

Father God,

So many of us have our story, our battles we have fought. Today I just want to say thank you for mine. At many times in the past I have not been as forgiving or compassionate as I should have been. I am now ready to give it to you. It has taken years of you working on my heart to lift some bitterness. You are my God. I thank you for standing by me and being my companion during this journey.

Amen

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

On Our Hearts: Growth

2010-05-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

I am always amazed this time of year of just how much things can change. The trees are rapidly turning green and flowers are sprouting up. It is as if there is new growth all around us. As if God touched His hand to the ground and encouraged each blade of grass to reach for the sun. Chances are as your children prepare for the end of the school year you're noticing just how much they have changed over the course of the year. Maybe you've noticed how much her hair has grown, how his feet are two shoe sizes bigger, or just how much more grown up they have become. And although we are adults and we don't tend to think of ourselves as growing (unless it's our midline), God is calling us to grow. He wants us to grow in Him, in our faith, and in our service. Take a moment to look back and see just how much you've grown. Are you stronger in your relationship with God? Are you relying more on Him? Have you grown in spiritual maturity? No matter where you are in your walk with the Lord, you can be assured that you have new growth just waiting to blossom.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the new growth that surrounds us in nature. As we look around we are reminded of Your grace and mercy in the renewal process. Through You all things can be made new again. We can have new perspectives, new desires, and new hope. Lord, we thank You for the growth that we have experienced in You. And although You have not finished Your work in us yet, we can see the growth that has taken place. You have planted the seeds of our faith and Your love has nurtured us. Lord, show us the areas in which You want us to grow more. May we be a vessel for Your nourishment and teaching, Lord. Reveal the dry, withered places of our heart that need tending. We are yet a tender flower waiting to bloom.

Amen

"The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring." Isaiah 58:11

Saturday Scripture: Our Home

2010-05-01T00:01:00.003-05:00

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."
Joshua 24:14

Guest Prayer: Precious Jewels

2010-04-27T00:01:00.000-05:00

We are so pleased to introduce you to our friend Julie. Julie Evans Albracht has been wife to Cory Albracht for almost 14 years and is an amazing mother to almost 8 year old twin daughters. Julie lives in Colorado Springs and has a message of hope to wounded Christians in her blog Cushychristianity.com. Julie's blog is a refreshing look at today's Christians and their role as part of the Body of Christ.

Today we have asked Julie to share a prayer with us. We believe that as a mother you will be encouraged by Julie's honesty and humbleness as she asks the Lord's guidance in raising Godly children.

Our 7 year old daughters are continually exploring their relationship with God and what it means. They ask us many questions about God and His nature. One specific question they have asked recently is "Why did God put us on earth first if we are going to heaven eventually? Why don't we just go to heaven first?" Most of us probably have those days where we wish heaven were a present reality. Our very thoughtful response to this question also reminded us as parents why we are placed on earth at this time. We told them that not everyone will choose to serve God and go to heaven one day. God doesn't force us to serve Him, but gives us all a choice to make. God needs our help to show His love for others, so that they might join us in heaven for an eternity with our Lord.

Lord,

I pray that you will give us wisdom with our children as we are your example to their tender hearts. I pray you would help us show them your nature is not a forceful one, but very gentle and loving. We pray that your Spirit would do what we can't. Help us to show them your love so that they will understand and it would radiate from their hearts to others. I pray that we would be your light with our lives, not just our words. Let us show our children that being here on earth is not about our comfort, but about You in everything we do. May you use our lives to bring others to know your goodness and free gift of eternal life. Thank you Lord, for the tremendous gift of our children. May we guard and guide their hearts like precious jewels.

Amen

Thank you so much Julie for that heartfelt prayer. You can follow Julie and her Cushy Christianity Blog on Facebook by clicking the link below.

Cushy Christianity Blog - Julie Evans Albracht

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On Our Hearts: Don't Worry, Be Joyful

2010-04-26T00:01:00.003-05:00

I once heard it said that happiness is based on happenings, but joy comes from the Lord. Think about that for a second. We need people, places and things in order to be happy. But to be truly joyful all we need is Jesus. When we think about it that way, it is much easier it is to be joyful than to be happy. People will let us down, places will deceive us, and things will deteriorate. But the joy that God gives us never expires, never dissipates, and never fails. Oh sure, we will experience sadness now and then. But once you discover the inner joy that the Lord brings, your life will never be the same again.

Heavenly Father,

Please forgive us for having looked to the world to bring us joy. We may have found happiness, but it was only temporary. Fleeting pleasures that may satisify us in the interim, but they are no comparison to Your joy. This world is filled with so many disappointments and disillusion, and yet we continue to seek after the empty promises the devil would have us desire. Father, turn our hearts toward You so that we may receive Your magnificent joy. Only You can fulfill our deepest desire to be truly happy. We long to know what it feels like to have true inner joy and peace within our spirit. Help us to overcome any sadness that we may be feeling. Show us how to replace anger with forgiveness and grace. And let us pass this joy on to our children. May we be an overflowing vessel of joy to them. Lord, despite what may be going on right now in our lives, may we put a smile on our face and a sweet song in our voice to show the world the only way to find true happiness.

Amen

"You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound." Psalm 4:7

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Saturday Scripture: A Lover's Song

2010-04-24T00:01:00.002-05:00

"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine..."

Song of Solomon 6:3

On Our Hearts: You Are a Warrior

2010-04-23T00:01:00.002-05:00

This week our prayers have been focusing on the lies that we are deceived into believing about ourselves. The devil's persistence in trying to break us down may be strong but it is no match for God's absolute truth. This week we're going to expose just some of the devil's lies that cloud our thinking and interfere with us having a triumphant life in Christ.

Unlike what we see in the movies or on television the devil doesn't just appear to us with red horns and a pointy tail. He is more cunning than anything we have ever known. The Bible warns us repeatedly of the dangers of his schemes. And just when you think you've got the devil behind you, he sneaks back up and tries to tear you down, especially with our own thoughts. Hopefully this week as you have been praying God has shown you the places where the devil has set traps for you. Don't let the devil get in your head and try to deceive you. Stay vigilant. Be prepared. Put on the whole armor of God and be ready for the attack.

Gracious Father,

Thank you Lord for being our protector against all that is evil. You have covered us with your righteousness. The devil cannot get to us when You stand in the way. Lord just help us to keep You front and center in our lives. Don't let us become ambivilant toward sin and complacent in the world's ways. Keep us ever mindful of the ways that we are being attacked and give us the strength to stand up and stay strong in our faith. You may have delivered us from sin, but we not immune to it. Thank goodness where we are weak, You are strong. When we feel attacked let us not be ashamed to get on our knees and cry out to You, God. A battle cry that breaks through the darkness and shines Your mighty light for all to see.

Amen

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Ephesians 6:10-11

"Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord's followers are suffering just as you are." 1 Peter 5:8-9

On Our Hearts: No More Excuses

2010-04-22T00:01:00.001-05:00

This week our prayers are going to focus on the lies that we are deceived into believing about ourselves. The devil's persistence in trying to break us down may be strong but it is no match for God's absolute truth. This week we're going to expose just some of the devil's lies that cloud our thinking and interfere with us having a triumphant life in Christ.

Are you full of excuses? I can't do it. I don't have time. I'm not good at that. I don't know how. Are you using these same excuses with God? I can't pray in public. I don't have time to volunteer at church. I'm not good at sharing the gospel. I don't know how to lead a worship team. Do you honestly think God would put you in a position of expanding His kingdom without the proper equipment? The devil wants you to think so. However, the truth is God has fully prepared each of us for His calling. Look around, where are you needed? What is the Lord waiting for you to do? What have you put off out of fear or selfishness? Get off the bus, sister, it's time to put your feet to the pavement and walk His talk.

Heavenly Father,

We've made every excuse in the book as to why we can't serve You right now, and for that we repent. We've let our own apprehension get in the way of fulfilling Your will. Lord, we're asking You now to show us just exactly where we are needed. Right now. Up front, behind the scenes, in the trenches - Lord, wherever You want to put us is where we will go. Let us be an agent of Your glory, an associate of Your righteousness, and a partner of Your mercy. Lord, we trust that You have furnished us with all that we need to accomplish the task. You are a big, big God. You are able to work through even the meekest of individuals. You can create a lioness out of the most timid of does. Lord give us that courage to step out of our comfort zone, to take that risk and reach out to others. Prepare us heart, soul, and body for the work that You would have us do. We're ready, Lord. Show us the way.

Amen

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

On Our Hearts: One Of The Family

2010-04-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

This week our prayers are going to focus on the lies that we are deceived into believing about ourselves. The devil's persistence in trying to break us down may be strong but it is no match for God's absolute truth. This week we're going to expose just some of the devil's lies that cloud our thinking and interfere with us having a triumphant life in Christ.

I was reading through John during my Bible study this week and was reminded of just how much suffering Jesus Christ endured during that time on the cross. Imagine if you were asked to be placed in front of your office or home nearly naked and beaten and mocked for hours, just so your co-workers or family could live a life free of sin. I'm not so sure I would accept that proposition. Would you? Not only did Christ accept this call on His life, He did it knowing He would suffer in the worst possible way. Without complaint, without manipulation, and without even a mild anesthetic He willfully suffered to welcome us into His family. The devil wants you to think that God is a distant, harsh dictator who only delights in punishing us. The Bible proves that nothing could be further from the truth.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You Lord for Your ultimate sacrifice on the cross. We are so thankful that the blood You shed has washed us clean from sin. It is unimaginable the pain and suffering that You endured just for us. We are unworthy of the grace You have given us. God, we are Your child, You have accepted us. A child that longs for Your guidance, counsel, and protection. However, we can rest in knowing that our eternal salvation is secure in You. No amount of sin will compromise that. And no works are required to fulfill it. It is a free gift - underserving. And yet Lord we are so thankful that we no longer have to worry about our eternity. We have a Father in heaven who is ready to scoop us up and hold us in His arms. Our Abba Father who loves us unconditionally. A father who wasn't just handed his child, but a Father who took great care to choose us. What joy to have been chosen by the King of Kings!

Amen

"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure." Ephesians 1:5

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." 1 Corinthians 12:27

On Our Hearts: God Loves Us

2010-04-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

This week our prayers are going to focus on the lies that we are deceived into believing about ourselves. The devil's persistence in trying to break us down may be strong but it is no match for God's absolute truth. This week we're going to expose just some of the devil's lies that cloud our thinking and interfere with us having a triumphant life in Christ.

We all have sinned. Repeat: We all have sinned. No matter just how well we know this, the devil creeps in and somehow convinces us that we are the only ones who have sinned that much. He tells us that God couldn't possibly forgive us, we just did too wrong, our sin was too big. Maybe you're feeling like God's made exception with you. Or that God is angry with you. How could God possibly forgive someone like you? Take heart because the Bible tells us that no amount of sin could separate you from God. You are cleansed pure by the blood of Jesus.

Heavenly Father,

We are so thankful that Your grace has replaced our sin. And Lord, we are also thankful that there is no condemnation with You. By Your blood we were redeemed, You paid the ultimate price so that we are no longer in bondage of sin. Let us be so filled with Your word that our ears are closed to the devil's lies. When we are armed with the truth we can clearly see the deception and false accusations the devil puts before us. We know that Your love is perfect and that nothing can separate us from Your love. We may have sinned and we regret having missed the many blessings You had for us, but Your love remains unchanged. We are so thankful that your mercy and grace are infinite.

Amen

"The Lord isn't slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost." 2 Peter 3:9

"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14

On Our Hearts: Rejection

2010-04-19T00:01:00.005-05:00

This week our prayers are going to focus on the lies that we are deceived into believing about ourselves. The devil's persistence in trying to break us down may be strong but it is no match for God's absolute truth. This week we're going to expose just some of the devil's lies that cloud our thinking and interfere with us having a triumphant life in Christ.

We've all been there. Call it denied, overlooked, or ignored - it's still rejection and it still hurts. No one wants to feel unwanted or worthless. And it is especially painful when someone you love rejects you. It is in our nature to want to be accepted and valued. And yet how do we deal with the daily rejections? And let's face it, rejection happens to each of us daily. Our co-workers, our children, our friends, and even our own spouse will reject us at times. Jesus understands how you're feeling when others dismiss you, He felt it too.

Heavenly Father,

We are so thankful that you understand just exactly how we are feeling. Like us, you felt rejected, forsaken, and discarded by people. We've been told we're unqualified, unworthy and unlovable. But your word tells us that we belong to you, Lord. And You have not made us inferior. You have given us Your Holy Spirit and You have equipped us to overcome tribulation. You never overlook us, You never forsake us, and You never reject us. Thank you Father, for we are perfect in Your eyes. We have no need to look for acceptance here on this earth when we have Your unfailing love and devotion. Holy Spirit prepare us for the disappointments that we will encounter and strengthen us when we feel defeated. Remain in us to stand strong and to not let the devil steal our faith. Let us courageously stand up when we are told we are unlovable, and shout - Jesus loves me! When we are told we are disqualified, may we proclaim - I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God! And when we are told we are unwanted, may we declare - My Father accepts me just as I am!

Amen

"Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won't turn any of them away." John 6:37

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

Saturday Scripture: His Purpose

2010-04-17T00:01:00.001-05:00

"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

Saturday Scripture: Valuable to God

2010-04-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

Matthew 6:26

Easter Sunday

2010-04-04T00:01:00.001-05:00

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..."

1 Peter 1:3

On Our Hearts: A Godly Home

2010-03-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

Are you taking care of your home? I'm not talking about the dusting, cleaning, and the endless pile of laundry. Or the weeding, mowing, or trimming that gives our home curb appeal. Is your home walking in the will of God? You may have your child's extra-cirricular activities all planned out, or even your summer vacation plans booked but have you thought about what's truly important? Just as God has a plan for each of our lives, He has a plan for your family. He desires an obedient household that shows mercy and love not only to each other but to all on the outside looking in. Your home may need a fresh coat of paint on the exterior, but a covering of God's grace on the interior will ultimately increase your home's value.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are so thankful that You are a loving and forgiving God. Lord we submit every area of our family to You. We ask that You be the head of our household. May we look to you for guidance and leadership. Show us how to be obedient to Your Word and fulfill the purpose that you have set aside for us. We also ask that there be peace in our home. May our words be filled with love and mercy. Let us be slow to anger, and quick to hear. Lord, let us rejoice and laugh with each other. May we freely forgive those in our home, just as you have forgiven us Lord. Thank you for the family that you have blessed us with. While our home may not be perfect, we can rest in knowing that You are, Lord. Let our front door be an entrance to solace and delight to You, God.

Amen

"He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built." Luke 6:48

On Our Hearts: Healed

2010-03-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

We've all been hurt. Whether it's wounds caused by words or actions, we have all experienced pain caused by someone else. Some wounds we can cover up like a band-aid and forget about the pain. Other wounds are harder to hide; we may look like we've got it all together but when somebody touches that wound we realize just how badly we've been hurt. God wants to heal those wounds. We can be free from the hurtful things of our past just by simply asking for the Lord's healing touch.

Father God,

Thank You so much for Your ability to heal our wounds. We have been hurt and are unable to forget the pain that has been caused. People have broken our hearts, let us down, abused our trust, and rejected us. Lord, we no longer want to just cover up those injuries, we need a complete and total healing. Help us to forgive and forget the pain that was caused by others. We submit those damaging relationships to You, God. Give us freedom from the lingering pain that keeps us from fully being intimate with You God. We want to experience the joy that comes from letting go of past hurts. People will always let us down, Lord. But we rejoice in knowing that we can wholly rely on You. Your Word tells us that You will never leave us or forsake us. Show us how to rest in that promise as you anoint us with your healing power.

Amen

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

Saturday Scripture: His Promise

2010-03-27T00:01:00.001-05:00

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds,

and it will be the sign of the covenant

between me and the earth."

Genesis 9:13

Saturday Scripture: The Only Way

2010-03-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

"With all your heart you must trust the LORD
and not your own judgment.

Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road
for you to follow."

Proverbs 3:5-6

On Our Hearts: Back To The Basics

2010-03-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

Do you ever have days where you feel like the Lord is leading you but you don't know where? Or when life is so overwhelming you just don't know where to start praying? Sometimes we just need to get back to the basics. Lay it all down and let your Father pick it up. He knows what you need. He can work in us despite how we feel, what we do and where we're going.

"... for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

This, then, is how you should pray:
'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'"

Matthew 6:8-13

Amen

On Our Hearts: Dreams

2010-03-15T00:01:00.002-05:00

When we were little girls we had dreams of what we would become when we grew up. A princess, the President, an astronaut, a movie star; all of us would fantasize what it would be like someday to do something important. Perhaps even not so long ago you had ambitions of becoming something more; maybe a teacher, a CEO, an entrepeneur or even a mom. But what about the lofty dreams of our youth? You might have even forgotten what your childhood dream was, but God hasn't. And even though it might be too late to become a princess or an astronaut, God knows the dreams of your heart and He wants to make them come true. Yes, even what we might label as unrealistic dreams that we have pushed away. God knows our heart and He can still see us as a little girl pining away at that fantasy.

Heavenly Father,

We thank You that You have not forgotten our dreams, no matter how silly. Thank You for the ability to love us and fulfill our dreams at just the right moment, and in just the right way. We may not wear a crown of jewels or fly in a rocket ship, but Lord You have blessed us in so many ways. Open our eyes so that we can truly see all of Your blessings. Fill our hearts with gratefulness and joy. And Lord, by our example let others around us also be filled with Your presence. May we raise children who are able to see joy in all things, bless those around them, and have a grateful heart. We praise You Father for the desires You have and will put in our hearts. Let us wake up each day with that same passion and eagerness to take on the world that we had as a little girl.

Amen

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Real Moms: Brandie

2010-03-14T00:01:00.003-06:00

Welcome to our newest feature "Real Moms". This is an opportunity for us to get to know our fellow praying moms. On Sunday we'll feature a different mom who will share her story of faith and salvation. What a blessing to be able to learn and grow from those around us who can relate to our journey of being a mom. So sit back, grab yourself a cup of coffee and be inspired by the true stories that illustrate God's grace.

Real Mom: Brandie

I first met Brandie at a playdate. Her little boy D is so full of energy and life, you instantly fall in love him. Not to mention his fantastic smile will just melt your heart. Brandie's story is a unique one. As a single woman she decided to adopt D which would take him out of the foster care system and give him a permanent loving home. Brandie doesn't let D's special needs hold either one of them back. She works diligently to make sure that all of his needs are taken care of and is dedicated to finding an environment where D can thrive. As a mother she is patient, loving, and joyful; qualities any mother would be challenged in while raising a very busy soon-to-be six year old boy.

We hope that you will be inspired by Brandie's testimony to her faith as a single working mom. Perhaps many of you can relate to that special calling that led you to become a mom; it is one of our greatest works here on earth. And don't miss Brandie's surprise announcement at the end of the interview!

Moms Blog: Tell us a little about your childhood. Were you raised in a Christian home? Did you have a strong Christian influence or someone you looked up to?

Brandie: I was raised by a single mom who wasn't there most of the time. So I basically raised myself. We did go to church, but it never really meant much to me. I was forced to go, and to me, it was dull. My grandma, who was a big part of my life, went as well but she had very conventional ideas of how children should be and it really turned me away at the time from wanting to be their version of "Christian". I understand now as an adult that my grandma's faith is deep, that she's just very old school in a lot of ways. But at the time, that church style did not appeal to me at all, so it turned me away. I knew there was a God, but just couldn't seem to figure out how to relate to Him. I was very blessed when I went to college to become friends with some awesome people who introduced me to their own church, and it really helped show me God in a whole new light. That there were churches out there that embraced a lot of praise and worship, that weren't so somber. And that it was ok to prefer that. It completely changed my thoughts on how to have a relationship with God, and He was able to use that to draw me closer to Him.

Moms Blog: Share a little about your decision to adopt a child. Where was your faith during that time? Was there something or someone that led you to make the decision to be a single mom?

Brandie: I had volunteered for three years at a shelter for abused and neglected children prior to getting D, and really, my heart is drawn to those kids. It was definitely a God-calling, to say the least. I fought it for awhile, but decided to go ahead and at least start the process and see where it went. I figured with a calling that strong, I needed to roll with it. At the time (well, and still today), my faith was pretty strong, and I wanted to be wherever God led me. To be honest, though, even believing that, I don't think I really believed at the time that what I was doing would end up with me being a parent. I was just taking the steps that He intended, and going with the flow of it, and then lo and behold, there was D. We truly were meant for each other, and I am shown that every day.

Moms Blog: Did you have any doubts about the call that God had on your life?

Brandie: I questioned myself a lot at times about the "how" of parenting a child (especially a boy!) by myself, but never really had doubts about the actual doing of it. I knew that I would know the child God had for me as soon as I saw him or her, and sure enough, upon first seeing D's picture, I knew. And, really, now, three years into this, I can definitely see the benefits to D in it. He gets all my attention. When I first got him, he was in a home with a lot of other kids who needed attention too. They loved him, but I think he was stagnating a bit. And so being able to have all my focus, has been so beneficial to him. And I see that now, and marvel at just another way that it's clear he was meant for me. There are times when things get really difficult with him, and I question if I should even vent about it to others, as I did make the choice to be a single mom, but...God never said it'd be easy. He said He'd be with me all the way through it, and I hold on to that and know that I'm doing the right thing.

Moms Blog: Was the adoption process easy or hard? Who or what helped you through that process?

Brandie: The process itself was lengthy, but it was not difficult. I did have to go through training classes, in which they try to prepare you for the child you might possibly get, giving you the worst case scenarios, but after having volunteered so long with children in the foster care system, it didn't phase me much. I had already seen it all. During this time, I was still volunteering at the shelter, and I had a lot of friend support. I didn't get a lot of support from my family until I actually got D, but I knew I was doing what was right, and that was what mattered.

The actual getting of D, was easy as well. He bonded so very quickly to me, and I have his foster parents, him, and God to thank for that. His foster parents were very experienced and so they prepared him well. They let me send pictures of myself and our house to start introducing me to him before I ever met him. And he, even at barely two years old, knew. The first time I met him, I picked him up when it was time for me to go, and he laid his head down on my shoulder, like it was the most natural place in the world to be.

Moms Blog: Talk a little about your son and how his life has impacted yours.

Brandie: D has definitely made my life interesting. With his special needs, I never quite know what the next day will bring, but to me, I love his personality, and his joy for life...and they just completely outweigh the bad. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I've only known him for three and a half years, but I can't imagine life without him.

Moms Blog: Is passing along your faith important to you? If so, what are you doing to share the word of God with him?

Brandie: Absolutely. I don't want D to have to struggle as much as I did to know who his Savior is. We pray together a lot, but also I let him hear me praying out loud as we go about our day. I want him to know that God is always there, not just at bedtime, not just at dinner time. I love sharing Bible stories with him, and talking with him about what God has done in my life. We do slack a little at getting to church, as for a long time it was difficult to find a church that could handle his special needs. The one we've found that can, is a ways from us.

Moms Blog: What would you like to share with other women who may be currently a single mom or thinking of adopting as a single mom?

Brandie: One of the biggest things, is that it is doable. There are times it hurts me to see moms who can stay at home with their kids, get them immediately after school, spend more time with them, but then I think, the time I do spend with my son, is even that much more special to me. It has been tough figuring out childcare for him that can handle him, but he's worth it. And adopting from foster care, the state has many benefits to support you. This includes (though they are based on the child's needs): monthly subsidies, Medicaid, adoption fee reimbursements, and even college benefits. With all of D's therapy, seizure meds, etc, knowing that it's covered by Medicaid until he's eighteen, is one less worry for me. The few fees I had to pay to adopt, were all reimbursed, so it's not expensive either. Well, the adoption part is not expensive, having a kiddo is, especially one who eats like a football player!

Moms Blog: Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Brandie: I haven't made this super public yet, but this is as good a place as any to do it. I'm actually in the process of getting approved to adopt again. But this time it's going to be a pre-teen girl!

Brandie's photos were taken by Chera of Chera25 Photography.

Guest Prayer: Raising Boys

2010-02-03T00:01:00.001-06:00

We are so pleased to introduce you to our friend Crystal. As a very busy mom of four young (and adorable) boys she understands the challenges and blessings of raising boys in today's world. Moms of boys are faced with the unique challenge to form and shape someone who is completely opposite from them. So while they may have our hair or our eyes, we may never understand why we find rocks and bugs in their pockets on laundry day.

Today we have asked Crystal to share her prayer for her boys. So if you are a mom of boys you'll appreciate her honesty and her faith with the Lord. And even if you are a mom of girls, pray this prayer on behalf of the mother of your daughter's future husband.

Father, thank you so very much for the blessing of my children. When I had 4 boys in 3 years, little did I understand the job laid forth before me. Please work through me to instill a strong and abiding love for you. There are so many opportunities each day to invite you into our home. Even though we may be busy and distracted please help us see and use each and every opportunity to talk with you, about you, about your love for us, and our love for you. Forgive me when I let these opportunities pass by without notice.

They are only young for a fleeting time. In that short amount of time, help me create men who will grow to be loving husbands, fathers, brothers and friends. When I get overwhelmed with the energetic antics of young boys, help me remember that this time is special. It will not last forever. Help me cherish each and every day I have with them while they are young. The time will come for them to leave the nest, and when they do, I pray that they will have a strong foundation with which to build their own families. Help me to help them become the spiritual leaders in their own homes. So that knowledge of the love you have for us will remain strong for generations to come.

Thank you for the blessing of my family. I pray that you would continue to be with me, helping and guiding me, in one of my most important jobs on this earth, being a mother.

Amen

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:3-5

On Our Hearts: Forgotten Children

2010-02-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

Heavenly Father,

Today we just lift up those children who have been forgotten. So many children around the world have slipped through the cracks and are wandering. To the innocent baby born to a drug addicted mother, to the teenager who left an abusive home to live on the streets, they all need our love and prayers. There are children in foster care who bounce from home to home never fully understanding what it means to be loved in a secure and stable environment. There are children who have been abandoned emotionally by parents who desire drugs or alcohol over the care of their children. And to the unborn child whose mother is uncertain of her decision to follow through with the pregnancy, we pray for all of them.

Lord, we ask that You lift out Your loving hands to each of these children who are in need of love. Protect them and comfort them as they struggle to find peace in their surroundings. Let their eyes only see the beauty that You have created around them. Put people in their lives that are willing to do what it takes to provide a loving home for them. Father we ask that You watch over the unborn and that You protect them from harm. Change the hearts of mothers and fathers who may have turned their back on their children. Show them the way to get sober and clean and give them a support system to help them when it gets too hard to cope. Father no matter how dire or disheartening the situation a child faces we know that You can work supernaturally to protect their hearts. We praise You Lord, for You do the work when we cannot.

Amen

"The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: 'Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in.' Then gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them." Mark 10:13-16

On Our Hearts: Our Children

2010-02-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for the blessing that is our children. We pray that You will be our guide as we direct their little hearts. Let us be loving yet consistent with our discipline, let us be thoughtful and sensitive as we dry their tears, and let us rejoice with them as they find happiness in the tiniest of things. Lord, we ask that we remember to hug them often when they are little and to slowly let go as they grow older. Most of all Lord, show us how to point them in the way of You. May we be the light they need to find You among so much evil.

Lord, we ask that you watch over our children. Be their shield and protect them from harm. Nourish their bodies to grow healthy and strong. Lord, fill their minds with the things that are honoring to You. We ask that You provide them with good friends and lots and lots of joy. We trust You, Lord, that you will provide them with all of their needs. In Jesus' name,

Amen

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

On Our Hearts: Praying For Haiti Day Five

2010-01-22T00:01:00.000-06:00

This week we are dedicating our blog to the people of Haiti. Among the heartache and devastation we are praying for those dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake. Join us as we lift up the Haitian people and the rescue workers.

Heavenly Father,

We ask that we not forget about the Haiti people and their needs. Now that some time has passed and the earthquake is no longer the headline in the media, we need to remember that they are still in desperate help for our resources and prayers. We ask that the flood of support continue to flow into that country. We ask that volunteers continue to sign up and assist in the rescue, clean up, distribution, and medical areas. It's easy for those of us who are removed first-hand from the crisis to forget and focus on our own lives. Whether it be our money, time, or prayer it is all crucial to the Haitian people. Father we lift up those who are still physically hurting and ask that medical supplies be abundant to treat all the wounds. We ask that food and water supplies be replenished for the hungry and thirsty. And Lord we ask that order and peace return to Haiti as the rebuilding process begins. Father we know that You have not forgotten Your people, let us not forget as well.

Amen

"' Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10

On Our Hearts: Praying For Haiti Day Four

2010-01-21T00:01:00.002-06:00

This week we are dedicating our blog to the people of Haiti. Among the heartache and devastation we are praying for those dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake. Join us as we lift up the Haitian people and the rescue workers.

Father,

Today we pray for the children of Haiti. What a confusing disruptive time this must be for them. Some have lost parents, siblings, family members, and friends. Their surroundings may be confusing and unfamiliar, as many homes are destroyed and their own 'home' looks different. Their precious lovey or blanket may be buried in the rubble and they feel all alone amidst the devastation that surrounds them.

Father, we pray for comfort for these children, for someone to wrap their arms around them, to hug them and help ease their fear. We pray for someone to wipe away the tears and read them a book or give them a toy to play with. We pray that they are fed, their medical needs are taken care of, and that they have shelter. We pray they may be reunited with missing family members. We just pray that among the chaos that these children be children.

Amen

"Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them by placing his hands on him." Mark 10:16

On Our Hearts: Praying For Haiti Day Three

2010-01-20T00:01:00.001-06:00

This week we are dedicating our blog to the people of Haiti. Among the heartache and devastation we are praying for those dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake. Join us as we lift up the Haitian people and the rescue workers.

Heavenly Father,

We ask that you be with all the volunteers and rescue workers that are diligently sacrificing their time to help the people of Haiti. We know that the conditions are volatile and their surroundings appear bleak, but we ask that You just fill them with Your hope. Give them the energy and stamina to keep searching for even the smallest survivor. We ask that You equip them supernaturally so that they may lift debris to find life. Lord we ask that You give peace and order to that country. When so many are struggling to just find food and water, we ask that You expedite the rations so that all can receive what is necessary and then some. Lord please just wrap Your arms around those in Haiti, show them the love that You have for them. There are so many that are hurting and are looking for someone to blame, we just ask that Your light remain bright among darkness. We pray this in Jesus mighty name,

Amen

"Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

On Our Hearts: Praying For Haiti Day Two

2010-01-19T00:01:00.000-06:00

This week we are dedicating our blog to the people of Haiti. Among the heartache and devastation we are praying for those who are dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake. Join us as we lift up the Haitian people and the rescue workers.

Father,

The people of Haiti are suffering, they are hungry, they are desparate. They are hurting because they have lost family members either by death or by chaos.

There is so much to pray for.. for food and provision, for shelter- as most have been destroyed or unlivable, for medical aid and supplies, for peace in their hearts, that they are being prayed for and You are there.

It is hard to imagine what they must be feeling as most of us are blessed to have what we have. Live where we live. And to believe what we believe. Father I pray that through this they may see kindness, and in that kindness- Christ.

Amen

"I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus!" Phillipians 4:19

On Our Hearts: Praying For Haiti Day One

2010-01-18T00:01:00.001-06:00

This week we are dedicating our blog to the people of Haiti. Our hearts are heavy as we think about the devastation and despair that the tragic earthquake has left behind. Please commit to praying with us every day as we lift up the Haitian people and the rescue workers serving there.

Heavenly Father,

We pray for the people of Haiti. We can see the devastation and chaos that is being broadcast on our televisions but we will probably never know the depth of despair that those people are feeling. Lord we ask that You give them hope for a brighter future. We ask that Your people rise up and shine through when others are wanting to give up. Let Your voice be heard in the streets speaking of the good news that comes the hope in Jesus Christ. We pray for the rescue workers as they risk their lives to save those who may have been given up on. We ask that You supernaturally work in their favor to lift rubble and debris. Give them ears to hear the tiny cries that let them know to not give up looking for survivors. We're asking for miracles Lord. Please God be with them, let our prayer be an encouragement to those people who are hurting.

Amen

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me." Psalm 138:7

On Our Hearts: No More Excuses

2010-01-12T00:01:00.001-06:00

How many times do we make excuses for things we don't want to do? In fact most of us could say we are probably pretty good at avoiding what needs to be done. Unfortunately our excuses will only get us so far. Our boss won't tolerate us being constantly late, the traffic cop probably doesn't care why we were speeding, and the mortgage company is unsympathetic to our financial troubles. Think about our own children and how quickly they can come up with their own excuses for not doing their chores, or their homework, or if you have teenagers getting out of bed. As moms we see right through these flimsy pleas and continue to request that the job gets done. This is how God sees us when it comes to fulfilling our purpose in Him. As His children He sees right through our pathetic excuses when we avoid what He has called us to do. Like a loving parent he nudges us to do His work. He knows that He has not given us more than we can handle. So what is your excuse?

Heavenly Father,

Please forgive us for all the excuses we have given You. We want to listen to You and do the right thing but we've let so many things get in the way. We know You have called us for something greater, You have laid a great plan for us and yet we have failed to follow directions. Lord let us get rid of all those excuses right now. If we are tired give us energy, if we are confused give us wisdom, if we are weak make us strong, and if we are scared give us peace. Father we may not understand all the things that You are telling us to do, but we want to be a willing vessel for Your Holy Spirit, Lord. Just as Noah listened and obeyed to build an ark when no one else was willing. Holy Spirit open our ears to hear the Lord and give us the faith to obey His command, no matter what.

Amen

"And Noah did according to all that the Lord commanded him." Genesis 7:6

"If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." Isaiah 1:19-20

Real Moms: Kristen

2010-01-10T00:01:00.002-06:00

Welcome to our newest feature "Real Moms". This is an opportunity for us to get to know our fellow praying moms. Every Sunday we'll feature a different mom who will share her story of salvation, healing, or redemption. What a blessing to be able to learn and grow from those around us who can relate to our journey of being a mom. So sit back, grab yourself a cup of coffee and be inspired by the true stories that illustrate God's grace.

Real Mom: Kristen

I first heard about Kristen's story when she shared her experience with the Cardboard Testimony at her church. Touched by her testimony, I asked Kristen if she would be willing to sharing her story on our blog. Kristen didn't hesitate to say yes. Here is Kristen's story in her own words. She is very open and candid about her struggle with addiction and her journey to salvation. I know that her humbling story will encourage and inspire you as well.

On Christmas Eve Kristen particpated in the Cardboard Testimony at her church. For those who are not familiar the Cardboard Testimony is an opportunity for participating church members to line up and share their testimony with the congregation. A simple piece of cardboard is held by each individual. On the front of the cardboard is written in just a few words what their life was like before they found Christ and then they flip it over to reveal what their life is now that they have Christ in their life. Despite fears of being judged by her past, Kristen shared her personal story that Christmas Eve night. Take a look at Kristen's Cardboard Testimony:

Moms Blog: Let us begin by having you tell us little about your childhood and your Christian influences growing up.

Kristen: I grew up in a strong Christian home with my parents and older brother. My parents had met in a bible study group so my whole life was spent going to church on Sundays and then church activities the rest of the week. During middle school the youth pastor was absolutely amazing and someone I could go to for anything. He ended up moving to Colorado and the youth group in that church was never the same. High school is when I really started to rebel and my grounding would be that I would have to go to Wednesday Night Youth Group. So no matter how sick I pretended to be there was absolutely no getting out of church. It was something that I was forced to do and I went not because I wanted to but because I had to.

Moms Blog: Share a little about your addiction and what led you down that destructive path.

Kristen: Straight out of high school I had a boyfriend who I absolutely loved. His brother was a drug dealer so I was always around drugs so I finally decided to try some. I spent the next two years addicted to meth, while doing cocaine, ecstasy, and GHB for fun on the side. I pretty much lost all of my friends because I would never leave the house. I would go days without eating or sleeping simply because I forgot to. I never gave up my faith during this time I just put it on the back burner. I was not ready to be a good person yet because I thought I was having fun. I would go to church on holidays with my family but I was always high when I went. I really can only remember one time during those two years that I actually prayed. It was when I was at a dealer’s apartment. Some people had just bought some drugs and walked out of his apartment. A few seconds later we heard gun shots. This was not the first time people have come after this guy so we had to hide in his apartment for a few hours. I prayed that God would keep me safe because I was too young to die and I had too many things to still do. And for some reason he did.

Moms Blog: How did you come to turn around and decide to be free of the addiction? Who or what helped you through that process?

Kristen: There was not one specific thing that happened that caused me to stop my addiction. I just woke up one day and thought to myself “What am I doing?” This is not the life that I wanted nor is it the life that I ever thought I would be living. I was sick of always being broke and having to hide things from absolutely everyone. I had moved back in with my parents and since I didn’t sleep I would sit in my small closet all night with the door shut and my closet light on so that my parents wouldn’t know that I was awake. It was absolutely ridiculous and I knew that I could do so much better for myself. So the day that I decided enough was enough I knew I had to tell my boyfriend. We both knew that it was the drugs that were keeping us together so I knew very well that if I told him I was quitting we would break up. And that is exactly what happened. I had no friends anymore and my parents had no idea that I was even doing drugs. So I spent the next week in bed by myself unable to get out. I told my parents I had the flu and that’s why I was spending the week in bed. The only thing that I could do was pray. And so I did. And somehow I was able to quit drugs cold turkey without the help of anyone but God. After everything I had done wrong He was still there for me when I needed Him the most. You have to have complete and total faith in the Lord and trust that He will take care of you. When you put all your trust in God you will be amazed at what He does for you!

Moms Blog:

Share with us a little about your son and how he impacted you as a young mom. What do you hope to teach him based on what you’ve been through?

Kristen: As soon as I found out that I was pregnant I knew that my life had to change. I had quit my addiction just about 6 months earlier and still would occasionally do some here and there. I figured if I wasn’t addicted and was careful not to get addicted again then there was no harm in doing some drugs occasionally. What a twisted way of thinking. I had friends with babies and they would put the baby in one room and we would go do drugs in the next room. I always said that I would NEVER be that mom and I was not about to break that promise to myself. So needless to say my whole life changed when I had my son. I truly believe that he saved my life. My ex husband is an alcoholic and no matter how much help he got and how much support he had he was not willing to stop drinking, instead he just hid it. So I removed myself and my son from the situation and became a single mom. My goal right now is to show my son that no matter what your circumstances may be you can do anything you put your mind to. He is one of the big reasons I have decided to go to college. I want to show him that even a single mom who works full time can find a way to go to school full time also. There are no excuses. I want him to grow up in church and to know that God has a plan for him and will always take care of him. His “situation” with his parents may not be “normal” but it’s important to me that he knows we both love him and that so does God. Because my parents had pushed God on me so hard it really pushed me in the other direction so I have to find a balance with how to lead my son to God. I am not sure if I will ever tell him the extent of my drug use but when he is old enough I will let him know that I had an addiction problem. I want him to feel comfortable talking to me about anything and everything and I want him to know that I will never judge him. We all make mistakes and what really matters is how you deal with those mistakes.

Moms Blog: What would you like to share with other moms who may be currently dealing with an addiction or have had in the past?

Kristen: I would want them to know that they are not alone. There are plenty of people out there who have either gone through or are going through what they are. It’s important to make the first step in deciding to make a change, especially if they already have a child. Whenever I may get a “craving” I simply think of my son. Would I be willing to lose my son over a drug? Absolutely not! God has a plan for us and I can guarantee you drugs are not in His plan. It can be very difficult in starting over but God will take care of you. I had absolutely no one to help me overcome my problem and with the help of God I was able to come out on top. If you don’t think you can do it alone then get help. Don’t be ashamed. There is no shame in trying to better yourself.

Moms Blog: What else would you tell moms who might be struggling?

Kristen: Find a good church and get involved. Having a group of friends that you can look up to and who can help you with your relationship with God makes all the difference in the world. It can be intimidating starting over but it is so worth it. I have spent most of my life going to Church but not truly trusting in the Lord. Once I decided to give myself completely and totally to the Lord my life has completely changed. I only made this decision about 6 months ago and it’s truly amazing how much can change in that short time. Before, all that I cared about was getting drunk and meeting guys. My friends were horrible influences, I had very low self esteem, and I was not happy. Now that I have full faith in the Lord and I know He will take care of me I can finally be happy. I got rid of the negative influences in my life and never looked back. I no longer need to turn to alcohol to make me feel good, and I finally have more confidence in myself and who I am. Just believe in God and see what great plan He has for you. What do you have to lose?

Saturday Scripture: Growth

2010-01-09T00:01:00.004-06:00

"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything,

but only God, who makes things grow." 1 Corinthians 3:7

On Our Hearts: God's Love For Us

2010-01-08T00:01:00.001-06:00

Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for loving us. You are constantly with us, loving us, guiding us and protecting us. You encourage us when we were down and rejoice with us when we are filled with joy. We are in awe of Your greatness, Lord. You know everything about us - the good and the bad - and yet You never leave us. Even the hairs on our head have been carefully placed by You. And when we were in our mother's womb You knew exactly the plan You had for us. Thank You for being with us when we turn our hearts from You, as You wait patiently for us to return to Your goodness. We cannot even begin to comprehend that kind of love, Lord. You know the words we are going to say before we have even formed them in our mouths. Our future has been carefully planned by You. You are magnificent, Lord. Thank You for never forsaking us, Lord.

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake I am still with You." Psalm 139:17-18

On Our Hearts: Feed Your Marriage

2010-01-07T00:01:00.000-06:00

It seems as though every day we hear of struggling marriages. Whether through the media or through our own social circles there are stories of infedility, deceit, and bitterness. With all the negativity out there it's easy to feel hopeless. But God did not design marriage to be a miserable, discouraging relationship. And while it's hard with all our "mom commitments", we should be striving to feed our marriage every single day. Just as we nourish our own bodies we should be making a conscious effort to "feed" our spouse. We wouldn't think of letting our children go without eating an entire day, why would we deprive our spouse the sustenance they need in the marriage relationship? Fortunately we can show love, respect and honor in simple ways - a note left in their briefcase, a kiss on the cheek, or a simple 'I love you'. It doesn't take drastic measures to turn a good marriage into a great marriage.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for our spouse. Although it may have been many years ago we can still remember the first time we met. Thank You for uniting us. And while times do get busy and life isn't always pleasant we want to remain the wife that You want us to be. Lord show us the ways in which we can honor our husband on a daily basis. Fill us back up with the desire to love on him they way we once did. We know our husband's aren't perfect, but neither are we, Lord. We also pray that you will protect our marriage from all the negative influences in the world today. Help us to remember why you put us together and to rely on you when we're being attacked. We lift up marriages around the world, Lord. There are so many who are hurting and have no idea what a good marriage looks like. God, let us be that shining example of how two people, despite the pitfalls can have a loving, hopeful, and pure marriage.

Amen

"Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste."Song of Solomon 2:3

"I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me." Song of Solomon 7:10

On Our Hearts: Feeling Lukewarm

2010-01-06T00:01:00.000-06:00

It's the middle of the week and once again we find ourselves back in the routine. The alarm goes off, kids up, fed, dressed, and off to school or the babysitter. Without thinking we go right into work mode. We're battling the pile of laundry and the breakfast dishes (and maybe last night's dinner dishes too). Some of us jump in the car to the office to juggle clients, push paperwork, or to make that sale. It's hard not to feel as though we're stuck in a rut. Same thing day in and day out. Is this how you feel about your relationship with God? Are you stuck in the same routine? Has your relationship with Jesus become just another bullet point on you day planner? Or worse, has He fallen off the itinerary all together? God desires an intimate relationship with you. Don't let menotony dictate how you are going to relate to God.

Heavenly Father,

Forgive us for becoming lukewarm in our faith. Forgive us for letting the busyness of life take over our time with You. Lord give us the time and energy that we need to pursue a more intimate relationship with You. Help us to wake each day yearning to talk with You first. And let us lay our heads each night in comfort that You are there to help us rest. Lord we ask that we be an example to our family through our faith. Let our children know that You are what is most important in our life and may they follow in our steps. May we feel a closeness with You that we have never experienced before. Bless our quiet time with You, Lord. Renew our passion. Ignite a spark in us when we're feeling complacent. Let us feed on Your Word so that we may nourish our bodies with the truth.

Amen

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5

On Our Hearts: Perfection With a Purpose

2010-01-05T00:01:00.003-06:00

Have you ever looked at the underside of a quilt before the backing was put on? You don't have to look close to see that all those pieces that look so perfect on the front are not exactly perfect underneath. There are jagged edges, frayed fabric, and cuts throughout. Thankfully a quilter hides that jumbled mess by adding some batting and a soft backing so when it is laid on a bed one only sees the beautiful artwork on top. This is how God sees you. He knows you're a jumbled mess on the inside. You are full of frays, cuts and bruises but to Him you are a beautiful masterpiece. A carefully crafted child of God that He has designed for a purpose. Do you think of yourself in the same way? Are you spending all your time trying to cover up the mess underneath instead of letting God take care of that for you? No matter how messed up you are on the inside God still loves you and sees the potential He's put in you.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for loving us just where we are. We are not perfect but Your design is. You see each one of us as beautiful inside and out and we want to see it too. Help us to realize the potential You have put in each of us. You have accurately stitched us to be without blemish in Your eyes, let us not fret over the superficial flaws. We ask that you daily remind us of Your unconditional love for us. We thank You for picking us up when we fall, for tending our wounds, and for healing our scars. Like batting in a carefully constructed quilt we soften the imperfections with Your word and back them with faith. We praise You Lord for the work You have done in us and for the work that is still yet to be done.

Amen

"You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below, but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born you had written in your book everything I would do." Psalm 139:13-16

On Our Hearts: Literally Pray

2010-01-04T00:01:00.000-06:00

Has a friend ever come to you and shared something and you say, I'll be praying for you? Do you actually do it? What about when someone sneezes and you say, God bless you. Do you bless them - really? How many times do we flippantly toss around the words pray or bless? Are you actually praying for those when you say you are? Do you talk about blessing your enemies but secretly wish they'd fall on their face? What about when something good happens and you say, praise God. Do you right then actually praise Him? In this throw away society, it's easy to think that our words are disposable too but the Bible tells us that our words are eternal and powerful. Oh sure, it's nice that our hearts are in the right place but what is good is aim if we never reach the target? Next time that friend asks for prayer pray for them right that instant, hold her hand and lift her up to God. The next time someone cuts you off in the carpool line ask God to bless them right then, outloud even so little ears will hear. And the next time a prayer is answered praise God, literally. Raise your hands and thank the Father for His unending love and blessing for His children. God is listening, He is waiting for all those prayers you promised you'd pray.

Father, thank you so much for giving us direct unhindered access to You. Help us to remember that whenever and wherever through prayer we can talk with You and You'll listen. Let us do a better job of being a vessel for others who may come to us. Give us confidence to pray with others, let us be an example of faith for them. Lord, we desire to do good and we mean well, but we need Your help in following through. We don't want to just offer lip-service, we want to be women of action. Prayerful, spiritual, and faithful women who come to You with our needs, the needs of our spouse, the needs of our friends, co-workers, and even our enemies. Lord, assure us as we step out of our comfort zone. Give us wisdom to see a need and courage to reach out and help someone through prayer. Lord we thank You for Your patience with us as we chart new territory in our prayer walk.

Amen

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them." Matthew 18: 19, 20

Saturday Scripture: New Morning

2010-01-02T00:01:00.000-06:00

Welcome to our newest feature - Saturday Scripture. Each Saturday we'll take a brief moment to share some scripture. As you wrap up your week, we hope that you will be inspired and uplifted.

Is there a particular verse that speaks to you? Share it with us! You can either leave it in the comments below or email us at momsprayingblog@yahoo.com.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.'"

Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV)

On Our Hearts: Missed Blessings

2010-01-01T00:01:00.001-06:00

How many times have we found ourselves wishing and hoping for something to happen? Have you ever caught yourself saying, I wish this was better, I wish I didn't have to do such and such? What about taking it to the Lord? How many blessings were missed just simply because we didn't let the Lord take control? For all those times that we were grumbling what if we had fallen on our knees instead of finding the first person we come to and complaining to them? The Lord wants to bless us. He LIVES to bless us if we would only let Him. Like the woman at the well just going about her daily life she was not expecting to be blessed but one semi-honest conversation with Jesus and suddenly her life changes. She didn't have to do anything extraordinary, she just talked to Him - even though in those days she knew a Jew wouldn't dare speak to a Samaritan. She didn't speak in tongues, she didn't have a prayer closet or a special CD of praise music, she talked to Him while she was getting water from a well. I can't count the number of times I'm at the sink rinsing out sippy cups or scrubbing a pan. Jesus is in the kitchen too, you know. Talking to Him should be as natural as picking up the phone and calling our best friend.

Lord, we ask that You forgive us for all the blessings we missed. For all the times you wanted to show us just how much You really love us. Lead us in a way that requires us to lean on You. May we feel your presence when we're looking for guidance. May we find you wherever we are - in the car, at the store, in a meeting, or at the little league game. Give us the desire to come to You first - not our friends, our co-workers, or those unhealthy vices. Lord You are the only one who can direct our path, You are the only one who supplies all of our needs, and You are the only one who can show us perfect love. May we never again miss an opportunity for a blessing because of our own selfishness.

Amen

"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." Mark 11:24

"The woman said, 'I know that Messiah' is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.' Then Jesus declared, 'I who speak to you am he.'" John 4:25,26

On Our Hearts: Financial Crisis

2009-12-16T00:01:00.000-06:00

Heavenly Father,

We want to lift up those families who are hurting financially. This is such a wonderful time of year, but it can also be a financial strain for many. Home foreclosures, bankruptcy, and financial failure are unfortunately heard all too often. Job loss and debt have caused families to give up their homes, and make sacrifices they were not prepared to make. Adding the pressure of the holidays can be just too much sometimes.

Lord, we ask that You bless those who are struggling. We ask that You send the Holy Spirit to walk with them as they make financial decisions. Give them wisdom and show them how to be good stewards. Father we pray for financial miracles for those who are on the brink. And as they walk in faith, Lord, may You give them peace and patience for Your perfect timing. And Lord, for those who are financially secure, we ask that You show them how they can help others. Whether it be a monetary gift or just a shoulder to lean on, Lord, we ask that You open their hearts to be givers. May they be a blessing to Your people and to the world. In Jesus' name,

Amen

"The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it." Proverbs 10:22

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 4:6-7

On Our Hearts: Family

2009-12-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

Heavenly Father,

The season is upon us. It's that time of year where family often makes an extra effort to be together. A time to surround ourselves with the ones we love and to be reminded of what truly matters. So why is that while we attempt to connect with our loved ones we find ourselves full of dread? There's the family member that is just a little too nosey, the one who knows how to push our buttons, and the one with the annoying habit that likes to ruin everyone's fun. Suddenly that loving moment turns into one big aggravation.

Father, please forgive us when we feel resentment during this time. Restore that desire to spend time with our family. Let us love them exactly where they are and not where we wish they would be. Give us patience and grace when handling awkward and uncomfortable situations. Let us stand firm in our faith when we are tested by those we love. Give us a supernatural understanding when it comes to dealing with our family members. And let us be the one true example of Your love. Thank You Lord, for the family that You have given us. May we be blessed and be a blessing this season.

Amen

"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." James 1:19

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12

On Our Hearts: Hope

2009-11-30T00:01:00.000-06:00

Heavenly Father,

There are days when we just feel so alone. We're tired, we're stressed, and we're running on empty. It's so easy just to fall into the trap of feeling sorry for ourselves. The devil tells us that we are the only ones going through what we're going through, that no one else understands us, and that we're never going to get out of the pit of troubles. We feel that we're not good enough, not smart enough, and that no one could possibly love us. But Your word tells us different.

Lord, we ask that you pick us up. Dust us off and wrap Your loving arms around us. Just as You were able to make the blind man see, You can open our eyes to the beauty that You have created us to be. Just as You made the lame walk, You can transport us from pity and despair to joy and hope. Lord, You are capable of what feels like the impossible. We can rest in You and have hope that we are not alone, we are bound for greatness, and that we are lovable. Lord, the next time self-doubt and pity creeps in we ask that You replace those feelings with confidence and hope.

Amen

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

On Our Hearts: Military Moms

2009-11-16T00:01:00.001-06:00

Heavenly Father,

Today we want to lift up those moms who have dedicated their lives to the military. These women face unique challenges that most civilian moms never encounter. In addition to serving our country they deal with the day to day issues of parenting, home life, and spouses. While they defend our freedom they may have to leave their chilren and families behind. They often have to take off their "mom hat" and put on battle fatigues. They are mommy one minute and soldier the next.

Lord, we pray for those women who have laid their life on the line to serve in the military - past and present. We ask that You watch over them and protect them. May they be comforted as they leave their family behind for the battle lines. Father, we ask that You provide them with the right people and resources in their lives so that they are able to focus on their call of duty without worry. We pray for their families as they struggle with schedules, long absences and the stress that comes with military life. Lord we thank you for these women who make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Bless them, God. In Jesus' name,

Amen

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"Be on guard. Stand firm in the fatih. Be couragous. Be strong. And do everything with love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

On Our Hearts: Deliverance From Sin

2009-11-10T00:01:00.000-06:00

Heavenly Father,

We're not perfect. We've all sinned, we still sin, and we'll probably sin again. We strive to be perfect like Your Son, yet we all have an area where we fall short. We call them vices, habits, tendencies, or curses, but in truth they are sin and they keep us from an intimate relationship with You, Lord.

It's not comfortable but Lord we're asking that You help us to remove that sin from our lives. Let it be today, God. Right now we walk away from the stronghold that divides us from righteousness. Give us Your strength to resist the sin that our human nature wants to hold onto. Give us the ability to stand firm when we are tempted. Whatever it may be Lord, we ask for a complete removal. And if there are sins that we don't recognize, we pray that You will make them evident so that we may delivered from it.

Amen

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walk about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." 1 Peter 5:8, 9a

"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." Colossians 1:13

On Our Hearts: Patience

2009-11-09T00:01:00.001-06:00

Heavenly Father,

There are so many things that we have prayed for and yet we still wait for Your answer. We are at the mercy of Your perfect timing - unfortunately we are not so good at waiting. We continually seek immediate and self-gratifying answers though You have told us to wait and be patient. We can't see the big picture that You have so carefully painted for us. We're too eager to skip past all the "little" things and just get to the end result.

Lord, we know deep down that You have an awesome plan for our lives. We know that as our Father You know what is best for us. We also know that no amount of manipulating or plotting will get us the result You desire for us. We ask that You give us the patience to wait. Give us a joyful spirit in faith that You will answer our prayers, that You will give us what we seek. God, You are our Provider, Deliverer, and Companion we put our hope in You.

Amen

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24

"If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you." John 15:7

On Our Hearts: Money

2009-11-04T00:01:00.002-06:00

Heavenly Father,

Your word has said that we should not be focused on those things that are material in nature. We should be confident that You will provide for all our needs, but Lord all too often we forget that. In today's society money drives our daily lives, it is has become an integral part of us. They way we live, give, fellowship, and raise our children all seems to be dependent upon how we use money. For so many of us, money has become our identity or the way in which we associate with others. Are we driving the right car? Are we wearing the right clothes? Are we giving our children the right "stuff" to fill their lives? It's time to turn it all over to You, Lord.

Lord only You can change our mindset. Shift our focus from earthly treasures to the heavenly ones. We pray that we ignore the devil when he starts to tell us that we don't have enough. Help us to be thankful for what we have. Give us financial wisdom so that we may be good stewards for You, Lord. We also pray that we can be an example to our children so that their financial decisions are based on faith not on the world's views. Let us invest in You so that we may receive dividends of righteousness.

Amen

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 4:19

"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8

On Our Hearts: Husbands

2009-11-03T00:01:00.000-06:00

Heavenly Father,

Lord thank you so much for the people and relationships you have put in our lives. For those of us who have husbands we are especially blessed. You have given us a companion, a provider, and friend. It is amazing to think just how you crafted our lives so that we would find the right man for the rest of our lives.

God we ask that you show us how to be an honoring and loving wife to our husbands. Help us to look past all the annoyances and nagging things that first come to mind. Show us how to lift up our husbands in our home and in front of others. Let us be diligent in the way that we treat him. Sow in us a joyful spirit of companionship so that we may be the Proverbs 31 wife that You desire us to be.

And Lord for those of us without husands we pray that You will provide all of their needs. We ask for Your will as they seek companionship. Help them to rely on You, their heavenly groom, as they take this journey alone.

Amen

"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones." Proverbs 12:4

We also encourage you to read Proverbs 31.

On Our Hearts: I Am Human

2009-10-30T00:01:00.003-05:00

I am going to break format today and be a little vunerable. I have not posted a prayer in more than a week. I confess I have been struggling, conflicted, and have a heavy heart. Last year I had a wake up call, a 'close call' if you will, the scare of the reality that we are mortal. At that time I grew alot and was affirmed in my faith. Now I have a good friend in this serious situation. I know in this situation I should be turning to my Lord, and I have, but what is on my heart I have not been able to put into words. Until now.

-Micki

Father,

I cry out to you, I fall on my knees, I have no choice but to turn to you. There are situations we are faced with in life we just don't understand. To us they just don't make sense. This is our human nature - our desire to have control, our desire to understand what without a doubt is not meant to be understood. Whether it is us personally in this situation or others we know and love.

I pray for peace, I pray for reassurance, I pray for healing. Praise Jesus for our salvation, I am so blessed. I am blessed.

Amen

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

On Our Hearts: Praise

2009-10-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

Heavenly Father,

Today we just lift up our voices to praise you. Your blessings know no boundaries. You comfort, teach and heal us. We are in awe of Your love for us. Thank you Lord for saving our souls and preparing a place in eternity with You.

Father we ask that we use our voices to constantly praise You today. Let our worship be in everything that we do. From our words to our actions, we want others to know just how much we love You and how thankful we are that You are our salvation. May we shout it to the world, 'Praise You God!'

Amen

"Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name." Psalm 18:49

On Our Hearts: Bad Days

2009-10-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

We all have one of those days. The car won't start, dinner was burned, the electricity went out - life is full of unexpected challenges. Sometimes we let those inconveniences get us down and get in the way of how You want us to be. We grumble and moan, gripe and complain, and let everyone know just how annoyed we are. We don't have control over these things that irritate us, but we can rest in the fact that You do.

Lord, we ask that you give us Your spirit of joy, despite the circumstances. Thank You for the car that wouldn't start so that we could spend the extra time with our children this morning. Thank You for the scorched dinner that allowed us the excuse to go out to eat and be waited on. Thank You for the power outage that forced us as a family to sit down and actually talk to one another. Lord so fill us with gladness that it overflows into everything that we say and do. Let Your light shine so brightly that others see You in us.

Amen

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." Psalm 126:3

On Our Hearts: The Word

2009-10-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

We are so thankful that there is a place where we can go and find the truth. Whenever we have a need we can turn to the Bible and read Your word. Your word is filled with encouragement, support, wisdom, and instruction. The Bible has all the answers if only we would seek them. There is no question that You have not answered. For every challenge in our life, Your word has the solution. We praise you Lord, for giving us a lamp to guide us as we take this journey in life.

Lord, we ask that You give us time each day to get into Your word. May we find the encouragement we need first thing in the morning, the covering we need throughout the day, and the comfort at night to rest. We know that when our hearts are turned toward You, God, that we will not stray. May we use Your Word as a fortress against the enemy. With the Bible as our protection we will not be defeated.

Amen

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

On Our Hearts: Strength

2009-10-23T00:01:00.001-05:00

Heavenly Father,

There are times when we just seem to be struggling. We're struggling with deadlines, housework, our children, and the motivation just to get things done. Everything seems to be a challenge these days. Every time we think we're on the right track something comes along and derails us. We feel defeated, down and exhausted.

Lord, give us the will to keep going despite the setbacks. Give us the courage to confront the enemy and finish the task. Father we can't do it alone, we need a soverign God to guide us and direct us. When the labor gets difficult, give us strength to endure. When the burden is heavy, give us energy to carry on. And just when the task seems impossible give us the will to follow through.

Amen

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phillipians 4:13

On Our Hearts: A Giving Spirit

2009-10-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

We are so thankful for the blessings You have given us. Because of the blood of Jesus we can rest in knowing that we have eternal life. In the meantime, we have a responsibility here on earth to use what You have given us to bless others. The Bible tells us that as freely we have received we are to give. Some of us may be blessed financially, spiritually, or intellectually. Some of us may have the gift of hospitality, friendship, prayer, or compassion. Lord we know that You have given each of us a special quality that we can use to expand Your kingdom.

Father we pray that You show us how and where to give. We ask that You bless our time as we serve the homeless and weak. Nourish our bodies as we feed the hungry. Renew our spirit as we minister to the lost. Replenish our resources as we financially assist those less fortunate. Lord, nurture a spirit of giving in each of us. Show us where to best use the gifts that You have blessed us with.

Amen

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

On Our Hearts: His Love

2009-10-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

Heavenly Father,

Lord, we know that there are women out there who don’t know Your love. Some of us have been so devastated by our childhood that we cannot comprehend how anyone could love us. Some of us work so hard to be loved by others yet feel condemned when we fail to meet their (or even our own) expectations. There are some of us who have so much sin in our past that we have labeled ourselves unlovable. In today’s world where the word “love” is used to describe how we feel about shoes, cars, and cake – how could we possibly understand the unconditional love You have for us?

Lord, thank you so much for loving us. We know that Your love is not dependent upon our works. And even though we may not deserve Your unconditional love, You continue to give it. Despite all of our sins, our failures, and the times we turned our backs to You, You have faithfully loved us. Since we are human, it is sometimes just so hard to fully comprehend how much love You have. We ask that we experience Your love by holding our hands during a difficult time, by feeling Your comfort when our hearts are breaking, or by feeling you walk beside us as we navigate through life.

Amen

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:16, 19

On Our Hearts: Good Fruit

2009-10-16T00:01:00.003-05:00

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being such a good Father to us. You are constantly there to teach and guide us along our path. As sinners we are often selfish, quick to anger, and impatient with those who annoy us. Our desire is to be more like You, Lord, but all too often we fall short. Our disobedience only reminds us just how much we need to rely on You.

Lord, please give us Your fruits. We ask that you show us how to be loving to those who appear to be unlovable. May we show kindness and patience even when our nature wants to be mean and hurtful. Open our eyes to see joy and goodness when the rest of the world only sees heartache and despair. We pray that we remain faithful to Your word when we start to stray. We need you Father, work a miracle in each and every one of us.

Amen

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

On Our Hearts: A Mighty Warrior

2009-10-15T00:01:00.001-05:00

Heavenly Father,

Since you have made us human we are prone to sin. Every day we battle evil temptations, sinful desires, and destructive influences. We see it in the media from the types of television shows we watch to the movies we see. Sin can be revealed in the strangers we meet on the street, our co-workers, our friends, and even sometimes our own family. We are constantly bombarded by the devil.

Father, we know that by the blood of Jesus You have set us free from sin, but that doesn’t mean that the battle for our souls is over. Lord, give us wisdom to recognize sin and the strength to resist it. Luke 10:19 tells us that You have given us authority over sin. Lord, show us how to “overcome all the power of the enemy”. Reveal the power you have furnished in each of us. Give us courage to wield Your truth like a mighty sword to defeat the enemy. Lord, we stand together in our faith and proclaim that we are warriors for Christ our Savior.

Amen

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

On our Hearts- Friendships

2009-10-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

Father God,

Being both a woman and a mother can be complicated. We have responsibilities, duties, schedules, and just a lot of stuff going on. Among all this craziness, it's hard to believe that we can feel all alone, but we are so busy thinking about what needs to be done that sometimes we neglect our friendships. These friendships are important, they provide comradery, fellowship and accountability. We can relate to other women, use their insight in situations and some days they can just be another adult to talk to.

Father, we get so wrapped up in the needs of our family that we can fail at being a good friend to others. Help us not to withdraw but to seek fellowship with our fellow moms. And because these friendships are so vital to us as women, we ask that You bless the time that we have to nurture these relationships. Father, we pray for those who are needing a friend find one, and that we ourselves can become a better friend to the ones we already have.

Amen

"There are 'friends' who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

On Our Hearts: Frustration

2009-10-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

We all have that one person or situation in our lives that repeatedly frustrates us. They get under our skin, they push our buttons, and they make us feel inferior and out of control. We do our best but we find ourselves quick to anger and tempted to lash out at them. There's anxiety, tension and a feeling of helplessness about the circumstance that begins to overwhelm us.

Lord, we ask that you give us patience with those that test us. The Bible tells us to be kind and forgiving to one another just as You have been with us - but sometimes that is so hard when we feel so angry. God show us how we can begin to forgive those who have angered us, let us speak only kind words to them, and remove all bitterness that we may have. And while the situation may seem hopeless, Lord, we know that nothing is too big for You. You can change hearts, You can transform perspectives and attitudes, and You can heal relationships. Do a mighty work in us, Lord, so that we may become Your light for others.

Amen

"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires." James 1:19-20

On Our Hearts: Growing Up

2009-10-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

Heavenly Father,

Change in a mother's life is inevitable. As our children get older we find ourselves having to ammend our discipline, refocus our attention, and alter our schedules. Some moms are working on transitioning from diapers to underwear, elementary school to junior high, or being the chauffeur to handing over the keys. Parenting is a constant evolving process and it is often hard to let go of what is familiar to us. We try hard to provide just the right amount of love and devotion balanced with adequate supervision and guidance. It's not an easy journey.

Lord, we ask that You give us the wisdom to recognize our child's needs. Show us when to hold tight and when to let them spread their wings. Give us strength and patience when they push the boundaries and need to be pulled back in. Fill us with love and compassion as we watch them struggle to become independent from us. May we be an example to our children of how we are to love others, and love You, Lord. We pray over our children, Lord. Help them to rely on You and keep them safe.

Amen

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

On Our Hearts: Complacency

2009-10-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

It is so easy to become complacent in our lives. Our job, home, family, friends - like a favorite pair of shoes we just slip them on and keep walking the same path. We trust they'll get us where we need to go. But what happens if we make a wrong turn? Suddenly the things that are a comfort to us are nowhere to be found. So we just keep walking, hoping that we'll accidentally find the right path.

Lord, we ask for Your guidance. Show us the way in which we are to go. If we have fallen from Your grace, pick us back up. If we have darkness in our hearts, let Your light shine bright. If we have veered from the trail, provide us with Your compass to guide us back. We put our focus on You, God, You are our comfort, our provider, our everything. Break us free from the vicious circle of relying on others, only to be disappointed when they fall short. As long as we give our trust to You, we will not be led astray.

Amen

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5, 6

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8

On our Hearts: Our Priorities

2009-10-08T00:01:00.001-05:00

Father God,

Being a mother, wife, and a woman means multitasking. Whether we are juggling a job, school schedule, visitation schedules, sports, or family, all of these obligations can create distractions and new priorities. Father, sometimes these other obligations seem more important than even our own children or husband. If our children are sick, we wonder how we are going to work. When we work late, we are spending time away from our husbands. When we fill our schedules with sports and extra curriculars, we are spending less time at home as a family

Father, help us to discern these "obligations" and remember what is most important. Help us to not feel guilty for letting others down - be it a boss or a coach. If our child is sick they need their mom, if our husband is sitting home waiting - where should we be? If there doesn't seem like there is enough time in the day, help us reevaluate our obligations.

Amen

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." Phillipians 1:27

On Our Hearts: Physical Pain

2009-10-07T00:01:00.002-05:00

Heavenly Father,

We pray for those who are physically hurting and for those who are suffering from an illness or disease. Lord, there are so many who keep their physical pain private. They suffer silently so that they would not be a burden to others. Some women have no choice but to continue on through the pain as they have no one else to rely on. Others are ashamed of their illness or view their disease as a punishment for their sins.

Father we know that You are able to heal all. We lift up each and every one of these women to You, Lord. You know the wounds they hide from others, the disease they cover up, and the physical pain they suffer through. Just as Jesus Christ is able to heal our soul, He is able to heal our bodies. We ask that You restore physical abilities, remove fatigue, destroy cancer cells, heal broken bones, and regenerate unhealthy organs. We also pray that You give us Your comfort and peace while we wait for Your perfect timing. In His mighty name,

Amen

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

On our Hearts: We are Forgiven

2009-10-06T00:01:00.001-05:00

Father,

We have all made mistakes, we have all sinned. When we sin we repent for them. When we repent; you forgive us. You forgive us. You forgive us. Why is this so hard to remember? Why do we let these forgiven sins keep coming back and we feel like we have to repent again even years later. Why do we have a hard time accepting Your forgiveness?

Father help us to remember these forgiven sins are indeed forgiven. Christ shed his blood so we would have this forgiveness. Father as You forgive us, help heal our hearts. We are forgiven.

Amen

"He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name." Acts 10:43

On Our Hearts: Unspoken Prayer

2009-10-05T00:01:00.001-05:00

Heavenly Father,

There are so many hurting in the world today. We couldn't possibly know all the pain and suffering that so many others feel. Even though we are helpless to take away their hurts, we rest in knowing that You can. You hear their prayers, You walk with them, and You comfort them through your grace.

Lord, we lift up all the unspoken prayers. We ask that You wipe away the tears of those grieving, provide food for those who are hungry, give rest to those who are weary, and heal bodies that are broken. Only You can do these things that we ask, Lord.

Amen

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7

On our Hearts: Insecurities

2009-10-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

Father

Why do we worry what others think about us? Why is it so hard to accept others opinions or critiques about us? Ultimately You made us, You love us, we should be confident in ourselves. Whether it is our physical appearance- hair, nails, clothes, or our personalities, our attitude, our approach, our faith. We often worry if we will fit in, be good enough. Am I ‘that’ mom that all the other mom’s look at and scratch their heads at? Father this is just our insecurities.

Father we pray that we stop worrying what others think. Remind us that these are just the outward things, they mean nothing. What brand of clothes we buy, where we get our nails done, what vehicle we drive, how big our house is, or how successful our husbands are. In the end none of this will matter, the only thing that matters is our belief in You. We pray that we, as mothers, can direct our efforts to teach our children the true focus of life and not get so caught up in the madness of it all.

Amen

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2

On Our Hearts: Worry

2009-10-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

Dear Heavenly Father,

Right now there is so much resting on our shoulders. It's not enough that we have the day to day responsibilities of housework, the carpool, and figuring out what's for dinner; we're also worrying about our jobs, the economy, national healthcare and the war. Our neighbors' homes are foreclosing, our parents are going back to work, and we're terrified of our children coming home with a contagious disease. It sometimes feels as though the world is spinning out of control. We need You, Lord, now more than ever.

God it's going to be hard, but we lay our worries at Your feet. The Bible tells us that we shouldn't worry about tomorrow. Your word assures us that You have already taken care of all of our needs, just as You have taken care of the needs of the tiniest creature. Please give us the courage to take that to heart, Lord. Worrying is easy, letting go and trusting You has proven to be the difficult part. Give us strength in our faith that You are in charge, not us. We rest in You, Lord.

Amen

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

On Our Hearts: I Got Nothin'

2009-09-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

Father God,

Today we are reminded that we have nothing. Without You we are nothing. What are we about without you? How empty life would be.

Father, we pray for persistence, that we continue to seek you. That when we get discouraged we continue to pursue You. And for the assurance that You are there if we seek You. We pray that we continually turn to You, to seek Your knowledge, believe in Your wisdom, and find patience.

Father we pray for those who have not found You yet, that they persist, believe and rely on You.

Amen

"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks." Matthew 7:7-8

On Our Hearts: Staying Positive

2009-09-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

Day in and day out we encounter people who are constantly trying to throw us off track. Their behavior challenges us to respond negatively, their actions dare us to speak harshly, and their words cause us to think the worst. From the business client to the family member, they unfortunately are not obedient to Your word and therefore do not convey the truth. Lord, we don't mean to stray from the course but the struggle sometimes gets to be too much.

We pray that we can remain strong in You when the world is pulling us down. Lord, we ask that You give us eyes to recognize negativity and the strength to stand up to it. We want to immerse ourselves in You, Lord. We ask that You not only become a barrier between us and the ugliness of the world but that we will use Your truth as a lantern to bring light where there is darkness. We ask this in Jesus' mighty name,

Amen

"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." Isaiah 5:20

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 14-16

On Our Hearts: Our Children

2009-09-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

Father,

We are so thankful that You have blessed us with children to raise. And as mothers we often think we know best. However, You have a plan for each of our daughter's and son's lives. You have given each one of them their own personality, future, and calling. Often times this can clash with our vision for our children and how we think their lives should be.

Father, sometimes we think that our children should be like us. As mothers it is our mission to raise, teach, instruct, guide, and love them. Help us to recognize our child’s potential, realizing that maybe the strong-willed personality is a strength that You have given them; it is for a reason, it is for Your work. Help us to take these challenges in stride and not personally or with discouragement.

Father, today we pray for our children. We pray for their future and the plan You have for them; whatever that may be. May we continually pray for them, the path You will take them on, and for ourselves for Your guidance and discernment in this journey.

Amen

"Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it. " Proverbs 22:6

On Our Hearts: Covetousness

2009-09-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

Heavenly Father,

Why is it that we long for what we cannot have? That new car, the bigger house, the luxury vacations - society tells us we must have it all. Everywhere we go we're being told that what we have is just not enough. We sometimes not only want to keep up with the Joneses, but with the Rockefellers and the Trumps as well.

Lord, we ask that you remove the desire to covet our neighbors' things. Instead fill us with an appreciation for what we already have. The Bible tells us that a desire for worldly things does not come from You but from the world. We pray that You will cleanse our soul and fill us with a desire for You, God. Let us crave Your word as we have craved that new car. Let us desire to praise You with our words rather than that new high tech cell phone. And Lord, let us yearn for Your eternal love instead of the approval of strangers. We pray that our lives will be in accordance with Your will and that we will reap the blessing You have for us.

Amen

"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2:15-17

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5

On Our Hearts: Faithful Servant

2009-09-24T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

As moms our duties can often be defined to a checklist. Dishes? Check. Water bill paid? Check. Kids to soccer practice? Check. We determine our success by how many checkmarks we have. But Lord, only You can tell us - did we truly succeed at serving You today?

Lord, show us where and how You want us to serve. Maybe Your desire is for us to serve in our church, at our place of business, at our child's school, or even in our own home. Show us how we can help others in a way that pleases You, Lord. Reveal our gifts and allow us the opportunity to use those gifts to honor You. Help us to be a loving servant of Jesus Christ.

Amen

"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality." Romans 12:10, 11, 13

On Our Hearts: Less is More

2009-09-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

In this crazy world we often find ourselves just going through the motions. We're running to the grocery store, leading the PTA meeting, balancing the checkbook, sorting the laundry, and shuffling our children off to their next activity. Where have we placed you, Lord? Are we shining Your light brightly or have we covered it with our lists and expectations? Who do people see when they look at us? Are they seeing You or are they seeing the wrinkled blouse we forgot to iron?

We praise You God for our Savior that has rescued us. Your work in us is not done, yet we how often do we claim to be the finished product? Lord, we ask for a renewed passion for You. Let our mouths speak of Your praise, our eyes be focused on Your glory, and our ears tuned to Your guidance. When others look at us, let them see You, Lord. As Your word tells us: He must increase, but I must decrease. We need more of You in us, Lord.

Amen

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

On our Hearts: Juggling Responsibilities

2009-09-22T00:01:00.002-05:00

Father God,

Sometimes as mothers our responsibilities can be overwhelming, we feel like we are being pulled in all directions. Many moms also have to learn to juggle the responsibility of working out of the home while still trying to balance the mothering hat. Working moms struggle with wanting to spend more time with their children and yet still get all the normal chores done to maintain the household. Other moms work hard as they stay home during the day- that can be mentally challenging and non-stop.

Father we pray for all the mothers today. Show us how we can better manage our time and how we can spend more quality time with our children. We pray that we can just get dinner made, homework done, kids to bed, and all the day to day duties done. We pray that all moms take a step back, breathe, and take just a few minutes to reflect. Reflect on You and Your blessings, and reflect on the wonderful life we have, be it one we imagined or not.

Amen

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

On Our Hearts: Going Alone

2009-09-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

There are moms among us who are feeling so alone right now. Whether those feelings are physically or emotionally based, we know women are hurting. The daily challenges that we all face suddenly seem too much to handle when we feel that we have been abandoned. Chores take twice as long, the monthly budget is stretched tighter, and responsibilites multiply.

Lord, we lift up the moms who are widows, single, and those who are divorced or separated. We also pray for those moms whose husbands travel or work long hours to provide for their family. We ask that you make Your presence known to these women. That You let them know that You are always with them. Help them to rely on You, Lord. Give courage to those who are fearful, strength to those who feel weak, and love to those who feel unloved. You are our ultimate companion, Jesus, and You are nourishment for our soul. Thank you Lord, for walking with us along this earthly journey.

Amen

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

On our Hearts: Things That Matter

2009-09-18T00:01:00.001-05:00

Father,

Giggles from the other room, siblings getting along, quiet moments of escape for a moment with You; the dishwasher is running, laundry is done, praise for the little things, the break. This quiet moment is a reminder that the busyness duing the day distracts us from You. We let things get in the way of turning to You, praising You, thanking You for everything during our day.

Father, help us to pause and enjoy these moments. Give us the wisdom to stop and decide whether something is worth stressing over. We thank you for the blessing that is our children - in the peace and in the noise.

Amen

"... to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." - Ephesians 1:6-8

On our Hearts: Bitterness

2009-09-17T00:01:00.002-05:00

Father,

As wives and moms often times we can let bitterness get to us. There is nothing positive or productive from bitterness. It damages our marriage, ruins friendships, it affects our children, and interferes with our relationship with You.

Father, we pray that we think before we say something unnecessary to our husbands. Breathe before using a harsh tone with our children simply because we are overwhelmed and feel like we are doing it alone. We pray instead that we use our words to be loving, uplifting, and positive. Also that we consciously recognize bitterness and work with Your help to correct it. Allow us to focus on all the good there is, give us ways to change the atmosphere of our family, and we ask for forgiveness when we fail.

Amen.

"... Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicous behavior. Instead be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32

On Our Hearts: Unspoken Prayers

2009-09-16T00:13:00.004-05:00

Lord,

There are so many hurting in the world today. We couldn't possibly know all the pain and suffering that so many others feel. Even though we are helpless to take away their hurts, we rest in knowing that You can. You hear their prayers, You walk with them, and You comfort them through your grace.

Lord, we lift up all the unspoken prayers. We ask that You wipe away the tears of those grieving, provide food for those who are hungry, give rest to those who are weary, and heal bodies that are broken. Only You can do these things that we ask, Lord.

Amen

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." - Matthew 7:7

On Our Hearts: Forgiveness

2009-09-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

We all have things we hang onto - those tiny booties that our precious little ones wore, a hand quilted blanket handed down from generations, a box of photos that are yellowed and torn. The things that we collect and hold close to our hearts help to bring back memories and feel closer to those who are no longer in our lives. However, among those treasures we also tend to hang onto unforgiveness. Hurts and disappointments are harder to let go of than we care to admit. Our unforgivenesss quickly turns into ugly bitterness and resentment.

Lord, teach us how to forgive. Only You can heal the damage that has been done, only You can right the wrongs, and only You can mend broken hearts. Lord show us how to let go of the grudges and ill feelings. Your word tells us that if we forgive we will be forgiven. God give us that desire to forgive others so that we may receive Your blessing. May we find peace in that promise even when our "self" tells us otherwise. In His mighty name...

Amen

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32

On Our Hearts: True Beauty

2009-09-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

There are times when we just can't help but feel inferior. We look in the mirror and all we can see are our faults. My legs are too short, my nose is too long, there's too much gray in my hair - the list goes on and on. Why must we constantly compare ourselves to others? Forgive us for thinking the worst when the pretty young thing stood behind us at the checkout. We were so busy counting our own flaws that it is no wonder that we looked so unfriendly to her.

Lord, please show each and every one of us the beauty that You see. We need help looking past all the imperfections and seeing how perfect You have made us to be. Let us not compare our bodies to others, but to Your standard. The Bible tells us that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made". Lord, we ask that whenever we look in the mirror we see that true beauty that You have sculpted together with Your mighty hands.

Amen

"Charm can be deceiving, and beauty fades away, but a woman who honors the LORD deserves to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

On our Hearts: Husbands

2009-09-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

Father,

It is heavy on our hearts to pray for the families with husbands looking for a job - for work, for provision. You have given each one of us a unique purpose and direction for our lives but we do not always understand your method.

First, we pray for husbands that are looking for work. What a difficult, emotional, and trying time it can be. We pray that they seek Your plan for their lives, that they trust in Your plan, and for patience in Your timing. We pray for Your leading and that it brings open eyes, open doors, and that it brings them value and fulfillment.

And lastly, we ask that you be with us as wives. Show us how to support our husbands... encourage them... be patient with them... and most importantly to love them.

Amen

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8

On Our Hearts: Feeling Alone

2009-09-10T00:01:00.002-05:00

Heavenly Father,

Sometimes in our busyness we just feel like You are so far away. How could You ever have time for each and every one of us? We go through our day fighting the same struggles over and over and what if we never hear Your voice? We can’t do this alone, God, we need You to be our strength, our deliverer, our protector.

Lord, we pray that we never forget who and where You are. The Bible tells us that You will never let us down. Help us to remember that when others disappoint us. Remind us that You are always with us even when others have left. Press on our hearts the love that You have for us despite the fact that we may not feel loved. Shower us with Your mercy when we forget to rely on You. Do a might work in us, Lord.

Amen

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8

On our Hearts: Our Role

2009-09-09T00:01:00.004-05:00

Father God,

Many moms struggle with the sadness of their children growing up. In the early years it is in those small milestones where we see Your hand daily and put us in awe - the walking, the talking, our children growing before our eyes.

Father, we pray today for the mothers with children that are moving to that next step. The moms with children who are ‘growing up', are going to college, joining the military, or just moving out on their own. We ask that You give these women peace in their hearts. That they trust in You to protect their children and guide their choices. Father let it be a reminder to mothers with younger children what an important role they have to nurture those precious little lives.

Amen

"Teach your children to choose the right path and when they are older, they will remain upon it." Proverbs 22:6

On Our Hearts: God's Light

2009-09-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

Heavenly Father,

Help us to be your light in this forgotten world. Show us how we can reveal your truth to those we encounter - from the grocery store to the drive-through line, from the PTA meeting to the dry cleaners - we want others to see you not us. Let even the most mundane moments be an opportunity for you to do your work.

Lord, give us the vision to see the potential that you have in others. Give us the courage and understanding in any situation so that we can share your word. You have told us to preach the gospel to the world, help us to be obedient to your command. You are a mighty God, we await while you do a work in us.

Amen

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Deuteronomy 11:18-19

On Our Hearts: In Need of Rest

2009-09-07T00:01:00.003-05:00

Heavenly Father,

There are times when the demands of the day are just so exhausting. We diligently strive to take care of those around us that we often forget to take care of ourselves. Our days are filled with serving others; our husbands, our children, our parents, friends, co-workers, and even strangers. And when we fail to meet the needs others, or when we have to disappoint a loved one, we wrongly blame ourselves for not doing enough.

Today, Lord, we ask that you bless our body with rest. Only you can renew our spirit and cleanse our body from all the guilt, bitterness, resentment, and fatigue that has plagued us. We ask that you allow us to rest in you and bask in your glory. Lord, we believe fully in the promise that within your presence you will restore our body, mind and spirit. You are an awesome God.

Amen

"And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14

On our Hearts: Provision

2009-09-05T00:30:00.006-05:00

Father,

We find ourselves thinking we are in control and that we are steering our lives, whether it be in our careers, finances, or relationships, we have a want to control the tangible. Father, there is nothing more affirming than placing that trust in you, the trust for provision and dependence on you. Our prayer is that we will be able to see and recognize your provision. It does not always come in the form we think it should.

I pray that in trusting in you, we see your provision, that we learn from trusting in you. That we grow from trusting in you. We don’t always understand why tough times come, but I pray we continue to trust in you no matter the situation or timing. We give it to you Lord.

In HIS name.
Amen

"For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer to plant, and later on, good crops to harvest and eat, will give you more and more seed to plant and will make it grow so that you can give away more and more fruit from your harvest.'" 2 Corinthians 9: 10

On Our Hearts: Doing the Right Thing

2009-09-04T00:01:00.002-05:00

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being a loving and forgiving God. You have made us in your image but we live in this earthly body susceptible to sin. We are so good at making excuses and convincing ourselves that we didn't know any better, when your word so clearly reveals the truth. We pray that you expose the things and people in our lives that are hindering our walk with you. Grow in us the desire to become more like you and not the world.

Lord, give us the strength to stand up to those who go against your word. Let us not falter as we go about our daily lives. Let us be your light that shines to others without being righteous, judgmental or arrogant. The Bible says that the power of life and death are in our tongues, may we be a vessel of encouragement and love instead of animosity and indifference. We are sinners, but by mercy and forgiveness your son Jesus wiped the slate clean for us. May we show others the same grace and favor that you have shown us.

Amen

"But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7

On our Hearts: Thankfulness

2009-09-03T00:01:00.004-05:00

Father God,

As moms we sometimes feel that our days and nights can be long and our desire to keep schedules and routines get in the way of what is truly important. We often forget to take a step back and be thankful for all the blessings you have provided us.

Today we pray that we stop and take the time to be continually thankful for our children and for this precious time we have with them. We pray that we can appreciate the beauty and joy of our children, just as you see them. Lord give us patience when it seems to be taking them forever to do a task and to use self control when we have repeated the same thing three times over. That through you, we reveal kindness and gentleness in the trying moments.

We pray that we can truly just savor this privilege you have given us of loving our children. Motherhood is a gift and duty you have bestowed upon us. Father, we pray for you to help us cherish and appreciate these fleeting moments and to be truly thankful.

Amen

"But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22

On Our Hearts: Feeling Overwhelmed

2009-09-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the many blessings that come with being a mom. It is only as a mother that we can even begin to understand the amount of love you have for us. However, motherhood can be so overwhelming at times. As our children grow, so do our responsibilities, our obligations, our commitments, and unfortunately our frustrations. God we ask for your wisdom and peace for all of us who are struggling with feeling overwhelmed right now.

Lord, we ask that you take away our worries. We rejoice in knowing that we can lay all of our cares at your feet and you will comfort us. You have told us that we do not need to worry about tomorrow, you have supplied us with all of our needs. Lord be our provision, renew our weary spirits, and let your grace cover us as we go throughout our day.

Amen

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" Matthew 6:25-27

On our hearts: Praying together

2009-09-01T02:01:00.000-05:00

Father God,
What an awesome privilege you have given us to pray for others. To support them in their journeys and to share in our own journeys. Father, I pray that our sister moms will join in and pray for each other. Pray for the needs of moms. I pray that in interceding for each other we grow closer to you.

Father, you never meant for us to do this alone, but so many times we feel alone. I pray that you touch that mom’s heart that is reading this, and they know they are not alone, others are praying.

I pray you touch our hearts with the needs of others, that we step away from our own craziness and unite together in prayer. Whether it is a need, an issue, a desire, or a burden; help us pause… to pray… and to trust.
Amen

"Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose." Phil 2:1-2