All things work together for good, for them that love the Lord!!

     Mishaps, trials and tribulations seem to be a natural and consistent part of life.  Things.... just happen in life.  Sometimes we suffer the consequences of the things that we have done.  Sometimes the devil, who is our enemy sets traps for us to fall into.  The good news is that whatever the reason for our trial, God causes "All things to work together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His good purpose".
     Sometimes when we are at the beginning of a trial we can't see how it might actually be beneficial to us one day.  All we see is the pain, inconvenience, trouble, and source of loss.  It isn't until later when we see that if we hadn't gone through the fire, we wouldn't have the strength and fortitude to move forward under any circumstance; always keeping before us the knowledge that we are victorious.  ("We always triumph in Christ")
     The trials are actually good at teaching us faith.  How could kidnapped Africans have ever known what would be in store for them in the new America?  Nothing but faith could have sustained them through the torture, and death that they endured.  The darkness was great.  Oh, how much greater was the light that shone through and shamed a nation into freeing slaves, and standing up to its own words  that "all men are created equal".  The country was changed, the laws gradually changed,  African Americans forged ahead making stride after stride against a seemingly unmovable force.  Today we have a president who is representative of all of us.  His family is truly multi-cultural.  He is African American.  Only God could have changed the hearts of man, and therefore the greatest country in the world.  The sacrifice was great and so was the reward.
"Sing a song, full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, sing a song, full of the hope that the present has brought us!" (verse from "Lift Every Voice and Sing" written by James Weldon Johnson).
      A country founded on the principles of Christianity stands as a light in a dark and lost world.  God could not let a country founded on his name become one that denied His principles, and caused the world to turn its back on Him.  He is love; agape love.  He extends mercy, grace, and forgiveness to everyone.  He requires repentance.  "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, then I will hear their prayers from heaven, and heal their land").  Our country is built on those principles.  It is built on the character of Jesus, the Christ.  Such a country couldn't condone Jim Crow laws, sundown towns, segregation, gender bias, and  the murder of innocent people based on an unjust law.  No matter who we are, we are at one time or another taken captive and made to be a slave to something.  Whether it is to shopping, eating, drinking, lying, sex, or any number of other things, we have become a captive and are abusive to our own minds and bodies.  All we need to remember is that help is a whispered prayer away.  Sometimes the best prayer we can utter is HELP!!
(song) "We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, we have come treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered, out of the gloomy past Till now we stand at last, under the gleam where our bright star is cast."  The verse from this poem/song was written by James Weldon Johnson.
      Scripture tells us to rejoice in the Lord, Always rejoice.  We don't have to rejoice that we are in the midst of a trial; we rejoice that we aren't in the trial alone.  We rejoice because we will come out victorious.  We are told to "Go boldly to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy in our time of need".  We are told that "We can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens us".    We are told that "We always triumph in Christ", and we are told that "if we say unto the mountain be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea",  and if we believe and don't doubt, then no matter how big our trial is, it shall be moved.
     Heavenly Father, we sometimes have trials and tribulations.  Sometimes they are light, but sometimes they are almost too much to bear.  We thank you that we do not go through them alone.  You, dear Lord are always there with us, and though we may not understand, we can rest assured that You will have your way.  We know, dear Lord, that if you have your way, we will be all the better for it.  You are our alpha and omega- our beginning and our end.  You have made a way for us out of no way.  You are our all in all.  When we cry out to you, you hear us.  You are quick to answer, even if we are not quick to hear. Help us to be satisfied with what you say to us, knowing that you have our best interest at heart.  Truly, Lord if we can trust an airplane pilot, whom we do not often see, and whom we rarely ever know, then Lord, we can trust You.  Your track record is 100%.  Your promises are true, and your word is unblemished.  You are, who you say you are.  You do what you say you will do.  Help us not to stray from your side.  Help us through our trials.  Help us to cross our red sea and reach the other side unscathed.  May our feet never take us away from where You are.  May our minds never get clouded with the wants and fears of the world, such that we forget, even for a moment who you are.  May our hands never become so busy, that they lose their purpose.  May our hearts never faint, but always be full of faith.  Draw us near to you, Oh Lord, and keep us at Your chest.  Whisper in our ear oh Lord, and cause us to hear.  Help us then, oh Lord, that we may not be hearers of the word only, but help us to be doers of your word.  Help us to be workers who are not afraid.  Help us to boldly proclaim your presence in our lives.  Help us that we may always and forever be seekers of Your truth, knowing that if we look for you, we will find you.  Save us from our own insecurities oh most Holy God and lead us to your pathways of peace.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen.
    

The Dark Side

    One day after work I was standing in my doorway and suddenly I was keenly aware of the atmosphere in my home.  It wasn't right.  It wasn't terrible, or frightening, or deep and dark, but it wasn't right.  I began to pray, and was reminded of the things that have happened to my family in the last few years, and how we have handled them.  The recession has hit us all.  Most of the members of my family have lost their jobs, and though they are working on changing and improving their lives, it is obvious that the lack of finances has hit us in more than just financial ways.  I had begun to notice the negativity that has just crept in - silent, invisible and deadly, like carbon dioxide.  There was a sort of 'down in the dumps' look in the heart of the members of my family and of myself as well.  There was little we had done about it because we hadn't noticed it creep in.  We had started to gripe, complain, and fuss about most things.  We began to see negative aspects of each other and most other things.  We had forgotten to be grateful.  We had forgotten to thank God.  Now all looked so bleak.  My family was increasingly watching depressing, subtly dark, or violent movies or documentaries on the television.  This activity alone was glaring evidence of our falling into "The Dark Side". It was making us feel more comfortable with negative talk, and being harsh with one another.  The atmosphere had definitely changed.  I felt as though I had become an apathetic observer, and then participant, at least in the complaining.  We had entered the dark side.  We had become like zombies walking into the darkness of doubt and depression. 
     Well, things had to change.  The atmosphere in our house needed to be cleaned out so that all the negativity and darkness of disappointment could be removed.  Our minds needed to have the cobwebs swept out.  I began to pray and to faithfully read scripture out loud in my house.  I began to ask God to help me to remind my family members of the many blessings that we live under everyday. We are blessed with a place to live, food to eat, a car to drive, and money to pay our bills.  Everyone has gotten into college again, and is doing well.  There are no extras like eating out, but eating at home has meant that we see each other at the table again.  There are no vacations, but we get to sit out in our backyard and enjoy the sunshine together.  We can't pay one of the neighborhood boys to do our yard work, but working on it together has been surprisingly rewarding.  Our bills aren't always on time, and they may not be the amount we'd like to pay, but we are able to pay something on each one. 
     God was and is with us in the midst of our trials.  We had forgotten to be thankful and to expect God to be faithful as we seek him and his grace.  We had forgotten that our wants have often exceeded our need.  We go to church, but we didn't reach for him in our lack.  We love the Lord, but we weren't talking to him as though we were close.  We didn't act as though we thought He knew what we were going through.  He cares.  He cares so much that He sent His only son.  He delivered us from sin, darkness, and the terror of the last days.  He had already made preparation for us.  He said He would make for us an oasis in the desert, a place of hope in the time of need, a tower of safety in troubled times.  He has done what he said.
     We regularly donate clothing, food, toys, books, etc to shelters and families in need.  God has repaid us with more than enough, and though bills are tight and maybe not as timely as we would like to pay them, they are getting paid, little by little.  God is here.  He has always been.  He promised never to leave nor forsake us.  He is true to his word.  We ask and we receive, we seek help, and it is found.  We knock on the door of mercy, and it is open to us.  We must certainly do our part, but sometimes doing our part means sitting still and opening our minds to faith.  When we dust out the cobwebs from our minds and begin eliminating doubt, fear, anger, disappointment, dispair, and hopelessness, we can begin to see hope, victory, guidance, healing, and  a path to move forward on.  God is with us.  He has not forsaken us.  We just forgot to "lift our eyes to the hills from whence our help cometh".  We know it comes from the Lord.  
     Heavenly Father You are awesome in all your ways.  We thank you for your grace and mercy.  You are the joy of our lives and the hope of our soul.  You are the light who guides our path and directs our future.  You are our all in all.  We hope and trust in You.  Without you all is lost.  With you, all of our tomorrows are secure.  There is no place of safety in the world, but there is a hiding place in your love which we can find when we call your name. There we find shelter in a storm, healing in an epidemic of dispair, and life in a dying world.  Our shelter, our rock is Jesus, the Christ.   We run to the rock of our salvation because we know that you are able.  When all around us fails, we run to the rock.  When all seems dark and bleary, we run to the rock.  We know that there is safety in the rock.  We know that there is peace in the rock.  We find light, hope, and faith in the Rock.  We know that you are able to deliver us from the troubles.  You are able Lord.  We thank you for our own personal space in the rock.  We thank you for loving us.  In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
     

Lift Every Voice and Sing - by James Weldon Johnson

These words were written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson.  My aunt, Phoebe Caldwell Bell was a concert pianist, and soloist for the Philadelphia Concert Opera many years ago.  She then became a music teacher and wife to Mr. John Bell.  Aunt Phoebe knew the son of Mr. James Weldon Johnson, and she loved this poem/song, so in her memory I am writing the words to James Weldon Johnson's Lift Every Voice and Sing.  Aunt Phoebe, I know you are singing in heaven and I know that your beautiful soprano voice is serenading the heavens with opera and hymns.  Please rest in peace at His side.

Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of liberty
let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies
Let it resound, loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song, full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
sing a song, full of the hope that the present has brought us
Facing the rising sun, of a new day begun, let us march on, till victory is won

Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod
felt in the days when hope unborn had died
Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered
We have come treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered
Out of the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
'Neath the white gleam where our bright star is cast

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears
Thou who has kept us thus far on the way,
Thou who has by thy might, led us into the light
keep us forever in thy path we pray

Lest our feet stray from the places dear Lord where we met thee
Lest our minds drunk with the wine of the world we forget thee
Shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand, true to our God, True to our native Land!!
written by Mr. James Weldon Johnson

It's nice to know you're not alone.

My daughter called me because her baby sounded funny.  She thought he was probably alright, but she sounded a little nervous, so I went to her house to check on them.  I had a feeling the baby was ok, but I wanted to reassure MY baby, and make sure she was ok.  My mother had done the same for me when my baby was new.  I'm sure she'll do the same for her children.  It's what mothers do. We comfort and nuture and make sure our children don't feel as though they are alone and without hope or help.  They may go through trials, but they never have to go through them alone. 
     God is like that with us.  He never leaves us.  He is always there to comfort, to guide, to reassure us, and to give us strength and courage to 'keep it moving' in the right direction.  We will have our trials, but we don't go through them alone.  He is always with us.  Our prayers of faith bring His intervention.  His love is without bounds and his grace (unmerited favor) is given freely.  He leads us out of the fire and into paths of righteousness.  We will not be burned.  We will find peace.  We are not alone.
     Heavenly Father, we are not alone because You are always with us.  Sometimes you solve our problems for us and sometimes you watch as we solve them ourselves.  The most important thing is that we are not alone.  We love you, glorify you, and offer you our praise.  We thank you for all that you do for us and for helping us to stand in the face of adversity when we no longer want to stand.  It is easier to sit or to give up when faced with trouble, but in you oh Lord, we have our strength.   Because we can do all things through our Christ who strengthens us, we always triumph in you.  Thank you Lord for planting our feet firmly on the ground and giving us wings like eagles.  We bless your name and give you our all so that we may stand, in faith, victorious.   In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

prayer - trust

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding of things, in all your ways acnowledge Him, and He will direct your path". 

We give no thought to getting on an airplane to go flying across the ocean, because we have simple blind faith in the airplane which we did not build, and the pilot whom we do not know.  Why would we put our trust in the unknown so blindly?  We have seen and heard witness that flight in an airplane works, and can take us a long distance quickly. It is the witness.   We trust that a multiple ton piece of metal will not only go up into the air, but will stay there until by some miracle, it lands. 
     We don't think twice when a doctor tells us to have surgery, or to get a shot, or to take some medicine.  All these things are potentially dangerous or even deadly.  We thank God that 90% of our doctors are doing the right thing, and that 90% of our airplanes go without incident.  Why do we trust so blindly in a doctor whom we know so little about, or in medicine that we may have never before used?  We have both seen and heard witnesses who have told of their positive reaction to the medicine and to the doctor who treated them.  It is the witness that makes us comfortable to use the unknown.
     How important is a witness? It is Important enough to be used throughout the bible and throughout history.  Important enough to be used as testimony in a court or as a part of a convincing ad campaign.  Witnesses, whether good or bad, change lives, give comfort and a feeling of security, create curiousity, bring anticipation and excitement, and win hearts over.  Jesus wants us to trust Him for all things.  We have a testimony.  We can witness.  We can help the lost to be saved and create or enhance trust in an all powerful God through our witness.  We can trust Him.  We should trust Him.  WE MUST TRUST HIM. 
      I would rather trust a doctor who does the right thing 100% of the time.  He is infallible.  His name is Jesus.  He is the one we should trust.  He never fails.  He died for us, so that we could spend eternity with him.
     Heavenly Father help us to let go of the "steering wheel" and trust wholly in you..  Help us to understand that we don't hold the future in our hands, but we stand in the palm of the hand of the one who created the future.  He who is and who was, and who ever shall be.  The Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  In You oh Lord do we place our trust.  You have never let us down.  We may not have understood what was happening in our lives from time to time, but we know that "Your ways are higher than our ways, and Your thoughts are higher than our thought".  Our wisdom is to you, foolishness, for our wisdom did not accomplish the creation of the world or any of the magnificent creatures that are in it.  We trust in you Lord, so we will "lean not unto our own understanding of things, but in all our ways we shall acknowledge you, so that You, oh Lord, will direct our path".  Please comfort us, oh Lord in our time of need and lead us boldly to your throne of grace that we might obtain mercy in our time of need.  Then help us to trust that you will do what you have said you will do for us.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.

 

prayer of faith

Heavenly Father,
     Your love for us exceeds any bounds that we may have.  We are undeserving of, yet stand ready to receive your love, grace, and mercy.  We know that your promises are true.  We know that you don't say anything that you don't mean.  You promised that you would never leave, nor forsake us, and we thank you so much that we aren't left alone.  This world is full of moments and events that we can neither control, nor predict.  We only hold on to your unchanging hand knowing that we will make it through because you are the author and finisher of our faith.  This past week many people created fear because of an event that would last only a moment in time.  We just held on to your hand with our faith.  We stood strong knowing that you would get us through.  The "how" was not important.  We just lifted our eyes to you.  Lord, we thank you that we aren't left alone in times of fear, panic, pain, helplessness, hopelessness, or uncertainity.  We thank you that when others run about in confusion, we who are your children, stand together with you in faith.  We thank you that we are able to see the blessing in all things, because you are there with us.  We begin to understand how to "rejoice in the Lord always" because in you our hope lives on.  Our lives are not controlled by man, because in and through You we always find victory.  We are the blessed.  We are the saved.  We are those who are delivered from sin and death.  We are delivered from the kingdom of hell.  We are delivered from the hands of the one who would seek to destroy us.  Therefore we are the ones who, through our personal relationship with you, have found glorious eternal life.  Let us not be stymied by the truth of the world.  Let us be transformed by the glorious truth of your word.  In Jesus name.  Amen.  

God knows best

One day Marshall and I were going to go walking around Manhattan (it's something that we love to do), and he found that he couldn't walk because of the pain in his feet.  We went to the doctor to find out what it was, and the doctor gave lots of reasons for the pain and said he would try several things.  He started on a regimen of  shots.  So, Marshall was getting shots in his feet and at one time in his spine also because he was having so much trouble walking. We didn't know why he was having so much pain in his feet.  The doctors gave us some name for it and gave him medicine and shots which did very little for him.  Our family was praying for him, of course, because we know that God hears.  One of my daughters (Aisha) looked up foot pain and found some shoes thast had been recommended for people with severe foot pain and diabetes.  Marshall went from not being able to walk, to walking 2 miles a day with me.  God is good.  God is wise.  We should listen to him.  PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Heavenly Father, please help us to hear with ears of faith.  Help us to stand when we just don't feel like it anymore.  ("having done all to stand, stand still").  Move on our faith so that is grows like a tree planted by a river.  Then Oh, Lord, help us to be obedient and to listen.  Remind us that you have the answers, we just have to ask the question.  In Jesus name we pray.  AMEN

Heavenly Father,
     We thank you that you see all things.  We thank you  that you hear our silent prayers.  We thank you that you are always working on our behalf.  We thank you that you lead and guide us into the path of righteousness.
You are our eyes when we cannot see. 
You are our faith, when we are not strong enough to believe. 
You give us hope when we are too weak to stand.
You keep us safe when we take your hand.
You help us to speak when our own words fail us. 
You stand between us those who would betray us.
You are our father when our earthly father fails to lead us
You are our mother when our earthly mother fails to feed us
with spiritual food that helps us to grow more and more like you.
The love you give has no boundaries
We are lost without you.
We love you Lord.  Please save us from our doubt and fear in Jesus name.
Amen

faith is believing first and seeing next

Faith is when you first put your sailboat in the water, knowing that God will provide the wind for your sails.

"A man will make a plan in his mind, and God will direct his path."

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding of things.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path"

Today my sister and I went for a ride.  I drove because she doesn't have a car.  She had written down a list of the things she wanted in a car, but didn't know how or when she would get one.  I had no idea that she was looking for a car.  While we were out riding, I mentioned a car deal that I had seen.  I casually asked if she wanted to go look at it.  I wasn't really expecting that she would. 
     We went on a whim, and that car was a bust.  We happened to ask the salesman to keep an eye out for any other car deals, and were leaving a wish list with the dealer when he suddenly asked, almost as an afterthought, if we wanted to see a van or SUV.  We reluctantly agreed, planning to leave after we had looked at the car and had thanked him for his time.  On our way off the lot, we saw a beautiful car and asked about it.  The car had no price, or info on it.  They  had just gotten it in, and the salesman didn't seem to know that it had been placed on the lot.  Turns out the car was loaded, and was the top of the line.  The mileage was minimal and the price was unbelievable.  I still didn't think anything was going to happen, but long story short, my sister left with a top of the line car which was a steal with very low mileage.
     She had written down what she wanted in a car and God provided it.

Put our sailboat in the water.  God will provide the wind for your sails.
(Make a plan.  God will direct your path.)

witness

So, about 20 years ago my husband became very ill.  Doctors in three different states and several different hospitals told me that he was not going to make it.  All of the measures in his major organs were off the charts.  We even went to the premier hospital known all over the world - The Mayo Clinic, where they told us that they couldn't explain why he was able to walk and sit still and hold a conversation because nothing was as it should be in his body.  He wasn't given a good prognosis.  We were told that we shouldn't expect him to make it.  Well, I asked everyone we knew from all over the country to pray.  Some of our choir members from church came to the hospital to sing for him.  There were several occasions in the hospital where mistakes were made that would have been fatal for him, but I was there watching and listening to God.  God is amazing.  His report was that  Marshall would be healed, and he was.  This is now more than 20 years later, 20 years after the death sentence that man gave to my husband.  He is alive and healthy and active, and I want to thank my cousin Alexis - Dr. Alexis Thomas Mabin for seeing something was wrong and bringing to our attention.  She was with us, helping us every step of the way, and his discovery and recovery took a year.  Most importantly I want to thank the Lord God Almighty for the life of my husband.  My children were able to grow up having a loving father, and I have had my precious husband all these years.  God is good!!  Don't give up, and don't listen to people when they tell that there is no hope.  God is the only one who can decide what will and will not be.  He is able.

Scripture tells us that there are things that are impossible with man, but they are possible with God. Give Him Glory!! Have faith.

Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your love.  There is no one like you.  If we keep our hope and trust in you, we will not fail.  Help us to stay in you in all that we do, at all times.  When the world tells us no, help us to remember that you have the final say.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Praise to Him who makes each morning new - morning prayer

Heavenly Father,
     We bless and adore you.  You are awesome in every way.  You are brighter than any star.  You are the hope of our salvation, and the comfort that we need each day.  You are the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. You are the food that satisfies our soul. 
Your love speaks softly to our hearts and bursts brilliantly into our being.  You light the way when we are lost and lead us like a shepherd to the places that are best for us.  You, oh Lord, are the most loving father that we will ever know.  Thank you for giving us life and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.  AMEN

Evening Blessing

As this day draws to an end, let us remember the joys that were at our fingertips, the hope that was just beyond the disappointment sparkling like a star, the smiles that we didn't have to encourage, and the kindness that came our way which we need to pass on.  Let's remember and smile.  Life is good. God is better.
Pray without ceasing
Rejoice Always

prayer for the morning - service

God is worthy! God is worthy! God is worthy!!
As we praise God from whom all blessings flow, let us remember to serve Him.  We must serve Him with our words and with our actions.  We must serve Him within the walls of our church, our home, and our workplaces.  We must run out into the streets and serve Him where His people are, for he is worthy!  Where there is need, may we be His hands and feet.  May we feed both the spirit and the body of his lambs.  May we heal broken hearts with HIS words.  May we give counsel that is wise and Godly to his people.  May we serve on our knees and lift our hands in praise.  God is worthy.  He is faithful.  He is our all in all.  Lord help us to serve You and to show and share your love at all times, in all ways, and in every place that our feet find to go, in Jesus name. Amen.

prayer for the morning - Hope

Jesus you are the light of the world. All that is good and full of blessing comes from you. You are the hope of our salvation and our reason for life. We continue moving forward because of the hope that we have deeply and firmly planted in you. Though the times are troubled, still we rejoice in you. Our hope is in you. We thank you that your eyes are always focused on us and your ears are always open to us. You never have your door closed to us, and you never will. Though many around us will break their promise to us, You, oh Lord, never will. It is not your way. Help us to walk in your word, and your way as a people of hope.
May the uncommon and powerful hope that you have planted in us rise and shine forth from our countenance so that those who think that they are without hope will rise and reach forward to you. You are always a present help in time of need.
We stand on hope.
We believe because of hope.
We move forward in hope.
We are never disappointed.
Lord we bless your holy name. In the mighty and miraculous name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

My son Jamal lost his job, his car, his old friends, and had seemingly lost his way. He loved the college he was in, but couldn't get a loan in time, and so he lost his seat there. When he finally lifted his hope, his body, and his faith, he got not one, but two job offers. Because he took a friend with him to one interview to try to help him get a job, he found he had a ride to that job. He applied to another college, and got in without a problem. His old friends began to get into trouble. Please join us in prayer for them. His new friends encourage, support, and work with each other. They are from all different walks of life, but now are walking in the same direction. Jamal said, " Mom, I began to pray every night and now I have a new life.

Time to get ready

Alright, it's time to move on this blog. My sister in Christ, and friend Daphne D. has encouraged me, pushed me, moved me, inspired me, and called me to get going. Thank you Daphne!

Prayer for the morning:
Bessing, Honor, Glory and Power be unto the Lord God almighty. It is He who reigns on high both now and forever more. He is awesome in all His ways. Glory to God!! Glory to God!!Glory to God!! Father, you have instructed us to rejoice in YOU always and at all times. You didn't tell us that we needed to rejoice in our situations, but you told us to rejoice in YOU. We rejoice now father because as long as you are with us, we are victorious. We have in you a great and a mighty leader who never fails us. Your Word tells us that we ALWAYS TRIUMPH in You. That is why we are able to say that we can do ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS US. You tell us that YOU, oh Lord, cause ALL THINGS to work together for the good of those who love you and who are called according to your good purpose. Here we stand Lord. It is us. We stand in the need of encouragement by YOUR Holy Spirit. We grow, love, and stand, in you. We are trusting, oh Lord, that you will work it out. We will not dwell on our disappointments, but on our faith. It is our faith that will make us strong. Your word is the multi-vitamin that we need today. We thank you that you are always present in our lives, even when we don't feel you there. Help us today to rejoice because you are always with us. You never leave nor forsake us, and you are always working for our good. There may be tears as we go through, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING! Glory to your name. We place our fears and our tears, our hope, joy, and expectations, our hurt feelings, and our confusion about where to go from here, into your almighty hands. We will take two steps back and allow you to handle it, knowing that we will be all the better for it. We thank you for your grace, your mercy, and your peace in Jesus name. The name above all names. Amen, and Amen.

Just Pray -children-1

There are many things that are happening today and we who know the Lord are looking to Him for answers. He is here. He is always here. We will always look to Him, and He will always answer. Today we are going to pray specifically for children.

Heavenly Father, we come before you in the mighty and magnificent name of Jesus Christ. Oh Lord, we know that you are the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. We know that you are ever present and that things that are impossible for men are possible with you. We now give thanks for your love and mercy. Your patience and understanding are ever before us. Lord please keep our children safe and secure in the palm of your hand. Teach them your word and your way so that they might please you. Help them to show appreciation and thankfulness to those who help them, and encourage us that we might teach them to extend a hand to those in who are in need. May they know that it is better to give than to receive. Lord I pray that the words of their mouths and the meditations of their hearts would be acceptable to you. Help them to be a friend to the friendless, and an encourager to the hopeless. Help them to do well in school, and to choose their friends wisely. We all ask that you would keep them from hurt, harm, danger, death, and disease. May we be their examples and may we find ourselves acceptable to you. We love you Lord. Grant us your peace in Jesus Name, Amen.