Dear Father,
Keep the little ones as they go. You always kept them as we watched them grow. The sound of laughter and skipping feet, smiling faces and kisses so sweet. How quickly did the years go by, each evening with a soft lullaby- we wished them off to sleep. As they grew older time flew by so fast, they were so excited to get their drivers license at last! But as their independence quickly increased, our worries we thought would never cease. The sports, the proms, the late nights out...the shopping, the testing, college applications being sent out all these things worked to tear us farther apart, but only in
distance, not in our hearts. In our hearts we parents held them closer than ever before, and tears fell softly as we watched them walk out the door - to a new adventure, to a place far away. Now as we think about our babies we kneel down to pray.
Lord help us to be as trusting as you, when you sent out the disciples for the work they were to do. They crossed miles of desert and oceans and plains.
They went out into heat, and cold, and rain.
you had prepared them as all parents do.
They were ready, the performed well, they spread the gospel and returned to You.
Now it's our turn to let go and to send our young ones out too. We thank you for teaching us and them just what to do. The people who crossed our paths along the way were no mistake, not by chance, but they were there just in time to give a word from You. Remind us that we can trust in you, because when we can't see them, we know that you do. Help us to remember that they were yours first. You lent them to us, to love and to nourish, but you never removed your hand or your eye from their presence. You heard each one laugh and saw each one cry. You gave us and our children the tools to succeed. We know who to go to when we are in need.
They made it through with our love and your hand,
so that now we see each young woman and young man anxious and eager to know what to do, ready to move forward from us toward you.
Now they will learn to call on your name all on their own, no it won't be the same.
We'll stay on our knees and You'll hear us, too. Give us comfort, give us strength, help them to know what to do. We'll miss them and think of them often, and then, we'll return to our lives and work and begin
a new chapter in our own lives, once so filled with theirs, because they- safe and happy are so well prepared.
Lord, please bless and keep our children as they move forward to college, the armed forces, a new apartment, a new marriage, a new town, a new job or whatever You would have them do. Help us to let go. Help us to trust in You.
In Jesus name
Amen
Monday, August 26, 2013
He knows when we are worried
I don't know if I told you already, but I think this event bears telling again. God knows when we are worried. He cares that we are worried. He sometimes opens a window so that we can breathe, almost as though He were saying, "take a deep breath, calm down, open your eyes, look and breathe." He did that to me several months ago. I became so worried about my son's future that I turned my focus to that concern almost completely. He didn't seem to be able to get on track, or maybe to find his niche. I was ready for him to get on with it. He was still searching. It's as though he was searching for something so elusive that he might never find it, this path, this place where he fit. I was getting impatient. He was getting discouraged. We started to worry. He had tried jobs, he has so many gifts and talents that he could do almost anything. He had tried college. We ran out of money and he ran out of patience. He wanted to be involved in something that gave him immediate satisfaction and though he was able to do the school work, it was taking too long for him. He was dead set against going into the military, and becoming an entrepreneur was too uncertain for him. He had tried it when he was younger. There didn't seem to be anything left, and we felt that he needed to be able to move forward with his life. He had begun to talk about having a family and he knew that it wouldn't happen if he didn't get it together.
Well, one night almost a year ago, God gave me what I call a waking dream. It's one of those dreams that you have just before you wake up. You aren't so deep into your subconscious that you forget what's going on, so He has your attention. God has been speaking to me in dreams and visions since I was a child, so I was accustomed to it. I learned to recognize that it was God. I was able to interpret them and the dreams and visions always came to pass. Usually they were solutions to problems or messages about future things that I had no knowledge of. Okay, back to this particular waking dream. In my dream I saw Jamal coming up the steps to our house and he had on a uniform. I thought to myself, what is happening? Jamal is adamantly opposed to joining the armed forces. I hope that's not a policeman coming to tell me that something happened to him. I woke up and got busy with life, so I soon forgot the dream. As months went on, things began to change inside Jamal. He was starting to notice that he was going in circles and not moving forward at all. One day, almost a year later, Jamal announced that he was going to sign up for the air force that day. My husband and I were too stunned to be elated yet. He got up from the table and went to the recruiters office. I just didn't know what to say. We had all been looking through the classifieds and asking people if they knew of a job opening anywhere. Now, the dream came back to my husband. Little did I know, but he had been holding onto it ever since I told him about it.
Since Jamal signed the interest form, things have been moving more smoothly. He has a part time job. He is walking a little taller, he is focused, and he is proud. There are many tests and meetings before he can be called an airman, but he's hanging in there. It's obvious that this is his niche. We are now praying that if this is His will, God would remove all obstacles and walk with Jamal on this journey. The Lord has done just that. It's a long process to get into the Air Force. Now we know why they call it 'Selective Service' because they most certainly are.
My husband reminded me of the dream that the Lord had given me so many months ago, and we began to praise God and give Him thanks. God is good. Everything is going well for Jamal now. The Lord had opened a window all those months ago to assure me about Jamal's future and to tell me that everything would be alright and that he would one day join. This was his future and his destiny. The Lord had given me a glimpse even before he was born. God will take care of him. God is good.
Heavenly Father, glory of the heavens, we love and adore you. We give thanks that you care even about the little things in our lives. We know that there are wars, and famines, and cruelties going on in the world that You created. We know that you are working on behalf of all of your children and we thank you so much that in the midst of all that, you took time to look into one mother's heart and open a window so that she could see. I thank you so much for the love, concern, and compassion You constantly show us. You are awesome in all your ways. You are the alfa and the omega- the beginning and the end. You are He who is, who was, and who always shall be. You are my saviour, my God, my all in all. Thank you Lord that You take time to care for me. Please watch over Jamal as he enters the U. S. Air Force. Please watch over all of our children as they choose to serve their country and You. Keep them safe, help them to grow physically, emotionally, mentally, and most of all, spiritually. Keep them on the right path. Help them to 'see' when they cannot see. Help them to hope when they think there is none left. Help them to trust in you who answer prayers. Let them know that you hear and see them and that they are not alone. Teach them that You are aware even of the thoughts and intents of their hearts. Help them to remember that if they turn their eyes toward heaven and lift their voices, You hear them and will reply. You have said that you would never leave nor forsake us. Help them to remember. Give them hope, surround them with joy, cover them with Your love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Well, one night almost a year ago, God gave me what I call a waking dream. It's one of those dreams that you have just before you wake up. You aren't so deep into your subconscious that you forget what's going on, so He has your attention. God has been speaking to me in dreams and visions since I was a child, so I was accustomed to it. I learned to recognize that it was God. I was able to interpret them and the dreams and visions always came to pass. Usually they were solutions to problems or messages about future things that I had no knowledge of. Okay, back to this particular waking dream. In my dream I saw Jamal coming up the steps to our house and he had on a uniform. I thought to myself, what is happening? Jamal is adamantly opposed to joining the armed forces. I hope that's not a policeman coming to tell me that something happened to him. I woke up and got busy with life, so I soon forgot the dream. As months went on, things began to change inside Jamal. He was starting to notice that he was going in circles and not moving forward at all. One day, almost a year later, Jamal announced that he was going to sign up for the air force that day. My husband and I were too stunned to be elated yet. He got up from the table and went to the recruiters office. I just didn't know what to say. We had all been looking through the classifieds and asking people if they knew of a job opening anywhere. Now, the dream came back to my husband. Little did I know, but he had been holding onto it ever since I told him about it.
Since Jamal signed the interest form, things have been moving more smoothly. He has a part time job. He is walking a little taller, he is focused, and he is proud. There are many tests and meetings before he can be called an airman, but he's hanging in there. It's obvious that this is his niche. We are now praying that if this is His will, God would remove all obstacles and walk with Jamal on this journey. The Lord has done just that. It's a long process to get into the Air Force. Now we know why they call it 'Selective Service' because they most certainly are.
My husband reminded me of the dream that the Lord had given me so many months ago, and we began to praise God and give Him thanks. God is good. Everything is going well for Jamal now. The Lord had opened a window all those months ago to assure me about Jamal's future and to tell me that everything would be alright and that he would one day join. This was his future and his destiny. The Lord had given me a glimpse even before he was born. God will take care of him. God is good.
Heavenly Father, glory of the heavens, we love and adore you. We give thanks that you care even about the little things in our lives. We know that there are wars, and famines, and cruelties going on in the world that You created. We know that you are working on behalf of all of your children and we thank you so much that in the midst of all that, you took time to look into one mother's heart and open a window so that she could see. I thank you so much for the love, concern, and compassion You constantly show us. You are awesome in all your ways. You are the alfa and the omega- the beginning and the end. You are He who is, who was, and who always shall be. You are my saviour, my God, my all in all. Thank you Lord that You take time to care for me. Please watch over Jamal as he enters the U. S. Air Force. Please watch over all of our children as they choose to serve their country and You. Keep them safe, help them to grow physically, emotionally, mentally, and most of all, spiritually. Keep them on the right path. Help them to 'see' when they cannot see. Help them to hope when they think there is none left. Help them to trust in you who answer prayers. Let them know that you hear and see them and that they are not alone. Teach them that You are aware even of the thoughts and intents of their hearts. Help them to remember that if they turn their eyes toward heaven and lift their voices, You hear them and will reply. You have said that you would never leave nor forsake us. Help them to remember. Give them hope, surround them with joy, cover them with Your love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
I've never seen the righteous forsaken
I've got to finish the book, "I've Never Seen the Righteous Forsaken". If you have a story you want in the book, give me permission and a release and tell me the story. Your name will be added as the person who told and owns the story. If not, look for the book to come out. It is very inspirational. There are true stories about God's great love for us. Here's one of the stories. It's truly amazing. My sister Brione' moved to the middle east and is teaching English. She loves it there and her experiences are fabulous. Her story happened here in the U.S. and God was awesome and gets all the glory. She came to visit family this summer and we had a great time. This week she was due to go home, and try as she might, she didn't seem to be able to make her flight. Finally, she had to tell the airline that her son had gotten a little ill, but he seemed better now and so she now needed to get back to her job in the middle east. Well, the people at the airline insisted that she get a doctor's release in order to get herself and her son back on the plane. She couldn't get a release because it was the weekend and she doesn't know a personal doctor there anymore since she had moved out of the country to take a job. She really needed to get back so that she could get to work. We all know the anxiety she was facing. Missing work isn't something we relish.
She was refused the seats on the plane even though she had the tickets. All her documents were in order, but they wouldn't budge. Well, she went back home and her son was experiencing pain again. She took him to the hospital because there was no doctor's office open that time of the evening. Well, the doctors at Chicago Children's Hospital told her that her son needed surgery and they were going to prep him and proceed in less than an hour. She was in shock. She called me and we prayed. She was in tears and I just couldn't believe what was happening because it happened so fast. One thing we both did know was that God was working in the midst of the storm. We prayed and gave God thanks as we turned her son over to His care. We began to talk, and suddenly we realized that it was the Lord who kept her from getting on that plane. He knew what was happening. It would have taken too many hours for them to get home, and they would probably have been in the airport in Ireland when his pain hit again.
The doctor who performed the surgery told her that he personally knew a good specialist in the town that she lived in overseas. He told her to contact him and tell him that she had been referred by his friend in Chicago. That was amazing. That was so God. Of all the doctors in Chicago, the one who was on call to do the surgery knew a doctor in the middle east- personally...AND it was a doctor who specialized in her sons particular ailment. God is good. He had already arranged everything. Her son was able to receive surgery when he needed it at an excellent hospital, and they got a referral to a good doctor in their new home town. Also, her son will be okay. No blood clots, no serious extraction of an organ. No life threatening damage. GOD IS GOOD!
Heavenly Father, we love you so much. We thank you for taking such good care of us. Please continue to hold us in your righteous right hand. Bless us and keep us. Help us to hear and to follow your Word. May your glory shine forever in our lives. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Read Matthew chapter 8. It's all about healing and deliverance. He can do it! He is real!
She was refused the seats on the plane even though she had the tickets. All her documents were in order, but they wouldn't budge. Well, she went back home and her son was experiencing pain again. She took him to the hospital because there was no doctor's office open that time of the evening. Well, the doctors at Chicago Children's Hospital told her that her son needed surgery and they were going to prep him and proceed in less than an hour. She was in shock. She called me and we prayed. She was in tears and I just couldn't believe what was happening because it happened so fast. One thing we both did know was that God was working in the midst of the storm. We prayed and gave God thanks as we turned her son over to His care. We began to talk, and suddenly we realized that it was the Lord who kept her from getting on that plane. He knew what was happening. It would have taken too many hours for them to get home, and they would probably have been in the airport in Ireland when his pain hit again.
The doctor who performed the surgery told her that he personally knew a good specialist in the town that she lived in overseas. He told her to contact him and tell him that she had been referred by his friend in Chicago. That was amazing. That was so God. Of all the doctors in Chicago, the one who was on call to do the surgery knew a doctor in the middle east- personally...AND it was a doctor who specialized in her sons particular ailment. God is good. He had already arranged everything. Her son was able to receive surgery when he needed it at an excellent hospital, and they got a referral to a good doctor in their new home town. Also, her son will be okay. No blood clots, no serious extraction of an organ. No life threatening damage. GOD IS GOOD!
Heavenly Father, we love you so much. We thank you for taking such good care of us. Please continue to hold us in your righteous right hand. Bless us and keep us. Help us to hear and to follow your Word. May your glory shine forever in our lives. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Read Matthew chapter 8. It's all about healing and deliverance. He can do it! He is real!
Monday, August 5, 2013
As Times Change
We notice the weather changing. We notice the troubled economy. We notice that our society rules are being broken everyday. Many of our leaders fall so easily to sin and deception and lies and folly that we don't know who to trust, or if we should trust any of them. Parenting skills have fallen off so that their children roam the streets to threaten and harm others without a reason. There was a day when young people were afraid of God and of adults. Now adults are afraid of the children. They have become rude, disrespectful and violent. The morals and standards of America have deteriorated even more, and children who have not been brought up in the church and in the fear of God don't value human life or respect their elders. We who are Christians are sitting quietly by trying not to be noticed while we compromise all our beliefs away.
Christians are supposed to be the light of the world. How is it that with a church on every corner our society hasn't changed? What effect has the church had on the neighborhoods of America? We should be the beacons of light that we were destined to be. We should be the gospel of love to the people in pain. We should make a difference to a crying world and not just stay inside the walls of our fortress which we call the church building. It's time to step outside the church building and to become the living church of the living God.
Lord, please strengthen us, give us courage to speak to a dying world about the love and life of Christ. Help us to let the people know that you love them and are here to help them through the trials and tribulations of life. Help us to work until we all become like you. Help us to be loving and forgiving. Help us to be examples of the bible to those who don't know you so that even if they don't read, they'll know what your Word is all about. May we show your presence by being full of mercy, grace, peace and love. I pray that we will not waver in standing for what is just and what is right. Keep us on the right path Lord and don't allow our feet to wander away from you. Please give us understanding and wisdom so that we may make decisions that are not based on human frailty, but on your unadulterated Word. Help us to stand strong for the weak. May our words give hope and not frustration. Help us to listen more than we speak. Bless us oh Lord. Bless our coming in and our going out. Help us to be change agents and to change the world one person at a time in Jesus name. Amen.
Christians are supposed to be the light of the world. How is it that with a church on every corner our society hasn't changed? What effect has the church had on the neighborhoods of America? We should be the beacons of light that we were destined to be. We should be the gospel of love to the people in pain. We should make a difference to a crying world and not just stay inside the walls of our fortress which we call the church building. It's time to step outside the church building and to become the living church of the living God.
Lord, please strengthen us, give us courage to speak to a dying world about the love and life of Christ. Help us to let the people know that you love them and are here to help them through the trials and tribulations of life. Help us to work until we all become like you. Help us to be loving and forgiving. Help us to be examples of the bible to those who don't know you so that even if they don't read, they'll know what your Word is all about. May we show your presence by being full of mercy, grace, peace and love. I pray that we will not waver in standing for what is just and what is right. Keep us on the right path Lord and don't allow our feet to wander away from you. Please give us understanding and wisdom so that we may make decisions that are not based on human frailty, but on your unadulterated Word. Help us to stand strong for the weak. May our words give hope and not frustration. Help us to listen more than we speak. Bless us oh Lord. Bless our coming in and our going out. Help us to be change agents and to change the world one person at a time in Jesus name. Amen.
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