This is the journey through my life as a born again believer and disciple of Jesus Christ, a pastor's wife, mother, dental hygienist, teacher, sister, daughter, aunt, mentor, friend, and Operation Christmas Child Shoebox packer. I am a blessed and highly favored child of the One True King, trying to make a positive difference in the lives of the people I come in contact with daily.
Initiative - the ability to assess and initiate things independently; the power or opportunity to act or take charge before others do. Do we exhibit initiative in our daily lives? If not how can we teach it to our children and pray for them to develop it? How or what can we do to develop a better attitude about taking the lead when God directs us? How can we function better, stronger, and faster, even in times of uncertainly and stress? Read Ephesians 5:8-14. We are called to walk as children of the Light, to discern what is pleasing, to take no part in unfruitful works of darkness. What are we busy doing? We should each press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. We each are called to do something as long as we have breath in us. Pray that we each have the initiative to carry it out until the day of our departure from this temporary home. Let us encourage one another to do good deeds and meet together for encouragement and uplifting, not to tear each other down. Pray we and our children will recognize and do what needs to be done without being asked! We cannot do what we are called to do if we do not have the initiative to GET UP and START moving! Opposites of this trait are laziness, letting others lead even when we are capable or called, or refusing to put forth our best effort. Pray these negative traits will be absent for your child's life and your own. We must be motivated to go after the life in which Christ has called each of our families! Do you have the initiative to pick up the torch and lead the way, getting others to follow you, as you follow Christ? Will you make excuses, letting others follow you and your family into perhaps laziness, the world, sin, or excuses? Remember we are called to be a Light to this world; in it but not of it!
Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. I John 3:18
A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. Proverbs 10:24
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
Points to Ponder:
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Do you need someone else to motivate you or do you set your own goals?
Can you tell when changes are good or bad when things are changing around you? Do you stand for God's Word when these changes occur?
In what situations did you fail to be motivated when you should have been? Why?
What areas of your life would improve if you had more Godly initiative?
Make sure your motivation is Christ-centered and pray for your family to have more initiative to help do what He had called each of you to accomplish for His Glory! He will empower you to accomplish what He has called you to do! Do you want your family to make their mark in this fleeting world or will you take the initiative to pray for your family to make a mark for His Eternal Kingdom?
According to the dictionary, HUMILITY is: freedom from pride or arrogance: the quality or state of being humble. Biblical humility goes hand in hand with being submissive or ready to conform to authority, obedient and meek. This type attitude allows us to create peace and have unity. Pray that your children develop humility. Pray that they are never so prideful and puffed up that they cannot accept correction. Pray that they never think their opinions are always right and always better than others around them. This type of thinking will never help in creating unity in the body of Christ. While we don't want our children on the other end of the spectrum, either, where they bow down to the world and others around them. They must truly be in the Word to know what it says so they will know when and how to stand. We were bought with a price...the blood of Christ, therefore we should serve Him alone. Who do we teach our children to please...the world around them or Christ? What do our actions show them is the most important? What are we truly worshiping? Do we need to pray for humility in our own lives as well? Pray our children will humbly seek to please Christ each and every day of their lives. We need to teach them to love God and obey Him, above everything and everyone. We need not try to keep up with our friends, or whatever is the latest trend to keep them in the popular crowd...remember we are in this world and not of it...
For real do we need more "scrunchies, metal straws, save the turtles" and such things now days "sksksk and i oop oop"...(and I don't even have daughters and I hear about this stuff---if you are clueless be thankful and don't lose brain cells by googling it...girls and their trends now days struggling to fit in.)
Instead pray for your kids to have a right ATTITUDE that will not hurt other kids, to be BOLD in their belief in Christ and sharing it, to have COURAGE & DISCERNMENT about when and what to say that is the best thing at the right time with ENTHUSIASM. Pray they will be FRIENDLY and GENEROUS. Then they will be on the right track to biblical HUMILITY! When we humble ourselves we have the same mindset as Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He came to seek and save the lost. He humbled himself and became obedient, even unto death on a cross. (see Luke 19:10 and Philippians 2:7-8)
"5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you" 1 Peter 5:5-6
"For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think..." Romans 12:3a
It is day 7 of 178 days of praying for our students. Today we are praying for "generosity". Scripture tells us we are to give generously. Generosity is being kind and unselfish, especially as it pertains to money and other things we consider valuable. It is sharing abundantly with others, even if they are strangers or undeserving in our eyes.
We are told in the Bible about how people gave freely with willing hearts. God sets the perfect example of giving...He gave his one and only Son so that the world might be saved! This is also how we should define love: to lay down our lives for others. We need to pray that when we see others in need the Holy Spirit will convict us to act, to help, to love in deeds and actions...to be generous. Paul states in Acts 20:35 is it more blessed to give than to receive. I always enjoy watching others open gifts we have purchased for them. Pray that your children will develop a generous heart, instead of a me, me, me attitude of a life centered all around them. The selfish, worldly treasures we store up here will all vanish; moths and thieves will destroy or steal them. (Matt 6:19-24) We need to teach our kids to store up their treasures in Heaven and we need to lead by example. Pray your children will develop generosity. This does not mean they have to give ALL their money away. We can store up treasures in heaven by being Christ-like: loving deeply, forgiving without holding grudges, sharing the good news of the gospel, enduring persecution with right attitudes, praying for others, and it can also mean giving of their time and money to serve Christ and His Church. Pray your child will answer the call to whatever it is God wants them to do today. Also pray they will generously give their body to Christ to go into the career He wants them to do when they are older. Pray for their future spouse. If they can learn to give generously now, all of their relationships will be better in the future, because it is truly better to give than receive. What we truly value is evident by how we live. Where are we storing up our treasures? What are we teaching our kids is most important? Where is our generosity, if we had a "generosity meter"? Do we treasure Jesus or this world...it can't be both ways? Pray your family will become consumed with living and loving like Jesus. Pray your family will become so generous that it will be sold out for Christ and His Kingdom alone!
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17 ESV
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ESV
F is for FRIENDSHIP...You've Got A Friend In Me!!!...I just had to say it...yes, I'm the adult with almost grown sons and I want to go see Toy Story 4!
Today, I am praying for my children to have friendship with GOD, not friendship with this world. It is hard to be in this world and not of it, but that is what we are called to do. Proverbs has a lot to say about friendship - read it sometime. We need to love God most, love our spouse second, then our children. Christ tells us to love one another just as He has loved us, by this all people will know that we are His disciples. If we are truly a friend of God we will be his disciples.
If everyone in the church was the type of friend we are, what kind of church would we have?
If everyone shared the Gospel as much as we do, how many souls would come to know Jesus this year?
Let us not be friends that love in words or speech but in deeds and truth. Let each of us be examples of Christ-honoring friendships not worldly ones. Pray your children will be true friends of God. Pray they will select Godly people to hang out with...people that will pull them closer to God and not toward things of this world. (Prov 13:20) Pray their friends will hold the accountable for their actions and decisions. Pray they will have meaningful friendships that challenge them to grow in their knowledge of God and the Bible. Pray your children will have respectful friendships. Teach your children to select friends that know when to speak and when to be silent; who don't pressure them into doing things; who don't push them beyond their boundaries. Pray your child will find friends who are honest.
(Pray that your child WILL BE this type of friend that we are praying for them to find...Godly, hold other accountable, challenge others to grow, respectful, honest, not pressure people, respect other's boundaries).
Jesus was a true friend of sinners, He was willing to die for each of us so that we could have a right relationship with Him. Being a true friend shows we belong to Christ. If we believe in God's Word, a real heaven and a real hell, then why are we not being a REAL FRIEND and telling everyone about a REAL JESUS so that they won't spend an eternity separated from Him. When we are a friend of God, we show true love and forgiveness and live like Christ. Thank your Heavenly Father for the wonderful Christ-honoring friendships that He has blessed you with today.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 ESV
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35
"Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours" (Casting Crowns)
WOW!!! 5 days of school are in the books! Over, done, finished!
Mark those babies off the calendar! Only 173 more to go...who is counting...all of the senior class and I'm guessing some others may be too...I am!
(Why did the students eat their homework?...
because the teacher said it was a piece of cake!) 😋
Now, are you enjoying the beginning of this blessed day?!? Let’s pray for some ENTHUSIASM! Dictionary.com's definition is: "intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval." I can't help but think about how excited my husband and sons get watching the Dallas Cowboys and the Lakers play ball....or maybe my sweet sister-in-Christ watching her beloved PHS Redskins...we really get into things we enjoy in this world.
We need to pray that we each can take that same enthusiasm and level of intensity and put it to work for our Lord and Savior. As adults, we need to model this to our children. The Bible uses several different words for this idea of being filled with enthusiasm like zeal, eager, and wholeheartedness. God's Word tells us:
be “eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2)
be “eager for the gifts of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:12)
have an “eager willingness” to finish the work of faith we’ve begun (2 Corinthians 8:11)
wait in “eager expectation” for God (Romans 8:9)
be “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14) ...(paraphrase from guideposts.org 3/22/2013)
God helps us to have and maintain enthusiasm, if we ask Him. God loves us. He helps us with all of our trials, tribulations, and difficulties. He knows all our pains, sorrows, temptations, and what is going on in our mind even before we think it. He will deliver us when we lean on Him. It is through His strength that we can enthusiastically overcome the heartaches and trials of this world, so that they may bring honor and glory to Him and fulfill His purposes. Christ died for us so we can have a personal relationship with Him. That is enough for us to have a reason to be EXCITED! Pray for your children to have intense enjoyment that only comes from Christ living in them. When this enthusiasm is flowing out of them and us then others will be drawn to us like a magnet and it will open doors for us to share the Good News of Christ's redeeming blood.
Father God, help us to be a community on fire for you. Help us to have more excitement about You and Your Word than we do in the football stadium each week this season. Ignite flames in each of us and our children so bright and so hot that it cannot be snuffed out by the fiery darts of the evil one. Help us to remember to put on Your full armor every day so that we may be able to withstand the schemes of the devil and keep our enthusiasm. Help us to teach our children to always draw near to You. Be with our children in school today.
Discernment is to "distinguish, examine or search out thoughts and intentions of one's heart." We need to pray that our children develop discerning minds so that they may demonstrate biblical wisdom and insight that goes beyond textbook knowledge. We need to pray for our children to develop a Christian World View and be wise and bold enough to stand for it in a proper manner.
The Bible tells us that worldly people think biblical wisdom is folly and foolishness; they do not understand. However, when we have the Holy Spirit's help and discernment we understand God's Word is living and active...sharper than any two-edged sword. (1 Corinthians 2:14 and Hebrews 4:12)
Pray that your child will understand (discern) the ways of the Lord are right.
Father, help my children to be able to make tough choices. Help them decide over what is "good" and what is the "very best" according to Your Word and the plans you have for their life. Help them to be able to say NO when needed and to say YES if called. Give them wisdom to pick the BEST YES! I know not all good things are part of the loads or burdens that I, Kevin, or my children are meant to carry. Help us to understand and choose which paths you want us to walk and which loads are ours to to carry. I believe that when we are where You have called us to be, then we are surrounded by Your purpose and plans for us. Please guide each of us each moment of every day to always choose You. Help them and me to always have a love for your people and your Word. Keep us digging deeper and learning more about You so that we may be better witnesses and gain more wisdom to be able to share your love more effectively. Thank you for your unfailing love and mercy and for forgiveness when we don't choose the best yes. In Jesus Christ Name I Pray, Amen.
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 ESV
"Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." Hosea 14:9 ESV
C is for Courage!
Christian Courage is willing to say and do the right thing, regardless of the cost. Courageous acts are often painful either physically or mentally. Christ told us as we spread the Gospel we would meet resistance and that we needed to be courageous.
Sharing our faith with others takes courage. Our students need courage to be the Light to those around them. Pray they will have the courage to take to good news of salvation by faith in Jesus to everyone God has put in their path. We learned in Sutton Children's Church yesterday that the last command Christ told his apostles was The Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15. If these were His last words they must have been very important for us to remember and obey. Pray that our children are courageous enough to proclaim the gospel. Pray that they will learn by our example. We need to be leading by example...we are the only Bible some will ever read.
Heavenly Father,
May my boys, my children's church kids, and their friends always be strong and courageous in their character and faith. Help the attitudes, actions and words to boldly proclaim YOU as their Lord and Savior and point others toward having a personal relationship with You. Help them to not get priorities mixed up and have idols in this fleeting world. I pray that they will always be ready to give an answer for the HOPE that is within them! Place a hedge of protection around them as they step out courageously in this world to do Your Calling on their life. Help them to honor You with all they do and say today.
In Jesus' Precious Name I Pray, Amen.
Great Commission (see also Matthew 28:18-20)
"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
"but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect" 1 Peter 3:15 ESV
God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
