Praying for a New School Year! (F) Friendship - Day 6

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)  

Praying for a New School Year! (E)

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. 

In the Redeeming Name of Jesus I Pray,  Amen.

Praying for a New School Year! (D)

Today we are praying for Discernment.

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

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Praying for a New School Year! (C)

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. 

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

Praying for a New School Year! (B)

Today we are praying for BOLDNESS!

Boldness is the courage to speak and act without fear! Fear is a liar. We need to pray for our children to be bold in spite of imagined and/or real dangers. Pray for them to speak when necessary, with the direction of the Holy Spirit, with the right attitude, and with the proper tone of speech. In Acts, when the Holy Spirit came, BOLDNESS was received! The disciples quit hiding behind locked doors in the upper room and began preaching the Gospel with boldness. (Acts 4:31) This same boldness is available for each of us and our children. We need to pray for this boldness then speak the truth in love. Godly boldness seeks Truth of the Word of God, it works to destroy lies, and speaks right regardless of how scary or unpopular it may be. It stands for what is right in the eyes of our Creator! Don't you want this for your child? Godly boldness is so different from boldness defined by this world. Worldly boldness may enjoy confrontation and be pushy. It may demand its own way. Worldly boldness may accept dares or provoke others to cross unacceptable boundaries...this is NOT what we want for ourselves or our children. Join me in praying for Godly boldness that only comes from the Holy Spirit guiding actions, attitudes and steps. Help your child establish Godly boundaries of where their lines are drawn of what they will do, not do or stand for this year. Pray your students will seek BOLDNESS this year and use it to impact the world for God's Glory and Honor. Pray they will have boldness to go make disciples!

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 ESV

The wicked flee when no one pursues,

but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1 ESV

25 verses about BOLDNESS

Praying for a New School Year! (A)

Is Summer really already over? WOW! I can't believe our youngest is a SENIOR in HIGH SCHOOL and our oldest is a SENIOR in COLLEGE! I am going to do my best to pray specifically for Godly Character Traits this school year for my sons, children church kids, their teachers, myself...will you join me? If so, here it goes for day 1...A is for ATTITUDE!

When you have a child (or yourself) with "no filter"...attitude can be everything. Today I am praying his words will be filled with mercy and grace and seasoned with salt. Let him be the Light to the dark world around him. I pray that his words, when intended to be a joke will be interpreted that way... we both have a quirky sense of humor! Like the three Hebrews who chose to stand vertically, I pray that when given the opportunity to STAND for what is right, the chance will be respectfully seized instead of bowing down. Lastly, I pray he will have an attitude of respect for those in authority over him.

I am praying for the staff and employees to have positive attitudes and not be afraid to share the Gospel when given the opportunity. For them to have listening ears and hearts burning with desire to change the generation set before. them.

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;

keep watch over the door of my lips!" Psalm 141:3ESV

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 16:14ESV

Michael PHS Senior 2020 (future attorney)

Lord, please put your arms around our shoulders and your hand over our mouths has we try to have an attitude pleasing to you today. #177moredays #SeniorYear #WelchCollege #PocahontasHighSchool 

 Matthew Welch College Senior 2020 (future Children's/Youth Pastor)

According to Gary Smalley's personality traits test my youngest son is a LION!!! Well, his mother's secondary trait is a lion also...as a lion we are very demanding and impatient along with being an impulsive and poor listeners, quick tempered and irritable and are constantly making efforts to make our personality productive and purposeful. My dominant personality trait is a "beaver" and this is the other part of my youngest son...The perfectionist nature of a beaver often makes such people prone to legalism and procrastination. Moreover, when there are unrealistic standards, we can also lack in expressing warmth within a relationship. (in the DISC personality test we are a D and S). My other son and husband are the opposites of us...makes for a balances household!  Curious about your or your child's personality? Take a free online quiz here: Smalley's Personality Profile Test

I live in a community where the retired teachers gather and pray every year for the school year...such a blessing!  

He Will Take Care of You ~ F260 Week 5

No matter where life takes us, the turns and detours it may make...we can never be lost to God's love. God always knows exactly where we are. His love is immeasurable. It is inexhaustible. God can do so much more than we can ask or image. As believers, we will always have hardships in this fallen world. However, it is impossible to be separated from the love of Christ. Jesus died so that we can have a personal relationship with Him, forever! We can feel totally secure with Him, not matter what or where life's detours take us. If we believe these promises, then we don't have to fear in overwhelming circumstances. As you continue reading about Joseph this week, you will see his life is still one detour after another; but also be sure to notice that the LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH, the LORD BLESSED where Joseph was, and the LORD MADE all he did PROSPER...even in bad circumstances, God is still in control and can use those situations to ultimately bring Him honor and glory, or to serve a purpose in our lives, if we will submit and obey. Joseph may not have understood why he had to to be an Egyptian slave for 11 years while he was in the process; but when he had the opportunity to save his whole family from the famine, he was thankful. God can use what others mean for evil to fulfill His ultimate plan. Joseph was rejected, sold into slavery, and imprisoned. God meant all of the events in Joseph's life for good...Joseph just couldn't see the whole picture at the time he was walking through those detours. Don't ever question God's ability to take care of you...don't ever give up hope that God has wonderful things in store for you!

This week in F260 (January 28th - February 1st) we are reading through almost all the end of Genesis.

Monday: Genesis 39-40

Tuesday: Genesis 41

Wednesday: Genesis 42-43

Thursday: Genesis 44-45

Friday: Genesis 46-47

Our memory verses for this week are Romans 8:28-30 and Ephesians 3:20-21. 

Romans 8:28-30: 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Ephesians 3:20-21: 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.