Decorate with Prayers!

Good Morning Friends!  Wonderfully wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday!  Well, are you ready to do some decorating?  While we are busy shopping, baking, wrapping presents, and decorating our homes, some are busy with something else, not quite so fun!  In the busyness of my life it had not dawned on me that it’s time for college finals.  Do you all remember the stress and anxiety, long sleepless nights, worry, stress of finals!  Home for Thanksgiving from his first year at OSU, a special young man to me, and I were visiting at church Sunday.  I asked him how school was going; immediately he began sharing his concerns about upcoming finals.  He shared with me that people had been telling him that finals are really hard and he is really worried about them, and wants to do good….but.  I let him lament for a bit and then I tried to speak some words of encouragement….You know, be prepared, get lots of rest, eat well….and most importantly ask our Heavenly Father to give you a clear mind and help you do your very best!  I made a mental note to send him an encouraging email and say some extra prayers….When I got to work Monday, once again I was reminded of a young co-worker, sweet, special young woman who is also preparing for finals while working full time.  OK, I thought…..extra prayers for her too!  As I went through the day names of college students kept popping into my mind…..All of them getting ready….worrying about their finals.  No, college finals are not life of death, but to the college student they are pretty important and stressful so……I got to thinking….we need to decorate all the college students we know with prayers to help them through finals…..My goodness….let’s help them sparkle with self-confidence, glow with clear minds and sing with praise by lifting them in prayer….Oh I do love to decorate!  Father, thank you hearing all of our prayers no matter how small!  Be with our college students, protect them, guide them and help them to do their very best to Your glory!

 

I urge, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority (and college students), that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  1 Timothy 2:1-2.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.  1 John 5:14-15.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:16.  “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear,” says the Lord.  Isaiah 65:24.  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  1 Peter 1:22.

Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. George Matthew Adams.

Love you all!

December 26, 2012

Good Morning Friends! Wondrously wrapped in His loving arms Wednesday! “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas…….” I am sure you recognize that old familiar tune and I wonder how many times we heard people say, “Oh I hope we have a white Christmas or I’d give anything if it snows on Christmas.”? Well, here in Oklahoma those dreams of a white Christmas came true! And yes, I must say, that yesterday sitting in the living room, big fire in the wood stove, sappy Hallmark Christmas movie on TV, watching it snow….watching the dry brown pastures turn a pure, magical white was wonderful…..Pure like the baby born in the manager on that first Christmas night……I could feel His love wrapped around me….His peace filling my heart and mind…...lifting my spirit in joy and praise…blessings abounding…..joy, love and peace…..Later in the day we headed to Cooper and Katy’s for dinner and an evening of family fun….more love, more blessings….We started for home, still snowing a bit and so cold; the roads were already beginning to ice up and temperature was dropping…..couldn’t help and wonder about driving to work in the morning. At 1:30 am I got up to go potty, so I called the weather line for work….offices would not open till 10 am….that meant driving conditions were worse…..the Christmas dream was quickly becoming a nightmare…..Roads were one big sheet of ice this morning, cars were slipping off roads into the ditch, accidents everywhere…..utter chaos…….Oh how easy it is too lose our Christmas peace when life gets chaotic….when the bills, pile up, relationships cause pain, sickness, and sorry over take us…..we feel lost and forsaken.....This is when we need to go to the manger…..humbly kneel and give ourselves over to Jesus…..be still and feel His perfect love wrap you close……close your eyes and be filled with HIS peace……Christmas is not just one day of the year……CHRISTmust…..live in our hearts and minds everyday…….when He is there….in our hearts……He can quickly comfort us when the ice storm of worldly woes overtake us….Father, help us keep Jesus in our hearts and minds every day, in every way…….help us to glow with His love, warming everyone around us.

And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Gory to God in the highest and on earth, PEACE, goodwill toward men. Luke 2:13-14. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell I safety. Psalm 4:8. The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace. Psalm 29:11. The peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7.

 

Merry CHRISTmas! Love you all! (be safe)

October 9, 2012

Good Morning Friends!  Totally taken by His love, Tuesday!  Tuesday…..almost wanted to say Monday because of our holiday yesterday!  Aren’t 3 day weekends nice once in a while.  Trouble was, this morning when the alarm went off, I did not want to get up……that extra day of sleeping in a bit spoiled me fast!  I laid in bed a few minutes thinking “Oh gosh, I do not want to get up…..wish I had another day off, it’s cold out there and I am tired; another day would be great….”   I hadn’t been procrastinating and bemoaning having to get up too long when one of my favorite Sunday School songs popped into my head!  “Rise, Shine, give God the glory, glory.  Rise, Shine, give God the glory, glory (familiar?  Join in) RISE and SHINE and GIVE GOD THE GLORY, GLORY.  Children of the Lord!”  That’s all it took…..a gentle hint…..I had a great weekend, an extra day to be with family, time to get my Jack O Lantern painted, time to bake, time to relax and now…it’s time to get up and get to work…..I am blessed to have a good job to get up and go to, I have a wonderful car to get me to and from, good people to spend my day with, and a wonderful family waiting for me at home……let’s not forget my cozy old house, now sporting a great big jack O lantern (used a round bale) in the drive way!  And best of all, I am one of the Lord’s children!  So are you, so aren’t we blessed….doesn’t that just energize you to do the best you can…today…..everyday!   Oh, some days are not so easy, that’s for sure….but like this morning when I was feeling sorry for myself just thinking about the love of our Heavenly Father got me up and going!   Too blessed to feel sorry for myself or waste one minute of the beautiful day He has given me!  Glory, glory, glory….All glory to You our most awesome Heavenly Father!  Father, forgive us when we slip and let our minds waver from You and how much You love us!  Thank you for our many, many, many blessings!

Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.  You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wind abound.  Psalm 4:6-7.The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.  Psalm 28:7.  Be joyful always.  1 Thessalonians 5:16.  Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!!  Philippians 4:4.

Love you all!