Speaking life

When I read this chapter of The Power of a Praying Parent, I was reminded of my mom teaching me "If I couldn't say anything nice, not to say anything at all", that is something that I've held onto(most of the time), I've become very angry over the years and I find myself lashing back and being very critical so as I read this chapter and prayed the prayer over my children, I've been touched by changes I need to make and for Stormie to say that what we speak can be controlled by our own will, has opened my eyes in many ways.

Something I grew up doing was arguing my point or so trying to but my mom would always stop me and tell me it wasn't allowed, so today I find myself thinking I'm too old to have someone tell me how to respond, how to put a lid on my feelings and to control my words but when I read the verse from Matthew 12:34, it breaks my heart to know my words come from my heart and they can either bring life or death.
If we are to lead by example, my whole family needs a complete turn around.
I can start with me and I can pray for every other person in my family but I can't change them.

I've dealt with many words that are inappropriate and I've dealt with many I hate yous and other hurtful things in my 24 years of parenting but never have I looked at it as not from the Lord but from darkness, never had I thought about correcting them I've always responded well I'm doing my job and I love you. There are many things I wish I could do differently and many things I wish I could change but it is too late, however I can pray for for God to fill in my gaps and for the Holy Spirit to penetrate the hearts of my children and that they can learn to speak life not death..... After all I'm still learning myself, so it's NOT TOO LATE!

Gifts and talents

Talents??? Is that playing an instrument, playing sports, acting, what really is a talent and a God given one at that???

Recently, I heard a message on talents and realized that our God given talents are the things that bring us joy and fulfill us. It may just be being a mom.

What gives you a purpose, what gives your life meaning???

What gives your children a purpose, or meaning to their life??

I have found it encouraging to learn that a God given talent may not be something grand or newsworthy.

I will continue to pray for my children to identify their God given talents, I had assumed my sons was to be a worship leader, after all he'd wake me up at 2 am practicing his guitar.
My daughter I always assumed would be to help others or animals because she has a heart of love for others, especially animals.

My youngest wants to be a sports star, I know if that's God's will, He will develop the skills needed to make it happen, but for now I will pray and know that he has many years to decide what it is that God is asking of him.

I like how Stormie got her son to practice and I pray that the Holy Spirit will penetrate each of our hearts as parents to help grow the talents and gifts God has given our children, until the gift and talent has taken root into our child so deep that they will have no doubt of what talents/gifts God has given them.

Combining chapters 13 and 14

Praying for a desire to take care of their body:

I'll have to admit when I saw this title I thought it was going to be about hygiene and I was ready to start praying right away... Remember, I've got a son who's 24, but not only that I had a brother... Phew..... smelly teen boys isn't something I enjoy... I am heading back into that season once again, so i knew i could use a lot of prayer on this....but No it was about being healthy and eating habits as well as exercise....
I'll admit it has never occurred to me to pray for this.... I'll also admit it was an eye opener to me....

I can't even show by example because I TRY to do it on my own willpower which isn't good. When I got through this chapter I was convicted by the Holy Spirit, you see all week I noticed I would rather eat cookies, chips, crackers and cheese (that's a little healthier) than to make me something nutritional to eat. I'd rather read a book on my kindle than do some physical activity...
Then, a light bulb went off....
I have struggled my whole life with anorexia and some bulimic behaviors as well.... I remember after having my first child, I was Finally my ideal body weight but I felt so fat... Why?, because I didn't have my size 1 anymore(yes even then I thought I was fat), I would spend endless hours doing aerobics but yet I wouldn't eat, I would choose cake for breakfast and crackers for lunch then have vegetables for dinner unless it was our night to eat out.... Well those habits haven't changed much.... I was blinded to it.... So when Stormie asked if I wished I had someone praying this over me... I answer with a resounding Yes!!!!!

I married someone with eating issues in their family as well... So guess what I have children following in that way of life.... Is it too late for me to pray for my grown children???? The answer is NO and you know what God just let me see that I have done that, so I will continue to pray and trust God to penetrate their hearts and I will start praying for my tween..... But, I can't stop there... I don't know about you but I was convicted to begin taking care of myself and make healthier life choices.... So that I don't go from one extreme to another, I must be in prayer and I need accountability... Anyone want to join me??? We also need people who are already living healthy and exercising to join me to encourage us along....

Where to begin... I have been praying 1 Corthians 6:19-20 as well as Psalms 139:23-24 over myself for sometime now but I think this is a great place to start with our kids.....

Now, for a desire to learn.... I found that I've prayed this but usually only when the kids are struggling with something and I don't know how to help them.... See that pattern again, if I can handle it I don't seek God but I know the Bible is clear and I'm to seek Him first in all areas....

Have you read in the old testament about generational curses??? I have.... I've also heard people say that God doesn't use generational curses today... But, I can look through my family history and see yes He does, but what we have today is a way to change those.... Beth Moore does a great job with the study called Breaking Free, I highly recommend it and will gladly lead a study, if anyone is interested....
I have also heard to go through my family tree and pray a prayer of repentance and forgiveness through out it starting with what I know to be repeated(non education, divorce, pregnancy out of wedlock, teen pregnancy, eating disorders, addiction, abuse, suicide, self harm... so much more... )

So, here we're asked to pray for their desire to learn and I'm faced with a reality, this is a very important prayer not only in the aspect of school, but learning about God, learning how to do task and so many other things are important to cover in prayer.

Well, I combined these two chapters because I felt they went well together and didn't think they both had enough to cover in one blog... Finding that not to be true.... Hope not too long winded.....

Health....

This one is easy.... NOT Always....

I remember praying for healthy babies, I remember the first time my oldest was sick, sitting and rocking him as I held the container to catch his throw up.... Yeah tmi
His temperature was very high 103.9, and I kept praying, taking him to the hospital to be told it was a virus.... What new mom wants to hear it's a virus and nothing can be done. He continued to be sick for sometime including a very nasty cough. Again doctor said it was a cold and virus... Well thankfully I had a cousin who was a paramedic and he listened to his chest and told me to get that baby to another doctor.... Took him to a new hospital and immediately he was hooked up to oxygen... Diagnosis pneumonia and asthma.....

I remember praying for my daughter to breathe when she was born and I was so tired but wouldn't allow myself to go to sleep until she took that first breath, as the nurse picked up the phone to call for nicu I cried out and said Lord, yes I want a daughter but I trust you to take care of her... Then and only then did she take her first breath.

Through the years I have prayed for my children over illnesses some minor and some major but I've always trusted Him to care for them.
Maybe I got that from my granny, my momma I'm not sure.... But I know without a doubt my faith was increased with Him giving my baby girl her first breath.

I've prayed with others over things and had lots of faith knowing He would answer.... But, what about today....

Yet, I've had many illnesses myself and again I've trusted God to take care of me and heal me.... He has many times from many things but honestly something changed in my belief after I had my hysterectomy and one thing after another went wrong I felt myself questioning God and wondering why, I then read 2 Corinthians 1 and a light bulb went off.... To help others in the way I've been comforted... OK so back to being positive, I finally felt better than I had in my whole life but in 2011, I was hit with another illness, this time I thought I was having a heart attack but never found the cause, then 2013 hit the same way once again but this time was diagnosed with asthma... 2014 same time hit again but because no steroids, inhalers etc was helping allergy test done, very allergic to many things.... Then august 2014 vertigo hit like nothing I've ever experienced and because it has continued to be really bad at times I've found myself discouraged and asking God why again... I hear 2Corinthians 1 running through my head but I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemies.... So it is really pressing on my faith, OK that's being transparent.

Do I believe God is here and hears my cries, yes in my heart I do.... Just trying to wrap my head around it to believe it and not give up. Its not fun walking like I'm drunk or bending over to hug or kiss my son and grandson, or leaning my head over to hug my husband or dad, or bending to cook, clean or make a bed, washing dishes all the things I've always had to do.... It leaves me unbalanced and I'm  afraid I'm going to fall.
So when I read this chapter, I found myself asking do I still pray for illnesses, health etc ???? with as much faith as I once had????
Do I feel God will do it for someone else but not me???  What do I believe anymore????

It has taken me sometime to blog it because I always try to be positive and encouraging and when I wasn't feeling it..
I was going to skip it but after church Sunday, I realized maybe I just need to share how I'm feeling and how I too struggle with faith and belief....

Sometimes I feel I have nothing else to offer anyone, I feel I'm just barely here, barely functioning, yet I press forward. No, I don't do all the things I need to daily, no, I don't feel like getting out of the bed most days but I do, I press forward and I read, I pray, I sing(yeah off key), I take care of my family the best I can. I take a shower and if my husband is lucky I put on make up. I keep telling myself Phillipians 4:13... I can do all things in Christ Who gives me strength.

But the best positive in it is that no matter what I can continue to praise God, I know without a doubt that it is going to be OK whether He heals me here or whenever He calls me to come be with Him in my forever home. I'm much like Paul wishing it was today, yet not wanting to leave my family and friends just yet.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, I enjoyed spending time with my extended family and getting to see some of my nieces and nephews. Along with my adult children and grandson.... I'm very blessed.

Lying..... Need we say more???

I remember as a child being taught above all else tell the complete truth... My mom wouldn't tell anyone I wasn't home if I didn't want to talk on the phone, I literally had to go stand outside so she could say she's not in....

So I learned it was important to tell the truth....
Did I learn what the Bible said about lying, no but I was taught it wasn't right.

Later in life, I taught my kids to not lie but did I do it by using the Bible... No, in fact it wasn't until later in my kids life did I learn what the Bible said about Lying. I had to try to teach it to a friends child who lived with us at the time and with that I began searching the Bible for truths about Lying... Wow, for real if you lie you're considered a child of Satan??? Wow, that should be enough for anyone to stop lying.... But it isn't....  There are lots of reasons people lie, whether its a little white lie or a flat out lie....  People lie in the business industry, politicians lie, doctors lie(or guess), spouses lie .. We all lie at some point about something, especially if we don't think it will hurt anyone else...  In my experience people lie to keep out of trouble, especially kids... So reading this chapter has made me think a little more about lies and consequences..... I think it is very important to teach our kids not to lie, so I think a lie should have great consequences as well as telling the truth should lead to GRACE!!!!!   After all when we are honest with God He forgives us.

How this will look or work isn't known at this time... Prayer is essential.

Parents, it is our responsibility to teach our kids, not the school, not the Sunday school teachers, it is ours.... That's pretty scary when it comes to some things, so how do we do it....A little at a time and why not start with HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY ....

Moms we have a very important role for our families and no matter how you do it, don't do it alone.... You must have God/Jesus, great friends, church family and extended family.... But most of all parents remember you are a TEAM!!!

I'd like to hear what your consequences are for lying and what ways do you show grace for being honest????

Have a great week!!!!

Being the person God created....

Who are we created to be? I read chapter ten in The Power of a Praying Parent  and wondered is it really important to be who God created us to be.  According to Jeremiah 35:17 it is!

I failed to do this diligently with my older children, who are now adults, I'm Also reading The Power of Praying for your adult children. I'm thankful its not too late.

I have somewhat prayed this over my youngest son but after reading this chapter, I realize I really need to be diligent in praying this over him.

How many of us listened to Satan and compared ourselves to others???? I did, I still do(that's a complete different issue).

I always felt God had called me to teach but I've learned that wasn't the case, I loved kids and loved working with them but my calling was to be a mom to my kids and to serve others. I still struggle with how this looks day in and day out but I know I'm on the right path when I ask God for guidance and listen, then Doing as He says.

The whole story of how Ric and I met and how God opened the door for a relationship with Joel is just amazing and I know without a doubt God has put me here but I mess up daily, especially on the days when I don't seek His help.

Then I read this chapter and I see how important it is to pray this for Joel, I see he is already struggling with the comparison plan and I'm refusing to let Satan have a foothold here. I want Joel to have NO doubt that he is a child of God for 2 Peter 1:10 says Be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.
Just last night, I heard Joel ask "why can't I be normal"... Well what is normal?
Is it normal to have both parents together?
Is it normal not to have a step parent?
Is it normal to want what you don't have or can't have???
Is it normal to have a Step parent??? Is it normal to be a kid struggling to know who you are and what normal is???
Well, yes it is because we live in a fallen world....
So, it is very important to make this prayer a  daily thing and to be diligent in praying for Wisdom to know how to best encourage, nurture, develop, and train him to be all God made him to be.
He isn't identified by the circumstances of his life and what he thinks is normal but by the identity of who he is in Christ. None of us are identified by the circumstances of our lives but who we are in Christ.

Have a great week and let me know how to pray for you and your family...

Hunger for the things of God...

I've always thought one of the most important things to teach my kids, was about God. I told them stories of the Bible( their favorite was Noah and the ark) oh and I'll never forget when I read the story of Jonah for the first time, not just from the childhood story books but from God's word (that was pretty gross being thrown up on the beach.... not spit out but thrown up, ok, we're all moms we see how gross that is, no further explanation needed...did I mention I don't do throw up well at all, I'm one that usually follows suit...) but that's just the thing sometimes things have to get messy to put us on the right path(my story is pretty messy).
Well anyway, as I mentioned earlier my kids dad was an atheist so he didn't go to church but there were times I took the kids and went to church, after all I was in church as long as a church bus picked me up as a kid, I wanted my kids to love church and Jesus as much as I did....  I had Wee Sing Bible Songs and a few other children's tapes and we'd listen to them all the time, I remember one of my kids favorite songs was "I've decided to follow Jesus, no turning back" . I pray that will be true with them always.
I was taken back one Sunday morning at church, apparently my son told his Sunday school teacher(the pastor's wife) that he would only sing if his daddy came to church because one Sunday morning daddy went to church with us and the pastor stood up and said "I've got a special treat for you all this morning... Jeffrey come up and sing your song, then I looked at my son and the pastor went on to say Jeffrey said that the day his daddy came to church he'd sing... I don't think I quit crying as my son sang those sweet words... I've decided to follow Jesus, no turning back... no turning back.

Well, I'd love to say that we never turned back....but things happened and questioning of Jesus existing came into our lives. In fact in 2008 so many things happened my son grew very angry with God, his daddy was in ICU fighting for his life, then I get a call from a friend letting us know one of his best friends was killed in an accident and the final blow came when he learned that his dad and I were getting a divorce.
So i see today, it is very important to  pray for a hunger for the things of God.. I'm thankful I've always tried to point them to God in the many life lessons but I'm even more glad that God fills in the gaps for my many mistakes.... one of my old pastors told us that he prays that God will out shine his sin so that his family could be won over to Christ . So I pray that people in my lives see Christ and not my many mistakes.   

With so many things to get in the way of God today(T.V., video games, sports, hobbies, phones, facebook, popularity, church, iphone, ipad, ipod..... I...i....i....) Yeah, even i get in the way..
All these things and many more pull us in different directions, so this is an important thing and must not be left to chance. 
I've tried to set aside time during the day for my son to read a devotion, his Bible and to journal but this isn't something that he is interested in, today.
As I write this I know there is hope, for I wasn't interested at his age either ... In fact, when I was a teen I'd call my granny up to read the Bible to her(sounds like a nice thing to do, right....) I'd call her as I was getting into bed to read but my reasoning was so my mom wouldn't know a friend called me at 9,it's obvious I had someone praying for me(even Jesus prays John 17) seeds were planted as I read to my granny which reminds me of a verse that says something like this men will make plans(my plan to keep mom from knowing friends called after bedtime) but God's purpose will prevail(that I might hear His words and come to believe in Him) for Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing.....
It wasn't until 2005 that I took on a hunger for God's word, before I'd read here and there and even fall asleep reading but in 2005, I set aside daily reading time, yes it started with a check list provided by my church but as I began reading I couldn't stop reading and I wanted more and more... Then in 2006, as I read I journaled, I wrote down verses that spoke to my heart.....so see there is still hope for your grown kids.

I may come back and write more with this chapter in mind. I think I could go on and on and on.......

I don't know your story , I don't know how you came to know Christ or how you will.. and I don't know what plans God has for you and your family.... But I know they are good, they will give you a hope and a future, they will not harm you.... Jeremiah 29:11

friendships...

Oh funny how we go from family to friends....

Over the years I have worked as a preschool teacher and our motto was every one in our school was our friend... nice I know, it would be great if it were that easily done.

I've watched my oldest children in friendships through the years, some I approved of and others I didn't but knowing how I rebelled against my mother's friend wishes for myself, I took it to prayer and some friends I'd allow the kids to sleep over at their house while other friends were only allowed to come to our house. I never thought to pray for godly friends or role models, well to be honest I never heard the godly term until 2003, my baby was then 10. I prayed for Christian friends but today Christian has lost a lot of its meaning because people say they are Christian yet you learn later they don't believe in Jesus.

I use to tell my children to let their light shine, that they needed to remember they are different than some kids. Was this right??? I don't know but I do know my kids had friends that were good and some that were having bad influences on them, my kids invited kids to church and learned to pray for their friends. Today, I don't know any of their friends nor do I know if they have friends that are godly or bad influences but I can still be praying because God knows and sees it all.

In fact I have practiced the same standards with Joel however, I have added the advice of telling him he is a leader not a follower. Does that mean he makes the right choices every minute of every day, nope he's human just like me.... I am praying for him to have good friends and that any friends that will lead him down a wrong path away from God be removed from his life. There are kids he befriended because other kids were mean to them (that is a Christ like character but is he strong enough to stick with some of these kids when they may become drug users or drag racers, or oh the so many things that teens find to experiment with, only with protection from God).

As I read this chapter I'm sitting here on the balcony of my hotel room looking out at the beautiful ocean. Thinking about going down to take a walk this isn't something I would normally do alone but I know when Ric gets back he will not want to go because of his hurt ankle. Ok, I've decided I'm going before it gets too crowded and hot... I've been so sick for 4 weeks and this is the first week I haven't felt terrible. Besides there are several wives left here while our husbands are in training... maybe I'll meet a new friend. Think I'm going to take Joel's motto everyone is worth getting to know even if I'm too shy to make new friends, I can fake it. :)

Have a great week!!

family relationships

Reading this chapter..... I'm reminded at how close my family once was.
Family has always been important to me, I hold each member close and near to my heart.
My family relationships began to change when I was told that my dad wasn't really my daddy, I began to feel as an outsider and wondered what everyone thought of me.

I've longed to know my daddy and siblings but never really built a strong relationship with any of them(not because I didn't want or desire it but because of my feelings).

So reading this chapter I see how important this prayer is as our family is the first place we're taught relationships and if it's not strong relationship wise, learning to have friendships, marriage relationship or a relationship with Jesus will be very hard.

I'll admit I can have a free open relationship with my children and I did as long as they were under the age of 8 and for whatever reason I began pulling away, putting up walls to protect myself but why I don't know... I didn't know and still not sure but after joining CR and going through a step study I think I've figured it all out... one puzzle piece at a time(don't want to use the onion peel phrase as I'm allergic to onions).


How can we pray for relationships that have been distant or destroyed???
How can we pray for close relationships to be closer and healthy???
How can we pray for our own relationships with our children???

Does anyone find this a little hard???
I am going to commit to praying this prayer not only this week but for weeks... months and years to come.
As relationship is were it all begins.

Blessings to you all...
Share your thoughts and share your prayer request as well as praises...

rebellious...

Oh, this is a prayer I need to keep close.....
I've been trying to think back to my older children and rebellious acts... I know they had to have many but I guess it's true when they say as the years go by you forget....
But, oh it's so funny as I try I can see some of my own rebellious acts, even though I tried to be the good girl and do the right thing... just proves Jesus' point that none of us can ever be good enough, we need Him...as I said, I can think back at some of my own, I wonder if someone prayed for me????

Right now, we're in a very rebellious season with our 10 year old so this prayer has come a long at the right time... but while I type this I remember my oldest son went through a period that began around 10 also- I don't remember details just remember asking the youth pastors mom how long this last(she said until he was 16)even though I don't remember details as I'm sure I won't remember details of these current days with the youngest son either(unless, I were to write them down). We can hold on to the hope it is just for a season.

I never thought much about rebellion being a behavior that needed prayer and correction. I've heard people say well Jesus was a rebel. Why do people think that? Yes. He disagreed with Jewish law but it wasn't God's law He disagreed with it was the man made laws and the ridiculous way they went about enforcing them.

Sometimes, I wonder do I really expect to much and just need to lighten up but would I be Allowing rebellious acts that would in the end cause my child to be messed up???? Oh, why does parenting have to be so hard???? I know many of us have older kids... can you share some experience and hope with us??? Those in rebellious season share with us some of those things and let us know how you handle it, what's worked what's pushed away??? I'm glad we can pray and know that it won't be for null as God will reward our prayers.

I said I  didn't remember rebellious acts in my older kids but I do remember when they became teens, they rebelled against me and would do the opposite of what I said, I spanked them at times still and that probably pushed them away more than anything... I remember my sweet little daughter asking me for a music CD and as I looked at the songs, I told her no, I need to research this more.. she then went to her dad.. yeah she got the CD and yes a lot of the songs went against the music I felt she needed to listen to. What hurt most was being disrespected by them hiding it from me. Or times my son was allowed to go to his girlfriend's without me knowing as I would verify they wouldn't be alone. I had my reasons and it wasn't to be fun patrol but to protect my kids from things I already learned could get one in a lot of trouble.

I recently read a book called Am I messing up my kids... in that I learned that God fills in the gaps, I don't have to match up to the parents around me or feel guilty for not being like the other parents... I just have to release my kids to God's care. Sounds easy enough??? I'm still working on this.
Like, the times my son walks out the door in mismatch clothes or jeans that would be great for capris if he were a girl... wondering when he grew those last 5 inches... or maybe I just put them in the dryer for too long- after all I do that with my own clothes as they grow tighter, not that the scales says I'm 20 pounds heavier... I need to really relax and look at things through God's eyes more often. Those things won't matter in the end because it is a matter of the heart...

As Stormie prayed over the posters her son displayed, we need to remember some things will need more attention and prayer than others, but we need to not forget to seek our husbands view and make sure we stay the course and be team mates otherwise we teach our kids when one says no, go to the other...one of the other things I guarded were the games our children play, shows, movies or music our children listen to these are all important.. What I've learned this time around is be open and point out why it's not appropriate for his little eyes, ears etc... I'm proud to say he can now hear and point out things that aren't appropriate and he always looks to me to see if I heard it too but what has touched my heart most was him saying on his own, I don't think I need to be watching this show.

I remember not liking my mom very much for guarding my movie choices along with my music choices, I rebelled and watched movies with friends mom would forbid and the popular music just so I didn't feel left out.. today, I can see what she was trying to do as I do the same, some may say I'm in the wrong and that's ok but I can say I don't want it on my shoulders because the bible is very clear on causing a child to sin Matthew 18:6, the bible also says everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial 1Corinthians 10:23. And finally in Philippians 4:8 leaves us with thinking on things that are true, pure, noble, admirable etc... so I  have to think there is a greater purpose and seek God for wisdom so I will be praying for my children, myself even and my spouse as rebellion can lead to great sin. Yes, there are always second chances and forgiveness and this we should always remember and teach our kids constantly by example.

Hope you all have a great week!

an eternal future???

I think this is the most important prayer we can pray for anyone, especially our children.

They say the best way to tell anything is through your life story, this is hard for me in many ways... anyway, I married at a young naive time in my life(the first time), when I thought everyone believed in God; so imagine my surprise when I was told "I'm an atheist". I was scared and wondered what I had done. I began right away praying for his salvation and my future children's as well- I don't even think I was sure how one decided not to believe and I knew I didn't want my children to follow the steps of their dad and not believe. See I was told about Jesus at a young age(5 years old) by my grandmother and it was during a very traumatic life event so it stuck and I couldn't argue with it because I saw Jesus show up and save my mom and my baby sister too because she came too early... anyway, because of how I first experienced Jesus I didn't know how an adult could experience Him if they hadn't already. Stormie is so right when she says "once our children have received the Lord we must continue praying for their relationship with Him." No matter how hard we try to protect our children they will go through things; some minor, some that will draw them closer to God and some that will test their faith.
I took my children to church off an on at a young age, and let them go to local vbs but most of their knowledge of God/Jesus came from me sharing bible stories and bible songs with them at home and in the car. One of my early memories of my children's first experiences of seeing my prayers in action was a night when tornadoes were tearing through the neighborhood, their atheist dad was scared and screaming and scaring the kids when I took them both onto my lap and sat in the middle of the floor telling them the story of when Jesus calmed the storm and Peter walked on water and I told them we can ask Jesus to calm this storm and protect us.... I'm never going to forget the green sky and the funnel cloud that came right by our house we watched it coming down and then all of a sudden it changed directions and hit an empty field. I have to believe this was a faith building time in my children's lives, I know it was in mine.  Now does this mean He'll calm and redirect every storm that comes our way, I doubt it, for some of the storms in our lives will be needed to teach us life lessons. I know after that night their dad never said anything against God again and he never complained about me teaching my kids about Him. In fact seven years later everyone of us came to know Jesus, oh I'm sure you probably wondering how I can say everyone of us since I had already known Him... I knew of Jesus, I knew He calmed storms, I knew He helped people when we were in trouble, I even knew He healed sickness but I didn't know the most important thing and that is Relationship. So you see I believe my granny introduced me to Jesus as a 5 year old scared little girl and that she continued to pray for me to one day know Him personally through relationship. I have to admit I didn't know the importance of continuing to pray for someone after they came to know jesus, I thought it was done and finished.... I'm glad Stormie has opened my eyes to the importance of continuing to pray.
I want to fast forward in my life story, a time that I struggled in my faith, I had stood by my atheist husband and prayed for him for 13 years before he accepted Jesus but after that I gave up praying so fervently, and it wasn't long before he went back to his ways and I found myself divorced, my teenage children living with him, as I feared my whole childhood I was now alone and rejected, I questioned God many times and I even quit praying for a season and then one night I remember thinking Jesus has always been here and He always will no matter what, so back to church I went and peace washed over me as I learned God was in control and He had a perfect plan for me. I didn't know 2 years later I'd be remarried and a full-time mom again, but God did and He knows the steps of my whole life along with the steps of my children's lives. So I know today, without a doubt He is in control and no matter how I mess up or how wrong I get my prayers He knows just how I need to pray and the Holy Spirit helps direct my prayers as they need to be, so we all can believe NO MATTER WHAT STAGE OUR CHILDREN ARE IN, GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE THEM AND HE WILL WALK WITH THEM ALL OF THEIR DAYS, HE WILL fill in the gaps for where we fail, so releasing our children to God is the best thing we can do for them.... hold onto His promises and pray without ceasing.

I'd love you to share your thoughts and even some of your God story with us on our private Facebook page. The blog isn't private so share only what you don't mind others reading.
Leaving you with this 1 Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

And a promise to send you a helper, so you can know without a doubt you're not left here to go at life alone....  John 14:16-17.

Have a great week

love and accepted

This chapter may be hard on some of us- I know it was for me. I was raised in a single parent home, yeah my mom loved me, my granny loved me and I was taught Jesus loves me but I don't know what it is with us girls.... we always want daddy, I had a step-dad and I believe he loved me but nothing was helping the rejection I felt from my real daddy. I'm glad to say I've had a relationship with my daddy since 2005. I also know due to other life experiences, I didn't love my kids enough well I didn't show them enough affection. Even though my kids are now adults, I find hope in Stormie's words "if however your child is now older and realize for one reason or another that he(she) doesn't feel loved, you can begin right now", not only am I praying for my children  I'm praying for their spouses also and my grandchildren... the  cycles can be broken and generation after generation doesn't have to continue to feel unloved and un-accepted.

   Now, this brings me to my 10 year old- I know he knows he's loved by his daddy and me but as in my childhood, nothing can replace that feeling of rejection and and lack of love of one's biological parent(boys always want moms as girls it's dad). He has expressed these thoughts and shed many tears over these feelings, I usually hold him and pray until the tears stop, as he has gotten older these tears have become anger and angry words at who... yeah me, I don't handle those so well(just being honest and transparent). This chapter has helped me see what to pray for each of my children and the one that I feel the strongest need to pray for his the one just like me.

The words of my 10 year old this year was ones of not having a girlfriend and none of the girls loving him... this shocks me for he's only 10 but then wait I look back and yeah I too just wanted a boy to love me( I don't remember my older kids going through this- maybe because they had both parents and felt loved more than I give credit??). Anyway, I now know just how to pray for my chosen son.

I hope those of you with older children find hope in knowing it's not too late. Those who have little ones or little ones yet to be born, don't forget this very important concern and cover it in prayer often. "Feeling loved and accepted" let's not listen to the voice of Satan any longer(choose to listen to the voice of Truth).

Lord,
I pray(child's name), to feel loved and accepted. Penetrate his (her) heart with Your love right now and help him (her) to fully understand how far-reaching and complete it is. Your word says YOU loved us so much that YOU sent Your Son to die for us(John 3:16). Deliver him(her) from any lies of the Enemy that may have been planted in his(her) mind to cause him(her) to doubt that. Jesus said "As the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in My love"(John 15:9-10). Lord, help (name of child) abide in Your love.
That is just a portion of the prayer especially for those who don't have your book yet...

Have a great day, and if you don't feel loved and accepted or if reading this has showed you that your spouse may not feel loved and accepted or your grown children... it's not too late to pray.

Blessings in Christ

protection for our children

Praying for protection; I'm sure we all have prayed for protection of our children and often. I know I have on many occasions, as they grow older and different phases of life those prayers take on different tones and shapes. I remember praying for my son's safety during a tornado while he was with his nanny, I remember praying for my daughter's breath when she was first born. Do I think I deserve something special from God because of who I am, hardly, in fact over years my prayer life has gone through many phases. One of high faith and one of very low faith. I've heard pastor after pastor say "ask and it shall be given" and so many other popular verses such as speak things as though they were, not as they are, this gives us great hopes that all we have to do is ask and it will be done however we call and ask it, but they leave off according to His will. I began reading a book called Praying backwards and was astonished when I read the words that let me know why I pray in Jesus name. This is giving God permission to have His will done, not mine. This was a great thing for me to learn because I had been struggling over my prayer life, because I could pray and ask God's will for anyone I prayed for except myself and those closest to me; why, because I was afraid of what His will might be, yeah I could say do this or do that and expect it done but what if His will was something different than mine? Now, that's where the rubber meets the road and my faith is tested daily. See, I've prayed over many for protection and I've seen some saved and protected from a circumstance. Then I see many suffering and not being protected and it has caused me to question God but then He leads me to verse that says in this world you will have troubles but take heart, I have overcome this world. Others about not taking us out of our circumstances but delivering us through them so our faith can be  tested, proven and strengthened.(those are all paraphrased). Then I've seen Him take children/people out of this world and I ask why, His response is always "You don't know what I rescued them from"... See, He sees the bigger picture, as David struggled in sin God saw the bigger picture(his heart- the only thing that matters in the end), which makes me wonder did God take Bathsheba and David's first child only for a punishment for sin or to rescue that baby from a life of ridicule, pain, rejection... the list could go on but bottom line is that, His ways aren't our ways.
As, I write this blog God has taken a very precious 1 month old baby girl out of this world and I guarantee you there has been many, including myself praying for her healing but He chose the ultimate healing for her and why I don't know, these parents loved and wanted her so greatly but He said NO, this has my heart aching not for that precious baby for her life is better than anyone can imagine but for those left behind feeling a void where she was placed in our hearts, never to be taken away..  so this leads me to Stormie's words in chapter 3 " being a praying parent doesn't mean that nothing bad will ever happen to your children or that they will never experience pain. They will." I know my mom was a praying mom as well as my granny was(I witnessed her praying more than I did my mommy) but not everything that I experienced was good or pain free but today, I can see how circumstances were changed because of prayers, even with my own prayers, I know prayer changes things and I believe you do too. Stand firm James 5:8

Releasing our Children to God ..

As Stormie writes about her first child Christopher and how she was concerned about everything. I'm sure we all can relate; I know I can. Even, today, I still find myself worrying about my kids and when I don't I feel guilty, as if I don't care enough about them(do any of you feel this way too, or is it just me?).
As Stormie says her son is the biggest care she has - I'm sure we all feel the same but can we really say God here is child's name,  only YOU can raise him/her right and truly keep him/her safe?
Can we vow to no longer strive to do it on our own by entering into full partnership with God? As we continue to read in chapter two we see that sometimes we'll have to choose to release our children into God's hands more than once- maybe even daily. I've been a parent for almost 24 years now and I have had many times of worrying; I did take to God in prayer but I also took it upon myself to control and not fully release my children into God's hands, seeing this keeps the pressure on me and doesn't allow me to enjoy parenting to its fullest; I think I'm ready to release my children into God's hands and trust that they are in good hands. 
I love this in chapter two"we don't want to limit what God can do in our children by clutching them to ourselves and trying to parent them alone. If we're not positive that God is in control of our children's lives, we'll be ruled by fear." "We can trust God to take care of our children even better than we can."-" We can't be everywhere. But God can. We can't see everything. But God can. We can't know everything. But God can." Let's all look at Psalm 139; if we believe God's word to be 100% truth then this should help us have faith to trust our children into God's hands no matter what the circumstances are- no matter how we feel about what's going on in our child's life. I know in light of psalm 139, I'm going to continue to release my children into God's hands daily.
A personal bit of information....
My son(23 years old), got married 4 years ago and has a 3year old son, are they living as I'd like them to be? No! Do I worry about them?? Yes! Do I believe God is taking care of them- yes!
My daughter 21 years old, engaged to be married on the 27th of this month to a young man she met online. Does this worry me? Yes! Do I turn it over to God daily? Sometimes. Do I believe God will take care of her? Sometimes... but in light of chapter 2 I know that I must trust Him and let go so that He can work. Will this be easy- No; did I mention this guy is from Canada???- Can God really take care of my daughter if she moves so far away???- yes, He can but let me be the first to admit I'm scared to death of losing my baby girl; I'm scared to death of un-taught life lessons- but what I must hold onto is the fact that she belongs to God and He is in complete control- where I failed, He will not!
Then this leaves us with my ten year old son, Joel, my biggest fear is messing up someone else's son for he isn't mine by blood but by heart. He has so many hurts and concerns and I never know if I'm handling them correctly or not but today I will choose to release him into God's very capable hands and I know I will have to do this over and over and over...   well we get the picture :). No matter what our children's age or circumstances our trusting God to take care of them is the first step in our faith of trusting He knows best.
Read and memorize Psalm 139, let it be our prayer for ourselves and our children, even our spouses.

Becoming a praying parent

As we begin this journey together, I pray each and every one of us will finish being stronger in our prayer life. As well as our relationship with Jesus and each other.

I was taught how to pray by watching others, we never prayed as a family except for God is Great God is good let us thank him for our food... and now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep.... until one scary night in my childhood that's all I knew about praying and then on this night my granny told me I could talk to Jesus anytime I want and tell Him about all my troubles. Then I knew when things weren't going right I could pray. In Sunday school I remember learning the Lord's prayer for a prize then I began to pray it.

Over the years my prayer life became one of please do..... please help... if you________, I will stop____ or if you will________ I will do______; yes all broken promises.
Then, when I became a mom, I began praying for my children, when they were sick, when they were away from me(because when they weren't with me, I couldn't control what happened to them or what they did).

Then in 2001, my granny passed away and my prayer life changed some as I began to ask God question after question about death, I knew what I had been told but death scared me and I was just trying to find out what really was happening to my granny. I'll never forget that being the first time I remember hearing from God and it was with the verse John 5:24, today death still scares me but not as much, especially if I know they had a relationship with Jesus.
Then in 2004, I joined a prayer ministry at my church and then my prayer life took a while new turn. During this time I read a book that encouraged me to prayer scripture.
Now for praying God's will, I still struggle and have learned that it is because I don't trust God to know what is best for me, so I'm scared of what His answer may be. I am working on this.
Today reading chapter 1 of the power of a Praying parent, several things got my attention but I'm only going to share a couple of those. One was making an extensive personalized list for each child, I know I have many worry and concerns where my kids are concerned but never have I thought to ask God to show me how to pray for each child. So this week, I am making my lists and asking God to reveal anything to me that I need to be covering in prayer, after all He knows my children better than I do(page 30).I encourage each of you to do the same thing. On page 27 we find "possibility the hardest part of prayer for our children is waiting for our prayers to be answered." The key here is no matter what Don't Stop Praying! Even when our kids make poor choices we should continue to intercede for them. For we make poor choices too but isn't it great to know Jesus is praying for us, Hebrews 7:25.
Remember the fight isn't with our children, it's with the devil, he is the enemy not our child(or our spouse for that matter). Loved the encouraging words "stand strong in prayer until you see a breakthrough in your child's life."
One of my beliefs is that God shows me things in dreams and I will pray over them until I have peace, sometimes I never know the outcome but on occasions God shows me how the outcome differed from my dream. Is this just a bad dream or was it a wHile to get my attention to pray, I don't know for sure but I do believe it has been God showing me things to intercede in a circumstance before it occurred.
I hope you're off to a great start, we will be doing the first three chapters this week. Don't forget to make your list and write out your prayers in a journal.
Please let us know how we can pray for you as well as leaving your comments. If you choose to blog also, feel free to share your page with everyone on our Facebook page. If you find an encouragement share it with us all.

For those who didn't get the study guide, here are a few questions to ponder...
1. List three traits you see as your child's best qualities.
3.List the three biggest concerns you have for your child.
4. Do you ever feel overwhelmed by any these concerns? In what way?
5. Does your child have any negative character traits that need to be covered in prayer? What are they?