It is a very exciting time to watch things going on in Denver and then in St. Paul next week and KNOW that it is all under God’s guidance! No decisions or plans can be made apart from God’s oversight and direction! God is the one who crowns kings and yes, He is the one who “inaugurates” Presidents! And He has chosen for some reason to use us and our prayers in accomplishing this very important work. There is much for which we can pray, so remember that there are many who are joining in prayer today for the coming election!
1. Pray for the things that continue to unfold in Denver. Pray for some to have their eyes opened to the Truth as they realize what their party stands for!
2. Pray for the Vice President who is yet to be revealed.
3. Pray for more opportunities to hear the candidates answer questions in a civil and non-confrontational manner so people can know where the candidates stand on the issues.
4. Pray for the safety of the candidates through this time of intense activities going on in the conventions.
5. Pray that Truth will prevail in all decisions that are made.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
More on Train Up a Child
Wow! What a summer! We have had a very busy and wonderful summer! As I came through the summer, it became increasingly difficult to carve out time to write on my blog and know that it would be coherent! It was a wonderful summer, but now we are settling back into the school routine, so I will try to be more regular. Just a word about our activities of the summer: We had a camping trip to South Carolina for almost two weeks in June. In July we took a train trip to Denver for a week. And in August we had our family (13 of us in all now) camping trip to Southern Indiana for part of a week. In between we entertained guests from Minnesota, Ohio and Indiana. So I was planning for activities most of the time except when we were actually doing the activities! It was great and we praise the Lord for the opportunity to spend such a wonderful and satisfying summer!
I am going to go on with my discussion of characteristics we want to train into our children as a result of the admonition in Proverbs 22:6. We often hear or quote that verse, but I wonder how often we sit down to think about what we should actually be training into our children. I have discussed the concept of being sure of their Salvation and making sure they understand their need to “fear the Lord”. We also discussed how to teach your children how to have some Biblical discernment. Today, I would like to encourage you to make sure your children understand the importance of having a regular and meaningful prayer life.
So why should we teach our kids the importance of prayer? Well, there are many verses in the New Testament that tell us of the benefits of praying and Jesus Himself taught us the pattern for prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. So the first and main reason for teaching our children to pray is because it is a Biblical command. Some other reasons include the fact that we are to be thankful and this is done in prayer. We are also to confess our sins which is also accomplished by prayer. Confession is actually included in “The Lord’s Prayer”. We are also to pray for those “who despitefully use you”. We are to pray for the sick. We are to pray for our government leaders. And there are many other specific reasons for praying.
As I look back over my life, it was my grandfather and my parents who were probably the most influential in my life in the area of prayer. Children are not born with an innate understanding of the need for prayer. It is something that needs to be taught, both in words and by actions. I have heard it said that one of the main reasons children walk away from the faith of their parents is the fact that parents teach concepts to their children and then the children don’t see the teaching in action in the lives of their parents.
So how can we as mothers play a role in teaching this concept of prayer to our children? Under most circumstances, we are with the children a higher percentage of the time than anyone else, so we have a large responsibility to teach these concepts to the kids. The obvious thing for us to do is to pray with the children each and every day. Make prayer a part of their daily activities. Teach them everything you know about prayer and then search the Scriptures to find all you can about the reasons for praying. Then pass this on to them. Pray for things as a family and make a big deal when God answers! I truly believe from my experience of raising children that one of the things God does to build the faith of a child is to answer prayers for them regularly! Let the children know that you (and their dad if he prays with you) pray for them regularly and that there is no circumstance that is too small or too big for you to take it to God in prayer! Take them to Prayer Meeting and let them hear other adults pray. Can you remember the older Godly men and women in your life that prayed in Prayer Meeting and sounded like they were speaking face to face with the living God?
Finally, it is important to pray at every meal, before going to bed and any other regular time during the day that is convenient for you and your family, but it is also important to make prayer a living part of every day and include God in every decision and every challenge and every need of every day! This will speak volumes to your children of how important prayer is in your life and this will go a long way in making prayer a very important part of their lives!
I am going to go on with my discussion of characteristics we want to train into our children as a result of the admonition in Proverbs 22:6. We often hear or quote that verse, but I wonder how often we sit down to think about what we should actually be training into our children. I have discussed the concept of being sure of their Salvation and making sure they understand their need to “fear the Lord”. We also discussed how to teach your children how to have some Biblical discernment. Today, I would like to encourage you to make sure your children understand the importance of having a regular and meaningful prayer life.
So why should we teach our kids the importance of prayer? Well, there are many verses in the New Testament that tell us of the benefits of praying and Jesus Himself taught us the pattern for prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. So the first and main reason for teaching our children to pray is because it is a Biblical command. Some other reasons include the fact that we are to be thankful and this is done in prayer. We are also to confess our sins which is also accomplished by prayer. Confession is actually included in “The Lord’s Prayer”. We are also to pray for those “who despitefully use you”. We are to pray for the sick. We are to pray for our government leaders. And there are many other specific reasons for praying.
As I look back over my life, it was my grandfather and my parents who were probably the most influential in my life in the area of prayer. Children are not born with an innate understanding of the need for prayer. It is something that needs to be taught, both in words and by actions. I have heard it said that one of the main reasons children walk away from the faith of their parents is the fact that parents teach concepts to their children and then the children don’t see the teaching in action in the lives of their parents.
So how can we as mothers play a role in teaching this concept of prayer to our children? Under most circumstances, we are with the children a higher percentage of the time than anyone else, so we have a large responsibility to teach these concepts to the kids. The obvious thing for us to do is to pray with the children each and every day. Make prayer a part of their daily activities. Teach them everything you know about prayer and then search the Scriptures to find all you can about the reasons for praying. Then pass this on to them. Pray for things as a family and make a big deal when God answers! I truly believe from my experience of raising children that one of the things God does to build the faith of a child is to answer prayers for them regularly! Let the children know that you (and their dad if he prays with you) pray for them regularly and that there is no circumstance that is too small or too big for you to take it to God in prayer! Take them to Prayer Meeting and let them hear other adults pray. Can you remember the older Godly men and women in your life that prayed in Prayer Meeting and sounded like they were speaking face to face with the living God?
Finally, it is important to pray at every meal, before going to bed and any other regular time during the day that is convenient for you and your family, but it is also important to make prayer a living part of every day and include God in every decision and every challenge and every need of every day! This will speak volumes to your children of how important prayer is in your life and this will go a long way in making prayer a very important part of their lives!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Prayer Requests for Thursday August 21
Ladies, it is very important that we “faint not”! We are coming to the very crucial weeks of this pre-election time and we need to really give of ourselves over the next couple of weeks as we wait to see how the conventions will turn out. There is much at stake at these two major party conventions and we need to seek God as we see things unfolding before us. I know I have been watching the Olympics and they have been very exciting and I am tired from building up a sleep deficit by staying up too late! But when Saturday night comes, the Olympics will be over and we must be ready to press on to the business that lies before us. We must commit to faithful prayer until we see how God is going to move. I am so happy for this opportunity to do God’s work for our country and for our grandkids. Let’s encourage each other to keep on keeping on and get this work done!
1. Pray for the convention next week! Pray that truth will prevail and that it will be revealed before decisions are made that will greatly affect each of us!
2. Pray for the choices for Vice President that are even now being made!
3. Pray for those men who will be chosen for the V.P. spot as they will have a great influence on the President.
4. Pray that Christians all over this land will unite in serious prayer for this election. Much is at stake for all of us, but most especially for Christianity and the freedoms we have always enjoyed.
1. Pray for the convention next week! Pray that truth will prevail and that it will be revealed before decisions are made that will greatly affect each of us!
2. Pray for the choices for Vice President that are even now being made!
3. Pray for those men who will be chosen for the V.P. spot as they will have a great influence on the President.
4. Pray that Christians all over this land will unite in serious prayer for this election. Much is at stake for all of us, but most especially for Christianity and the freedoms we have always enjoyed.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Prayer Requests for August 14
I feel like we are in the calm before the storm with the Olympics taking the spotlight for a couple of weeks. However, we can’t allow ourselves to be lulled to sleep in the area of praying for the elections. For right after the Olympics comes the first major convention and then the very next week is the other major convention. That means that there will be LOTS going on and many decisions will be made. We need to PRAY and PRAY for all of the implications of this very important election! This is our opportunity to “rest in the Lord” as we get ready to wage the huge battle that is before us. Remember, the official campaign season starts after Labor Day, so we haven’t seen anything yet!
1. Praise for the safety of our President as he traveled in China and Asia last week!
2. Pray for the conflict between Russia and Georgia and for the impact this could have on our country and on our election!
3. Continue to pray for the choice of running mates as those decisions are still in the making.
4. Pray that God will protect the cities that are preparing for the conventions.
5. Pray that righteousness will prevail as party platforms are put together and that our Christian values will be taken into consideration! Pray for our Christian leaders who are using their voices to influence party platforms.
1. Praise for the safety of our President as he traveled in China and Asia last week!
2. Pray for the conflict between Russia and Georgia and for the impact this could have on our country and on our election!
3. Continue to pray for the choice of running mates as those decisions are still in the making.
4. Pray that God will protect the cities that are preparing for the conventions.
5. Pray that righteousness will prevail as party platforms are put together and that our Christian values will be taken into consideration! Pray for our Christian leaders who are using their voices to influence party platforms.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Prayer Requests for August 7
Verse 12 reminds us of the real battle we are fighting! But the two preceding verses remind us of where we find our strength and the weapons for victory! We sometimes forget that our battle is not physical, but spiritual. If we keep up with things that are going on, it doesn’t take long to realize that God’s Word is true when it defines our battles as spiritual. Therefore, the way to victory is prayer and not arguing or persuading or some of the other methods we might be tempted to try. Keep on your knees my friends! We are 90 days from the election and we can’t get tired or weary of keeping this before the Lord!
1. Pray for President Bush as he travels in Asia ahead of his scheduled attendance at the opening ceremony for the Olympics.
2. Pray for the safety of our athletes in this place that is not really sympathetic to our American way of life.
3. Pray for the efforts that will be made by some Christians and Christian organizations to reach the athletes and surrounding areas for Christ!
4. Pray for the ongoing debates between the Presidential candidates concerning the issues that face us. Pray they will concentrate on those that really matter and that truth will prevail!
5. Pray that we Christians will have faith that God can actually do His saving work in the lives of those who seek office!
1. Pray for President Bush as he travels in Asia ahead of his scheduled attendance at the opening ceremony for the Olympics.
2. Pray for the safety of our athletes in this place that is not really sympathetic to our American way of life.
3. Pray for the efforts that will be made by some Christians and Christian organizations to reach the athletes and surrounding areas for Christ!
4. Pray for the ongoing debates between the Presidential candidates concerning the issues that face us. Pray they will concentrate on those that really matter and that truth will prevail!
5. Pray that we Christians will have faith that God can actually do His saving work in the lives of those who seek office!
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