Christmas Card Basket

Community Bible Study (CBS) suggested a great activity to do with your kids.

Keep Christmas cards in a basket; each night (after dinner or at bedtime) pick one, and pray for the family or person who sent the card.

Colossians 1:9-11 is a lovely prayer for the people in your life.

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I now submit my spirit, my heart, and my mind to You. Take them and transform them into the original image of the woman You created me to be. Guide me and renew me by the transforming power of Your word. Grant me insight into Your design for love and marriage. Forgive my stubbornness in the areas of self-defeating habits. Expose every blind spot and every area of denial in my heart. Help me to obey Your principles and break the chains over my life that keep me from having fruitful relationships. Free me to give and receive love as never before, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Prayer by Michelle Mckinney Hammond

Orphans in Haiti

This topic is dear to my heart because I know several people who are currently going through the adoption process. One couple in particular is adopting a boy from Haiti and now unable to bring him home. It is agonizing for any parent to watch their child suffer.. but it's another thing if your child is in a country going through such devastation and you can't do much about it.. Please be in prayer for the orphans in Haiti.. as well as for these families who are already assigned their child... and awaiting for them to come home.

You can watch a clip of Diane Sawyer with the orphans in Haiti here.

Power of a Praying Wife

Stormie Omartian says that the power of a praying wife is "laying down all claim to power in and of yourself, and relying on God's power to transform you, your husband, your circumstances, and your marriage..... It's a gentle tool of restoration appropriated through the prayers of a wife longs to do right more than be right, and to give life more than get even. It's a way to invite God's power into your husband's life for his greatest blessing, which is ultimately yours, too."

I love her book, "The Power of a Praying Wife" which helps you to understand and pray over every area in your husband's life... Below are the areas she urges us to pray over:

His Wife
His Work
His Finances
His Sexuality
His Affection
His Temptations
His Mind
His Fears
His Purpose
His Choices
His Health
His Protection
His Trials
His Integrity
His Reputation
His Priorities
His Relationships
His Fatherhood
His Past
His Attitude
His Marriage
His Emotions
His Walk
His Talk
His Repentence
His Deliverance
His Obedience
His Self-Image
His Faith
His Future

Celebrity Ministry

The breaking news of Michael Jackson's death hits hard for most people because it is so unexpected. Of course, we're all hoping he's moon walking in heaven. However, it makes me think about all the other celebrities who are suffering from sickness, loneliness, and/or depression, like John and Kate plus Eight who are going through a difficult divorce.

The world of fame shelters celebrities from a supportive community. They are surrounded by paparazzi who are quick to point out flaws & star struck fans who put them on pedestals and view them as perfect.

As we pray for our husbands and children, our unsaved loved ones and those suffering overseas, let's also pray for our fellow celebrities who are often overlooked.

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick [those in need],
and the Lord shall raise him up . . .

James 5:15a

Thank You God...

I just LOVE listening to my 2 year old praying... Often times, she will pray before she eats, thanking God for her food, for her family (names each one), and for her friends (names the ones she played with that day). It mostly sounds like gibberish to me, and I can only pick out some words here and there... but it's SO neat that God knows her heart and is faithful to answer her prayers!

One day, she was reading "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and after the part where the caterpillar ate a watermelon, she wanted to eat one herself. I told her that we would have to go to the store and buy one (not having any idea whether the store would have any and whether it was even in season). So on our way to the store, we prayed a simple prayer together... "that God would provide us a watermelon so we can enjoy it that afternoon". As soon as we got to the store, we noticed a HUGE box of cute little mini watermelons (just for her!) right in front of the entrance doors! I just thought, "Thank you God for showing yourself to my little girl!"

This experience reminded me how important it is not only to teach my children how to pray but to pray with them.. the things that concern their heart (and mine), no matter how big or small.

As we celebrate the National Day of Prayer today, pray with your child (out loud) ... and see how He answers!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

Praying Against the Enemy

I was talking to my prayer warrior mother-in-law this morning, whom I respect very much, and she reminded me how we need to continuously pray against the enemy (Satan).

The bible says that "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy" John 10:10. We are constantly in a spiritual battle, where Satan is not only trying to plot FEAR in our hearts, but he tries to take away the joy and the blessings that God has in store for us.

May we be fervent in our prayers, not only for things but against "the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" Ephesians 6:12. Pray that the Lord will surround your family, especially your precious children, with His angels and protect you from Satan's schemes and lies.