Prayer Monday, May 30, 2011

Crystal over at A Life In Ordinary has requested a bit of a change in the way we do Prayer Monday.  So, I am going to follow suit.  She has asked us to do the following instead of writing a prayer at the end:

 1.  Share where you are and what's going on with you (i.e. prayer requests).
 2.  Visit each participant's page and pray for them in that moment and leave a comment.

I am currently asking God how He wants to use me next.  He is definitely already using me in some very important areas but I feel like there is more He wants me to do.  When He speaks to me I want step up and do what He asks; no matter how uncomfortable it may be for me.  I fear I am become complacent with the things He has already entrusted to me.  

I am also struggling with a fear of raising my son right.  I am a perfectionist and this is not helping me at all.  I want to be a perfect parent but I know there is no such thing.  Please pray that I accept the times I am bound to make parenting mistakes and I learn from them.  Also, pray that we find the method of discipline that will work for all of us.  He is a good kid so hopefully I won't have to discipline often.   God has given me this little blessing and I want to be a good steward of that gift.  Pray that I find peace in that we are raising him with God as his foundation and that I entrust him completely to God.  I also need to remember I am not doing this alone.  I have my husband and God helping me out.

I could go on and on about things God is working out in me but I will save of that for another time.  I am praying that He continues His work in all of us.

Prayer Monday, May 23, 2011

PRAYER REQUESTS
1.  I am asking that God will help me to continue to press into Him for a deeper relationship.  I am also praying that He help me through my issues of needing to be in control of everything

2.  I pray that He continues to highlight people for our members to invite so our small group will grow and touch more lives. 

3. I am praying for our Prayer Monday group.  Please help us to be able to pray passionately, earnestly and to not become overwhelmed by the requests.  Thank you Lord for these ladies!

4. I am praying for those who have lost loved ones this past week.  I know of more than one family faced with this and it hurts.

PRAYER THIS WEEK

Father,

I ask You for peace this week.  Please continue to work in this group as we give our burdens to You, Lord.  Thank You so much for being our Rock.

AMEN

Prayer Monday, May 16, 2011

I came very close to not doing a Prayer Monday post this week.  Not sure why exactly.  Actually that is not entirely true but I am not going to unburden myself here.  

I have found when I am tempted not to do something that glorifies God that I should push through and do it no matter how much I don't really want to.  It's usually the enemy trying to get me to not do it because something awesome will come of it.  So here I am pushing through.

PRAISES

1.  I got to have a date night with the hubby Saturday night.  Tuesday night will be our 3rd anniversary so we were celebrating a little early.

2. My sprained ankle is still hurting but it isn't swelling as much as it was so God is healing.

PRAYER REQUESTS
1.  I am asking that God will help me to continue to press into Him for a deeper relationship.  I am also praying that He help me through my issues of needing to be in control of everything

2.  I pray that He continues to highlight people for our members to invite so our small group will grow and touch more lives. 

3. I am praying for our Prayer Monday group.  Please help us to be able to pray passionately, earnestly and to not become overwhelmed by the requests.  Thank you Lord for these ladies!

PRAYER THIS WEEK

Father,

Rest on us right now.  Press into us and show us the words You want us to speak.  Father, I don't have a lot of words right now to express my needs.  Please read my heart because I know You know what is there.    Get rid of my indifferent attitude.    Holy Spirit I ask that You be with each lady as they are praying this week.  We all have our struggles big and small.   Comfort us in those struggles and give us the support we need.  Whether it  be in a friend or resting in You alone. Thank you Lord for the prayers You are going to answer this week.

AMEN

My Son Update

It's been awhile since I have raved about my son so I think I am due.  Bear with me because I am fairly certain this is going to be a rambling post about his utter cuteness!

I know children aren't perfect and my son has his faults but the good things far outweigh them.  He is 19 months old now and learning so much every day I can barely keep up.  He talks a mile a minute but I can only understand a few words here and there.

His newest word is doggie.  I learned this as I was telling our boxer to stop barking at whatever was outside.  After I had done this my son points his finger and says, "doggie, doggie, doggie, dog dog!"  It was like he was scolding her as well.  So cute!

As if his cuteness factor could get any better he has been giving great kisses lately.  Not those open mouth slobbery ones but actually puckering his lips.  He will give them spontaneously and when prompted.  I have mixed feelings about this though because he will kiss people he doesn't know very well when prompted, hmmmmm.  He is so friendly; when he isn't playing shy.

His other new thing is saying bye and waving when he leaves a room.   He doesn't just say bye though.  It is a process.  He will say bye and wave, run to where the hallway starts, stop and say bye and wave.  Then he runs to half way down the hall, stops and says bye and waves.  Then he goes into his bedroom, peeks out the door and says bye and waves.  That child is such a mess.

When he gets trouble and I am scolding him, he will run up and give me a big kiss.  It's hard to discipline such a sweet face (but I have too).  He is such a thinker so I know I am in for it when he gets older.  He is going think up all sorts of crazy things to do and then he will give me a big kiss hoping I will go easy on him.  I can see it already :)

Prayer Monday, May 9, 2011

What a crazy week.  Thursday was one of those days I just wanted to do over.  I sprained my ankle, it is a mild sprain.  I didn't even go to the doctor.  Just a little pain and swelling.  Thursday night my son woke up screaming because he had a stuffy nose and while changing him I found a bruise with a knot in it.  I was afraid he had a hernia but it wasn't soft.  Turned out his doctor said it was just a regular bruise and the hard knot was scar tissue under the surface because whatever caused the bruise was a poking type injury.  I think the culprit was the coffee table corner because it is the right height. 

I had an awesome weekend.  The weather was outstanding.  It is amazing how a little sunshine can improve your mood.  Mother's Day was a great day as well :)

We found out this week that my husband did not get the Carpenter's position but he has an interview for a city inspector this week so yay!

PRAISES

1.  My baby boy is 19 months old today and he is healthy and well.

2. God has given me an amazing husband.  My husband has blessed me so much lately.

PRAYER REQUESTS
1.  I am asking that God will help me to continue to press into Him for a deeper relationship.

2.  I pray that He continues to highlight people for our members to invite so our small group will grow and touch more lives. 

3. I am praying about my husband's job interview this Thursday.

4.   I am praying God will heal my ankle.  I am also praying that He help me through my issues of needing to be in control of everything.

5.I am praying for all those with  continued flooding. I am praying for God to stop the rain and waters from rising.

6. I am praying for our Prayer Monday group.  Please help us to be able to pray passionately, earnestly and to not become overwhelmed by the requests.  Thank you Lord for these ladies!

PRAYER THIS WEEK

Father,

Thank You for being in control of everything in my life.  Help to continually hand it all over to You because Your plans are so much better than mine.  Holy Spirit I just don't have the words to express what I am feeling.  You know my heart Father and I just ask that you work in it.  Be with our Prayer Monday group.  Each and every request is so important Father.  I ask that you give each lady peace and comfort.  Also, give us wisdom as we prayer for each other.  Thank You so much for answered prayers. 

AMEN

A Mother's Day Surprise...

I had a wonderful Mother's Day today but I have share the story that got us to the wonderful part.

My mother and husband both have birthdays the last week in April so we just got done celebrating those.  Mother's Day kind of snuck up on me.  So that brings me to yesterday.  Sometime Saturday afternoon I decided to call my sister and dad to discuss Mother's Day plans.  I believe the words out of my mouth to my sister were something along the lines of, "Since it doesn't seem our dad or husbands have thought of doing anything for us let's just all decide on a restaurant to go eat at so we don't have to fix lunch ourselves."  So we did that.  After church we were all going to meet at Lone Star.  YUM!

Fast forward to today.  My sister and BIL went to the early service this morning and we went to the 11a service. My BIL texted my husband while we were in the service and said he had left his wallet at our house last night and he couldn't get it because he left the key to our house there too (they have a spare for us).  He asked if we could please come home first.  So I have the bright idea I will drop my husband off to get a table and run home.   My BIL says there is such a long wait let's just regroup at our house and decide on a place.  I get home and everyone is there waiting.  I run in the house looking all around the house for his wallet.  No wallet.  I start to go back out and tell them this and they barge in with all these bags.  The guys had been planning Mother's Day after all!  They grilled us steaks, baked potatoes and baked beans.  They even had a pie and ice cream.

In a word I felt a bit sheepish that I had assumed the guys had thought of it and had taken it upon myself to plan.   I couldn't help myself I'm a planner!   But it turned out great.  The ladies didn't have to cook and it was much better than what I had planned :)  God has blessed us with awesome men in our lives!

Prayer Monday, May 2, 2011

This has been quite a week. Friday, Apr 29, 2011 was my husband's birthday.  I was celebrating it instead of the Royal Wedding :).  A man from the church I grew up in also passed away on Friday.  So it was a pretty mixed day for me.  Not to mention all those families who are dealing with the flooding.  My heart is so heavy for those who have either lost all they have or at risk of it.  In small group we have been discussing prayer for the last few weeks.  One of the questions we asked the group was when was the last time you prayed with a great sense of urgency.  I think my answer has changed since Thursday.  I am praying urgently for those in this flood.  Please don't misunderstand me because I am not saying that all prayers aren't important but some just grip your heart so that you pray very passionately about them.  That is how the current flood situation has been for me.    That being said I will move on to my praises and requests.

PRAISES

1.  God gave us a fairly rain free Saturday.

PRAYER REQUESTS
1.  I am asking that God will help me to continue to press into Him for a deeper relationship.

2.  I pray that He continues to highlight people for our members to invite so our small group will grow and touch more lives. 

3.  My husband is STILL waiting to hear one way or the other about the Carpenter's position he interviewed for at a nearby prison.  He feels like the interview went well and they told him it could be two days to two months before he hears one way or the other (He interviewed Mar. 22nd).  Please pray he gets this job.  It would be so good for our family.

4.  I pray for the church plant we are sending to Athens, Ohio this summer.  I pray that God builds up those being sent out on the church plant and that God would prepare their hearts for this as well as the hearts of the people in Athens.  Adding to this there are about 30 going and 20 of them still need to find jobs or get into school.

5.I am praying for all those with  continued flooding. I am praying for God to stop the rain and waters from rising.

6. A gentleman from the church I grew up in passed away Friday.  Please pray for his wife, son, daughter and grandchildren.  He was such a wonderful man and will be greatly missed.

7. My family has just not been able to shake sinus issues, allergies etc over the past couple weeks.  Pray that we all get well.

8. I am praying for our Prayer Monday group.  Please help us to be able to pray passionately, earnestly and to not become overwhelmed by the requests.  Thank you Lord for these ladies!

PRAYER THIS WEEK

Father,

Help me to remember that You are the one in control.  There are so many things on my list right now that are not things I have control over.  Give me peace about this.  Father I ask that You give comfort and provision to those affected by the flooding.  Keep them safe.  I also ask You to help me to discern when I need to pray more urgently.  Father, I ask you to be with each of us an give a boldness as we pray.  

AMEN