Just a Daisy in the Meadow

“Wisdom is training our eyes to see what is important to God.” – ATI

I’m looking forward to the start of another school year . . . Imagine that!   I know we should’ve had our act together before our first child started first grade . . . but we didn’t and we still are seeking what is right for us.  Looking through the Wisdom booklets is inspiring . . .

I am praying that this year I can be focused and organized.  Last year was difficult to say the least.  I am also praying that I will have the physical  and emotional strength it takes to lead our children in an orderly fashion.  It is hard with babies and toddlers and several “first graders” . . . But this is what God has called us\me to and I want to  do my best for Him.  After all , it’s all about Him . . . and this battle is not mine, but His.  So in His strength I go . . . surrounded by the power of God . . . A God who is like a mountain – strong, protecting, majestic, stable . . . Yes, He is able to carry me through another year with more victory  and success than last.  He’s able to sustain me with forbearance, and patience and love . . . cheerfulness, diligence, consistency.

“There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting,

There’s a place that is wondrously fair;

For it glows with the light of His prescence,

‘Tis the beautiful garden of prayer.”

- Eleanor Schroll and J. H.Filmore

There’s something about a beautiful flower garden . . . just makes ya want to walk and talk with your Lord . . . in the cool of the evening or the freshness of  the morning . . .

Praying for my children is something I haven’t done enough of, in fact if I’m honest I will have to admit it has been sorely neglected  . . . So many times I’m just trying to keep my head above water in the basics of feeding, clothing, training adnd schooling them . . . Why have I not put the most important part first?!? . . . So  God is changing that in my life . . . He’s teaching me how to pray . . . and when . . .

Anyway, I’ve been blessed by Kirsten Wertz’s list so here it is below for you . . .

The Gift of Prayer – By Kirsten Wertz

31 Biblical Virtues to Pray Over Your Children

Salvation.  “Lord, let salvations spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” (Is. 45:8, IITim. 2:10)

Growth in grace.  “I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 3:18)

Love.  “Grant, Lord that my children may learn to live a life of love, through the Spirit who dwells in them.  (Gal. 5:25, Eph. 5:2)

Honesty and Integrity.  “May integrity and honesty be their virtue and protection.” (Ps.25:21)

Self-Control.  “Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be alert and self-controlled in all that they do.” (I Thes. 5:6)

Love for God’s Word.  “May my children grow to find Your Word more precious than much pure gold and sweeter than honey from the comb.”  (Ps.19:10)

Justice.  “God help my children to love justice as You do and act justly in all they do.” (Ps. 11:9, Mic.6:8)

Mercy.  “May my children always be merciful, just as their Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

Respect (For self, others, authority).  “Father, grant that my children may show proper respect to everyone, as Your Word commands.” (I Peter 2:17)

Biblical Self-Esteem  “Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:10)

Faithfulness.  “Let love and faithfulness never leave my children, but bind these virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts.”  (Prov. 3:3)

Courage.  “May my children always be strong and courageous in their character and in their actions.”  (Dt.31:6)

Purity.  “Create in them a pure heart, O God, and let that purity of heart be shown in their actions.” (Ps. 51:10)

Kindness.  “Lord, may my children always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”  (I Thes. 5:15)

Generosity.  “Grant that my children may be generous and willing to share, and so lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.”  (I Tim. 6:18-19)

Peace-loving.  “Father, let my children make every effort to do what leads to peace.” (Rom. 14:19)

Joy.  “May my children be filled with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.”  (I Thes. 1:6)

Perseverance. “Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do and help them especially to run with perserverance  the race marked out for them.”  (Heb. 12:1)

Humility.  “God please cultivate in my children the ability to show true humility toward all.”  (Titus 3:2)

Compassion.  “Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion”  (Col.3:12)

Responsibility.  “Grant that my children may learn responsibility, for each one should carry his own load.”  (Gal.6:5)

Contentment.  “Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength.”  (Phil. 4:12, 13)

Faith.  “I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children’s hearts, that by faith, they may gain, what has been promised to them.” (Lk. 17:5-6, Heb. 11:1-40)

A servant’s heart.  “God, please help my children develop servants hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men.”  (Eph. 6:7)

Hope.  “May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  (Ro.15:13)

Willingness and ability to work.  “Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work at it with all their heart, as working for the Lord and not for men.”  (Col. 3:23)

Passion for God.  “Lord, please instill in my children a soul that ‘followeth hard after Thee’ (Ps. 63:8). One that clings passionately to You.”

Self-discipline.  “Father, I pray that my children may acquire a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair.  (Prov. 1:3)

Prayerfulness,  “Grant, Lord, that my children’s lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”  (Eph. 6:18)

Gratitude. “Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,  in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ .”  (Eph. 5:20), Col. 2:7)

A heart for missions.  “Lord, please  help my children to develop a desire to see Your glory declared among the nations, Your marvelous deeds among the peoples.”  (Ps. 96:3)

There is much to wail for . . . In our country, in our church, in our families, in our own personal lives . . . This is something we women are called to do . . . weep and pray . . .

” . . . It is because they have forsaken my law, which I have set before them;

They have not obeyed me or followed my law.

Instead they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts . . . .

Call for the wailing women to come . . .

Let them come quickly and wail over us till our eyes overflow with tears and waters streams from our eyelids . . . .

Now, O women, hear the word of the Lord:

Open your ears to the words of His mouth.

Teach your daughters how to wail;

Teach one another a lament.

Death has climbed in through our windows

And has entered our fortresses;

It has cut off the children from the streets

And the young men from the public squares.”

-The Weeping Prophet – Jeremiah 9: 13-20

Needing prayer and God’s power more than ever today . . . . . Just thankful for the “rain” . . .  praying for a rainbow . . .  tears and heartache cloud my soul . . .

” . . . from sin’s fetters He will free us

Till finally we wear the victor’s crown . . .”

We’ve been praying about moving . . .

And in keeping with tradition ,  and in preparation for the future . . .

We are taking down this deck (and the house next month) for lumber.  I’m enjoying this working together project, and the children are all excited of course, getting to use hammers for “real”!

And wouldn’t you know . . . that very first evening . . . the beginning of our work of this kind . . . we had a shower of rain . . . and a rainbow!!!   . . .  Rainbows have that feeling of awe . . . of blessing . . . of God’s hand . . . of His closeness . . .

This is one of the best things . . . I love hearing the words of praise and petition being uttered from their little lips . . .a sweet incense . . .

“Let my prayer be set before You as incense;

The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” – Psalm 141:2

I’m going through “Prayer Portions” again by Sylvia Gunter.  Ever hear of it or read it?  She describes it as an instruction manual on prayer.  I highly recommend it . . . It has been a tremendous resource for me.  Here’s her web site  www.thefathersbusiness.com