ISAIAH 46:9-10

for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done.

Lord Jesus, I am a bundle of nerves today. Please calm my heart. Everything I do is/should be for You. It is a beautiful day, a day that You have made. I pray for my BSF class today. I am riled up about it, which is ridiculous. Please calm my heart. 

I pray over the class, that each child will learn about You, and that I will all but disappear, and You will speak to them through me. I pray that You will help me to step back and let You be in charge. I pray for Joey, that he will behave himself! I pray for Andrew, Grant, Josiah, Sadie, Shelby, Addison, Emma, Olivia, Anna, Camden, Elijah, Clarke, Rylan and any other sweet little one I'm forgetting! I pray that Linda will make the right decision about bringing Jonathan. 

I pray for Your grace as I try to follow You, to be Your vessel. I pray for the volunteer who is placed in my room, that she will feel comfortable and loved. I pray that I will do Your work as best as I can. 

I pray that You will fill me with a blog post for Cul De Sac, that it would come easily and flow right out of me. I pray for protection over my children, and please hear my prayer of thanks for my wonderful husband! I love You, Lord. Amen 

Eager to do what is good

while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

—Titus 2:13-14

Lord Jesus, You have given everything for me, and now You are by my side. I pray that You would give me wisdom to know what to do.

I am in Your hands with this book. I pray for Your ideas and to convey what You have to say. Please calm my spirit and empty me of myself while I write. 

I thank You for the expedition that Isabel is getting to go on! 

I pray for protection over Isabel and Lily, my favorite of Your gifts (next to Lee).

I am sooo grateful and thankful for Lee! I love him. Show me how to show him I love him!

Lord, please, please fill me with Your peace and guide me in the way I should go. What next?

You at my side

May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel.

—Psalm 69:6

Lord Jesus,

You are consistent, faithful, loving, merciful, just and all-powerful.

You have control over my life, and You are involved in my circumstances. You are with me in the car and at BSF and home again at my computer and with me through my day with Lily and Isabel. 

I pray that I would be more cognizant of that. 

I pray that You would show me what to do with the guilt I feel over my cushy circumstances when so many others are suffering. I pray that You would give me an idea of how I might serve in a way that gives me joy and helps You too.

I pray that the book will progress in a way that pleases You. I pray that this foster parent thing idea that keeps popping up will either come to fruition or not according to Your will.

I pray for the children in my BSF class today, for Joey, Andrew, Shelby, Addison, Emma, Clarke, Elijah, Grant, Camden, Rylan, Olivia, Josiah. I pray that You will give me the words to comfort Amanda and Shelby.

Lord, please fill me with Your spirit, that I might lead the class in a way that I'm just Your instrument, passing on the information they need to know. Please keep me focused on You and the message I have about You.

I pray for Dawn and Pat, that they'll feel peace and connected to the children.

I pray for protection over Isabel and Lily, and I pray for the situation with Hannah across the yard.

I pray that if it's in Your will for Isabel to go to the Headwaters camp, that she will get in. And if it's not in Your will, that she will not get in, and I will have peace about that.

Lord, please clear my mind of all things besides You. There's no need to feel anxious, because I am simply going through my day with You at my side.

Amen

Love the LORD your God

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

Lord, if I follow this command there wouldn't be room left over for anger or wounded pride. I would just love You, and not worry about other people. I pray for this love of You. Please, fill me with love for You.

I pray over my morning at BSF, that I would be a blessing to others. Show me who needs my attention and love.

I pray for my book, that You would show me the way forward.

I pray for protection over my children.

I pray that You would control my thoughts, or help me to control them better.

I pray that Your will be done at BSF tomorrow, and that I will follow You.

I pray that You would settle my heart and remind me to look to You and to focus on You.

And to love the Lord my God with all my heart and all my soul and all my strength.

The Lord does whatever pleases him,
    in the heavens and on the earth,
    in the seas and all their depths.

Psalm 135:6


Yesterday at BSF I talked about being blinded by self-interest. But God is always in control, and He will block me if He sees fit. The Lord does whatever pleases Him.

Lord, You are always in control. This is a good thing, because You say "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Thank You for Your plans for me. Please grant me the grace to know and do Your will. Please open my eyes to what You have for me. What am I supposed to be doing?

Isabel is sick in bed. I'm leaving her to teach BSF. I pray Your protection over her. Lord, please send your angels to stand guard over her bed, and watch over her for these next three hours. 

I pray over our day today. You are in control. I pray for Lily, that she'll be protected from this sickness. I pray for Lee, that he won't get sick, either. I pray for Your protection over our home.

I pray for my BSF class today, for each child, that each one will grow up to come to know You. I pray for Joey and Andrew, if they come today, I pray that You would fill me with Your spirit and knowledge and patience to know just how to handle them. I pray that You would be with me while I tell the Bible story and help me to remember the right words. I pray for Christine, that she would have a good day in our room. I thank You for her! 

I pray for strength, that I would use the redemptive discipline principles when needed, and that I would be able to know to get them to listen and learn about You.

Lord, please watch over Isabel and I pray for her healing.

I pray for my book---help!--that I would continue to progress and glorify You.

God is in control

He [Jesus] is before all things, and in him all things hold together. — Colossians 1:17

Before there was an earth, universe, or nature, there was Jesus! He was before they were made. He will be after they are long gone. In fact, his power and his presence are what hold our world, our universe, and our nature together. He is the sustaining force, the enabling power, and the generous preserver of life as we know it. So if he could provide us these things and they are but a faint anticipation of what is yet to be, won't it be great to see him, just as he is, and share in his glory with him!


Jesus, Your power and presence holds our world, our universe, and our nature together. You are the sustaining force, the enabling power, and the generous preserver of life as we know it.

You are at the center of everything. I am just orbiting You. My children are just orbiting You. 

Isabel's friend won the Invention Convention overall prize. I am happy for her, and glad to see that Isabel is happy for her. But I know that being friends with such a high achiever can be detrimental. I pray that Isabel will know that You are at the center of all things, and that both she and her friend are orbiting You. As long as You are the sustaining force, our roles aren't so fraught. 

I pray for Sara, whose pregnancy seems to be wrong--first it might be chemical, now ectopic. I pray that I will remember that You are in control, and that You are with her today during her ultrasound. I pray that Sara will feel drawn closer to You. I pray for the life inside her, that You would draw her near to You.

I pray for protection over my precious children. 

I pray that I might put Lee first and be a good helper to him.

I pray for my book, that it would develop and glorify You and that my motivation would simply be to Your honor and glory.

I pray for healing for Mom, that the melanoma would not spread, that she would be around for a good, long time. 

I pray for Dad's pain, for total healing. I pray for Dad's spiritual path, that You would draw him near to You as well.

In Your son's precious name I pray, Amen

unseen world

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.  Isaiah 51:6

The unseen, spiritual world is all around me. Your salvation will last forever and Your righteousness will never fail. My body is growing old, but inside I am wiser and the wiser I get, the more I realize how flawed I am. I am at YOUR mercy, Lord.

I pray for my book. Is my motivation right or wrong? Am I like Balaam, only thinking of myself? Or am I meant to persevere in the faith as Paul said? I pray that You would show me.

I pray for Betsy, for her baby's health and for the situation with her returning to leadership with BSF.

I pray for Sara, for her marriage, for her problems to somehow draw her closer to You. I pray that I wouldn't be an obstacle to her faith. I pray for Andy, that he would put Sara first. I pray for both of them, that they would submit to Your drawing them in.

I pray for Mom and Dad as they prepare for Cannes.

I pray for Lee, for a safe flight home today, and that I can help and support him when he returns.

I pray for the VBS skits, that they will glorify You and get the messages across that You want.

I pray for protection over my children, and that they would grow to love You and want to know You better.

In Your son's precious name I pray.

Amen

W/o complaining

"Do everything without complaining or arguing."   Phillipians 2:14

Lord, I long to believe in You, and to trust You, and to remember You. Will You show me again?

I believe that You are writing this book through me, and that I just need to wait on You.

I pray for Your spirit and inspiration while I write the VBS skits.

I pray for my fellow BSF leaders, for Betsy and Cindy and all the rest. Please bless them today and keep them safe.

I pray for protection over my precious children, and for traveling mercies for Lee. I pray that Your angels will go alongside him.

I pray for so much less of me, and so much more of You.

In Your son's name I pray,

Amen

Overcome the world

John 16:33New International Version (NIV)

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

In You I may have peace. Lord, I pray for peace today as I shepherd the children at BSF. I pray that I may be filled with Your spirit even as, in this world, I will have trouble. Lord, I pray for grace and wisdom as I deal with whatever comes at me today.

This is Your classroom and your little sheep. I am lucky and honored to be there, leading the children You've given me this morning. I pray for a spirit of peace and joy.

I pray for Betsy that she will have a smooth morning, and that she'll arrive ready to teach with a peaceful spirit as well. I pray that You would show me ways that I can assist her.

I pray for protection over my children. I pray for Sara and the possible baby. May Your will be done, and may I be a blessing to Sara, whatever the outcome.

You have overcome this troubled world. You are a source of strength and power that I can draw upon to do Your will. I pray that You would show me this today. 

In Your son's name I pray,

Amen