First Corinthians 13:13

First Corinthians 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

There is no greater love than the love of a friend who would die willingly for a friend, that is that they would lay down their life for another (John 15:13). Most would die for their spouse or children, but who among us would die for their enemy (Rom. 5:8)? 

If it wasn’t for God’s love, we’d still be in our sins. It took the perfect sacrifice to forgive those who are imperfect. None of us are good (Rom. 3:10), and every one of us has fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23), but God’s goodness led us to repentance (Rom. 2:4).

Paul ranked faith, hope, and love and declared under the inspiration of God that love is the greatest of all these by far (1 Cor. 13:13). Why is love the greatest? It not only saved us from eternal death (John 3:16), but love is patient, kind, not boastful, not arrogant, not rude, not resentful and doesn’t insist on getting its own way (1 Cor. 13:4-5). 

Lord, please show me how to live this out. All I do should be for YOU. 

I pray for Lily during this exam week. She is Your child before she is mine. I thank You for her!

I pray Isabel, for the situation with the newspaper. I pray for Jamie L, that she would...get her act together? No, I pray that You would bless their classroom, and show me how to raise Isabel to be a blessing to all people.

I pray for Lee at work, that You would bless him and all the people he works with, and that his job would be secure.

I pray for Brittany Snow, and for sweet Peyton. I pray for comfort and peace in knowing that You are always in control. This is a wicked world, and death is one of the consequences of the battles of sin and Satan. I pray that You would show me the way forward in comforting those close to the situation.

In Your son's name I pray,

Amen

Matthew 28:20

Matthew 28:20 And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Lord, I pray that You would show me, remind me, that You the creator of the universe and of me, are with me always. 

You are with me today, as I attempt to shepherd the young children you've given me in Room 253. I pray for each one, that they will feel comfortable in our room. I pray for Ryder, that he will be able to separate from his mother Kimberly.

I pray for Holly, Savannah, London, Elizabeth, Mia, Joshua, Howie, Victor, Peyton, Charlie, Lydia, Adeline, and whoever else shows up!

Lord, please bless our classroom today--a place of peace and love. Please bless Hope and me as we try to remember to do everything the BSF way.

I pray for calm and peace! And joy.

I pray for Lily today, that You would be right with her while she takes the standardized tests. My heart goes with her, but all Your power goes with her, too. I pray for my Lily Bug, that You would strengthen her and help her to focus.

I pray for Lee at work, that his new boss Sheryl will see how talented he is. I pray that HE will see how talented he is.

I pray for my book, YOUR book, I mean, that You would continue to use my as Your instrument to write what You would have me write.

In Your son's precious name I pray,

Amen

Psalm 25:2

Psalm 25:2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5)


Lord, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the omnipotent, omnipresent God who created me. The purpose of writing this book is to show You to other people, and to help myself to understand. Please use me to show Yourself to others. That is the point.

I rest in You, knowing that all the way in Miami, Lee is in Your hands. I pray for his presentation today, that You would fill him with confidence and the ability to convey his information in a way that impresses others. I pray for his success, Lord. 

I pray for Isabel and Lily, that they might grow to know You and place You at the center of their lives. Even as I fail, and fail again at this, I pray it for myself and for them.

I pray for a desire to pray to You more often, and I pray that I might see Your hand in my circumstances. 

In Your precious son's name I pray,

Amen

Psalm 95:3

Psalm 95:3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Lord, You are sovereign over all things, including my life. I pray that I will grow to know You better with each passing day. I pray the same for my family.

I pray over this day ahead:

That it would be a fruitful day for Isabel and Lily, not one spent playing video games and watching TV! I pray that You would show me how to engage them in better activities.

I pray for Lee, for his heart rate and for an overall sense of  peace these next few days as he prepares and then gives his presentation in Miami. Thank You for Your work in his life! Nothing can happen without Your allowing it, so I pray for Lee's dreams and goals to align with Yours for him. I pray the same for myself.

Lord, show me today where You need me to help.

I pray for Lily's orthodontist appointment tomorrow, that it would be painless and go smoothly.

I pray for safety today with my girls, for Your protection over us.

In Your son's name I pray,

Amen

Mark 11:24

Rhetorical Jesus prayer:

Great Creator God, You have made the heavens and all that is within them, and I know that nothing is too hard for You. The only thing that limits You from doing big things in my life is my own belief system and my limiting You. Please forgive me for my lack of faith in You, and in Jesus’ most holy name I pray.

 If we pray with belief, then nothing is too big for God (Mark 11:24), given the fact that what we pray for is within the will of God and not solely our own will.

Lord, I have seen You answer prayers about Lee's emotional health. Thank You! 

I want to serve You through my writing. I pray that You would show me how to do that.

I pray for Lily and the standardized tests next week. I pray for focus, patience, knowledge and confidence as she sets about taking these tests. I pray for Your presence with her. I pray for peace, no matter what. For her, and for me, too. I love her, but You love her more, and she is in Your hands. Lord, show me what You would have me do to raise her up to be a child of God.

I pray for Isabel, for the newspaper in her class. I pray for Mrs. Lupiani, that she would see Isabel's potential, and give her opportunities to be the quiet leader she already is. I pray that You would show me when it's the moment to step in and help.

I pray for Lee in Miami this week, that he would step forth in confidence as he delivers his talk. I pray BIG things for Lee, that he would succeed and know that his success is rooted in You. I pray that He would grow and grow in love for You.

I pray for Your book. Please show me the way!

In Your son's precious name I pray,

Amen

Isaiah 43:6b-7

Isaiah 43:6b-7 
Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth—everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.


I was created for Him to glorify Him.

Lord, You are the Creator of all things, including me. I pray that I would remember Your majesty and sovereignty over my life. 

I pray that You will go before me today, in writing Your book, in reading to Lily's class, in dealing with Pediatric Dentistry. 

I pray that Your hand will be on Sara's womb, and the baby within it, and that he will grow up to know You and walk with You.

I pray for Lee as he transitions into his new role at work, and for the people who work around him, that they will welcome him and perceive his abilities. I pray for Your blessings on him at work.

I pray for Dad that he would come to know You, and I pray for myself that I would feel more love and patience.

I pray for Dad and Mom's health, that You would sustain them as they get older.

I pray for the sweet children in my BSF class. Ryder, Cale, Charlie, Howie, Joshua, Katie, Holly, Elizabeth, Peyton, and Savannah. I pray Your blessing over each one of them. I pray that Ryder will have an easier time separating from his mom, and that Cale will be filled with Your spirit of kindness and generosity. 

I pray for the week ahead with Isabel and Lily, that we will have time for learning.

In Your son's precious name I pray,
Amen

God's story and mine

Is God a distant deity or power, removed from the world, impersonal and uninvolved with the people He created? What impact does a God I cannot see have on my life and my world? Can we even know Him, and if so, how? 

God has indeed revealed Himself to the people He created. Creation reflects its Creator, with powerful, glittering waterfalls and immeasurable spiral galaxies declaring God's glory for all to see. 

God also spoke to mankind through human words. The Bible tells God's story of Himself and His great purpose for mankind. 

How does your story fit into God's bigger purposes for mankind? How can He redeem your life for His cause? How does He weave the distant past, your present and His glorious future together? God graciously put His eternal truth into a book we can read for ourselves. He wants us to know Him. He wants us to be a part of His ongoing story. His is the true story that matters most.

Lord, 

Thank You for Lee and Isabel and Lily. Thank You for the opportunity to talk to Dad for a good, long time just now. I pray for Dad, and for Your presence in his life. 

Thank You for Isabel's wonderful birthday, for everything going off without a hitch.

Thank You for Lee's job and for Lee in general!

Thank You for Lily, and I pray for her class and for Ms. Love to day. I pray that Lily will become engaged in learning, and that she will excel on the standardized tests that are coming up.

I pray for Your book, that You would show me the way forward and that I would make some more progress!!! Show me how to make this book glorify You!!!!!

I pray for my call to pediatric dentistry that they would email me the records I need, or that whatever happens would be smooth and easy.

In Your son's name I pray,

Amen

Proverbs 18:24

Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Are you the kind of friend that you would want as a friend?

No, but Lord I want to work on that. In BSF lecture learned about how the curse is being reversed. This gives me hope that the curse over my heart, that's made it so fearful and selfish is being lifted. I pray that You will show me how to be a good friend.

Please show me how to handle the situation with Diana and her daughters. They have dropped out of dance, which makes Lily and Isabel happy (and me by extension). But I want to be a woman after your heart. How would you have me handle our relationship with them? I want to be a good friend.

Lord, thank You for a good day at BSF, and a classroom full of ADORABLE children. I pray that You would work through me to show them love and raise them up to know You, planting seeds, etc.

Thank You for Isabel today, her 11th birthday. Lord, I pray for her first and foremost that she would grow in her love and knowledge of You. I pray for a smooth day today, and that she will feel loved. I pray for the newspaper adventure that she is about to embark on. Show me where I need to step in and whether I need to nudge her or Mrs. Lupiani. Show me how to accept whatever happens.

I pray for Lily, who is just a delight. Thank You for her!!!!!!!! I pray that she will continue to practice her piano, and that a love for piano would take hold. I pray that she will find her thing that she loves and that she's good at.

I pray for Lee, for a smooth transition at work. I pray for his new boss Sherry, that she will recognize Lee's intellect and his potential for even greater things. I pray that You would show me how to make him know I love him!

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen

Matthew 25

For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.


Lord, yesterday I forgot to pray for my sweet little BSF class. I will pray now: I pray for Adeline, Emily, Kennedy, Mia, Lydia, Ryder, Beau, Victor, Aiden, Charlie, Holly, Cale and Peyton. I pray that You would fill me with Your spirit, and that I would shepherd, lead and teach them as Your emissary.  I pray for their spiritual development, that they would each learn to walk with You.

I thank You for my blessings--good consignment sale yesterday, Lily's A on her science test, Lee holding on to his job even after so many others lost theirs.

I pray for Your book, that You would forge ahead and show the way forward.

I pray for Isabel's birthday party today, that it will go smoothly and that I could make all the girls feel welcome. You are sovereign over this day.

I pray for everyone's safety, and for Isabel to know that she is loved by her family and friends and most of all by You, who created her almost 11 years ago!

In Your son's precious name I pray,

Amen

Luke 14:33

Luke 14:33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

Today's Rhetorical Jesus devotional is about forsaking the ways of the world for those things that please God.

Lord, yesterday I tried to make things right by placing $50 under the Odyssey's wiper, but it wasn't there. I feel at peace now, that I had all intentions--money taken, note written, secured in plastic baggie--of making this gesture. Thank You for Your peace. Please, please continue to teach me.

You are sovereign over everything that's happening right now. You have Lee in an office that's in disarray. You have Isabel dealing with social/friend issues. You have Lily with a teacher who may or may not be ideal for her, though I trust You implicitly that You hold Lily in Your hand.

I pray for Lily's teacher, and for all the children in her class. You are in charge of Lily, and I pray for her now to You Lord. I pray for her to meet Christian friends, and to learn about You as she grows. I pray for her to absorb her lessons. I pray for her to grow up into a spirited energetic child of God. 

I pray for this weekend, for Isabel's birthday party. I pray that all the girls will get along, and that it will be a time of peace. 

Lord, please fortify Lee at work. Please, please show the way forward with YOUR book!

In Your son's precious name I pray,

Amen

Isaiah 46:9-10a

Isaiah 46:9-10a Remember the former things of old; 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,
You are sovereign over time, people, circumstances. I am struggling today with the idea of belief versus magical thinking. I am drawn away from You when I hear dumb Christians saying dumb things. It makes me second-think my belief.

I pray for protection from this. Lord, please show me where my doubts are wrong, and my belief is right. Please show me Yourself. Not so invisible, if I look. Please show me Yourself. Help me to believe.

I pray for Lee, the cheese stands alone! I pray for a smooth transition at work. I pray that this situation will grow him and lead him to reach out to You and depend on You as he goes through it. Thank You that he's already seeing Dr. Hunter, and for the medicine that will help keep him even through this challenge. I pray that I would be a good wife to him.

I pray for Isabel's birthday party, that it will go smoothly, and that Isabel will know that she is loved. I pray for each child who is attending, that all will feel welcome.

I pray for Dance Class today, that I will do the right thing. I pray that Marina will have dropped out, and if not, that she will give Lily space in class today. 

I pray that I will get my Cul De Sac piece done today, and that it will glorify You.

I pray for each of the precious children You've given me to shepherd at BSF this year. Holly, Elizabeth, Adeline, Lydia, Ryder, Cale, Aiden, Kennedy, Mia, Emily, Peyton, Charlie, Victor, and Beau.

I pray for Lily, that she will grow in her class this year, and that I would equip her spiritually.

In Your son's precious name I pray,

Amen

First Corinthians 2:9

First Corinthians 2:9 
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him."


Lord,
You are the King of Heaven and earth. You are my King. I am your precious daughter. I have to remember that even as the world around me doesn't reflect it yet. My eyes haven't seen yet the afterlife that You've prepared. I trust You.

Thank you, Jesus, for the co-leader and children You've given me this year in BSF! I'm so excited! Here are the children I want to pray for. Girls: Mia, Elizabeth, Lydia, Holly, Emily, Kennedy, Emily, Peyton, Adeline. Boys: Ryder, Charlie, Victor, Beau, Aiden, and Cale.

I pray for each of these children this week, for Your blessing over them. I pray for their health. I pray for their first day with us next week, that they will feel welcome and comfortable in our room. I pray most of all that Hope and I will plant fruitful seeds in their hearts!

I pray over the BSF children's program this year, for Your blessing and Your lavish love. I pray that I will recognize Your blessings as You pour them out on me.

I pray for Lily, for her spiritual growth, and for her growth all the way around. I pray that You would bring good friends into her life, friends who know You, friends she can grow with. I pray for her attention span at school, that You would grow that, too! I pray that she would learn, learn, learn, and that she would ace the Target test.

Lord, I pray for Lee who just called and said SO MANY people have been laid off, but not him. Lord I praise You and thank You that he kept his job. I pray for those who lost their jobs, that You would comfort them and confirm their way forward, whatever You have for them. I pray that Lee will feel You with him as he moves forward not knowing what's next. I thank You Lord, I thank You!! Thank You for Your grace. I know that all things happen under Your sovereignty.

I pray for Isabel. Lord, You are there with her at school. Her friend Alanna is pulling away and moving toward the popular girls. I pray for this situation, Lord. My sweet Isabel! I pray that You would guard her heart, and keep her spirits up. I pray that others would see her light, and be comforted by it. I pray that the evil one won't steal her spirit. She is precious to me, but not as precious as she is to You. Lord, comfort her and show her the way forward!

Lord, I pray for my next cul-de-sac post. Show me what You would have me say please!!! I also pray for Your book. If You want it to be done by Christmas, it will be. I am at Your service, Lord. Show me what You want in the book.

I pray for the girls' piano lessons, that they will practice, and that they will get better and the money will be worth it! You are in control of all things, even little ones like this.

In Your son's precious name I pray,
Amen

Pray without ceasing

Paul prayed incessantly.

Lord, I'm a mess as You know. I'm sorry about yesterday, brushing my car against another car. The damage wasn't bad--just paint--but it's not for me to say that. I will leave an envelope with $ next week.

Please forgive me, and please lead me forward. I learn from my mistakes. It's not so much the mistakes that matter, but whether I learn from them, and how I move forward.

I pray for Your peace and help in this situation. I pray for Your presence.

With You with me, I can do anything.

I pray for peace.

In Jesus name I pray,
Amen

Everlasting

"Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise."


Lord, I praise You for creating Lee, my dear husband, who was born on this day. I love him and I thank You for him. I pray for his day at work today, that You will be with him as changes happen at the office. I pray that You would secure his job.

Thank You for Lily's healing, for bodies that heal despite infection. Thank You for antibiotics. I pray for the cyst to go all the way away, before the two weeks ahead appointment.

I pray for the switch to a new dentist, that I'll find a good one and that the old one will send the x-rays and other info I need.

I pray for Isabel and Lily, for Your protection  over them at school today. I pray that Mrs. Love will call on Lily, and that Lily will have the opportunity to grow in confidence in the classroom. I pray in advance of the standardized tests, that Lily will excel on them. But I pray most of all that Your will be done. You are her creator and the one who loves her the most. I put her in Your hands.

I pray for Your book, that You would continue to write it through me. I pray that the book will exalt You.

I pray for Lee's birthday, that I'm able to make it special.

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen

Mark 8:38

Mark 8:38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them.

Lord, You are able to heal. I pray for Isabel, who has a cough and a headache. I pray for healing.

I pray for Lily and for Your protection over her at school, and for her appointment today at the oral surgeon's.

I pray for Lee, that You would guide him in his new ideas about how to incorporate music into his life, and to use his gifts to work for You.

I pray for Lee's appointment today with the psychiatrist. I pray that it would be fruitful. I'm grateful for the medicine he's taking.

I pray for Your book, that You would send the story into my head as I write it!

Please show me how I might serve You.

In Your son's precious name I pray

Amen

Galatians 1:10

Galatians 1:10 
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Lord, my bulb is fading. Your light is dwindling, because I'm not in Your word. I will read that verse again.

Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Lord, this may be a good verse for my book. Your book. Please show me.

I pray for Isabel and the exciting things happening with her class newspaper.

I pray for Lily, that she will find her "thing." She is so bright and special, and I love her so much! I pray that she will find more friends in class, and that she will shine!

I pray for Lee, that he will maintain his composure and good cheer throughout all the changes at his office. I pray that You will use him to offer help to others who might need it.

I pray for myself, that I would be a better wife to him!

I pray for Dad and Mom in their last two months in France, please protect them and guide them.

I pray for the baby inside Sara's womb. May it thrive, and may it come to know You one day!

I pray for Chapter 16 of Your book.

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen