The Gift That Brings Change

I came across this picture today. 

It's the capturing of morning prayers from the first day of school, just four short months ago.  And I was struck by the timing.
 
Just this last week, I received a letter from one of our church staff.  It reminded us that the prayer team at our church had been praying since February for our family, lifting up to Heaven requests that we ourselves had made at the beginning of the new year.  The letter contained a copy of the prayer request form we had filled out.
 
As I read over the needs, I was moved by how many of them had been answered.  Some big, some small, all important to our family's hearts.
 
And I was grateful for those who have poured hours into prayer for my family.
 
When I look at this picture of my husband's hands enfolding our children and lifting up requests before the Father who loves them more than he does, I'm grateful again.

Grateful that intercession was God's idea, and such a good idea it was.

Grateful that He hears.

Grateful that prayer changes things.

Grateful that the needs we face now, in this moment, can be added to the list.

Grateful that we never have to be without it.

A Thankfulness Perspective

10,487 days have passed since I asked Jesus Christ to be my Savior...I am thankful for every day that He has made me more like Him.

6,040 days have passed since I said "I do" to the man who makes my soul complete...I am thankful for every day that has made me love him more.

5, 582 days have passed since I became a mother...I am thankful for every day that has seen children grow under my care.

Just 1,285 days will pass before our oldest will graduate from high school...I am thankful for every day he spends under this roof.

Just 3,476 days will pass before our youngest will graduate from high school...I am thankful for every day there are birds in this nest.

I am thankful for now.  For this moment.  For this good day.


"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  - Psalm 118:24



Author's Note:  To calculate your own days of thankfulness, click here.

Imparting A Life Lesson

I took my son to vote with me today.  It was his turn, as I've taken them each one by one the last several elections.  There are several reasons I have chosen to do this.

I want him to feel confident the first time he votes, having no reason to be intimated into staying away from the polls.

I want him to understand the process of democracy and feel the weight of its privilege.

I want him to take ownership of his role in his own nation, picking up the responsibility we each carry to invest in our country.

I want him to see that people can use their voices for something other than complaining.  They can use them for action.

But there's something else we'll do as a family tonight.  We'll be praying for our government this evening before we go to bed.

Because I want him to know who to petition for real change.