Praying for Families today

It’s Monday and we pray for families today; strong families, intact families, dysfunctional families, happy and sad families today. Even hot mess families. You’ve got to fit into one of those categories, and guess what? The Lord loves you all with an everlasting love.

I would love to live with no regrets, show me how to do this Lord. Show me how to let go and let You do the impossible with people in my life. Nothing is impossible with You. Each one praying can insert the name of the loved one or situation and say Lord, __________ is not impossible with You. You are the God of Possibilities, OUR GREAT HOPE AND HELP!

You may be a mother with a family member that you don't think will ever get out of the pit they are in. Don't give up. Find a verse and cling to it. All your children will be taught of the Lord and great will be the peace of your children. Praying every day, in every way for you:)

Fix us, Jesus, please and let us live to ever serve You. Put our families on a path that You can bless and humble the hardhearted in Jesus name we pray. Let’s not only worship today, but praise Him with the dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RjNcOqwpRk&list=PL7E3299D433960258&index=67/3

Somebody's Mother Online Prayer Support Group,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/119408188089314/
 

Praying today and every day for you

Good Morning Family,

 I'm dedicating Saturdays to prayers for those who have lost loved ones to death. Many among us have lost loved ones, mates, parents, children and young adult children. The most unnatural thing in the world they say is burying your child. Lord, send your strong father arms of comfort to those who are grieving. And for those grieving the death of a dream, we pray also.

 We are reminded that there will be a day, don't miss this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtud5pvF08A

 Max Lucado says in Grace for the Moment:

In the Arms of God

We don’t like to say good-bye to those whom we love. Whether it be at school or at the cemetery, separation is tough. It is right for us to weep, but there is no need for us to despair. They had pain here; they have no pain there. They struggled here. They have no struggles there. You and I might wonder why God took them home. But they don’t. They understand. They are, at this moment, at peace in the presence of God……When it is cold on earth we can take comfort in knowing that our loved ones are in the warm arms of God. And when Christ comes, we will hold them too.

Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die New Living Translation

 

(©2007).https://www.facebook.com/groups/119408188089314/

 

 

He's an On-Time God!

I believe He is still an “On-time God” even when the way looks hard and barren and hope seems far away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fA35Ved-Y

“No prayer is lost. Praying breath was never spent in vain. There is no such thing as prayer unanswered or unnoticed by God, and some things that we count refusals or denials are simply delays.”--H. Bonar

 On Mondays we pray for our families and extended family. Some of us are in times of transition and questioning why our loved ones go through what they are going through. Some need help for grief, some need provision and jobs. There are times and seasons for all things and our seasons are in the hands of the Lord. We pray especially for those in authority and for those grieving for lost loved ones. Lord, send wisdom, protection and help.

The Morning Prayer comes from Cecil Murphey: “Ever-wise and ever-loving God, thank You for not letting me choose the season. If I had my choice, I’d learn only the easy lessons. Remind me that there are difficult and painful things I need for my growth. You know what I need long before I figure it out. You choose so that I’ll become more Christlike and loving. Amen.” Cecil Murphey

“I wonder if that's the secret of changing people. If we focus on being who we are and refuse to let another's attitude upset us, we might actually change them.” Cecil Murphey

Ending with a quote to knock your socks off: “Loving God show me the truth about myself, no matter how wonderful it may be.” Cecil Murphey

Fervently Praying for You

Show. Us. How. To. Live. Today.

I've got some things on my heart, and a great quote from the book, "Fervent" but first I’m praying for all who feel that aren't going to make it and need a journeymate today. I’m praying for people who need healing, for families that are falling apart at the seams, for the mentally ill and those who love them.

Yes, It starts with me, and you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pslWA2VRmxg

About Fervent prayer:

"Because this is war. The fight of your life. A very real enemy has been strategizing and scheming against you, assaulting you, coming after your emotions, your mind, your man, your child, your future. In fact he's doing it right this second. Right where you're sitting. Right where you are.

But I say his reign of terror stops here. Stops now. He might keep coming, but he won't have victory anymore.

Because it all starts failing when we start praying." Priscilla Shirer

Let's WAR today!

From 2 Corinthians: "Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.

If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That’s to prevent anyone from confusing God’s incomparable power with us. As it is, there’s not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we’re not much to look at. We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best!

We’re not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, “I believed it, so I said it,” we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever."

The Message (MSG)

Praying for Manchester, England

 

Sometimes the name of Jesus is all we have strength to pray. And in those cases, it is enough. I think that as I found out about the tragedy in Manchester, England.  Please pray for these families, unknown to me, but known to the Father. Jesus, please send strong comfort to the parents, the grandparents and all who loved those who perished. Only You can come in at a time such as this with peace. I think of all the people that I know who have empty arms and I pray, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. I say Jesus, lover of their souls, bind their wounds and make them whole.

 I am putting lyrics and my responses to a song but for our song of the day, Only Jesus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofNtjhUE0Zs
My comments in parenthesis.
 

 "O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

O love that will not let me go… (Thank You Jesus this is true) 

 I rest my weary soul in Thee… (We need Your rest desperately)

 I give Thee back the life I owe… (We am Yours)

 That in thine ocean depths its flow… (Don't let us drown in the ocean of tears)

 My richer, fuller be… (Yes!)

O Light that followest all my way… (Show us the bright light of Your Spirit)

 I yield my flickering torch to Thee… (Don’t let the cares of the world destroy our light)

 My heart restores its borrowed ray… (Let us reflect You)

 That in thy sunshines glow its day… (You are our bright light)

 May brighter, fairer be… (Shine, Jesus, shine)

O Joy you seek me through the pain… (Emotional pain seems constant for many)

 I cannot close my heart to thee …(Where could we go but to the Lord?)

 I trace the rainbow through the rain… (It is faint, but it is there)

 And feel the promise is not vain… (Thank You for Your promises)

 That morn shall tearless be… (A warrior's shout of praise shall come!)

GET WITH THE PROGRAM!

 

 

GET WITH THE PROGRAM!

 I attended a conflict resolutions seminar recently. It made me want to say, "Get with the program" to my family. Then I wondered where that phrase came from? Is it Al-Anon specific?  I'm pretty sure I heard my mom say it here and there throughout her life so that phrase has been around awhile.

The main meaning seems to be, follow the rules; do what you are supposed to do. That also clearly implies that there is a known method or "program" to follow; we might say to someone, “Come on, honey. Get with the program. Do what you are told.”

Or McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs gives the example, “Jane just can't seem to get with the program. She has to do everything her way, right or wrong.”*

If I ask someone to get with the program I may want them to make more effort to do what is needed or to accept new ideas.  In Word Weavers the program is to follow the manual or the example of Word Weavers International in the way they conduct their meetings.

For those who are affected by addictions in their family’s lives they may want their loved one to go to a meeting where there is “program or 12-step talk.” There are books about certain programs for recovery issues and yet everyone may have their own opinion about them. One slogan I love in Al-Anon is, “Take What You Like and Leave the Rest.” That has helped me tremendously when the stress of life has kept me from doing the complete program.

 

I’ve perhaps made my own program at times which consists of, on Thursdays, taking some time to encourage others in prayer for those in recovery, hitting a meeting and then rewarding myself with a Chick-Fila Milkshake. Here is an example of a Thursday post for my blog:

The Ways of the Lord Towards Us

Are Good!

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100:5

It's Thursday and today as I think about those who are in recovery, I also am praying for those who are grieving, those who are sick and people in need of a Healer. For those who want to give up, those who are afraid their children will die of an overdose on the streets, and those who are afraid their loved one will just decide to end it all, I pray, also.

I pray because that is really all I can do. I yield to Him, although sometimes I want to try to fix someone; sometimes, so very many times, I may even want to shake someone and say, “Get with the program!”  Instead, I yield to the Lord, because letting go and letting God is the only reasonable thing that I can do. It keeps me sane in an insane world.

His ways are good even when we can't see for the darkness. His ways are good even when they aren’t our ways. His ways are good through the valley of the shadow of death. His ways are good when we are lonely because He will come to us. His ways are good when we are struggling because He can calm the struggle.

His ways are good when our children have abandoned or forsaken us (and Him) and gone astray because He is the mighty Shepherd who searches for the lost one. His ways are good in our pain as He is the Healer. His ways are good when the road is long and the journey seems too hard to travel for He travels with us.

His ways are good we will believe for this year. We can’t create, change or cure

anyone but His ways are good and He can. HE IS THE PROGRAM!

 

Think on your blessings, as that is the only way to overcome the darkness of this world. He is the Light and His ways are good! The goodness of the Lord lives forever. Let Jesus be your program for today.

What to do for yourself:  Focus on your blessings as you take long, deep, cleansing breaths. When stressed throughout the day remember to breathe deeply.

Thought: Sometimes we just need to say a prayer to get our minds in a better place. Focus on the Lord’s goodness in your life even if addiction has flavored it. The Lord is good even when _____________ because_________.

Donna Collins Tinsley

Praying every day in every way for you and your loved ones at Somebody’s Daughter Online Prayer Support Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/119408188089314/

 

*McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.