Saturday

Lord, firstly I would like to thank you for watching over my Grandad. I am so grateful that his stroke was a minor one and that he hasn't lost any functions. I pray that he will be patient (and we know what a big ask that is for him!) this week when he goes to have his tests done and that they will reveal no lasting effects. Its times like these that I really feel a long way away from my grandparents, I pray that I can have the opportunity to visit with them more often.

I pray also that Kath can seek your guidance when dealing with Kelly's school and learn to choose her words carefully so as to have the most benefit for Kelly. I also pray that she won't be offended when I pick her up on this and that she realises that I'm not being critical and that it comes from love.

I would like to pray healing for Joanie Lord. She is such a trooper and I pray that she can find rest and refreshment soon.

We are playing a tennis final today Lord. I pray that we enjoy the fellowship and friendship that comes from tennis and that we all enjoy our games.

And of course myself and my family Lord. I pray that we can all grow closer to you and live for your glory. Please forgive me for harsh words I have spoken and unkind thoughts I have had. Help me to be a better wife, mother and member of this community, and most of all help me to become a true child of yours.

Blessings and prayers

I've had a great week Lord, and I can truly see your hand at work in my life. I find it pretty amazing to be able to say that because your messages to me are something that I have struggled to see or hear in the past. Thankyou for Pink's positive outlook at the moment and her continued growing confidence in her studies and her singing. I pray that she will use her talent for your glory one day. Thankyou for the settling down of Robbie's teeth and for the time I have been able to spend with him at squash. Its been great to play together and have fun Lord. Thankyou for my husbands ever so slight softening heart towards you. He is no longer defensive or jealous of the time I spend at church, he even asks me about what I'm reading and doesn't dismiss it when I tell him. It really gives me hope Lord and I thank you so much for that.

Today I would like to pray for Kath, Kelly and Adam again Lord. I pray that Kath can find an interest to become involved in. She would love to work for your glory but she will need a bit of a shove. I pray that Kelly can learn to accept things she can't change and just get on with her life without dwelling on things too much. I pray that Adam can try just a little bit at school. He has so much potential but if it doesn't interest him he just doesn't bother and he is unable to see the big picture.

Also for Joanie, she is so weary and I pray for some relief and rest for her Lord. I also pray for safe travelling for Blaine and that he will be back home soon.

For Lightening I pray continued healing Lord. She has come such a long way. Help her to know how precious she is.

And of course me. I pray that my heart can continually grow closer to you. I pray that I can speak the words you ask me to, and that I can let my light shine before men.
Amen.

Thursday

Dear Lord, I'd like to pray that Kath has a safe trip home tonight and that she was able to achieve everything she wanted to with Adam's school. I pray also that Kelly can be more tolerant and accepting of her teachers, and learn to get along with them, even the ones she doesn't like.



Thankyou Lord for Pink's frame of mind and her growing confidence at the moment Lord, it is such a blessing to see her happy. My one concern is her aversion to the church and her avoidance of You. I pray that she can accept you into her heart Lord.



Thankyou that Robbie seems to really be catching on with math at the moment. He has a difficult relationship with his teacher and I pray that things will work themselves out for his benefit. I pray that his attitude toward school and learning will continue to be more positive.



And my husband Lord. I pray

Ye of little faith.

If I'd only just handed it over to you in the first place. Thank you Lord so much for the resolution of our school issue. Pink has come out of it feeling that people have faith in her ability and maybe, just maybe she can lift her expectations of herself. Self confidence is a struggle we have always had with her as you know. Thank you so much Lord for allowing her confidence to grow.

I'm about to head to a meeting Lord, I pray that it will run smoothly and that all players, parents and supporters can feel positive about the coming year.

Let the Peace of God Reign

Dear Lord, I would dearly love to know how to let your Peace guide my life fully. Help me to trust and honour you in every thing that I do and say.

Our house is at peace again at the moment and I thank you Lord for the calm after the confrontations we have had with Pink. I pray that she isn't just being pleasant to "shut us up" but because she has heard and valued what we have to say. Thankyou for her progress at school and her changed attitude toward school. I pray that she maintains a positive outlook during the changes that are being made. I pray that these changes won't affect her learning.

I pray that my whole family will one day come to know and love you as I do. I can see glimpses of hope and promise in that area Lord and I pray that they will be drawn into your arms soon.

Blessings

Today Pink came home with her first A in math. She was delighted, what a true blessing it is to see her confidence grow in a subject that she has always struggled with.

It is a wonderful thing to see her happy at school. I am so thankful for that.

Robbie is growing accustomed to his braces and the pain is easing, and for that I am also thankful.

I have enjoyed the companionship of some wonderful friends today, I am truly blessed to have these people in my life.

School

Dear Lord. There are some decisions being made at my daughter's school that I'm not overly happy with. Help me to speak to those concerned and put the right words on my heart to best help her. You know how I dislike confrontation but I realise it is sometimes necessary when in the best interests of my children. I just pray that those making the final decision will really listen to the concerns of the parents and a solution can be found that is in the best interests of the students, because they are the ones that really matter.

Monday's Blessings

I took on Telstra and won! Thank you Lord for giving me the right words to say and the right person to speak to.

Thank you for my son's obvious joy in playing squash. He is loving every minute and I'm thankful for this time I get to spend with him.

I rang the orthodontist today and found that they will bill me over 3 years to get the maximum health insurance benefit, and the gap they are happy for me to pay in installments. Thank you for easing my mind in this matter.

Stressing me out!

My teenage daughter is giving me some grief Lord. Please help me to guide her along the correct path. I'm not even sure I know what path that is sometimes. Help me to find the right words to make her understand that the way she speaks to people and her abruptness and rudeness are really hurtful at times. Please help her to not be so self centred and consider the needs of others. Lord I'm really struggling to get through to her on this, she see's her own wants and nothing else. Please open her heart and her mind to the feelings of others and to you.

Also help me to speak to her because obviously the approach I'm taking just isn't working. You know how I hate confrontation but if this is what is necessary then guide my actions and my words.

Sundays Blessings

Today Iam blessed with the luxury of a sleep in, and to be woken to a cooked breakfast shared on the deck with my husband. A lovely way to start the day.

I am blessed with good health as are my whole family at the moment.

Thankyou for keeping my son safe during his little mishap yesterday, he has recovered completely from his scare and that is also a blessing.

I am feeling rested and refreshed before heading into another week, and for that I am also thankful.

Parenting

Dear Lord, please help me to be the best parent I can. I'm engaged in a bit of a battle of wills with my daughter and I struggle to express myself clearly when angered or disappointed. It tends to come out all judgemental and well, angry. Help me to find the right words to say to her to help guide and nurture her. Help me discipline firmly and with love. She is such a strong and free spirit, qualities that I admire even though they are sometimes difficult to manage. Help her to understand that I just want what is best for her, and for her to be happy and safe. Most of all help her open her heart and her mind to you, so that she can know the comfort of being really loved.

Thankyou Lord that my son's motorbike accident yesterday ended with no injury to him. Help him to listen to advice without being defensive (actually that goes for DD too!) and learn from his experiences. Thankyou also that his teeth are feeling better and he is able to chew soft things today. Please help him as he goes to school tomorrow, to look after his braces and make wise food choices.

Lord, I'd love more than anything that my children will come to know and love you.

Health Matters

I have four dear friends on my heart today Lord.

One is well on the way to recovery but she is in a hurry. She has walked a difficult path with her health in recent years, and she is on the mend, she's just not mending quickly enough for her liking. Help her to trust that her health lies in your hands and that when she has a set back its time to listen to her body and stop pushing herself. I pray for a steady recovery for her and thank you so much for the influence she has had over me. I only pray that I can offer the same comfort.

Kath weighs heavily on my heart Lord. She has had an extremely difficult couple of years with her marriage, her kids and her health. She seems to have herself stuck in a bit of a rut at the moment and is struggling to help herself out of it. I pray that you can give her some direction in her life and give her something to be joyful about to help her out of the well of self pity that she at times dwells in.

And Joanie. I pray healing for her Lord. She has endured so much during her life and she is such a blessing to others. I pray that her body can be as strong as her heart.

Lastly, my sister in law. She doesn't know you but I pray that you will watch over her as she has her operation this week. I pray that they find nothing sinister and that her health is restored. I also pray for her marriage Lord, that it can be restored as well and they can both forgive and start to communicate. There is still love there but also a lot of hurt, I pray healing for both of their hearts.

These dear friends I leave at your feet Lord.
Amen.

Finances

I bring my finances before you today Lord. My budget (or the lack of) is playing heavily on my mind. The next few months are going to be difficult and I'm not sure how I'm going to manage it.

Guide me in this area Lord, if there is something obvious that I could cut back on then please show it to me and help me to implement it.

Help me also to trust that whatever happens is for the best and part of your plan.

Blessings

I've decided to follow Joanie's lead and write down my blessings each day as well as my prayers.

So here goes......


I am blessed with a loving family and wonderful friends.
I am blessed to attend a wonderful, unique, God centred church.
I am blessed to have a husband who loves me, happy and healthy children and a safe and secure community to live in.
I am blessed with good health, which I tend to take for granted but people like Joanie make me realise what a true and wonderful blessing this is.

That's life in general, TODAY Iam blessed with.....
The love and companionship of my best friend, my husband.
The (ever so slight) improvement of DS's painful mouth.
The friendship, support and advice from new posters to my blog, Joanie and Leah.
My latest writing assignment (a short story). I got a B, and some great advice on what I could do to improve it.

Thankyou Lord for these blessing and the many more that you bestow on me every day without my even noticing it.

Thankyou for today

Lord I am so grateful for the fellowship and friendship I experienced today. I am so grateful that I have some very wise and caring friends, and today I was fortunate enough to spend the day with one of the wisest and most caring of all.

Thank you also for watching over DS as he had his braces fitted. Everything went smoothly and I pray now that he doesn't suffer too much discomfort as he grows accustomed to them.

Thankyou also for the progress with DH. Thank you mostly for showing me the signs of progress so I don't lose hope. Last night at the dinner table was just the sort of glimmer of hope I needed to keep faith. I'm sorry that I'm not strong enough to have the kind of faith that doesn't require such signs from you, but grateful for them all the same.

I pray that Joanie has had a productive day today and that she has managed to get everything on her list accomplished, and is resting peacefully at the moment! Thank you for blessing me with her Lord.

Also I pray for your healing hand on Lightening. She is such an inspiration to me and such a faithful carrier of your word. Thank you for the blessing of her friendship.

I also pray for myself as I head into the last working day of the week. I pray that I can relate to my coworkers and customers in a way that glorifies you.

Amen.

Freinds Next

Lord, I bring each and every one of my friends before you. I thank you for the blessing you have bestowed on Darren and Chris with beautiful baby Angela. I pray that they remain healthy and happy and enjoy the little treasure you have given them.

I pray for Kath as she struggles to do what is best for herself and her kids. I pray that Adam can get along well in school and that his illness can be managed in a way that everyone can be happy with. I pray that Kelly settles at school and learns to depend on her own sense of right and wrong.

I pray for Lightening that she can learn to listen to her body and try not to push herself too hard or expect too much (are you listening Lightening?). Thank you for sending her to me, she is truly a blessing on my life.

I pray for family members who are struggling with marriage difficulties,that they can learn to communicate and get along.

I pray for all our farming families in this district, and across the country. That we may have the rain when we need it, and if this isn't to be that we are able to accept and learn from our experiences.

And my new friend Joanie Lord, I pray that her health improves and that she can see your hand on her life. Thank you for allowing me to be open to your wisdom through her. Thank you so much for leading her to me Lord.

And most of all I thank you Lord for this wonderful community in which I live. Thank you for my loving and caring friends, thank you for our church family. Just thank you.

Family First

Lord, I bring my family to you today. I pray that one day they can all worship you and know the joy that comes with that. I pray that my husband can one day come back into your arms and feel the security there. I pray that my Son won't drift away as he grows older and will continue to come to church and enjoy his time spent there, and learn about you and know how much you love him. I pray that my daughter can come back to you Lord. I pray that she can navigate the teenage years without compromising herself. I also pray that she can grow into a confident young woman who has a love of life and a love for you.

And then there is me Lord. I am filled with so many insecurities. Help me to leave my worries at your feet Lord. Help me to be the best wife and mother I can be and give my children God centred advice and guidance. Help me also to know and understand when you are speaking to me Lord. Help me to know your voice and your wisdom. I also need help with forgiveness Lord. I always thought I was pretty good at it but have come to realise that i am harbouring resentment toward my husband for not being the person I want him to be. That is so selfish and I ask your forgiveness and your guidance with that.