Like Jewels In A Crown

Dear God,

When I sometimes think too deeply about it, I get scared and worried of the thought that my kids won't be walking right with You.  I fear at the very thought that I would be separated from You still.

But my verse for today is such great comfort, Lord.  You are the sole author and architect of my salvation.  And all I have to do is turn to You, and You will do the rest.  I can safely place my children in Your hands because You are an all-sufficient God and Heavenly Father to us all.  You will protect my kids, because You love them even more than I do!

Father, please cleanse me of my ungrounded and baseless fears.  Please fill me with enough confidence that I can share it with my DS and DD.  You are the strong and powerful protector, Lord.  And I am thankful that because of Your Son, Jesus, we will be lifted up as jewels in a crown.

The Lord their God will save his people on that day
as a shepherd saves his flock.
They will sparkle in his land
like jewels in a crown.

Zechariah 9:16

Lift Me Up

Dear God,

In this world, honor and reward play a very big part in our lives.  We usually do things to look good in the eyes of other people...  We become conceited when we are praised...  And of course, working toward this kind of praise is a good motivational tool too.  But on the other hand, I know that there is danger in this kind of focus that is being misplaced.

I am aware that it is so much more important to be pleasing to You.  You have given me many great tasks, and being a Mom is one of my greatest favorites.  But, it can also be humbling at times.  I guess that is good enough for me, though...

Lord, please help me to do my job humbly and to rely solely on You.  I know that this is what would please You most, and that reward is the best motivator I could ever ask for.

Humble yourselves before the Lord,

and he will lift you up.

James 4:10

I Prayed For A Boy And A Girl

Dear God,

Thank You so much for granting my request two times :) And receiving a beautiful family from You is my greatest blessing in life.  Father, as Hannah did, I give my children back to You.  My prayer now is that each of my kids, my DSM, and DDG -- would accept You as their personal Lord and Savior.  And then I also ask that You would use each one of  them someday, for Your greater glory.

Father, please help my M and my G to dedicate themselves to serving You in whatever capacity You would call them.  Please be with them as they both face the many possible temptations that abound in this world.  Show them both what convictions to establish and give them the strength they need to stand firm and planted in those convictions.  And please protect them from spiritual and physical harm, and give them both sound minds and bodies as they face each new day.

I thank You in advance for answered prayers, dear Lord.

I prayed for this child,

and the Lord has granted me

what I asked of him.

1 Samuel 1:27

Telling Other People

Dear God,

Were you blessed today at the way my kids praised and honored You before other people?  My heart was bursting with joy as I watched and observed them.  As the day moved along, they were singing of Your love and grace.  Everyone heard how they praised You.  Yet, they were doing it for their own benefit, and were praising You because they love You.

How often do I become tongue-tied when I know I should talk to others about You...  Your Word says we should come to You as little children, and I hope to get my eyes off myself and praise You because of who You are.  I want to follow the example of my kids.

Thank You for this very valuable lesson, Father.

Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.

Psalm 9:11

Faultless

Dear God,

I can't believe my quiet time for today calls me, "faultless!"  What???  How can this be true, while I make so many mistakes in raising my kids?  What wondrous power can do this?

On second thought, my verse today says that You are able to keep me from falling, and I begin to look back at the mistakes I have made, and I see the tremendous but gentle power You have done to change me.  It has enabled me to become a better Mom through Your guidance and direction, Father.

Someday, when the time You have designated finally comes, You will present me as faultless, and cleansed by Your blood.  What happiness and joy there will be --- all my sins erased and taken away, no record of my weaknesses.  Only the proof of Your power to lift me up and make me whole and blameless fills me with excitement and anticipation.  I praise You forever and ever, Lord.

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling

and to present you before his glorious presence

without fault and with great joy —

Jude 1:24

When You Hear My Cry

Dear God,

I just had a comforting promise in my quiet time today...  If  I patiently wait, You will listen and hear my cry.  Psalm 40:2 talks about being in a "slimy pit..." and of being in "mud and mire..."  I have thought about the times when my troubles dragged me down like sticky, clinging, mushy mud, and yet You were always there to rescue and pull me out.

Lord, please put a new song in my heart.  Let my DS and DD see me as a patient mom waiting on You, no matter what difficult situation I am facing...  Help them learn by heart the same joyful song you are giving me.  Altogether we can sing praises of love and honor to You.  You hear us, Father.  You are our mighty Savior.

When I learn to be patient and trust in You,  I know that You will hear my cries and I will be blessed.  Thank You for  this rich blessing.

I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1

My Desire To Obey You

Dear God,

Always, my intentions to obey are good.  I have read Your Word, and I know what You expect from me.  I want to obey all our commandments, but honestly, I am weak.  So may times I fail and fall short because I rely on my own strength and righteousness.  Lord, please give me Your righteousness.  When Your power is within me, I know I will be able to follow Your commands.

Sometimes, I watch and observe the look on my kids' faces when they are about to take action on something.  They know and perfectly understand what I expect of them, but their desire to do their own thing overtakes them.

Lord, please help me to help my kids do what is right.  I am depending on You alone to show me how to do it with Your gentle strength and grace.  Make us all more willing to accept and obey the help You offer.

How I long for your precepts!
In your righteousness preserve my life.

I will always obey your law,
for ever and ever.

Psalm 119:40, 44

Teaching My Children

Dear God,

Most of the other moms I know are always on their toes for teachable moments when it comes to teaching their kids.  Of course, I am also like them...  I want my kids to learn the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, etc... and to learn life skills, like feeding and dressing themselves.  I constantly look for opportunities to make these learning experiences fun, interesting, and effective.

You have said that as a mother, I need to take advantage of these teachable moments You give me to teach my DS and DD the truths about Your Word.  Then please do give me opportunities each day...  I also pray that I will never let one pass by.  I know that these teaching moments will have a lasting value in their lives.

 

Teach them to your children,

talking about them when you sit at home

and when you walk along the road,

when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 11:19

Your Promise To The Humble

Dear God,

Many times I have a lot of questions about my life, my kids, and generally my role as a mother and homemaker.  The Bible gives a promise for me, as long as I am humble.  You have said that You will guide and direct my path.

Thing is , Lord, I struggle with humbleness.  I speak out when I should remain silent.  I usually get involved in "businesses" not belonging to me.  And I do other stuff that don't fit into the definition of humbleness...

Please forgive me, Lord.  I want to be humble because my desire is to be like You.  And I really need the guidance You will give me.  I want to please You in all I say and do.  Please help me to depend on You instead of on myself.

He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.

Psalm 25:9

Easier Said Than Done

Dear God,

You have commanded us to do everything with charity, or love.  That is quite a tall order...  I mean, I love my kids, my DH, and I want to show them my love each moment, each waking hour I spend with them; but when it's disciplining time, or to make it more concrete -- when it's 3:30 a.m., and one of them is still up, frustration and desperation set in, and love goes into hiding.

Oftentimes I am aware that my kids are not tired enough, and need a loving, disciplinary reminder that he or she must go to bed even if he or she does not want to.  Other times, when one of them is too engrossed in a  book, or a television show...  Please remind me, Lord, of the times that I could use a loving hug.

Please help me to put my need to rest or sleep aside, to draw my kids close, and to assure them of my love and, more importantly, Your love.

Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Your Kind Of Caring

Dear God,

When in the midst of a crowded place, I feel so alone...  I don't know anyone... no one knows me... It makes me think; does anyone ever care that I can be hurting inside?  I feel as if there is no safe place anywhere for me.

Perhaps, this is the way my kids felt when I sent them off to school for the first time... or to kids church, where they also didn't know anyone... were they lonely in the middle of a crowd, just like me...?

At times, the journey of a Christian can be exhausting.  I remember Elijah in the Bible, and how discouraged he became.  He thought he was alone, but You showed him that he wasn't deserted...  Lord, thank You, that You care for our souls, and for every part of our very being.  Thank You, that You are there to keep us from being truly alone.

Look and see,

there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.
I have no refuge;
    no one cares for my life.

Psalm 142:4

Filled With Joy

Dear God,

Life can embrace a person so much.  One blessing that You have given me is motherhood.  There is so much joy and happiness included in that gift...  Like, watching a new achievement excites me.  Seeing my son and daughter grow up before my very eyes -- when both, during each of their toddler years, walked on the floor, trying to balance themselves on their feet -- a newly acquired achievement for each of them -- reminds me that You are in charge of even those natural skills in life.  You will give the ability and strength when the time is right.

I remember, joy filled my life when my kids often asked me to read a book to them, and each would pick a book about You.  You know that my son's favorite song was, "When You Believe," and I cherish all those days when both my kids were little, and learned many things about You.  I pray that they will always have a close walk with You.  That will surely bring the greatest amount of joy, not only to them, but also to me.

You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.

Acts 2:28

Facing The Truth

Dear God,

Sometimes Your Spirit speaks to me in a still, small voice.  And when I am busy yelling, or finishing a project, fixing and tidying things at home, I don't hear You.  But of course, only when I slow down and listen do I hear You, in that clear, soothing voice.

When I talk to the kids, whether for a family meeting, or even just while having supper, we can all be together, learn to have a time of short prayer, quietness and stillness, and listen for You to speak within us all...  And as we gather together, please do speak to us, Father.  Show us the truths we need to know.  Help us to trust You for the truths that are about to come.

Your guidance and help is trustworthy. You are our family's Good Shepherd, for You lead us to places of rest, and peace, when we need them.  My kids, Dh, and I need that kind of rest.  And we thank You for Your leading.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,

he will guide you into all the truth.

He will not speak on his own;

he will speak only what he hears,

and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John 16:13

Sometimes The Truth Hurts

Dear God,

Sometimes the truth hurts big time...  I know Your Word is always honest and will point out the shortcomings in my life.  It will tell me when the temperamental side of me is out of line, or when my priorities are going left.  It will show me when I have treated of dealt with my kids in an ungodly way...  or it will let me face the question, "What Would Jesus Do?"

I am in no way different from the rest of other people.  I don't like to be confronted with what I am doing wrong, but I know for a fact, that through Your Word, You point these things out to me, for my own good.  Just like my earthly parents, You want me to do better, so You let me know when I am wrong.  That way, I can always come to You to be cleansed, and be given an opportunity to set things right.  Thank You, Lord, for the truth in Your Word, even though at times, the truth hurts.

For the word of God is alive and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,

joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts

and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

Your Divine Power

Dear God,

Sometimes I see my kids wanting to do or deciding things on their own even if my motherly instincts and wisdom says they still need me there. I am like that at times, and often, I see myself being like them -- just wanting to do things on my own, without Your help.  I tend to forget that all things come from You, and not from my own efforts.  Even my very strength comes from You alone.

I need to be guided by Your Word and grow in knowledge of You to achieve godliness in character.  That is my share; my part.  And then by doing so, I can also help my kids understand how to live godly, obedient lives.  You have given us the things we need for life and godliness, for You alone, are the Great Provider.

I am called not just to become a Mom, but also to live a godly life with it --- not by my being childish, but by Your grace and virtue.  Thank You for that kind of provision.

 

His divine power has given us everything we need

for a godly life through our knowledge of him

who called us by his own glory and goodness.

2 Peter 1:3