Ponderings

Hi ladies,

I hope your prayer day was wonderful. I just thought I'd throw some thoughts out there and see if anyone catches. Recently I had the opportunity to be totally honest with my daughter about my past "secrets". Boy was it hard! I always thought I would keep my secrets in my own little closet and not give her a reason to give herself permission to partake as her mother did.

But I also made the promise to myself that I would not lie to her if she ever asked "those" questions. And she did. Darn it!

She took it beautifully and it opened so many doors between us to bond in ways I didn't expect. Since then, instead of treating me in a judgemental way or looking down at me, I saw a renewed respect and she seems more willing to share her heart.

Did I expect this? No.

How many times do we just lecture, finger-point, or assume what they need to hear, rather than share where or how we were vulnerable as kids? Show them that we really DO know what they feel, see, hear, and are tempted with.

Just a thought tossed into cyberspace. Any takers?

Dana

This week

Ladies, I hope your Mother's Day had joy and love wrapped up for you. I thought of each of you during the day. As my kids get older (20 and 17), I realize how sacred just spending a day together is. Neither kid made it to church with us (Hannah went to prom the night before and Kyle, well...he just chooses not to go), but we spent some great time together in the afternoon.

Why do you think it hurts us so much when our children don't go to church with us? I know they don't mean it as a personal stab at our heart, but that is exactly where we feel it. It is sharp, shattering, and disheartening.

Any thoughts out there? I would love to hear your theory.

Love, Dana

Starting a new season

Well ladies, we begin a new season of intercession for ourselves and our children. As moms and women, it seems we are always needy.

Thankfully, He is always ready.

Praise report from Laura!

The prayer and Kleenex (something our Pastor taught on out of the book of Acts) is working. He did go to counseling. With me being out of work and unemployment (please pray I get it) looking to be out about 4 to 6 weeks, the therapist over Brandin mine, and Tyson, Brandon's, have agreed to charge 5 dollars an hour and slowly make up what I owe. Praise God. His attitude is softening. He was whistling for the first time before he went to the gym last night. He also was teasing me and being playful. All Glory and honor the the Lord Most High; King over all the earth.

Thank you for your prayers.

Thank you all. Lynda, Elly, Dominique, Dana, Lisa, Sarah. I am praying for you daily.

My turn!

Hello precious sisters!

Thank you, Lynda for your great insight and words. I am so thankful for all of you and your gift of intercession. I really have loved this more intimate format. Have you?

I really pressed in today DETERMINED to get something specific for each of you. I felt like I was sitting at His footstool grasping His legs saying, “I will not let go until you give me something for each of them!” The Holy Spirit showed up and gave me specific phrases and areas to intercede for you. I hope I heard correctly from Him. If I didn’t and missed the mark, please forgive me. My spiritual hearing can be rather dull at times. I’ve really been trying to Be Still and Listen.

There was such a pressing-in-feeling today as I prayed. I pray He is showing you mighty things as you listen and watch in your spirit.

I would love to hear from you!

Elly,
Discernment in the home, be watchful
Psalm 43: 3-4 (NIV version)
Psalm 119:125

Sarah
You do have a steadfast and strong mind
Psalm 112:6-8 (NIV version)
Is 26:3

Laura
A promise for future and peace
2 Samuel 7:9-11
Matthew 11:28

Lisa
Speak to the raging waters, they will still
Matthew 8:23-26

Dominique
Hold fast to the promise He gave you in the past
Hebrews 10:23

Lynda
He honors your faithfulness
Malachi 3 (specifically verse 16, 17 Contemporary English Version)

Heres a thought ladies, heard it at church today and it really has stayed with me today?
If you were arrested for being a Christian, would they have enough evidence to convict you? WOW...makes you think....Through our words, by our love and by our fruit we are examined by others....how do we stand out as Christians??
Hope you all have a wonderful week!
love and blessings, Lynda

Good Morning Sisters

Although you did not hear from me yesterday I was praying for you and your kids!
I know God is faithful in His promises to us as I hope and strive to do the same in my prayer time, not always easy I must say. Life takes us too many directions and our children lead the way. I also realize that I need to learn to say no, and I have gotten better at this. I know God loves us right where we are but I also think that right where we are is not where He wants us, get it? I hope today finds you and your children in good places, spritually and physically. Satan pulls our kids so much through different mediums, especially movies, games, anything that he thinks gives him the upper hand. We must learn to say no to things we know are not in our best interest for our children. Our GOD is much bigger and we serve an awesome GOD. We are blessed.

Love, in Christ,
Lynda

A Thank you!

Thank you to all of you wonderful moms! I can see some nice changes in Theo! He is more joyful, more compliant and humble. God bless you so much for your dedications.
Love,
Dominique
(aka Kelly)

During my prayer time, I kept getting the "sense" of fear over the future. It's not hard to imagine that we are all in the same boat, no matter what our financial/job situation is. I k.
now my husband and I are in the "waiting and watchful" mode. He is in a commission-based business so each month we get the opportunity to exercise our faith in new ways (like the way I worded that?).

I didn't get a personal word for each woman necessarily, but more of a collective encouragement from the Lord.

Deuteronomy 3:22
You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.’

Psalm 34:9
Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

Isaiah 44:8
8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’”

I hope these minister to you! I love and appreciate all of you and pray your are blessed with His peace.

Dana

A new week

Ladies, our first week was such a blessing! I hope you were ministered to as well. With my son back home from France...and subsequently back up at college, I am struck at how little I know about him anymore! My husband and I have taken to stalking him on Facebook just to find out more about what is going on in his life.

I am so thankful, that even though we can't see our children at all times (I know they're thrilled about that!), the Holy Spirit is in constant contact with them one way or another. For this next week, I pray that all of our discerners are in the "on" switch and our ears are tuned in to see what the Lord wants to do in us and our kids.

Blessings to each of you!

Dana

What a blessing!

Lynda and Elly, what a blessing you two are with your posts. Elly, you've hit the mark for me with Hebrews 11. It has ministered so much. And the scripture in Romans is the perfect reminder, Lynda.

Thank you, dear ones so very much. What we do isn't about passion. It is about obedience to the call. When and if that passion comes is subject to so many things...attitudes, fatigue, sickness, etc. But obedience is only subject to our choice to obey. If we don't obey, we forfeit the blessings that would have come with the original obedience! sigh...

Life would be so much easier if everything were just handed to us on a silver platter. But I guess even silver tarnishes. :-)

Dana

My Turn

As today winds down, and I review my prayers for each of you more individually, I am resting in a favorite scripture to share. The busier we are as parents, wives, workers, whatever draws us to that place where we need to slow down and reflect, I smile and remember in Romans 12:11-13. "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." What an honor it is to do everything with a passion for God. Dana you mentioned needing to have a passion for what God wants you to do. This is for all of us! Hang in there! Have a great Friday!

In Gods Love,
Lynda

Tuesday I prayed for you all

Good Evening!

As I reflected on God's Word, certain passages were revealed for each of you. For Dana it was Hebrews 11; for Kelly it was Psalm 145:18; for Lisa it was Psalm 121:3; forLynda it was Hebrews 11; for Sarah it was 2 Corinthians 5:15-18; and for Laura it was Romans 8:1-30. For my kids I prayed for Lizzy to feel less depressed (Seasonal Affective Disorder, we think) so I prayed over Psalm 27 and John 14 and for Randall, who is questioning why people don't get along better I chose John 15. I pray that these passages will bring you ladies some comfort and wisdom as you parent your kids.

Blessings to you my "online" Sisters in Christ

Elly

His Heart Beat

Well it looks as if I am to be the first to "encourage" this week. As I prayed for each of you today and this evening (as well as for our kids), I asked the Lord for a scripture that would encourage you for where you were at. It's been a while since I've listened and asked for, by faith, a word from Him for someone without knowing...really knowing where that person is at. So, forgive me if these scriptures don't hit the mark this week. Who knows, maybe they are prophetic in the true sense of the word and for a future time.

Kelly: Proverbs 25:11

Elly: Proverbs 3:25-26

Lisa: Psalms 91:4

Lynda: Proverbs 1:33

Sarah: Psalms 94:17-19

Laura: Psalms 91:4

I remember as a child when bullies would chase me to either tease or trip me, I would run to my mom with all my might. When I got there, I would throw my arms around her and hug her close. As she rocked me, I would lay my head upon her chest. If I listened very closely...was very still, I could hear and feel her heart beat. Soon, I would forget what brought me to her arms, scamper off her lap, and go my merry way.

It doesn't have to be a bully; sometimes just life's daily "stuff" chases us. We are so busy. So harried.

If we run to His arms, and sit real still...we can feel and hear His heart beat.

Try it.

(P.S. Please chime in...it is lonely out here in blog world with no one to talk to).

What is Prophetic Encouragement

Some of you may never have given a "word of encouragement" to those you are interceding with before and I wanted to take a moment to explain. It is simply a word of encouragement, either through a scripture verse or a direct "impression" by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it is a simple, short sharing of a similar situation and what the Lord showed you or taught you during your situation.

Sometimes you may be reading the Word during your quiet time, and the Lord will prompt you to share what you've read with someone. That is "prophetic encouragement". Or maybe you are reading a great Christian "self-help" book, and the Holy Spirit will prompt you saying "So-and-so would be ministered to by this". Or, perhaps you are interceding for someone and the Lord gives you a definite word directed toward that person. It doesn't always have to be a "Thus saith the Lord..." kind of thing. Maybe it's more of a "I really felt the Lord directing me to pray for you in this area...and this is what I sensed Him saying".

Being open to giving someone a word of encouragement is like picking up the phone, sharing your thoughts or concerns, then waiting for the Lord to reply at the other end. So often, we say our prayers...our "Lord I need, Lord I want, Lord I hurt..." but we never sit and listen to what He would want to share with us! I am guilty of this so often!

I can honestly say the times I've stopped talking and listened, I have received the most amazing nourishing drops of heaven into my prayer time.

He wants to talk to us! He wants to encourage us! He wants to share His heart with us.

We just need to take the time to listen. That is what this prayer session is all about. Interceding and listening - then being obedient to step out in faith to share with someone something that could change the course of their walk...or just lift them up in a difficult time.

We can all be a part of a miracle!

A New Season and a New Year!

Well ladies, we meet again. I'm excited to see each of us minister to one another as moms and women who are all in the same "mommy" boat. Please feel free to log in and share your encouragement to other moms!

Dana

Anointing for Breakthrough

I truly believe in the power tool of anointing oil. For some, it may seem "super-spiritual", but I've seen and experienced amazing things when using it.

We took our son, Kyle, back to college this last weekend and I sit in a semi-quiet house (anyone who knows Hannah, knows it doesn't stay quiet for long). It is always hard to drive away and leave him, even though he is nearly 20! He is in that place of finding his own faith and I regularly have to remind myself that I am not in control, God is. Boy it's tough!

I constantly have to remind myself of the scripture that is included in this week's prayer, Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

I just wish that scripture came with an age attached to it! "Old" in Biblical times was, like...what 150?!

Travailing Worship

During worship at church today, I started praying for all our kids. Intermixing worship choruses and our kids names was truly powerful. I literally felt my heart squeezed and wrench over our kids! The tears flowed freely and I sensed the Spirit so strong.

I've had this experience a few times and it never ceases to amaze and bless me. I heard a sermon by Barbara Yoder, a renowned preacher/speaker, and she called this Travailing in Intercession. It is when we are in a deep place of worship while praying for a particular concern or person. She likened it to transition when we are in labor and getting ready to birth our babies.

Spiritually, when we travail, especially when we are worshiping, amazing things happen in the spiritual realm. Bondages are broken, breakthrough bursts forth, and we give birth spiritually to the things of God.

Ladies, this week we will concentrate our prayer time around worship. During your prayer time, spend time in worship first. If you can, turn up the worship music in your room or your house, and pray over our children while you worship. If you feel the Lord leading you in a different prayer direction than what is written for each child, follow it, for the Holy Spirit may know the child's need for prayer in a specific area.

Please chime in and let me know how you are doing! Feel free to share what the Lord showed you during your time with Him.

Love in Him,
Dana

Versatile Truth.

I am amazed at what the book of Proverbs has for us as moms. I used to just read it for what it spoke to me as a woman and Christian. But now, as I write and research this rich book for our prayers, I am truly in awe at the versatility of God’s Word. It truly does live and speaks to every aspect of our life!

The house is quiet today with each kid out at friend’s homes. For years, I longed for both children out of the house for a few hours so I could have a moment of peace. Now, maybe because they are teens, a quiet house seems hollow, devoid of life. Maybe I’m just having a moment of “empty nest”.

Well, I’ll look at the bright side – the house stays cleaner!

His Word lives!

"...so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Is 55:11

As we start this new season, I just wanted to encourage you with the above scripture. Sometimes it seems like we’re just not getting through. Ever feel like that? I do. Regularly. Maybe it’s because I have teens. My kids are at that oh, so scary place in life where they are seeking out their “own salvation with fear and trembling” namely...MY fear and trembling. They are finding their own faith. Their faith is no longer mom and dad’s faith. To be totally honest - that is a scary place to be.

I miss the days when I could control just about everything in their life. What they wore, ate, friendships, play time, TV time, etc. Now, I’m lucky if I can control the remote control!! Sigh… It’s times like this that the above scripture has to be in the forefront of my spirit and remember, His Word will accomplish that which He has sent it for. This is what keeps me praying the Word over our kids. Not what I see (or sometimes hear), but what I KNOW…His Word lives and breathes.

It is alive. Praise God!!