The Mission Trip

So, today, I must help Tyler pack for his mission trip. It is the second time he is going on one and I am proud of him and all the kids going. They have to raise money to go and serve others, and they did it, over $17,000.00. Awesome. This year they head off to Indianapolis to the inner city to help those in need. They do whatever is asked of them, no chore to small or too big. I love it. God has not called me to go on a missions trip, but I totally appreciate those that are going.

So can we lift up these kids in prayer? Ask for safety and God's hand in it all? Please also pray for Kevin O'Drisscol, he was supposed to go, but cannot due to the fact he has mono AND strep throat. Kevin gave his life to Christ at Velocity and really wanted to be on this mission trip.

Pray for our leaders that are going. Speaking as a leader of these kids, they are great, but a big group and the leaders need to keep them in check and on task, so lift them up too.

Have you ever been on a missions trip? Would you go again? Did you love it or not so much? Share the love.

God bless you and yours.

Fear or Faith

I have battled with fear my whole life.  Fear of failure, fear of never finding a husband (I was 22), fear that my children might be harmed.  Fear.  It can cripple you.  I have found that when I am most fearful, my prayer life is suffering.  Fear is Satan's way of controlling you.  Fear and Faith cannot co-exist.  If we have faith in our Father, then we should not have any fear.

Sounds easy, but we are human and we have fear.  Along with fear comes worry.  We worry about everything.  And in today's world it stretches so far.  The economy, our jobs, our welfare, our children, college for our children, the list goes on and on.  I have found comfort in my bible.

Matthew 6:7  "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"  Jesus goes on to say in this and other scripture, that the very hairs on our head are numbered and known by our heavenly father.  God knows what is going on in our lives and He protects us.  He comforts us, He watches over us and He cares for us. 

So where are you today?  Are you in fear or are you in faith.  Are you in the middle?  So often we are in the middle.  Nudge yourself a little closer to faith today.  Pray about it, recognize it and give it over.  Being in a place of fear and worry is not what God wants for you.  God gives us peace that we cannot understand.  Reach for peace.

What worries you today?  Release it to God, if He can create the world, he can handle what you have  on your plate.  

God bless you and yours.

The Way we Pray

I have seen many people pray in my life.  The little old ladies at Catholic mass with their rosaries and the silent prayers murmured through tight lips.  The out loud chaos of some television preachers.  My own pastor, moved to tears, praying for a sick child or lost friend.  Prayer means many things to many people.  I believe in prayer, but I think some people are almost afraid of it, like they are not worthy to talk to God, or request something from Him.

Prayer for me was broken down to it's perfection in one sentence from a former pastor.  "God loves you and wants a personal relationship with you.  Personal.  With me.  Prayer, to me, is not formal, and I don't think it should be.  God just wants us to show up and be with Him.  I do think there are some awesome books on prayer.  My favorite author is Stormie O'Martian.  She has several that have helped my prayer life, The Power of a Praying Wife, The Power of a Praying Parent, both great, faith changing books.  She has one out that I have been eyeing, The Prayer that changes Everything.  Scary, but intriguing, I am dancing around it as we speak.

My point is, prayer is just a conversation with our Heavenly Father.  Just show up.  No formality, just talking.  Talking about the blessings and the hurts and the hopes in our lives.  Giving our lives over to Him to oversee.  That is the toughest one, turning control over to God.  But God never leads you to a cliff to drop you off of it, He knows you can fly.  He knows you can soar.

Mark 10:27 says, "....With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

Powerful stuff.  So today, if you haven't already, just show up.  No fancy words, no alleluia chorus, just you, talking to Him and being with Him.  The bible says if you draw close to God, He draws closer to you.  Just show up.

What is your prayer life like?  Going to God throughout your day will only improve it.  Hand the difficult things over to God and then refuse to take them back.  God can handle it, He did create the universe after all.

God bless you and yours.

A Prayer for our Leaders

With today being the inauguration you probably think I mean our new president.  I do not, but I do pray for him too.  I mean our children's leaders, their teachers.  My oldest is in the ninth grade and my youngest is in the fourth.  I have met a lot of teachers.  Some great, some good, some challenging.  

I think the topic of my blog this week will be around prayer.  We have to pray for our children's teachers.  They are with them six to seven hours a day and can influence them.  I have had teachers preach their political agenda in class (I met with the principal the next day, considering it was music class and only one agenda was "taught").  I personally had a teacher, in religion class tell me that God does not answer prayers.  Yikes.

You have to know your children's teachers and what they are about.  Most, and I would say this about at least 95% of all teachers out there, are just there doing their best to further your child's learning.  Some are not.  Some are burnt out, some are there for lack of something better to do.  Some are strict, some are pushovers, but all are working for you.  That is what I said, teachers work for you.

Teachers try so hard to get to know your child and do their best by them.  How do I know this, because I meet my children's teachers, all of them, every year.  I back up the teachers too.  So many parents don't want one more problem at home, so they tell the teacher to "handle" their child at school, they don't want to hear about it.  Not good, you must make sure your kids are being all they can be too, and that does not mean being disruptive.  I do admit to having some challenging teachers, but this also teaches your children a great life lesson.  

In life, we have all had good teachers, bad teachers, good bosses, bad bosses, good coaches, bad coaches, and the list goes on.  We all had to adapt.  It is a fine line we walk as parents.  We cannot coddle our children, but we must stick up for them.  Again, lots of prayer helps this.

I guess I am saying that bringing God into the equation can only make it better.  All of life is chaotic, God brings peace.  Praying for our children's teachers can make bad situations better, bring more understanding to the table and only bring grace to their lives.  These dedicated individuals spend way more than forty hours a week working, they spend their own money on supplies and try to do their very best.  We need to bless them every day.  And if your child has a challenging teacher, pray harder, keep informed and do your best by your child every day.

God bless you and yours.