Joy in Praying for Others...

Please continue to pray for my mom, she's still in China. Last year, she was almost hit by a bus while there! This picture was taken at my mom and dad's house.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. Philippians 1:4

Lord, I thank you for the joy and privilege of praying for others. What a blessing to be able to intercede, to stand in the gap and move heaven and earth for those I love. In all my prayers for those I know, may I have a heart of joy. Bless my family and friends, Lord. Bless those who need You today. May I find satisfaction in lifting up prayers for others.

positive and encouraging...

Have you listened to Love Is Here by Tenth Avenue North? It's my new favorite song...about a year and a half ago, I turned the radio to 100.9, K Love. I was a little intimidated, not knowing hardly any of the songs I heard. I recognized a few from church. I wanted to start listening to Christian music, but I couldn't sing along with any of the songs! You see, I'm the person in the car behind you...the one you stare at in the rear view mirror...you know, the one singing like no one's watching, the one you laugh at...yep, that's me. I know it's amusing, I laugh when I look in my mirror and see people doing this! I also try to read lips and figure out what song they're singing! Anyway, I was having trouble with the thought of not knowing the words to the songs. I was also clinging to all of the secular music that I loved. I gradually started tuning into K Love on a regular basis, going back and forth for a while. Believe me, it was a little rocky for a while. We all knew the words to the hit songs. We could sing the songs about cheating or shaking something without really thinking about the words we were actually saying! Even Jordan said, "Why do they have to be so encouraging all the time? It's getting on my nerves!" Well, after a month or two, I could sing along with most of the songs! It's gradually become the only radio station we listen to! When I was growing up, we didn't have anything like this...no matter what genre of music you listen to, there's a Christian version that sounds just as good...and the lyrics are much better! Go to iTunes and listen to some of these songs...one more thing...it also helps to listen to uplifting music while in traffic...it's harder to have road rage while singing songs of praise...not that I would have road rage, or anything...

Love Is Here, Tenth Avenue North
Call My Name, Third Day
Every Man, Casting Crowns
Already, Rush of Fools
Praise and Adore, Wavorly
When Our Hearts Sing, Rush of Fools
Beautiful Lord, Leeland
Opposite Way, Leeland

There are lots of great artists and songs, these are just some that I've purchased in the last few days and love! Go to the K Love link on the right...I bet you have K Love in your city! We could be singing the same songs in our cars at the same time!

Prayer for Salvation...

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:15-16

Lord, I ask and pray in the name and power of Jesus that You would plant a seed in my child's heart to desire You. I pray she would come to know You personally at a young age. Help her to know You as her Savior and Lord and stay on the straight, narrow path to Your kingdom. Give her ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to receive Your love gift of salvation. Draw my child to Yourself, I pray.

God's Armor of Protection...

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11


Lord, I thank you for your protection of my children. With the full armor of God, may they be strong in Your mighty power. Help them to stand firm with the belt of truth and to put on the breastplate of righteousness, knowing they are in right standing with you. may the gospel of peace be like shoes on their feet. As they take up the shield of faith, give them the Holy Spirit to fight for victory over evil. With the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit-the actual Word of God-may they be completely protected.

victory...

The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came...Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory. -Reuben Archer Torrey

work with me, please...

It makes me happy to take pictures...is it too much to ask for a little cooperation? She brashly announces, "okay, I'm done!" and runs off! Notice the running motion in a few of the photos. If she's not running, she's making faces...

mama's got a brand new bag...

David spent the weekend fishing in Empire, Louisiana. Jordan spent the weekend on the beach in Florida. Shelby and I decided to make the most of our weekend at home by having a little maintenance work done...haircuts all around! After that, we did a little shopping and took a trip to the art gallery. Shelby spent her birthday money on new clothes and a snazzy pink purse from Monkey Charms. It's a brand new store with trendy purses, shoes, and jewelry at bargain prices.

a brazen invitation...

Graffiti, Jackson MS
click photo to enlarge...

prayer...

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15, NIV

Rush of Fools: Already - THE BETTER QUESTIONS TOUR!!

My mom will be in Hong Kong for another week...please pray for her safety while there and traveling mercy on the way home. I added a few songs to the media player at the bottom of my blog. These are great songs. They are:
Already by Rush of Fools
Beautiful Lord by Leeland
Wondrous Love by Jadon Lavik

Great, great songs! Another one I love...Call My Name by Third Day.

In the video above, the lead singer for Rush of Fools tells what the song Already is about. Just watch the video and then listen to the song.

*Update: I took a few songs off my media player because I added a few new ones. I also moved the player over to the right hand side. I want to list the songs I took of because I love them so much. These songs can be found on iTunes.

I'm Not Who I Was by Brandon Heath
If You Want Me To by Ginny Owens
Audience Of One by Big Daddy Weave
Sea of Faces by Kutless
Praise And Adore by Wavorly
Shadowfeet by Brooke Fraser
Albertine by Brooke Fraser
Beautiful You by Monk & Neagle

Prayer for Other Children in My Life...

One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: "Let the little children alone, don't prevent them from coming to me. God's kingdom is made up of people like these." Matthew 19:13

In my life, Lord, there are many children besides my own. I pray for them today. I lift up my children's friends, my nieces, nephews, and other relatives; my neighborhood children, foster children I know; and church kids. I ask that you would bless them all through me. So many children, Lord, need you. Show them Your love; reveal Your goodness and faithfullness to them. Bless their lives today, I pray.

When Our Hearts Sing - Rush Of Fools

Prayer for Teenagers...

"This is what the Lord says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.'" 2 Chronicles 20:15

Lord, I ask for wisdom and patience through my children's teenage years. As they navigate new waters of growth, replace their confusion with clear thinking. I pray for their self-control and the wisdom not to be swayed by their peers. Give them a passion for you and direction for life. May they be motivated and honest. Help me to connect to my kids at this age and seek to understand their world. I thank you that the battle is not mine to fight, but Yours, Lord.

No, she's not a teenager yet, but, I'm starting to see her heading that way. Only one more year...I'm so torn with emotion...I just can't believe how true it is when people say, "They'll be grown before you know it!" I'm actually letting her go on a weekend trip to the beach with a friend and her family. I've already warned her (a hundred times) of all the dangers of the world. I told her not to go into the water too far (sharks), not to go to the bathroom alone (creepy men), to be alert, etc...I prayed this morning that God would give me peace and confidence. I worry about her so...When I read the verse above, I realized the battle is not mine...Thank you, Father, for Your protection over my children, and for the peace in knowing that You alone are GOD. You give me peace and comfort in my moments of self-doubt and fear.

Kiddie Couture...

this is the best shot I had of my niece...her Coach shoes...I kid, I kid...ummm, since when did teens start wearing such expensive shoes? Just give me a pair of flip-flops and I'm happy!

I Love This Kid...

I couldn't help posting a photo of Alex from this weekend...way too cute, and he thinks he's Spiderman. I love watching him shoot a web...

going home...

We spent a weekend visiting with my parents and my sister's crew...it was so good to roll around in the grass, feed the ducks, sit out on the deck talking about our childhood, it was good to laugh and take it easy...my mom left for Hong Kong this morning. Our visit was to spend time with her and my dad before she left. Please pray for her safe return. Look at Jordan, she's growing up. Heather and I went to Hayden's baby shower Saturday afternoon. Okay, I officially feel old. Not really, but reality set in...everyone had aged...the church ladies who give every mother-to-be a baby shower, my niece, my own daughters...it wasn't that long ago the baby shower was for Jordan...I'm thankful for every year added on to my life. God is so good to us.

dreaming of dandelions...

Did you love these as a child? I did...I can vividly remember lying in the grass, daydreaming, making a wish, and poof! With one quick puff of air, little pieces of dandelion scattered into the wind. Oh, how I dreamed of being a grown-up. I dreamed of a life outside of my small town, a life filled with excitement.

It's funny that in childhood, we spend our lives wanting to be grown. In adulthood, we dream of being a child again. Lately, I go outside, see the dandelions, and dream of my childhood. It's not that I literally want to be a child again, it's that I dream of the quiet life I grew so restless of...with that said, here's my verse for today...

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands...." 1 Thessalonians 4:11


“How small a portion of our life it is that we really enjoy! In youth we are looking forward to things that are to come; In old age we are looking backward to things that are gone past; in manhood, although we appear indeed to be more occupied in things that are present, yet even that is too often absorbed in vague determinations to be vastly happy on some future day when we have time.” ~C.C. Colton

spring planting...

salmon colored geraniums in the urns on the front porch
my favorite, Creeping Jenny
Scotch Moss
ferns and johnny jump ups
one more look at my favorite, Creeping Jenny...it spills over my urns...
I love the way this looks...it's chartreuse...

verse for the day...

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands. 1 Thessalonians 4:11

photo of my mom & dad's rug upstairs...I like the colors