The Middle Man and the Mediator

I Timothy 2:5-6  "For there is one God, and one Mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time." 


Last week I attended our annual All Class Picnic. As usual, lots of pictures post up on social media for others unable to attend.  Our football coach, though feeble and elderly attended again this year. I received a message from our football team's quarterback. "Can you get Coach's information? I'd love to talk with him."  So, I started the process of e-mailing a few people and attempting the reconnection. My e-mail went from one person, to another person, than back to me, than back to my friend and now we wait. Seems I had the job of a middle-man.  I am anxious to hear of their reunion.

A pond takes shape in our backyard, the project assigned to my son. He started to dig, then a rain storm hit for two days. Work and "other things" have slowed the progress, but he promises that this project will be completed by the time I start back to work in September. He "hired" the neighbor kid to dig, and indeed he did. Ethan, with pic and shovel maneuvered around the roots of a tree and lowered the hole the 3' required, ready for the next phase. I know my son did not enjoy the digging part, so he delegated the task to a "needing-some-cash-flow" teenager, accomplishing the job.

One of my dearest friends left the country, going down south where her missionary sister lives to celebrate their mother's 80th birthday. We pray for each other, specifically our children, in a group of praying moms I created called OFFSPRING. Late at night, I received a text from her to send out a prayer request to our group from her, which I did this morning. Once again, a conduit of connection on another person's behalf.

A reunion of a quarterback with his coach; memories received.
A delegation of a job involving two; a ripple effect
A prayer sent out by one-- to one, then connecting to others; "purposed planned parenthood."

We become a representation for a connection, a task, a need.

Sometimes, the most delicious part of the meal is the side dish. Sometimes, the best book you've ever read, you found for .05 at garage sale. Sometimes, the best job may not be the teacher with the credentials, but the aide who works one on one with a student through his schooling, the reward-- exponential.

The devil wants to make us feel insignificant, lacking in true power, unable to produce change in this world. Yet, we see amazing good things happen all the time if we look around us. I know a lot of humble people play a part behind the scenes. Connections are made and a couple of young brothers go to Africa to serve as missionaries for the summer. A Roman soldier delegated... and a Cross proceeded up a hill, someone asks one person to pray and many pray; a healing occurs, a debt is met, a job opens up, -- a heart is encouraged.

If we are the middleman, so what! That's good--that we delegated and the job gets done! Corporate prayer focus is off us and onto others!  God orchestrates many roles and many actions. We all play an important part. At times, I  prefer the middle ground, its where I feel comfortable. We don't always have to be the leaders, be on the committee, or make a headline.  In those quieter, behind the scenes sort of deals, that's when we can watch, wait and see God move.

In the book of Job, we find him in need of a middleman. Job 9:33 "There is no umpire between us, who may lay his hand upon us both."

Jesus Christ is OUR middleman, our reconnection to the Father. God delegated His only Son to do a job no one could do, only God, through His Son, the redeeming work is completed. He bore our  sin, and when we acknowledge that price He paid, He buries our iniquities forever, replacing it with a baptism pool of grace. Jesus, our mediator, our umpire in this game of life, You are the Eternal One. Everything works together for His good in the Kingdom, whatever our role in it is on any given day, at the proper time.

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to serve you as a middle man, a side liner, for the second chances. These are the times I see You brightly, miraculously, glorified. Thank you Lord for being my Mediator, for Your Holy Spirit who interprets and sends out the prayers of the Saints. Thank you Lord for delegating angels to protect us and minister to us. Help me to be the best representative I can be for You as I stand back and watch You at work.  Keep me, keep us humble Lord in all our doings. Thank you Lord, for coaching us and may we always come back to praise You for all Your mighty direction in our lives. Amen.

File it Under "LOVE"

Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us; He will tread (shred) our iniquities under foot, into the depths of the sea." 

Filing. Paper shuffling. Categorizing. Organizing. Making room. Tossing. Freeing up.

When my younger son moved back home, my office moved upstairs. I got rid of a large desk, cabinet and bookshelves. What happened to all the stuff that stowed away nicely in all that?

It got tossed in piles on the floor until I could deal with it.

I haven't been dealing with it.

More papers and "stuff" have found their way upstairs. My piles are reproducing!   

Along with finishing my memoir, I am determined this summer to face the piles and look at each one, piece by piece and find its rightful place. I hope to steer most of it towards a forever place, a paper shredder.  

Step #1: Find a reasonable filing cabinet for the space in mind. 

Accomplished!  Thank you Lord. Craig's List came through; 10 minutes down the freeway and a connection made with a great couple of retired teachers, proudly,  almost giving away a metal cabinet. My husband cleaned it up, spray painted it and we moved it upstairs. Whew! 

Exactly what I needed, it included 90 file folders!  

Step #2: This week, I started. Staples had the little tabby thingies. I grabbed a couple of colorful  sharpies and started creating the categories and filing.  

And tossing, and filing, and tossing.  

I found some interesting things:

...newspaper clippings, Christmas letters, parking tickets from 10 years ago, and a certificate for free kisses from my niece!  

I found some reflective things: The final report from the fire dept. about our house and the unknown cause of our fire, my son's  medical card for the doctor he never would see, social security letters of denial for benefits. (I was notified eventually of his approval, but only after our son passed away). I found my dog's records, his birth certificate (AKC). In addition, an I.E.P. report for my younger son going from 6th grade to junior high. I read that cover to cover.   

I found some regretful things:  Lay-off notices and/or cancellations of insurance, diagnosis reports, court papers and old rental receipts from other not-so-glamourous places we lived.

I found some blessings:  Stained and wrinkled thank you notes, (before Facebook and e-mail) from friends still dear in my life, reminding me and encouraging me in the Lord. I read those as well and bowed in thanksgiving.  New file category: "Treasures of the Heart."

I awoke this morning thinking of my filing; how much I managed to toss;  how little in importance some things seem in retrospect of so much life lived. 

Does God have a filing cabinet for us? Does He need to open the drawer of our lives ever once in a while and make room for more "stuff?"  Does he linger over some things and reflect? Does He find some things interesting? Do some things make Him sad? 

Scripture tells us that God removes our sins, the file of our lives, as far as the East is from the West. Imagine a "Heavenly Shredder!"  Once we have opened that door to our messy piles and asked Him to cleanse us, forgive us, He does just that! God doesn't see any of our sin as worse than another, or more important than another. We ALL collect, pile up, store, replace, hoard, keep secret, label, put on the bottom of the stack, something...something that keeps us from experiencing all He has for us. God wants to open that file cabinet with our name on the tab written in Gold and place inside ONE piece of paper, stamped in the Blood of Christ with the words: 

 BLESSED, WORTHY, FORGIVEN, PAID IN FULL, REDEEMED! 

Why do we keep hanging onto some of the files in our heads that are obsolete in God's Office, or we let the devil dumster dive and retreive some things?  -- You know the ones: unworthy, unforgivable, angry, resentful,  a mistake. I don't. I can't let go. Impossible...

Jesus, with his back shredded from a cat-o-nine tails--leather embedded with sharp rocks, took that suffering for you. Today, He shreds your sins, makes them unrecognizable, and tosses them onto the bottom of the sea, churned and buried by the sands of forgiveness.  He did this because of His great love for you, a love deeper than the deepest ocean and wider than any sea. Open your heart and hand Him one file at a time and watch His work in your life as you begin to trust Him.  He'll hand it back to you filled with promises, and a freedom to do His Will. You can file this in your heart,  ready to access daily as you learn to see Him in every category of your life.  

Lord, If I filled up a filing cabinet with all the blessings, promises and super-natural inspirations You hand down to me, I'd need another room!  You Lord, have given us pages in Your Word that You want to file away in our hearts. Help me Lord to open Your Word and store away Your redemption, Your promises and Your teachings so that I can freely walk, work and do Your will without the messy, negative piles of uncertainty and fear holding me back. Thank you Lord for the notes of encouragement I found among the papers, a reminder that You are sovereign, that You DO answer prayer in Your timing. Thank you for faithful, long-standing friends I can count on through thick and thin (files). Thank You for the reflection on my life in this mundane task, coupled with writing my memoir, that through all things, You are Good.  Amen. 

                    

Crowned in Grace

Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me, to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners."

 June bursts into July like a firecracker.  An explosion of  pictures with  rainbow filters, commentary, debate, and questions permeate our social media and conversations. 

Amongst my circle of close friends, we dialogue.

How can we be more like Christ? How do we do this?  Our own God-filter doesn't screen the darkness perceived;  it lets the light in, giving us a correct focus.  Light scatters the darkness.  

We live and breathe the Good News.  God is the Doer. 

So, we step ahead, continuing to soak in the Light and give off the Light. 

I took a small day-trip this week, going with another friend to visit a very sick young lady. As moms, we both can relate to  "the living in a hospital" situation, tucked away in the lonely, fearful sections of our memories.  This young girl suffers with a genetic affliction, a life-long chronic disease.  She is a miracle girl really, holding on with all her strength. Her hope, to once again hold a camera to her eye and capture God's miracles in her photography.  Her Facebook page holds a last attempt before this ground-breaking surgery 5 months earlier, a  most courageous step. As we visit, dialysis filters her blood because her kidneys sleep;  her two new lungs, new liver, her new pancreas fight to be accepted. She is our brave hero. 

Her heart,  bound up tight by the love and sacrifice of her family and her knowledge and love of the Lord from an early age, beats with a passion to live. At three years old, she sat in her car seat on a long trip and told the story of the Savior from His birth to Revelation, amazing her parents. Her dad shared that story with us. 

Now in her early 30's, to us,  she is held captive by her disease, yet her joy is a smile from her dad and a promise he'll return with a little chili from the cafeteria. I wish I could open the windows so she could breathe in the smell of the ocean which is not too far away or hear the booming fireworks as Freedom is celebrated tomorrow night.   

While walking back from lunch with her dad, planters in front of a bungalow held a certain plant, four of them.  I stopped to take a picture of the Crown of Thorns also known as a Crucifixion plant. 

 I know the Truth as the blood of the Lamb of God trickled down, our sin filtered out by our own belief in the Miracle,  through Grace and Perfect Love so that we can be free to resume a relationship with the Father.  How many stopped to notice the four pots of thorns as we walked along the broken up sidewalk, notice the hospital rising up from the everyday lives of people out strolling the beach town and making a living, a place where the afflicted hope to be healed?  The captive sit at their bedside, pace the halls, and press into their own crown of thorns circling their heart.  

We are all afflicted. We all fight to be accepted. We're held captive by our opinions, our politics, and even our religion. We're imprisoned by our anger, our fear, our weak faith.  

The Crown of Thorns, it flowers.  In it, there blooms Life. 

The red flower bursts forth through the thorns to capture our attention. 

In our freedom,  may hope be found in our thanksgiving, in our humble awareness of grace.  We are capable of great love in our freedom to choose His Great Love. God sets us free to be a Light among the crumbling sidewalks of this great nation and beyond. 


Plant it Lord, deep into my own affliction, bloom in me the grace I need for the moment, for the day, for change and culture. You Lord, are the King of Kings, Giver of Life, crowned in Eternal Glory. Make me into a healer, not a wound-maker. Make me a locksmith, ready and equipped to provide a key for the captive. Holy Spirit, be upon me, prompting and urging me to pray for our nation, our leaders, our children, speaking words of hope, forgiveness and truth in love. Lead me into obedience in Your Word and in my actions. I  ask Lord for healing, for Grace upon amazing Grace to trickle down, for compassion and wisdom to walk this busted up path, knowing where it leads. Help me to lift open windows for others to    see Your power and to listen with an open heart, the boom of Your hope, an eternal fireworks show of Your sovereignty. 

Be near our dear girl Lord, her family and her doctors. In Jesus Name, Amen.  

Waves of Grace

Romans 5:1-2  "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God."

It's one of those news days...breaking news, historical news, world events and change.

Sunbathers in Tunisia, their beach towels soaked in blood, a mosque in Kuwait blew up and something happened in France...

Washington D.C. glows like Skittles, a rainbow decision.


A dangerous, escaped prisoner, maybe two soon, brought down.

A flag may no longer fly in the South.

A President sings "Amazing Grace" before a grieving city, a city that knows these words by heart for many decades.

And I reel it back in to my little circle.

Should I get a new swimsuit and try out the pool? Should I let another summer go by without the refreshment of a swim?

I retook my driver's test after missing one-too-many the first time around for a renewal I had let slide. I can proudly say I am legit now.

I have big lizards in my yard.  They're pretty cool.

I live...I mean love, the pictures on social media, of every one's vacations to wonderful places,  and then there is Pinterest.

My tomatoes are doing well;  my peppers not so much.

I can't go to Disneyland now until late August.

Did I use too much water today?

I'm looking for that bright yellow, black-winged oriole (I think) to come back in my yard long enough to get a picture. I've seen him twice, swooping in for a drink of water.

This is what he looks like!  

And then there are the prayers for my outer circle:  A third job lay-off,  an abusive ex., two young mothers and their addictions, prodigal adult children, debt, cystic fibrous, cancer, depression, suicide, pain and recovery, chronic disease.

...and the President sings "Amazing Grace..."

 I have it... and I know it... and I live it... and I cherish it!

Only because He Gave It!  God,  through His Son deemed it so for this broken world. I believe. I read His unchanging Word.

And I need to give more of it. Be it. 

For the little circle ripples out to the bigger circle, whether a boulder hits the surface or a pebble.

Waves hit the shore, from sea to shining sea.  My water fountain for the birds ripples in the winds of change. God so loved the world...

Amazing Grace Lord, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. 

Waves of Grace, wash my eyes out to see more of You in all my circles. For you friend, I pray for peace, love, compassion, healing, provision and protection. I wish for you to know Amazing Grace and seek His purpose within your own circle. May God not hide His face from us, but empower us to be salt and light. Amen.

Casting Crowns: If We Ever Need You Lord 

Commencement Speech

James 3:17 "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy."

Can you hear it? Pomp and Circumstance, learned and practiced for many years by orchestras everywhere, bellows itself out into anticipatory crowds of anxious and somewhat relieved parents. They sit, with all the extended family, awaiting their offspring's march to the stage and listening for the calling out of their full and complete name --on the receiving end, a high school diploma.

But it's not the end,  as we know so well.  It is the beginning of dreams and goals, of adulthood and  responsibility, of passion and heartbreak, of moving out and breaking off, of signing up and heading out, traveling, exploring and innovating.

What is it we wish most for this new batch of young idealists?

Purity. Culture bombards us every nano-second. The flat screens decorate almost every social gathering place. The ear buds hang from anatomy, the smart phone and social media... well, you know. Every one's opinion is broadcast, twittered, posted. Freedom of speech is an awesome privilege, don't misunderstand me. Are we so engaged in other's views that time is not spent in hearing and knowing our own thoughts?  Nothing seems private any more. How does one keep themselves pure,  uncompromised, steadfast and grounded?

 Wisdom desires Discipline. Wisdom honors Righteousness. 

Wisdom knows Grace. 

Peaceful. To be full of peace, one must not dwell on controversy, on decisions, on pet peeves and unmet expectations, on hypotheticals and tomorrow's issues. Definitely, don't watch the evening news or get involved in politics. How can we keep the peace, live in the world but not be of the world and strive to make a difference? Seems impossible, for planning ahead is a part of wise decisions. God did not create us to stay inside the cocoon. Peace comes from confidence and knowing what we believe in is greater and sovereign. With God, nothing is impossible. It is a learning lifestyle captured with continous prayer, and celebrating the Giver of Peace.

Wisdom seeks Trust. 

Gentle. Words sometimes are brash, harsh, wounding. The lack of words hurts deep as well. Gentleness is polite, respectful of self and others. Gentlemen and Gentlewomen smooth out the wrinkles, blot away at the stains, and clear the rubble with their smile, helping hands and controlled speech. Gentleness has others, their neighbors on their mind.

Wisdom covets Compassion.

Reasonable. To be reasonable is to be selfless, to know our agenda doesn't have to win out always. Reason has perspective and willingness to look at all sides. Reason does the research. Reason listens. Reason is why;  it's the times we just don't know. Reason is patient. Reason waits. We are the Reason.

Wisdom uses Understanding. 

Full of Mercy and Good Fruits. What is left in the wake? Encouragement and empathy comes alongside another and bolsters one up. Passion produces productivity towards positive change where before, hope had no meaning. A branch is pruned and the buds of spring produce fruit that feeds a village. Leaders develop new leaders, seeds of a lasting legacy.

Wisdom creates Inspiration.

Unwavering, without hypocrisy. No one is perfect. without mistakes, without some regrets, how can we learn? Forgiveness, front and center, the Lord above is full of Grace. Trustworthiness, Compassion, Understanding and Inspiration; may His Light become bright and shine upon the roads ahead. What do we want for our graduates? To be true to themselves and true to one another, to find Grace, find their own Spark in His Plan.  

Wisdom reflects Integrity.  

Solomon, the most wise among wise men wrote in the Book of Proverbs (9:10), "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." For this senior class, my hope for you is Godly wisdom and in that you may receive, grace, trust, compassion for others, understanding, inspiration and a life full of integrity. Whatever your path, with these traits, your legacy will make an ETERNAL difference and I am celebrating all the possibilities God places now before you.

Dear Lord, lead these young adults through the desert of uncertainty and into the promised land of your sovereign grace and will. May new leadership with a heart towards Your plan rise above and make You known. Keep them grounded in Your Word, surrounded by accountability by their peers and prayer warriors of the faith of their fathers as they develop their own story, chapters of Your wise counsel. Thank you Lord for the energy of our youth and the big world you've put before them. Help us not to give up when we see the deterioration of culture, but pray for these dear ones that seek to do Your Will, to make a positive difference in this world. May integrity of heart and soul give them strength for all their days ahead. Thank you Lord, Amen.

A "Rewarding" Career.

Revelation 3:8  "I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have little power, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name." 

As an instructional aide for high school special ed., there are a variety of opportunities I get to participate in and create myself,  to better prepare our students. My job is rewarding and fun, and I have the liberty to be creative, using the talents and skills God gave me to encourage and help our students. Today, I did just that in three different ways. 

My 1st period class is Work Studies. All year, the lessons taught and the portfolio the kids put together,  prepares them for self-advocating as well as filling out applications, creating an account they can keep and update forever on a job search site, learn about different employment opportunities and the programs available to help them within the spectrum of their disabilities, what the expectations are in the job market, and of course setting goals. Today, I participated in a mock panel, calling in each student who hopefully  "prepared" himself/herself  for a job interview/final. We asked the student a set of 7 questions relating to their job interests. A critique of their performance will encourage them for the real thing, our hope and goal. We looked for things like a prepared and updated resume', eye contact, a little more elaboration on the questions and enthusiasm. 

Of the 5 kids in today's interview, I am happy to say they all took it seriously and did the best they could to impress us and get their "foot in the door." 

For me, it was fun pretending to be someone with "hiring power." 

For my 2nd period class, Psychology, a general ed class, the kids are preparing for their final. I have a student in the class who I assist, modifying his work. So, I prepared a "test" for him to take on the day of finals.  I know what he is capable of yet I also want him to use the best of his abilities to accomplish this assessment. When I see him moving ahead without a prompt, this is great progress!  

In our 3rd period Economic class, the kids have a "stock project." For 15 days, we've been following our chosen stocks, learning about buying shares and dividends, banks and investing, companies and profits, futures and paychecks. The kids all have smart phones now; in an instant they can pull up their market and check the price. 

Yes, I picked a few stocks too, and it's been fun pretending to be "wealthy, invested,  diversified..."

God doesn't have to "interview" us. He already knows our background. At the Cross, we received an "entry level" position when we first believed. God then gives us all the tools and training we need to work through this life. Blessings "raise" our trust in Him and along the way we receive many promotions. He makes it easy to make "eye-contact" for it is looking right at the purest of Love. His retirement package is heavenly, a promised eternal bonus. I'm grateful that He is my BOSS. 

While serving him, we most definitely receive a lot of tests, some we may even fail, but God never fails us! He knows what we are capable of and He accommodates us with His Holy Spirit, a prompter and encourager towards the righteousness, the right answers...wisdom. His teaching for us is individualized. We just need to show up to class and have the desire to learn. Yes, some days are better, some days it's over our heads, but God is available after school, actually 24-7. 

I may have little riches, but God invested His all for me. My return is life, abundant life everlasting. God's "shares" are priceless. He asks only that we split our stock and share Him with others. I don't plan on selling, but holding on for the long-haul. In that I can see His diversification in His many ways He makes Himself known. I am not of this world, but my account is full. 

Lord, thank you for your Open Door. In my weakness, You are made strong and I am HIRED with the Most High! Your tests encourage me, teach me, lead me to intimate prayer and fellowship, help me to see Your strength and encourage others when I can share and write about Your goodness to me. Thank you Lord for investing Your Son for my Eternal Portfolio. I will keep Your Word and will not deny Your Name, CEO of my heart. Amen.  

Maybe...It's Because I Prayed.

II Corinthians 9:12-13. "For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all." 


A bad oil spill washes upon the shores of one of the most scenic and popular beaches in California, near Santa Barbara. It's already wreaking havoc, messing up the beaches and killing wildlife. My son, who fishes a lot near there, is Facebooking friends to accompany him in a volunteer effort to help. I am praying (and proud) for his effort in this unfortuante event. 

Last night I watched on network television, the American version of "Red Nose Day," a massive fundraiser effort to support local charities that help families and children in impoverished situations. A popular and successful event in the United Kingdom, celebrities attempt to entertain us and pull on our heart-strings, much like "Stand Up to Cancer" and the "Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon" while encouraging us to call with our pledge donations. 

I got a chance to browse through the yearbook today of the high school I work at. There were several pages, each with at least 6 clubs represented on each page. If I counted, I know there must be more than 50 clubs on campus, the majority, service clubs doing something positive for their community, their world. 

Volunteering. Giving of time. Donating. Sacrificing. Showing up. Helping. Prayer. 

You might say...one of these things is not like the other...

How is prayer making a difference? How is that a tangible thing? We can't count it. We can't pay for things with it. It doesn't give us more daylight. Turn back the clock. If you're head is in your hands, your hands aren't helping. Your eyes aren't seeing...It doesn't do the shopping, dig the wells, buy the medicine, teach a mother a skill so she can work, rescue a child from trafficking, save a life...

Baloney! 

You know who says all that?  Who discredits all that...who whispers it in our ears because we begin to doubt our own place in His Kingdom, and we begin to believe that lie, that we are not equipped, worthy to make a difference?    

"Prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan." ~ John Bunyan


Maybe my prayer began for my son to get more involved in community, to meet more people to influence him outside of his immediate circle...

Maybe my prayer showed up in a text and encouraged someone who was on the verge of making a bad decision. 

Maybe, a prayer in a public place before a meal sparks a conversation and a chance to share, reflect your Hope. 

Maybe your prayer is as tangible as making you late and thus avoiding an accident on the freeway. 

Maybe a prayer of provision found you opening your mailbox to find a check written to you for the exact amount of the electricity about to be shut off that day, or had you writing the check. 

Maybe you want more of God in your grief, and you know others are praying. Your eyes are opened up to see a purple flower on your walk everyday, or the skies alive with butterflies. 

Maybe your humble prayer finds you asking for forgiveness. Suddenly, the clock is turned back and a relationship is healed and time begins again.  

The world is quaking, killing, terrorizing, spilling, destroying, aborting, kidnapping, abusing, corrupting...

We need to be PRAYING, living and breathing in full armour. (Eph. 6). 

Sometimes, there truly is nothing we CAN DO about a situation, but aren't you thankful we can pray! I may not even see the answers, the outcome immediately, but I know God honors my prayers. My obedience, my reaction to His grace, is to wait for His timing and to continue to draw near to Him in my pleading, my confessions, my worship, and my desire for wisdom,... my hope as well for those I love. My prayers unite me with others, an intimacy that can only be designed by God for His glory. 

I believe God is always orchestrating amazing things, miracles and Hope. He moves forward with His plan and we can be a part of all that in our prayers. He brings people together with similar passions who pray for one another, thus strengthening each other. I've seen it over and over again. I am not a little old person when I pray. I am a powerful, world-changer, a partner with the Lord. 

Lord, help me everyday to continue to pray without ceasing, devoted to prayer with an attitude of Thanksgiving. (Col. 2). Prayer is one of the mysteries, one of the privileges You give to us through Your Holy Spirit. I may not be a wealthy celebrity, a third-world missionary, a well-known philanthropist, but I know in Your eyes, I am rich, I am a fully equipped to share the Gospel world-wide, and that You know me by name. Lead me to those places where my hands can work as well, where my physical service also reflects You. I can make a difference by a humble prayer, first for my own devotion, growth and worship and then for others to also draw near to Your heart. Thank you Lord that You have called me to pray. All other things I may do in Your name start here first. To You Lord, I bring my heart and my passions. Amen.