Take Time to be Thankful

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

We live in a busy, noisy world which causes our minds to run a race with the pace getting faster and faster. This makes it difficult to devote oneself to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

The Hebrew word "Yada" means "to know", indicating an intimate relationship with the God of the universe. It has to do with His Presence. "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name" (Psalm 100:4- NKJV).

This month, take time to be thankful for every blessing God has given you. Challenge yourself to find a quiet, private place to enter into the holy presence of God and spend time in thoughtful praise and thanksgiving to Him and allow a time of silence for God to respond with His love for you...a Yada time of love and devotion.

Prayer: Thank you God for saving my soul. You bless me in so many ways every day, and I am so thankful that You are in my heart. I pray that my attitude is grateful, and that I always have a thankful heart.

God bless you this Thanksgiving season!

Bobbye

October is Clergy Appreciation Month

October is Clergy Appreciation Month. Join us as we pray daily for our pastors, their families, and our churches.

Click here for a thirty-one day prayer guide by Dr. Richard Krejcir, Into Thy Word Ministries.

Inheritance Planning

"Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him

and keep His commands."

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)

Inheritance planning - our grandchildren inherit many different things from us: facial features, eye, hair and skin color, our name, and maybe our personal possessions. Have you ever heard a grandchild laugh or make a funny face, and you said to yourself, "That is just like 'so and so' (a family member)"? So, we have already "passed down" a lot of things that will be with them all of their lives. But, what is passed down that will last through eternity? It is never too late to plan for a spiritual inheritance for our loved ones.

We may bless their lives with the power of our prayers, and by example, leave a picture of our faith. When the Apostle Paul wrote Timothy to encourage him, he said, "I constantly remember you in my prayers...I have been reminded of your sincere faith which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." 2 Timothy 1: 3, 5.

What is your inheritance plan for your grandchildren? Please spend a moment in quiet reflection and prayer to consider this question. Record the first things that are revealed to you and make your own inheritance plan!

Pray for:

• Salvation - Acts 2:21


• Purity - 1 Timothy 4:12


• Godly relationships - Psalm 1: 1-2


• Revelation of God's Word, and teachable moments - Psalm 25:4

You are welcome to share your inheritance plan in our comments section. I love your praying heart!

Bobbye

Hearing God's Voice

"Love the LORD your God, listen to His voice,

and hold fast to Him."

Deuteronomy 30:20 (NIV)

My son listens to political talk radio on his commute to work. Recently he mentioned that the message is so depressing, he decided to switch to a different station. Now he's listening to sports talk, and the hosts are funny. He's listening to a different voice.

What voices are we listening to?

The LORD instructed Moses to send twelve men to explore the land of Canaan, which He was giving to the Israelites. After forty days of exploration, they reported to the people and showed them the land's fruit. Ten of them spread a bad report about the land. Rather than listening to Caleb and Joshua, the Israelites wept and grumbled against Moses and Aaron. Because of their sin, God did not allow Israel to enter the land for 40 years. All over the age of twenty who grumbled against the LORD died in the desert. The men who spread the bad report died of a plague. Only Caleb and Joshua survived.

Before Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land, Moses exhorted them to "love the LORD their God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him."

In our generation, there are voices of fear, doubt, discouragement, and deception that attempt to drown out the Voice of Truth. Let's pray that our descendants will hear God's voice over our culture's powerful and influential voices such as the media and entertainment industry.

Pray for our children and grandchildren:

• Trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior - "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27
• Develop discipline of prayer and time in God's Word - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6. "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." Psalm 119: 15-16
• Develop sensitivity to the Spirit of God - "The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things ad will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26
• Receive godly, wise counsel - "My son pay attention to wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge." Proverbs 5: 1-2
• Obey God - "I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands." Psalm 119: 60
• Choose activities wisely - "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

All Scriptures NIV.

Unfailing Love

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)

God loves us with His whole heart by wanting a relationship with us that will last through all eternity. He loves us by revealing Himself to us in His Word. God knows what we need, and when we need it. He gives us what is good- gifts that lead to purpose, meaning, and fruitfulness (James 1: 16-18). And God asks only that we love Him and our neighbor in the same way.

In 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, we have a wonderful description of love. Verse 8 is the good news that "love never fails". Isn't that exciting?

Please take time to meditate today on experiences in your life that let you know that God loves you. And pray for our grandchildren and each other:

• To know Jesus Christ as Savior and to desire an intimate relationship with Him (Mark 10: 13-16)
  
• To look for spiritual lessons in everyday situations (Matthew 25:35-40).


• To see other people with love and kindness, just as God does (Romans 12: 9-10).

I love you and your praying hearts!

Bobbye

We the People

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,

the people He chose for His inheritance."

Psalm 33:12 (NIV)

"We the people..." In a land of freedom, when Americans speak of "the nation", it is "us" we speak of...not just the leaders, not just the Congress or President, but every man, woman, and child living here today. So as we pray, think on the fact that we are praying for each other, our children, and our children's children until Jesus returns.

Everything that happens in a nation affects the children and the generations to come. The strength, peace, and hope of a great country depends on a people who are willing to fall on their knees and cry out to God to guide us in the days to come. Let us, as Praying Grandmothers, be that people, and praise our God for the freedom to pray and worship Him., as we remember His promise: "Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV).

As America celebrates it 233rd birthday, pray for:

• The President, Cabinet, Congress, Supreme Court, as well as state and local leaders
• The military and their families
• Comfort and peace for the bereaved
• Church and spiritual leaders and their families
• Spiritual renewal for our churches
• The laws of this land to line up with the Word of God
• For wholesome and godly music, videos, and movies
• For schools, that they be taught of the Lord and that their peace will be great
• For our nation to return to a pure mind
• To be a secure nation with godly values
• For people (friends, loved ones, neighbors, and enemies) to know the Lord Jesus as Savior

Happy Birthday America! May you be blessed of the LORD.

Bobbye

Your prayers for America are welcome in our comments section.

A Prayer for Fathers

Our Father God in Heaven, we thank you for the gift of fathers. We ask that You guide them by Your Strength, instruct them with Your Wisdom, preserve them by Your Power, and protect them with Your Almighty Hand, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Happy Father's Day to all our fathers, sons, and grandsons!

He Has Made Me Glad!

“For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of your hands.” Psalm 92: 4 (NAS)


Psalm 92 is a song for the Sabbath, a song of worship. Worship is good, pleasant, beneficial, and appropriate. In this context, the psalmist lists three ways worship is demonstrated: by giving thanks, singing praises, and declaring God’s attributes. The psalmist is motivated to worship because the LORD has made him glad. The author rejoices because of what the LORD has done. God destroys the wicked; and He causes the righteous to prosper, so that we may proclaim His righteousness.

Pray for:

· Repentance (2 Peter 3:9)

· Outpouring of His Spirit in families, churches, nation (Joel 2:28)

· Thankful hearts (Psalm 92:1; 1 Thess. 5:18)

· Worship the LORD joyfully and wholeheartedly (Psalm 92:1-3; Psalm 9:1)

· Abundance (Psalm 92: 12-14; John 10:10)

· Bold declaration of God’s goodness and righteousness (Psalm 92: 15; Psalm 78:4)


What has the LORD done recently? For what are you rejoicing? We welcome your comments!

Global Day of Prayer - 31 May 2009

"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

The Global Day of Prayer mission is to call Christians from all Nations to:

• Unite in repentance and prayer
• Work together as God's servants for the blessing and healing of the Nations.

Please join Christians from all nations, cultures, and denominations to unite in prayer on Pentecost Sunday, 31 May 2009.

For more information, and to download "A Prayer for the World", please click here.