It is the little things...

These days my life seems to be so busy. Not too busy that I can't slow down or get control of things but just busy enough that at the end of my day I can barely keep my eyes open. Sometimes when life gets this busy it is so easy to focus on all of the things that HAVE to get done and so often times I forget to give attention to the things (0r people) that I need to and want to. This has happened recently with my husband. It is not something that he or I really even noticed (thankfully) but I realized that I was doing life with him, taking care of Keane and Gracie with him, taking care of our team with him, ministering with him but I really wasn't reaching out to him, serving him, spending quality time with him and just having fun with him. I would love to be able to say that when I realized this I got a babysitter and took my husband on a romantic date (which mind you is VERY hard to do in Kathmandu) and spent hours upon hours with only him but that is not what happened. What I did instead was to clean the coffee filter out of the pot, fill the pot up with water and fresh coffee grounds so it was all ready for him in the morning when he woke up. You see, my husband LOVES coffee and makes a hot, fresh pot every morning. The other day he was reminding me that one of the things he dislikes most is cleaning out the coffee pot and getting it ready for fresh coffee to be made. He wished that the coffee would just be ready in the morning without all of that (he was talking about a magical machine and truly not hinting for me to make it). Sounds silly, huh? But no, for Ryan this is something special to him. So, I decided to get his coffee pot all set up. When he realized that I had done this for him he was SO happy and thankful. It made him feel so special and loved. Cleaning and refilling the coffee pot is just a small way that I can show my husband that I love him but it is the little things right? I have decided that I am going to try and get his coffee cleaned up and set up each day for him...not because he ever asked me to do it or because he expects me to do it but because to him it is special and it is just one way, in my crazy, busy days that I can take a few extra minutes and show my husband how special he is to me and how much I love him.

Are there small things that you can do in your life to show those around you that you love them? It will make such a big difference in your relationships and loving and serving those around us honors and glorifies God...

Praying for our children: Day 14 - Day 31

Well, I am so sorry that I was not able to update these everyday. I really had all good intentions and then time just got away from me. I pray that you and I will be able to use this list (and the ones from my previous posts) to spend this next month consecutively praying for our children in these specific areas. I have prayed for Keane and Gracie in these areas most days this month and it has been so neat to see how my God brings so many other things to mind to pray for them about through these initial prayers each day. My friend Shannon also commented and gave me a link for where to find the original list of prayers so you can print the entire sheet out if you want. Click here to find the list. I hope you all are doing well. Here is day 14- day 31....

Day 14 Kindness "Lord, may my children 'always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else'"

1 Thessalonians 5:15

Day 15 Generosity "Grant that my children may 'be generous and willing to share [and so] lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age'"

1 Timothy 6:18-19

Day 16 Peace, peaceability "Father, let my children 'make every effort to do what leads to peace'"

Romans 14:19

Day 17 Joy " May my children be filled 'with the joy given by the Holy Spirit'"

1 Thessalonians 1:6

Day 18 Perseverance " Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to 'run with perseverance the race marked out for [them]'"

Hebrews 12:1

Day 19 Humility " God, please cultivate in my children the ability to 'show true humility toward all'"

Titus 3:2

Day 20 Compassion " Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion"

Colossians 3:12

Day 21 Responsibility " Grant that my children may learn responsibility, 'for each one should carry his own load'"

Galatians 6:5

Day 22 Contentment " Father, teach my children 'the secret of being content in any and every situation. . . . through him who gives [them] strength'"

Philippians 4:12-13

Day 23 Faith " I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them"

Luke 17:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-40

Day 24 A servant heart " God, please help my children develop servant hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, 'as to the Lord, and not to men'"

Ephesians 6:7, KJV

Day 25 Hope " May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit"

Romans 15:13

Day 26 The willingness and ability to work hard " Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work hard at everything they do, 'as working for the Lord, not for men'"

Colossians 3:23

Day 27 A passion for God " Lord, please instill in my children a soul that "followeth hard after thee," a heart that clings passionately to you

Psalm 63:8, KJV

Day 28 Self-discipline " Father, I pray that my children may develop self-discipline, that they may acquire 'a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair'"

Proverbs 1:3

Day 29 Prayerfulness " Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to 'pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests"

Ephesians 6:18

Day 30 Gratitude " Help my children to live lives that are always 'overflowing with thankfulness,' 'always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'"

Colossians 2:7, Ephesians 5:20

Day 31 A heart for missions " Lord, please help my children to develop a heart for missions, a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvelous deeds among all peoples"

Psalm 96:3

Praying for our children...days 8-13

Oh the excuses I can give as to why I am posting this so late...but I will refrain and simply say...sorry. I hope that you can "catch up" while I do here!

Day 8: Mercy "May my children always 'be merciful, as [their] Father in heaven is merciful'".

Luke 6:36

Day 9: Respect (for self, others, authority) "Father, grant that my children may 'show proper respect to everyone, 'as your Word commands"

1 Peter 2:17a

Day 10: Strong, Biblical self-esteem "Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are 'God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus"

Ephesians 2:10

Day 11: Faithfulness "Let love and faithfulness never leave [my children],' but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts"

Proverbs 3:3

Day 12: Courage "May my children always 'Be strong and courageous' in their character and in their actions"

Deuteronomy 31:6

Day 13: Purity "Create in [my children] a pure heart, O God,' and let their purity of heart be shown in their actions"

Psalm 51:10

Praying for our children...day 5, 6, 7

Am I really that behind in posting these days? Time just seems to be flying by! For those of you who are trying to use these prayers daily...I am so sorry that I have not been able to do it each day...I will try to be more diligent about posting them here.

Day 5 Self-control "Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be 'alert and self controlled' in all they do."

1 Thessalonians 5:6

"So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and sober."

Day 6 a love for God's Word "May my children grow to find your Word 'more precious than gold, than much pure gold; [and] sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb."

Psalm 19:10

"More to be desired are than than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and drippings from the honeycomb."

Day 7 justice "God, help my children to love justice as you do and to 'act justly' in all they do."

Psalm 11:7

"For the Lord is righteous,

He loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold His face."

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of

you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?"

Praying for our chidren...day 3 and day 4

Yesterday was a great but busy day so by the time I got home, played with Keane and Gracie and got dinner made and cleaned up, baths finished, I was exhausted and just wanted to watch TV so I didn't get day 3 posted yesterday. Forgive me for the delay but here are day 3 and day 4 of ways to pray for our children. I don't know about you but it has been such a special time for me to set aside just a few minutes each day to pray for these specific things. Praying these specific things makes me think about each one and how I desire so strongly for Keane and Gracie to have these traits and things in their lives. I am so thankful that God hears our prayers and desires to answer them!

Day 3: Love "Grant, Lord, that my children (Keane and Gracie) may learn to 'live a life of love,' through the spirit who dwells in them."

Ephesians 5:2

"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God."

Galatians 5:22

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Day 4: Honesty and Integrity "May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection."

Psalm 25:21

"May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you."

Praying for our children...day 2

This morning at breakfast, I held both Keane and Gracie's hands and looked them in the eyes (they were looking around a bit of course) and I told that them that I was praying everyday for them. I told them that I wanted to pray for them right now and that is what I did...as they mumbled away and looked all around I held their hands and lifted today's prayer up to God. It was such a special time.

Day 2: Growth in grace

"I pray that they (Keane and Gracie) may grow in the grace

and

knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18

Praying for our children...

Since the moment I found out I was pregnant with Keane and Gracie I have been praying for them. I have been praying most importantly that they would truly know God and His salvation and live a life that glorifies and honors Him whatever it may cost them. I have prayed that I, as their mom, would always encourage them in that. I of course pray for their health, for their safety, for many, many different things as well. Lately, I have felt a need to really have a way to be in constant prayer over them for specific things. I recently came across a document that I think I was given at a women's retreat here in Kathmandu last year. It is called, "31 Ways to Pray for your Children" by Bob Hostetier. I am not sure who Bob is but on this piece of paper is a list of prayers, one prayer for each of the days of the month along with scripture to pray over our children.

He says, "Each day of the month, in addition to my prayers for their saftey and concerns for that day, I also pray for a specific character trait, virtue or fruit of the Spirit to be planted and nurtured in my children, through my efforts (and my wife's), through the influence of others, and through my children's own actions and decisions."

I began praying on day 1 today. I will try to add a new days prayer each day on my blog so that together we can be in dedicated prayer for our children. I want to see God working in their lives. What a blessing it is and has been when I see Him visibly at work. It is amazing how fast Keane and Gracie are growing. I want to make sure that I am intentional each and every day to lift them up in prayer before my God. I am excited to see all of the many ways that God will answer our prayers.

Day 1: Salvation: "Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory."

Isaiah 45:8

"Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down

righteousness;

let the earth open, that salvation and

righteousness may bear fruit;

let the earth cause them both to sprout;

I the Lord have created it."

John 1:12

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.