Back to School ? !

I truly don’t know where the summer went…May and early June were filled with doctor appointments. Then the heat turned up and we stayed mostly inside and I worked a lot finishing the 4th and 5th books in the 40 Day Prayer Guides series: Praying for your Grandchild and Praying for you Pastor ready.

Before the end of July I started seeing ads for Back to School and now my husband tells me Christmas decorations are up at Costco!

Just last week we went to sit our Grand-dog, and on the way back home, stopped at our favorite Mexican food restaurant. Their expanded outdoor serving area was shady, breezy, and completely empty so we sat there enjoying our very favorite soft green chili Rellenos! Sooo yummy!

We took the scenic route home through shady neighborhoods and twisty roads and stopped for fresh fruits and vegetables at our outdoor market. So to me, It felt like I finally got to enjoy my first outdoor summer day!

And now it‘s back to school! Getting school supplies, preparing tots for the first day of kindergarten, shopping for all those nutritious snacks to put in lunch boxes, making lists of what’s needed for the college dorm room, and pondering what things you want to say to that child – either the one leaving home for mere hours of the school day for the first time – or the one leaving for weeks or months at a time for college or a job away from home.

At least that’s how I’ve seen it before from my perspective. But for some reason today I’m thinking about the perspective of those teachers preparing to go back.

Some who can’t wait to get back in the classroom and are energized by seeing smiling faces ready to learn, and the joy that comes from knowing that they’ve impacted student’s lives for life and taught lessons that blessed and helped children toward their potential.

And some teachers who are excited to be back but are feeling weary perhaps unappreciated and find it challenging to get up every morning and face of classroom with the problems inherent in school administrations and the conflict between students and the misunderstandings or non-participation of parents in their child’s lives.

And then those who return to the classroom with downright fears of what is happening in our world and what might happen to them during the course of the year.

And my heart turns to pray for all of them…Heavenly Father, protect our teachers in their classrooms, and their comings and goings. They are strong and courageous and caring to take on the task of guiding our children through their day at school in so many ways – providing mental, social, emotional, physical growth.

Give teachers the wisdom and time they need to learn how each student learns best. Ensure that each teacher has the support they need in their classroom, from the administration, the district, and the parents, to do the job they love. Make sure they are treated with respect by their students, and are able to impart the gift of learning to every student. And encourage them by letting them see ways their teaching is making a difference and impacting lives.

1 Cor 15:58  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

** And if you know a teacher – send them a Welcome Back note with a scripture or word of appreciation.

A Song for you…

How many of us are going through a hard time right now? Or know someone who is??

Personally, I’m in a challenging place right now with my health. And I have several friends who have lost a loved one recently, others are in a hard place financially, or have put much of their life on hold since the pandemic. And loved ones who have wandered away from the Lord and just need some direction and hope in their life.

A friend sent me this song from youtube. It’s actually a prayer. And the words reflect what I want to say/pray for so many friends.

So I’m sharing it with you. Thank you to Jeff Pardo, Ethan Hulse, David Andrew Spencer and Katy Nichole for these amazing words. For so many, I pray for their healing, and for their circumstances to change, for fear to be released, for miracles and a breakthrough. And for some, I just speak the name of Jesus over them, because it’s the best thing I can do for them.

These words come from my heart too and go out as a prayer as I sing along.

And the music! Is so powerful and moving.

Thank you to the person who put together this version of the video, as the photos are also powerful.

I pray it will touch you  too, and give words to your prayers for those you love in your life too.

And thank you Patricia for sending it my way 🙂

Do you want to bless and be blessed?

I believe we all want to be blessed.

But I don’t know that we really understand what that word means?

Merriam-Webster says it means having a sacred nature, holy, or connected with God. Or very welcome or pleasant.

A Greek word I learned for blessed is “makarios” translated as being supremely fortunate. I remember it because it reminds me of that happy dance that became a craze in the 90s – the macarena.

But that too has a connotation of just being happy. And like the difference between happiness and joy – with the one being dependent on your circumstances, and the other being an inner emotion based on something deeper and more meaningful, I think “blessed” means more than just happy.

Several places in the Bible tell us about those who are blessed, or how to be blessed. I want to start off the year focusing on being blessed and blessing others. I’m asking God to help me be attentive to how I can bless those He brings across my path, and to be sure I’m doing what I should to be blessed by Him.

You are invited to pray Psalm 1 with me to step into His blessing as well. Based on Psalm 1:1 from The Voice translation and the Amplified Bible:

Heavenly Father, do not let me follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes, who plan harm to others or act with evil intent. Regardless of what the culture tells me or encourages me to do or think, I want to seek Your wisdom for my life, my actions, my decisions.

Don’t let me hang out at places where people mock You, are judgmental, rude, or sarcastic, belittling others. Guard my speech so I don’t join in with them or even enjoy their company.

And keep me from taking the easy way that temptation and sin offer so I can grow the way You intended…with all I need to be fruitful and hardy, regardless of the circumstances I face.

Thank You for Your blessing on me and on my life. Help me see when You are helping me and blessing me. And show me how to share that blessing with others. Amen

So I may not feel like dancing all the time, but I do want to be blessed. And learn more about being intentional and consistent in blessing others.

Check out my book, it’s a 40 Day Prayer Guide  – Praying a Blessing for Others: Powerful day-by-day prayers inviting God to forever change a life

In 1 minute a day, you can bless others with the written prayers, or pray them for yourself.

Psalm 1:1-3 The Voice; Psalm 1:1-3 Amplified Bible

Macarena photo by the Australian Paralympic Committee

Waiting on the Lord Part 2

Are you still waiting?

Chances are you are waiting on something. And yes, it can be encouraging to know that other people are waiting too, that all this waiting is actually part of our being human. But knowing there are some things that just aren’t within our control doesn’t make the waiting any easier.

Can you remember a time before we all had cell phones? I was very pregnant and traveling with our 4 and 8 year olds, coming home from visiting my parents. Very long flight. My husband had said call when we got in to the airport and he would pick us up.

I found a pay phone and called to say we were here, and went to get our bags, then we all walked to the passenger pick up and waited with our luggage outside exhausted. The kids were tired and hungry and hot but we waited; standing, sitting, chatting…

After waiting an hour, I was worried. The trip from our house was usually only 45 minutes. At the risk of missing him, I gathered the boys and our bags and went inside to find another pay phone. My husband hadn’t even left yet! I just about collapsed.

Even leaving right then, it would take at least another 45 minutes to get to the airport – then another 45 minutes to get back home!

Nothing else to do but wait.

So I decided that to keep the boys engaged and in better spirits, we would make up games and silly songs to fill the time. We made up a new song called “It can be fun to wait.” In the song we counted, marched, sang our ABCs. We made a memory.

Now, when I am waiting alongside other people, they all pull out their cell phones and focus on them. Me, I turn to prayer. There are always people or circumstances on my mind that I can talk to the Lord about. And now that we wear masks in many public places where I wait, I can even pray quietly and no one can see my lips moving.

Through this, and so many other times I could tell you about, God showed me that time spent waiting can be purposeful. It can be prayerful. It can be “praise-ful.” And all those things can help us be patient.

Later He gave me this song. I still sing it when I’m challenged to “wait on the Lord.” It helps remind me that I need to use whatever time I have to praise Him. For who He is. For what He has done. When I use waiting time to pray, it helps me be patient. I feel like there’s purpose in it.

Try praise and prayer next time you find yourself waiting for something.

Chorus 2 X:  I can wait patiently

I can wait prayer-fully

I can wait praise-fully

For God knows what I need and He provides for me

As I wait I will praise my God

and the wonderful things He has done

I will praise Him for all creation

The earth and the stars and the sun

As I wait I will praise His name

Holy and Mighty is He

I thank Him for sending salvation

Salvation for you and for me

Chorus 2 X:  I can wait patiently

I can wait prayer-fully

I can wait praise-fully

For God knows what I need and He provides for me

And sometimes I even still sing the silly “it can be fun to wait” song too.

Because, sometimes, now, it can be fun to wait!

Are you praying Apples or Potatoes?

I’ve been praying a LOT lately – maybe you have too.  So many things happening in my life, my family, with Covid-19, in our nation, the world!

And I trust and thank God that He hears all of my prayers, and your prayers too. Whether we are singing out in praise, calling out thanksgiving, whispering out our needs, or crying out in brokenness, I know that God hears and answers every time.

Apples

I love it when I can see God’s hand at work in the relationship or situation I’m praying about.  It’s so encouraging! It’s like watching an apple tree:  you can see the leaves appear, then the buds come, the blossoms open and then fall off, and you can see the tiny fruit form.  The apple grows and matures on the tree right before your eyes.

An apple farmer can see his harvest before he ever starts collecting it.

Some prayers are like that. You get to see how God is working and preparing the answer for you right before your eyes. You can see change in the person or the situation, or in yourself.  It is so rewarding.

Other prayers are like potatoes. We keep praying and praying for a person, relationship, or situation but see no change, no growth, no hint of an answer on the way. The potato plant is like that: the leafy vine can be seen.

But the fruit or tuber, the part we eat, is formed underground. The vine remains unchanged above the ground as we water and fertilize. All the while the fruit, the tubers are developing and maturing under the ground where we can’t see.

It is only by faith that a potato farmer begins the harvest, trusting there is a crop there under the ground!

Potato prayers are harder because you feel like nothing is happening in the situation you’re praying about.  When the truth is God is surely at work answering your prayer, just not in ways visible to the human eye.

Both kinds of prayers yield an amazing and fulfilling harvest. Both have the same promise of an answer from God. And both will build our faith.  If you are praying an Apple Prayer, thank God that He is allowing you to see His hand at work in the person or situation. Be encouraged.

If you have been praying a Potato Prayer, thank God for being at work beneath the surface.  And be encouraged!

Trust in God and in His timing and purpose. We are the workers but the harvest belongs to the Lord!

And especially for those Potato Prayers, Father, help us wait and not fall into discouragement, self-pity or giving up.  Keep our faith strong and our trust in You solid; so that at the end of the waiting, we will sing of the wonders of the Lord!  Amen

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14