Thursday, August 28, 2014

A Cheery Countenance



Many years ago when our now grown children were young, my family enjoyed visiting my sister’s family. On one such visit, my sister and I were in her basement doing laundry when suddenly she stopped folding clothes and looked up at the ceiling with her head cocked to one side. Then I heard it too–the pitter patter of little feet were running at full speed directly above us. The sound went from my nephew’s bedroom, down the hall, and into the kitchen, where it stopped. My sister knew immediately what her son was doing. She stepped out of the laundry room and yelled up the stairs, “Chet, you cannot eat any of those cookies!!”

A few minutes later, her preschooler appeared at the bottom of the steps. He looked at her intently and asked, “Mommy, how did you know what I was doing?” My sister smiled and replied, “Mommies always know what their little boys are doing.”

A few months later, we were all gathered at my parent’s home for Christmas when Chet started to go outside in the cold without his jacket. My other sister stopped him at the door and asked, “Does your mother know you are about to go outside in the snow without a jacket?” Chet responded with absolute conviction, “Oh yes! Mommies always know what their little boys are doing!”

My older sister was perplexed but when Chet’s mother and I heard his reply, we exploded with laughter! Then we filled our older sister in on the background story.

 

 

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Confessions of a Prayer Warrior


Some of my favorite verses about prayer: 

“The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one. He was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so His own arm achieved salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him.” Isaiah 59:15-16

“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30  

“The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends…” Job 42: 10

“Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord; lift up your hands to Him for the life of your little ones.” Lamentations 2:19

“You who remind the Lord, take no rest for yourselves; and give Him no rest…” Isaiah 62:6b-7a

“Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer.” Romans 12:12

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2

“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

“Why are you sleeping? Get up and call on your God!” Jonah 1:6

“…but I am in prayer.” Psalms 109:4