A to Z Blog Challenge - H is for the Holy Spirit

 is for the Holy Spirit.  According to dictionary.com, The Holy Spirit is a noun: (in Christianity) "The third person of the Trinity; God as spiritually active in the world."  After Jesus rose from the dead and it was time for Him to ascend to sit at the right hand of the Farther, Jesus told his disciples that he would send them a 'comforter'.  John 14:25-26 says; "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."  This is the same Holy Spirit the descended upon Jesus on the day of His baptisim.  


      Oh God, Please let The Holy spirit guide my kids.  In Your Holy Name, I pray...Amen

A to Z Blog Challenge: G is for Gratitude

 is for GRATITUDE.    According to dictionary.com the definition of gratitude is "the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful:" This may be on of the qualities that I want my kids to have most.  I think we live in a  society where  we no longer stop to appreciate what we have.   1 Thessalonian 5:18 tells us to  "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will ^(W) for you in Christ Jesus."  I know it's extremely  hard at times to look and see the good in  a certain situation.  Thus, it's very hard when you're in those awkward preteen ages,   to see that we are to be thankful ~ even the trails and stresses.  Many of the things that seem to be "devastating" and "life-ending", turn out to be blessings in disguise.  The older we get, the easier is to understand the concept of being thankful for everything in all situation.  However, for up and coming individuals they don't have many experiences  to look back and see those "unanswered prayers". Romans 8:28 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) tells us  "We know that all things work together ^[a] for the good ^[b] of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose."  


    O Father God, thank you God for my  children.  Please give them a heart of gratitude towards EVERYTHING! - even those things the we may see as trails or  just plan wrong 

.  Help them to take everything that you give them in  stride; and help them look for the lessons in everything they go through.  in Your Holy name, I pray.  Amen.

A to Z Blog Challenge - F is for Friends

  is for friends!  This is something I pray constantly; especially  as my little people grow up and start  to figure out who they are.  They are going to need people to lean on in their life...People to encourage them and balance them; people who can challenge them and help them to be  a better person.  I also pray that God sends them friends that may not know God that may kids may witness to  them.  The friends - especially those that they will make during the next years will be some of the most influential people in the life.  As they grow up, my little people need to discover who they are for themselves not who they are in Mama's and Daddy's shadows.  I may not like  all the 
choices that they, or their friends make.  My job is to prayer for them, offer them the best advice I can and to try to live my life in a godly manner as example to them 
        O Lord,  Please watch over my little people and help to a;ways do Your will and seek Your guidance.   Pleas give them good friends who will be there to help guide them and encourager them to be the people that you want to be.  Please help them to also be encouraging to theirs friends.  If their friends do not no you,  Please allow them them be a light to help lead them to you.  In  Your Holy Name, I pray, Amen

A to Z Blog Challenge - E is for Education

 is for EDUCATION.  I'm not one of these people who thinks that everyone HAS  GOT TO go to college, but I do think education is very important.  Barrett and I were the first in our families to go to college.   That's where we met.  Yes, I want my kids to go to college, but above that I want them to follow God's will for there life.  We are fortunate to live in a community with good public schools,  I've been thinking a lot education lately, as Dalton will start middle school in August.  I even pondered the idea of homeschooling.  Through much prayer, I've come to the decision that is not the road for our family right now.  God may allow this one day.    As I'm not their teacher, I'm to oversees their studies, to be their advocator  and their encourager.  The scary thing about your kids growing up is that you don't know everything.  And you've got to do that big thing and TRUST them!  I keep think back to their lives: Did I teach them the right things?  Did I cross all my T's and dot all my I's?  Did I pray for them enough?  Do I love them enough?
     Dear God,  Thank you so much for the blessings  of my children .  Lord, I pray that their for are clear and focused.  I pray that they have good,, godly teachers.  Give them patience and peace in the class room.  I pray the  school staff and administration.  Please help them to make good decisions.  Please just have Your spirit over the schools of Rutherford County and  over all of this nation.  I pray for peace and safety  above the schools.  Help  my children to follow Your will for them  in their life.   I pray that whether my kids go to a   formal school or barely pass through the school of hard knocks, that they always appreciate the education that You give them.  May they take always take advantage of any opportunities that You may give them.   In Your holy name, I ask...AMEN

A to Z Blog Challenge - D is for Daddy

  is for their relationship with the good, good DADDY!!!   Barrett is such a great husband and father.  Being married to someone who is physically is not always easy.  He sometimes feel like he has 3 kids instead of 2.  (& it's not because I act like a kid ~ well, sometimes I do...LOL).   Barrett is the youngest of  6 boys;  there's a 10 year age difference between him and the next youngest.  .  His mom died when he was 8, and he lived with his dad until he and I got married.   So needless to say; having a kid was a BIG adjustment for Him.  Dalton was a very STRONG-WILLED child from the get go.  It's always been the batter of the wills.  He has to shoulder most of the discipline with the kids.  Being a parent is tough.   Sometimes we  feel like all the "hard" jobs of parenting and feel like we miss out on many of many of it "joys"  However, it's in our teaching and discipline that will help them to become  good  adults.
        Dear God.  Thank you for the blessing of my husband and my children.   Please just bless their relationships and created a bond in them that can not be broken.  Allow to just learn to trust and understand each other.  Teach how to love each other.  Holy Father, Please help Barrett and help him  to follow your example in how a father should love his kids.  In your Holy Name I pray,  Amen.

A to Z Blog Challenge - C is for Confession

is for CONFESSION. Confession is 1) An open profession of faith (Luke 12:8). (2.) An acknowledment of sins to God (Lev. 16:21; Ezra 9:5-15; Dan. 9:3-12), and to a neighbour whom we have wronged (James 5:16; Matt. 18:15).  Confession is a very important aspect of our relationship with God.  It's the first step we take after God calls us to follow Him.  And its an act they we  will have  to  take this step many times throughout our lives.  Confession   does not alway easy or natural, in fact  it usually doesn't.  Confession isn't for God's benefit, but ours.  God is omniscient. He knows all of our sin before we even think about committing them.  Some people may even use this as a reason not to confess; saying if God already knows what I've  done  then why should I confess?  We confess to show our repentance and seek forgiveness.  We know that as followers of Christ, ALL of sins were forgiven when Jesus shed His blood for our salvation.  However there is something in our soul that yearns to get out when we have sinned; and the only way for it to get out it through confession to God. 

      O Father God.  Thank you so much that you sent Your only Son to die for our sins.  We know that once we place our faith in You, that we are forgiven before we even think about sinning.  Lord, help my kids to understand the importance and even to true gift of confession.  I just pray lord that there hearts may not feel at rest until they confess to You.   In Your Holy Name I pray...AMEN

A to Z Blog Challenge - B is for Bravery

  is for Bravery!  According to dictionary.com, the definition or bravery is; "1. brave  spirit or conduct; courage; valor. 2. showiness; splendor; magnificence."  I almost think that bravery now days is a lost art.  I grew up with 5 brothers so being brave came natural to me.  (HAHAHA!)   Bravery isn't going up and picking a fight just to prove something; bravery is standing up for something that right, even when you may not want to.  Bravery may even mean being still and quiet at times.  You don't have to go out to look for chances to be brave; plenty of these chances will find you.  Bravery comes in many forms.  Some people think if you "break down" that  you're not brave.  I must say that I've seen many people reveal their true strengths through "moments of weaknesses".  I think we are bravest when we can totally rely on God and trust Him  to supply our bravery.
     Father God, please teach my kids what it truly means to brave.  Help them to be able to discern when they need to "put on a brave front" and when it's OK to "let their guard down".  Help Barrett and I not only be examples of bravery to them, but help us to also be hear to  listen, talk and most of all pray about their bravery.  In Your holy name I pray, Amen

A to Z Blog Challenge - Praying the ABC's FOR MY LITTLE PEOPLE

My friend  Ella introduced me to the A to Z blog challenge at Tossing It Out.  I think I'll try it.  I may not post every day, but will try to post a couple of post a week.    But I'm going to add my only little "twist" to it.  I've been really impress to pray more fervently for my kids.   There is no major problem.  I've been  listening "The Power of a Praying Parent." by Stormie Ormartian.    It really had just reinforce the importance of praying   for my kids


...is for ATTITUDE...I think it's so ultimately important to pray for kids attitudes.  I especially feel this way as my kids are entering their teen and preteen years.  I know that as they grow they have to test the waters for themselves and choose for themselves how the want to react to a certain issue.  I can  give them my opinion, but they ultimate have to make the decision.  My kids are 11 and 8 -  so they are best friends and worst enemies  at the same time.      A couple of weeks age Dalton was so angry he said;   "I hate Bobbye.  I wish she was never born."  I quickly told him that he was not to say this again.  He said: "Mama, you can control what I say, but how I feel."...He is right I can't control or change how he feel.   He loves his sister VERY much; I know this.  I have 5 brothers and two  sisters - we didn't always get along.  Mama used to tell us we needed to be best friends; because friends will come and go but siblings will always have you back.  I must say, I love watching Mama and her brother interact...they've come a long way from when she used to leave him on top of buildings to go play with her friends.
         Father God, please help my kids to have good, positive attitude.  It isn't about them always being happy - but please help them to be able to take whatever life throws at them with stride.  Help them to trust you and all time and to pray before they go off and react in haste.  Please give them a heart of mercy towards others.  Help them, Lord to understand that their ways may not always be Your will; but help them to understand that Your will is always right.   In Your holy, heavenly name. I pray.  Amen