What do you pray for?

What do you pray for, good health?  Family members?  Your kids?

I can remember praying when I was young for things like, help passing a test, or make me like so-and-so.  Things that when I was young I thought mattered, but in the long run they really didn't.
OK, I guess the tests did matter, but I didn't really need to be like Ms. so-and-so, because after I saw everything was really going on with that person.  It usually wasn't as glamorous as I thought it was.

Now that I have matured, HA! HA! HA! HA!  Sorry, I just thought that was funny.  Anyway, what I was trying to say was that now I don't really pray as much for myself as I pray for others.

I still need prayer, definitely need prayer, but I think when I look around at all the sickness, and sadness going on in the world, I think I have it pretty good.  And my life isn't perfect, I have problems just like everybody else.  But when I think I have it bad I just remember that there is always someone out there who has it worse than me.

Who are you praying for?

Not what they seem

There have been times when I have heard people make the remark, "They aren't what they seem."  I've often wondered what they meant, and just what they expect us to be.  It's my guess that when people meet someone of importance, or maybe they have a big job, they expect them not to fall.  They think they will never make a mistake. 

Have you ever made a mistake?  Have you ever wronged someone unjustly?  I know I have.  All it may take would be someone to make me angry about something they may have said about me, but as humans we feel the need to get even.  I wonder why that is, what is it in us that makes us want to strike back when we have been hurt.  Maybe it's just a coping thing, you know, someone hurt us so we hurt someone else. 

No matter what it is, it isn't right.  I think that nothing hurts like hearing that someone has said something behind your back.  The bible tells us that the tongue can hurt us as much as a sword.  I think it's true.  Words can definitely hurt us as much as fists.  Once someone says something, it can't be taken back.

Maybe we should think a little more when someone comes at us with harsh words.  Maybe they are having a really bad day.  Just think how you can turn their day around just by how we respond to someone's anger. 

We can take a deep breath, and speak to them like we want to be spoken too. 

Today I want to add Patsy to the list.

Just a quick addition

I don't usually post one weekends but I had a few people that I wanted to add to the list.
Jen
Ruby

Thanks!

Praying for Our Kids

As parents, we struggle so much with what is the best thing for our children.  Or at least I do anyway.  

Because it is such a struggle, I do a lot of praying for them.  I pray that they will grow into strong, compassionate people.  I pray they make good choices throughout the day.  I just pray for them constantly for everything you can possibly imagine.  

And even though I trust the Lord, and I know he knows best, it's very hard for me to let go of worrying about my kids.  So with that I want to add them to my list today.  It's very difficult growing up in society today.  A lot of pressure, and not a lot of role models I guess.

JC
CC
Lem-recently had surgery

I hope you have a great weekend and while I may not post over the weekend (Family time.)  I will definitely continue to pray.
 

What Prayer can do

I want to tell you a story about my uncle.  My uncle was diagnosed with melanoma, ummm,  probably 8 years ago.  I am estimating here because alot has happened since then.

With his original diagnosis, there were a few operations to remove all of the area that was affected.  The doctors got all of the infected area, and life went on.  We celebrated as a family and gave all the glory to God. 

A few years later, the cancer came back, it seems that melanoma can drop what is like small seeds, and where his cancer was located it had no where to go but down.  I can't be sure exactly where it was but I want to say the spine, or bones.  

Watching how he handled himself was one of the most remarkable features of faith that I have ever witnessed.  I remember once when our pastor was asking if anyone wanted to be prayed over for any type of healing.  With faith that God would heal him, he was the first man to get up and walk to the front.  And he was healed, no, the disease didn't go completely away, but he was given more time than most with his diagnosis.  He didn't really want to do chemo, but when things were starting to not look so good, he did do it.  He only did one round, and then he wasn't able to do anymore, his body was starting to shut down.  So he went home.  He went home, hospice was called in, and he made a miraculous recovery and lived for about six more months.  He had such amazing faith, I can't even begin to tell you, but I think that he was rewarded for his faith.  Not only was he given a few more days, but they were good days.

We don't always get a miracle when we pray.  But we do always get something, even if it's only a few more days, isn't that something.

I have two more names I want to add to my prayer list today.

Bobby
Curtis

Day One

Today is the First day of Lent, and while a lot of people are giving something up, I've decided to do something else.  I will be posting for the 40 days of Lent with prayers.  I will make a list of the people that I will be praying for and pray for them every day.  

Yes, I do pray everyday, but I have found that when I have written down something or somebody to pray for, it just makes it easier for me to remember.  I guess I am getting old.

Any how, here goes.

Since today is the very first day, I am just going to talk about what made me decide to do this blog.  Actually I was just thinking about how neat it would be if we could actually look at a list of people, all real people, who want you to pray for them.  

Sometimes it is nice to be reminded that it isn't just about us.  As the old saying goes, everybody has a story.  So I am starting the list with some people that are from our church and just some people that I know of who are asking for prayer.  I have put my email address in my contact information and if you want to send a request, then please feel free, you can only put a first name if you want, no explanations are  necessary.

Some of my requests I may give you some background on and some I may not.  It just depends on the circumstances.  

Just a note, this is not a blog set up for any other purpose than to pray.  I hope that if anyone looks at this blog, they too will pray for the people listed.  

So here goes,  the people I have listed are;
Scott
Roger
Lacy
Stephanie
Mary
Barbara's daughter
KT



This is only the beginning as I think of more people and I KNOW there are more then I will add them to the list.  


Prayer is a powerful, wonderful, amazing thing.

Try it, you'll see.