Weekly prayer

I don't know about you, but prayer is the one area of my life that needs improvement. Oh, sure, I'm good at praying when things are tough, most of us are. But what about the good times too? While I try to start my prayer sessions praising and thanking God, I know I forget a lot of things. So, in order to strengthen myself in this area, I've decided to make it a weekly topic in my Children's Sunday School class.

Each student, no matter their age or writing ability, has their own journal, which they decorated on the first week. Each week they write out a prayer, or just the person's name and need. They also have to add a praise. I have my own book, in which I keep track of their requests and praises, as well as my own. I want these kids to have a better handle on this at my age than I do.

That being said, I'm also going to try to have a "prayer journal" here each Sunday. I got this idea from Lori at The Generous Wife. Check her out, lots of good tips, plus a couple of wonderful message boards!

This week's tip:

Pray Practical

Posted: 23 Aug 2009 02:30 AM PDT

Pray practical. What does your husband want, need, or desire? Maybe it's something simple like energy for the day or maybe it's serious like a new job or the healing of a relationship. Just take a few minutes, think about your husband, and pray.

I urge that ... prayers ... be made on behalf of all men. 1 Timothy 2:1 NAS

Be generous! Lori <><

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please be with Eddie as he starts a new work week. 
Give him physical strength and stamina.
Give him wisdom and knowledge.
May he have favor with those around him.
Give him a positive spirit and patience.
May he be Your salt and light.
Please bless the work of his hands.
Keep a hedge of protection around him
Keeping him safe from harm and temptations.
In Jesus' most precious name,

Amen.

Thankful Thursday - Friends

You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
~John 15:14-15


Iris from Grace Alone started this week's Thankful Thursday with the thought that Jesus calls us His friends. I, too, agree that this is something to be very thankful for. With a friend like Jesus in our corner, we need not fear anything!

So, my list (a short version) this week:

• I'm thankful for having such a friend in Jesus. (doesn't that bring a song to your mind? Or, maybe I've spent to much time in Children's Ministry?)
• I'm thankful for my husband, Eddie, whom really is my best friend in the world. I am very blessed to have a husband who truly loves, worships, and follows Jesus!
• I thankful for long time friends who I can call or email anytime. Wendy knows everything about me, and still calls me friend after over 30 years. Such friends you can't see very often because of the miles and other life circumstances, but they are always there for you.
• I'm thankful for Internet friends, such as Gidget, Moon, and Lisa. I know I can email (and some call), with anything and they are there, praising, praying, or crying with me. Again, I am very blessed.
• Last (on this list), is all the friends (sister and brothers) in Christ whom I have not "met" but run across from time to time on their blogs or message boards. Having a common faith in Jesus is always about friendship.