THERE YOU ARE!

  I knew I had one in there, just couldn’t find it. The flax was drowning you out!

  I was cleaning out one of my flower beds the other day and knew that somewhere in this jungle there used to be a princess spirea shrub.

  We had some work done in that area, so I had to let it be; the new grass had to get established. But, it was time for an overhaul. The flax had made themselves right at home.

  I started to weed this mess away, knew that there was a spirea in there somewhere. After some weeding and pruning I found my “little spirea shrub”.  The flax had smothered my poor shrub.

  Then it hit me, that little shrub reminded me of our daughter.

  Mom is having a hard time realizing that in about a year’s time our “baby” will be going off to school somewhere. Naturally, I just want to keep her here where I can take care of her and protect her, even to make sure she takes time to eat right.

So I may be giving some of you a call next fall, to those that have gone through this before. We have enjoyed our daughter’s time with us. She has been such a gift to our home.

  Life is full of stages, some easier than others. Those sleepless first few years seems just like yesterday; yet at the time like it would never end. The first day she took those big steps of the school bus, first sleepover. All the fun planning her birthday parties, grade 8 graduation, to a beautiful young woman. I am such a blessed mom.

  This mom also realizes that my stage now is to prepare to let go. I don’t want to be like the flax and smother her. My prayer for her is that she will allow God to use her. She has so many talents and such a great personality. She leaves her touch on everything she does.

  And, if I want her to allow God to use her, then I also have to allow God to use her.

  If I allow my natural instinct to smother and keep her with me, then she will never reach her full potential.

  Motherhood is such a complicated job; we carry, bring forth, nurture, and then have to let them go. The day we bring them home we start preparing them to grow their wings and fly.

  I think of Hannah how she prayed for a child, how she yearned for one, and then made a vow to God that she would give her baby back to God.

  We see this story unfold in 1 Samuel chapter 1 and 2. Hannah poured out to God expecting God to answer her prayers and God blessed her with Samuel. I also prayed and poured out to God for our daughter, after losing one and thinking that we would not be able to have anymore.

  After Hannah had Samuel, she didn’t forget her vow to God. She gave her “baby” back to God, to do the work the Lord had called him to. We also gave our daughter back to God at her dedication service. We made a vow as well. We have loved on her, enjoyed her being a part of our home, and now it’s time to let her spread her wings and fly (in a year). I know God has a great plan for her life and what a blessing it will be to watch as her story unfolds. And I am sure it wasn’t all that easy for Hannah to leave her child, after waiting and praying for him.

  “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3

  Blessings,

My Prayer Basket

  I have felt led in a new direction with my prayer/devotional time.

  I am sharing it with you today; may we all encourage each other as we share. May we join together! I believe as we join great things can be accomplished for HIS glory; mountains can be moved, hurdles over come and healing (yes, we do live under Abraham’s blessings today as well).

  Sunday’s: Special request and worshipping. It’s usually on Sunday that we are made aware of a special prayer request or needs. Let’s take those requests and needs to our Heavenly Father or if we can help in some way then do it.

  But let’s also set this day aside to worship and praise our Heavenly Father. Where ever we are, whatever we are doing include worship in that. Even if you are working, we can still worship in our attitude. What better way to start the week!

  Monday’s: Missionaries. We need to cover them in prayer. They are the ones that are on the front lines. I have been trying to put myself in their place, the load they carry. All the day to day things we take for granted, that they have been willing to let go.

  They have left their homes, jobs, family to serve. They have laid everything on the line.

  Do they battle loneliness, homesickness, isolation, security,

sickness, finances etc…?

  As it is summer here and let’s face it, our work life revolves around our holidays.  We plan, we anticipate it, and it motivates us. Do they get holidays?  Their lives revolve around service.

  I think of how I love to have my family around during our holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc… What would it be like not to have this?

  What a blessing it was to be able to share some time with one of our church missionary families. They were in a foreign country learning their customs and language, preparing to be where they were called to be.

  We have so much freedom here. Try shopping where men are standing by the doors with guns; not able to go out after dark, for fear.

  One of my most noted memories is how after our meals, they always made a plate up for the guard that was outside. Their work of service had already begun.

  Tuesday’s: Our Town Brockville, Ontario, Canada. (Or where God has called you to be)

Jeremiah 29:5-7(NIV)

“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters, find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease? Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

  God has placed each of us exactly where we are. We were all born at the right time- God’s great plan.

  Spring 2012, Brockville job forecast plain and simple- no jobs, Brockville at the bottom of the list. The younger generation is leaving and not returning; nothing to keep them here.

  I want to challenge you to pray for our city. We can together through prayer bring this city to prosper again. It no longer has to be on the bottom of the list. The younger can be staying and coming back. This excites me so. Imagine the great things; our churches could prosper, filled like never before. It’s a chain reaction, and it’s biblical. Let’s pray for our city, province, and country. I’m ready, are you?!?

   Wednesday’s: Our Workplace.  When your work place prospers, you also will prosper. Pray for your place there, that you will be an example of Christ to your co-workers. This is your missionary field. Even if you are self-employed, or at home taking care of the home- it’s still your work place. Pray for the people that cross your path. Get to know them, their needs so that you may reach out to them.

Hebrews 13:17(NIV)

  “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

  Guess what, if you make it a joy for your boss to have you as an employee, do you not think favour will be upon you? Let’s not make ourselves a burden to our bosses.

  Thursday’s: Others that need a Touch of the Lord.

Praying for others is a privilege. I don’t know about you but I don’t think a week goes by without someone having a need. We are to carry each other’s burdens and be encouragers to each other. I am finding that my list these days is getting longer. We are to carry each other’s needs in prayer to present our request to God. Matthew 18:20(NIV) “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

  Friday’s: Family Day. To most it’s T.G.I.F. day. I don’t really like using that term, but to most it’s a common term. But what better way to end the “work week” than by starting the day with prayer for your family. Praying for our husbands, wives, children etc…Pray for their specific needs; cover them in your love, that hedge of protection around your little ones. I have even heard about taking a day for fasting and prayer for your spouse. What better “show” of love could there be. Our family is the only thing we can take with us.

  Saturday’s: Our Pastors- who Shepherd us.

  I am sure we are not the only crazy house on Saturdays. Everyone’s busy and running. For our Pastor’s I’m sure that this day they are also preparing themselves for Sunday. So, what better day to set aside for our leaders who shepherd us. Pray for them, encourage them. Pray for their spouse and that relationship, their children and family. They are no different from us and deal with our problems as well as their own family problems. We sometimes forget this. We need to hold them up and now is the time. Get to know them as people, find out if they have needs, share, encourage and build them up. They carry a heavy load- a load that most of us do not understand or want to understand. So lift them up today as they prepare themselves to lead us that they would be attentive to what God has for us.

  BLESSINGS