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Prayers of Virtue Day 6

Love for God's Word

Lord, may my children regard your Word

as more precious than gold and sweeter than honey.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much gine gold:

sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psalm 19:10

Prayers of Virtue Day 5

Self Control

Father, help my children not be like many others,

but to be alert and self-controlled in all they do.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others;

but let us watch and be sober.

1 Thessalonians 5:6

Prayers of Virtue 4

Day 4

Integrity

Lord, may integrity and uprightness protect my children

because their hope is in you.

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.

Psalm 25:21

Prayers of Virtue 3

Day 3

Love

Father, grant that my children would learn to live a life of love through the Spirit who lives in them.

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us

Ephesians 5:2

Prayers of Virtue

Day 2

God's Grace

I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

II Peter 3:18

31 Days of Virtues for our Children

I can't believe it is already March, 2012! We have anticipated this year ever since the spring of 2000 when my oldest daughter graduated from kindergarten, but I always thought it was so far out in the future. Not so. It is here and now, and thoughts of high school graduation, ceremonies, parties, college are consuming our thoughts and most of our conversation!

For the month of March, I am going to do a daily post of 31 different biblical virtues to pray into our children. I am going to use these prayers as a guide and claim and believe that God is working each one of these virtues into my children's lives. (My friend, Nathan Brown, allowed me to borrow this from him, and he got it from here http://broomfieldumc.org/clientimages/35460/pictures/prayforchildren.pdf)

Day 1

Salvation

Lord, I pray that my children would obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

... that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

II Timothy 2.10

Just Have to Wait

(Warning: this post has some deep emotional thoughts about my sweet nephew in Heaven, Reagan David Russell)

I asked for (and received) this CD for Christmas. It is "Beauty Will Rise" by Steven Curtis Chapman. He wrote these songs after his daughter went to heaven, and it is his personal journey through his grief. Our family has been no stranger to grief, and I am always seeking out methods to deal with grief in ways that will bring healing. Personally, I am completely satisfied that God's providence is truly working out as promised in Romans 8:28, but it does pain me when my loved one is struggling. My heart just aches for my brother and sister-in-law, Mark and Debbie, in this awful tragedy of last summer. Debbie's brother David Hecker posted on Facebook today about a family in a car accident and their little boy was taken from them. It just caused me to re-visit the wound. In a text message to Mark, we talked about the heartache never seeming to end. Well, on the CD, there is a song titled "Just Have to Wait." There is a phrase in it that speaks to my heart about my brother, Mark. I just had to post the lyrics to the whole song, but along the last verse, you will see what I mean.

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/steven_curtis_chapman/just_have_to_wait.html ]
Well, I can't wait to SEE your smile again,
The one when your eyes disappear along with all my troubles
And I can't wait to hear you sing a song
Maybe "Jesus Loves Me" or a song you learned up there.

But I, oh I'll just have to wait
'Cause I know that day is coming
So I, oh I'll just have to wait.

I can't wait to hear your mama laugh
The way that only you can make her laugh when you get silly
And I can't wait to SEE you in her arms
I know the wound so deep inside her heart is healed for good.

But I, oh I'll just have to wait
'Cause I know that day is coming
So I, oh I'll just have to wait.

And I can't wait to dance with you again
Knowing that this time we dance, we'll never have to end.

But I, oh I'll just have to wait
'Cause I know that day is coming
So I, oh I'll just have to wait.

And I can't wait to SEE your sisters play
The way they do when all of you are playing all together
I can't wait to watch your brother's face
When he can finally SEE with his own eyes
Everything's okay.
And I just have to wait
'Cause I know that day is coming
And I just have to wait.

So, Mark, it is hard now, but a day is coming--sooner rather than later--when you will finally SEE with your own eyes that everything's okay. Debbie, someday the wound so deep inside your heart will be healed for good. I'm sure of it. I love you all so much!

Cozies and Coasters

Well, the creative juices continue to flow! And I'm just trying to keep up!

When I got this idea, my first thought was to embroider the names on my machine. Unfortunately my machine is not dependable. (I need to spend some quality time there.) As I was randomly cruising down the clearance aisle in Walmart, I saw this package of fabric sheets that you can use in your ink jet printer!! I was so pleased! Since I am happy to let patience continue to have her perfect work for a little while longer (James 1:4) before I tackle the embroidery machine, I got right to work on these little cozies and coasters.

In the recent past, I have done some sewing for a lady who designs children's clothing. I happened to have some scraps from some of those cute little outfits stashed away in my sewing room, just waiting for a project like this to come along! Nana and Grandma D were absolutely thrilled with their little gifts. Grandpa hasn't received his, yet, but I'm thinking he will be equally as pleased!

I linked up with Chari for Finished Object Friday even though it isn't Friday anymore! :)