HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Happy Mother's Day to all of my readers! I absolutely love being a mother and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

I love this picture. Some of my favorite memories from my childhood is when we would have family devotions and prayers at night just before bedtime. I did not realize how hard it was for my Mom to try to keep this going until I had children of my own. I find myself so tired at night after such busy days, that it is so easy to say that we'll skip devotions, just for that night. I must confess that I have done this on more than one occasion. Well, I only have two children and my mom had six. I'm sure there were nights when we didn't have devotion time, but I don't remember it being very often.

Prayer and devotion time is important. This is the time when we can talk on a more personal basis with our children about God and His Word. We can help them to memorize scripture. When we teach them to pray for people, we are teaching them to think about others and not themselves. And what an awsome thing when they actually see prayers being answered! It will help to strengthen their faith.

We also don't need to just pray WITH our children, we need to constantly be praying FOR our children. Lift them up to the Lord. Sometimes things happen that we just don't understand or don't know how to handle. Give it to the Lord. Ask for His direction and leading.

Moms, we have such an awsome responsibility to teach our children and raise them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord!
Motherhood is such a high calling from God. It's an experience like no other.
Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Beth :-)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and mothers-to-be! What a special and awesome calling we have been given!
Have a wonderful and blessed Sunday.
Beth :-)

STANDING IN THE GAP FOR YOUR NATION

"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God."~ Ezekiel 22:30-31. 

 Can you feel the sadness in this verse? The sadness that not one person could be found in Israel that would pray for them and "stand in the gap" before God that He would spare them of His wrath over the wrong doings of their leaders and priests.
Our nation is sinking fast in it's selfishness and sins. Are you "standing in the gap" before God for our nation? Are you praying for our leaders and those in authority over us? 1 Timothy 2:1-4 tells us that we are to pray for them: "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
Did you notice that, along with the supplications (which are humble prayers, entreaties, or petitions), prayers and intercessions (which are prayers on behalf of someone), we are told to give thanks for all men, including kings (or in our country, the president) and ALL that are in authority. This is such a hard thing to do, especially if you don't agree with their actions and behavior. But, we are commanded to do so. When we do so, it is good and acceptable in the sight of God. He is pleased that we are following what He tells us to do.
How are we to pray for our leaders, our bosses, our supervisors, etc? First of all, God wants all people to be brought unto the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ, so we are to pray for their salvation. We also need to pray for decisions that they will be making.
Today, let's start praying, as we are commanded, for those in charge over us. Let us be the ones who will make up that hedge and stand in the gap for our nation!
Blessings!
Beth :-)