Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your many promises of blessings. I am thankful that You are my refuge and I can run to You when I am in trouble. I am also grateful that You keep me from the traps of the devil. Lord, I do love You, and I ask that You cleanse my heart from any thing that is not like You. Strengthen me to walk worthy before You and my fellow men. Lord, restore the "fear of the Lord" to Your people today. Lord, forgive us when, in certain areas, we have become too casual about the things of God. Instill in us, Your people, a reverential fear of Your Holy Name and Word. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Prayer from http://www.bible.com/devotional-detail.php?juli=2454210&dtype=Proverbs on Psalms 109, “The fear of the Lord”

3 life-giving characteristics of my relationship with God

He knows me inside out. Always interested and involved
His way is always best
This relationship with Him always speaks of hope and truth.

Prayer in Homeground

Our heavenly Father,

Thank You for this day that You have made. Many times we have forgotten how to rejoice in it. We have forgotten to thank You for each other and the many blessings. But today we proclaim that “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts" (Psalm 145:4 KJV).

I pray blessing upon my dad. Thank You for the grace upon his life. It has not been easy for him in the transitions, but we know You were there each and every moment, and You still are. To us, it seemed a pity that He moved away from ministry. We don’t know the whole picture, but You do. I pray for Your mercy upon His life. In a place where He is unbroken, I pray Lord that You will convict His heart in Your own time. I pray that we his children will love him and continue to respect Him. For this is Your command.

Father I lift up my mom to You. We know that You are pleased with for her persevering spirit and a heart for our well-being. She is successful both at home and in her work place. But even then, there are times when she feels unappreciated, sad, bitter and even insufficient. For those times I pray for your gentle touch to still her and let her rest. Let her find meaning in her labor and let her find riches in Your glory. I pray that we will be a blessing and comfort to her, as we continue to seek Your face together.

Thank You also for my sister. I have found friendship in her since the day that I was born. That I know many do not do, and I don’t intend to take this blessing for granted. Lord I thank You for all the wonderful memories we have collected while growing up. But as we “put away childish things” to feed on Your word in new life opportunities, let us support each other anew and edify with words that strengthen and heal; with words and actions that talk of love and righteousness.

Lastly, I thank you, Lord, for my brother, the youngest in the family. As such we always feel the need to protect and guide him. So often they come out like nagging and commands, when all we need to do is pray and direct him to Your word and trust YOU, the author and perfector of His faith. I thank You that Your grace is sufficient for him and that just as he comes to the crossroads of His life, You have blessed him with a new relationship. In all these things may He lift up to You in sacrifice and thanksgiving.


In Your great and powerful name,
Amen.

Prayer At My Workplace

My dearest heavenly Father and Lord,
I thank You for this morning at my work place. Just as it is a wet day outside, I thank You for the outpouring of Your love and mercy, and Your dew that sustains me, always fresh, always anew.

This morning I want to pray for my boss. Lord, I thank You that she is always willing to help me and others deal with difficult cases, as she is struggling with her own workload. Always there to suggest and advice, befriend and encourage, I thank You for the experiences that she herself has gone through. This has enabled her to be the person she is today. As she shares about her family, we know You will protect her husband and children, and bless them abundantly.

I thank You Lord for my colleagues. Lord, by divine appointment You have placed them each at their seat. With individual gifts and life stories to tell. I thank You that they have helped me settle in so quickly. I was new- but now I am acquainted. In this vocation where love is the key- let us not take for granted that the bigger lover himself is You. When we find that we cannot love anymore, let us come back to You. Lord I pray for good communication amongst all of us. In good times and in conflict, both.

Finally Father, I pray that You give me a good attitude, teachable, responsible, patient, kind- Lord, the fruit of the spirit remind me so; not because I have to be, but because You Jesus are living in me. When I find it hard to forgive, Lord help me remember You have died in my place and redeemed me. For that I can stand where I now am. Lord, when I remember You came for the sinners not the righteous, the poor not the rich; the weak and not the strong, it gives new meaning to where I am.

In Your son, Jesus’ precious name,
Amen.

the perfect ponytail

I was standing in the train,
waiting for my stand to come.
At first, just gazing out into the passing
View- when then a girl came into
and paused the motion; all passing notion.
Just five or six years was she,
And lovely pony tail she spot.
Reminds me of the days of young
And now still captivates, now when old (er).
It takes one length, 9 inch or so-
Width- a- 2 and tapers down
To one small curl right at the end;
And inward faces-no awkward bend.
I notice how its texture keeps,
one full shape that swings with her.

But fin’lly as I tore my eyes
and saw how far to stand I’ve come.
It’s rightly my alighting time,
I pick my lady bags the way I’m found
And leave the childish things behind.