prompts for prayer

One of my favorite things about Christmastime happens around 11:30 each December morning when our mail is delivered. Because I was home on maternity leave during this time, I would anxiously rush out to the mailbox with all the wonder and anticipation of a child on Christmas morning. Hand-addressed envelopes would always catch my eye first, some in hues of crimson or green. I would sort out the letters I suspected of holding the rich gems and rip them open with no concern for their paper overcoats.


Most often I would try to ignore the sender's address to maintain the surprise as long as possible. And there they were...Christmas cards! I particularly love photo cards, the faces of our precious friends and family on display in brilliant colors. Children with grins painted ear-to-ear, a bride and her groom with all the wonder and joy of newly married bliss, and more. Each picture tells a story. Each image captures my heart. I love these cards because I love these people.


Each card finds a special place in a fine china bowl, its creamy white and brown with gold gilded edges provides the perfect home for these delights. I find myself stopping there often, sometimes more than once a day, to thumb through the images and reflect on these sweet ones we love dearly.



As December passes, and Christmas decor is once again packed away, I can't bear to discard these treasures. They sat in the beloved bowl for weeks before I finally came up with an idea. In years past, we've used our cards as prompts to pray for the people pictured. This year, I decided to take that one step further.


I emailed each family who sent us a card and told them we would be praying for them throughout the year. I asked them to reply with some specific requests that we could take before the throne of grace on their behalf. As the replies came in, I wrote the requests on the back of each card. We will select one card each week or so and pray for that family as the Lord brings them to mind throughout the week, especially during mealtimes.


Prayer has a supernatural way of not only tying our hearts to the will and heart of God, but also to the hearts of other people. When I see these precious faces at church or on Facebook or even in the grocery store, I am reminded of their prayer concerns. They are more than that cute family who made a friendly gesture by dropping a Christmas card in our mailbox. Behind the paper smiles are real needs...a son whose mother may lose her job, a wife who longs for her husband to return to church, a parent seeking wisdom in raising her son.


I guess mailing cards at Christmas can be ordinary or predictable. But that's where most of us live...in the ordinary, predictable, routine, day-to-day of life. What ordinary event or gesture or tradition could the Holy Spirit use in your life to prompt you to engage in the supernatural? What mundane task or everyday object could remind you to stop and put the needs of others ahead of your own?

"There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him."
- William Law

thirty

I turned 30 a couple of weeks ago. Surprisingly to me, it wasn't the earth-shattering, end-of-life-as-I-know-it event that some people had made it out to be. Honestly, it was just another day.


My husband certainly made it a memorable one, pulling off a fabulous surprise dinner with my close friends and family three days after my milestone so I wasn't suspect in the least! But prior to my secret celebration, he arranged for a sitter and took me to Thomasville for dinner at our favorite spot, Jonah's.

I love car rides with my hubby because we never lack for conversation. In true 30 fashion, our chit-chat revolved around that rather unintimidating number. He listed 30 things he loves about me, and we bantered back and forth about the 30 most memorable events throughout our relationship. It was one of those times I wished I had a video camera to record every utterance, every laugh, and every glance because the detailed memory fades too quickly.


The ride home was more of the same. But I pulled out paper and pen when we began discussing 30 things we'd like to instill in our son. This certainly isn't an exhaustive list, though some of you may think it's exhausting! I don't think I can even grasp how valuable this list is or will be to us in the future.



So, to our precious son, full of innocence and potential and wonder, here are 30 things we hope to teach you or instill in you as we shepherd your heart and steward your life. (They occur in no particular order...)

1. Your purpose is to glorify God, and your goal is to live a life worthy of Christ.
2. You are to treat women with dignity and respect.
3. A deep admiration, loyalty, and love for family.
4. You are no more deserving of the love and grace of God than someone else.
5. An understanding of mature, biblical manhood and womanhood.
6. The joy and necessity of Scripture memory.
7. A deep, abiding love and insatiable hunger for the Word of God.
8. The value of close friends.
9. A humble compassion for "the least of these".
10. An understanding of the pricelessness of purity.
11. A comprehension of the vastness of the lost world, coupled with an understanding of the magnitude of the power of the gospel to change lives.
12. The power and freedom of forgiveness.
13. A strong work ethic and an appreciation for doing things with excellence.
14. The value of laughter and fun.
15. Always have God at the bottom of your joy.
16. Circumstances do not hinder the power of Christ.
17. Honor those who've journeyed further than you and spend more time listening to them than talking to them.
18. The importance and timelessness of a thank-you note.
19. The reality that we do not battle against flesh and blood.
20. The ability to dance...and make up an impromptu rap. :)
21. Life and death are in the power of the tounge.
22. The wise see danger and seek refuge, but fools keep going and suffer for it (Proverbs 27:12).
23. God never wastes experiences.
24. Salvation is an act of God from start to finish.
25. The courage to stand for what is right regardless of the sacrifice.
26. Never underestimate the power or consequence of one simple act of obedience or disobedience.
27. How to manage God's time discerningly as priceless gems and how to be a wise financial steward.
28. Dream BIG!
29. The importance of honesty and integrity.
30. You will be shaped by the places you go, the books you read, and the people you meet.

It's a tall order, but we don't want to go wandering through parenthood aimlessly. Maybe in 30 years, when you're pondering 30 things, you can quiz us on our list. By God's grace, we'll instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.

30 has come and gone. But I'm grateful for a milestone turned into a priceless memory.