PRAY FOR OUR NEIGHBORS

I do not intend to be morbid by posting footage of the destruction that Katrina left behind. But in light of what is churning out in the Gulf of Mexico, I think that this should serve as a gentle reminder that each person in this video is US.

I am the mother clutching my child protectively. I am the man holding on to the side of the boat for dear life. I am the man trapped on the roof. I am the woman in a wheelchair, facing destruction without the use of my legs. I am the child lost and afraid.

In the face of a disaster, I am these people. Nothing separates me from the faces. It could just as easily be me as them.

Please remember to pray NOW for each family that will be affected by Gustav unless God intervenes. And when the call for help is given, have compassion on your neighbor.

Father God,

I am not sure how to pray over a situation like this. Of course I pray that you would intervene to protect the lives of those living on the Gulf Coast. I also pray that your will be done and that I would react the way you would have me to. I pray Jesus over all and over the entire situation.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

~ Thankful Thursdays with JC ~

Saturday morning I was checking emails when I noticed the chirping of a bird. A very excited, 'I’m alive and want to be noticed' chirp. I looked out my window to see a little bird perched on my grill. I looked to the left and saw a bigger bird on the deck rail with a fat bright green worm in its mouth. Bigger bird (I’ll call it Mama bird) flew over to the smaller bird (I’ll call it Baby bird) and put the worm right into its little mouth. I was mesmerized. I dared not move. Mama bird flew back to the deck rail and then away. Baby bird continued its excited, happy chirps. Then from the right another bigger bird (I’ll call it Daddy bird) flew over with a fat bright green worm in its mouth and fed it to baby bird. Daddy bird flew away. I didn’t move my eyes were fixed on Baby bird. In a few seconds, Baby bird flew to the dogwood tree to perch there awhile, perhaps to take a nap after his two fat worm meal.

Immediately Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 6:26 came to mind, the NIV says, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

Father how wonderful You are to play out this scene from Matthew just for me! Thank You for reminding me not to fret/worry. Thank You for reminding me that whatever I lack You provide. You know I’m not concerned about your providing material things but it is the intangible things that have been on my mind like my lack of love for others. Thank You for reminding me that my neighbor is all mankind. Thank You for reminding me that my sisters and brothers are those that believe that Your Son, Jesus, is the Messiah the Jews continue to seek. Thank You for using my sister to remind me that there is a fine line between works and religion. I’m always amazed at how patient You are toward me and so very grateful. Forgive me for falling for the lies from the enemy that tell me, if you really loved You would do more or give more or leave my job and move off somewhere and work with the hungry or orphans or something. Thanks for reminding me that You are looking for willing vessels. You know that I am willing to go to the ends of the earth for You and I’m willing to stay put. I’m willing to speak and I’m willing to be silent, as You direct. You my Lord, my God alone are worthy of my praise, my worship, and my adoration. Father bless richly and abundantly every person who reads this prayers and humbles themselves as a willing vessel for Your service. In Jesus’ holy, precious and powerful name I pray. Amen

TUESDAYS WITH TIZ

Trials in the life of a Believer....

We see another truth from the life of Abraham in Genesis Chapter 22 as Abraham faces the greatest test he ever faced when God instructed him to offer his son, Isaac, on the alter of sacrifice. Here we see obedient faith that overcomes in the trials of life.

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith worketh patience" James 1:2-3

Trials or test are something we all face on our journey of faith. The trials in our life are used by the Holy Spirit to bring out the best in us. It is only by passing through trials that we learn what God is - His grace, His faithfulness, His sufficiency. We can be overcomers when we face various trials.

How can we be overcomers? By trusting Him and His Word. Faith rests on His promises and does not demand explanations. My Father does not owe me an explanation of my trials. He has already given me His promises. Personalize Romans 8: 28,29 "I know that all things are working together for my good since I love Him and He has called me according to His purposes. He is conforming me to the image of His Son".

With open hands we receive our trials and our blessings from our Father and with open hands we offer them back to Him as an act of worship. Dear friends, stop for just a moment and after receiving your trial from Him, offer it back to Him in an act of Worship. You are an OVERCOMER and ready to experience VICTORY in your faith walk!!!!!

"Father, you would never have instructed me to count it all joy when I fall into various trials if it were not possible for me to do so. Move in the heart of everyone reading this blog to join me in offering our trials to you in an act of Worship. Lead us to your Word that we might find promises from you to enable us to live victorious in the mist of trials. In Jesus Name, I pray" Amen

The Mysterious Ways of God...

I had stated that this was not a Mommy Blog when I first started it. Funny how I thought that I could separate myself on this site from being a mother. Not possible. When I sit down to write, I can choose what I write about, but I cannot NOT be a Mommy.

Even so, this is not where I will post pictures of my kids (well, not often) or tell day in the life stories about them. But when the Lord uses them to speak to my heart about something specific? I think that is pertinent here at Prayerfully Yours.

Our family life has been in a state of turmoil for the past two weeks. My husband and I have been worried about the way the kids were assimilating into their new schools. God is so GOOD, and has answered prayers, many many prayers, for my children. We are currently 'breathing a sigh of relief'.

During the peak of our trials, I hit a low point. I locked myself in the bathroom, got into the shower, and gave in to my heartache. I cried and I prayed. As I was praying for my son, and praying that God just make it all better, I found myself praying for another mother and her son. She is a blogger and her son has autism. God caused her name, and her son's name to pour from my mouth and lift them before the throne before I even realized what was happening. It amazed me.

I got out of the shower, now curious instead of anguished. I went to my computer and had to SEARCH for her blog. I had not spoken to her in a LONG time. After a while, I found her site. I clicked over to it and....

she had blogged about worrying over her son and his first day of school.

Her situation was the same as mine. Identical. Except that her son had a GREATER need than my son. And God saw that I needed to think OUTSIDE of my own problems, to quit focusing on MY needs, and pray for another. PRAISE GOD!

Father God,

I lift C.'s needs to you. I ask that you take care of her son and help him in school. Father God, thank you for bringing her to my mind. Thank you for using her to show me that WE ALL HAVE TRIALS and need the prayers of others. It blesses ME when I pray for the needs of other Moms. It keeps me from obsessing about my own problems. The way that you work Lord is truly amazing. I also thank you for reminding me of the scripture "No weapon formed against me shall prosper." It came to my remembrance JUST when I needed it.

I love You Lord, and I praise You and thank You for your mercies.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

~ Thankful Thursdays with JC ~

My pastor message this week was on coming “From Darkness to Light” He used Matthew 5:14-16 as the basis of his message. Verse 16 in the (NKJ) reads, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” He gave us four points relating to good works. It is his third point that I want to write about. Shine the light of LOVE. He used I John 2:9-11, Message version which reads, “Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and doesn’t block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn’t know which end is up, blinded by the darkness.”

Even as he spoke, I remembered telling someone that I didn’t know much about a lot of scripture and when it comes to the prophets I’m pretty much lost. But, I do know that Jesus said when asked what is the greatest commandment said in Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV), And “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.he second is like it: “love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” I know that I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and mind but I’m not so sure about that loving my neighbor part. I’m working on that one. Then I thought, is that something I can work on or is loving my neighbor something that only the Holy Spirit can do. I'm pretty sure I can’t pull off loving my neighbor without some Divine help.

Paul tells us in I Corinthians 13:9 (NIV) “Love never fails” and in verse 13, “…But the greatest of these is love.”

So, I have questions for you. Who is my neighbor? Who is my brother or sister? What does it really mean to love? How do you measure up in the love walk that we are commanded to live? I’ve asked myself those questions and find myself lacking.

Father, holy is your name. How merciful you are to your children. How long suffering, how patience. Oh, how you LOVE!! Father, forgive me for not loving my neighbor. Forgive me for not even knowing who my neighbor is. Is all mankind my neighbor? Is it other believers? Where is the line Father between loving and being run over or abused by man/woman? Is there a line?
ABBA, Father I come to with my heart completely broken. Open my eyes shine your light into the core of my being. Father teach me to love as you love; totally, completely, without reservation, Daddy, I’m you child and I’m running to you. Running to you like a little child runs. I’ve so much to learn. Let me bask in Your light as I learn to love. Father keep me from danger, please keep evil far from me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Oh, how you pour out your grace and blessings on me. Father I pray that I never become complacent. In Jesus’ holy, precious and powerful name I pray. Amen

TUESDAYS WITH TIZ

The LORD will provide.


In the 22nd chapter of Genesis and the 13th verse Abraham discovers another name for God, another name to use in his worship.
"Jehovah-jireh" - "the LORD will see to it" or "the LORD will provide".

In this passage of scripture, God has instructed Abraham to offer his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering. (I hope you can take the time to read this entire 22nd chapter) A variety of emotions surface every time I read this story. Abraham sees God as "Jehovah-jireh" when God provides a ram in the thicket to be offered as the sacrifice instead of Isaac. This ram in the thicket foreshadows our Lord Jesus being offered as a sacrifice in our stead. In the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God provided the way for our every need to be met in Him. "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:19

I chose to rest in this promise. I am His Princess, the apple of His eye and He delights in me. Yes, I can believe all my needs are being met according to His perfect plan for me. God provided a ram for Abraham and Isaac but he provided a LAMB for me - "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". Here I go, typing myself into a "Glory Fit".

"Father, I worship you today as Jehovah-jireh, MY PROVIDER. You provide my every need in your perfect timing. Thank you for the encouragement you have provided for me using my blogging buddies. I rejoice that I see you as my sacrifice,"the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world". Oh, Father, make these truths real to everyone reading this blog today. In the name of Jesus, MY PROVIDER, I pray." Amen

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The smell of Fruit Loops drives my cat crazy. She meows and chases me around the house while I am holding my mug of sugary goodness. I give her a piece of the cereal, and she smells it and turns up her nose. I give her my Fruit Loop flavored milk when I finish the cereal and again, she turns up her nose. But her behavior is the same every time that I make myself a nice serving of Fruit Loops Cereal. She is looking for something other than what I am giving her.

Of course this got me to thinking....

How often do I yammer and cry to the Lord in prayer for something and then turn up my nose at what He provides? How often do I ask for something, only to receive it and not even recognize this is what I was desiring?

Father God, please help me not be blind to your provision. Please help me to recognize your perfect will in my life. Father I am sorry for the times that I have turned my nose up at people, situations, and things that come into my life through you perfect will. Help me to live life open to your voice, receptive to the urgings of the Holy Spirit, and dependent on Jesus Christ for grace when I fail.

You are Holy, Father God, and beyond my comprehension. Thank You for your Son Jesus Christ that I might see you clearer and fellowship with You through Your Son.

And it is in His name that I pray,

Amen.

I was tempted to ask the Lord to make my crazy cat behave. If you are a cat lover then you would stand in agreement that this request could possibly even make my Heavenly Father chuckle. It's for sure that the ONLY person that could MAKE a cat do anything would be the Lord!!

~ Thankful Thursday with JC ~

Thanks Donna for sharing this prayer on your site. Like Donna, I’m not Catholic so I’m not familiar with how someone becomes a Saint but this prayer spoke to me and I wanted to share it with you. I did look up Saint Theresa and found that she is known as the Saint of the Little Ways. Meaning she believed in doing the little things in life well and with great love. She is also the patron Saint of flower growers and florists. Roses represent her. She died in 1897 at the age of 24. If you want to know more go HERE.

Listen closely to the words:

Saint Theresa’s Prayer
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of you.

Father, how awesome you are, holy is your name. All praise honor and glory belong to you and you alone. Father I pray that the prayer of Saint Theresa become alive in each reader. I thank you that I am content in knowing I am your child. Thank you for setting my spirit free to sing, dance, praise and love you. In Jesus’ precious, holy and powerful name I pray. Amen.

TUESDAYS WITH TIZ

The Everlasting God...


"And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God" Genesis 21:33

My Sunday School class is studying through the Book of Genesis. For several weeks we have walked with Abraham on his journey of Faith. In the 21st Chapter (Vs 33) Abraham is introduced to a new name for God - El Olam "the everlasting God" Abraham now has a new name to use in his worship. Abraham, like us, was well aware of the fact that situations and circumstances are constantly changing.

At this stage in Abraham's life, changes could mean - wells would disappear, trees would be cut down, ewe lambs would grow up and die, alters would crumble, and treaties would perish; but the EVERLASTING GOD would remain.

This lesson spoke to my heart as I thought about the fact that one phone call could mean that my safe, cozy, little world could be turned upside down. But the EVERLASTING GOD would remain.

CHANGES!!!!!

Children grow up
Cars quit running
Fashions go out of style
Folgers discontinues the product, Straight Up Latte (HELP)
Churches split (sad, sad)
Friends move away
Loved ones die (sorrow, sorrow)
A job you thought you would always have no longer exists

BUT THE EVERLASTING GOD REMAINS!!!!!!

"Father, I thank you that in my changing world I can depend on you to remain faithful. The fact that you are from everlasting to everlasting brings stability to my life. I pray that every person reading this blog will stop for just a moment and join me as we worship You for who You are, especially as our EVERLASTING GOD. In Jesus everlasting name, I pray. Amen"

God's Gift of Poetry

My daughters have been blessed to have made some very good friends.

This poem is by one of their Best Best Friends, Stephanie. She is a gifted painter, dancer, and writer. I claim her as a daughter of my heart and a Sister in Christ.

*SAVED* by 12 year old poet, Stephanie Witt

Christ saved my life
When I was only eight
I remember that day
Crystal clear.
In VBS of '04
Sitting in the floor
With Mama Ruby at the door.
She asked if we,
Had felt a knock o our hearts
With Christ at the door.
I nodded,
Heart pounding.
She called for the preacher
And quickly he came.
They all gathered 'round
With me at the center
And I bowed my head,
Holding "Mama's" hands
Repeated after Brother Randy
Then felt clean,
As never before.
I was SAVED and BORN again.

~Thankful Thursdays with JC ~

This week, there will be a link to JC's personal blog. She had the blessing of visiting the Holy Lands and has been sharing her experiences and photos on her site. So please go HERE for this weeks's Thankful Thursdays with JC.

Be blessed!

TUESDAYS WITH TIZ

A NEW CREATION

A few days ago I was working/playing in and around my flower bed. Just me, the Trinity and the butterflies. The butterflies were enjoying the blossoms as much as I was and I feel sure the Trinity was joyful also. Hey, the Trinity created me, the blossoms and the butterflies. GLORY!!. When I see a beautiful butterfly it is hard for me to imagine it was ever a caterpillar, bound in a cocoon!!! As I observed the butterflies I do not see the first one that looked like a worm with wings!!! No, they were beautiful butterflies - NEW CREATIONS. The caterpillar had passed away.

"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new."
2nd Corinthians 5:17

A NEW CREATION in Christ - our true identity!!! What a wonderful place to be. We are no longer sinners groping in darkness.

We walk in the Light. We live, breathe and have our being in the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!!!! Somebody give me an AMEN!!!

"Father, how I thank you that I do not have to wrestle with a worm mentality. I am free to see myself as a Butterfly. Make these
truths real to every person reading this blog today. Sometimes it is difficult to comprehend the fact the we are NEW CREATIONS
in Christ but your Word says it and I believe it. I receive all that I am in Jesus Name. Amen"

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW....

The pictures are of my Dad's bird feeders on Main Street Montevallo, AL. He feeds 25 pounds of seed into his feeder a week. This bird feeder sits on a busy street yet the birds flock to it to eat their fill. My Dad, the worker, likes to say "God said He would provide the food for the sparrows but not put it into their mouths. They still have to go out and find it."


Several years ago, a missionary from South America came to our church. As I remember it he brought with him a South American man from Peru who needed medical attention. It was this man's first visit to the United States of America. I'm sure you can imagine how a man who lived in the mountains of Peru felt when he was in the USA.

The missionary that was with him addressed the church about his visit. He told of his experience with escalators, automatic doors, and air conditioning. But what made the missionary cry, and has stayed inside of my heart and mind for all of these years, was this statement made by the Peruvian man:

"Your country is so blessed that you even have money to feed your birds."

I will remember that statement for the rest of my life. God brings it to my remembrance when I fret about finances. It will make you look around at the way you live and think "Yes, but I can still feed the birds."



Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

How precious to know that when I feed the birds I am being used by God to accomplish that which His word points out will be accomplished.

How blessed we are to live in a country of blessing and comfort, that our birds are even blessed through our blessings!!

Father God.

I praise You and thank You that You saw fit to allow me to live the way that I do. I thank You for Your provision for my family. I ask You to help me to continue to trust You for that provision. Father God, I pray that I will not take for granted the BLESSINGS that You have poured out over my family in abundance.

In Jesus Holy Name I Pray,

Amen.