God's plans for us.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not calamity, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Wherever we are in life, this scripture provides an assurance of God's care for our lives. I know right now, within my family, I feel a great deal of anxiety for my son, who is getting married on Saturday. Is he ready? Does he have a clue what they are getting themselves into? Can they get along on their own? I say the answer to all of these questions is clearly "NO!" But then I read this scripture, and I know that they are not going to be on their own, because God will be with them, and if they submit their lives to God's will, no matter what circumstances occur in their lives, God will protect and provide. I think the hardest part of that whole promise is learning to submit to God's plans for us. We spend all our time and energy making plans, and then don't understand when things don't happen as we expected. If instead we spend more time in prayer, seeking God's plans for our lives, and invested more of ourselves in trusting in God's power and goodness to guide our lives, our future is indeed full of hope. (Thanks to Mrs. Elizabeth Phipps for bringing this scripture to mind, and sharing her own inspirational story of faith.)
Divine parent, you created us in your own image. We thank you for allowing us to share in the creative process of parenthood. We give thanks for our sons and daughters, and we offer them back to you in a spirit of sacrifice and love. We know that they belong to you, and are only given to us for a time. As we see them an the verge of adulthood, please give us the peace of knowledge that you continue to work in their lives for good, and may our efforts toward teaching them to know you come into full bloom and bear fruit in their lives.
We pray also for all parents who are separated from their families. Give them comfort and provide them with the strength to maintain their family ties even through the challenges of separation. And we pray for all the extended families and foster families, who in times of need, have been called upon to step in and provide care and support for your children. Strengthen and support them with your love. Help them nurture your children in love, and show us as your people how to serve them.
We lift up the following to you by name, who have asked for prayer: Mary Guerrere Thompson and her husband Earl and her children Gabriel, Lela and Jason; Vanessa Medlin and her sister Kathy Landers who are still feeling the loss of their mother; Karietta Washington and her sister Joricelle Sylvain; Karen Monk; Sunshine Wise; Jeremy Cawthon and his family; Hayman L. Lee; Debra Price, her children, and for Sue Molokwu who is caring for her children; William P. Smith; Ms. Sarah Morris; Victor M. Padilla; for Brett Travis Cichon; Stacy Clark; Fredda Merriman and her daughters, Gina and Mandy, and her mother Johnnie, and her sister; for Lisa Woods who request that your plan for her life will become clear, and that she have patience to deal with her situation; Melanie Anderson and her family; Lana Cornelius and her family; Ronnie E. Stobaugh asks for help in finding employment upon release; for Kim Stills and her children, Kayla and Kevin, and her family; Lynn Foster and her family. These are but a few of the thousands of our brothers and sisters who are in need of your mercy. Please be in their hearts from the rising of the sun to the end of each day. Help them with the peace that only you can bring, and as they open their lives to you and your grace, fill them with your love.
We give thanks for this ministry, and for everyone who has participated in it. We praise you for the opportunity to touch so many lives with your good news, and we ask your continued direction. Today especially we ask your healing mercies for Maryann, as she recovers from her surgery. Strengthen and renew her in service to you. We pray for these, and all your children, and we seek your will for all our lives. Through Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
Jeremiah 29:11
Wherever we are in life, this scripture provides an assurance of God's care for our lives. I know right now, within my family, I feel a great deal of anxiety for my son, who is getting married on Saturday. Is he ready? Does he have a clue what they are getting themselves into? Can they get along on their own? I say the answer to all of these questions is clearly "NO!" But then I read this scripture, and I know that they are not going to be on their own, because God will be with them, and if they submit their lives to God's will, no matter what circumstances occur in their lives, God will protect and provide. I think the hardest part of that whole promise is learning to submit to God's plans for us. We spend all our time and energy making plans, and then don't understand when things don't happen as we expected. If instead we spend more time in prayer, seeking God's plans for our lives, and invested more of ourselves in trusting in God's power and goodness to guide our lives, our future is indeed full of hope. (Thanks to Mrs. Elizabeth Phipps for bringing this scripture to mind, and sharing her own inspirational story of faith.)
Divine parent, you created us in your own image. We thank you for allowing us to share in the creative process of parenthood. We give thanks for our sons and daughters, and we offer them back to you in a spirit of sacrifice and love. We know that they belong to you, and are only given to us for a time. As we see them an the verge of adulthood, please give us the peace of knowledge that you continue to work in their lives for good, and may our efforts toward teaching them to know you come into full bloom and bear fruit in their lives.
We pray also for all parents who are separated from their families. Give them comfort and provide them with the strength to maintain their family ties even through the challenges of separation. And we pray for all the extended families and foster families, who in times of need, have been called upon to step in and provide care and support for your children. Strengthen and support them with your love. Help them nurture your children in love, and show us as your people how to serve them.
We lift up the following to you by name, who have asked for prayer: Mary Guerrere Thompson and her husband Earl and her children Gabriel, Lela and Jason; Vanessa Medlin and her sister Kathy Landers who are still feeling the loss of their mother; Karietta Washington and her sister Joricelle Sylvain; Karen Monk; Sunshine Wise; Jeremy Cawthon and his family; Hayman L. Lee; Debra Price, her children, and for Sue Molokwu who is caring for her children; William P. Smith; Ms. Sarah Morris; Victor M. Padilla; for Brett Travis Cichon; Stacy Clark; Fredda Merriman and her daughters, Gina and Mandy, and her mother Johnnie, and her sister; for Lisa Woods who request that your plan for her life will become clear, and that she have patience to deal with her situation; Melanie Anderson and her family; Lana Cornelius and her family; Ronnie E. Stobaugh asks for help in finding employment upon release; for Kim Stills and her children, Kayla and Kevin, and her family; Lynn Foster and her family. These are but a few of the thousands of our brothers and sisters who are in need of your mercy. Please be in their hearts from the rising of the sun to the end of each day. Help them with the peace that only you can bring, and as they open their lives to you and your grace, fill them with your love.
We give thanks for this ministry, and for everyone who has participated in it. We praise you for the opportunity to touch so many lives with your good news, and we ask your continued direction. Today especially we ask your healing mercies for Maryann, as she recovers from her surgery. Strengthen and renew her in service to you. We pray for these, and all your children, and we seek your will for all our lives. Through Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
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