Blessed are those who mourn

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted  Matthew 5:4

Dear Father, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (II Corinthians 1:3),

Because we live in a fallen world and therefore death and loss are a basic part of our journey on this earth, I know that these children will experience loss, sorrow and mourning. If I could protect them from that, I would. But the  only way to avoid all of it is simply not to live at all. We know that you will raise the believers from the dead, but that does not remove the pain of loss. Your Son patterned that when Lazarus died - though he knew that he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, he wept.

I also understand that mourning and loss are not just about death, but about other kinds of losses - loss of relationship, loss of dreams, loss of job and even loss of contests.

So, first my prayer is to call upon your promise for these children that in times of mourning, you will comfort them. I believe that this kind of comfort is not simply them feeling better about things, but that in some supernatural way, your Spirit gives peace into their hearts beyond what is humanly normal. That is my prayer for them.

Secondly I pray that in these times they will stay connected to their family of believers. Your servant Paul tells us that one means that comfort comes to us is through others who have previously received your comfort (II Corinthians 1:4-5). Their tendency may be to pull away from people in these times, but I pray they do not and that you bring strong comforters in to their lives from within their family of faith.

Lastly I pray that, indeed, by the experience of comfort that they receive in these times, that they will become people of compassion, who reach out to those who mourn to provide comfort as they have been comforted. Give them a special grace of being comforters, giving them wisdom of what to say - and what not to say - to people who are in distress, such that your comfort naturally flows out of them.

Amen

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:3

Father,

I pray that these little ones are spared the curse of arrogance.  Though I pray that they have a good self-image, I pray that self image comes not from their own accomplishments or position or power and position in the social pecking order, but from their knowledge and confidence in their status as your children.

By that they may be described as poor in spirit - having no value save you living within them. May they ever grow in their realization that they are nothing without you - but by you they are everything. May they always know that, by their own power, they are flawed and sinful, but by the righteous act of your Son, they are forgiven and perfect in your eyes.

And by their continuing and growing awareness of these things, may they fully inherit your Kingdom as royalty.

Amen

Happy Birthday AGM!

Dear loving Father,

We thank you so much for bringing AGM into our lives this past year. It is amazing to us that he is already a year old! I thank you that he is a healthy baby and we pray that he will continue to be healthy and grow normally. I pray that you give E and S extra wisdom in raising him over the next year and that they are able to savor the joy of his toddler years.

I pray that you begin to grow the small seed of your word that is already being placed within him and that you will already begin to mold him for great purpose in your kingdom. Be his shield of protection against all harm.

Amen

Happy Birthday ISH!

Dear Father,

Thank you for bringing ISH into our lives. A perfect name he was given - he laughs. Such a joy he brings to the whole family by the joy that wells up from his very being and spreads to all about him. 

I pray for his health, that you will allow him to continue growing up and live a long and healthy life. I pray that you give L and K great godly wisdom in raising him up to serve you. I pray that ISH and GEO have a life long closeness that they have today and that GEO is a strong and godly influence on ISH as he grows up, and beyond. As L and K consider and pursue an adoption, should the effort be successful, I pray that ISH also becomes the strong and godly big brother to the next child or children to enter their house.

I pray that you mold ISH and guide him into a role in your kingdom that will have far-reaching impact for good. Give him wisdom beyond his years and great courage. Bring strong godly peer influence into his life and shield him from negative peer influence. Bring mentors into his life and give him the wisdom to understand the importance of godly mentors and therefore a desire to seek them.

If it is his lot to be married, I pray that you are also raising up and molding a godly young woman who will be his wife and life-long companion.

Continue growing within him the seed of your word, such that he will have an unquenching desire for your word and a desire to give his allegiance and life to your Son.

Amen

Psalm 40

Dear Father,

I pray that these children will wait on your during their life, and as they wait, you will hear their cry. There will be times when they find themselves in a slimy pit - life in a mess. Sometimes it will be because of things of their own doing, sometimes because of the actions of others, and sometimes simply because they live in a fallen world. When they cry out to you, I pray that you lift them out of the pit, out of the mud and mire, and set their feet on a rock - on solid ground. Then put a new song of praise in their mouths. And by their example let many see and believe in you.

Help them to look to you and not to the proud.

Many, oh Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us, no one can recount to you; were I to recount them, they would be too many to declare.

Do not withhold your mercy from these children, Oh Lord, may your love and your truth always protect them.

Amen

Be their Shield - Psalm 3

Most powerful father and God,

Be a shield around these children. Sustain them as they lie down to sleep and as they wake up. Take fear from their hearts even when they are threatened by the world around them. When they cry out to you, please answer them from your holy hill.

Place your glory on them when they feel defeated and insignificant so that they and the world around them can see your glory shining through them and thereby they and the world understands that they are, in fact, children of the king.

When they are discouraged, lift up their heads and restore them. Lift up their heads so that they look on your face and know the power, the gentleness, the kindness of a loving father. Lift up their heads so that they can see the big picture, rather than just dwelling on the problem at hand. Lift up their heads so that they can see that those are with them are greater than those who are with the evil one. Lift up their heads and restore the joy in their heart that can only come from knowing their true place in the universe - adopted children of the creator of all that is.

Amen

Shine Like Stars - Phil 2:15-16

Father,

My prayer for these children is the same as Paul's prayer for the church in Philippi - that they will shine like stars in the universe as they hold out the word of truth. There is so much darkness and hopelessness in the world. We see atrocity upon atrocity committed by humankind on thier fellow man.

In the midst of this darkness, you call your people to be light - the light of truth and the light of hope. I pray that each of these children will shine brightly within their sphere of influence, and that their sphere of influence expands over their lifetime. May their brightness be ever increasing as their knowledge of the Word expands and their boldness in sharing that Word increases.

Help them to understand how significant a single point of light can be in lighting up the world

Amen