Happy Birthday ISH and AGM, and Welcome CJH

Dear Lord,

Thank you for the blessings you have been giving me in grandchildren. An amazing joy each of them have given me. I thank you particularly now for these three. I pray that you protect each of them over the coming year, both physically and spiritually. As ISH continues to grow in his awareness of spiritual things, I pray that you continue to grow that seed, which is already evident within him. And even in the little guys, I know that spiritual concepts are formed from the moment of birth and I pray that you guide their parents as the strive to impart faith in these early years.

My quiver is full, Lord. Thank you.

Amen.

Renewal and Regeneration - Isaiah 35: 5-7

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

Father,

You make all things new. You make life when there is no life. You take dry bones and make them live. Some of these little ones may lose their way. They may hit dead ends. They may feel somehow that their life is over. It is in those times that I pray you come in the power of your spirit to reclaim their hearts and spring anew your life within them so that they may flourish again in your light.

Amen

Isaiah 35 - He Will Come to Save You

Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.” Isaiah 35:3-4

Father,

When these little ones feel weak, strengthen them with your powerful Spirit.
When fear causes their knees to buckle and their hearts are terrified, come to them in your power, come against the forces of evil who are at work in the world causing the events that are leading them to fear. Men and women fall under the power of the Evil one and they say and do things which hurt the innocent. When these little ones suffer under these actions, bring your vengence and devine retribution against those who have allowed satan's influence to bring them to commit these acts - righteous and devine retribution designed to bring the purpetrators to repentence and devine vengence and retribution against the evil one and his agents for their defeat and destruction.

Show yourself in these times in a powerful way to give courage to these children.

Amen

Isaiah 35 - When the land is parched

The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. 
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. 
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, 
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; 
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God. (Isaiah 35:1, 2)

Dear Father,

These children will face times of dryness in their lives, when their souls are parched and weary. I pray in those times that you quench their spiritual thirst with your presence and your goodness. May they then experience your joy as they burst forth from that dryness into regained full bloom as they look to your glory and your splendor.


Amen

Psalm 16

Keep these children safe, O God,
for in you they will take their refuge. You are their Lord;
apart from you they will have no good thing.
Lord, you have assigned them their portion and their cup;
You have made their lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for them in pleasant places;
surely they have a delightful inheritance.
I pray that they will praise you, who counsels them;
I pray that they will set you always before them.

Because you will be at their right hand,
they will not be shaken.
Please make known to them the path of life;
and fill them with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Amen

Shine for Your Light has Come. Isaiah 60:1-2

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you. (Isaiah 60:1, 2)

Dear Father,

I often pray for these children that they will be a light shining in the darkness. As Isaiah says, darkness covers the earth. A thick darkness covers the people. We only need to look around to see that this is true. Evil is everywhere. People are captive to the darkness of evil. Evil causes people to be oppressed and mistreated. Evil causes people to be covered with the fog of deceit, causing people to live in ways that lead to their own misery and destruction. So many people in the world live in the darkness of hopelessness.

It seems so overwhelming. But Isaiah's words remind me that our light is not our own, but you rise as the sun upon us and give us light and fill us full of light that we can spread across the earth. And we are given the simple command to "rise up". From there, you take over.

I pray that these children will have the courage to rise up. To stand up in the darkness and let your light shine. Do not leave them stranded when they stand in the darkness, but rise upon them and let your glory appear over them so that your glory is shown to all around them.

Amen.

Happy Birthday Geo and ECH

Dear Father,

Thank you for these two precious ones who came into this world three days apart each from one of my daughters. You showered blessings on me that week and you have continued to do so through these beautiful lives. Continue to protect them, continue to prepare them for a life of meaning, impact and significance. Continue to give those raising them great wisdom.

Amen