Praying Scripture: Difficulty | Hardship

Today we’ll continue our ‘praying scripture’ journey and look at scriptures (turned into prayers) that speak truth into times when we are facing difficulties and/or a difficult season of life. These prayers are just examples. Feel free to use them as they are or modify them using your own words and specific situation(s).

Click here for prayers on anger and frustration.

Prayer 1

Lord, help me see this struggle as an opportunity for joy, as an opportunity for my faith to be tested so that I can gain endurance to make it through to the other side of this. Thank you for your faithfulness in comforting me during my struggles so that I can point others to you as I give them the same comfort you’ve given me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

  • Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4
  • He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4

Prayer 2

Lord, I know you are working in this situation. Please open my eyes so that I may see you at work. I want to see you. I want to believe You when you say that all plans are worked out for my good and Your glory. Lord, help my unbelief. Thank you for your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Scriptures:

  • 16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. 2 Kings 6:16-17 (This is an amazing account in the Bible. It’s well worth your time to read the whole chapter!)
  • 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
  • 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:24
  • If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. 2 Timothy 2:13

Prayer 3

Lord, what I am facing now is so incredibly difficult. I get lost in it often and it robs me of my joy and thankfulness. Help me be joyful in all circumstances so that my life points to you. Lord, please guide my gaze upwards, fixating my eyes on Jesus so that I continue to run with endurance this race you have set before me! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

  • 16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
  • Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:1-3

You may notice that the prayers include a “so that” clause. For more on “so that” prayers, click here.

What scriptures do you pray when you are experiencing a hardship?

Stamped Gift Bags

We try to get our girls involved in giving, especially during the Christmas season – a time when it seems the focus for them (and probably most of us, actually!) is often on getting.

In addition to participating in Operation Christmas Child and other missions during the holidays (which we involve the girls with as well), this year we decided to give gifts to our neighbors. My toddlers and I decorated the paper gift bags using Christmas-themed stamps. They had a lot of fun (and so did I – haha)! We will also deliver all the gifts together. If your kiddos are older, they could get a bit fancier with how they decorate the paper bags. You could also use other stamps to decorate bags for other holidays and special occasions (Thanksgiving, Easter, birthdays, graduations, etc.). The possibilities are endless!

I thought they turned out pretty cute! I found the treat bags, stamps, and ink on Amazon.

“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Praying Scripture: Anger | Frustration

Well, it’s been a bit since I’ve posted last! But, I’m back at it! At least for now :).

Over the next several months, I’d like to share with you some prayers based on scripture. Oftentimes I know I need to pray, and I want to pray, but I just have no clue WHAT to pray. Maybe you feel that way too? I’ve found that praying scripture is great because it gives me words to pray, and I’m praying God’s words back to him!

Each ‘Praying Scripture’ post will include prayers based on scriptures that focus on a specific challenge area such as anger, sadness, anxiousness, being wronged, etc.

Today I’ll share a few prayers we could say when we’re feeling angry or frustrated.  Continue reading »

Acts of Love and Kindness Chart

Commit.

And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Commit.

It’s my focus word for 2018. I’ve chosen to commit to teaching my children (and others) about Jesus. Of course, I will continue to teach my children about Jesus and weave it, hopefully, ever so seamlessly into my parenting beyond just this year. But, this year, this is the year that’s going to get me started on that path!

Last month my 2.5 year old and I (who am I kidding, it was just me) created an ‘Acts of Love and Kindness’ chart. At this point, you’re probably assuming I’m going to link you to a pin on Pinterest showing you where I found this idea. Am I right?? Well, guess what!? I did NOT find this on Pinterest, although I’m sure it’s out there :). I came up with the idea on my own! Actually, I take that back. I’m SURE the idea was given to me by the Good Lord above. I do NOT come up with ideas like this so easily!

Below the title of the chart, I included the second half of Galatians 5:14, For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Each circle on the chart represents something my daughter can do for someone else that is kind or loving. Every time she does something that’s on the chart, she puts a sticker in the corresponding circle. We love it!

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I’d love to hear your ideas! What ways do you teach your children about Jesus and how to be like him?

Workout Playlist – Christian Music

Here’s a 45-minute(ish) playlist of Christian music that’s great for a workout. It includes a warm up and cool down song. Enjoy!

What are your favorite Christian workout songs?

Christian Music Workout Playlist

A Granny-Inspired Stocking

I adored my great grandma, affectionately know as Granny, and known to me as Grandma NeeNee (I couldn’t say ‘Granny’ when I was younger; it came out as ‘NeeNee’). In fact, I think everyone adored her. She was just fun to be around and very adventurous.

She would play teacher with me, and, of course, always be the misbehaving student. She would wade in creeks, play in barns, climb in fishing boats on land, and walk in pastures with me. She would write letters-in-a-bottle and throw them in the creek with me, allowing me to believe the letter would actually make its way down the creek, someone would find it, and said someone would call us back using her phone number I included in the letter. She did all of these things well into her seventies. Granny was just, well, Granny! Continue reading »

Back to School: College Student Gift Baskets

August means back-to-school! If you’re looking for something to give a college student, a gift basket is a great option.

Some family members of mine are going off to college, and I wanted to give them a practical gift as they start this exciting time in their life. I opted for gift baskets because who doesn’t like a gift basket??? Plus, I really enjoy making them :). I scoured the internet for ideas of what to include in the baskets and came up with some ideas of my own as well.

I’ll share with you the items I included in the two gift baskets below. One is for a commuter college student, and the other is for a college student moving out on her own for the first time.

Gift baskets are so simple and also allow you to be creative! Buy a basket or storage container of some sort, cover the bottom with some crumpled up tissue paper, and start filling it with all the goodies!

Commuter College Student Gift Basket

gift basket college commuter

Continue reading »

Get Prayd.

Prayd Landscape

It all began with a light-hearted conversation during our Bible study about creating a prayer app. From there the idea grew, and my husband and his buddies began working on a prayer app – Prayd.

None of us had any idea how this would all pan out. We knew it could be anything from a complete failure to an utter success. One thing we knew for sure, though, was that we needed to pray about it! If the Lord was in it, and if my husband and his buddies kept their sights on Him, we knew something great could come from this.

Now, almost a year (filled with hours and hours of great work) later, the app is now live! Prayd allows prayer requests to be connected with pray-ers. God, the Father of Jesus Christ, gave each of us unique talents, abilities and personalities. These personalities are on full display in prayer—our hearts naturally go out to people struggling with needs that we can relate to. Prayd enables this by helping people find pray-ers and helping pray-ers find people (prayd.net).

Let me tell you, in just the few short months this app has been live, it has been such a blessing! I cannot believe the number of people joining the Prayd community by submitting prayer requests and praying for others in need. I have been so extremely blessed by simply having the opportunity to pray for strangers! It’s so weird, I did not at all expect to be so blessed by this; it’s amazing how the Lord works :).

My prayer is that others using the app are somehow blessed as well. I pray this app continues to further the Kingdom and connect others to Jesus Christ through the power of prayer!

Join the community. Get Prayd.

iOS Devices        Android Devices        prayd.net       @GetPrayd        /GetPrayd        +GetPrayd

 

Kitchen Makeover

Back in mid-May I began our kitchen makeover. It was quite the project, with the DIY pieces taking over 55 hours to complete. Yikes :/. I’m so happy with the finished product, though!

I’ll give you a quick before and after photo before explaining all the changes we made.

Before

After

I just love it :). Ok, now for all the changes…  Continue reading »

Kitchen Project: Sherwin Williams ProClassic Paint

I’ve now completed two cabinet painting projects. The first one was our bathroom vanity. You can read about that here. The second one was our kitchen cabinets. This was a MUCH larger project than the bathroom vanity, but it was SO worth every bit of the 50+ hours it took to complete the project. Thankfully I had some help from a good friend and the hubs!

I used different paint for the kitchen cabinets than I did for the bathroom (per a recommendation from a friend’s mom who knows a professional painter), and boy, I’m glad I did!

I used Benjamin Moore Fresh Start primer and Sherwin Williams ProClassic paint. The picture below shows the primer in white, but I actually used the deep base version and had it tinted. My paint color was Stratus by Valspar. Sherwin Williams color matched it perfectly.proclassic paint

Ok, so the Sherwin Williams paint, it’s expensive (I paid $50 for one gallon, and that was with 30% off), but it was worth every penny! This paint is amazing. It goes on thick, pretty much self-levels so you don’t have to mess with it much, and dries without that tacky/sticky feel that some cheaper paints have. It also dries quickly. I highly recommend it for painting cabinets.  Continue reading »