Home Archives for Prayer

What Will Be Your Legacy?

0

Yesterday was Mother’s Day. I enjoyed some of our Mother’s Day traditions with my daughter, two granddaughters, and myself getting a pedicure together. Something we started when the girls were just toddlers. Even though this year I was slightly limited with the surgical wounds on my left leg, I still managed to have a wonderful partial pedicure with the girls.

We also had a lovely dinner together. I brought the family’s favorite Chex Mix for snacks, which goes back to my mother-in-law’s recipe that our kids loved. There was always a big bowl of it when we visited her. I was surprised the next generation, my grandkids, also love this timeless treat! When asked what he’ll remember about family gatherings, my grandson held up the bowl of my Chex Mix.

So Chex Mix is definitely a traditional legacy building memory in our family. Even though my mother-in-law cooked it in the oven for an hour stirring every 15 minutes, which I did too for many years, I now have it done in 10 minutes in the microwave!

I’ve been thinking a lot about legacy recently.

My husband’s cousin Pete’s wife passed away several weeks ago. A godly woman that I, and many, agree epitomized a Proverbs 31+ woman. She was 92 years-old when she went to be with her Savior passing away quietly in her sleep. She and her husband had been married 72 years!! They had 5 children, 18 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. Her name just happened to also be, Janet.

I remember vividly meeting Janet Hermanson over 30 years ago when Dave and I were newly married and attended a family funeral in Iowa where Dave is from and the Hermansons lived. Janet and her husband Pete picked us up from the airport and from the first greeting, I knew I was going to love my new namesake relative.

Janet welcomed me lovingly and graciously into the family and showed me how to make traditional Norwegian cookies, which I never was able to make as good as her. Janet’s warm welcoming kindness and hospitality rooted in her love for the Lord, for her husband, for people, her community, her state, and especially family and extended family made such an impression on me as a new wife.

I remember she had a “wall of brides” with pictures of her five children’s weddings. I was so impressed with this beautiful display of love that when our four children all married, I too created a wall of brides.

Because Janet and her husband Pete lived between Iowa and Arizona, we didn’t see them often, but they would always let us know when they were in our vicinity and we would get together as family loves to do.

Thanks to technology, Dave and I were able to listen to the livestream of Janet’s beautiful memorial service. Tears flowed as her brother-in-law shared fond memories of Janet before he read the verses about “The Wife of Noble Character” from Proverbs 31:10-31 and John 11 where Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus had died closing with …
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

There were fond memories shared from a son-in-law, and a daughter-in-law who admired all the many gifts of Janet, which she admitted could be a little intimidating. A grandson fought back tears as he shared his memories and those of his sister of their loving grandmother. A son shared how his mom parented with love and clever firm discipline. Many shared “Janetisms.”

One person said it seemed like Janet’s oven never turned off, as she always had her famous lemon bars, lasagna, cookies, cherry pie, and delicious treats coming out of her kitchen. She sewed, sang in the choir, helped others with tax preparation, was a bookkeeper on the farm and often went out in the field to help or drive truck or tractor, volunteered at church, supported 4-H, Sons of Norway, quilted, hosted family and friends, all while raising a family of five and welcoming dozens of nieces, nephews, and guests into her home.

She was witty, funny, spiritual, kind, godly, loved traveling, a loving wife sitting next to her hubby in their chairs even when they were no longer able to be in their home. Her children rose up and called her blessed and her husband praised her.

I could go on and on about sweet Janet Hermanson. Her memorial was a blessing to so many and her legacy filled the church.

Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
    but you [Janet Hermanson] surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Pr. 31:28-31

When I was sharing this story of Janet Hermanson’s memorial at the Women’s Revelation Bible Study at my church later that afternoon, the leader said she had just gone to the funeral of another Proverbs 31+ woman too!

Famous Legacies

Joni Lamb passed away last week at only 65. She was the President and cofounder with her first husband Marcus of Daystar Television Network back in the 70’s with the dream of using media to spread the gospel, which eventually became Daystar. A ministry that has blessed thousands over the years and many have come to know Jesus as their Savior. Joni helped build a platform that carried the gospel into homes across the world. She hosted conversations, encouraged believers, gave visibility to Christian leaders, and became one of the most recognizable women in Christian media.

With all the good it did, there was also controversy. But I want to focus here on the memory I came across on Facebook from Brooke Landreth who was a social media marketer and stylist at Daystar for 8 years. I’ve read many memories on Facebook from those who knew Joni, but this one especially touched me. Here is part of what Brooke wrote about Joni:

When I think about Joni, my eyes fill with tears because of the impact she made not only around the world, but on everyone she encountered, including me. Joni was someone whose presence made an impact simply through her ability to see people through God’s eyes. In the middle of the day, when I would pass her in the halls of Daystar, she would stop to give me a hug and always ask me how I was doing, despite wherever she was headed to next.

People were never the obstacle of ministry but truly the goal of ministry! And through her life, many encountered Jesus because of it!

She was a woman who was passionate about spreading the Gospel around the world and took a stand for truth no matter the cost. She brought out the gold in people through the words she spoke. She was a woman of generosity who often gave without expecting anything in return, and the unconditional love and heart she had for her family ran so deep.

I honor Joni for giving her life to the Gospel and for the legacy she is leaving behind. She will truly be missed by so many, but my prayer is that her children and our staff would carry the torch forward to bring Him glory!

I love you, Ms. Joni, and I will see you again in glory!

Charlie Kirk left a legacy of Turning Point USA as his wife Erika and the team carry on today. Charlie and Joni Lamb both have numerous videos and presentations that will be watched and shared for years to come to carry on their legacy, as will many others in public and private ministry.

Leaving a Spiritual Legacy

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” Luke 12:48

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Whether we’re famous or known only to our family and friends, we’re all known to God. Each of us will leave a legacy of what we did with the gifts, talents, and family the Lord gave us while we were here on earth. I like this definition of a “Spiritual Legacy”:

“A spiritual legacy goes beyond material possessions, encompassing the beliefs, values, teachings, and love you impart to others, shaping their spiritual growth and life choices. It reflects the influence of your faith and character on family, community, and future generations, creating a foundation for others to follow. This legacy is often intentional, involving consistent actions, mentorship, and the sharing of spiritual truths.”

A spiritual legacy is the lasting impact of your faith, values, and character on others, especially across generations.

–Biblical and Faith-Based Perspective

In the Christian context, a spiritual legacy is deeply rooted in Scripture.

For example, Deuteronomy 6:6-7 emphasizes teaching God’s commandments to children, ensuring faith is passed down through generations. The Apostle Paul highlights generational faith in 2 Timothy 1:5, noting how Timothy’s grandmother and mother influenced his spiritual life. Proverbs 13:22 also underscores leaving a godly inheritance for children and grandchildren, emphasizing spiritual blessings over material wealth.

–Key Components of a Spiritual Legacy

  • Faith and Values: Demonstrating the importance of belief and moral principles in daily life.
  •  Acts of Kindness and Compassion: Small, intentional actions that inspire and positively affect others.
  •  Mentorship and Teaching: Guiding others in spiritual growth through example, prayer, and sharing personal experiences.
  •  Family and Community Influence: Passing down traditions, stories, and practices that strengthen spiritual identity and connection.
  •  Global or Cultural Impact: Extending influence beyond immediate circles through service, social justice, or humanitarian efforts. 

–Practical Implications

Creating a spiritual legacy involves mindful living, reflecting on your values, and intentionally shaping your actions to benefit others spiritually.

Spiritual legacy encourages personal growth, strengthens relationships, and ensures that your faith and principles continue to influence future generations.

Whether through prayer, teaching, mentoring, or example, a spiritual legacy is a lasting testament to the life you lead and the values you uphold.

I’ve always said that I pray my legacy to my family is that Mom, Grammie, Great-Grammie loved Jesus as her Lord and Savior and loved her family well.

To my friends, I pray I was as good a friend as you were to me.

To Woman to Woman Ministry and About His Work Ministries, I pray you’re always looking for someone to mentor and someone to mentor you.

For now, I’ll keep on writing this blog and making Grammie’s Chex Mix!

Have you thought about what your spiritual legacy will be?

PS: The above picture was AI generated from the context of my blog. I just shared it here for fun, this isn’t me or my grandkids or anyone I discussed in the blog but look at all the brides on the wall LOL!!

Please leave a comment here.

May 11, 2026
Return to top of page

Why Christians MUST Pray and Vote Partisan to Prevent Government Persecution!

6

I hope I can keep this short since I can’t set at my computer for long. I’ve taken a hiatus from Monday Morning Blogs recently due to surgery on my lower left leg that isn’t healing well and is requiring wound care intervention. It’s especially painful when I sit with my leg down, so I have it propped up on a pillow on top of my office trashcan! Prayers for healing are appreciated since I’m scheduled for a hip replacement on June 3.

Okay enough about me. Let’s talk about the focus of this blog: Pray and Vote for Conservative Biblical Values!

As Christians, we must remain partisan because when the Democrats are in power they will silence Christians even to the point of prosecution. How can I say that? Well read on . . .

First Pray!

Since our country’s conception, America has been a praying nation. Even when King Charles was here last week and addressed the joint Congress, he acknowledged that America was founded as a Christian nation. We should never minimize, apologize, or take for granted this truth.

I hope you’ll see the new movie “A Great Awakening.” Even though there’s no evidence that Benjamin Franklin, one of the signers of the Constitution, ever became a Christian as hard as his dear friend Charles Whitfield pleaded with him to become one, Franklin understood the power of prayer and initiated prayer in the opening sessions of Congress, which continues today.

To kickoff America’s 250th birthday, on April 18-25, 2026, nearly 500 Christian actors, ministries, speakers, pastors, athletes, congressmen and women, even President Trump from the Oval Office, participated in the reading of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation from the Museum of the Bible in Washington D. C. The Bible tells us that God’s Word never goes out void. I hope you heard some of it. I opened it on my phone, put my phone in my pocket, and listened to this amazing proclamation of the Bible over America.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)

May Is the Month of Prayer

Prayer is our language fellow Christians. We talk a lot to each other, but our call is to talk to our Great God. God is always waiting and listening to hear our voices rising to Him in praise and petition.

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Jer. 29:12

Put These Dates on Your Calendar!

  • The National Day of Prayer – May 7
  • Rededication of America – May 17 (This date is significant. Keep reading)

What is REDEDICATE 250?

“Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving” is President Trump and the White House purposing America’s 250th celebration to honor our roots and humbly rededicate our nation back to God as when it was founded.

On May 17, 1776, the Second Continental Congress held a day of “prayer, fasting, and humiliation” just weeks before signing the Declaration of Independence and declaring independence from England on July 4th.

President Trump recognized this important heritage date and at the 74th National Prayer Breakfast last February, he announced that on May 17, 2026, there will be a major prayer event held on the National Mall to “rededicate America as one nation under God.”

President Trump continued explaining that the 12-hour sacred dedication event promises that “In speech, song, and storytelling, we will bear witness to the extraordinary story of how God has powerfully and wonderfully shaped the United States of America — remembering the people, sacrifices, and defining moments in which God has powerfully manifested Himself in our history.”

Now, thanks to President Trump, exactly 250 years to the day, thousands of Americans will come together in our nation’s capital to give thanks for God’s blessings over the last 250 years—and to ask for his protection and guidance as we enter the next 250 years.

President Trump has invited Americans from across the country to come together on the National Mall on that day to pray, praise, and give thanks. During his announcement, he noted a spiritual renewal and rising church attendance in America. He praised this trend declaring, “To be a great nation…you have to have faith” and “you have to have God.”

President Trump continued, “Almost 250 years after our Founding Fathers took one of the greatest leaps of faith in human history…it reminds us that prayers strengthen, prayers heal, prayer empowers and prayer saves,” said President Trump.

“Quite simply, prayer is America’s superpower.” President Trump

While you might not be able to attend these prayer events in person, you can certainly put them on your calendar to watch and pray along too. After all, this is your country we’re celebrating. Our Founding Fathers saw God’s hand of mercy in giving us this great country and we can at least stop for a moment and say, “Thank you God for America our home!”

Why Do I Say Christians Must Be Partisan?

Do you think we would have any of these prayer celebrations at this momentous 250 years if a Democrat were President? If you’re honest, no matter what you might think of President Trump you have to answer, NO! The Democrats are not only anti-Christian, they’re also anti-America.

We would not have had the Bible read over the country and certainly a Democrat President wouldn’t have read 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 from the Oval Office like President Trump did, which includes the well-known verse:

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (Vs 14)

We would not have seen the White House organizing this Rededicate 250: National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving on the National Mall, rededicating our country back to God. If Christians tried to organize it under a DEI Democrat Administration, there would’ve been many obstacles put in their path and much pushback.

How can I saw this you ask?

One of the first Executive Orders, President Trump signed was for his DOJ to investigate the persecution of Christians under the Biden Administration!

The investigation was a direct result of President Donald Trump’s executive order, Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias, which was designed to “immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ.”

“It is the policy of the United States, and the purpose of this order, to protect the religious freedoms of Americans and end the anti-Christian weaponization of government,” the executive order stated. “The Founders established a Nation in which people were free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or retaliation by their government.” 

The resulting 565 page DOJ report released last week was staggering to everyone who saw it as the current acting Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed that a Department of Justice investigation uncovered a “Systematic culture of anti-Christian bias across federal agencies during the Biden Administration.“

The report details for example how the Biden-era FBI monitored Catholic priests, and the IRS denied tax-exempt status to a Christian organization based on its religious teachings because they said teaching from the Bible sounded too partisan towards the Republican party!

“What we found in that very deep, substantial report is it was much more than just a rogue agent. It was much more than just a field office or a prosecutor,” said Blanche.

“It was actually a systematic culture issue at the Department of Justice to target Christians, to target people based upon their religious beliefs.”

The findings, published by a Justice Department task force, argue the Biden administration [which we now know was whoever was in control of the autopen] exhibited a pattern of behavior that undermined religious liberty. According to a DOJ press release, the administration used regulatory means to strip protections from people of faith!

“President Biden pushed policies to eliminate statutory protections for religious Americans that interfered with his policy goals,” the DOJ report stated. “Although he failed to change federal law, under his direction, federal agencies used policy and regulatory means to accomplish the same goals.”

The report says the Biden administration labeled parental concerns at school boards as “threats,” called concerned parents terrorists, and dismissed federal workers’ religious concerns about vaccine mandates as “insincere” or “not religious.”

Another claim in the report states, “The Civil Rights Division under President Biden sidelined Christians in favor of preferred constituencies. It published materials suggesting that Christians could not be victims of religious discrimination, only other faith groups.”

The report also showed the Biden Administration went after pro-life individuals and made little to no attempt to prosecute violent attacks on pro-life centers.

President Trump is protecting the rights of Christians that were systematically and purposely stripped of their rights by the Democrat Biden Administration.

If a Democrat EVER gets back in the White House, I believe with the Democrats now cozying up to Communists and Islamists, Christian persecution and discrimination will escalate like we’ve never seen before in America.

There is nothing in the Democrat platform that honors God. NOTHING! Instead, it’s become a godless dehumanizing political power-hungry party, and the Bible is clear that good cannot compromise with evil. The Democrat driving force is “hate Trump” “hate his cabinet” “hate his followers and supporters” and even try to kill them!

There’s nothing in the Democrat platform that is good for God-fearing Americans or any American. At the State of the Union, we watched the Democrats refuse to stand up when asked if their responsibility was to protect Americans. Why would any Christian vote for them? Many are switching parties even in government positions. We can pray that even more will do so also.

So yes, we must be partisan and Vote! Vote! Vote for candidates that you’ve researched and trust. Then support them to win.

Not voting is agreeing to watch the collapse of the country you love and saying it’s okay for the Christian faith to be persecuted, marginalized, and replaced by Communism and Islam, not only for the rest of your life, but that of our children and grandchildren.

Not voting, is actually voting for the party that hates you because you believe in God and the Bible. Christianity is surrender to God’s control and Democrats dismiss and detest this. They want control and power all to themselves. They’re yelling, cussing, angry people who encourage violence.

The manifesto of the man who wanted to kill President Trump and as many of his cabinet as possible at the White House Correspondence Dinner sounded exactly like the Democrat’s and liberal media’s talking points.

Democrats and liberals are trying to instigate and radicalize their followers to do their dirty work. Even their so-called comedians think it’s funny to talk about President Trump’s death. I refuse to call these “jokes” because they’re not funny. They’re sadistic and the fact that people in their audience laugh proves my radicalization point.

We all have primary elections coming up in our states. Christians must vote!

We also must NOT lose the House and Senate in the midterms.

If the godless Democrats, who care more about illegals, trans rights, sexual perversion, indoctrinating children, DEI, abortion, protecting criminals, George Soros, socialism, communism, and Islam than they care about you the American citizen, ever get into power, the good that’s been done by the current administration will be abolished. Christians will be their target once again.

The Democrats have no qualms about using lawfare against anyone who gets in their way, even God. The 565-page report is proof.

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me [Jesus], they will persecute you also. John 15:20


I’ve only listed a few of the findings proving the Biden Administration’s persecution of Christians. For more details DOJ Releases report detailing anti-Christian bias under Biden from the Christian Post

Please leave a comment here.

May 4, 2026
Return to top of page

Pray that America Remains: One Nation Under God!

3

Our Nation, the United States of America, will joyfully celebrate its 250th birthday this year on July 4th and the Trump Administration is planning a “huge” celebration. 250 years is a milestone many countries or empires may achieve . . . but then there’s often a rapid decline. 250 years is actually the life span of most great nations.

“While many like to comfort themselves that America is different, or even uniquely blessed by God, there’s no proof that we will escape the fate of other nations that one time believed the same about themselves,” Cal Thomas said in a recent presentation at the Heritage Foundation. Thomas’ talk was titled after his book, “America’s Expiration Date.”

After examining the historical precedent of former global superpowers, such as the Roman, Persian, Ottoman, and British empires, Thomas claims in his book that certain markers of cultural decline precede political decline. The book’s subtitle is “The Fall of Empires and Superpowers and the Future of the United States.”

Thomas says that in America: “Our past challenges were met with a resolve born out of a shared ethical and moral sense that is today in rapid retreat.” He mentioned one of the most disturbing markers of America’s decline is the casual devaluation of human life through abortion and daily deadly shootings in the inner cities that don’t even make the news anymore.

Thomas is hopeful that the cultural damage can be reversed with these three steps to restore common morality in America:

  1. Remove the next generation from public schools and liberal institutions of higher education.
  2. Encourage people to work and save and to look at government welfare programs as the last resort.
  3. Close the partisan gaps in public discourse and combat the left-leaning mainstream media.

On point #1 about schools, Thomas makes a great point:

“We don’t send our soldiers to train in the enemy’s camp, so why do we send our children to schools that teach them values so contrary to our own while expecting them to return home with those values and beliefs still intact?”

While Thomas’ battle plan is valid and perhaps a bit altruistic, I don’t believe healing America’s moral cultural decline is achievable without a return to God, who our founding fathers prayed to and were inspired by in designing and crafting this great American experiment.

Did you know that a majority of our laws come straight out of the Book of Deuteronomy?

The Declaration of Independence acknowledges that God is our Creator, “All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” 

The Pledge of Allegiance starts out “I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

 Regardless of whose picture is on our money, America’s national motto adopted in 1956 is on all our currency, “In God We Trust.” America’s guiding motto is commonly displayed in courtrooms across the United States above judges’ benches and is prominently displayed in various areas of the Supreme Court Chamber and the Capitol Rotunda reflecting the historical and cultural significance of the motto in American society and law.

When a government official is sworn into office, they put their hand on the Bible and pledge to honor the Constitution and the role of the position, “So help me God.” Even those who put their hand on the Quran, which I think is a travesty and should be illegal, still have to pledge, “So help me God,” NOT “So help me Allah!”

Even more essential than the three points made by Thomas to the survival of the United States is Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth’s, profound proclamation at the National Prayer Breakfast in D.C. on February 5, 2026:

“A country that forgets its God, forgets its greatness!”

President Trump also knows this to be true and that is why during his keynote speech at the National Prayer Breakfast he said this . . .

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “I’m pleased to announce that on May 17th, 2026, that we’re inviting Americans from all across the country to come together on our National Mall to pray, to give thanks, and to do something a lot of people said ‘boy that’s tough,’. . . we’re going to rededicate America as One Nation Under God!”

The room erupted in applause with a standing ovation.

President Trump continued, “That’s what I mean the spirit is so incredible. I thought it would take longer…but we’re doing so well. Maybe it’s because of religion. I’ve always said you just can’t have a great country if you don’t have religion. You have to believe in something. You have to believe that what we’re doing there’s a reason for it . . . People are going to church. They’re meeting people. Churches have seen 30% to 70% increase. There’s an increase in the number of converts and people going to church every week. Bible sales are through the roof. To support this exciting renewal … I’m announcing this National Day of Prayer!”  

Contrast President Trump’s speech at the National Prayer Breakfast with New York City mayor’s speech at an interfaith breakfast. Mamdani used Islam to lecture Americans about why they should resist ICE and illegal migration is necessary, although his own religion doesn’t allow non-Muslims to enter the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

“I consider my own faith, Islam, a religion built upon a narrative of migration. The story of the Hijrah reminds us of the prophet Muhammad, [who] was a stranger too, who fled Mecca and was welcomed in Medina … If faith offers us the moral compass to stand alongside the stranger, government can provide the resources. Let’s create a new expectation of City Hall where power is wielded to love, to embrace, and protect. We will stand with the stranger today,” Mamdani said.

How does government “wield power to love”? Love is a choice. And those “strangers” he’s standing with that ICE is trying to protect New Yorkers from are illegal murderers, pedophiles, child molesters and traffickers, thieves, drug dealers . . . the worst of the worst. Mamdani is using power to love, embrace and protect illegal criminals instead of New Yorkers!

In a country whose motto is One Nation Under God, this mayor feels free to speak about Muhammad and Islamic “faith” as a role model for America’s biggest city! That should alarm everyone!

Islam is not a religion! It masquerades as a religion to take advantage of America’s religious rights protections. Islam is a political ideology with the goal of annihilating the infidels, Christians and Jews, and anyone who isn’t Muslim per the Quran and in that pursuit, they’re allowed to lie. Islam is not an ideology of peace. It’s an ideology of surrender to Islam and then there will be peace. Someone needs to call Mamdani out on that fact. Someone should’ve told New Yorkers that.

Pray For the Re-dedication of America as One Nation Under God!

A Facebook friend of mine shared the following commentary by Traci Coston, which she had posted on her Facebook page regarding President Trump’s announcement of the national gathering in D.C. on May 17 to again proclaim and rededicate America as “One Nation Under God.”

Traci addressed some of the issues maybe some of you are even feeling and wondering why God would choose President Trump for this national reawakening and turning America back to its roots founded in God and the Bible. I thought Traci used Scripture and her words well to confirm God’s timing and plan that we don’t always understand in our humanness, but praise God we’re alive today to experience it. So I’m going to share Traci’s post here for your consideration.

Traci Coston wrote . . .

“As believers, we need to pause and recognize what is happening in our nation. President Donald Trump has openly called the country to prayer and has declared a re-dedication of America back to God on May 17th on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. That should move us to pray, not argue.

Scripture says: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority…” (1 Timothy 2:1–2)

Notice it doesn’t say only the leaders you personally like, agree with, or fully understand. We are commanded to pray for those in authority because God works through leadership to bring order, restraint, and alignment.

Some believers refuse to pray for President Trump because they question his salvation or his motives. But Scripture addresses this too. Paul wrote that even when Christ was preached from mixed or selfish motives, he still rejoiced because the gospel was advancing:

“Whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18)

The issue is not whether a leader is perfect — it’s whether God is using them. Jesus Himself said: “Whoever is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:40)

And He also made this spiritual truth unmistakably clear: “A house divided against itself cannot stand… Satan cannot cast out Satan.” (Mark 3:24–26)

Think about that carefully. A leader cannot be actively confronting evil, restraining darkness, calling a nation to prayer, and pointing people back to God by the power of the devil. Darkness does not cast out darkness. Evil does not war against itself. God may use vessels that don’t fit our expectations—sometimes when they don’t even fully understand what He’s doing through them.

Throughout Scripture, God used imperfect, unlikely, even resistant leaders to accomplish His purposes. What mattered was not their polish, but God’s power working through them. So instead of withholding prayer, criticizing from the sidelines, or demanding perfection before intercession, the Church should be doing what it has always been called to do:

Pray, intercede, ask God for wisdom, protection, repentance, and courage for our leaders, and thank God that His name is being lifted publicly again.

If a leader is calling the nation back to God, the response of believers should not be suspicion—it should be prayer.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12)”

Thank you Traci for sharing this call to pray for and not against our President and our nation.

Hallelujah and Amen!

Please leave your comment here.

February 9, 2026
Return to top of page

Jesus is Our First Love!

8

I know I don’t have to remind you that this Wednesday is Valentine’s Day! A day we traditionally show that special someone how much they mean to us. It can also be a difficult time for someone who doesn’t have an object of their affection to dote on or to be the recipient of doting…but it doesn’t need to be a sad day for those who know Jesus as their First Love!

My First Prayer Garden

Almost thirty years ago, I realized that even though I was happily married after being single for 17 years, my love for my husband wasn’t to take priority over my First Love, Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are so clear about this. When we were first married, we vowed to each other that we would always put Jesus at the center of our marriage.

We love each other because he [God] loved us first. 1 John 4:19 NLT

I never wanted Jesus to say about us what He said about the church in Ephesus in Revelations 2:5 NLT “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”

The NIV translation says, “ Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.”

Just as our earthly relationships take time, energy, and nurturing, I knew my spiritual relationship with Jesus required the same attention and devotion or it could become stale and routine. So I decided to approach my devotional time with Jesus each day with the same attitude I would lavish on my earthly love, Dave. I set about finding a special place to spend time with my First Love and I called it my prayer garden.

At that time, we were living in sunny Southern California, so I could have my quiet time outside almost every day. I’ll share with you in a moment how I have this date with Jesus now in our home in Idaho.

Thinking of Jesus as the lover of my soul and the One I love above all others, gave me the idea of creating a romantic atmosphere for my daily “Quiet Time” with Jesus. It needed all the touches of a special date. First, it must be quiet and free of interruptions, so that meant outside. Since my backyard was all cement, I arranged colorful potted plants in a shaded alcove of the patio and hung a hummingbird feeder. Our house overlooked a small lake, so I had a beautiful view. I placed a chair for Jesus and a chair for me with a small table in the center for a romantic fragrant candle. I later added wind chimes, and my son-in-law made a waterfall. Walla, I had a Prayer Garden.

The importance of having the chair for Jesus was to remind me that even on the days when I was rushed and missed our date . . . Jesus was still out there waiting for me. Every time I looked out at that prayer garden, my heart ached because I had neglected my First Love for whatever was happening in my life that day.

My Date Bag is Always Packed

Then I packed a date bag with my Bible, a journal, devotional, highlighters, pens, Post-it notes, current Bible Study, and oh yes, a lighter for the candle. One trip back into the house for something I forgot could be a major distraction.

First thing every morning, I grabbed my cup of coffee, my date bag, a blanket or sweater if it was chilly, and headed out for my date with Jesus in our Prayer Garden. Here is a major key to intimate time with my First Love—I shut the door to ALL interruptions. In those days, we didn’t have cell phones, so I let the answering machine take care of any phone calls and the family knew when I was having my Jesus date, the Do Not Disturb sign was out.

Now I was ready to read God’s love letter to me in my Bible, pray, journal, and work on a current Bible study. Most importantly, I could take time to hear God’s still small voice saying how much He loved me and telling me the plans He had for me.

When our date was finished, I repacked my date bag and put it back in the same spot every time by the patio door so it was ready for tomorrow’s big date. If the weather wasn’t good, Jesus and I curled up together on the couch and I played soft instrumental worship music in the background.

Idaho Dates with Jesus

When we were looking for a new home in Idaho, two things on my priority list were a writing room with an “ah ha” view and a place to have my special Quite Times with my First Love. As we toured homes, I was always looking for both, along with a kitchen with a scenic view, I could see the fireplace, and easily chat with visiting friends and family. In other words, don’t wall me in while I’m cooking!

Praise God we found the perfect home for us. Now that we live in Idaho with its four seasons, my Quiet Time locations change with the season. When the weather is nice, I’m out in the deck swing, and when it’s snowing or cold, I have a Quiet Time chair next to the fireplace with a beautiful forest view from our many windows. I still have my Quiet Time bag packed and ready to go depending on where I’m having my date with Jesus. It’s my most favorite part of the day!

At the end of our date, I sit back close my eyes and linger in conversational prayer being sure to let my First Love talk to me. He always whispers words of love and endearment as He reveals His plans, visions, and goals for us. Often, there are answers to prayers and previous questions. Many times, we just share a sweet silence.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Ps. 46:10 NLT

Like any wonderful date, I hate for it to end, but I know my First Love will be waiting eagerly for our special meeting tomorrow.

To keep romance exciting, it’s good to vary the activities on dates, so I constantly add freshness to my Quiet Time with variety. Each Christmas, I pick out a new devotional for the coming year. Sometimes, I select one with an area for journaling love letters to the Lord. I start my Quiet Time date by praying the armor of God from Ephesians 6:10-18 and would never think of going into my day without this spiritual protection. I alternate working on my small group Bible studies or one I am doing for fun. Some years, I read completely through the Bible, and other times, I leisurely enjoy the Scriptures.

 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matt. 22:36-39

How about you? Tell me about your dates with Jesus.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here is a poem I wrote about my California Prayer Garden. Enjoy!

OUR PRAYER GARDEN

You wanted to meet me early in the morning

            In a place that was special to just you and me.

My heart was willing, and I had such a yearning

            To talk and be in your presence daily.

I began to arise just after the sun came up,

            And  searched for a place where we could meet.

It had to be quiet where no one would interrupt,

            For the time that we shared would be so sweet.

I moved from room to room,

            As I tried to find the aura,

For you and me to just commune

            Every day at the same hour.

As we began to spend our time,

            I felt you nudging as I would pray:

“Our get-togethers need fresh air and sunshine.

            Let’s be amongst the beauty of the day.”

Of course, it was there all along.

            The table, the patio, the view—

I had all the makings for a Prayer Garden,

            But flowers were sadly very few.

A “green thumb” I have never been,

            But I knew this was the spot for us.

And it would not be a Prayer Garden,

            Without the ferns, oleanders and hibiscus.

A shopping trip to the nursery was fun,

            Even though I didn’t know what to buy.

Some flowers wanted shade and others liked sun,

            So I just bought what caught my eye.

Soon my garden was worthy of comment.

            The flower beds were colorful and in full blossom,

 And the array of potted plants carpeted the cement.

            The transformation was truly awesome.

One final touch called out to me,

            Wind chimes to catch Your breath in the breeze.

A hummingbird feeder for quiet company,

            In the place where we will meet when ‘er You please.

Jesus, I know now why you sought a garden

            When you went to pray alone that night.

Amongst Your creation God’s presence is sovereign,              

            You just know God’s plans will turn out right.  Janet Thompson 7/17/96

Please leave a comment here to this blog. I always reply and enjoy reading your thoughts.

 I apologize that the link to reply to last week’s blog wasn’t working, but it is now if you would like to leave a comment or haven’t read it yet Respect Your Weapons of Fasting and Prayer!

One more thing. Thinking about those who might be alone on Valentine’s Day, many people in our churches can feel marginalized. I wrote an article for Crosswalk.com that I hope you’ll share with the pastors and ministry leaders in your church. It’s a slideshow if you read it on a computer. 13 Ways to Recognize the Overlooked People in Your Church.

February 12, 2024
Return to top of page

Respect Your Weapons of Fasting and Prayer!

9

I hope you didn’t look at the title and discount this blog because you saw fasting. Hang in with me. I’ll explain why I chose this topic after battling with it myself for over a month.

Each week, I wait on the Lord to reveal a topic to write on and He never lets me down. Sometimes it’s at the last minute. Other times, I look for more confirmation, especially if it’s a hard one to tackle and maybe not one I’m eager to apply myself!

Dave and I watch Flashpoint on Victory News Channel. Pastor Gene Bailey, who hosts the program, has been encouraging the “Flashpoint Army” of viewers to join a Corporate Fast for our nation from February 5th through the 25th. I felt a tugging in my heart every time I heard him talk about it. I struggled with the Lord. With my health could I actually fast?

Then last Wednesday morning, January 31st, I opened my email and saw CBN was covering live the 2024 National Prayer Breakfast in DC, so I decided to watch. The keynote speaker was Senate Chaplain Barry Black. He started by saying he wasn’t a speaker, he was a pastor, and so his message that morning would be from the Bible. His topic was fasting!

Now, I knew God was trying to get my attention! He wanted me to share about fasting with all of you, who like me, have been praying for a spiritual revival and reformation in our churches, nation, and government. Or maybe you need a spiritual breakthrough in your life. I’ve shared in previous blogs about my ongoing battle with our local library to remove inappropriate obscene books harmful to children. I’d prayed continuously (1 Thess. 5:17), but I hadn’t fasted.

I told my husband the Lord wanted me to not only write about fasting, but also join the 3-week Flashpoint Corporate Fast. His initial response, “You might lose more weight!” Now to some that might seem like a good thing. In my case, I need to maintain my weight so Dave had a legitimate concern.

Some of you might have health issues that don’t allow fasting food for extended periods, but you could fast a meal, do a liquid fast, or fast a favorite food or activity. Chaplain Black said many at the Capitol join him in the Wesley Fast and Prayer on Wednesdays when they fast until 3 pm. John Wesley originally advocated fasting on both Wednesday and Friday as a weekly spiritual discipline and wouldn’t ordain anyone into the Methodist ministry unwilling to fast both days.  But later, he only fasted once a week starting at sundown Thursday and ending at 3 pm on Friday. That seems doable.

There’s nothing magical about those days. If another day of the week works best for you then pick that if you want to only do a one-day weekly fast. Be flexible. Listen to the Holy Spirit so you don’t focus more on the fast than the reason for it—to draw closer to God and hear the Holy Spirit more clearly.

Fasting doesn’t always have to be food. Maybe it’s something that has a grip on you like screen time, television, news media, social media, junk food, or even caffeine and fasting it would be a significant sacrifice.

Why Fast?

Intermittent fasting is a popular diet regime, but spiritual fasting isn’t about weight loss, it’s about spiritual gain. Food has power. Food motivates. Food addicts. Food controls. We’re often willing to spend more time and money on our food purchases and preparation then we spend on our time with the Lord. Esau traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a bowl of stew!

Fasting helps us crave spiritual food from God more than physical food from the refrigerator or pantry. Fasting intensifies the powers of our prayers. Fasting is more dependent on faith than any other spiritual discipline. When we fast, we believe that God’s going to show up. We hunger and thirst for righteousness and knowledge more than food and drink.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matt. 5:6

Many describe fasting as a lifting of the fog of fear, doubt, uncertainty, and worry revealing clarity of vision on what God wants us to learn from His Word and the Holy Spirit.

Fasting is often portrayed as hard and painful. It is a form of self-denial, but the purpose of spiritual fasting is to focus on God instead of what you’re fasting. Every time you go for the remote or to check social media or grab that snack or cup of coffee, instead you stop and pray for God to have more sovereignty over your time, mind, and body than food or the outside world.

Your desire becomes more for God than the object of your fast. Many testify that fasting and prayer, not one or the other, is the most powerful effective spiritual road to revival. We know we need revival in our country and in our government, but maybe it’s revival in your home or in your life.

Examples of Fasting and Prayer in the Old Testament When Seeking God’s Intervention for Their Nation

Moses: This happened when I was on the mountain receiving the tablets of stone inscribed with the words of the covenant that the Lord had made with you. I was there for forty days and forty nights, and all that time I ate no food and drank no water. 10 The Lord gave me the two tablets on which God had written with his own finger all the words he had spoken to you from the heart of the fire when you were assembled at the mountain. Deut. 9:9-10 NLT

Nehemiah: When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. (Neh. 1:4 NLT) On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. 2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. 3 They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God. Neh. 9:1-3

Esther:  “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” Esther 4:16 NLT

Daniel: So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. Dan. 9:3-4 NLT

In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship. When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. 3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed. Dan. 10:1-3 NLT

Jonah:  The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. Jonah 3:5 NLT

Examples of Fasting and Prayer in the New Testament.

Many have falsely claimed that fasting was only a spiritual discipline for the Old Testament, but the Bible contradicts such a fallacy. I don’t know why we don’t hear more sermons on fasting.

Jesus: For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. Matt 4:2 NLT

Anna There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child [Jesus] to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:36-38

Paul: He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. Acts 9:9 NLT

Church Elders: One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. Acts 13:2-3 NLT

Paul and Barnabas: Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23

 The disciples fasted after Jesus ascended into heaven, as should we as His disciples: One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?” 15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. Matt. 9:13-15 NLT

Examples of the Thompsons Fasting

  1. Our first year of marriage blending a family was horrific. Without keeping Jesus at the center of our marriage, we would’ve never made it. On Mondays, we did a liquid fast and prayed for our family and protection from the enemy. We were both working and would call each other during the day for encouragement. Those Monday liquid fasts drew us closer to the Lord and to each other and helped us not just endure, but experience victory!
  2. When my daughter Kim and her then fiancé Toby accepted Christ in a premarital course we gave them as an engagement gift, we prayed and fasted for them to want to be baptized. Dave fasted tortilla chips, a daily bread of life for him to this day. I was addicted to Diet Coke, so that’s what I fasted. Soon Kim and Toby both started asking about baptism and Dave and I helped baptize them two weeks before their wedding. Dave went back to eating tortilla chips; I never drank another Diet Coke. The Lord removed the desire.
  3. Two of our daughters and their husbands experienced infertility. Dave and I both fasted all sweets and desserts as we prayed for the Lord to let them become parents. We didn’t tell anyone what we were doing, as we never did, according to Matt. 6:16, 18 NLT And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get . . . Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. But after not even eating birthday cake on our own birthdays, the family started noticing. After many months, Shannon became pregnant and had a baby boy, but Kim still wasn’t a mommy, so we kept on fasting and praying. Seven months later, Kim and Toby adopted our grandson Brandon, and the night they picked him up she called and told us to go out and have a hot fudge sundae!

“When praises go up blessings come down.” 2 Chron. 20:5-6

The Thompsons 2024 Fast

Dave and I are uniting with the Flashpoint Corporate Prayer and Fast to take a stand for biblical changes in our nation, culture, and world. Following is Flashpoint’s prayer list. The last four items I added, and this is not an exhaustive list for us.

  • Prevention of anti-God government decisions
  • Closure of the wide-open Southern border
  • The large number of supporters, especially in colleges, of the horrific Oct. 7 attack on Israel
  • What our children are being exposed to in schools and libraries
  • The unabashed censorship and attacks on Christians and biblical ideals
  • End abortion entirely
  • Remove men from women’s sports
  • Stop the gender confusion and mutilation of our children and end transgenderism
  • Removal of obscene and pornographic books from our local library

Together, from Feb. 5-25, we will set our faces toward God in order to bring about breakthrough. Why three weeks? Due to stubborn national and global strongholds, an extended time of fasting is necessary. They say it takes 21 days to change your life, to change your story. It takes 21 days of repetitive confession to change an inner narrative. We’re hoping to change our country. Also, Daniel fasted for 3 weeks.

What Flashpoint and We Are Believing for, Nationally and Globally, in this Fast:

  • An awakening to God in the Body of Christ
  • An awakening to God in Israel
  • An awakening to God in America and the nations
  • Fair 2024 elections
  • Ministry breakthroughs
  • Personal breakthroughs
  • Preparing for all that is coming

Pray and seek God for what He might be asking you to lay aside during a fast. Take that time to allow the noise to be silenced so His voice can be heard more clearly. Allow God to pinpoint the things He’s asking you to surrender.

The battle is not ours; it belongs to God. But we’re in the Lord’s army and fasting and prayer are weapons He’s given us to use towards victory. Fasting isn’t a way to get a better response to prayer. True fasting is a means of fostering a humble, repentant approach to prayer.

“He can turn our crisis into conquest. Release the power of your praise before the victory is won.” Chaplain Barry Black

Other Resources

PS Sorry this was long, but I always like to post the text of the Scriptures I’m referencing.

I’m so interested to read your comments on this article. Please leave a comment here.

February 5, 2024
Return to top of page

4 Prayers Asking God to ‘Give Us This Day’

0

We all woke up to the news on Saturday October 7 that war had broken out in Israel. The terrorist group Hamas unleashed a barrage of rockets from Gaza into Israel, reaching as far as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Sabbath tranquility in Israel was ruptured on a day marking the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret and the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism and a time of atonement and forgiveness. The current incursion during Simchat Torah in Israel revived painful memories.

Iran financially and ideologically supports Hamas in their desire to annihilate Israel. As of this writing, Hamas has taken hundreds of hostages including families, children, and the elderly and thousands of Israelis (maybe even Americans) are dead or wounded. There were 3500 rockets in 6 hours of surprise Gorilla warfare and a barbaric ISIS-style attack against civilians. “Hamas is running the streets killing civilians” one local said. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu responded with full military mobilization and declared, “This is war!” Israel is calling this their 9-11.

Pastor Jack Hibbs responded on his Facebook page: “Throughout the decades, in our Bible prophecy, updates, and teachers, I have been preaching on this scenario for years. Now, keep your eyes on the Pacific Northwest for China to go against Taiwan or North Korea to do something stupid. Do not be surprised if simultaneously we see Hezbollah in the north of Israel, coming out of Lebanon and Syria. We could be looking at the setup of either Isaiah 17 or Ezekiel 38 or both.”

Since this attack was planned, funded, and equipped by Iran, Hal Lindsey considers it a precursor to the war prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39—a war led by Russia and Iran. All experts believe Russia is also tied to this current terrorist attack on Israel.

No one expected this day when they went to bed the previous night. Somehow it slipped by Israel’s top-notch Intel. But it happened. That’s exactly how the day of the Lord will come when God raptures His people from earth to heaven. It will be even more dramatic than war in Israel. It will usher in the 7 years of tribulation, which will make the evil we’re watching in today’s culture look mild. Praise God, if you know Jesus as your Savior, you won’t have to endure that horrific time, but I wonder how many of the Israelis who died knew Jesus as their Messiah?

We don’t know how this war in Israel will escalate or how it might even affect us here in America. Many people have been physically “prepping” for some world clash, but my response is always how many are spiritually prepping? How many are ready to meet Jesus? Your cupboards may be full but if Jesus isn’t filling your heart, it’s all for naught. It’s the difference between eternal death and eternal life.

A colorful plaque on the wall in our dining room reads, “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread.” I placed it in the room where we eat because we typically associate bread with a meal. But there are so many other areas of life to ask God to give us what we need for this day.

Especially helpful during a morning devotional time is asking God to bless this day and prepare us for whatever He knows is going to happen in our life, particularly those things that might catch us by surprise. We read in the Bible that God wants us to take life one day at a time, but always be ready for the unexpected and the day He takes us home to be with Him. No one knows the day or time, but it will happen when we least expect it, in the wink of an eye.

 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matt. 24:36 NKJV

Where Can We Find ‘Give Us This Day’ in the Bible?

During Jesus’ ministry on earth, He was continuously teaching and mentoring his twelve disciples. Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life so the disciples often observed Jesus praying. One day the disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. Matthew 6:9-13, the “Lord’s Prayer,” is Jesus’ response to His disciples and to us on how we should pray. Many have memorized this prayer often recited in church or used as a model for prayer.

9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matt. 6:9-13 NKJV

In verse 11, Jesus was referencing the daily bread, “manna from heaven,” God sent each day to meet the needs of the Israelites for food as they wandered in the desert. That the God of Israel could provide daily food for them was a confirmation that He was watching over them and guiding their life both physically and spiritually.

Jesus emphasizes this point in John 6:32 NKJV, Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”

Jesus then referred to Himself as the living bread, “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:33 NKJV

 Next, Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NKJV

By emphasizing in Matthew 6:11 that we ask God to give us bread only for “this day,” Jesus was referencing the biblical history the disciples would know that God only sent the Israelites enough manna for each day. He wanted them to have confidence that there would be just enough for one day and He would rain down more the next day. If they tried to horde extra, it spoiled. They needed to trust Him for their daily provision. And so should we!

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. 5 And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.” Ex. 16:4-5 NKJV

Moses also reminded the people that spiritual food is as vital to life as physical food.

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. Deut. 8:3 NKJV

Jesus referred to Deuteronomy 8:3 in Matthew 4:4 NKJV when he spoke of spiritual bread. But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

What Does It Mean When We Ask God to Give Us This Day?

When we’re sick or going through financial or personal problems, we want answers for the future, now. How is it all going to turn out? What can we do to change things? Maybe we have enough to get by today, but what about tomorrow and the next day? We ask God to show us His plans and assure us that we’ll be fine. It’s all going to work out okay.

Matthew 6:25-27 is one of Jesus’ famous lessons about worrying about the next day. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Still, we worry until we learn how to turn each day’s needs over to God in prayer and trust that He has everything under control.

4 Ways to Pray Asking God to “Give Us This Day“

Pray for God to Give Us This Day: Provision

Dear Father, You know our needs before we even ask but still You tell us we have not because we ask not. So Lord, I’m asking You to provide for my needs, maybe not my wants, but enough. Show me what I must do to work with You to obtain what’s sufficient for this day. These are scary times. The shelves at stores are emptying, prices escalating, and we worry about providing food and clothes for our family today. With Christmas quickly approaching, how can we afford gifts?

Lord, could this be Your way of helping us focus on the true meaning of Christmas?! Remembering that it’s not about how many gifts we give, but the gospel message we share with people who are more open to hearing about the gift of Jesus at that time of year.

Please help me not to panic and start hording and hiding away food and supplies. It didn’t work for the Israelites with their hording manna for more than a day and it won’t help for me to take from others who might need provisions more than I do. Guide me into prudent buying and give me wisdom to discern between a want and a need.

Thank You Holy Father for the abundance You’ve poured down on a country that seldom gives You the glory. Let me be the voice that says I have enough for this day, and I want to take time to enjoy and appreciate the Lord’s provision for my loved ones and me. Everyday give me a heart of generosity to give to those who might not be as fortunate as I am. I praise You Lord for Your abounding love and grace to all those who love You. Amen

Pray for God to Give Us This Day: Peace

Heavenly Father, You see from Your throne in heaven the chaos and crises befalling our world, and especially today in Israel. A world that is rejecting Your moral biblical values and principles. How this must break Your heart. Lord, it breaks my heart, and sometimes I lose my peace and am filled with anxiety when each new day brings more discouraging news. It seems like evil rules instead of You.

Please help me wake up in the morning with a sense of peace when I look out the window and see all that You’ve created and the sun has risen again on a new day. Remind me to thank You each night for another day of life.

When my thoughts wander to worrying, bring me back this day to remembering John 14:27 where Jesus assures us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” I pray Lord that You will bring peace to Israel and draw many hearts to Jesus during this horrible assault on their country. Amen

Pray for God to Give Us This Day: Joy

Dear God, I’ll admit I’m not joyful each new day. I want to be because I feel better physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I need to smile and laugh more, but I look in the mirror and see frown lines on my face. More importantly, Father, I need Your joy to fill my heart and soul. Please help me to laugh. Give me a daily dose of joy.

I know Your Word tells me that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, as is the peace I so desperately crave. Just knowing You, Lord, as my Savior should fill my heart with bubbling over joy. Please help me this day to put a gospel song in my heart and a kick in my step that draws others to the joy of knowing the Jesus they see in me.

Fill me anew this day with Your Holy Spirit. Your living water. Your hope. Your peace. Remind me that the joy of the Lord is my strength (Neh. 8:10)! “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51:12). Amen

Pray for God to Give Us This Day: Trust

Precious Lord, I give this day trusting You will not give me more than I can bear but will always give me just what I need to stand up under any adversity. Father, I know that the foundation of my faith is trust in You in every way and every day. Trust is believing in what I cannot see but knowing that You see all and only want the best for me.

Lord, it’s a constant daily process of turning all my life, not just portions of it, over to You completely. Giving up control when I want to do things my way. I need You to remind me when I’m falling off course or trying to do things on my own. Each day unfolds with new challenges and opportunities, and I must seek You moment by moment in making decisions and choices.

Keep this song in my heart: Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. I see clearly now that You are my source of provision, peace, and joy and I implore You dear Lord, help me to trust in You and You alone this day and every day. Amen

Pray Like Today Is Your Forever Day!

Like Israel, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, or for that matter even the rest of today. But God tells us He has numbered each of our days. While we’re here on earth, He knows the plans He has for us. So, it’s only fitting that we would turn this day and each new day over to Him to guide and lead us in what we say and do. How we feel and hope. How we respond and react. How we love and let love.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
    therefore, I will hope in him!” Lam. 3:23-24 NLT

Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
    May all who love this city prosper.
7 O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
    and prosperity in your palaces.
8 For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
    “May you have peace.”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6-9 NLT

Please leave a comment here. I always reply.

October 9, 2023
Return to top of page

How to Celebrate a Peaceful Joyful Post-Election Thanksgiving

4

A resounding and fervent prayer request from our Bible study group prior to Thanksgiving following an election, went something like this: Please, Lord, help us to be a light on Thanksgiving with the eclectic group of people attending with differing political and faith beliefs.

Whether it was all family, all friends, invited guests . . . or a combination . . . most of us were apprehensive how the day would turn out.

In the fragile aftermath of the recent volatile election, I imagine many of you are having similar concerns and conversations. I remember my mom cautioning that if you want to keep the peace, never talk about religion or politics. As a kid, I never understood that warning. Believers are supposed to tell everyone about Jesus. Since being a Christian is our first identity . . . how could we not talk about our Savior? Isn’t everyone entitled to his or her own spiritual and political opinion?

Then I grew up!

If you follow me, you know I’m bold about my first role in life: being a born-again Christian. All other roles come second. But as I wrote in Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten: “Bold doesn’t mean obnoxious. It simply means not being afraid to speak the truth, even in the face of adversity: ‘Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold’ (2 Cor. 3:12).” For example, if someone asks what I do, I answer, “I’m a Christian author and speaker.” They usually ask what I write, and I say, “Christian living nonfiction.” My response often opens the door for further discussion of the types of books I write and my faith.

For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. Philippians 1:20 NLT

So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 2 Timothy 1:8 NLT

Is Thanksgiving a Religious Holiday?

That could be an awkward question in some circles.

I was with a group of people and mentioned how I hoped people would set their differences aside on Thanksgiving Day, and one person said, “It’s just a time for eating a lot of food, watching football, and shopping online anyway.”

Me: “I’m pretty sure the first pilgrims who celebrated Thanksgiving didn’t have TV or Amazon.

Another responded: “Well at least Thanksgiving isn’t a religious holiday.”

I asked: “Who then are we thanking?”

Complete silence.

Of course, the answer is: God.

Abraham Lincoln made it an official national holiday “as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.”

The English colonists we call Pilgrims celebrated days of thanksgiving as part of their religion. But these were days of prayer, not days of feasting.

Yes, it’s a time of family and friends gathering, but as we sit around the feast together, we can’t thank each other, or aliens, or the “big bang” for giving us life, the sun, the moon, the trees, the ability to grow the food, the earth, the waters, the sky, sweet babies, and all the blessings we enjoy.

We read in Genesis that God spoke everything into being, and yet, many of us will be sharing turkey and dressing with people who don’t believe or discount the existence of God. They don’t know where they’re going when they die, or where everything we enjoy on earth came from . . . and maybe they don’t even care.

They’ll walk out of the room when we pray before the meal and may try and bait us into an argument over who we voted for and why. Or what happened to the expected “Red Wave?” Maybe after a few drinks, their conversation will turn ugly, even though innocent young eyes are watching how the “adults” interact.

My husband and I pray beseeching God to prepare us to be a light in the darkness . . . not to avoid the darkness because that would be the cowards way out . . . but to help us respond as if Jesus was standing behind us speaking through us. You’ve all been in situations where it seemed like Satan was standing behind or speaking through the other person . . . at least I have . . . so how can we have Jesus reflect through us? Granted, the other people might not recognize Jesus . . . but they’ll see there’s something different about us.

Biblical Ways to Have a Peaceful Joyful Thanksgiving

As I prayed and talked to the Lord, here’s a list I came up with. I’d love to hear your ideas too.

Don’t worry what to say. “Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Mark 13:11 (Jesus was talking to his disciples if they were arrested, but I think it could apply to us too if we felt our faith was being tested or put on trial.)

Speak kind words. “Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Pr. 16:24 NLT

For your part, maintain peace. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18

Don’t instigate or respond to leading antagonistic discussions. “Interfering in someone else’s argument is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.” Pr. 26:17 NLT

Play with any children present. “We will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.” Ps. 78:4 NLT

Don’t drink. “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18 NLT

Smile, Smile, Smile. “Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.” Psalm 42:5 The Message

Listen. “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” Pr. 12:15 NLT

Take a deep breath and think before you speak. “There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.” Pr. 29:20 NLT

Less is more. “The more words you speak, the less they mean. So what good are they?” Ecc. 6:11 NLT— There’s “A time to be quiet and a time to speak.” Ecc. 3:7 NLT

Silently pray in your mind. “Pray continually!” 1 Thess. 5:17

Have a secret sign or word between you and someone else that signals: Let’s change the subject or move into the other room. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” Ecc. 4:9

When you’re Hosting, pray and thank God for each guest. Ask to be a blessing and to share joy. Pray over your home and each chair at the table. Before the meal, pray as you normally would, your guests know they’re coming to a Christian home. “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9

If you’re a Guest—As you walk up to the home, pray to be a blessing and that God will stir up the fruit of the Spirit in your heart. If you’re hosts don’t pray before the meal, bow your head and pray over your food as you normally would. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Gal. 5:22-23

Thanksgiving is a day for harmony and focusing on God and giving Him thanks and praise in whatever way He leads. Fiction writers have a saying: “Show don’t tell.” Which simply means, you don’t always have to speak Jesus with your words, you can show Him with your actions and people will want what you have!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4 NLT

Past Thanksgiving Blogs

Here are a few past Thanksgiving blogs you might enjoy reading. I do give thanks for each one of you who have followed me on these Monday Morning Blogs, and I pray you have a joyful, peaceful, and God-filled Thanksgiving Day.

Acquiring Overshadows Thanksgiving

What Are You Most Thankful For?

Love Your Body During the Holidays

I also have a Bible study Face-to-Face with Euodia and Syntyche: From Conflict to Community that discusses many biblical ways to resolve conflict peacefully.

Thanksgiving Tablecloth Idea

In Forsaken God? Remembering the Goodness of God Our Culture Has Forgotten, I share a way to use your tablecloth as a conversation piece and make memories for generations to come. Here is an excerpt from the book. I hope it gives you some ideas. I’ll be taking our Thankful Tablecloth with us this Thanksgiving to my daughter’s house.

When my breast cancer journey started, I became keenly aware of making memories with my family. At times like that, you think seriously about your mortality and the legacy you want to leave with your loved ones. You appreciate each new day of life. The sun rising every morning is an act of God to celebrate.

 Holidays like Thanksgiving have new meaning. Typically, Thanksgiving is a celebration where family and friends gather for a feast, and everyone says what they’re thankful for in the past year. But after finishing the dishes and putting away the leftovers, how many really remember what everyone said?

The Thanksgiving following my first breast cancer surgery in 2002, I had an idea of a Thankful Tablecloth. I purchased a Thanksgiving themed tablecloth with plenty of white space and a box of wash-resistant colored markers. After Thanksgiving dinner, I brought out the markers and asked everyone—kids included—to find a spot on the tablecloth to write what they were thankful for that year, sign, and date it. We traced handprints for the tiny ones with their name and age.

Today, we have years of thankful messages to read every Thanksgiving and remember the many acts of God’s goodness to us and the people who joined us at the celebration table each year. If we go to someone’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, I ask if I can bring our Thankful Tablecloth and markers.

When I go to be with the Lord, I pray my family will continue bringing out the Thanksgiving Tablecloth as a reminder through the generations of how good God has been to our family and friends.

If you receive this by email, you can leave a comment here.

PS: My plan right now is to take a sabbatical from my Monday Morning Blogs until the New Year so don’t be alarmed if there’s not a blog in your inbox on Mondays until then. Of course, the Lord could always prompt me to write one and surprise you; but if not, I thank all of you for letting me chat with you on Monday Mornings. Dave and I wish each of you a blessed Christmas celebration of our Lord’s birth and a glorious New Year.

November 21, 2022
Return to top of page

Time is Short! We Need to Live Like We Believe It!

2

First, I apologize that last week the link to leave a comment was not working on the blog Who Is the Real Threat to the Soul of Our Country. If you weren’t able to leave a comment or didn’t get a chance to read the blog, just click on the link above and it should work fine. I do thank those of you who did find a way to leave a comment or emailed a response. The blog resonated with many.

This week’s blog is focusing on our personal souls and the souls of those who don’t yet know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We recently attended the memorial of an extended family member who might’ve not been saved. My grief was mixed with guilt that I could’ve tried harder and put more effort into sharing the gospel. Why didn’t I visit more? We don’t live near, but we could’ve made more of an effort when we were in the area to spend time with her? Even just sit and read the Bible as her mind wandered.

We prayed for her throughout her illness, but we could’ve done more.

Have you been where I’m at right now? Are those same nagging feelings tormenting you? We can’t go back and change things and we know that God gives free will to everyone to make their own decision about their faith. But maybe reading this might bring to mind someone God wants you to visit now before it’s too late. The pastor’s closing prayer in the memorial will haunt me for a long time. Referring to the deceased he said, “Wherever you are now.” He didn’t know and I don’t know. Only God knows.

We know that guilt is not from God; it’s Satan’s way of keeping us feeling bad about ourselves. Yes, we could’ve done things differently and maybe better but we can’t go back, only forward. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 NLT

And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Is. 6:7 ESV

God wants us to ask Him what we should learn from our mistakes or mishaps and how we can do better next time. Then do it!

For example, we’ve all experienced sadness and sympathy for others and compassionately said or posted on social media, “I’ll pray for you,” when we hear of someone’s traumatic or devastating event or loss in their life. Maybe it’s a death, diagnosis, divorce, job loss, illness, surgery, prodigal children, financial loss, consequences of inflation, and the rising cost of essentials. Many people are hurting today and suicide is at an all time high.

Yes, countless things to pray about and we know that we should, but then we struggle with what and when to pray. We don’t always follow through on our offer to pray, which the other person receives as a promise to pray for them. It’s not intentional, in fact, we have good intentions to pray or visit or call, but then we don’t.

I have a friend who actually writes a sympathy prayer in the comments on social media. Instead of saying she’ll pray, she does it in the moment. Others of you might do the same or in person. My husband is good about doing that and I’ll often walk into the room and hear him praying over the phone for someone who he knows is hurting or needs prayer.

What Other Actions Can We Take?

Become Comfortable with Expressing Sympathy!

Maybe we’re not comfortable with the word sympathy because we associate it with pity or only applicable when there’s been a death, but there is a plethora of synonyms for sympathy that we often find used in the Bible such as, comfort, support, encouragement, compassion, kindness, tenderness, tender-heatedness, concern, caring, warmth.

Sometimes we don’t say anything because we don’t know what to say but the Bible instructs us: Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters] Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 1 Peter 3:8 NLT

Other times, we so closely empathize with those who are hurting that we cry with them, and that’s okay. The Bible tells us in Romans 12:15 to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who mourn.” It lets them know we understand their pain and we care. When people saw Jesus crying, “Then the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’” (John 11:36)

Don’t be Hesitant to Share Your Testimony!

When Jesus revealed to the Samaritan woman at the well that He was the living water and she would never thirst again, and revealed to her that He was the Messiah she ran into town and told everyone, “Come see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could this be the Messiah?”

The Bible says the Samaritan men followed her to see this Messiah because of her testimony and the change they saw in her. She believed, and she didn’t care who knew. Because of her brave, bold sharing of her newfound faith in Jesus Christ the Bible says that many more in her town came to hear and believe that this really was the “Savior of the World!”

I tell my testimony often of rededicating my life to the Lord at a Harvest Crusade when Pastor Greg Laurie asked if we were ready to die tonight. I knew I wasn’t and surrendered my life totally to the Lord that night which led to God using me in full time ministry.

Be Open About Your Faith

While browsing through clothes at COSTCO, a woman came up and commented about the pretty colors of the shirts in the display where I was looking. We started chatting and then I noticed her cross necklace so I did what I often do, I asked if she was a Christian. “Absolutely!” was her response. We talked for a while about the status of our country and were we getting close to the rapture. Even though we were perfect strangers, I gave her a hug as we parted. She looked a little surprised but we were sisters in Christ.

4 Prayers for Someone Who is Hurting or Needs to Know Jesus Loves Them

Here are 4 prayers to help guide you in praying for specific situations, or if you’re in this situation, please personalize and pray them for yourself. Pray for whomever God brings to mind. I hope they help.

In Dear God, They Say It’s Cancer: A Companion Guide for Women on the Breast Cancer Journey and Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter: Hope, Help & Encouragement for Hurting Parents, I encourage the reader to personalize Scripture as if God wrote it just for them. We can do the same when we pray for someone who is hurting or who might not know Jesus. We don’t always need to come up with the perfect words to say to someone because God already has. You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry. (Ps. 10:17)

People don’t need us to fix things for them or give ideas they haven’t thought of before. When they’re hurting, they want a shoulder to cry on, an arm around their shoulder, and our company in the darkness of their soul. There might be a time later when we can sit down over a cup of coffee and help them work through details of their situation, but for the moment, they just need to feel God’s closeness and comfort in and through us.

#1 Prayer for Death of a Loved One

Father, we pray for those suffering the loss of a loved one or someone close to their heart. The hurt runs so deep and grief so all encompassing, their mourning is palpable, especially if they’re not sure where their loved one will spend eternity. They’re inconsolable: “You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.” (Ps. 88:18 NLT)

While they may celebrate the life of this loved one, they’re left here alone wondering how life can go on without this precious person. Sadness and regret seems all consuming. Only you Lord can bring light back into their life and wipe away the tears. “You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.” (Ps. 18:28 NLT)

You promise that someday mourning will turn to dancing again when those of us who know you as our Lord and Savior will all dance together before your thrown. We know Lord that only you can fill the void left in a broken heart. Only you understand the depth of grief and pain. Only you can help the grieving ever smile again.

Father, please flood their mind and heart with sweet memories when thoughts wander into hopelessness and the pain seems overwhelming, especially on birthdays and holidays.

Remind the grief-stricken that Psalm 116:15 (NLT) assures them “The Lord cares deeply when his loved ones die.” And you, Lord, care deeply when we’re sad. “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle You have recorded each one in your book.” (Ps. 56:8 NLT) Amen

#2 Prayer for When Disaster Hits

Heavenly Father, you promise that “The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (Ps. 9:9) You know the trouble that surrounds anyone experiencing a disaster when everything seems so bleak. Help them trust that you will show a way out of this dark hole when there seems to be no visible way. Guide the many decisions, show the paths to take in moving forward when they just want to sit down in despair and cry or turn to drugs, alcohol, or harmful behavior.

You knew hard times would come and you will use this disaster to accomplish your perfect will in their life. Give them courage not to fear the future with you by their side. Help them to remember, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam, let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!” (Ps. 46:1-3 NLT)

Bring those to their side who will help in the areas where they’re so needy by showing your love in tangible ways that expresses, “My heart is torn within me, and my compassion overflows.” (Hosea 11:8 NLT) Amen

#3 Prayer for Illness

Dear Lord, let our hearts hurt and cringe with those who have received a harsh diagnosis or are in the throes of a painful illness. Remove platitudes and trite comments from our mouth and give us an ear to hear and feel their pain. Father, even if we’ve had a similar illness ourselves, we can’t fully understand their experience. Give us a kind, caring, and loving presence to let them pour out their heart.

Father, you promise in Joshua 1:5 that you will never leave or forsake any of us, so we pray your presence surrounds anyone with an illness whether in the doctor’s office, the hospital, or the sick bed at home. Provide friends or family to hear their cries of pain and soothe their trembling body from fear or illness symptoms.

We pray Lord for all the physicians and medical professionals they’ll encounter in their journey who will be a healing balm for this time of sorrow and pain. We thank you in advance for providing the human comfort as well as the Holy Spirit’s constant soothing for physical, emotional, and spiritual pain.

You, Lord, are the great healer the Great Jehovah Rapha. Only you can ease pain. Healing comes from your power working through doctors, treatments, and medication, but we pray Lord that you will not give anyone more than they can bear.

Provide the suffering with your constant comfort and peace knowing, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (Is. 41:10 NLT) Amen

#4 Prayer for Loss of a Job or Provision

Lord, it’s devastating not being able to provide financially for family or loves ones. Fear of the unknown of where to turn or what to do next to find a new job is overwhelming. Many find themselves in this position today and it can be paralyzing and depressing.

Father, we pray that doors would open maybe in a different profession. This loss might be a time to pursue new opportunities. Lord please provide the wisdom, direction, courage, and humbleness to reach out for help in the interim and let others be responsive. “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” (1 John 3:17)

You tell us to be aware of those who are in need, that the body of Christ is benevolent and ready to help our fellow brother and sisters so please surround those in economic loss with others who have extra to share. “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!” (Pr. 19:17 NLT)

Please guide all who find themselves in this position to seek help even though it’s humbling, you love when we are humble. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” (James 4:10 NLT) Provide employment, replace lost possessions, and help families pull together not be pulled apart.

Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. (Ps. 10:17 NLT)

Jesus is the Answer!

We all need prayers sometime in our life, and when we see those prayers answered, God wants us to reach back and help others who are going through something similar. Today we pray for those who are hurting and someday we hope that others will pray for us. It’s God’s way and plan for his people.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 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 Cor. 1:3-4 NLT)

We never know if God is going to heal our hurting here or in our heavenly home, but He does promise for all who believe in Him as their Lord and Savior that . . .

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Rev. 21:3-4

If you received this article by email, please leave a comment here.

September 18, 2022
Return to top of page

There’s Hope for America Breaking Free From Demonic Paganism!

6

The title of last week’s blog was God Is Up to Something Big! That almost seems prophetic with the events of the past week and the answer to so many prayers with the SCOTUS “leak” that Roe v Wade will be overturned after the murder of over 63 million precious children in our country alone in the past fifty years since it became law. We should be rejoicing and not let victory be tainted by the way we heard about it that has set Democrats and pro-abortion advocates into a frenzy.

I want to preface this blog with a word to anyone suffering from the guilt of having an abortion and not yet asked and received the Lord’s forgiveness. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

My friend Pat Layton has a beautiful ministry Surrendering the Secret I would encourage you to look into. “A ministry designed to help women (and men) heal from the hurt of abortion. Abortion affects people of all walks of life. At STS we, provide resources for women that have had abortions, and opportunities for others to help support these women.” 

Paganism in America

I often read the Bible in a year. This year, I’m using the CBN.Com reading schedule where I read from the Old and New Testament each day. As I study, I see a stark resemblance to the world we’re living in today. No longer are we a country governed by our foundational Judeo-Christian beliefs, morals, fairness, and justice or even a belief in God We Trust.

We now have a political party in charge who worships nature through a false religion of climate control/change. Encourages mothers to murder their unwanted babies, censors and controls any dissention from their demented platform, and a President who calls anyone who is a patriot and believes in God, country, and the sanctity of life, “the most extreme political organization that’s ever existed in recent American history.”

Actually, Biden’s regime is the first administration in my lifetime who wants to destroy America, trash the Constitution, and turn us into a Marxist/Communist country. I would call that an “extreme political organization.”

When you look into the eyes of those who are demanding women have the demonic “right” to kill their unborn babies, even infanticide after birth, and who can’t define a woman and believe men can get pregnant, you see evil deception, greed, power, and pride.

Paganism! Hedonism!

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, was also enticed by paganism, but the Lord saw everything just like He’s watching all the evil today, and He said there would be consequences to the king who once wisely saved a baby’s life. (1 Kings 3:16-28)

1 Kings 11:1-8 tells of Solomon’s downfall:

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. 2 The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. 3 He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.

4 In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been. 5 Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech,[a] the detestable god of the Ammonites.

6 In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done. 7 On the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem,[a] he even built a pagan shrine for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab, and another for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 Solomon built such shrines for all his foreign wives to use for burning incense and sacrificing to their gods.

Chemosh was the name of the chief pagan god of the Moabites. Molech represents the most repulsive of acts in God’s sight, the ritual sacrifice of children to a pagan god. Just like abortion sacrifices children to the gods of pleasure, convenience, selfish ambition, and money.

I wonder if all the protestors, activists, and politicians demanding that abortion remain legal have ever watched the movie Unplanned where we see a callous doctor vacuum a fetus out of a mother’s womb. Or read about the tortures children experience during abortion when saline is injected in-vitro into their heart to stop it from beating or instruments used to tear the baby apart limb by limb in their mother’s womb. If you can stand to hear details, Dr. Anthony Levatino, a former abortion doctor, graphically described the procedure to Congress.

The tortured, burned, dismembered bodies of these babies are thrown into trashcans or sold for research. That’s the reality of abortion. Most people would be aghast if this atrocity happened to puppies, yet people and politicians are actually protesting that every woman should have the “right” to mercilessly kill their unborn child. Barbaric. Hedonistic ritualistic sacrifice of humans. Paganism!

I recently heard an abortion survivor at seven months share her story. She’s a beautiful woman who founded an abortion survivors’ organization. She has a family. She had a right to life just like every aborted child had a right to its life.

Biden in defense of abortion falsely claims “Roe says what all basic mainstream religions have historically concluded, that the existence of a human life and being is a question. Is it at the moment of conception? Is it six months? Is it six weeks? Is it quickening, like Aquinas argued?”

This is an outright lie when he knows his own Catholic “religion” vehemently opposes abortion. Actually, it doesn’t matter what “mainstream religions” say, it only matters that God says, “Thou shalt not kill!” Period. No discussion or rationalization. And with modern technology and science, we absolutely do know that human life begins at conception. Now we can hear the baby’s heartbeat and literally watch the child develop in the womb! We know a baby in the womb experiences fetal pain and has viability in the second trimester and in some cases even earlier.

When an interviewer asked Dr. Levatino to give a gestational timeframe for acceptable abortion, he responded, “You were always you!” In other words, NEVER!

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.” Jer. 1:5 NLT

While lobbying for abortion and not once condemning the “leak” or supporting SCOTUS, Biden said, “abort a child,” and then declared, “I believe I have the rights that I have not because the government gave it to me . . . but because I’m just a child of God: I exist.” Yes, Mr. President you exist with rights because your mother chose life and not death for you. But God does not give the right to murder. Every aborted child is a child of God with a right to exist! Using God in your defense of abortion is blasphemy and an abomination to our Great Creator. *

Let’s read on to see what God said to King Solomon about abandoning the Lord’s ways.

9 The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. 11 So now the Lord said to him, “Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants. 1 Kings 11:9-11 NLT

No one is fooled. The Democrats were behind the SCOTUS vile leak to rev up their base because the odds are against them in November and to take the focus off inflation, crime, rising food and gas costs, and the invasion at the border. They were ready with their protestors and speeches moments after the leak. They know they’re on a trajectory to lose “their kingdom” and long ago they discarded ethics, morals, and scruples. We saw that with the last election.

What Do We Do Now?

With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. Ps. 108:13

1. We pray for wisdom of when and what to do and say. We pray for the safety and protection of the Supreme Court Justices and their families and that they don’t waiver under pressure but vote with integrity. We don’t stay silent in the face of deception and evil. We pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matt. 6:10)

2. We speak the truth and educate those who often don’t even know that they’re championing and protesting for mothers to kill their children.

3. We vote for anti-abortion, family-friendly truly Conservative Christian political representatives and do our homework before we vote. When abortion comes back to the states to vote, we’ll have our work to do all over again, especially if you live in blue states.

4. We support parents speaking out against the pornographic perverted sex and racist CRT taught in some schools today. I wrote more about this is my blog “They’re Coming for Our Children!”

When its age appropriate, children should be taught the biological fact that when a male sperm permeates a female egg a child results and it can happen the first time you have unprotected sex! That’s how babies are made. Don’t have sex unless you’re ready to take on that responsibility. I think it would be good for sex education to show videos of babies developing in the womb so that children won’t be deceived into thinking there’s not a real person with moving arms and legs and eyes, nose, and a mouth that smiles.

Kimberly Fletcher, founder of MomsforAmerica.us says parents need to teach their children the truth about abortion and that it is barbarically taking a life. Raise children to understand the difference between death and the value and sanctity of life. Understanding evil versus good should be taught in every home. Children are hearing lies and hyperbole and home should be a safe place to hear the truth and ask questions.

5. If you haven’t seen the movie Unplanned, watch it now to reaffirm your anti-abortion, pro-life conviction and recommend it to anyone you know who is pro-abortion, pro-death. Here’s the trailer.

6. Churches should offer counseling and ministries to provide hope and tangible help to women dealing with unplanned pregnancies. For those who have already had abortions, help them find spiritual healing that comes from seeking God’s forgiveness.

I’ll close with this story. On a panel show discussing the Roe leak, a liberal left Democrat who was distraught with the possible overturn of Roe spewed angrily, “What am I supposed to tell my daughters?!”

With those words, he epitomized the reality of what abortion has become to many, including parents, a form of accepted birth control.

I said to the TV screen, “You tell your daughters not to have promiscuous sex outside of marriage. You tell them don’t have unprotected sex unless you’re ready to have a baby. You remind them that sex is the beautiful way God created for a husband and wife to come together as one to give the gift of life to a child. You tell them abortion snuffs out a life.

They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood. Ps. 106:38

But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matt. 18:6 NLT

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. Deut. 30:19

Here are blogs I wrote previously.

What If Abortion Had Been an Option for Mary?

Why You Should See #Unplanned Movie

Prisoner’s of Choice By Patti Smith

*Note: I’ve told you in earlier blogs how God often confirms the topic I’m to write about. I hope you’ll take a moment to read an article in Blaze News by Steve Deace “The most demonic moment in the history of the presidency?” I had already written the above blog when I read Deace’s article, which conveyed similar thoughts the Lord had given to me. It was an ah-ha moment over my Friday morning coffee. Here’s Deace’s closing paragraph . . .

“If you are a Christian, you must realize that the president of the United States just brought down curses and judgement upon your nation no different than the wicked kings of ancient Israel did. He is telling you that the heavens demand human sacrifice. He is telling you, this “devout Catholic,” that salvation comes from rogue tyranny and power over others instead of from the cross. In other words, Nero still lives.”

If you received this blog by email, please leave a comment here.

May 9, 2022
Return to top of page

A 2021 THANKSGIVING Prayer

8

Many of you read my blog regularly, some are new followers. Even though we may never have met, while others I know quite well or we’ve had the opportunity to meet and fellowship together, I want you all to know that when I write this Monday Morning Blog or my monthly newsletter, you are on my mind. I’m wondering what you’re thinking about world events and how I can encourage you with the Word of God.

Often you tell me that a particular blog was just what you needed to hear and we both know that it was God using me as His messenger. To God be the glory. I appreciate all of your comments and always acknowledge with a response.

As I read Paul’s letter to the Philippians, I noticed the heading for Chapter 1:1-11, 27-28 in the NIV translation: Thanksgiving and Prayer. I thought how appropriate to personalize this passage as my Thanksgiving Prayer for all of you.

My Thanksgiving Prayer Personalized from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians in Chapter 1

Adapted from Philippians 1:1-11 (NIV and NLT)

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus . . . Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Every time I think of you my dear family, friends, peeps, church family, readers, blog/newsletter followers, brothers and sisters in Christ, fellow authors and speakers, I give thanks to our God. In my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the first day you heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began a good work within and through you and me, will carry it on until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

So it is right for me to feel this way about all of you for you have a special place in my heart. Whether I am chained to the computer writing the next book, blog, or newsletter, or defending and confirming the gospel and the value of mentoring, all of you share in God’s grace and ministry with me. We’re connected spiritually through prayer, praise, communication, and social networking. God knows how much I love you and long for you to be blessed with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: That your love may overflow more and more and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to focus on what really matters, so that you may be able to discern what is best for you and those you love and cherish, and live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—as you guide, encourage, parent, serve, and mentor others. Be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Live a Life Worthy of the Gospel. Live as Citizens of Heaven. Adapted from Philippians 1:27-28 (NIV and NLT)

Whatever happens, above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I know you personally or never meet you but only hear about your great work, I will know that we stand firm in one Spirit, and one purpose, fighting together as one for our faith, which is the Good News of the Gospel. Don’t be frightened or intimidated in any way by those who oppose or offend us. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that even God himself will save us.

For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this battle together. You and I have struggled in the past, and we’re very much still in the midst of it, but don’t lose hope. Jesus will be back soon! Praise God, Hallelujah!

Personal Message From Janet

This Thanksgiving, and every day, go and represent Christ to a depraved and fallen world, so that because of your witness and sharing the Good News of Jesus there will be more saved than lost (“destroyed”) when Christ returns. We see how eminent His return could be as we watch our world seemingly spinning out of control, but we also remember that God is always in control and He is close to all who seek and love His guidance and direction.

Let’s make this Thanksgiving a day filled with joy, peace, and gratitude for the many blessings we each have because we serve a great and glorious God who will never leave us or forsake us.

Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. Ps. 95:1-2 NLT

Let this be our prayer together as we gather with others this Thanksgiving: For I decided that while I was with you, I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 1 Cor. 2:2 NLT

I thank God in remembrance of each of you.

Happy Blessed Thanksgiving,

Janet

PS: You may have noticed that there was no Monday Morning Blog last Monday, November 15. We had a hectic week prior and enjoyed a wonderful time with guests visiting with us from California over the weekend and I just ran out of time and energy. Occasionally, I will take a break and I’ll try to give you warning, so there also will not be a blog the Monday after Thanksgiving, November 29. But I will post my monthly free online About His Work Ministries Newsletter on that Monday. If you don’t already receive the newsletter, you can sign up on my website or contact me and we’ll add your email address.

Here are several previous Thanksgiving blogs for your enjoyment:
Love Your Body—How to Survive Holiday Eating
Love Your Body—Give Yourself the Gift of Health

If you receive this blog by email, please leave a comment here and share what you’re thankful for this year. I read and respond to all comments.

November 22, 2021
Return to top of page
Next Page »
Return to top of page · Copyright © 2026 Crown Laid Down Designs All Rights Reserved · Our Privacy Policy