Happy Monday!

It was nice to have the day off even though I worked most of the day. However, I did get my grades completed and posted to the internet. Now tomorrow between after-school tutoring and my class at TCU I will catch up on the reading for my class.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, give me a heart that seeks after You, a mind that thinks like Christ, and a spirit that desires to know and follow Your Word. Empty me of myself, fill me with Your Spirit, and drive the truth of Your Word deep into my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen

This was my opening prayer of my meditation for today. I think I may copy this prayer and place it in the car and repeat it daily before going to work. I cannot think of a better way to begin my prayer time then to ask for a “heart that seeks after God.” I frequently pray for God to get me out of the way so that His will be done. Why don’t we pray this prayer together for a while and see what works God can do with a community that seeks after Him.

Philippians 2: 3-5 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better that himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

I keep a prayer list. When others ask me to pray for them I try to write it down somewhere and then place it where I keep my prayer concerns. When someone asks me to pray for them I try to pray immediately even while they are still talking to me. I love to look back on the prayer list and see what prayers have been answered and how they were answered. I especially love the times when the answers have brought great joy to the person for whom I have been praying. And even though Bruce and the kids are at the top of my prayer list (frequently) it reminds me that there are so many people with issues far greater than mine who are in such need of prayer. I do not even need to know the situation to say a quick prayer for others.

I think prayer is one of the greatest and most powerful gifts we have been given from the Father. The power of prayer is immeasurable because we are not alone. We can invite other believers to pray for us and with us making our needs and desires known to God. And even if we think our prayer is only known to ourselves we must remember that Jesus stands between us and the Father and prays for us if we but ask.

We learn so much about God when we spend time in prayer. Remember that prayer is a two way conversation. It is okay to be quiet before God letting Him speak to you and it is okay to speak our prayers for ourselves and others. Speaking our prayers for others is one of the ways we place others before ourselves letting God know our concerns are not only selfish. My friend Carme told me tonight to ask that we pray without ceasing. Sounds like good advice to me.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes. Count your blessings and say your prayers. In Jesus name let us continue to lift each other up in prayer each day. Love you all, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved only by what I believe and I believe God.

Prayer alerts: First, our friend Davis Russell is in the hospital this evening. Please pray for him. Geni begins her student teaching in the morning. Please keep both of these precious ones in your prayers this week and throughout the coming days. Peace, gc