The Importance of Prayer

I am so convicted. I have found myself under a lot of pressure this week. I probably have taken on more than I like to. As I have said many times I am definitely not a "Soccer Mom". Running here there and yonder is not my thing. I never sign up to be room mom and I prefer doing one activity a season. It seems best for my family since I am not good at juggling.

I have had a glich though. Several things have come up this season. Fall Ball...which is normal, the boys begged to start Cub Scouts which is fine, and they are also in communicants class (for church). Then there is more homework this year at school and I got tagged as room mom. It was not my idea. I had said emphatically that I did not want to do that but I would be glad to help whoever did. Well, they got moved to a new class and I was the only one that voiced an interest in helping. It didn't hurt that sweet Mrs. Burritt voiced it as, "this is not going to be good news for you," so that I was sure G-baby had been doing something horrible - I was relieved when she told me the other mom was no longer able to be room mom and accepted readily. Now I am a bit sorry. So, thus the pressure.

So I woke up this morning feeling that panicky feeling that things were pressing on me and I was not going to be able to do it. I knew I had to pray - I needed help. And I received it. I prayed - I I prayed for my boys, for my husband and his job, for myself and the things that are on my plate plus needing to get a job.

How blessed that I do not have to do this job alone. That as a mom I have the help, the support and the wisdom I need at any given time...from my Heavenly Father. I was relieved of my anxiety. I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me...Philippians 4:13 - what a comforting scripture that is.

And prayer is our life line. It is our connection to the strength God promises us. That and scripture will see us through. Our children need it, our husbands need it and we need it.

Ephesians 6:17-18
17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Soup Night

We are starting Soup Night for our neighborhood again this year. It was our way of finding unchurched or those who aren't believers and sharing with them the hospitality and warmth of Jesus. It did not do so well the first two years I attempted. So I took a couple of years off. I am convicted once again.

Upon reflection I do not feel that I prayed enough. I did not request prayer for it nor did I expect God to bring those people. The first two I had brought our friends and it was fun - but it was not the outreach I had so desired. I had that "If you host it, they will come" mentality. Which apparently is not true.

I said something about it at Bible Study one day and my friend said, "Why aren't we praying for this?". Hmmm...good question. Though my heart was right and I do think I wanted to glorify the Lord...I was doing it in my own strength. And really - things just don't work well that way.

So - this time...I am calling on all who know me and hear about it - to pray. Pray that relationships will be formed and hospitality shown and the warmth and acceptance of Jesus would be felt. I pray that we will seek to serve the lost and talk about significant things without casting judgement on opinions. That we will unerringly serve the Gospel as well as soup.

Romans 12:12-14
12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

1 Peter 4:8-10
8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

I do not feel that hospitality is one of my gifts. I can do it...but I have to work HARD at it. And my first inclination is to just enjoy my family, here just us. It's easy and I like it. It is not that I don't want other people to come over and be with us. It is that it is hard. It is hard for both my husband and myself. We are very content with ourselves.

This is not what God called us to though. We will have to step out of our comfort zone and be willing to open our house - even though it is hard.

So, when you think of us - pray that God will bring those who need to hear His Word to us. And that we will faithfully administer his grace. Pray that we keep our focus on Jesus and that we do not worry about the house, the kids, the dogs, the holes in our screen door, or the spots on our carpet...but that we will keep our eyes on our goal...which is to share the Gospel and to love those that God has brought to us well.