Our Daily Bread, Proverbs 29

God, thank You for my conversation with Dave, and specifically for the reminder that waiting a bit before discussing something with Meagan that is frustrating is wisdom.  I pray that You’ll help me to be gracious with her, and not impatient and unkind.  Lord, i pray that You’ll make me a better husband in the small things.  I pray that You’d help me to remember to do these little things occasionally rather than just going about my own business.  Thank You that Meagan is so gracious to me.

Lord, i pray again for Keith. Like i said to Dave, mental illness is in my mind such a big barrier, but to You it’s nothing.  Lord, i pray that You would cast out any demons in Keith’s life, and that You would restore a right spirit within him.

Lord, i also want to pray for Kellie and for my relationship with her.  Lord, i know that You are making her into an incredible person.  i pray first of all for her, that You will bless her and keep her.  I also pray that You would gently teach her about humility, generosity, kindness, and all those soft intangibles that a young Godly woman should have.  I pray for Vic and Cindy that You would give them the wisdom to help guide her in the right direction.  I pray that You’ll be with her relationship with Jackson, and that if he’s the one that they would just fall deeply madly in love, but for all the right reasons.  Lord, i also want to pray for my end of the relationship.  I know that i can barely stand her, and i also know that a lot of it is because she reminds me of me. First of all, thank You for putting people in my life who could put up with me when i was that way. Lord, i just pray that You would give me a compassion for her, and not be so al judgmental and hateful.  I just want to love her unconditionally the way a family should, and not shun her.  Lord, i pray that You would also use the compassion that You give me to open up opportunities to talk to her about whatever You would like me to tell her.  Lord, this relationship really is a significant burden in my life and probably hers as well.  I pray that You would completely turn it around.  I trust  that You can do it and will do it.  I love You!

Tags: family, healing, husband, restoration

Our Daily Bread

Lord, thank You again for a great night last night, and for having fun with my family.  I’m so grateful for my family, and especially when You allow us to have fun together.  I pray that You’ll do the same for us tonight.  Lord, i just want to pray for Keith.. I don’t know what he’s going through, but i have a small idea i think, and i’m guessing that Beaver movie was very similar to what he’s going through.  Lord, i pray that You would push Him to see You as his sustainer.  That he would find this help comes from the Lord.  I pray that You’ll entrench Psalm 23 in his head.  Lord, I don’t understand why You chose for him to go through this, or why You chose for me not to, but what i do know is that You’re in loving control, and “all things work together for good for those who are called according to Your purpose.”  I pray that this would manifest itself in a way that’s absolutely undeniable, and that You would use this all for Your glory in a way that shines out to the world.  Lord, i love You. Please help me to do the right thing as his friend, even if it’s uncomfortable.  I want him to know that he has me if he needs me.  Lord, i pray that his pain would coming to an end.  I know You are in control, and i want You to do what glorifies You most, but You told us to ask, so i’m asking for Keith’s benefit, and for his family, and friends that You would bring closure and healing to the episode, and that You would use this episode to bring life-long changes.  I pray for an absolute miracle in their lives.  Lord, thank You for caring and loving and providing for all of us.  Thank You so much for this job that You’ve provided me.  I love You!

Our Daily Bread

Good morning, God. Thank You for all that You’ve done for me.  Thank You for basketball and how much it means to me to be able to have that outlet every week.  Also, i can’t thank You enough for how much i enjoy my job… It is so awesome!  Thank You thank You thank You!  Thank You for Your point in the Daily Bread today, that “Little is much when You are in it.”  First, i’ll admit that i am afraid of anything that is ministry related right now… I know i shouldn’t be, but i’m gun shy.  Part of it is that i’m scared that it will take away from my job/work, and i’ll have less time to do the thing i love, in order to work on depressing things that i don’t love.  Lord, why am i confessing these things to You? Because i trust You.  You give and You take away, and You have given me this job that i love so much, and You can take it away just as easily. Lord, i pray that You would continue to bless my work, and allow me to have this work to do for as long as You allow me to be passionate about it, and i pray that I would only be passionate about the things You want me to.  Lord, it’s so hard for me these days now that everything is going so well and easy for me to trust You and commit my life to You, but Lord that’s exactly what i’m doing.

“Take my life and let it be wholly consecrated all to thee.”

Lord, i love You, and trust You and thank You.

God thank You for a good time with my family last night.  i really felt like it was an answer to  my prayers, and that i actually enjoyed the time quite a bit.  Thank You for my overtime, and for helping me to get up early.  Please help me to go to bed sufficiently as well.  Thank You for Mia and Jewel and how great they are.  They aren’t perfect but they definitely bring life to our family.  Please help me to get through this non-relaxing part of their youth, and not to be whiny about it but to remember it only happens once.  Thank You again, and i love You!  OOH also thank You sooooo much for letting me sing and play guitar.  That was such a huge blessing to me.  I pray that You’ll help me to continue and grow in that role to where i can regularly sing and play and worship.  I love You!

Tags: guitar, parenting, singing

Our Daily Bread

God thank You again for everything You’ve given us. Thank You for our two beautiful daughters, and the great personalities they both have.  I pray that You’ll continually give me strength to be a better husband and father.  You said, when i am weak that You are strong, and i am definitely weak in these areas, and i’m asking You to be strong for me.  I’m also asking that You would make me strong.  Teach me how to be a great father and husband, and help me to passionately enjoy it.  Thank You for the overtime i’ve been getting, and i pray that You’ll allow us to pay off so much debt with it.  Help us to stay focused, and to knock out our debt!  Lord, i love You so much.  Please give us a good day, and keep my family from harm.

Tags: job, parenting

Our Daily Bread

God, thank You for yesterday and letting me sing and play at the same time.  It really was fun.  I pray that You’ll help me to keep learning, and getting more comfortable to where i can finally start worshiping as well.  Thank You for the encouragement You have given me throughout the weak both from those around me, and the subtle peace and feelings of worship that You gave me, that helped me to keep moving forward with it. Lord, i pray that You’ll help me get a good amount of overtime this week, and that overall You’ll help us to pay off a lot of debt!  I trust that You will multiply our efforts.  Lord, thank You for all that You’ve done for me.  Please help me to long for my quiet time, and to find something i should be reading.  I love You!

Tags: guitar, singing

Our Daily Bread

Dear Lord, thank You again for all that You’ve done for me.  I pray that You’ll help me with Meagan and my family situation.  I have such a hard time sometimes… Lord, i beg You to help me to enjoy or more importantly look forward to spending my time with my family, especially Mia.  She’s in a very impressionable age, and i don’t want to lose that because i’m bored playing with dolls.  I want to take advantage of this time.  I also pray for the misunderstandings between Meagan and me.  Sometimes i get so frustrated with her, and her with me because we don’t understand the other’s thoughts and intentions.  I pray that You’ll help us to communicate better, and to love each other no matter what.  Please humble me, and help me to be more understanding of her position… and if it’s something she needs to work on, i pray You’ll help her to see it, and help me to communicate it correctly.  Lord, i just want us to communicate with love and be on the same page.  You know the desire of my heart with my family.  Please help me to make it so.  I love You, and know You care for me.

It Starts At Home

Lord, thank You again for  a good day yesterday of productivity, and for basketball.  I really thank You for basketball as it gives me a chance to hang out with some guys, and get some exercise.  Lord, thank You for the approved overtime.  Please help me to maintain a healthy balance between work and my family life, and please help me to take advantage of this time.  Also thank You so much for allowing me to sing while playing guitar… I can’t tell You how exciting that is for me!  Please help me to continue to be better musically, both with guitar and singing, and doing them together. I also pray that as a result of me singing & playing that I would be able to worship You more fully while leading and participating in leading the worship.  Lord, thank You again for how far You’ve brought me musically.  It really is a dream of mine.  Also my job… You really have fulfilled many of my dreams.  Now i pray that You would help me to be a great father, and that i would enjoy parenting more, and dread having to spend time with them.. It’s because i’m lazy, and they make me work. Please help me to grow up, and more importantly to start looking forward to my time with them.  Lord, i love You so much!

Tags: guitar, music, parenting, singing

It Starts At Home

God, thank You for our good friends, Wyatt and Jenny, and for all that they do for the church.  I pray that You’ll help Meagan and i to find our place in serving/small groups/etc.  I also pray for the “crisis” with Surf Cinema… Right now, it’s not being done with excellence, but it is, at least, being done.  I pray You’ll give Jenny and Wyatt the strength to do the right thing for them whatever that is, as well as their big decision about Caswell.  I know that’s a really tough decision for them, and i just pray that You would give them an incredible amount of peace about for the right decision.  Lord, i also pray for Meagan and i and our finances.  I pray that You would continue to bless us financially as You have, but that we would accelerate our debt payoff.  Thank You for the situation i have now with the approved overtime, and i pray that You’ll help me to set the right priorities, and that i wouldn’t work when i shouldn’t, and that i would be present with the family.  Lord, i pray for Kellie as she’s blossoming into a good woman.  Lord, i know she’s got so many things going for here, and that You are working with her, but reasons i somewhat understand, she totally irritates me.  I pray that You would help me to the right thing, starting with excepting her for who she is, and not being so conditional.  Second, i pray that You’ll put my pride away, and that i wouldn’t let her bruise my pride when she “does things” to me, whatever that is.  Third, i pray that You would help me to be who I am even when i’m around her, and that i wouldn’t hold back when i shouldn’t.  Thank You so much for giving me the strength, power, wherewithall, and desire… It all comes from You!  Lord, i pray all these things in Jesus name, and i love You so much.

It Starts At Home

Dear Lord, thank You for all the gifts You have given me, and thank You for my beautiful children.  I love them so much. Thank You for helping me to have the patience to play with Mia, and to try and be a better dad.  Help Mia to have a wonderful birthday!  Please let her have great memories of her childhood birthdays.  Thank You for what i’m reading, and for the reminder that children will not find out what the truth is on their own… The world, and the devil is bent on making our children believe in relativism, and i pray that You would help us to teach the absolute truth to them, and that they would be able to stand for what they believe.  i also pray that You’ll help me to stand for what i believe.  Help me to not shrink back from the truth, when it presents itself.  Lord, i love You… Please give me an incredibly productive day and week.

Tags: birthday, Mia, parenting