Embracing Our Husband's Goals

I'm thrilled that a pastor, teacher, author that God greatly used to help influence our family in the ways of God when we were just starting out with little ones has begun blogging again. Any time spent reading anything Gregg Harris has to say is not time wasted.

So I'm not a bit surprised God is still using him in my life today to encourage me to keep on keeping on. 

Listen what he wrote in a recent blog written to children about who has the greatest responsibility and influence on family life:

"As the husband and father, Dad is supposed to be the head of his household. His vision and purpose in life should provide the North star of his entire family's journey.

His wife and the mother of his children should have a huge influence as well. If she embraces her husband's goals for the family with appropriate enthusiasm, respecting him and believing in him when he has trouble believing in himself, she will "do him good and not evil all the days of his life. (see Proverbs 31)"  ~Gregg Harris, The 21 Rules of This House Gregg Harris Blogspot, February 20, 2013

"If she embraces her husband's goals for the family..."

Are you embracing your husband's goals for the family? Do you, like me, struggle with going your own way—forgetting that our main task is to do our husbands good all the days of his life? (ouch, I'm talking to myself here).

Do you ask your husband's advice before you make a major decision? Do you ask his opinion and expect him to have one that will make a difference in the action you will take? Do you support his vision and purpose in life?

Reading this excerpt from Gregg Harris spoke to my heart. It reminded me that God has appointed the husband to be the head of the family. "The buck stops with him," as Elisabeth Elliot used to say.

Let's remember that God designed the family! His ways are the best ways, and they are n ot the ways of the world. Women, let's willingly put ourselves under our husband's authority and leadership and then act accordingly by doing those things that please him. 

I need this teaching as much as anyone. 

I struggle with doing what I know is right. I waste time and become anxious as I often spin my wheels when it all could have been avoided if I had just conferred with my husband first. God gave us our husbands to lead us. So let's follow their lead. 

Olympic runner Eric Liddell said that God made him fast and that when he ran, "he felt God's pleasure."

God made me the wife of my husband and when I do what pleases my husband, I feel God's pleasure.

So why on earth do I buck him on so many things? Why do I make his life harder?

My job is to make his life as easy and as pleasant as I can! 

I want my face to say yes when he asks for my help or needs me in any way. He needs to know by my responses that he is the most important person in my life. 

Lord, please forgive me for leaving the protection you've given me when I do not listen to my husband or abide by what I know his wishes would be when he is not here. Lord help me! I need your touch to live out my responsibilities as a Christian wife. Give me grace, Lord—and then help me to extend that same grace you've given me—to my husband.

May God give us as wives the grace to "bring our husbands good and not evil" one day at a time. Let's embrace their goals for our families enthusiastically, that we may one day hear God say to us, "well done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:23)

I better practice what I preach so I'm heading downstairs to make homemade chicken and vegetable soup. Today, it's cold and rainy where we live. I'm thinking my husband will be pleased when he walks in and smells the scent of chicken broth simmering—with the celery leaves in there too—juuuuuust like he likes it. ☺

"She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." ~Proverbs 31:12

Walk by Faith,

Mary Singing The Star Spangled Banner

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

~Hebrews 11:1

We were so thankful that Mary was asked to sing the Star Spangled Banner for a basketball game last night at her middle school! It was an annual fundraiser, and she sang just before the faculty played the dads. 

You can see her back as she faces the flag— just until #22 stepped in front of her. Don't be mad at #22—we are so thankful for him! It was #22, Mr. Adams, who invited Mary to sing!

For new readers who would like to read more about Mary, 
click "Mary's Story," at top of www.juanamikels.com 

Our son Alex came home from college to hear Mary sing.
Here he escorted her down to get ready to sing. 

My mama was mighty proud of Mary :-)

New Readers who are just now meeting Mary might enjoy hearing her sing last February when she entered a singing competition and won. ☺ To listen click here.

Walk by Faith, 

Barry's Superman Message to the Women!

Just about everyone has seen the logo pictured above at some time or another. You may think that a big red "S" on a blue T-shirt stands for Superman. In this 5 minute clip, you'll have the rare treat of learning another meaning of the "S" — like the women in our women's Tuesday Bible study had last week — when our sound man, Barry, had a 5 minute uplifting message for everyone.

Enjoy, and be E-N-C-O-U-R-A-G-E-D!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And know how good it is to laugh, and that it's just plain fun to be a Christian! ☺ 

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I want to ask for prayers as we rejoice with one of our readers all the way in ............... India! One of my readers who has been a great encouragment to me who has been reading from nearly the beginning of this blog is getting married tomorrow! Dear Lord, we pray that you will be glorified in K's marriage! I lift up this prayer for K and I as they begin their life as man and wife tomorrow on the other side of the world!

Thank you for your prayers for Mary as she sings the National Anthem tomorrow night and again on Sunday when she sings a new hymn (to us), "Psalm 23," in a funeral on Sunday for a dear friend's mother who died.  I hear her downstairs right now at the piano practicing Psalm 23. I wish you could hear that little body with the big voice singing.  To God be the glory!

Have a wonderful Christ-filled weekend and may you be in a place Sunday morning where Christ is lifted up!

Walk by Faith,

Betsy's Story

Today I want you to meet Betsy! I'm blessed to go to church and even Sunday school with Betsy's family. Just before we all go to the Worship Service, Betsy and her husband are in the same Sunday school class that my husband co-teaches with our friend Jim. 

I love meeting in a smaller group setting like Sunday school before we go to the service because that is where you can really get to know people and talk about the scripture together.

Betsy gave her testimony last week to a room filled with women at our Tuesday morning Bible study and I recorded it for you. ☺  

There was a time in Betsy's life that she didn't think she needed God. Through seeing the change Christ made in her childhood friend Lynn's life, Betsy soon discovered for herself that only Christ could satisfy her deepest longings. Listen as she tells her story (running time: 6 minutes). 

 

"How blessed is the one You choose, the one You cause to live in your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house, yes, even with the holiness of your Temple." ~Psalm 65:4

Walk by Faith, 

Speaking in Raleigh March 22-23/Mary Singing & Hi Circle of Friends!

I'm so excited to tell you that Mary will be singing The Star Spangled Banner this Friday night before a basketball game at her school (for local friends—it's the Blue Jacket Jamboree!). She has never sung the National Anthem in public before, and I can't wait to hear her sing it. Will you please pray for Mary?

I love this picture of Mary and John
 when she sang at a Christmas event.

She will also be singing next month when I speak for a women's retreat at Christ Covenant Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. If you live in the Raleigh area and are interested in attending the retreat, you must register online. To read more about it or to register, click here.

A special hello to Circle of friends readers... Anita, Lynn (hope the grief ministry is coming along!), Jana (hope things going well at the new church!), Olivia (all the way in Kenya!), Stephanie, Rebecca (hope your back is better!), Jude, Mae, and "L!"

Walk by Faith,

Holly's Story: From Striving to Peace

Today I'm so excited for you to meet my very good friend, Holly! Holly is such a close friend that when I was expecting Mary, she brought me all her best maternity clothes and gave me a noisemaker that makes a wonderful hum of a fan that I adore to this day! I love you, Holly! Her adorable son Hunter is one of my son Alex's best buddies.

She gave her testimony earlier this week to a room filled with women at our Bible study, and I want you to hear it. ☺

I was one of the last women in the room as it was nearly time to begin—for I greet the women when they arrive to our buidling. When all were in and seated, I entered and sat in the very back of the room —just in time for the meeting to start. There were literally only a couple seats left in the back by our sound man in the entire room.

I knew I wanted to tape her testimony for you, along with the other two women who gave their testimonies and I wondered how on earth you would ever be able to hear them as I couldn't be seated any further away from the podium.

Well, I needn't have worried.

Right above my head was one of the few speakers in the whole room which was wired directly to the microphone:-)  Isn't God good? I think it was the missionary to China Hudson Taylor who said, "God's work done God's way will never lack God's supply."

It came out so clear that you will think Holly is literally standing in your kitchen talking to you. In a way, she is! But what's even better is—God wants to speak to you through Holly!

May God speak to your heart as only the Holy Spirit can do as you hear Holly's story of striving until she was 29, when she found peace through a personal relationship through Christ.

"No believer has an average salvation story, 

it took the same miracle of grace to bring each of us to life in Christ." ~Louie Giglio

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." ~Psalm 139:23-24

Next week friend, Betsy's B's story and I will re-air Lynn R.'s story as I have transferred them to YouTube for easier listening instead of the Dropbox link which did not work as well for some of you.

Enjoy a great weekend and the pinnacle of your week in a church Sunday where Christ is lifted up!

NEW* To comment on this post, click the green word COMMENTS just under my signature below, and follow easy 1-2-3 directions!

Walk by Faith,

Ssshhhh! Valentines' Goodies & Pic for your Hubby's FB Wall

I love these colorful Valentine Cookies that I'm giving to my kids! It's a surprise from the creativity of church friends Angie Tucker and Christin Kubasko ... you can friend them on fb for cookies for special events. (so I hope Alex, John, Blair, or Mary...you get the cookies first before you read or hear about this!) ☺☺☺☺

Mary is giving some as a surprise tomorrow for her Braille teachers. We wrapped them in cellophane and added Dove chocolate hearts)!

I got 3 packages mailed earlier this week with the help of a great postal clerk who helped me squish everything into a flat rate box (I hope the cookies arrived in the shape of a heart!) to my boys who are away from home at college and my oldest daughter who lives in another state.

Suddenly I thought, oh my! How could I have forgotten my husband? I did everything backwards! He should have been first! So I have a little secret! Here's the one I have for him:

I've got 24 hours to muster up the nerve to put it on his facebook page. He hardly ever checks his page, so I'm sure he'll get the real thing first —the cookie and the kiss! I'm just wondering whether to mark it public or private when I put it on his wall. I'd love to know which you would do (feel free to drag the picture out and post it to your hubby's page;-)

I'd love to hear what you might be doing to demonstrate your love to your loved ones or to someone who may not know many people or is lonely. If the latter describes you, why not bless someone else?

Don't sit around feeling sorry for yourself for self-pity is satanic! The enemy wants you to feel that way. Think godly thoughts and the best way is to think of others ahead of yourself. Do you have an elderly neighbor that doesn't get many visitors? You can even bless the person who brings your mail or takes away your trash. For it is in loving in the name of Christ that we find love! God is love!

"... God is love."  -1 John 4:8b

",,, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." -Proverbs 11:25b

Walk by Faith,

Lynn's Story of Taking Jesus Off the Shelf

You are in for a treat today! In this week where love is celebrated all over the world, I'd like to feature the author of love: Jesus! 

The Bible tells us in John 10:27, that "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." We are His! He is calling out to us, "Be mine! I am your first love!" This Valentine's Day, remember who you belong to:

"Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; 

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture." ~Psalm 100:3

This week to celebrate God's love poured out on us, I want you to meet three friends of mine: Lynn, Betsy, and Holly. Each of them will be giving their testimony right here. 

It all happened live this morning at the Bible study that I attend, and I taped it all for you so you can hear each one! Isn't it amazing that they just gave their stories this morning on the east coast of the United States, and you can hear it today right where you live? Thank you Lord for technology!

We even had a surprise at the end when our sound man, Barry, had a few things he wanted to say to us, and I think you will like and have fun with what he had to say to us! So sit back, or grab your headphones if you are reading this from your smartphone, and enjoy the fresh air as you hear their stories—which is really His story.

Today, I want you to meet my friend, Lynn R. She left Jesus on the shelf for a long time, but she picked Him back up again. But I'll let you hear her tell it. 

Meet Lynn R., and be blessed!

To hear Lynn's testimony you may click the above YouTube link,  or you may click here. (running time: 10 minutes)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight." 

~Proverbs 3:5-6

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I want to say a special welcome to all the new readers in the last week, especially to those in who want to become part of something I'm calling my "circle of friends." 

Hi Mae (I hope David is better!), Jana, Jude, "L," Jennifer, Lynn E., Anita, Olivia, Rebecca, and Lynn H! If you are wondering why I'm calling them by name (or pseudonym they chose for those that desire to be anonymous) is so we can talk a bit more to discuss the spirit application of today's blog in the comment sections and pray for one another.

And as always, anyone is free to join in the conversation, whether you are in the circle or not. 

The circle allows us to use names. You have a name! The Bible is full of the names of people. You matter to God! I for one, want to know your name. I still want to talk with you if you prefer to be anonymous or use initials in your post.

If you would like to be a part of the circle, click here for my recent post called, Calling Christian Girlfriends of all Ages!

My husband came home at lunch and he mentioned he wanted to ride bikes together today. He just texted me, "Please be ready to ride at 4." (He knows I need supernatural help to be on time!) 

Since it is after 3 where I live, and I want to have a "yes face," when he gets here.

A "yes face," is a term I learned today while on the treadmill listening to Chuck Swindoll that he got via a story about Thomas Jefferson...tell you that story later this week:) I'm making a yes face to you right now! ☺ (And don't be impressed that I got on a treadmill today. It is a rare event. It's really something that I want to be a regular part of my life—please pray for me in this.)

Coming soon on the blog will be the full video highlights of my visit last week with author and Bible teacher, Nancy Cobb. Nancy has much to show us about how to be the kind of wives Christ calls us to be. Trust me, you will not want to miss what Nancy had to say!

Warning: it's radical in our day! I had told Nancy one of my struggles was making time to exercise and that my husband really wants me to do it regularly to take care of myself.

When we were saying goodbye, I said, "Nancy, it will take me a while to get this video loaded onto my YouTube page and blog, because I'll have to edit it first." She looked me in the eye and replied, "Just be sure you exercise before you do it."  I think I made an ouch face. 

Next blog after tomorrow's Valentine blog, I'd like you to meet my friend Holly and hear her story, "From Striving to Peace."

Walk by Faith, 

Calling Christian Girlfriends of All Ages!

We read in Proverbs 11:25 that "Friends who bless others are abundantly blessed." Do you believe that? 

I do. 

I know when I've been weary and didn't think I could do another thing, but trusted God in some tiny ministry to someone else, I end up being refreshed in the process in God's supernatural way. 

Many of you have blessed me as I have sought to follow Christ by doing something totally foreign for this math girl, and that is to write for the glory of God. 

Your "likes" on facebook, retweets, and your instagram follows spur me on as I think of you reading a scripture I posted or a spiritual post meant to encourage you. All along, you ended up encouraging me through an email, a comment, or simply a "like."

I'd like to begin something new—and to borrow a phrase from David Jeremiah's ministry—I'd like to call it, "Circle of Friends." I want to ask you if you would consider being in my circle of friends. 

I'm not asking you for a donation or to add me to your Verizon free call list! 

I'm just looking for a few, good women! 

I want to know who are the women who are faithfully reading here (or through my social media accounts) and finding refreshment in the Lord, and ideally, to talk with you in the comment section regularly—such as a prayer request for you or your family there.

There may only be ten of you! It may only be seven or four. I have no idea, but I believe that this thought came from to me from above. 

I want to know who are my top, loyal readers, and I want to interact with you more! I would rather engage with a few than be disengaged and haphazard with thousands. Jesus only had 12 in His inner circle!

I actually got this idea last summer. My daughter works for a public relations firm. She showed me a book that the founder and president of her company wrote that he requires all his employees to read. 

I skimmed it and was struck by one particular question. While it was a secular book, the question made me think of serving others. It made me ask myself how well did I serve my readers, for he asked, "Do you know your top 100 customers?"  

I never got it off my mind. I kept thinking... my top one hundred?... I really don't even know my top three!  

I've never asked you how I can serve you better to make this blog as meaningful as possible for you.

Are you interested?

I don't care if you are sixteen years old or seventy. I would adore it if I had young girls, young moms, middle aged wives, widows, young singles, college student—a cross section as you would find in a neighborhood—but I want whomever God sends to engage here! Isn't it amazing how God's Word applies to all of us, no matter what? There is no junior Holy Spirit, we all have access to the same Holy Spirit! ☺

You can post as anonymously (and maybe I alone could know your code aka "L in M," for Laura in Maine, or use your pet's name, etc!) since this goes on Internet and you may not want to be identified. but if you are like my friend Mae, and don't mind, just say Mae!

You can let me know by shooting me an email to juanamikels(at)gmail(dot)com if you want me to have your email, or simply tell me below in the comments. If you came over today via twitter, fb, or instagram... feel free to leave me a message at those places. If you do not hear back from me, I did not get it.

I'd love to know more of what you want me to talk about with you on the blog..(just a general one, not identifying you.... like I'm stuggling with nagging my husband, how can I have a peaceful home, I need to prioritize because I don't feel a sense of order or direction...)

Think of it as a small group who is praying for what's really important in your life for today. 

Because of the nature of Internet, it doesn't matter where you live or what time zone you are in—we can always get back "together" right here at all of our convenience. Hopefully that is only after you've met your responsibilities in the home, work, time with the Lord, and those under any authority in your life so you can be blessed here for spiritual enrichment together.

This doesn't mean a lot of emails in your inbox. I don't plan to do that. But if I do need to ask your opinions, it would be nice to be able to email the group every blue moon. 

I mainly want to think of your very name and face as I write, perhaps even what you or your children or mom are facing, rather than wondering who is reading—and connect with you in the comments section.

The Lord once paired down thousands to a mere 300 to accomplish his work in the days of Gideon. I would rather just think of the five or six of us meeting here on my blog, than countless people that have no face! I want to miss you when you don't add your comment or question, and I want you to miss me and know why I can't blog for 3 days!

Let's go deeper with a few—instead of thinner with many. Just let me know if you are in!

I think you are going to like the blog much better, because it is so much easier to write when you can see the face on the other end. I once had to do a radio interview staring at a green wall while the host was on the telephone. I was torturous for me!

I'm not really sure what God is up to in this, but I am willing to find out.

Pray and let me know. Then as I write, I am going to think of it as—well, in a word, "us." I hope you get much more back in return.

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 But what if you are one of the young men who have been helped here?  

I want to know that, too. 

I like to consider myself a spiritual mother as Elisabeth Elliot was for me for anyone who so desires that. So if you feel God has helped you here regularly, pray about whether God would have you stay here if having a spiritual mom would bless you. I also can point you to some excellent male teachers of our day that will be great role models for you.

I think of the women at the tomb who ran to tell the good news! They told everyone! I don't want to discount anyone who would like to learn from one another here, but of course, since I am a woman, I lean toward the feminine perspective and I will be focusing on women's issues.

But what if no one contacts me? Yikes! This is scary! Perhaps that would mean that there is no need for a close spiritual circle of friends in this little corner of cyberspace, and God wants me to trust Him in spite of not getting to know the readers better. 

My desire is to get to know my top regular readers! I want it to be as if you are coming over regularly when you come to this spot, just like we were sitting together on my cozy red sofa with the sunlight of God's Word pouring on us! 

I know neither of us can stay long because of what we need to do with our real-life people we serve, but we can pray for one another's families and one another. We can find refreshment and inspiration from the Lord in only one minute to do better in all the other minutes.  I don't want this to add stress to your life, but for it to be a joy to help you in your life. Wish you were here right now, Mary is playing the violin beatifully in her room. ☺

Why not share this post with a few friends who might like to join us?

"Friends who bless others are abundantly blessed." ~Proverbs 11:25

Walk by Faith, 

19 Years Ago & Free Offer From Gregg Harris to Hear Basic Home Schooling Workshop

How well I remember that Friday night! Could it really be 19 years ago this month? My husband and I left town with our little three-month-old baby, Alex, in tow—leaving our toddler, John, and preschooler, Blair, with a trusted babysitter—to drive about an hour away to a nearby town to meet and hear pastor, teacher, author Gregg Harris. Gregg is the bestselling author of The Christian Home School.

One of the desires of my heart at that time was to teach our children at home, but as we drove out of town that night, God had not put that desire on Terry's heart, yet.

Ever notice in the Bible how God often speaks to the woman first?

That's how it was for me with the God-given vision I had treasured in my heart for months—that my husband did not initially share with me— as we left home for the first session of "The Basic Home Schooling Workshop." It's almost like God was whispering in my heart, "Step aside, Juana, I want to speak to your husband."

That first Friday night session was was like a heart-to-heart talk to the fathers in the room, and it was called, "Why Home School?" I remember Terry said on the way home that night to me, "Why wouldn't everyone in America want to home school their children?"

It is not too strong a statement to say that that night was one of the watershed moments in our parenting life. We went on to home school our children for thirteen years. I'm very excited to tell you that we may be home schooling our daughter, Mary, in part for high school next year. I'll fill you in with our plans for next year as they unfold.

This month Gregg Harris is offering the entire live recording of the weekend workshop (eight sessions) available for you to hear at no charge online! You can listen in the privacy of your home without ever having to travel to a distant town to get the same quality information, or even purchase the set! Pictured above is my taped set that still has the $40 price tag I paid for it—okay it was totally faded, but it was still there! (remember those things called cassettes?). Best $40 I ever spent.

You will be inspired to establish a clear sense of direction in your home schooling. Listening will help keep you excited about teaching your children at home, and will encourage you as you parent your children.  My favorite session was "Training Your Children to be Faithful."

This is the best Biblical parent-teaching I have ever ever received in one place. It changed our life. Gregg's voice is easy to listen to. You will appreciate his Biblical counsel and his years of wisdom. (He is the father of seven children!)

My only regret is that I didn't go down front to meet Gregg Harris when I had the chance. I was preoccupied with picking up my baby from the nursery, and I was so curious to know what Terry was thinking. I might have missed meeting Gregg, but it was so worth it to go hear what God had to say to my husband and me through him.

God did a mighty thing in our family when he gave Terry an open mind to attend. What God did in our hearts that night and in the days—and yes, months and years that followed—is something I will forever be thankful for. It's all His grace. I wouldn't trade that for anything. ☺

Gregg—if you're reading—all I can say is the biggest thank you eight characters can type. May God bless you richly, Brother!

To listen to "The Basic Home Schooling Workshop" by Gregg Harris, click here.

"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, 

when you lie down and when you get up."

~Deuteronomy 6:6-7

 Walk by Faith,

YouTube Clip of My Daughter (blind). Enjoy.

I thought you would enjoy seeing the above clip.

I can't believe it's been a year ago this weekend that my daughter Mary, born blind, sang in the finals of a local "American-Idol-type" singing contest. Later this month, she'll be singing her first performance of "The Star Spangled Banner" at a sporting event. I'm trying to figure out how I can have my right hand on my heart while my left one is on the record button on my phone so I can post it later for you!  

In March, she'll be accompanying me on a weekend spiritual retreat in which I will be the guest speaker on "Seeing God in Everything," and it's looking like she might be singing. ☺☺ 

Oh, the contest! Guess what? She won! 

"And His disciples asked Him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind ?' Jesus answered, 'It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents ; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ' " 
~John 9:2-3

Walk by Faith,

How Parents Can Pray for Themselves

Hi friends! If it's cold where you are, I hope you are warm tonight! ☺ I wrote this for you a few hours ago but I wasn't home at the time and there was no Internet connection there.

Aren't you glad that we can always have a connection to God through Christ in prayer? The only thing that blocks us from getting the "wifi" signal so-to-speak is our own sin. We can confess and mean it, and we are connected once again with that checkmark by the signal!

Think of it! We can meet with the Creator of the Universe anywhere we are in prayer.

Just today I had a young friend who suddenly became hospitalized to have her baby one month early. I know others who love this young family and were praying throughout the day, as I did too, lifting her and her baby up to the Lord.

Later I ran into an aquaintance while running errands who shared with me that he had recently become engaged (he's 40s or 50s:-). I'm horrible at trying to do two things at once—I can barely walk and chew gum—but as he told me his good news, I silently threw up a prayer of joy to the Lord for His goodness.

Praying should be like breathing for Christians—our natural response to joys and trials!

I have no idea who wrote the list of prayers below for how parents can pray for themselves, but I can't tell you how many times I was confronted with  the very words I prayed for myself below.

Sometimes God later brings just a phrase to my head that came back to me by my reading the prayers back to the Lord in quiet time like, "willing for our family to be different," or "spoil my children with too few demands."

Our children are now 23, 21, 19, and 15 and I still keep this list in my 99¢ prayer folder with my Bible to make it easier for me to pray. I hope it will be a practical help for you as it has been for me.

1. That I will be convicted of any personal hypocrisy lived out before my children, contradicting what I say by what I do, and when appropriate, admit my sin to my children.  (Matthew 7:3-6)
   
   
2. 
That my words, looks, and actions will clearly reflect to my children that my mate* is loved, honored and cherished. (Proverbs 30:10-12; Ephesians 5:25,28)
   

   *If you are separated or divorced, honor that your former spouse is their parent and speak kindly and graciously of them. You might consider calling them your “former” spouse instead of “my ex” especially around your children’s ears, but good all the time. Doesn’t that sound more honoring in itself?
   
   
3. That I will recognize individual limitations, respect individual differences and have realistic expectations for each child. (Colossians 3:21, Ephesians 6:24)

   
   
4. That I will not be too tired or angry or negligent to discipline my children wisely. (Proverbs 29:17)
   
   
5. That I can be a peacemaker to diminish jealousy and irritations between my children and in so doing to encourage them to be peacemakers. (Proverbs 17:14; Philippians 2:3; Matthew 5:9)

   
   
6. That I will not spoil my children with too many possessions nor too few demands and responsibilities. (Psalm 37:16)
   
   
7. That I will be able to shield my children against premature association with: sexuality, sophistication in ideas and dress, and unnecessary knowledge of the world. (Ecclesiastes 3:1,17)

   
   
8. That I will resist the enticement of popularity for my children and be willing for our family to be different from the world’s standards. (1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 37)

   
   
9. That I will be generous in expressing appreciation and approval while holding back reminders about their past failures and mistakes. (Psalm 78:38-39; Proverbs 25:11)
   
   
10. That I will know when to step in and take charge of a situation for my children and when to step back and let them learn for themselves. (Proverbs 16:9)
    
    
11. That prayer will be my immediate response to family joys and crises alike. (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
    
    
12. That I will daily remember my own need to be taught by God’s Word and filled with His Spirit so that I reflect the joy of the Lord before my children. (Psalm 16:11)
    
    To know God and to point you children to Him is an awesome delight and privilege!
    
    
    Let's pray together right now!
    
    
    Oh, Lord may you have your way in our life! Thank you for your precious Word that shows us how to live. We know these prayers are in your will for us, and that you want us to know and do your will even more that we want to! Thank you for your Word! Lord, we know that the Christian life is not hard, it is impossible. We need You. We are faithless, but you are faithful! ALL OF OUR HOPE IS IN YOU! Amen
    
    

    Walk by Faith,