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Welcome to "The Country Schoolmarm"! Get yourself a cup of coffee (I take mine strong with vanilla creamer), grab a seat, and chat a while! Isn't that what country friends do? Now, all we need is a porch...

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Pray Without Ceasing...

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 
I Thessalonians 5:16-18

 "...Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7

 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too."
II Corinthians 1:3-5 

     Simply put... This is a prayer wall.  The Bible tells us to lift up one another in prayer and to pray without ceasing.  Jesus set the example for prayer with both His actions and in giving us a template for prayer, "The Lord's Prayer".  David was a man of prayer.  He is an inspiring, flawed man of God who laid his heart before the Lord- when he was hurting and when he was rejoicing.  With so many examples of prayer, it must be pretty important.  So, I thought we might start a prayer post.

     Now this is not an original idea.  I am sure many of you make prayer lists.  My inspiration is my mother.  She is a prayer warrior.  She has a huge list of prayer requests and praises.  When I talk to her about school or life, and she hears a need, she says, "I'll add that to my list."  And, she is faithful.  I forget sometimes. I say I will pray for something and in the walk between hearing it and writing it down, it gets lost in the clutter that is my brain.  I am trying to get into the habit of praying as soon as I hear the request.  This is especially helpful as a teacher, with my students frequently coming to me to ask for prayer.  I tried to get in the habit of saying, "How about we pray about that now?"  I was inspired to do this from a parent at my school (I taught all 3 of her children).  She made it a point to ask me whenever she saw me if there was anything she could pray for on my behalf.  If I shared something, she made it a point to hold my hands or wrap her arms around me and pray right then and there.

     So, let's combine the two- let's keep a list (in the form of comments) and when you visit, take a few moments to pray for those requests right then and there.  Please include praises too! I see so many people who are asking for prayer across the blogs I have been visiting.  Let's strive to lift up each other in prayer.  Pray for the people whose blogs you are following, whether they are believers or not.  Leave us a note to pray for a unspoken request...the Lord knows our hearts. Whatever we do, let's just pray together!

Blessings,
Heather

22 comments:

  1. I will add your sister to my prayer list, Heather.
    And a wee verse to encourage us all to pray,
    'Oh then repeat the truth that never tires,
    No God is like the God my soul desires;
    He at whose voice heaven trembles, even He,
    Great as He is, will stoop to me.

    I can honestly say it was at my mother's knee I learned what prayer is.
    God bless
    Christine

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    1. That is beautiful. I need to frame that as a reminder to me and my husband. I think I will put it in my classroom as well. Did you write it? Thank you for sharing it, dear friend!

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    2. I believe it was written by C.H. Spurgeon. I am re-reading his devotional, 'Morning and Evening'. It never fails to instruct and lead me to consider where God is in my life

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    3. Um, I have "Morning and Evening" sent to me by email, via Biblegateway.com every day. His words really impact me. He makes me think and mourn the christian that I am. I have to admit, sometimes I don't want to open the devotional because his words are so pointed, I am afraid to see how awful I am. Praise God I am saved by grace! I like Spurgeon. Ah, my dear kindred spirit... We need to make a list of all of the things we like and compare notes...

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  2. Your Sister is added to my prayer list and I just lifted her up in prayer before responding, where is she in Oklahoma Heather? I live in Oklahoma too.

    and now I also have a sister, that could use some prayers, she has been going through cancer for awhile and recently had another bout with surgery, I just learned she is under going treatments again. She too is in Oklahoma and her name is Cindy

    I have a niece that needs prayers as well, Bobi in Oklahoma

    Thank you for this post Heather It is so powerful to how a group praying

    God is full of blessings and with everyday I thank him for all things be it something I understand or do not, I know there is a reason and I pray to learn from it all to be a better person
    Brenda

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    1. I am praying for you! My sister lives in OKC... So far. :(

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  3. Wow Heather, this is a really neat post. I would never think of using my blog like this. Thank you for mentioning my blog because today I felt so strongly about there was some one out there who needed this message. I wanted to be obedient. So thank you very much. I loved Christine's little verse too and I am going to write that down. I will share my prayer request, my son in law has been without a job for 3 years. He needs one now. God so far has said " No," Every time there is something God closes the door. He is a GI and they lived on the GI bill while he went to school and now that is gone.
    I will be praying for your sisters healing and the others on this comment page. Thank you.

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    1. Thank YOU for your obedience. When God puts that nag on your heart, you gotta listen (even though sometimes it may be uncomfortable). It is hard putting yourself "out there" especially when you don't see what it did yourself. I have that nag in class sometimes. I don't always know what it was for. I will be praying for your son-in-law. Thank you for sharing your heart and needs with us! Thank you for your prayers for my sister. It is greatly appreciated!

      Thank your son-in-law for his service to our country in keeping us protected and free!

      Blessings,
      Heather

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    2. Thank him from me, I should say... Oops.

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  4. Great idea, Heather. I think I have that same clutter for a brain....I like the idea of praying for those as we read of their need, and will subscribe to this post by email to make sure I catch the new requests.

    On the asking end, I would ask for prayers for my son as he will be undergoing major reconstructive knee surgery next month....this will be his third surgery on his knee in less than a year and the most invasive. He also has some other complicating medical issues. And I also ask for prayers for my elderly mother who has a host of medical issues - complicated by family dramatics and divisiveness as we are trying to honor her wish to remain in her home as long as she can safely do so.

    I think each and every "warrior" out there for lifting these requests up....and will do my best to hold up my end of the chain.

    Robin

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  5. My mom asks for prayer for a little man in her church, Mel. He is a dear sweet man. He has a lump on his forehead that he is getting removed. My mom said there are many illnesses and people hurting in her church now. Their prayer chain/phone chain has been ringing frequently. Thank you! I am praying for you all!

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  6. Pray for all of our friends and families adjusting to new schedules, becoming busier with their businesses and holidays approaching, and just coping with changes in general. It's vague, but God knows our hearts!

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  8. From Christine:
    "I'd appreciate your prayers for my father's health and that the Lord will give him grace to bear it."

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  9. From Trace:
    "Please pray for my friend Kathy and her dad. She just lost her mom unexpectedly."

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  10. From Wendy at Ravenwood Whimzies:
    "Good afternoon all. I would like to ask for your prayers for our dear friend's son, who was rushed to the hospital with what the doctors first thought was botulism....but they are now exploring other things as well. He has double vision, unable to move his legs and impaired speech. He's only 40 and the father of an adorable little boy...please pray that he will be able to beat this."

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  11. From Homespun Prims-
    " MIGHTY PRAYERS NEEDED FOR WINTER
    I HEARD NEWS TODAY FROM MY FRIEND SANDIE
    OF HER LITTLE 2 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER
    WINTER. IT SEEMS SHE DOES HAVE CANCER.
    THEY THOUGHT AT ONE TIME IT MAY BE
    A RARE EYE DISEASE BUT IT APPEARS NOT.
    HER MOMMA HOLLY IS EXPECTING AND THIS
    LITTLE FAMILY NEEDS MIGHTY PRAYERS FOR
    DIRECTION TO KNOW WHAT TO DO,
    STRENGTH TO GET THRU WHAT LIES
    AHEAD AND HOPEFULLY THE SAVIOUR'S BLESSING
    FOR A HEALING. YOU MAY REMEMBER WINTER
    IS THE MIDDLE GIRL. THE LITTLE GIRLS ARE
    1, 2 AND 3 WITH ANOTHER ON THE WAY.
    PLEASE PRAY MIGHTILY FOR THIS FAMILY.
    I KNOW THEY APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL
    PRAYERS AND I DO BELIEVE IN THE POWER
    OF PRAYER. MAY THE LORD HEAR OUR
    CRIES FOR THIS LITTLE ONE AND
    INTERVENE. THANK YOU MY FRIENDS."

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    1. PRAYERS ANSWERED FOR WINTER
      THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRAYERS
      FOR LITTLE WINTER AND HER FAMILY.
      SANDIE CALLED TODAY TO SAY THEY GOT
      WORD THAT THE CANCER WAS CONTAINED IN
      THE EYE THEY TOOK. THEY HAD TESTED HER
      BONE MARROW AND ALL WAS CLEAR.
      THE DOCTORS DID NOT THINK SHE
      NEEDED CHEMO SO NO TREATMENT WILL BE
      REQUIRED. SHE WILL GO BACK TO THE ONCOLOGIST
      IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS FOR A FOLLOW UP.
      PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS TENDER MERCY!
      AS YOU CAN WELL IMAGINE THE FAMILY IS
      REJOICING AT THIS GOOD NEWS. THEY ARE
      STILL TESTING TO SEE IF THE CANCER COULD
      BE GENETIC. THANK YOU MY
      PRAYER WARRIOR FRIENDS FOR CARING ENOUGH
      FOR THIS SWEET LITTLE GIRL AND HER FAMILY
      TO HOLD THEM UP IN YOUR PRAYERS.

      AND IN ALL THINGS,
      WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK IN PRAYER,
      FAITH BELIEVING,
      YE SHALL RECEIVE. MATTHEW 21:20

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  12. Granny Trace's friend Maria who is having surgery for breast cancer today... Please go to Granny Trace's site to join in a time of prayer. She is also setting aside today to lift up others... Her link is in the side bar...

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  13. From Sara at Salmon Falls Prims...
    "Joining in with others today and asking for prayer. Lizabeth had an epidural while in labor and now is having major headaches. You know one of hose things that happens to one in five hundred people and you are the one it has to happen to??!! Well they have given her another procedure to put blood back into her spine?? Sounds weird to me, I had all of mine natural and I guess I am glad for that. Sometimes the side effects of drugs are worse than the pain itself???!!! So would you please pray that all continues to heal well for her. Thank you so much for all of the friendships here, where we can celebrate as well as comfort.

    Blessings~Sara"

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  14. Prayer is needed for Primitive Betty's stepdad! You can see her request on her blog:

    http://primitivebettys.blogspot.com/2012/09/my-great-stepdaddy.html

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  15. Cindi's sister, Tammy, who may have MS. For healing and comfort for all...

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"Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." - Proverbs 16:24

Let's chat! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas!