Lord, enable my child to always speak words of hope, health, encouragement, and life and to resolve that his/her mouth will not sin. (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)
With the start of the school year, I'm excited and expectant! The boys are growing and developing well. Our oldest son is looking to take on leadership roles and participating in ministry. The younger has embraced school (even though he has a new teacher) and has been doing his work in class. As promising as the first few days have been; my eagle eyes have already spotted the ugliness of bullying. A little boy at our oldest son's school has a speech impediment and I observed a couple of kids teasing him. Ironically the little boy who was being teased is named Isaiah (the same as my son). I didn't take it too well and scolded "Mr. Mischief" for calling Isaiah 'stupid' because of his stuttering and facial tics. It wasn't too longer after the scolding that I heard the word again and even though I reminded my little friend that the 's' word was not nice; I couldn't help but think about why/how it flowed from his mouth...maybe because he had heard it often?!?
The Message version of Proverbs 12:18 says, "Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise." As small as it is; the tongue can cause a whole lot of hurt. At the same time; the tongue can bring healing, if used in conjunction with a pure heart.
Lord, we pray that our language doesn't maim anyone! Let us not use our tongues like Ginsu knives cutting and slicing people with our words. Help us and our children to speak words of hope, health, encouragement and life. When/if we encounter someone using language to assassinate another; give us wisdom and courage to confront in love and beseech that person not to sin. There's enough hurt and dis-ease caused by words...we will use our words to restore and heal. You are Jehovah Rapha and we call it done. In Jesus name, Amen!
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
August 21 - Speech Therapy!
The best way to improve speech is to improve the heart, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). A heart filled with the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Word of God will produce godly speech that brings life to the speaker as well as the listener. This is where our point of prayer should begin. (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)
As I sat in the waiting room of the speech clinic; I couldn't help but think of how far my little boy has come. When he was initially diagnosed with autism, we were told that he "may never talk". Although with much prayer and early intervention services, we have overcome that prognosis; we still have a long way to go! A child with autism must do more than learn how to speak. The child also has to learn how to use language to communicate. This includes knowing how to hold a conversation. It also includes tuning into both verbal and nonverbal cues from other people -- such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. In other words, it's not enough for my son or other children with autism to learn the words; they also have to know what to say and when to say it...kinda like prayer!
Just as there are different ways to communicate (verbal, nonverbal, facial expression), there are different ways to pray (verbally, groaning, intercession, as the Holy Spirit gives utterance). What I like about the scripture in Matthew 12:34 is that it says the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. This confirms the importance of a pure heart when speaking to others, especially when we're praying for someone. Questions to ask yourself; (1) Who are you talking to? (2) What are you talking about?
Heavenly Father, help us to keep our hearts pure so that our speech will be godly and bring life to our listeners. Help our children to realize that once the words come out of their mouths, they can't be taken back. Help us to guard our mouths so that no cursing, gossip, envy corrupt communication proceeds out of it and we can be an example to our children. We want to be like You Lord, we want to speak life and life more abundantly. In Jesus name, it is so!
As I sat in the waiting room of the speech clinic; I couldn't help but think of how far my little boy has come. When he was initially diagnosed with autism, we were told that he "may never talk". Although with much prayer and early intervention services, we have overcome that prognosis; we still have a long way to go! A child with autism must do more than learn how to speak. The child also has to learn how to use language to communicate. This includes knowing how to hold a conversation. It also includes tuning into both verbal and nonverbal cues from other people -- such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. In other words, it's not enough for my son or other children with autism to learn the words; they also have to know what to say and when to say it...kinda like prayer!
Just as there are different ways to communicate (verbal, nonverbal, facial expression), there are different ways to pray (verbally, groaning, intercession, as the Holy Spirit gives utterance). What I like about the scripture in Matthew 12:34 is that it says the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. This confirms the importance of a pure heart when speaking to others, especially when we're praying for someone. Questions to ask yourself; (1) Who are you talking to? (2) What are you talking about?
Heavenly Father, help us to keep our hearts pure so that our speech will be godly and bring life to our listeners. Help our children to realize that once the words come out of their mouths, they can't be taken back. Help us to guard our mouths so that no cursing, gossip, envy corrupt communication proceeds out of it and we can be an example to our children. We want to be like You Lord, we want to speak life and life more abundantly. In Jesus name, it is so!
Sunday, August 18, 2013
August 18 - Home Training
Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost. (Proverbs 22:6, The Message)
I thought about the Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it". The phrase "Train up", according to translation, refers to manners and habits. I believe that a lot of the issues children face in school and society stems from failure to follow this scripture. Having the opportunity to work in the school system and encounter children and their parents, it's become evident that in many instances, home training has gone out the window. If all a child hears at home is cussing, most likely he/she will cuss too. If every time a child turns around someone is beating his/her mom OR beating him/her; most likely he/she will be abusive too. When a child's home life is disorganized, has no structure and in disarray; chances are he/she will be distracted and dysfunctional as well.
We can not discount the importance of teaching our children at home! Not just reading with them and making sure they keep up the skills learned during the school year, but also we have to teach them the importance of respect, self-control, honor and integrity. We may also have to reach out to children who are not in our household. Think of it this way...even if they don't get the training in their own home doesn't mean they shouldn't get it! If we take the time to reach and teach a child that may not otherwise receive it; that's one less child that may grow up and drop out of school or become a teen parent or criminal. As the children prepare to return to school; we have to continue to cover them as well as their teachers.
Lord, thank you for giving us the tools to train up our children. Your word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We pray that the hearts and minds of our children will be fertile ground for learning, wisdom, understanding, compassion, joy, peace, hope and love. We declare that as we seek to point them in the right direction, when they're old they will not be lost. In Jesus name, Amen!
Sunday, August 11, 2013
August 11 - Harp music
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
The word meditation resonated with me so I decided to look it up! It comes from a Hebrew word "higgayown" (pronounced hig·gä·yōn') which means "the murmur" or dull sound of the harp, hence, meditation. This says to me that the sound of my heart should be like that of a harp. What comes from my heart and prayerfully from the heart of my child, should sound like a harp. Click on this link to hear some harp music, but be warned...it is addictive!
http://youtu.be/ZWuXOrG7pkU?t=8s
The proper response to the work of salvation in our lives is a constant prayer that God will keep our hearts, words and lives free from sin and pleasing to him. Both the meditation of our hearts and the reflection of our minds should be pleasing to God. (Full Life Study Bible, Study Notes) If nothing else, my heart song should reflect my thankfulness for salvation and the gift of eternal life.
The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." What would life be like for us if we were diligent about keeping our hearts?
Dear Lord, so many times we put emphasis on what comes out of our mouths and the murmur of our hearts go unchecked. Father, we pray that our hearts and the hearts of our children produce melodies that are like a sweet aroma to You. Reveal to us any areas of our hearts that need attention because we want to be acceptable in Your sight. When we get our hearts right, aligned with Your will; we will receive the desires of our hearts because You promised it! In Jesus name, Amen!
The word meditation resonated with me so I decided to look it up! It comes from a Hebrew word "higgayown" (pronounced hig·gä·yōn') which means "the murmur" or dull sound of the harp, hence, meditation. This says to me that the sound of my heart should be like that of a harp. What comes from my heart and prayerfully from the heart of my child, should sound like a harp. Click on this link to hear some harp music, but be warned...it is addictive!
http://youtu.be/ZWuXOrG7pkU?t=8s
The proper response to the work of salvation in our lives is a constant prayer that God will keep our hearts, words and lives free from sin and pleasing to him. Both the meditation of our hearts and the reflection of our minds should be pleasing to God. (Full Life Study Bible, Study Notes) If nothing else, my heart song should reflect my thankfulness for salvation and the gift of eternal life.
The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." What would life be like for us if we were diligent about keeping our hearts?
Dear Lord, so many times we put emphasis on what comes out of our mouths and the murmur of our hearts go unchecked. Father, we pray that our hearts and the hearts of our children produce melodies that are like a sweet aroma to You. Reveal to us any areas of our hearts that need attention because we want to be acceptable in Your sight. When we get our hearts right, aligned with Your will; we will receive the desires of our hearts because You promised it! In Jesus name, Amen!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
August 8 - Watch Your Mouth!
We create a world for ourselves by what we speak. Words have power, and we can either speak life or death into a situation. The Bible says that what we say can get us into trouble or keep us away from it. It can even save our lives. "He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction" (Proverbs 13:3). (Power of a Praying Parent, Stormie Omartian)
Whenever my son's language gets a little "grown", I kindly remind him to "watch his mouth". I remember my mom giving me the same warning if she perceived I was being "sassy". As a child, I would quip (under my breath of course), "how can I watch my mouth...I can't see it". When I think of the things that we speak and what it looks like in the spirit realm...I am grieved. Instead of using our words to create Eden or Elim; we speak hell into existence. Just imagine that every time we allow negative words to leave our lips; those words are the equivalent of bullets shooting down hopes, dreams and worst of all people!
Dear Lord, please touch our lips so that we speak life and not death in each and every situation. Your word says that we should not let any corrupt communication proceed out of our mouths, so we pray that we begin to say what You say. We pray that what we speak aligns with what is spoken in Your holy word. Lord, help us to realize that our words have power and what we speak about, we bring about. We will renew our minds to change what we speak. In Jesus name, Amen!
Whenever my son's language gets a little "grown", I kindly remind him to "watch his mouth". I remember my mom giving me the same warning if she perceived I was being "sassy". As a child, I would quip (under my breath of course), "how can I watch my mouth...I can't see it". When I think of the things that we speak and what it looks like in the spirit realm...I am grieved. Instead of using our words to create Eden or Elim; we speak hell into existence. Just imagine that every time we allow negative words to leave our lips; those words are the equivalent of bullets shooting down hopes, dreams and worst of all people!
Dear Lord, please touch our lips so that we speak life and not death in each and every situation. Your word says that we should not let any corrupt communication proceed out of our mouths, so we pray that we begin to say what You say. We pray that what we speak aligns with what is spoken in Your holy word. Lord, help us to realize that our words have power and what we speak about, we bring about. We will renew our minds to change what we speak. In Jesus name, Amen!
Monday, August 5, 2013
August 5 - Give thanks and use it before you lose it!
Last week the youth and young adults of several churches in the city collaborated in a city-wide revival. The "City On Our Knees" revival, consisting of New Salem, Rehoboth Temple, First Church of God, Rhema Christian Center and Trinity Baptist Church, truly blessed me.
In one of the sermons the preacher asked; "if you woke up today with only what you thanked God for yesterday...what would you have?" WOE!!! I was immediately convicted and mortified at everything I would have lost. The obvious material things crossed my mind but what really got me was that I had not taken the time to thank God for my life, for my spouse, for my children, health and strength. All gifts...all things that I have taken for granted.
The bible says, " I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:4-7, NLT). As believers, we need to give thanks not only for the gifts God has given to us, but also for the gifts deposited in our church. Everything we need to stand against the enemy, his plots and schemes; God has provided. As my pastor says, everything we need "is in the house". The concept of a city-wide, multi-church revival with "every spiritual gift you need" is amazing, encouraging and empowering...now if only we'd stir up the gifts!
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues (1Corinthians 12:8-10). The church, and those endowed with spiritual gifts, has to be leery of losing what we don't use!
Lord, forgive me for taking all the gifts You've give me for granted. I thank You for my life! I thank You for my husband, I thank You for my children, I thank You for my mother, sisters and brothers. I thank You for my health and strength, for my pastor and church family, for a home, food and clothes. I thank You for opportunities to share Your word. I thank You for using me to bless other and help them find their voice. I thank You for every spiritual gift in my church for the building of Your kingdom and blessing of Your people. I pray that those possessing spiritual gifts will begin to operate in their gift and use their gift for Your glory. In Jesus name, Amen!
In one of the sermons the preacher asked; "if you woke up today with only what you thanked God for yesterday...what would you have?" WOE!!! I was immediately convicted and mortified at everything I would have lost. The obvious material things crossed my mind but what really got me was that I had not taken the time to thank God for my life, for my spouse, for my children, health and strength. All gifts...all things that I have taken for granted.
The bible says, " I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:4-7, NLT). As believers, we need to give thanks not only for the gifts God has given to us, but also for the gifts deposited in our church. Everything we need to stand against the enemy, his plots and schemes; God has provided. As my pastor says, everything we need "is in the house". The concept of a city-wide, multi-church revival with "every spiritual gift you need" is amazing, encouraging and empowering...now if only we'd stir up the gifts!
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues (1Corinthians 12:8-10). The church, and those endowed with spiritual gifts, has to be leery of losing what we don't use!
Lord, forgive me for taking all the gifts You've give me for granted. I thank You for my life! I thank You for my husband, I thank You for my children, I thank You for my mother, sisters and brothers. I thank You for my health and strength, for my pastor and church family, for a home, food and clothes. I thank You for opportunities to share Your word. I thank You for using me to bless other and help them find their voice. I thank You for every spiritual gift in my church for the building of Your kingdom and blessing of Your people. I pray that those possessing spiritual gifts will begin to operate in their gift and use their gift for Your glory. In Jesus name, Amen!
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