I currently live in Tulsa where the color orange is everywhere! This is unfortunate for me for reasons beyond orange being my least favorite color ;-) The constant orange tells me that I’m going to be inconvenienced in some way by, yep you guessed it, construction.

This most recently has meant bulldozers in our front yard( yes even on Saturday mornings) and a detour path onto our neighborhood street. I’ve been surprised by new and ever evolving construction projects like last night as I witnessed a mile long 25mph site near my parent’s home.

Much like the places I see in Tulsa being reworked, I often find that God is in the construction business of my heart too. He is always trying to work more of Himself into me and work the ugliness of my heart out of me. I know right now in particular, I’m certainly in a season of being under construction. I guess it’s fitting that my inside match my outside world.

I think when we find ourselves in this place, as important as it is to have some things removed or deposited in us, it’s equally important to be patient in the process. The last word that comes to my mind when encountering construction is to be patient. Everything in me wants to go another way and so it is spiritually when I find myself in this place.

When Stephen and I encountered a new interchange where construction had been completed, we complimented the work and enjoyed the ease of free flowing traffic. In that moment, all of the stressful moments of sitting in traffic there and being rerouted seemed a distant memory. This is often true of our hearts. Once we see the other side, we realize the pain of the journey to get there was worth it after all. Not to underestimate that the construction period might involve old “pathways” being torn down, expanding and making room for others to share your lane, and the occasional “detour” pathway that isn’t what you originally intended.

Jesus spoke words that seemed to confuse many whenever right after turning tables over in the temple He then said,” “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.”
He may have confused them in the moment but the scripture goes on to say,”Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.”
John 2:19-22

Sometimes what seems like a ridiculous construction process is actually a testimony that Jesus is alive and working in our lives!

The story of the four friends who lowered their paralyzed friend down through a roof in Mark Chapter 2 comes to mind when I think of construction. Unlike the previous scripture where Jesus himself caused a mess in the temple, it was the friends who ripped through mud and thatch to get their friend to Jesus. They were willing to get a little messy and throw off what the homeowner and religious leaders would think by “dropping in”. This resulted in a gloriously changed life and the paralytic was made whole and many had faith to believe Jesus as a result.

You see, being under construction isn’t that bad after all. I often find even in my delays that I still get to where I’m going and nothing is ever truly lost. I encourage you, let Holy Spirit search your heart and make you more like Jesus and don’t be afraid to step out in faith for others too. Pay attention to the signs that can be frustrating that encourage you to “slow down”, “merge”, “detour” etc. Your next “mess” could result in a changed life.

Time for an honest confession, I had a very frustrating moment yesterday. I know, you’re probably reading this as a super composed person who never gets frustrated, but I’m ok with admitting my weak moments ;-) (kidding) I really did though and I felt discouraged over not just the present situation that was bothering me, but the many others like it where I’d be disappointed. The scenario left my mind reeling and thinking, “I wish that I had that in writing.” To a fault sometimes, I am very trusting and just assume that people mean what they say. Unfortunately sometimes I’ve fallen into situations where people say one thing and never follow through, or they’ve exaggerated the truth and it comes back to frustrate me. As I was voicing my inner disposition to The Lord and…ok, yes complaining, I was saying to Him, “Even if I had it in writing, someone could still manipulate me and go back on what they said. There’s not even a point because people are capable of lying.” (Can you hear my hurt talking…?)Then, sharper than I could think, I heard in my spirit, “Yes, but I have written my words to you so that you have them to stand on and I am not capable of lying.” BAM! Just like that the Spirit of God corrected my hurt heart. This did not negate my frustrating situation, but it did lift me up to real truth.

Man’s word against God’s doesn’t measure up. Even “laws” are made and later changed and wedding “vows” are sadly broken far too often. There are empty promises with careers where people chase them seeking fulfillment. People search for love, find it only to continue to pursue other loves in their life. Our searching for truth and a reliable word to stand on will never end until we come to accept the Word of God.

There are many people whom I love dearly and know that they have great hearts. My husband, my family and several friends are trustworthy people, but they can still disappoint me. They may have great love in their hearts for me, but they will always be human and capable of unfulfilled words. If I choose to hold fast only to their words or the words of an employer or organization, I will always be frustrated. However, when I look to the word of God as an absolute truth and align my life with the God who loves me, I will not be dismayed. There is perfected love in God the Father, in Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Since this love is perfect,Their words are perfect.

They have given us Their word. God didn’t just “send His son” and His son didn’t “just die” as acts that are long forgotten. No, it was written down so we could take Them at their word. Jesus while on the earth declared in John 16, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.” Jesus said that Holy Spirit would come to us to declare the words of the Father and the Son! Not only do we have a written word, but we have witness of His Spirit that His word is truth!! Talk about going above and beyond to keep a word!!!

I realize there are many discussions on if the whole Bible is truth or not. While I do not have time in this entry to address all of them ;), I encourage you to trust His word. If you’ve struggled in this place, it is probably because you’ve yet to really trust God and take Him at His word. He doesn’t mind your questions and because of His Holy Spirit, He will always provide an answer. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked questions like I did yesterday or ask Him to reveal an answer in the Bible and He answers me. I will tell you that EVERY time that I posture my heart to receive truth, He answers me.

Principle for today: Take God at His word! He will be faithful to you.

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19 NKJV)

Yesterday I went into Physical Therapy at a later time in the day than I’m used to. I went through all of my exercises and was being assisted and coached by my normal therapist and another person because my therapist had two patients. When it came time to do my strength resistance test, my therapist asked for her co-worker’s help to assist me. This machine buckles me in so that I can not use anything but my lower back and core to do reps of weight resistance to test my muscle strength. Since my car accident, I haven’t been able to exercise like I used to be able to due to pain from muscle tears. Now other muscle groups have compensated for the injury. That being said, my lower back muscles aren’t what they used to be. So I get locked into the machine and I’m brought forward with assistance to 72degrees. Then I can’t move. Seriously I’m stuck! The weight increments are supposed to go up 5lb for every 20reps I get in. Try again….wow! That burns!!!! I made it though and reset at the forward 72 degrees. I lean back again and….. Pop pop pop! My back is not liking this and I’m feeling like my 3day weekend off made my back somehow weak. On the third attempt for a rep and several demonstrative groans, I ask if I really am only 5lb more than last Friday. My therapist chimes in from, “Yes. We are increasing you by 5lb as long as you’re getting 20reps.” I groan again and say how I really think it’s too much and I can’t do it. She comes over and checks the machine. Sure enough, I was programmed on 100 pounds and not 55 like I should have been on!! Well no wonder! I knew I wasn’t crazy.

After the burn and probably muscle irritation of my 4-5 reps on that weight, the 55lb still was a challenge but thankfully not quite so difficult. We all laughed in the moment and I thanked the other assistant for believing in me to double my goals :-)

Then nighttime came….! I definitely was kept awake until the early hours of the morning with back pain. Something that should have been healing for me was unnecessary aggravation and now prevented sleep.

This made me think of the unnecessary weights and baggage we often carry in our lives. We carry our own stresses and worries and we often allow others to put their baggage on us. We can constantly carry around what we think someone thinks about us, how someone mistreated us, or other shortcomings we think we have. The weights of comparison, greed, shame, and the lusts of our flesh cause us to strain to walk in righteousness. Sometimes the excess baggage causes us physical, emotional and mental harm by pushing ourselves beyond the grace that is there to empower us. If I had stayed at a 55lb place and worked up to 100lb, I would have had the strength to take it on. However, since it came prematurely, it was more than I could accomplish. This is often true of tasks or responsibilities that I take on that should be rolled onto The Lord.

His yoke is easy and His burden is light. This does not abdicate my responsibilities to seek Him and to live holy, but it does free me from doing things in my own weak strength. I could do a few reps at 100lbs, but it was much easier to do 55lb in the strength that was already made available to me.

Principle for today: throw off the excess baggage that is slowing you down!

Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The other day, I walked into my house after physical therapy and I was excited to see my husband. Shortly after crossing the threshold to our home, I was hit with a nasty smell that threw me back. Stephen had a head cold, so needless to say, he didn’t understand when I bolted out of the room grabbing my nose. We both quickly tried to figure out what the smell was. Stephen had just made a simple lunch with some veggies wrapped inside corn tortillas. I darted into the kitchen to try to find out where the smell was coming from. The kitchen was filled with the stench. Unable to determine which ingredient was the problem, I began to get ready to leave the house again for our next meeting. Stephen followed me to the back of the house with his plate of food and the smell followed him. Since the smell had filled the entire house now, we both determined to find the culprit especially since he was digesting whatever this raunchy smell was. With one blow of the nose, Stephen could identify that I indeed wasn’t being dramatic and he knew it was the broccoli. Broccoli?! How on earth did a small portion of broccoli stink up the house?I quickly realized that the broccoli had been in a pyrex for a week hence the smell. We laughed and decided it would be best if our friends who were coming to pick us up didn’t enter our house :-)

Not unlike the broccoli, it sometimes only takes one small area of my heart to stink for it to effect my entire heart or attitude. Stephen had about 6 ingredients in his food that day, but only one that really stunk. What was even worse is that Stephen’s clogged nose prevented him from smelling the bad food. Once I pointed this out to him and he was able to smell on his own, he wished he had known the broccoli was bad. Sometimes we aren’t able to know when our hearts and attitudes stink. We can tell that other areas are in check and flourishing, but if we aren’t careful even those areas can begin to be infected as well. It just takes one wrong motive, one repetitive negative thought, or complaint to begin to work it’s way into other areas.

2 Corinthians 2:15(NLT) says, “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.” This means that the sacrifice of our lives, by denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Jesus is pleasing and acceptable to God. Our lives when lived in our flesh give off a displeasing odor that repels the glory of God. It’s when we yoke ourselves with the Spirit of God and follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus, that we exchange our filth for a beautiful aroma. A heart that is whole, pure and lovely.

I recently hugged someone who means a great deal in my life and has been a mentor to me. When you stand around this person, you can’t smell their fragrance at all, but when they hug me, I’ll smell like them the rest of the day. It’s not an overpowering “Woah! Too much cologne/perfume!” reaction, but one that softly lingers on my coat or sweater sleeve the rest of the day. If we desire to obtain the fragrance of Christ, we must not simply be “around” Him in His word, but be close enough to His heart to receive His embrace and thus, leave smelling like we’ve been near to the One.

Principle for today: Take inventory of what “stinks” in your heart today. Close friends and family who LOVE you are often good people to go to for examining your heart. Above that, Holy Spirit is faithful to search your heart and reveal areas where you could surrender and receive the grace of His spirit.

The other day, I walked into my house after physical therapy and I was excited to see my husband. Shortly after crossing the threshold to our home, I was hit with a nasty smell that threw me back. Stephen had a head cold, so needless to say, he didn’t understand when I bolted out of the room grabbing my nose. We both quickly tried to figure out what the smell was. Stephen had just made a simple lunch with some veggies wrapped inside corn tortillas. I darted into the kitchen to try to find out where the smell was coming from. The kitchen was filled with the stench. Unable to determine which ingredient was the problem, I began to get ready to leave the house again for our next meeting. Stephen followed me to the back of the house with his plate of food and the smell followed him. Since the smell had filled the entire house now, we both determined to find the culprit especially since he was digesting whatever this raunchy smell was. With one blow of the nose, Stephen could identify that I indeed wasn’t being dramatic and he knew it was the broccoli. Broccoli?! How on earth did a small portion of broccoli stink up the house?I quickly realized that the broccoli had been in a pyrex for a week hence the smell. We laughed and decided it would be best if our friends who were coming to pick us up didn’t enter our house :-)

Not unlike the broccoli, it sometimes only takes one small area of my heart to stink for it to effect my entire heart or attitude. Stephen had about 6 ingredients in his food that day, but only one that really stunk. What was even worse is that Stephen’s clogged nose prevented him from smelling the bad food. Once I pointed this out to him and he was able to smell on his own, he wished he had known the broccoli was bad. Sometimes we aren’t able to know when our hearts and attitudes stink. We can tell that other areas are in check and flourishing, but if we aren’t careful even those areas can begin to be infected as well. It just takes one wrong motive, one repetitive negative thought, or complaint to begin to work it’s way into other areas.

2 Corinthians 2:15(NLT) says, “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.” This means that the sacrifice of our lives, by denying ourselves, taking up our cross and

My sweet husband got up 20 minutes earlier than me today in order to help load our luggage and prepare lunch to take as we traveled. We went to some morning training sessions and hit the road around lunchtime. I was excited to eat my specially prepared meal, but realized we were in need of some water and forks :) We pulled into a local Panera and Stephen decided that he’d get out and go inside. I stayed behind and waited in the car. All of a sudden, I get the urge to go look in the back of our car. I’m still not sure why I did this, but that was what I felt to do. As I open the back of my SUV and start digging around our bag of snacks, I saw a few people walking my way. On one quick glance, I can tell that one of these individuals is mentally handicapped. I continued to look through my things and felt someone walk past me and I saw that she was the driver. The other 3 in the group walked slower than she and I could tell they all had some handicaps. I began short conversation with the driver and immediately had the attention of the whole group. One sweet girl hugged me intensely and all I had said was, “Hi!”. The driver said to this girl, “Personal space…she needs her personal space.” To which I replied, “Oh no, she’s fine”. I continued conversation and found out this woman who’d embraced me was named Lynn. As conversation progressed I saw a very large thick book in her hands with a lion on the spine. I said, “What is that book you’re reading?” To which when she moved her hand I read, “Africa”. I smiled as she told me the title and exclaimed her joy about how much she loved Africa. My heart leapt and I shared how my husband and I are missionaries to Africa. She got so excited and reiterated her love for Africa. It was the neatest thing in the world to her that we had been there.

Stephen returned to our car and I could tell the others in the group were making their way into their car, so we parted ways. In getting back into the car, my heart was so happy. How neat of God to cause a “detour” in our day to make this one girl’s day.

Sometimes it’s the little things that make our day. For me, today it is sitting outside writing this blog after eating my favorite fro-yo (shameless plug for Yolotti). Some other days it’s a moment of dancing in the kitchen with my husband, sharing laughter with friends, or a cup of good coffee. What is so great is that God uses me to be a part of making other people’s days. Most people just need to know that someone loves and cares about them. God chooses us to be instrumental in bringing His love and joy as we’re open to being His vessels.

The principle for today is: Be intentional to pursue people!!

The kingdom of God is made up of people. God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ who died so that people could be in right standing with God. People are at the heartbeat of this beautiful Savior and He freely shares His heart for others to those who are willing to ask for it. I know that days are busy and I realize there are a lot of personal things we have to take care of. I also know that it can be the smallest amount of time and energy that we yield ourself to His Holy Spirit that can impact someone else’s life for eternity.

I’m certainly not saying that my Africa comment changed someone’s life today, but this precious girl reminded me again of how important it is to pursue people. More times than not, as I take time interact with people, I walk away with my life greatly enhanced. Today, there was a stranger who embraced me with great love and acceptance immediately upon meeting me. She shared her heart with me for Africa and made me realize that maybe we weren’t so different after all. Maybe our ways of life contrast one another greatly, but there is a God with the same amount of love in His heart for both of us and He planted Africa in both of our hearts.

*Look for someone to compliment today.
*Be aware that everyone is human and you never know why someone is having a bad day.

Wow, well today I became an official missionary with the Assemblies of God alongside of my husband. I was so excited to see the faithfulness of God and feel His presence even in the boardroom. I had prayed for some specific things in that meeting and they all came to pass. I felt His nearness.Right after hearing that I’d been approved, we headed to have lunch with a few other missionaries and I got distracted from the good news. Once we were through with lunch,I went to text my friend and I said, “Well, I am an approved missionary.” Then the tears came. Stephen came back to me and asked why I was crying and I couldn’t even find words. Honestly, it’s not that I put all of my hope in an organization or felt the need to justify my heart to be a missionary before man, but it was affirmation I felt today from The Lord of His calling for my life. It was a delight to share my testimony with others. I began to reflect on my life and see His beautiful hand that designed me and called me His own. He knew in my messiest of situations that I’d be here one day as an appointed missionary to Africa. Wow. I’m forever grateful for the moments where Africa and the nations were dropped in my heart. I remember the video of Haiti that I saw in 2003 with the song, “You Said” that made my heart break for the lost. I can recall being a little girl playing with giraffe statues my mom had and falling in love with Elephants and later on Kenya, Africa. I am beyond thankful for the late Pastor Billy Joe and Pastor Sharon Daugherty and their obedience to His call of missions that so radically changed my life. There are so many more who have influenced me in the way of missions from their own beautiful stories and encouraging my heart.

What a joyous moment it was for Stephen too who’d prayed for a wife to come alongside of him and help him in his ministry. God is faithful and really answers prayer! When we seek Him and ask Him for His heart, He gives us His desires and willingly shares His heart. I am excited for all He has in store! Not that it has been or will be easy, but I love partnering with His heart.

Principle for today: God answers prayer! Don’t relent in prayer by asking, seeking and knocking. God will not withhold His hand from your life! He has good and glorious plans for you!

The red vest and sneakers should have been a clue but I didn’t notice them at first. Stephen and I were simply walking down a hall and caught up in our own conversation. As we approached the elevator at the end of the hall, I greeted the woman standing there. Side Note: If you ever encounter me on an elevator or hallway, you’ll most likely receive a compliment or at least a charge to have a good day. This moment was no different and I could tell this woman’s heart was heavy. I noticed her shoes had a very thick high sole in the back and I made a comment a out how comfy they must be. She replied that she’s on her feet 8 hours a day and needed good support. As we entered the elevator I noticed her name tag, “Sue” and began further dialogue with her. I asked what she did for 8hours on her feet to which she replied that she was on maintenance staff at this building. I said,”oh well that makes sense to have good shoes then!” I went on to thank her for her hard work and all that she does. I watched as her countenance and posture changed. Her reply, “wow well thank you very much. No one really ever says anything like that. I only hear something if I’m doing something wrong.” My heart ached. By now we’d reached our floor and I exited the elevator with another thankful comment and blessing her to have a good day. She cheerfully but quietly went the other way.

As Stephen and I headed towards our car, he said, “Well, there’s your blog entry for the day!” My heart was heavy to communicate this principle that is HUGE on my heart: be thankful!!! Romans 1:21 says,” because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” When you aren’t thankful, your heart becomes darkened and calloused and you can not see God, yourself or others rightly. Here we had Sue who’s name was printed on her vest and name badge working hard in a position none would envy and hardly receives a simple “Thank you! Good job!” Not to mention she worked in a Christian facility. This is not to discourage anyone, but merely to give an exhortation that opportunity surrounds all of us to be more thankful!

We have to keep gratitude in our hearts, words and actions. When we don’t thank God, we can become offended or drift away. When we aren’t thankful for others we can become prideful or cynical. God desires that we be thankful so that we may walk in love and humility.

I’ve taken this lady’s name, “Sue” and broken it down as an acronym to show areas we need to guard in order to be thankful.
3 giants I believe steal thankfulness are not limited to but include;

S-selfishness
When we think only about ourselves and our concerns, we won’t abide in God’s leadership or extend love to others.

U-unappreciate
When we aren’t thankful as we’ve already discussed, we open our lives to be full of confusion and misguided purposes forged in our own strength.

E-entitlement
Ouch! This one hurts but it is so vital! The moment we think that we’re “better than” or “more deserving” than someone else is the moment we lose ground in our hearts and lives for Holy Spirit to move. Jesus taught strongly that this type of heart posture would get no where in the kingdom of God. When we view our our labors as more significant and worthy of compensation than those around us, we will be gravely disappointed upon learning the truth of the kingdom of God.

The scripture in Romans 1:21 is so clear that our minds become clouded and confused and we become self focused when we are not thankful. My desire is that you would recognize where you have some “Sue”s in your life. Both issues in the acronym and people who you can sincerely thank. As you do, I believe you’ll grow deeper in your love for God and walk in more joy and freedom.

*Find 3 things to thank God about daily. This shows your need for His love and lordship in your life.

*Find someone to thank everyday. This will keep humility and love flowing through your life and prevent you from isolation and cold heart.

“I’ve been praying for YOU!”, said with emphasis by many people in reference to praying me in to be Stephen’s wife. Now these kind of people didn’t always pray for me by name, but they did agree that Stephen would have a wife who loved the Lord and could partner with him in missions. It’s always funny to me to meet some of these people and hear their stories. The other evening we had dinner with probably one of the sweetest couples in the world! They are in their 80s now and Stephen used to live with them. Brilliant minds and BIG hearts and they have faithfully prayed for Stephen’s wife everyday until I came. The husband actually had an inpatient surgery the week of our wedding and still drove 8 hours roundtrip to attend. As we pulled out of their driveway the other night, my heart was deeply moved. These people out of deep love partnered with my husband to pray me in. They probably never missed a day and came into knowing me with a great heart of love.

This is the power of partnering in prayer for someone. I felt the Holy Spirit say to me years ago, “Don’t tell someone you’ll pray for them if you won’t”. I made this a heart posture to be faithful in the place of praying for others. I’m not 100% sharp on memory all of the time, but I do try my best to remember prayer requests and faithfully follow up with these. The reality is there is such power in prayer and it’s two fold. One is that you are agreeing for God’s healing power, provision, love etc. to come about in one’s life. The second is that your diligence to pray and speak the life and love of God over someone enlarges your heart for that person and situation.

Stephen and I have made it a commitment to pray for our families, friends, nations and government everyday together. Somedays it’s a simple 5 minute time before bed and other times there are several prayers throughout the day for a Praying for you

“I’ve been praying for YOU!”, said with emphasis by many people in reference to praying me in to be Stephen’s wife. Now these kind people didn’t always pray for me by name, but they did agree that Stephen would have a wife who loved the Lord and could partner with him in missions. It’s always funny to me to meet some of these people and hear their stories. The other evening we had dinner with probably one of the sweetest couples in the world! They are in their late 70s and early 80s now and Stephen used to live with them. Brilliant minds and BIG hearts and they have faithfully prayed for Stephen’s wife everyday until I came. The husband actually had an inpatient surgery the week of our wedding and still drove 8 hours roundtrip to attend. As we pulled out of their driveway the other night, my heart was deeply moved. These people out of deep love partnered with my husband to pray me in. They probably never missed a day and came into knowing me with a great heart of love.

This is the power of partnering in prayer for someone. I felt the Holy Spirit say to me years ago, “Don’t tell someone you’ll pray for them if you won’t”. I made this a heart posture to be faithful in the place of praying for others. I’m not 100% sharp on memory all of the time, but I do try my best to remember prayer requests and faithfully follow up with these. The reality is there is such power in prayer and it’s two fold. One is that you are agreeing for God’s healing power, provision, love etc. to come about in one’s life. The second is that your diligence to pray and speak the life and love of God over someone enlarges your heart for that person and situation.

Stephen and I have made it a commitment to pray for our families, friends, nations and government everyday together. Somedays it’s a simple 5 minute prayer time before bed and other times there are several prayers throughout the day for a specific individual or circumstance on our hearts. There is nothing legalistic in diligently lifting up those you love. It edifies your spirit and allows you to feel part of God’s heart and appreciate people more. I’ve seen time and time again the fruit in relationships with whom I’ve prayed for and received prayer from.

Even today, I needed God’s grace and favor and friends to uplift me. I’m so thankful to have friends who love Jesus and will contend for His will for my life. Jesus interceded for His disciples and all of mankind when He was on the Earth even upon the cross! This is a model of what we should do and how we should pray to the Father in the Son’s name for His Spirit to be poured out in our lives.

Practical Tips:
*If you don’t have anyone you’re praying for on a regular basis I encourage you to make a list even if it’s just one name, country or situation. Some people do better with lists, I do better with a prayer map of the nations (and write in the margins those in the US). I guarantee your life will flourish with the love and compassion of Jesus.

*When you pray for them, try to get later on encourage them with a scripture or words that show you believe in them.

*The best time to pray for someone is when you think of it ;) Seriously, write them a note on Facebook, send a text/email, whatever it is and tell them that you’re praying for them. (note: don’t do this while driving ;-) ) If you can’t contact them right then, pray for them and ask Holy Spirit to remind you to encourage them later. I’ve been known to write people’s initials on my hands at various times so that I don’t forget that they were on my heart. Once God knows you’ll be obedient to pray, it’s amazing the things He wants you to partner in prayer for.

*Lastly, if there is ANYONE that you feel that you can not pray for, pray for them :-) Several years ago, God challenged me and told me to pray for someone I didn’t like that the time. He told me to pray for them like I would want someone to pray for me and I did. Today, this person is close in my life and it’s powerful to walk with an upright heart and not be weighed down in bitterness.