The Prayers of Strangers

Today, as many of you did, I gathered around the table with loved ones.  We said a prayer of thanksgiving for so many more blessings than I can begin to count.  

One of the biggest blessings for which I'm am grateful is Harper's continued good health.  

My husband and I pray daily for her good health.

Our parents pray daily for her good health.

Her aunts and uncles and cousins pray daily for her to remain healthy.

Numerous friends, our youth group, and students pray regularly as well.

This list of people makes sense to me. 

 I have grown to expect these prayers.  I covet these prayers and rely fully on these prayers.  These are the prayers that carried my new mother's heart through the first few months of Harper's life when we didn't know what to expect with her diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis.  These are the prayers that comforted us once we came to grips with the journey we had before us as new parents.  These are the prayers that went up in place of my prayers when I was too tired and weak to pray.  These prayers mean the world to me. 

 These prayers carry me through. 

What blows my mind is the number of prayers that go up on Harper's behalf from people I've never met.  We were told today that there are numerous individual ladies, ladies' Bible classes, families, and prayer groups that keep on their prayer lists.  Every time they prayer, they personally mention Harper to our Father in Heaven.  They, like my family and I, pray daily for Harper's health.  These are people who fall in the "friend-of-a-friend" category.  What a blessing!  

Today I'm especially thankful for these prayers.

All around us, people are grasping for a sense of belonging.  The world is in a constant state of turmoil.  Because of the grasp that Satan has on the people of this world, we hear story after story of people hurting people.  We see images violence and hate plastered all over our television and computer screens. 

 Individuals lash out at their fellow citizens because of sin. 

At a time in our world when there is so much to fear, God provides his children with so much for which to be grateful.  God provides a sense of belonging.  God provides a sense of purpose to His children.  As Christians, we are connected to our brothers and sisters in other countries because of His love for us.  We have the privilege of praying for  complete strangers because someone we know loves them enough to share the need.  God gives us this.  

Today, I said a prayer of thanksgiving. 

I am thankful for a Father who provides us with this sense of belonging.

I am thankful for the prayers of the Saints.  

Today, I am thankful for the prayers of Strangers.  

Psalm 69:30 - "I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving."

For what are you thankful today?

How can I pray for you or your family?  

Comment below.  I would love to pass this blessing forward by praying for you or someone whom you love.

Cheesecakes for Charity!

Exciting Announcement Ahead!

If you would like a chance to win a free cheesecake...KEEP READING!

I love baking cheesecakes, and I'm in the baking mood! I'd like to give a cheesecake to one of you, and I'm holding a contest until March 7th to find the lucky person!

How can you enter this drawing?

Donate to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!

At the top of this blog page, you will see a tab (Thrones4HarpersHope...)that takes you to my fundraising page for the Great Strides event. This walk will take place on June 7th in Murfreesboro, TN. Help me pass my fundraising goal, and a yummy cheesecake could be yours!

Here's what to do:

1. Take a moment to donate a minimum of $20 to this great cause.

**As an added incentive, donate and then join our team and raise your own funds!

Doing this will ensure that your name will be entered twice!

2. Come back to this blog and comment below letting me know you have donated. Your name will be entered into a drawing for a free cheesecake!

3. Share this post on Facebook.
4. I will contact the winner on Saturday, March 8! 

Deadline:

While the fundraising will continue for the next several months, the Cheesecake contest will close at midnight on Friday, March 7!

If we pass the $1000 mark by the end of the closing, I will draw 2 names! 

Yummy cheesecake is waiting!

Make your donation today!

Dada! Dada! Dada!

My daughter wakes up in the mornings with a smile on her face and a song on her lips.

Many mornings when I open the door to her room, I am greeted with the sweetest smile and "Hi!" you can imagine!  My heart melts every single morning!  I am so blessed to be her mommy!!

The next few minutes go something like this:
I love on her while singing a silly "Good Morning" song.
I change her diaper.
We grab her blanky and head for the living room to start her morning therapy.

From here on out, it is all about daddy!

When we reach the hallway, she starts looking for him and calling for him.  At first, it is a hushed, yet very excited, "Dada!"  Then her calls get louder and louder until she is yelling, "Dada! Dada! Dada!" at the top of her lungs!  She eagerly searches each room we pass trying to find him.  On school mornings, this searching lasts until he comes through the front door after his freshman Bible classes.  As soon as she sees him, she squeals with delight and runs to his open arms as quickly as she can.  He scoops her up and loves on her as though it has been weeks since he saw her last.  If I could capture this on film, the caption would read, "Be still my heart!"It is impossible for me to contain my proud smile each time I see this exchange take place!

 There is no doubt about it, this precious girl loves her daddy!

This weekend, as I watched my baby girl start the days searching for her father, I was riddled with shame.

How often do I begin my day searching for my Heavenly Father?
How often do I begin my day flipping on the TV to get caught up on sports or politics?
How often do I pick up my latest novel or browse social media with my coffee, rather than seeking the guidance of God's word as I start my day?

Luke 18: 16-17 "But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Matthew 18:1-4"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." 

What a beautiful example my baby girl sets for me!

I should be eagerly searching for my Father each moment of every day the way a child searches for her "dada" when he is not around.
I should be searching the words of my Father for guidance the way a child looks to his dad when he is unsure of how to handle a situation.

Matthew 7: 7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

If I want my reward to be the kingdom of Heaven,  I must actively seek the Father!

My Action Plan:

Wake up a few minutes earlier in order to complete my Bible Study before Harper wakes up.  This will enable me to have silent meditation time at the start of the day, rather than waiting and risking not "finding" time.

What is your plan for actively seeking the Father?