finding a pot of gold

 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. 1 Thessalonians 1:2

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, 

and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy2:1

We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God,

 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:3

As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. 
We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation—
a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:13

Prayer defined: a spiritual communion with God, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession. My prayer life goes a little like this: First Place goes to supplication, runner up and Second Place is awarded to confession, Third Place (sad but true) is adoration and lastly but in the run Fourth Place to thanksgiving. It's so easy for me to cry out to God and spend my time with Him reviewing my long list of supplications and even interceding on behalf of the needs of others. If your anything like me there is an equally long list of confessions. And as for adoration, what kind of a Christian would I be if I did not praise and adore my God? Even adoration can easily become a routine or a scripted praise. Thanksgiving, oh that doesn't come naturally... it isn't learned, it is worked. Thanksgiving is described as an act, an expression, an acknowledgment. 

Reading the scriptures above felt like finding a hidden pot of gold. Though I have read these verses in the past, I had overlooked an important and essential part of communion with God: Thanking Him for my brothers and sisters when I pray for them by name. When I pray with people, I do give thanks to God for their life, I praise Him for their life but it usually comes to a halt there. When we pray, we should give thanks to God, not just for His goodness and faithfulness (among all His benefits and awesomeness) but for our family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, fellow brothers and sisters of the faith, as well as for the lost, unborn babies that are being formed in our friend's wombs- all by name. If God created each one, loves each individual, and has beautiful plans for each one, who are we to not pray for, and thank God for the people He has placed at our hand's reach? Imagine all the good works of thanksgiving being offered to God if we all gave thanks to Him for the those He surrounds us with. I challenge you, as I challenge myself, when we pray for people let's give thanks to God for them. 

PS. I give thanks to God for You my readers.

A thankful life is a prayerful life. 

A life void of prayer is an unthankful life. -Allan McNabb

operator, please connect me

This past Sunday, as I drove to church I had a strange thought in my mind: Have so-and-so pray for you. I was a bit confused. "Why would I have so-and-so pray for me?" I thought to myself. As a matter of fact, why would I need prayer from anyone? I wasn't in any harm or experiencing a pressing trial. When again the same thought came to my mind again.  OK Lord, you're on to something. 

At a red light, I sent a text to my friend (the Lord was very specific in bringing this person's name to pray for me): "Can you pray for me. I don't know for what but I feel like I need prayer." As soon as I hit send, so many different scenarios played in my mind. What if I am involved in a tragic car accident? What if I am about to suffer serious injuries in a freak car accident? Or is it that something will happen at church? Maybe some crazy person will confront me? Or may I need to guard my heart from a wolf in sheep's clothing? I literally had to stop myself.

The car accident paranoia leaves as I arrive safely to church. I walk in to the sanctuary and no crazies attacked me. I soon forget my worries and also the fact that the Lord had prompted me to ask for prayer.

Little did I know that as soon as worship was over and the teaching about to begin, an usher walks up to me and asks me to serve. He tells me, "You know I wouldn't ask you unless you were my last resort." And so, I get up and go serve to a ministry that I am not a part of and not ready for. What could go wrong went wrong and I was feeling like a failure. I even froze when I began. Out of nowhere, I began to speak boldly and with confidence, both of which were not there a second ago.

As soon as the service was over, the Lord reminded me of my request for prayer. OH! That's why the Lord prompted me to ask for prayer. He knew that I would need it. He reminded me of an important lesson: ASK for prayer. We have to be obedient and ask for prayer... it's like picking up the phone and asking the operator for help. Thank God for friends who are like operators, connecting us to the One who can help.

Do you have a friend like that? 
I encourage you to ask a friend or myself to pray for you, whether it be a direct prayer request or maybe one as vague as mine. Call, text, email or Facebook that friend and say, "Operator, please connect me!"

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For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:19

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Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. 1 Timothy 2:1,3

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Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called—His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance. Ephesians 1:15-18

Peru

Hi Friends.
Uth Nation (youth group at my church) is sending 19 amazing people to serve the people in Peru. They leave tonight and return next Sunday. Please keep them in prayer.
Here are their names:

Jose Sr
Jose Jr
Chris V
Chris M
Alex
Christian
Joey
Tommy
Pinito
Michi
Dominique
Sarah
Jasmine
Annie
Tiffany
Melissa
Tatty
Andria
Sammantha

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things,Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “ Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

HEAL Journey - New Beginning

Hi Everyone.
This morning was the first HEAL Journey meeting with six girls from Uth Nation. We opened up with Psalm 139 and discussed what this Psalm spoke to us. I shared with them my testimony over bagels and tea. It was a very sweet time. I prepared goodie bags for each girl. Each bag contained: Book- for their Heal Journey, Candle- because we are the aroma of Christ and the light of the world, Lip Gloss- we reflect God's beauty, Loli Pop- to keep us sweet for and like Jesus, Greeting Cards- to give the gift of kind words and encouragement like we recieve from God.

Each girl has an accountability partner for the next two weeks. Also, each one has a secret prayer warrior (basically, a mystery woman at church is praying for them and will be sending them a card each week). Likewise, the girls will be praying for their prayer warriors and sending them a card with me, the messenger. They will meet eachother at the end of our study.

Keep this discipleship group in prayer. We will meet every other Saturday. I'll keep you posted each time we meet.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. ~Psalm 139:17-18