craigslist

Dear Lord,

Thank You for craigslist, and for its utilization by our friends for their recent Garage Sale.  I never would have thought that we’d receive an email in regard to one of the items that we posted would be available at the garage sale:  lacrosse gear.  Yet we did!  We hadn’t sold it at the garage sale (most people wouldn’t look there for something specialty like that), and two weeks later received the emailed question as to whether or not we still had it.

Thank You for the money that its sale might bring in during this time when my husband is going to school and only working ten hours a week.  As you know, every little bit helps, and the gear isn’t doing us any good sitting in our garage.  I pray for those who might purchase it, that it would bless them, and I thank You for getting the word out to them via craigslist!

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Playgrounds

Dear Lord,

Thank You for playgrounds to go and enjoy with my little family.  My two-year-old certainly enjoys them, and my husband and I rather enjoy him enjoying them.  My husband took us to one today that was called “Sherwood Park” and themed a bit medieval.  There was a dragon coming out of a ruined castle, a sword in the stone, a bridge fashioned to look like a drawbridge over a moat of sorts, and two great playgrounds surrounded by stone benches and climbing rocks.  We enjoyed ourselves!

Little Man most enjoyed the slide that was actually made of rollers (each about three or four inches wide) instead of one plastic slide.  He would put his feet down so that they hit every single roller on his way down and practically vibrated down the whole slide.  He found that to be great fun.  Thank You for playgrounds, and for the particular creativity that went into this one.  It’s a wonderful and free way to enjoy ourselves as a family, and I thank You for the opportunity.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Your Faithfulness

Dear Lord,

My constant prayer seems to be that You would continually point me back to You and that my focus wouldn’t stray.  I know that focus on You is where I want to be, and yet, my focus constantly strays - mostly to myself.  Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness (and answer to prayer) to point me back to You.  Thank You that You orchestrate each moment, circumstance, etc. toward Your purpose of making Your children more like Your Son - including even me.

Your faithfulness pairs with Your Grace and Love to bring me back to You.  I cannot conceive of such love and forgiveness.  Thank You so much, Lord.  I do pray that You continue to do so - if only to keep my focus on that fact that You will.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Living By the Book

Dear Lord,

Thank You for using this DVD series to initiate discussion between my husband and me.  You used that discussion to reveal more of my pride to me, and eventually, to show me how to deal with that pride.  It can be discouraging to see my sin, but I thank You that You are faithful to show it to me with the purpose of Teaching me how You overcome it.  Thank You, too, that I don’t have to be discouraged by my sin, but that I can look to You.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Vitamin E

Dear Lord,

Thank You for watching over my son this weekend while he played with us outside.  Sunscreen hadn’t even crossed my mind as we worked to ready part of my in-laws’ backyard to put sod in.  It wasn’t until my father-in-law said something later in the day that I realized the red on his cheeks probably wasn’t from the strange rash he’s been getting, but from a little too much sun.  Through my own sunburn experiences (and the loving ministrations of a friend), I thank You that You had already taught me the wonders of Vitamin E!

Again, thank You as You watched over him.  You know that he woke several times that night - I can only guess from having rubbed his cheeks in his sleep - and he also came down sick with a cold shared by his cousin.  I spread that E over his cheeks twice in the night, and by morning, I could barely tell that his cheeks had a little extra pink.  Thank You for my previous experience (and the knowledge of the concentration of no less than 12,000 IU), and for Your healing.  It didn’t even seem to bother him the next day.

Lord, when I fail according to the world’s standards, You are there to show me that everything is in Your hands.  You turn and use those “failures” for Your glory, and make Your Victory known.  Thank You for healing my son through Your gift of Vitamin E!

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Your Timing

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the perfection of Your sovereign timing.  Last night was a bit of a rush to get a few chores done before bedtime.  I knew the kiddo might wake during the night, as he wasn’t feeling well, and brushing on his poor sunburned cheeks hurt.  Thank You that I had finished the necessary chores and was just about to go to sleep when he woke up the first time.  To be able to give him my full attention when he’s not feeling well is a blessing, as I’m less prone to stress and more prone to keep my focus on serving You by serving my little man.

Thank You for orchestrating his wake-up with my readiness to deal with it, and I thank You, too, that You do that throughout my day.  I know that I don’t always notice it, but I do wish to express my thanks, as I know that You are always at work in my life to conform me into the image of Your Son. (Romans 8:28-29)  Thank You for that work, and for Your perfect timing.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

The Perfect-Sized Chair

Dear Lord,

When I sat down in our rocker to put our little man to sleep, I had to thank You that the chair was the perfect size.  My head leaned luxuriously onto the back of the chair, but my bun slipped just over the edge so as not to thrust my head forward, and it didn’t even pull my hair.  You quite literally gave us the perfect-sized chair.  After a day of shoveling dirt while watching the little man, that little perfect detail was incredibly appreciated.  Thank You for that gift.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.