on spiderlillies and motorcycles

Prayers of gratitude for the family I was born into... the one I married into... the friends and loved ones I've adopted along the way into my heart and life... the ones I was adopted into when I became His...

Prayers of gratitude for the memories in my heart of all that is and all that was... of the here and now and of the there and then... and gratitude for the memories being built and to be built... thankfulness for the tomorrows...

Prayers of gratitude for hearing and seeing, for touching and tasting... for song and sunshine, for laughter and tears, for lessons learned, for hopes and dreams... for a roof over my head, food to eat, something to drink, a job and a way to get to it... for clothing to wear and shoes on my feet... for a house to clean and dishes to wash... for dogs and cats and peacocks... for trees and flowers and pink flamingos on the lawn... the list is endless...

Prayers of praise for the gift of my husband... who I admire and respect with all my heart... whose counsel I trust... a man who is the Godly leader of our home... a man who is the same with everyone, who is not double-minded... a man who is wise and funny, talented and gifted, handsome and sexy, kind and generous, servant-hearted, Godly, generous and strong, gentle and considerate, funny and fun to be with, encouraging and uplifting... a man who is these things because God is in his heart...

Prayers of gratitude for the gift of being born in this country, the United States of America, with the freedom to worship Him... to work, to play, to grow, to live...

Prayers of intercession, made with a complete certainty that God listens and cares...

Prayers for safekeeping of this great country of ours in these dark days... for deliverance of the United States from forces within and without that would see it topple if they could, whether their actions be made in ignorance or with malice aforethought... prayers of gratitude that God is greater than anything they can do and that He will work all things to the good for those that love Him and seek Him, in His way and time... and prayers for strength and hope and faith for us all as we await the unfolding of time... prayers for Saul-on-the-road-to-Damascus experiences for those leaders of our country who don't know God, and for full and complete reliance on Him and commitment to Him once they've come to know Him...

Prayers for the orphans... the children... the destitute... the dying... the imprisoned... prayers for hope, for healing, for deliverance, for missionaries, for miracles... prayers for Ukraine, Swazi and all the peoples on this beautiful world God put us on...

Prayers for my brother and his future, for his deliverance from forces that would stop his ministry (and the ministries of other good men and women of God) and rob him of his life if they could, but they can't, no matter how hard they try, because God is greater than anything this world can do... I'm reminded that we fight, not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness of this world... and I'm reminded that God was with Daniel in the lion's den... and with Shadrack, Meshak and Abednego in the flaming furnace... prayers for joy for my brother, and peace beyond understanding or circumstances... prayers for blessings a hundred-fold...

Prayers that God will open the eyes of those blinded by Satan who do his work unknowingly (or knowingly)... and prayers that God will help them to make right the wrongs...

Prayers for strength and healing for Juanita as she fights to recover from this latest heart attack...and for her family as they sit by her side, pulling for her, fearful of her loss... prayers for wisdom for them as they make decisions for her...

Prayers for wisdom for Amanda's doctors as they operate on her back today, for successful results, and for quick healing so she can be back to the job of mother/wife/daughter/friend...

Prayers for wisdom for the surgeons who are this minute performing surgery on one of my GRITS (Girls Raised in the South) for recently diagnosed lung cancer... prayers they will "get it all"... prayers for a speedy recovery and for joy and blessings to fill her life in place of the sorrow that has haunted the last couple of years for her... prayers for peace that surpasses understanding for her...

Prayers for healing for for 7-year-old Maddie who has been in the PICU for weeks with swine flu, living from day to day with no certainty of life... and, finally, prayers of praise that she's turned a corner and is getting better, is off the ventilator and breathing on her own...

Prayers for my niece and the precious as yet unborn baby she carries under her heart, for healing and strength and health for them both, for a simple and problem-free delivery, for a wondrous and joyous entry into this world by her little one, for an easy and fast recovery for my niece, and for joy and peace and wisdom and strength for her and her husband as they raise their five precious children in the joy of the Lord...

Prayers, ahhhh, yes, prayers for strength and healing and speedy recoveries for my whole family... husband, daughter, granddaughter, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, parents... as they are rocked and beaten by colds, the flu, tonsilitis, and stomach viruses this very minute...

Prayers for one nephew and his wife, and their baby boy, as they work through problems that threaten their future together... prayer for wisdom and strength, for safety from outside forces, for healing and new beginnings...

Prayers of deliverance for those who are addicted, whether it be to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, eating... whatever the weakness... prayers for strength through Him... prayers for wisdom that we would not only seek help in His Word, but accept the help He sends in the form of others...

Prayers of gratitude for the sobriety of those who have, with His help, overcome... and for the blessings of having a sober husband...

Prayers for my unmarried loved ones... that they will grow closer to God day by day... that He will prepare them to be Godly husbands and wives someday... and that He is even now preparing Godly men and women to become their husbands and wives... and that their someday marriages will be holy and pure, a binding of him/her/God... full of His blessings, equally yoked in ties that cannot be unbound... that when they become One, it will be One made of three...

Prayers for my already-married loved ones that their marriages will grow stronger day by day in His presence... that they will love one another with a Godly and committed love... that they will raise their children in Christian homes in the presence of the Lord, filled with the joy and peace and strength that comes from having "He who is greater" abiding within...

Prayers for Daddy and Mae that their home will be secure, that the little house they live in will be theirs and they won't have to move until the day they move home to Heaven...

Prayers for my sister and mother that this precious time they share living together will be treasured and valued by them both, for time passes quickly, and one day memories is all any of us will have... prayers for any of us who share our homes with other family... that we will love and appreciate one another, strengthen and encourage one another, lift up and bless one another...

Prayers for my sister that doors will open so that she can teach elementary school children... she's amazing with little ones... anyone watching the love and attention, and passion and understanding she has for little ones when she's playing or reading or tending to her nieces and nephews... anyone watching their faces and eyes as they watch her and listen to her... anybody watching would know in a heartbeat what a blessing she will be to the young ones when those doors open and she can begin teaching... and prayers of thanksgiving for when it happens...

Prayers of comfort for Daniel and Laura, and all who have suffered the death of a child... or any loved one... that God will ease the pain in their hearts... and fill them with His presence and His promises... and prayers of praise for the Reunion that awaits us all...

Prayers of sorrow for the things I've said or done to hurt people I love, for the ways I've let them down, for the times I've tried to fix things that I had no power to fix, for the things I should have said and done, but didn't... and the things I shouldn't have said or done, but did... for the kindnesses I meant to do... and for the opportunities I've missed.... for the mistakes I've made, intentionally or unintentionally... prayers of thankfulness that He is faithful to forgive...

Prayers for wisdom, guidance, clarity, purpose, joy, peace... for yieldedness to His will... for willingness to live my life, our lives, according to His purpose... prayers for wisdom to be good stewards... prayers for financial security...

Prayers of thankfulness that He hears my prayers... and acts...

Thank you, Father God... precious Savior... sweet Holy Spirit... I love you...

In Jesus sweet, precious name... Amen...

Your prayers are really beyond words, so deeply felt. You think of everything...and then some. You have a way with words so few people have, sweetheart. I love you!