Revelations Chapter 3
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”
Revelations 3:20, NASB
 
A Prayer Over Our Children
     May my daughter’s work be found complete before You, oh God. Make her alive in You while You strengthen her from within. Keep her awake, oh Lord, reminding her of what she has received and heard, so that she may obey and repent. Make her victorious, oh God, that she may walk with You garbed in white and receive Your acknowledgement before angels.
    Oh Lord, help her to keep Your commands and endure patiently that she may keep Your Word and never forsake You.  Guard her against Your hour of trial and let her hold fast to Your crown. Oh God, give her victory that she may always remain with You as a pillar in Your house. Write Your Name upon her, oh God, and the name of Your new Jerusalem.
     Keep her from becoming lukewarm but refine her in the fire.  Open her eyes oh Lord, that she may repent of sin. Oh God, let her hear Your voice that she may open the door for You to come in. Meet and sup with her, oh God, that she may know You. Grant her victory, dear Lord, and give her ears to hear.

“You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.”
Revelations 2:3, NIV
 
Prayer Over Our Children
     Oh God, help my daughter work hard and persevere through hardships for Your name’s sake. May she not grow weary. Keep her heart faithful and true to You so that she may never forsake You as her first love. I pray that You will grant her a heart of repentance which desires to return to the zeal of her first love. Oh God, give her ears to hear. May she overcome and eat from Your tree of life.
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​“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelations 1:8, NASB
 
A Prayer Over Our Children
Grant my child understanding of what is to come so that she may testify of Your Word and of Jesus. Bless her, oh God, through the reading of Your prophecy so that she may take to heart what she has heard. Thank You, Jesus, for freeing my daughter from all sin through Your blood and for making her into a kingdom and priest for Your service. Open her eyes so that she may see You coming with the clouds. I pray that my little girl may know You as the Alpha and Omega, the One who was, who is, and who is to come.
 
Our God Is Stronger
 
     My eyes popped open. Panic made my breath catch. Sweat covered my entire body. I listened intently as darkness stilled the room. Only the deep breaths of my husband’s chest rising and falling met my ears. I had just woken up from a nightmare. I had woken up from a battle.

​“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”
Jude 1:20-21, NIV
 
Prayer Over Our Children
Call my child to You, oh Lord, and surround her with an abundance of Your joy and love. I pray that You will keep her from unbelief, sexual immorality, perversion, slander, and ungodliness. May she not grumble, boast, flatter, fault find, or follow evil desires. Instead, I pray that You will buildup in her a most holy faith and help her to learn to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. Keep her in Your love, oh God, as she waits to be brought to glory. May You also help her show mercy and intercede for others. Oh Lord, keep my little one from falling but help her to stand before Your glorious presence without fault and with great joy. Amen.
 
Living Hope
 
     The day dawned like any other. The sun rose, people slumbered in their beds, and quiet tip-toed through the neighborhoods. Birds chirped their greetings and winds rustled the leaves clinging to tree branches. Young children scrambled to start their day while their parents groaned for more sleep. Today, however, was different. It was Easter Sunday!

​Communion
 
     “Do you know what communion is?” My husband leveled a gaze at Sweet Pea. My daughter’s sober brown eyes blinked with contemplation. We sat at the breakfast table with waffles staring up at us in sticky anticipation and bated breath. The topic of Good Friday service peppered our conversation. With the social distancing mandate, our church had creatively orchestrated a Good Friday online service. Even with each family sheltering in place, communion would still be observed together as the body of Christ.
     My husband and I sat waiting for Sweet Pea’s reply. Her answer was of particular importance. Sweet Pea had just asked to partake in communion.

“Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.”
III John 1:8, NASB
 
A Prayer Over Our Children
Lord, I pray that my child will be blessed with good health and that things may go well with her. May You keep her walking in Your truth while You make her faithful in love to her fellow brethren. Oh God, bless her with a spirit of hospitality so that she can work together for Your Truth. Help her, I plead, to be an imitator of what is good that she may be filled with peace and joy.
 
Separated yet Connected
 
     It was Sunday and cars dotted the parking lot. Some engines idled others were turned off. Different sizes, colors, makes, and models all lined up in rows behind the church. Within each vehicle contained a varied number of individuals ranging from old to young. Yet, regardless of the multiple variations, one thing remained constant. No one got out of their vehicles.
     Not one arm hung out of a window. Not one head poked through a sunroof. Even the exchange of words or conversation between vehicles did not occur. Windows were tightly sealed, and car doors remained firmly closed. With one vacant car space left between vehicles, social distancing was vigilantly enforced.
     On the roof of the building, stood a man. He wore a vest and was suited up with a microphone. Three 

Love Your Neighbor
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 * As a Christian, I believe it is our responsibility to obey the authorities God has placed over us. It is also our responsibility to exercise wisdom and prudence. I feel the need to explain the post below was written shortly after the unexpected school closures  and prior to our governor's order to close non-essential businesses. This disclosure comes from a heart of transparency. I do not want to give the impression of disobedience or foolish actions in the midst of the current global circumstances.

     Strange as it may sound, amidst this COVID-19 pandemic my heart has been richly blessed and deeply touched. In the past days, I have experienced love and lived it out in return. Everyday tasks and innocent interactions have been made joyful because of this love.

Crowded stores, empty shelves, and long lines greeted my husband today as he attempted to stock up our house.
“It’s so surreal.” He shook his head as he put away the few items he'd managed to procure. “I can’t believe it.”

My heart sank. With paranoia nipping at my heels, I wondered how careful we indeed needed to be. A friend had just informed me that it had been recommended that all clothes should be stripped off the body and immediately washed after venturing outside, followed by a thorough shower for the person. Suggestions to wash all canned goods and leave plastic shopping bags outside the home also rang in my ears. Moreover, the unprecedented combination of cancelled schools, children at home, job layoffs, businesses closing, and church cancellations were enough to rattle my bones. ...

“We love, because He first loved us.” ~ I John 4:19 (NASB)