"We got to pray, just to make it today..."

Hamma-time. The message in MC Hammer's song is simple, Pray.

This topic could be blogged about in a million different ways, but here are my thoughts today on prayer. Whenever this subject comes up in conversation or we're challenged to make this more of a priority, lot's of questions are asked:

Is God really listening? Should I pray only about serious issues? What should I talk to Him about? etc...

I listened to a Q&A session with Beth Moore, and one of the questions was,

"Why should we pray if God already makes up His mind?"

I loved her insight and answer to this. Here it is:

Philippians 4:6-"Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving present your requests to God."

"Pray about everything. The word of God says everything can be affected by prayer. The enemy wants you to think prayer is ineffective. He would rather you study the word and disconnect in your relational area of prayer. He would rather me get a headful of knowledge and not a powerful prayer life. He wants me to disconnect with prayer because as a result, so much power will come through my life. He wants me to think praying will not make a difference.

James 5:17- "The prayers of the righteous are effectual"

John 11:41-42 Jesus always prayed as one who knew His father was listening.

How differently would we pray if we knew He was right there?"

She challenged us to start our morning prayer by saying, "God I know you hear me..."

Well I accepted the challenge and found out it does make a difference. Knowing that God is there with me and listening, I become less guarded and more vulnerable. I get to know Him more. I'm learning to talk to Him not only about the important things, but the trivial ones too. It's much easier to have a good prayer life during hard and desperate times. However, God desires a constant, daily relationship with Him. No matter the situation or season of life, good, bad or mundane. His love is unconditional and He delights in us.

So in the immortal words of MC Hammer, "We got to pray just to make it today." Why? Because it's spending time with Jesus. Time talking to Him and drawing closer to His heart. We will become more like Him, and that makes for a better day all around.

Last Saturday morning was awesome. It was niceSERVE. Our church designates certain Saturday's of the year where we go out into the community and serve in different projects.

At 8:30 a.m. more than 800 people (kids and adults) in their green

niceSERVE T-Shirts were sent from Summit to scatter throughout the city,

in hopes of making a difference for the kingdom. Our family project was for The Center For Independent Living :http://www.cilorlando.org/. It's a wonderful organization that helps people with disabilities. From providing workshops to giving away equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, hearing aids etc..), they seek to help those with special needs learn independence so they don't have to feel defined by their circumstances. Most of the organization is run by volunteers and they are doing great things.

Our group helped clean and organize one of the storage rooms along with some yard work. We had 6 kids (ages 4-10), and 8 adults. The kids did a great job and I'm so glad they are starting to see the how and why we serve one another.

People matter to God period.

It was amazing how much 14 human beings could accomplish in 2 1/2 hours when working together. NiceServe is a continual reminder of that.

At the end of the day, I'm thankful for the love and compassion I have for people I may or may not ever see again, and for the blessing and insight I've received from them.

Mark 10:45- "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

John 13:35 - "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Lead Me To The Cross

Savior I come
Quiet my soul remember
Redemptions hill
Where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

Lead me to the cross
Where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down
Rid me of myself
I belong to You
Oh Lead me, lead me to the cross

You were as I
Tempted and tried
Human
The word became flesh
Bore my sin and death
Now you're risen
Everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost

To your heart
Lead me to your heart

DYN-O-MITE!

Yesterday was so much fun! Especially for this sanguine girl! We celebrated the 4th a day early with great friends, endless food and explosives. This is a tradition we started about 3 years ago with our neighbors (The Mattingly's). The grills come out in the driveway, we eat until we're sick, then we eat some more while friends drop in and out.

When it starts getting dark, the kids light their sparklers, and then the "real" show begins.

Josh breaks out the Costco Fireworks...

Last year one of our friends surprised us and brought "other" fireworks. These were special. When he pulled them out of his backpack, I wondered why I hadn't seen them before at the Costco's.

I don't ever remember our fireworks looking like missiles? Apparently he had to drive out of the county to purchase them (which by the way I knew nothing about Mr. Officer).

Here's what we experienced in my zero lot line neighborhood:

It was probably the greatest display of fireworks I had ever experienced (2nd only to my man's Costco TNT explosives :) I also think everyone within a 3 mile radius enjoyed it too. The highlight was when he lit a bottle rocket and it decided not to thrust into the sky. Instead it exploded on the road and sent 50+ people haulin hiney. After we realized what happened and took a head count, we laughed until we cried.

Time with family and friends is always an investment worth making. We were made for community and meant to do life together!

Hope your 4th is a great day!