This past week I was writing a card to a dear friend and I found myself writing this verse,

“And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.” Galatians 6:9 As I was writing the Lord spoke to my heart that this was the verse my heart needed to meditate on. I could see the reason He spoke this to me. I have had times of growing weary and focusing on my problems instead of Him. Then I ask the Lord to show me how to share this with Easter week. He gave me many verses and thoughts and I will share them with you. As I thought of Jesus’ life I thought of so many times He could have grown weary in well doing – in doing what He knew He was to do and loving others. The last years of His life people came against Him constantly. As you read the Word you see times when He was tired and worn out but always knew what His focus was – His Father. He ALWAYS went to His Father – great times and difficult times. He knew where to keep His focus. My focus this week is the last week of Jesus’ life. We will start by reading parts of John 16-18. These are the words of Jesus. John 16:23-24, 32-33 And when that time comes, you will ask nothing of Me - you will need to ask Me no questions. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that My Father will grant you whatever you ask in My Name as presenting all that I Am. Up to this time you have not asked a single thing in My Name as presenting all that I Am; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy, gladness and delight may be full and complete. We have been studying the name of Jesus on Thursdays. Here Jesus says that we ask nothing of Him in His name. When we understand Him and Who He is and ask in His name the Father whatever we ask for. I think that is an amazing promise, It says keep asking. Don’t grow weary. But take notice, the hour is coming, and it has arrived, when you will all be dispersed and scattered, every man to his own home, leaving Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted! For I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you. Here Jesus could have grown weary because He knew He would be left alone – the others would leave Him. What if He would have quit at this point? Where would we be now?

Monday: Chapter 17: When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify and exalt and honor and magnify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify and extol and honor and magnify You. Just as You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh - all humankind, now glorify Him so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. And this is eternal life: it means to know, to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand You, the only true and real God, and likewise to know Him, Jesus as the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah Whom You have sent. I have glorified You down here on the earth by completing the work that You gave Me to do. O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has failed to recognize You and has never acknowledged You, I have known You continually; and these men understand and know that You have sent Me. I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very Self, and I will continue to make You known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them felt in their hearts and that I Myself may be in them. Jesus spent His life on earth letting others know about His Father. He says eternal life is to know, to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand the only true and real God, and likewise to know Jesus as the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah. Jesus had completed His work on earth and could have grown weary and discouraged and quit right here because what He came to do wasn’t received.

Tuesday: Chapter 18; Having said these things, Jesus went out with His disciples beyond the winter torrent of the Kidron, in the ravine. There was a garden there, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who was betraying Him and delivering Him up, also knew the place, because Jesus had often retired there with His disciples. So Judas, obtaining and taking charge of the band of soldiers and some guards of the high priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was about to befall Him, went out to them and said, Whom are you seeking? Whom do you want? They answered Him, Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus said to them, I am He. Judas, who was betraying Him, was also standing with them. When Jesus said to them, I am He, they went backwards, drew back, lurched backward and fell to the ground. Then again He asked them, Whom are you seeking? And they said, Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus answered, I told you that I am He. So, if you want Me, if it is only I for Whom you are looking, let these men go their way. Judas, one of His disciples whom He had taught and loved was betraying Him. Jesus knew this would happen and had to happen for the scriptures to be fulfilled but He still could have grown weary. Remember Jesus was a man just like we are and had to totally rely on the strength of His Father to keep going. He felt every feeling we have felt. He was probably a bit weary here.

Wednesday: Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Therefore, Jesus said to Peter, Put the sword back into the sheath! The cup which My Father has given Me, shall I not drink it? So the troops and their captain and the guards of the Jews seized Jesus and bound Him. And they brought Him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews that it was expedient and for their welfare that one man should die for - instead of and in behalf of the people. Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. And that disciple was known to the high priest, and so he entered along with Jesus into the court of the palace of the high priest; Jesus knew the cup that was before Him was death on the cross but He also knew that He would rise again and return to His Father. He knew what was beyond these weary feelings. Don’t we know His promises beyond our weary feelings? We do if we are focusing on our Father. He has given us everything and His promises are true and for us. If we can see beyond the weariness we will see what we will reap if we don’t give up.

Thursday: But Peter was standing outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the maid who kept the door and brought Peter inside. Then the maid who was in charge at the door said to Peter, You are not also one of the disciples of this [a]Man, are you? He said, I am not! Now the servants and the guards had made a fire of coals, for it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. And Peter was with them, standing and warming himself. Peter, a disciple that was so close to Him, denies that he knew Jesus. “Peter said to Him, Even if I must die with You, I will not deny or disown You!” Matthew 26:35 But Simon Peter still was standing and was warming himself. They said to him, You are not also one of His disciples, are you? He denied it and said, I am not! One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off, said, Did I not see you in the garden with Him?  And again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed. Peter denies his Friend three times at a time when Jesus was needing his support.

Friday: Then the high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in a synagogue and in the temple area, where the Jews congregate and assemble; and I have spoken nothing secretly. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. See! They know what I said. But when He said this, one of the attendants who stood by struck Jesus, saying, Is that how [b]You answer the high priest? Jesus replied, If I have said anything wrong - if I have spoken abusively, if there was evil in what I said tell what was wrong with it. But if I spoke rightly and properly, why do you strike Me? Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Jesus could have grown so weary and given up when He is struck for saying the truth. Isn’t that how it goes sometimes? We have given and given, helped and helped, loved and loved and we get a slap in the face because someone doesn’t like what we have done or said. Another great moment for Jesus to grow weary and quit but He knew the prize at the end and that prize was for us not Himself! He went through all this and did not quit because He loved us and He loved those hurting Him.

Saturday: Matthew 26:38-45 “Then He said to them My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and keep awake and keep watch with Me. And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will - not what I desire, but as You will and desire. And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, What! Are you so utterly unable to stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour? All of you must keep awake, give strict attention, be cautious and active and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again a second time He went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass by unless I drink it, Your will be done. And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were weighed down with sleep. So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, using the same words. Then He returned to the disciples and said to them, Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of especially wicked sinners whose way or nature it is to act in opposition to God. What if He would have grown so weary He lost His courage and fainted? He knew that what He had sown He would reap. “Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself (reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials), so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.  You have not struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your own blood.” Hebrew 12:3-4
 
As you celebrate His Life be encouraged because He did all this for you – for me. He endured the cross, He kept going when He wanted to quit because He knew the results of His death, His burial and His resurrection. He knew that is what would give us the power and strength to keep going when things looked tough because He is now in us and doing all things through us.  Wow! I will never look at growing weary the same again. Love to you all and rejoice in His Resurrection and Love!!!!

​Every day we have opportunities to learn more about ourselves and about others. Most of the time these opportunities come through everyday situations and circumstances. Each day I look for ways to learn more about the Lord and deepen my relationship with Him. Not every day is the same and some come and go so fast I’m not sure what I learned in the busyness of life. Sometimes my intimate time with the Lord comes so easily and I never want it to stop and other days I let too many things get in the way and it isn’t as easy.
 
Lately I have had a new situation that has become an opportunity to learn.  It is called remodeling the church. It is going so well and everyone is doing an excellent job. It is absolutely beautiful but this doesn’t all happen without some prayer. An old saying in church is that the church can divide over the color of paint or carpet. If you ask 10 people the same question about what color they like – what design and so on you would have 11 different opinions. I want to share a few things the Lord has been dealing with in my heart. Guess it boils down to one basic thing and that is fear. Last week someone had told me that I had a poverty mentality when I worried so much about keeping the carpet clean. What? I had never heard such a thing but decided to pray about it. I am fighting back with them that I don’t think we are in lack. As I prayed and meditated on the Word I did see I had an attitude of fear. Fear that after all the hard work we had done that the carpet would get abused and cause – well to be honest – myself and a few others hours of work to get the spills cleaned up. Sounds selfish on my part but this is my reality. I am not looking for more to do as far as cleaning up after others and those who help with the church cleaning don’t want more to do either. Bottom line – fear of my work. As I saw that I felt silly. But then the Lord spoke to me on the attitude of poverty or lack that may could be the actual foundation to my fear.
 
The Lord provides. “The Lord is my Fierce Protector and my Pastor. I always have more than enough.” Psalm 23:1 Passion Bible He gave us the carpet. He provided actually what we were desiring. Lack is a curse and worry I don’t want that in my life. We call it responsibility to care for the carpet and church itself and there is something to that but it has to be without fear. We call it respect. Yes, but respect with the right motives of heart. He tells us not to worry about tomorrow or dirty carpet.
 
“This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided, such as food, water, clothing—everything your body needs. Isn’t there more to your life than a meal? Isn’t your body more than clothing? Look at all the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they?  So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life? And why would you worry about your clothing? Look at all the beautiful flowers of the field. They don’t work or toil, and yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was robed in beauty more than one of these! So if God has clothed the meadow with hay, which is here for such a short time and then dried up and burned, won’t he provide for you the clothes you need—even though you live with such little faith? So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require? “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.” Matthew 6:25-34
 
 
This past week I was talking to someone who said they are just made to be anixious and worry. I felt so bad that they believed that. That’s the perfect set up for diseases to take over. The enemy gets us sidetracked with worry and life then disease can work in our bodies before we know it. Another friend shared with me that she had being fighting junk in her body since last October and was just waiting for it to get better and then realized she needed to take authority over the stuff and know who she was in Christ and not receive the lie of the enemy. The Lord is my Fierce Protector and my Pastor. I always have more than enough.” Psalm 23:1 He is ALWAYS more than enough! Why can’t I get that through my mind and heart! His blessings are endless. He says this to me over and over – NEVER FEAR WHAT I HAVE ALREADY GIVEN YOU THE VICTORY OVER. What has He given me victory over? Everything because of He gave His life for all things and then He rose again with resurrection power! He tells me to let NOTHING steal what He has given me. He is aware of all that I need – all that the church needs and He has promised He will meet every need. He has promised to meet every need I have even before I ask. As my heart is set on Him hope will overflow to others around me. I read this the last week, “Let your devotion to Me have no limit this day. Be willing to turn aside from the trivial to find the eternal.” Those words would make my abused dirty carpet seem like nothing.
 
He is telling us that little things don’t matter like we let them matter. He understands my desire for a nice looking chapel and clean carpet. He is more than enough to speak to each person’s heart to help keep it clean. Is it good to have coffee in the chapel? Depends on how you see it. Again, many different thoughts about that. Some don’t want it there because entering into the chapel is like entering into His presence. They see it as a holy place and a place to respect and put aside things like physical needs of coffee and such for an hour. I understand that. Others see the chapel as a place to meet the Lord and be in His presence as they are in their own living room. They feel His presence everywhere and having their cup of coffee while sitting and listening to the praise and worship and message brings them closer to Him. I understand that too. There isn’t a right or wrong as long as the attitude isn’t fear, doubt, lack, religious or judgment. If your attitude is about spending time with the church family in His presence, worshipping together and listening to the words from the pastor then a cup of coffee isn’t going to matter. What does matter is your heart. And I saw my heart was in fear.
 
With Resurrection day coming He has been speaking to me more and more about His resurrection power. I am mediating on this and hope to write more later but I saw it so powerfully this week. His resurrection power is able to handle coffee stains and the people who make coffee stains. He isn’t asking me to deal with the people who may not understand respect and responsibility for other peoples stuff – He is telling me to trust Him. To lay down my fears and His resurrection power will take care of it all.
 
That was a powerful word to me this week and I apologize if I was rude to anyone when in fear. I am learning and desiring everything He has for me and for us. Have a blessed week and check out your heart and meditate on His resurrection power. You will be blessed. Thank you for your patience with me as I learnJ

Lately my heart and meditations have been on encouraging others and serving others. Encouraging others is what I desire to do the most. Once in a while I miss some opportunities and sometimes don’t have an encouraging attitude but it is a deep desire that influences most things I do. Encouraging and serving go together. Serving each other is so powerful and healing for the server and those being served. That is what Jesus came to do – He served others.

The last few weeks we have been working hard together to do some physical changes to our church building.  As I watch people work together my heart is blessed and encouraged. Working side by side tearing down walls, fitting together ceiling boards piece by piece, destroying the stage, cutting boards to fit perfectly, ripping out carpet, cleaning up messes and the list goes on. Someone gets hurt and someone else stops to pray for them. It is an amazing oneness! The Lord reminded me of the importance of family and togetherness in our church family. We were created to encourage and serve each other. As I meditated on all I am thankful for my heart started thinking of verses on the oneness and strength that working, praying and believing together has. The Word talks so much about the power of prayer with others. I know I’ve said this many times but together we can accomplish anything and everything in Him. He designed us to desire to pray and believe together. His plan for us was not to stand alone. He didn’t. When Jesus was on earth He knew His Father and the Holy Spirit were always there with Him. I realize we always have our Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost too but He gave us direction in His Word to help, encourage, comfort and pray together. You are all so appreciated and loved and we thank you for all the times you are encouraging and praying for others in the church family because you love them and care. We are a strong family and we are so thankful for you!!  May these prayers and verses bless you this week and may you have someone very special that can be your prayer partner so that you can encourage one another.
 
Sunday: Father, I thank You for all the opportunities I have to pray together with other believers. It is powerful and reassuring to agree with others and know what we are praying for is accomplished. “If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19 When I have an issue or problem I can go to a friend in You. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 When I have something on my heart that I need to share I can go to those I trust and believe I am healed. “Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.” James 5:16  One of the hardest things to do many times is to be transparent and share my burdens with others. I am realizing that there is a difference in sharing for the purpose of praying together in agreement to see my life changed and sharing to grumble and get attention. Sharing my situations and pains honestly for someone to pray about isn’t speaking negative. If I dwell on a problem and don’t believe for an answer I know I am speaking “death” into my life. However, to share a situation because I want someone to believe for “life” with me is sometimes the only way I can get the situation into the light. Lord I know that it is not a shame to have problems. It is a sad situation to have a problem and not share it because I am afraid of judgment, condemnation, embarrassment or pride. Thank You for providing a way for me to have someone special to share with. Today I praise and worship You and thank You for giving me others to pray and believe with. Amen
 
Monday:  Lord, in the Book of Acts You tell me the importance of prayer and praying together. The believers were devoted to prayer and praying with one another. “All of these with their minds in full agreement devoted themselves steadfastly to prayer...” Acts 1:14   “And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of the bread together [including the Lord’s Supper] and prayers.” Acts 2:42
I know even the small prayers I may say with others on the phone or online are powerful and lives are changed through them. My heart’s desire is to not neglect those times of praying with someone else but look for opportunities to pray with others.  “Rejoice with those that rejoice - sharing others joy- and weep with those that weep -sharing others grief. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, snobbish, high-minded, exclusive but readily adjust yourself to people, things and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits.” Romans 12:15-16  I rejoice in You always and thank You again for giving me others to stand firm with and believe with. Thank You for being there with me always and guiding my every step. Amen
 
Tuesday: “Rejoice with those that rejoic  L              Tuesday:  Father, I know there are so many ways to help and encourage one another. Some important ways are to have peace with one another. Be affectionate to one another. Be like-minded toward one another. Receive one another. Care for one another. Serve one another. Bear with one another. Be kind and forgive one another. Comfort and edify one another. Have compassion for one another. Love one another. Minister your gifts to one another. “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like minded, having the same love, being in one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4   “Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16 I definitely want to be an encouragement to others around me and help them through hard times and rejoice in all You are. I praise You always and forever. Amen
 
Wednesday:  Lord, I know that there is never a time to not encourage someone else but I know there has been a time or two that I found myself being negative towards others. I realize that only hurts me and my relationships. You tell me in Your Word to not lie about one another. Don’t oppress one another. Don’t grumble against one another. Don’t wrong one another. Don’t judge one another. Don’t go to law against one another. I am to focus on Your love and pray for others and then I won’t find myself, lying, grumbling about or judging others. Everyone has been hurt by something that someone has done to them. Coming along side one another in prayer and believing brings comfort. Thank You that You are the Healer of my hurts and that I can share what I have with others instead of hurting them through my words and attitude. I bow before You with a heart over flowing with love and compassion. “The words of a whisperer or slanderer are like dainty morsels or words of sport [to some, but to others are like deadly wounds]; they go down into the innermost parts of the body [or of the victim’s nature].” Proverbs 26:20 I ask that I can continue to renew my mind to Your truths and choose to walk in love to all those around me. “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.” I love You and trust You and thank You for this awesome bunch of people that I can minister together with.  Amen.
 

Thursday:  Dear heavenly Father, as everyone works together and loves one another and believes in prayer together - I believe there will be growth and maturity in the Body and church family. How important it is to: “Not forsaking or neglecting to assembly together as believers, as is the habit of some people, but admonishing, warning, urging, and encouraging one another and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 When days are tough or hard I know that is even more important for me to gather with others. This is how I can build relationships with others. ”Love one another, which is the bond of perfection.” Colossians 3:14  I am perfected in You when I come along side of others with love and pray for them. “..Admonish, urge, encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, that none of you may be hardened [into settled rebellion] by the deceitfulness of sin..” May I know those I can help and encourage.  I pray others lives will be sweeter because I’ve had an opportunity to share You. Amen

 
Friday: “For I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for the right thing. For my mouth shall utter truth, wrongdoing is detestable and loathsome to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous and there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.” Proverbs 8:6-8   “Pleasant words are as honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.” Proverbs 16:25   Papa, Your Word tells me that my words can be words of healing. These truths are to influence my speech. The desire of my heart is to speak words that heal. I care that those around me are healed by my words of Your love as well as those hurting in this world.  “There is gold and a multitude of pearls, but the lips of knowledge are a vase of preciousness [the most precious of all].” Proverbs 20:15   Again, Papa, I thank You that You give me the words to say and I never have to do this on my own. I know that I’m not able to speak life without You. Amen.
 
Saturday: Gracious, Lord, Your Word says that “the thoughts of the steadily diligent tend only to plenteousness but everyone who is impatient and hasty hastens only to want.” Proverbs 21:5 My desire is to be steadily diligent to what You have called me to do individually and as part of the church body. I don’t want to get impatient in any way and end up in lack. “There are precious treasures and oil in the dwelling of the wise….He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself from trouble.” Proverbs 21:20,23 I am so thankful for Your Word that gives me direction. I thank You for Your Wisdom and knowing that Your Wisdom is a precious treasure. I pray that the words I speak to others will be words of Your Wisdom and love. I love You, Lord, Amen

Prayer. I’ve been meditating on prayer a lot lately. I’ve been praying a lot too. The Word says to pray without ceasing and so many times no matter what I am doing during the day and sometimes night my heart is constantly in prayer. I’m not going to get into the definitions of prayer but I know it is talking to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It’s when I share my heart with the Lord. The Lord told me this week that prayer is also taking and giving Him my burdens, hurts, offenses, fears, situations, people, family and whatever else I bring to Him. It’s so easy to talk to Him about something and turn and walk away still holding on to it. The letting go is one of the hardest things to do.
 
In my personal prayer life I’ve been praying for lots of family lately. I am going to share some verses and some prayers that I’ve been meditating on. I figure everyone has a family member they can pray for and speak life into their situations. Maybe these verses and prayers will be an encouragement to you. Portions of these prayers I read in my devotional from Brian Simmons. They are so powerful that I adopted them into my prayers.
 
“Shout in celebration of praise to the Lord! Everyone who loves the Lord and delights in Him will cherish His words and be blessed beyond expectation! Their descendants will be prosperous and influential. Every generation of his godly lovers will experience His favor!” Psalm 112:1-2
 
Prayer:  “Lord, I thank You for my family and praise Your name forever. I delight in Your words and promises of the Word. May my descendants experience the joys of knowing You intimately. May they know the sound of Your voice speaking to them, experience Your gentle touch and know how real Your presence is. May they never associate with rebellion, but always walk the way of righteousness. Even if darkness overtakes them, burst through with Your sunrise-brilliance and set them free. Surround them with Your favor and fill them with Your wisdom. As they walk in integrity and truth, prosper them and give them influence. May their hearts be full of praise and their life a life of faith. May they know You are their Savior and Friend. May this be their inheritance – a legacy I leave behind.”
 
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with your entire being and with all your might. And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be first in your minds and hearts – then You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the minds and hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
 
“Train up a child in the way he should go and in keeping with his individual gift and bend and when he is old he will not depart form it.” Proverbs 22:6
 
“Dedicate your children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.” Proverbs 22:6 Passion Translation
 
And all your children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of your children.”
Isaiah 54:13
 
“the eyes of their heart will be flooded with light, so that they can know and understand the hope to which You have called them…” Ephesians 3:18
 
“We are assured and know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
 
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be shaken into the midst of the seas. Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling and tumult! Be still and know that I am God. I will exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:1-3,10
 
“Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early to take rest late, to eat the bread of anxious toil – for He gives blessings to His beloved in sleep.” Psalm 127:1-2
 
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy, blessed and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them!  They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries at the city’s gate.” Psalm 127:3-5
 
“Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy and where thieves do not break through and steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:18-21
 
“You will be guarded by God Himself. You will be safe when you leave your home and safely you will return. He will protect you now, and He’ll protect you forevermore!” Psalm 121:8
 
Prayer: Lord, I lift my family and friends to you. Go before them and make every crooked path straight. Thank You for guarding them from darkness, evil, sickness, harm, tragedy and deception. Thank You that You are the armor that covers them always and blesses them with long and beautiful lives. Guide us through times that are hard with Your wisdom and the mind of Christ. When I walk into situations that are filled with evil and darkness, I know the Light of the World lives in me and I will shine in the darkness without fear. Thank You for being my shelter from harm and the same for my family and friends. I give you honor and I am consumed with awe because of Your love for me.
 
I pray these verses and prayers bless you as they have me.