Category Archives: Holidays

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER FOR PEACE

December 21, 2020 11:52 pm , Leave a Comment ,

My heart melts in the presence of Christ. As His Spirit envelops my soul, I just want to dance, worship, and fall at His feet. His presence is so real that it feels as though I can touch Jesus.

I have never seen Christ with my physical eyes, but when His tangible presence floods the room, there is an inexpressible peace that comes in like a gentle winter snow falling to the ground.

There’s a song that describes the delicate beauty of the presence of Christ. “Winter Snow” by Audrey Assad and Chris Tomlin touches me deeply when I listen to it. It causes me to stop what I’m doing and draw near to Christ.

The lyrics are words that speak of the softness of Christ’s love: “Could’ve come like a mighty storm with all the strength of a hurricane. You could’ve come like a forest fire with the power of heaven in Your flame. But You came like a winter snow…quiet and soft and slow. Falling from the sky in the night to the earth below.”

My prayer this Christmas is that many people will stop to feel the softness of Christ’s Spirit and rest in His perfect love in the midst of a chaotic world. I pray that His Spirit will bring the peace that souls are longing for. Ultimately, I pray that Christ’s Spirit will cover this earth like a beautiful blanket of snow and countless souls will bask in His unfailing love.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Thank You for Your unfailing love and grace. Please guard our hearts and minds with Christ’s perfect peace during the Christmas season and throughout the coming year. Let us take hold of all that You came to the earth to give us and help us live in harmony with each other. Let us look to You continually and let us trust You wholeheartedly to carry us through every battle. Let us rest in Your presence every day and remain peaceful at all times. Let us bask in the immeasurable love of Christ until the day of His return.

Lord, I trust You to pour out an unprecedented measure of Your Spirit in the coming days and draw multitudes of souls into Your loving arms. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

May you have a blessed and peaceful Christmas.

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A PRAYER FOR MEMORIAL DAY

May 25, 2020 8:37 pm , Leave a Comment ,

Our hearts are filled with gratitude for the brave souls who have given the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom. Let’s pray and thank God for all the great men and women who have served and died while protecting our country.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the men and women who have given the greatest sacrifice to protect our freedom. With gratitude, we remember and honor the brave souls who lost their lives. I ask You to comfort and encourage those who have lost loved ones in the battlefields. Wrap Your loving arms around them and fill them with peace. Bless and protect the service men and women who are risking their lives to serve our country. Keep them in the shadow of Your wings today and always. I pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord. Is the death of His godly ones.” Psalm 116:15

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REJOICING IN CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

April 12, 2020 7:16 pm , 2 Comments ,

Christ has risen! Because He lives, we can rest in Christ’s presence and peace in the midst of a pandemic. We can face adversity with strength and joy because we know that we have our beloved Christ to carry us.

Christ died an agonizing death to pay the penalty for our sins so that we can live eternally, free of condemnation and guilt. He died so that we can live in eternal peace through every trial and loss. Christ’s love is all we need to make it through this life victoriously. The power that raised Jesus back to life is the same power that resurrects us and gives us new life. The resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead is able to lift us up and fill us with joy as we place our trust in Him. We can rejoice that death has been conquered. Our bodies are just temporary tents, so there is no fear of death for the believer in Christ.

I can imagine Jesus whispering words of love and grace to the world.

I am risen! Celebrate My resurrection. Come live fully in Me every moment of every day. Don’t give one thought to the difficulties of life on Earth. You can rest in knowing these are light and momentary troubles compared to the glory of Heaven. Keep your eyes fixed on Me and on eternal things not seen. As you live in Me, you will rise up on eagles’ wings and soar continually. Don’t be afraid of anything I ask you to do. Simply obey Me. Live in the fullness of My joy. Shout to the world of My goodness. Glorify My name so that those in need of Me will know the truth of who I am. Let this day be a day of new beginnings—a day to rejoice in My perfect love for you. My heart longs for you, My beloved bride. I am coming back for you and will live with you for all eternity. Come with Me to high places and never stop singing praises over all you have found in the gift of the cross.

Heaven touches us and stays in our hearts the moment we truly realize what Christ has done for us on the cross. We do not have to wait until after we leave our earthly bodies to begin experiencing Christ’s eternal gifts. Eternity begins when we surrender to Christ, allow Him to carry us through the trials, and trust Him to bring beauty in the midst of turmoil.

Hallelujah.

The hymn written by Bill Gaither is a beautiful song to sing and be reminded of the power in the cross to heal and strengthen us every day.

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

Chorus
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives.

And then one day, I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to vict’ry,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.

Our Precious Jesus,

Thank You for dying an agonizing death so that we can live eternally in Your perfect peace. Help us walk in Your righteousness continually and let us live in the fullness of Your joy every day. Help us to remember daily the pain you bore so that we can live freely in Your amazing grace. I pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

Have a blessed Easter.

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VALENTINE TREASURES

February 14, 2020 8:29 pm , Leave a Comment ,

When my daughter was about three years old, my husband Michael created a special treasure hunt for us to enjoy on Valentine’s Day. He hid small candies throughout our home for the family to search for. This treasure hunt remained a tradition and a highlight of Valentine’s Day for many years.

The hidden candies were fairly easy to find at first, but it was harder and harder to find them after the most visible ones were found. Michael hid some of the candies in concealed places, and we never found all of them on Valentine’s Day. A great part of the joy in the hunt was the fact that we continued to find the candies unexpectedly during the days and months ahead.

Our anticipated Valentine treasure hunt reminded me of life. When things are going smoothly, it’s easy to see and enjoy the treasures. However, during the difficult seasons, it can be a tedious thing to find and focus on the treasures. They have to be tirelessly sought after because they are hidden, but it is the hidden treasures that are truly the most valuable.

Without the storms, I don’t believe I would have ever discovered the priceless treasures of life.

In 2006, Michael was self-employed, running a graphic design business with another design artist. The small company was suffering and eventually had to be shut down, leaving us with a very small income. This gave our family the opportunity to look for treasures in the midst of adversity. The greatest treasures in our lives were birthed out of a season of hardships.

On Valentine’s Day that year, we had very little money and we knew we couldn’t buy gifts or cards like we had done in previous years. We decided to make hand-made cards for each other instead of giving presents and store bought cards. Every year after that, we looked forward to designing our homemade cards for each other.

One year, the card my husband made for me had a huge heart on it, symbolic of the love in our marriage. My daughter made me a card with pictures and words that reminded me of all that God had done in my heart. On the front of the card that my son made for me when he was ten years old, there was a colored picture of a rainbow, a storm, and a heart in the middle with a sword stuck in it. He had written words in that hand-made card that later proved to be prophetic. It said, “Remember a rainbow comes after a storm. This is how you reach your heart’s goal.” Those were such words of wisdom from a young boy.

I’ve saved every one of those handmade cards, and they are very meaningful to me. They are irreplaceable—something that money can’t buy. And even though the hard season is over and my husband has a good career now, we realize that the best things in life are free. I don’t want to ever forget those times of being in need. Our family learned the most important lessons we will ever learn in the midst of those trials.

The heavenly, eternal treasures always come forth when we take our eyes off of the hard things about life and keep our eyes focused on Christ.

Every year on Valentine’s Day, I ponder the memories; I embrace the words and the love expressed through each of those handcrafted cards. With a heart of gratitude, I thank God for the storms of life and the blessing of my Valentine treasures.

Our Beloved Jesus,

Thank You for loving us perfectly and being our greatest treasure of all. I ask You to help us to discover every one of the treasures You have for us in the kingdom of heaven. Let us look to You above everything else this life has to offer. I pray in Your name, Christ. Amen.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field…” Matthew 13:44”

May you discover the hidden treasures of life this VALENTINE’S DAY and always.

 This post has been updated and revised from a piece originally written in 2008.

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THREE PRAYERS FOR CHRISTMAS

December 24, 2019 4:50 pm , Leave a Comment ,

The Christmas season is a beautiful time to ponder all that we have in Christ. We are all blessed beyond measure to have been given the gift of Christ. He is our peace. He is our joy. He is everything.

On this beautiful Christmas Eve, I can imagine Christ speaking words of life such as these:

Slow down. Savor this moment of life. Put aside your concerns and simply rest in My love. I was born to redeem your life and give you perfect peace in your soul. I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly. Enjoy the gift of my love today and for eternity.

A Prayer of Gratitude

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of Christ. Thank You for the gift of eternal life that You have given us through Jesus Christ. Thank You for sending Your Son as the perfect sacrifice to redeem us. Thank You for all that He gives us and how He enables us to live with an abundance of hope, joy, peace, and love. I give praise to our amazing Savior, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Let us continually rejoice over the gifts You have given us through a loving relationship with You. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

A Prayer for Peace

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your peace that surpasses all understanding. I ask You to guard our hearts and minds with Christ’s perfect peace. Let us take hold of all that You came to the earth to give us and help us live in harmony with each other. Let us look to You when we are grieving and let us trust You wholeheartedly to carry us through every trial. Help us turn away from fear, let us rest in knowing You do impossible things, and enable us to walk in strong faith until the day of Christ’s return. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:9

A Prayer for Protection

Our Beloved Jesus,

Oh, how we love and adore You, our Redeemer. Thank You for being our shield and protector. I ask You to surround our families with an army of angels. Protect us by the power of Your blood and keep us in the shadow of Your wings. Let us be keenly aware of Your love and presence this Christmas. Help us to rest in You and know that You watch over us as we trust You. Increase our faith and help us to release our burdens to You moment by moment. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

“He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.” Psalm 91:4

As we celebrate Christ’s birth, the perfect gift we can give to our Lord is to continually love Him far above everything or anyone else. He deserves our highest honor and praise.

May your Christmas be filled with all of the glorious riches of Christ.

Hallelujah.

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A MEMORIAL DAY PRAYER

May 27, 2019 2:11 pm , 2 Comments ,

“Memorial Day” was established hundreds of years ago as a day to honor and remember the ones who have died in the United States Armed Forces. It’s a day to thank God for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for these brave souls.

Let’s pray and thank God for all the great men and women who have served and died while protecting our country.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the brave souls who have given the greatest sacrifice to protect our freedom. Help us to never forget the heroes of this country and help us remember the ones who lost their lives sacrificially. Please comfort those who have lost loved ones in the battlefields. Embrace the spouses and encourage the children who are missing their loved ones. Bless and protect the service men and women who are risking their lives to serve our country. Keep them in the shadow of Your wings today and always. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

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A MOTHER’S DAY PRAYER

May 12, 2019 3:44 pm , 2 Comments ,

Motherhood is the job that is shaping the future of our world like no other job. Mothering is by far one of the hardest jobs. There are no accolades during the formative years of our children’s lives. The rewards come later when we see our adult children making a difference in their communities.

On this MOTHER’S DAY, please join me in praying for all the hard-working moms—the ones who are sacrificing so much to help their sons and daughters grow into thriving adults.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of motherhood. Thank You for the mothers all around the world who pray for the younger generation and have laid down their desires to give sacrificially to their children. Bless each loving mom with your peace and joy every day. Let the sons and daughters arise to show gratitude for their mothers. 

Comfort the ones who have never had a loving mother and fill the void in the hearts of sons and daughters who need a mom. Bring forth many spiritual mothers to meet the needs of those who are hurting today. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

“Her sons and daughters arise in one accord to extol her virtues, and her husband arises to speak of her in glowing terms.” Proverbs 31:28

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

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CELEBRATING THE GLORIOUS POWER OF THE CROSS

April 21, 2019 12:43 am , 2 Comments ,

With every year of life, I grow more grateful for what Christ did for mankind. He died an agonizing death to redeem us and give us eternal life. Jesus paid it all and took the penalty for our sins. This is good news that ought to be shouted joyfully to the world. Jesus said, “It is finished.” We do not ever have to agonize over our failures or mistakes again. There is nothing more awesome about life than Christ’s magnificent gift of the cross.

The resurrection of Christ is the only hope for our world. Christ redeems our lives and restores all that’s broken as we trust Him.

This morning, I received a new picture of a precious little girl we began sponsoring through a ministry (mercyandgracecharity.com) in Andhra Pradesh, India at the end of 2018. This picture is another beautiful reminder to me of Christ’s redeeming love.

Years ago, we were in a season when we barely had enough food to eat. It was about nine years ago when Christ rescued our family out of a difficult season of lack. While we were very financially broke, I hung onto the hope found in a relationship with Christ and marched around my house enthusiastically declaring, “I will help orphans!” Because of Christ’s redemptive love, my longtime dream of helping orphans in Africa and other parts of the world came to fruition after the Lord led my husband to a new career in 2010.

The risen Christ is our redeemer. He saves us and then transforms the most difficult circumstances into something incredibly beautiful as we live by faith. All these years after I declared my desire to help orphans, I am celebrating the amazing gift of the cross and the beauty He creates in the lives of the ones surrendered to Him.

Beloved Jesus,

You are beautiful. You are amazing. You are incredible. Thank You for the glorious gift You have given mankind by dying on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Thank You for bearing the indescribable pain so that we can live eternally. Thank You for Your love that allows us to live freely and fully alive. Thank You for coming into the world and offering us salvation and letting us live in Your love for all eternity. Lord, we know we could never repay You for what You have done for us, but we choose to come to You with humility and sit at Your feet. We worship and adore You for all that You are. Your love lifts our countenance. Your love gives us hope. Your love heals our broken hearts. Your love allows us to give to the ones in need, to share the good news with the lost ones, and to forgive the ones who have hurt us. Your love conquers all of the darkness and awakens our souls. We will be eternally grateful for You. We love You with all of our hearts and pray in Your name, Christ. Amen.

Have a blessed Easter and rejoice in all Christ has done for you.

Amy

 

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CHRISTMAS REFLECTIONS AND A PRAYER

December 24, 2018 4:05 pm , Leave a Comment ,

As we celebrate Christmas, let us reflect on all Christ has given us. Apart from Christ, we would be destined for a hopeless existence. His gifts to us are limitless…His love, peace, joy, faith, and the never-ending list of heavenly treasures are the greatest blessings of life.

I can imagine the perfect Christmas gift for us to give Christ would be to continually allow His Spirit to produce abundant fruit in each one of our hearts. In the coming year, let’s pray without ceasing and give Christ every part of our lives.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for the gift of Christ. Thank You for sending Your son to save the world from darkness and to give us eternal life. Thank You for all that You give us and thank You for enabling us to live with an abundance of hope, joy, peace, and love. Let us live a life led by Your Holy Spirit and take hold of every gift You have given us through Jesus Christ. Let us celebrate our amazing Savior and share Christ’s love with the hurting people in the world. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

“But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.” Galatians 5:22-23″ (The Passion Translation)

May your Christmas be joyous and filled with the glorious riches of Christ.

Love & prayers,

Amy

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TREASURING THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

December 4, 2018 1:12 am , 2 Comments ,

As we celebrate Christ’s birth this Christmas season, let us all remember why He was born. Christ came to give new life.

His love is a gift that breaks into the dark places of the soul and brings forth light. He strengthens us when we’re weak. He fills us with love when we’re loveless. He soothes our sorrows when we’re mourning. He heals the heart when it’s broken. He gives us joy in all circumstances and gives us the desires of our hearts as we find our delight in Him. He fills us with an inexpressible peacefulness that transcends all understanding. He restores the broken things and makes beauty out of our mistakes.

He is the redeemer of every painful trial we’ll ever face.

God brought forth Christ the Messiah for all people, so that we could live eternally in hope and peace no matter how dark it becomes in the world. His light overcomes all darkness and His love is never-ending. Without a doubt, the love of Christ is the best and most indescribable gift we’ll ever receive.

Nothing else can satisfy our longings. Only Jesus Christ is able to meet our deepest needs and it’s in Him alone we find true contentment.

May we keep Christ the focus of our holiday festivities and treasure the true meaning of Christmas.

Beloved Jesus,

Thank You for Your love, kindness, and mercy. Help us to keep our priorities straight in the midst of busy days. Let us be keenly aware of Your love and light this Christmas season. Let us rejoice over the gifts You have given us through a loving relationship with You. We pray in Your name. Amen.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

2 Corinthians 9:15

 

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