One of the greatest gifts often overlooked... prayer.

"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."  Psalm 55:17

Going before the creator of the universe, on behalf of another, is one of the greatest gifts you can give.  It takes no money.  It takes no wrapping paper.  It can take only a moment... in any place... at any time.

The enemy wants us to forget... even ignore or down play the power of prayer.  Why?  There has to be a reason.  He doesn't waste time trying to hide something or dilute it unless it is of importance to the kingdom of God.  So the enemy bombards us with distraction.  It comes from every direction.  It comes at all hours of the day and night. Television, computer, activities, busy "ness", it all takes us away from time with the Lord.  He also whispers lies to us, trying to tell us we don't have time, or we can't do it right, or it won't matter, or someone else can take care of it.   This is why... and it's a very big reason... THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER.

"And whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in my name, I will do it."  John 14:13,14

"Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel was among those who called upon His name; They called upon the Lord, and He answered them." Psalm 99:6

"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth."  Psalm 145:18

Don't let fear of not doing it right stop you from trying!  THAT is the goal of the enemy.  Prayer is intimate communication with the Father and of course the enemy doesn't want that.  Start with just talking to the Lord like you would a friend.  Tell him what you are feeling.  Your prayers will grow from there!  God blesses your time with Him and He will lead your prayers the more you are in His presence. 

Pray for your children's teachers.  Pray for your pastor.  Pray for your neighbors.  Pray for your spouse.  Pray for your family members.  Pray for your friends.  Pray for the leaders of your country.  Pray for the lost and hurting.  Pray for your enemies.

There is spiritual growth in an active prayer life!  There is communion with the Father in an active prayer life!  There is power through the Spirit in an active prayer life!  YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.  KNOW IT, CLAIM IT, SHARE IT!

Much love to you... please pray today.
Hugs.  Dawn

How cool is this?

I love that giving can be in so many more ways than just money.  Especially during hard economic times, people may still want to give and just not feel they can.  So Children's Hope Chest has this amazing program where you can purge items from your house, go online here, http://www.creativegivingsolutions.com/ , fill out a form online and THEY COME PICK IT UP!  They then liquidate it and all the money goes to Children's Hope Chest!  Now, it just doesn't get any simpler than that!

I didn't see clothing listed but they take ALOT of items.  They have it much more defined on the site but here are just some ideas: computer printers, vcr's, cameras, cell phones, clocks, radios, artwork, knick knacks, lamps, dishes, tools, and old CARS! (and much more)  How many of us have old cell phone lying around!  And a garage full of things that can go!

Get your kids involved.  Ask a couple of friends to purge and throw your stuff together.  It only takes a few minutes but has eternal affect!  That money provides food to an orphan.  It provides clean drinking water.  It provides hope.  It provides God's love.  It provides LIFE.  Do IT!  :0)

Waking Giants

My friend, Melanie, and her husband, Alex, are in Africa right now.  Read her blog entry here.
http://www.wakinggiants.com/

I simply can not add to that.
The Lord is mighty.  The Lord is Love.  The Lord is active.  We are His vessels.  We are to be living for Him.

Serving Saturday

The kids and I are going around the neighborhood with our piggy bank today and collecting money for clean water for children.  I talked to them about it yesterday as they had lunch.  As I sat the timer and let it count down from 15 seconds to 0, I told them a child was about to die from drinking dirty water.  As it beeped, I said that one had died and I simply set it for another 15 seconds and repeated the process.  I did this three times as they sat with wide eyes and saddened hearts.

They wanted to leave the table and collect money that moment.  I love it.

Talking to your children and planting seeds in their hearts to think about and be compassionate for others is one of the best gifts you can give them.

Last year, on Mother's Day, I was the mother of one.  This year, I am the mother of three.  I remain humbled and so sweetly blessed by God's blessings of our adoptions... his trusting us to love these three children for him.  They are the best Mother's Day present I could receive.

Free Fridays

Being the hands and feet of God, being a reflection of His love, and being His servant does not cost money all the time (even microgiving money).  There are so many ways to reflect that love.  And when we take the time and thought to do that, we often uplift people who need it at the exact time they need it.  That's where the Holy Spirit comes into action!  Just bringing a smile to someone's face is sharing God's love... and that is free... free to give at anytime and anyplace... and in many ways.

Today's free Friday gift of love involves a phone... a land line phone or a cell phone.  It can be as big or as little as you want.  Call one person and tell them you are thankful and glad they are your friend... and tell them one thing you really like about them or that you like to do with them.  That could be it!  Terribly easy and almost effortless... but THOUGHTFUL.

Or you can text one person... or five... or ten... and just tell them you love them.

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."

"She opens her mouth with skillful and godly Wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness--

giving counsel and instruction." Proverbs 31:26~ 

Thursday's Thoughts

In Trying Times, don't quit trying.

"And let us not grow weary in well-doing,

for in due season we shall reap,

 if we do not lose heart." Galatians 6:9

Each loving act says loud and clear, "I love you.

God loves you. I care. God cares."

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;

and every one that loveth is born of God...

for God is love." 1 John 4:7,8

(taken from God's Little Instruction Book For Women)

Microgiving

Many, if not all of us, have heard of the phrase and philiosophy of "Pay it forward".  I love that idea.  I love the idea that if one person does something nice for one person and day and then that person does one nice thing for one person a day and then that person.... you get it.

Well, there is another wonderful "idea" I love that is taking off and that is "microgiving".  It is built on the idea (and truth) that a little bit adds up.  Non-profits are trying to take this idea and run with it.  Why can't people be convinced that their ten dollars WILL help!  If ten people realized that... there is $100!

Hopemongers, http://www.hopemongers.org/ , is a site I have recently come across that is using microgiving to change people's lives across the world.  Pick a cause (water, food, orphan care, education) and pay $10, $25, or $50.  Now, you have just made a difference.  How cool is that!?  And then what if you did that once a month?  You get let the kids choose one month.  You could bring it up on the lap top at the coffee shop and show your friends and let them help you chose one month.  THEN... just maybe one of your friends would see how easy it is and they'd join in the fight.

Microgive.  It's easy.  It's affordable.  It matters.  You can do it.  And it makes a difference!

Also, check out http://www.microgiving.com/ for a look at how the concept works and see many people who can help DIRECTLY with the click of the mouse!  From medical bills, vet bills, unemployment, and no electricity... you can help!

The World's Water Crisis

Like many newsworthy stories, this one remains silent most of the time.  There is a crisis killing one child every 15 seconds.  That's 5000 children under the age of five per day.  It's not cancer.  It's simply dirty water.  Ninety percent of ALL the diseases in the world are caused by unsafe drinking water.  (information taken from "Living Water International's website)

Do you know how much it would cost to solve the world's water crisis?  Roughly 10 billion dollars.  Does that seem like a lot?

Guess how much Americans alone spend a year on Christmas gifts?  Are you ready?  That answer is 450 billion dollars.  People in the United States spend 450 billion dollars for gifts for one day and 10 billion dollars can solve the WORLD'S water crisis...

Why can't we wrap our heads around this?  Why can't we reprioritize what's important?  We can.  And it happens ONE person at a time.  Can you imagine what would happen if every ONE person that spends that 450 billion dollars would take the amount of money for just ONE gift and donated it towards clean water? 

Are you smiling yet?  You can be ONE of those ONES and you can tell ONE other person about it.  The power of ONE is transforming.

Visit "Living Water International" today at http://www.water.cc/ and be a part of changing tomorrow.