My Son

My son

It will never get old

Hearing you laugh that way

From the belly

Like joyful jelly

Just all giddy and gay

It will never get old

Watching your face grin

That smile

That dimple

It makes my heart spin

It will never get old

Tasting your musical side

You jam

Cuz you can

It takes me for a ride

It will never get old 

Smelling your success

Every day new

So smart too

A balance of work and rest

It will never get old

Touching your perfect hair

Slightly wavy

Still my baby

Captured in a love snare

It will never get old

Knowing your honest heart

It’s pure

It’s sincere

It set’s you apart

For Frederick

By Michelle Fozounmayeh

5-21-10

One Accord Acronym: LAYER

This past weekend I was at a Moms in Prayer State Getaway.  At one point we were asked to split into groups, together answer an assigned question and report back to the whole group.  My group's Question in part was:  How do we pray in One Accord?  

Right away a mom spoke up, "We need lots of mom brains on this one because it is a difficult question!"

I agree, it is!  So I came up with an Acronym that makes the "how" a bit more clear.  But before that, let’s make sure we all know what it exactly means to pray in Once Accord.

WHAT’S ONE ACCORD?

Moms in Prayer groups pray in One Accord.  Many of us are use to monologue style prayers from a podium and/or our personal prayers offered up in our own quite time.  Because of this it is easy for us moms to pray in the same way we typically pray from a podium and/or in our quite time when praying at a Moms in Prayer gathering.  But when we pray in a group it is shared interceding prayer time that reflects more than a single perspective and/or style.  It's praying together in One Accord, which uses an entirely different prayer muscle.

Some people describe One Accord Prayers as Conversational prayers.  This is a great way to put it because the idea of conversing is easy for us chatty lady types to grasp.  It's sort of like a chat in the coffee shop... but better!

For more on One Accord being similar but better than the coffee shop... For scriptures that support One Accord... click here:  http://7tothirty7.blogspot.com/2011/09/one-accord-praying-is-better-than.html

Because most of us know how to chit chat, it is not impossible to transfer that know-how and pray in One Accord.  Not impossible, and yet inevitable that our other praying muscles (which are stronger if used more often) tries to take over now and again.

The way in which we can strengthen our conversational prayer muscle is to use it!  Moms in Prayer groups gives all moms the opportunity to use it.

BUT HOW?

How do we pray in One Accord?  It’s time for the LAYER acronym!  After a “hot” winter it has been a bit chili these past few days.  And yet I know that any day a cold morning could turn into a hot afternoon.  Rather than commit to winter clothing, I have found myself having to LAYER.  What is that?  Well, a LAYER is one of several items of clothing worn one on top of the other.  That way I can adjust to how the day’s weather decides to play out.  In the morning chill I love the feeling of getting warm, LAYER by LAYER.

You know, it’s sort of like what we do at Moms in Prayer gathering when we pray in One Accord.  We warm our mommy hearts and spirits as we together, LAYER our prayer requests.  Let’s take a moment to really reflect on the gift it is when we LAYER.

LAYER acronym

L isten

A dd on

Y ield

E asy does it

R espect

Here is what makes it so special:

L: Listen!  Our moms listen and don’t gossip.  During our prayer time, moms can pray a concern they might have about one of their children or about the school their child attends, which is presenting a request to the group and to God in an attitude of prayer.  That gives the group a chance to really listen, also in an attitude of prayer, leaving no room for chit chat or gossip.  Right away hearts are praying along with the mom that is making the request.  When that prayer request is being made, the other moms stop and really hear the request.  100% listening as appose to half-way listening by thinking about the request they might have in their own head.  Moms truly absorb what is being said.  The “L” represents moms that are in the moment and listening.

A:  Add-on!  That is what LAYERing is all about.  Moms who have listened to a request can then add-on if they wish to, or said another way, agree like they would do in any good conversation.  “Yes and...”  When moms add-on they are praying a new perspective or a new angle in covering that request.  Let’s say that a prayer request represents the first layer... the undergarments.  Once the undergarments are on, no matter if they are granny panties or thongs, it’s time to move on to the next layer.  Some moms speak a request and have no idea what to cover it with.  We all know the “I have a closet full of clothes with nothing to wear” syndrome.  Another mom may have the perfect thing to wear.  It’s the burning in a mom’s stomach that might just be the Holly Spirit asking her to add-on her unique perspective to her friend’s prayer request.

     

Y: Yield!  This is not a one man act.  After adding on a unique perspective moms yield to each other allowing others to have the chance to add-on too, if they wish to.  One single mom is not the only one with a prayer closet full of spirit-led perspectives.  If one mom provides the cardigan, another provides the scarf.  There may be a mom that has many hats in her closet, she’s the one to add a hat as appose to the mom who does not even own one.  Not one mom at a Moms in Prayer group should ever feel the need to dominate the LAYERing.  Praying one angle or perspective and then yielding is what makes the time so unique and all together different than praying on our own or listening to someone else pray in front of a podium at Church.  LAYERed prayers are not monologue style prayers. They yield to traffic and yield to the Holy Spirit.  3-4 sentences is just fine.  If a moms has a perfect "skirt" prayer she will get a chance to share it because there are no solo fashion designers hopping in with a "shirt", "skirt" and "leggings" prayers all at the same time.  Moms that feel themselves praying more than one perspective in one breath will stop and yield.  Plus there is never any pressure to HAVE to talk at all.  The request is being covered with what is said out loud and with what is prayed silently.  Everyone is a part of the blessing of covering a prayer request by yielding.

E: Easy does it! Moms don’t let the request stay cold, shivering from lack of LAYERS.  At a Moms in Prayer group a mom can be assured that her concerns are not blinked away, but the group takes time to really cover each subject with maybe 3-5 LAYERS before moving on.  One accord prayers stay on-subject by not moving on to a new request too quickly.  Now only God knows how much layering each request needs and which garments from which closets will be best.  That is why the Holy Spirit guides the time.  We do watch the clock to honor the 1 hour, but there is no need to rush a request by letting it walk out the door with only one sock and no shoes.  Easy does it!  Moms in Prayer moms pause before moving on so that they can be sure that the request is nice and warm.

R: Respect!  Finally, Moms in Prayer moms respect each other.  This is not a fashion show.  Moms can jump right out of the prayer and into their own head if they judge the look of a request and/or the look of each LAYER.  Moms in Prayer moms are unified and supportive.  There are a variety of things that weigh heavy on moms hearts, this is a time to lay them at Jesus’ feet no matter how trivial they may seem.  Moms are all different and unique in their prayer styles as well, one style is not better than the other.  One likes to pray jeans while another might pray slacks.  They are both pants.  The jeans mom doesn’t need to cover the slacks up with jeans.  Moms respect the fact that we are all coming together with one purpose and one goal.  To pray for our children and their school.

LAYERing enhances conversational prayer.  It warms us up and keeps us warm.  Reflecting on how we come together as a group makes me so grateful that we have a space and time carved out each week that fulfills a part of our prayer life that we just can’t fulfill on our own.  Without this group I would never sit down on my own for one hour a week to pray for my children and their schools that would also somehow include unique perspectives beyond my own.  It’s just not possible.  There is no way I could dress up my concerns on my own as perfectly as our group of praying moms can while we LAYER.  

HOW CAN I STRENGTHEN ONE ACCORD MUSCLES?

Would you like to strengthen One Accord muscles by LAYERing it up with a group of moms?  You can be the example!  You can help guide moms to LAYER request with prayer, one on top of the other.  Moms will follow your lead.  As an Area Coordinator for Moms in Prayer International many leaders come to me with these questions:  How do we guide our moms in one accord prayer?  How do we become a good example to the women who are very comfortable, talkative prayer warriors that may be pure in their desire but unaware that they are dominating the time?  How do we become a good example to the quite or shy prayer warriors who may not even know that they are a prayer worrier and can be easily intimidated?

The answer:  Share it and Practice it!

SHARE IT:

You can present the LAYER acronym to a group of praying moms.  Here is a link to a description of how to LAYER the Prayer: http://7tothirty7.blogspot.com/2012/03/layer-prayer.html

Print it and pass it out, or forward the link in an email as a fun encouragement!  Say, “We are going to try to pray in One Accord this week.”

Remember, a four year old learns how to get dressed by the modeling and guided help from a mom.  A toddler can never dress them self if a mom tells them to get dressed, gives little to no step-by-step directions, steps back and watches them fail.  The LAYER acronym provides the step-by-step instructions that are needed.

PRACTICE IT:

Mom may know how to dress their toddler and can do it better and faster.  But a four-year-old never learns if their mom never lets them try.  Share One Accord prayer and also model it (which uses a one-hour prayer slot quite effectively).  Although many moms may have been dressing themselves in their prayer lives for years, many of them may need an example on how to LAYER as a member of a group that prays in One Accord.  Remember that One Accord praying is a different prayer muscle than the one we use in our individual prayer closets.  Modeling it gives others the chance to practice it too.

Here is Sally, Jane and Mary LAYERing Sally’s concern with short and sweet sentences:

     Sally:  Lord, I want to pray for my son who is having difficulties with a particular friend.  He has said something to a mutual friend that really hurt my son.

     Jane: I agree with Sally, and may he not be one to stir up strife but may he be a peace maker.  May he not go forward with a heart of revenge or hold bitterness in his heart. 

     Mary:  Yes and may this friend be able to take responsibility and because of this situation be able to experience true forgiveness.

And don’t “fear” if you don’t “hear”...  silent slots are OK during One Accord prayers.

As you feel the chill in the mornings and enjoy the feeling of warming up LAYER by LAYER, may that remind you of the warmth that only One Accord prayer can bring to a moms heart.  You never know when the “weather” might take a turn... we are not created to handle everything on our own.  Praying in One Accord by LAYERing is the way to go!

iEmbrace

April/2012 iPray eVotionals Greetings, The gun sounds as the race begins. iPray eVotionals exhorts the runners on the path of a prayerful lifestyle.  It's the glass of water held out around each month's turn.  It's for the runner who can use a quick and easy quench in order to finish strong.

It’s April.  It’s spring. It’s time to embrace...

His existence

His presence

His life

iEmbrace His Existence

Embracing that God exists means pausing to pray.

A friend of mine's husband is a Lt. Colonel in the USA Military's Air Force.  He was away last month, training for his deployment taking place in June 2012.  After a long morning He went to lunch with a fellow Lt. Colonel and the Wing Commander that will be serving along side him throughout the coming year.  My friend's husband received his food first.  Out of habit he paused to pray for his food.  He then went on with the conversation with his colleges. One by one they received their food and each of them paused to pray.  An unspoken acknowledgment was made: GOD EXSITS in my life and I'm not ashamed to PAUSE TO PRAY.

Later that evening the same three men went to dinner.  This time the Wing Commander suggested that instead of one by one pausing to pray on their own, that they all pause to pray together before they eat.  And they did.

If my friend's husband had not paused to pray, he may not have ever had the gift of knowing that he was sitting with men that believed that God exists as he did.  Three men could have sat there keeping their faith private and hidden and missed the opportunity to pray together as well as knowing that they will be serving with fellow men with a common bond of faith.  What a comfort it was to know that as they all were serving their country together, they were also serving God together.  Even before they will meet up again for their year of deployment, they have already prayed together.

Why keep our faith private and hidden if we believe that God exists?  Does he only exist in our minds?  How often are we ashamed, self conscious or just publicly ignore that we pray to God who exists?

Far too often we only pray in church, at prayer groups or in private places.  But God tells us to pray without ceasing.  If we embrace that He exists then pausing to pray becomes a habit.  How could it NOT flow out of our lives and present opportunities to connect with others?

On March 21, 2012's American Idol episode, Colton Dixon paused at the piano before he started his song.  After he was done Ryan Seacrest recognized that he had taken a moment before he started to sing, "What were you doing right before you started playing?" He asked.  Colton said that he had paused to pray.

Colton said this in front of millions of people.  And yet in front of a few friends I am guilty of keeping my faith to my self.  A few weeks ago my family sat down to eat with another family at a restaurant.  The food came as we conversed. 

For half a second my old habitual thoughts flooded my brain, "This family probably does not pause to pray... think about who you are with and who is around you... what might they think of you... will their view of you change if you pause to pray... people have opinions... why do you want to interrupt the flow of conversation... how rude... others in the restaurant might look over at you... why draw unwanted attention to yourself and your friends..."

In an instant the countless times of shamelessly and joyfully praying at dinner time (at home, restaurants or where ever) didn't matter at all.  After all the years of crating a beautiful habit to pause to pray before we eat, I let the moment slip by.  Will I ever see 90% of the people in that restaurant again in my life?  Really, what was I so afraid of?  My existence slipped under the radar means God's existence was under the radar as well.  Is that really my heart's desire?  I ask God to make me a vessel and then promptly deny his existence.  Why do I care if they think anything negative about me because I believe God exists and choose to pray to Him before I eat?  I should care about the one that might be encouraged by the sight.  And why would our friends care at all... they are our friends!

My daughter Shirin came over and whispered in my husband, Farhad's ear, "We forgot to pray, can we pray together?"  So they did quietly, politely not interrupting the conversation.  I noticed them talking quietly so I asked what they were doing when they were done.  He told me they had prayed.  I felt the shame.  This time it was not from what people might think, it was the shame of not pausing to pray, not living my faith out publicly, ignoring that God exists.  I asked the family if they mind if we paused to pray together and of course they thought it was a fine idea.  Shirin led our prayer beautifully.

A while back our family ate dinner at The Ranch.  They serve the BEST burgers I have ever had in my life.  Everything (including the buns) are "home" made. (See for yourself: http://theranchwestlake.com/menu.php)  Yum... just thinking about the Duimo Inferno makes my mouth water.  Before our teeth sank into burger bliss we paused to pray.  It's easy to shout out some gratitude for good tasting grub!   After our prayer the owner came up to us and said, "Thank you so much for praying in my restaurant!  God Bless You!"

Is talking to our God less important than what others might think or something to be ashamed of?  If we believe God exists then why act like we don't by staying silent at His spirit's prompting?  It's not simply about being a good listener, having good thoughts or displaying a nice attitude.  It's also about living like He exists.

You are a praying person, embrace it.  Live it.  Love it.  Don't let the enemy's lies about it deter you from pausing to pray.  iEmbrace God's existence by pausing to pray! 

iEmbrace His Presence

Embracing God's Presence means living like he is right by your side.

In our small group Bible study we have been talking about what it means to "walk across the room", out of our comfort zone and into the lives of others.  The point was made that as we embrace others in real ways God’s presence in our lives will become real as well.  That God will provide spirit-led opportunities to share about the hope we have in Christ.  

Meet my introvert friend Richard Jung!  Two weeks ago he shared a time he could feel God's spirit prompting him to embrace God’s presence and His strength in order to give a women a real example of God’s presence.  He was a good listener while God's sprit urged him to speak up.  Even the shyest of people can find the boldness to openly embrace God’s presence.  I’ll let Richard speak for himself...

Click Here:  Shy Guys Can Be Bold

http://7tothirty7.blogspot.com/2012/03/shy-guys-can-be-bold.html

Richard is not the only one who needs to rely on God's strength.  I can relate all to well...

March 23, 2012

This morning I woke up with achy muscles, pounding head, sore ears and a flaming throat.  As the kids ate breakfast they noticed I was not at my best.  My son Frederick turned to my daughter Shirin and said, "Let's pray for mom right now, OK?"  

Shirin agreed and led him in a beautiful prayer, pleading that their mom would feel better really soon.  She ended the prayer with these words, "Please help her feel better really soon so that she can look at me, smile at me and like what I say like she usually does."

I heard them praying from the kitchen so I walked in and joined in the prayer.  When she ended the prayer I said, "A-man!"  The sound of my voice startled them both since they were unaware I had walked over to agree with them in prayer.

On our way to school I always pray for them.  This morning I was just trying to fulfill my obligation to get them dropped off so that I could get home to rest.  (Yes, writing is a type of rest).  Shirin spoke up, "Mom, pray for me!"  Of course!  I jumped right in, thanking God that I had children that would pray for me when I don't feel so good.  I also asked God to go before them as they walked onto their school campus.  That they will call on God in their times of need and that they will be a blessing to their friends and their teachers.

After the prayer Frederick asked me why I always asked for God to be with them as they walk onto their school campus.

Distracted by my pain-filled muscles I took it upon myself to perform the well rehearsed right answer which ended up being a long drawn out monologue.

As I explained why I pray for them each morning I felt like I was relying on my own strength and reasoning for the answer.  Making a simple question into much more than it needed to be.  When I was done all Frederick could say was, "Oh, OK."

Only moments before Frederick's first response to me not feeling good was to talk to God about it.  Not an ounce of hesitation because He knew that God was right there.  On the way to school Shirin's first response to start her school day was to pray, knowing He was right there with open ears.  Maybe my response would have been simpler if I had taken a moment to recognize God's presence and yield to what He might have had me say.  And maybe it would have been as simple as, "So that you can continue to embrace God's presence in your life, as you already do."

I felt like one of the adults on the cartoon Charlie Brown,  "Wah wah waaaaah wah,"  while my kids spoke of God's presence loud and clear by embracing his presence without hesitation when they prayed.

iEmbrace His Life

iEmbrace His life when I accept Jesus as my Savior.

This month we celebrate Easter.  Most will observe the holiday by attending a church service and maybe running home to hide some eggs and eat candy.  

The word Observe as a verb is defined this way: 

OBSERVE

1) notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant : [with clause ] young people observe that decisions are made by others.

* watch (someone or something) carefully and attentively : Rob stood in the hallway, where he could observe the happenings on the street.

* take note of or detect (something) in the course of a scientific study : the behavior observed in groups of chimpanzees.

* [ reporting verb ] make a remark or comment : [with direct speech ] "It's chilly," she observed | [with clause ] a stockbroker once observed that dealers live and work in hell.

2) fulfill or comply with (a social, legal, ethical, or religious obligation) : a tribunal must observe the principles of natural justice.

* (usu. be observed) maintain (silence) in compliance with a rule or custom, or temporarily as a mark of respect : a minute's silence will be observed.

* perform or take part in (a rite or ceremony) : relations gather to observe the funeral rites.

* celebrate or acknowledge (an anniversary) : many observed the one-year anniversary of the flood.

Nothing wrong with the word observe.  But doesn't it seem a bit stand offish?  Believing that Jesus of the Bible is real, that He is what He claimed to be and accepting His spirit to work in our lives is not stand offish at all.  It's all about embracing.  Now theres a more appropriate word.  Embrace!

The word Embrace as a verb is defines this way: 

1. he embraced her warmly: hug, take/hold in one's arms, hold, cuddle, clasp to one's bosom, clasp, squeeze, clutch; caress; enfold, enclasp, encircle, envelop, entwine oneself around; informal canoodle, clinch. 
2. most states have embraced the concept: welcome, welcome with open arms, accept, take up, take to one's heart, adopt; espouse, support, back, champion. 
3. the faculty embraces a wide range of departments: include, take in, comprise, contain, incorporate, encompass, cover, involve, embody, subsume, comprehend.

Ok, now we're talking!  That is more like stand INish.  But what does it mean to embrace His life?  Embracing Jesus is one thing, but embracing his life that included death on a cross?  THAT is the Easter story, but it can seem a bit morbid.

Well yes, Jesus did die on a cross.  But he faced the cross for our good, embracing all our guilt and shame.  What's more, he did not stay dead.  God showed His power over eternal condemnation and death through Jesus Christ on the very first Easter morning when He resurrected to life.  His life did not end at the cross... He continued to speak truth to hundreds of people until he ascended into Heaven.  By the way, he did not die at that time... Jesus is still alive.  We embrace a living God!

Observing this truth is one thing.  But embracing it is our recognition that we are in need of a savior.  We are imperfect but God takes our imperfections and transforms those who put their hope and trust in Him.  In order to put our hope and trust in Him we have to believe He is the promised Messiah.  We have to believe that the cross was necessary.

Check out all the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled as God's promised Messiah...

http://www.ovrlnd.com/Teaching/messianicprophecy.html 

We also have to believe that the cross was necessary.  I love how an article on the site Answering Islam answers the question, "Why was it necessary for Jesus to die on the cross?"

http://www.answering-islam.org/Q-A-panel/wc.html 

Embracing His life is opposite of the stand offish observation of Easter.  It's the stand INish of the truth of who Jesus is.  Embracing Him as our promised Lord and Savior, inviting His spirit to live in our hearts and experiencing His love which embraces us in ways far beyond our comprehension.  That is what it means to Embrace the truth of Easter rather than just observing it.

Steve Green sings a song called "Embrace the Cross".  Here are some of the lyrics:

Embrace the love

The cross requires

Cling to the one

Whose heart knew every pain

Receive from Jesus

Fountains of compassion

Only He can fashion

Your heart to move as His

Here is a link to that song which includes the lyrics:

Embrace The Cross:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P8ABJMWZb0&feature=related  

The best prayer ever made is one that embraces new life through Christ Jesus.

You are His special one.

He wants you to embrace all of Him.

His Existence, His Presence and His Life.

I'll leave you with an Easter Poem of sorts.  I wrote it as God's spirit prompted me, far be it for me to walk away without sharing it with you.  iPray it will bless you today, and give you hope in what it means to embrace God in your life:

Discovering Little One poem:

Click Here: Discovering Little One 

All for Him,

MICHELLE FOZOUNMAYEH

iPray eVotionals

iPray Links

Dec. 2011 iPray link:

iTeeter-Totter 

Jan. 2012 iPray link:

iPray NEWness

Feb. 2012 iPray link:

iLove DEEP and WIDE

March 2012 iPray link:

iPraise

April 2012 iPray link:

iEmbrace 

May 2012 iPray link:  

iSmell a Stain

June 2012 iPray link:

iPray 4 Purity

July 2012 iPray link:

iPray 4 Protection

August 2012 iPray link:

iReminisce

September 2012 iPray:

iWork Out 

 October 2012 iPray: 

iFollow

November 2012 iPray:

iThank God for That

December 2012 iPray:

iFinish Strong

January 2013 iPray:

iNeed a Reminder 

February 2013 iPray

iPray in One Accord

March 2013 iPray:

iRest

April 2013 iPray:

iListen

May 2013 iPray:

iHold On