Start with Praise

Dug, a dog in the fictional cartoon movie UP, says to Carl Fredricksen without restraint, “You are my master and I love you.”  

How often to we acknowledge our God in this way?  Do we state it?  Do we live like it is true?  Is it evident in how we act and how we feel about life?  

“You are my master and I love you.”  Out of the heart the mouth speaks.  It would not be so hard to proclaim and praise God for just being our master if the truth of who He is were in our hearts.  It would come out of our mouths without restraint.

Let’s get His truth in our hearts as we start with praise.  Instead of coming into His presence and ignoring WHO He is by rambling off a checklist that may or may not be in line with His, “Dear God give me give me give me, help help help, do this do that,”  Let’s start with Praise.  Instead of talking for a good while before any of our focus is really on God, “Me me me me me me,” let’s first acknowledge our master.  Here is a question to ponder, are we really coming before his throne and are in his presence if we are not acknowledging Him at all?  Let’s praise our Master like Dug. 

The ministry Moms in Prayer encourages prayer time to start with praise.  One of their documents list God attributes and scriptures to support each attribute.  In order to help us all praise God first while meditating on the truth of who He is, I have modified the document just a bit.  Under each attribute I have written out a praise prayer that also defines the God attribute.  This can be used to start our prayers with praise.

And not just prayer... start everything with Praise.  Start each day with Praise.  Start every thought with Praise.  Start each meal with Praise.  Start a conversation with Praise.  Start with Praise.

Talk to and about God with Praise and Worship on our lips...

GOD IS SUPREME

Dear God, You are Supreme!  I praise You for You are highest in rank, power and authority.  I worship You for You are superior to all, the highest in degree.  You are of utmost importance above all Heaven and Earth.

Genesis 14:19

Deuteronomy 10:14-17

Nehemiah 9:6

Job 11:7-9

Psalm 95:3-7

Psalm 135:5

Isaiah 44:6-8

Acts 17:24-28

Colossians l:15-18

Hebrews 1:4, 6

Jude 24-25

Revelation 4:8

GOD IS SOVEREIGN

Dear God, You are Sovereign!  I praise You for You alone hold the position of royal ruler, superior to all others.  I worship You for You reign above all things.  You are controlling everything and can do anything.

I Samuel 2:6-8

I Chronicles 29:10-13 

II Chronicles 20:6

Job 42:2 

Psalm 33:10-11 

Psalm 47:2-3, 7-8

Psalm 93 

Psalm 135:6-7 

Isaiah 40:10

Isaiah 46:9-10 

Matthew 10:29-30 

Romans 8:28

GOD IS OMNIPOTENT

Dear God, You are Omnipotent!  You are all powerful and I praise You.  You have unlimited power and authority and I worship You.  You are Almighty God.

II Chronicles 32:7-8 

Psalm 62:11 

Psalm 89:8-13

Psalm 147:5 

Isaiah 40:28-31 

Jeremiah 32:17

Habakkuk 3:4 

Matthew 19:26 

Ephesians 1:19-20

Ephesians 3:20 

Colossians 1:10-12 

Hebrews 1:3

GOD IS OMNISCIENT

Dear God, You are Omniscient!  Not one living thing has knowledge over you.  I praise You for You hold infinite knowledge.   I worship You for You are God who knows all things; nothing is hidden from your sight.

Psalm 44:21 

Psalm 139:1-6 

Psalm 142:3

Psalm 147:5 

Isaiah 65:24 

Daniel 2:22

Matthew 6:8 

Matthew 10:30 

John 6:64

Romans 11:33-34 

Colossians 2:3 

Hebrews 4:13

GOD IS OMNIPRESENT

Dear God, You are Omnipresent!  Your presence is everywhere.  I praise You for being present at all places.  You are in the past, present and future.  I worship You for being present in all times.

I Kings 8:27 

Psalm 31:20 

Psalm 46:1-7

Psalm 139:5-12 

Isaiah 66:1 

Jeremiah 23:24

Matthew 28:20 

Acts 17:27-28 

Romans 8:35, 38-39

Colossians 1:17 II 

Timothy 4:16-18 

Hebrews 13:5

GOD IS IMMUTABLE

Dear God, You are Immutable!  You never change or vary and I praise You.  I worship You for being unchangeable.  You have always been and alway will be the great I AM. 

Numbers 23:19 

I Samuel 15:29 

Psalm 33:11

Psalm 100:5 

Psalm 102:25-27 

Psalm 119:89, 152

Isaiah 40:6-8 

Isaiah 51:6 

Malachi 3:6a

Hebrews 6:17-19a 

Hebrews 13:8 

James 1:17

GOD IS FAITHFUL

Dear God, You are Faithful!  I praise You for being dependable and reliable.  You are loyal, You are devoted and You are unwavering.  I worship You for You are steadfast, constant and true.

Deuteronomy 7:9 

Psalm 33:4 

Psalm 89:8

Psalm 119:90 

Psalm 145:13 

Psalm 146:5-8

Lamentations 3:21-24 

I Corinthians 10:13 

II Timothy 1:12

II Timothy 2:13 

I John 1:9 

Revelation 19:11

GOD IS HOLY

Dear God, You are Holy!  I honor You for You are spiritually perfect.   I praise You for You are pure.  You are sinless and deserving of all awe, reverence and adoration.  I worship a Holy God.

Exodus 15:11 

I Samuel 2:2 

Psalm 77:13

Psalm 99 

Psalm 111:9

Isaiah 5:16

Isaiah 57:15-16 

Luke 1:49 

Acts 3:13-15

I Peter 1:15-16 

Revelation 4:8 

Revelation 15:4

GOD IS JUST

Dear God, You are Just! I praise You for You are right and You are fair.  You are completely impartial.  I worship You for being upright, lawful, correct and true.  You are a righteous God.

Deuteronomy 32:4 

II Chronicles 19:7 

Psalm 9:7-10

Psalm 89:14-16 

Psalm 119:137-138 

Psalm 145:17

Isaiah 30:18 

Zephaniah 3:5 

John 5:30

Romans 3:25-26 

II Thessalonians 1:5-7 

Revelation 15:3-4

GOD IS WISE

Dear God, You are Wise!  Your wisdom goes past knowledge to understanding and action.  I praise You for having keen perception and discernment.  I worship You for You have the power of judging rightly.  You always make right choices.

I Chronicles 28:9 

Psalm 92:5 

Psalm 147:5

Proverbs 2:6 

Proverbs 3:19-20 

Isaiah 28:29

Isaiah 55:8-9 

Daniel 2:20-22 

Romans 11:33-34

Romans 16:27 

Colossians 2:2-3

James 3:17

GOD IS ETERNAL

Dear God, You are Eternal!  I praise You for existing though all time.  I worship You for You are without beginning or end.  You are everlasting.

Exodus 3:14-15 

Exodus 15:18 

Deuteronomy 33:27

Nehemiah 9:5b 

Psalm 45:6 

Psalm 90:1-2

Psalm 93:2 

Isaiah 26:4 

Jeremiah 31:3

Romans 1:20 

I Timothy 1:17 

Revelation 1:8,18

GOD IS THE CREATOR

Dear God, You are the Creator!  You are the one who brought into existence the universe and all matter and life in it.  I praise and worship You, creator of all things.

Genesis 1:1 

Psalm 95:3-7 

Psalm 100:3

Psalm 104 

Psalm 148:1-6 

Isaiah 42:5

Jeremiah 10:12 

John 1:3 

Acts 17:24-28

Colossians 1:16 

Hebrews 1:2 

Revelation 10:6

GOD IS GOOD

Dear God, You are Good!  I praise You for You are virtuous and excellent.  You are an upright God all the time.  I worship You for You are essentially, absolutely and consummately good.

Psalm 25:8 

Psalm 34:8 

Psalm 86:5

Psalm 119:68 

Psalm 136:1 

Psalm 145:9

Jeremiah 33:11 

Nahum 1:7 

Mark 10:18

John 10:11 

I Timothy 4:4 

II Peter 1:3-4

One more quote from Dug, "Squirrel!"  It does not take much to distract us.  A simple "squirrel" could make us take our eyes off our master.  May we not wait, withhold, overlook or let a "squirrel" get in the way of our praise to our master.  The more we do it, the more we feel it.  The more we feel it, the more we do it.  Praising God first then becomes a part of how we live, feel and think.  Out of our heart our mouth will speak and proclaim who God is.  Let’s start with praise.

“You are my master and I love you.” 

November Prayer

This is a note to some MITI Leaders in my area, but it has a prayer in it that is good for all of us...

Hello praying leaders,

As November begins I think of Thanksgiving fast approaching.  And with that in mind my gratitude overflows for you.  I am so thankful for you who lead women to pray in this community.

“I looked for a (wo)man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30

BUT, He did find you!  

Because He found you, He’s doing mighty things in this land.  Some women just need the opportunity, the invite or the outlet.  Your faithfulness and courage is another women’s answer to prayer.

As you lead I pray for you with a grateful heart...

Dear Heavenly Father, You are our sovereign Lord.  You are above all and able to do anything.  There are no exceptions to that statement.  Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you.”  Forgive us for failing to see you as sovereign over our MIT prayer groups as well as our lives.  Forgive us for our unbelief, when we forget that you are able to do anything.  We do not need to take things into our own hands but rather step aboard of what you are doing.  I thank you for MITI; a ministry that You are using to make prayer happen all across the world.  I thank you for the leaders in this area who are standing in the gap.  These women are not spectators, but they are on the field!  Thank you Lord for their strong belief in you and their desire to intercede.  These women know that prayer is not a last resort, it is the most important ingredient.  May each and every leader continue to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18.  May every leader, every saint, see your face and know your presence in increasingly new ways.  Dear Jesus, by the power of your name I ask that you will stop the enemy’s attempts to keep moms from approaching your throne.  I pray for unity in each MIT group.  Remove the distractions.  May these leaders’ confidence be in You, let them lean in on You, knowing that You are in control of all things. (From Psalm 71:5-6)  I pray that each MIT leader will claim your sovereignty fresh and new each day as you are providing them with all that they need.  We know that our children are not getting any younger.  We recognize that the battle raging in their lives is a spiritual one, may we not fool ourselves into thinking that we can stand down or stand aside for even one moment.  The enemy seeks to devour and destroy but victory is YOURS!!!!  I ask that you will renew a right spirit in each of these Leaders hearts, restore to them the joy of Your salvation!  May they witness your sovereignty, BIG TIME!  Encourage and instruct them in their roles as MIT leaders; showing them that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light.  We praise you again for all you have done, are doing and will do.  I pray all this in the powerful and precious name of Jesus, a-man.

Leaders, know that you are so precious in His sight, and mine too.  It is extremely exciting to see what God is doing in our community through each of you and your prayed-for children.  For November, leading into Thanksgiving, I am asking each of you leaders to visit our group page and write a little something on there about why you are Thankful for MIT and/or prayer.  It can be a short testimony or just a statement.  It will only take a moment to Glorify our Lord.  Let us share our gratitude with each other and proclaim His goodness for all to see.

Here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/MomsInTouch.Kim.Michelle/

Finally, I almost can’t contain my excitement when I think about the leaders rally on the first Sat. morning in 2012.  I’m not exaggerating when I say that this is 100% God’s doing for you.  (Aside: “I’m not talking to the other leaders right now...  I’m talking to YOU!  You who are reading this, who I just prayed for!”)  This is a gift that you will be happy you opened!  

Again, thank you for being the woman that God found!

My prayers for you continue as we head into the “busy” months.

All for HIM, Michelle

Afraid of What?

AFRAID OF WHAT?  

PRAY THOSE FEARS AWAY!

October and its accompanying Halloween holiday is the one time of year when the “fear monster” is allowed to run rampant.  It’s said to be just fun and games, but the “fear monster” likes to find a home in our hearts after the holiday has long since passed.

One of my favorite movies, the 1965 major motion picture “The Sound of Music”, has a scene about fear.  After hearing thunder as a storm passed by, each of Captain Von Trapp’s 7 children ends up in Maria’s bedroom for comfort.  The upbeat song, “These are a few of my favorite things” follows which seems to cheer the kids right up!  I love the song and it might help for a bit of thunder.  But when fear grips my heart in the deepest way, it’s not all fun and games!  Thinking of raindrops on roses, kitten whiskers, woolen mittens, sleigh bells or even GEESE does not cut it.  In fact, when fear is embedded in my heart the song I find myself singing sounds more like this...

Raindrops on windows and thunder unending…

Bright colored lightning and candle wicks dwindling;

Brown branches swaying, what will this night bring?

These are a few of my scariest things.

Hospital doctors and long pokey needles…

Bumble bees, sting rays and stinky butt beetles;

Black creepy spiders with red diamond spleens,

These are a few of my scariest things.

Ghosts in white dresses with blue glowing chains…

Fear thoughts that stay on my mind and my brain;

Silver stone walls that are trapped in my dreams,

These are a few of my scariest things.

When I don’t pray -

When fear gets in the way -

When I forget to trust my “Dad” …

I’m simply remembering my scariest things,

And I’m caught up in what feels so bad.

Fear beyond a few cracks of thunder is crippling.  I’ve been afraid of who might come through my children's windows, of failure, of someone not liking me.  Years ago I struggled with fear in such a way that it seemed to be a living monster in my body.  One day I gathered up the courage to tell a near stranger about my fears.  She was sitting at a boutique reading a bible and after revealing my fears to her, she promptly shared a good thing with me.  She encouraged me to memorize 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

As I memorized and constantly recited 2 Timothy 1:7, I experienced that transforming power first hand. “Dear Lord,” I would say in the face of fear, “You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  Day by day God answered my prayers and my anxious feelings were replaced with confidence in Him. 

The “fear monster” has left the premises, but it continues to peek its ugly face out of unexpected dark corners.  This past week I found myself fearing the worse would happen while my husband was away on business.  I recognized it and the powerful Word of God at work in my life sent the “fear monster” running with its tail between its legs.  

The word for "fear" in 2 Timothy 1:7 is not referring to general fear as it is commonly known, as in fearing a bit of thunder. The word in the original greek language is not 'phobos' (foboV) but rather 'deilias' (deiliaV) which means "cowardice". God has not given us a spirit of cowardice. The actual context of the words found in this passage refer to partaking in Kingdom work, that is God’s Kingdom, and not to wimp out.

Fears that keep us from Kingdom work are more crippling than a passing storm or a hunting holiday.  By praying and claiming this scripture for so many years it has led to opportunities to leave cowardice in the dumpster, where it belongs! To confidently share a good thing where I otherwise would have let fear win.  

One of the “good things” I like to share about is Moms In Touch International (MITI).  http://www.momsintouch.org/  A few years back I heard about groups of praying moms that focus on prayers for their children and for schools.  It did not take long for me to research it and find a praying partner, Julie Paik, to start a group.  It is a place where we partner with God on behalf of our children who, in turn, get to experience the same power of transformation while us moms, being aware of the benefits, actually do the praying.  Every week moms pray specific scriptures over their children’s lives that cover a multitude of concerns.  This allows the concerns to be handed over to a God that is willing and able to do more than we can imagine and definitely more than can be done on our own.  Being constant and deliberate in prayers directly effects our children with their constant and sometimes deliberate struggles.  What child does not have struggles as they walk onto their school campuses every weekday?  

When I first stepped up to be a MIT Co-Leader with Julie for our children's school (Yerba Buena)… it was an opportunity for me to set aside cowardliness and take on courage.  I remember loving the prayer time but was sort of a wimp about sharing this “good thing”.   Would people think I was “religious”?  Even worse would people think they couldn’t be real around me because I was one of those Christians?  Yes, the “fear monster” tried to keep me immobile. I remember praying for courage with Julie and He delivered a cup of courage all right!  In fact our cups overflowed and we now have over a dozen praying moms at Yerba Buena Elementary School.

I was then asked to step up to be a Moms In Touch Area Coordinator (an AC).  Why not, we had seen God's power unleashed!  "Why keep a good thing all to myself'" I prayed, "let's get every school in my area prayed over!  Lord raise up Moms with a desire to pray for their children and use me to be an encouragement to them!"   It was again an opportunity for me to set aside cowardliness and take on courage.  Right on que the “fear monster” tried to keep me immobile with a variety of fear oriented thoughts.  But if it had found a home in me concerning MIT, you would not be reading this today.  I am sharing this “good thing”!  As a MIT leader and AC  a courageous player in Kingdom work is on the field!  Taking action can be exhilarating!

Richard DeHaan put it into perspective when he wrote, "If God has given you some special work to do that frightens you, it is your responsibility to jump at it. It is up to the Lord to see you through. As you faithfully do your part, He will do His part."

My Aunt Janet (Brown) puts it this way, “When we experience tasks that are daunting... He meets us there with His sustaining power and all-consuming courage.”

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels, as the song, “These are a few of my favorite things” recites, can never compete with what God gives.  The “fear monster” can’t flee fast enough when it comes face to face with God’s immeasurable power.

Philippians 4:8 talks about how to step out of crippling fear thoughts. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

I often think about this lovely truth, us moms hold a common thread that weaves us all together.  It is a deep desire to see our children persevere through life challenges, to accomplish great things, to grow in their faith and live out their God-given purpose to the fullest.  Our mom-hearts ache when life comes in hard at them.  Our mom passion is put on fire when our child is flourishing in a talent or a unique gifting.  We share the common desire for wanting what is best for our children.  Praying for them, their schools and classmates is one of the more pro-active and “cowardLESS” parenting moves we can make.

So then...you are AFRAID OF WHAT?  What "good thing" is God asking you to do for His Kingdom's sake? Pause for a moment and lay down those fears. Lay down whatever frightens you; what you see as scary.  In short... I encourage you to PRAY THOSE FEARS AWAY!  Then we can sing a new October song...

Rainbows from heaven and courage to start…

Bright Calvary's cross and peace in my heart;

Brown leather bibles and His perfect timing,

These are a few of my God’s promised things.

Unending love and new seasons of joy…

Provision for family and healing my boy;

Spirit filled moments by praising the King,

These are a few of my God’s promised things.

Girls in white dresses dance with the bridegroom…

Forgiveness, deliverance, changed lives are in bloom;

Silver white winters that melt into springs,

These are a few of my God’s promised things.

When I need shelter -

When I seek comfort -

When I’m afraid or sad…

I get on my knees and claim God’s promised things,

And then I don’t feel so bad.

"The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it!" Thessalonians 5:24

"All honor and power to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power at work within us."   Ephesians 3:20

Keep on doin' it

This is written by Julie Paik, who co-leads MIT at Yerba Buena Elementary School...

Ephesians 6:18 says, "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere."

I have to admit that prayer has always been a challenge for me, especially growing up in church and hearing so many people pray so sincerely and so eloquently.  Our church had daily early morning prayer meetings from 5:30-6:30 where people would come to pray together before heading off to work for the day. Even in my own home, I had a beautiful example.  One of the sweetest memories I have from childhood is waking up to the sound of my mom praying for us in the living room.  She had been up for about an hour or so, just praying to God.  And now, here I am, a mother of three, and have I ever spent an hour before the children rise praying to God for them?  Nope.  Do my prayers sound as powerful as my mom's did back then (and still do)? Nope.  When I could've been inspired to grow in this beautiful and necessary practice, I became too intimidated and lazy to try very hard.  I had developed an unnecessarily difficult standard of what prayer was.

And still, God is gracious (thank You, God!) and works with me where I am.  The excerpt from the book of Ephesians above really frees me to pray for anything and everything at any time of the day.  I feel free to pray for everything from my kids' on-going character issues and friends dealing with grave diseases to how do I get dinner ready tonight (!) and for patience with the driver in front of me.  I can pray at all times, and in every circumstance, whether it's in quiet meditation, or desperate whispers for mercy, or happy thanksgiving for the beauty of hydrangeas, or having a little pity party for myself and asking for help.  I can pray in the car, on the field waiting for soccer practice to be done, in line at Trader Joe's.  The beautiful consequence of praying this way has been that it keeps me connected to God all day long. Maybe this is why God teaches us to do it in the first place.

So at the beginning of this school year, when we are just starting out on our journey of prayer together, I want to encourage you (and myself) to keep on keeping on, praying at all times, and in every circumstance, and to keep at it.  It doesn't have to be eloquent, it just has to be!  In fact, we don't even have to have the words formed in our minds (Romans 8:26 says, "the [Holy] Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans")! Amazing.  God is good and great.  Let's see what happens as we keep praying.

Thanks Julie for your encouragement!