My verse of prayer for YOU this week...

When Joe and I got married almost four years ago we had both come out of a messy, mired-filled pit, broken but changed (Ps. 40:1-3). At our wedding reception we laid out little 2X3 cards at each place setting which we had purchased from Abbey Press. The poem served as a testament of where we had been and how we could possibly be blessed in where we were going....

HANG IT ON THE CROSS

If you have a secret sorrow,

A burden or a loss,

An aching need for healing...

Hang it on the cross.

If worry steals your sleep,

And makes you turn and toss

If your heart is feeling heavy...

Hang it on the cross

Every obstacle to faith,

Or doubt you come across,

Every prayer unanswered.....

Hang it on the cross

For Christ has borne our brokenness

And dearly paid the cost

To turn our trials to triumph...

Hanging on the cross.

~Lisa O. Engelhardt

This card is now on my bulletin board in my office at the college and I was again drawn to it after reading a comment from a fellow blogger (forgive me I forget where) last week referencing Beth Moore from her Bible study group. She quoted Beth with this statement:

"You can not amputate your history from your destiny...allow it to complete it's purpose".

Both this poem and statement is like a fine piece of chocolate wouldn't you say? I feel someone out there needs to read these words this week. Savor it. Indulge in it's thoughts. Let it carry you into this new week!


This week the verse I am praying for all you blogger friends is from Hebrews 12:1-3 (NLT)...

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

but for more insight, read it in The Message version:

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

I pray Lord, for each of my friends in this blog ministry Lord. I pray that she will press on in her testimony of grace. I pray she will be free of any strongholds that are preventing her from the purity of Your presences in her day. I pray my friend (your name) will be focused on You Jesus in this week. I pray most of all she will be You to others, especially those who do not know You personally. I pray that no matter what my sweet blogger friends have endured or are about to endure this week, that you Lord, will be their strength, that you will carry them when they need to be carried, hold them when they need comforted, and walk or run beside them in this race of life! I pray that each friend fulfills Your purpose and plans in this week. Bless my blogger friends Lord. Amen.


Have a sweet week!! Be blessed!!


His Maidservant~Pamela