Self~Control Challenge

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day,
he went out, and departed into a solitary place,
and there prayed. Mark 1:35

Jenna from Feminine Farmgirl has put up a challenge for April ~ that of  Self-Control ~ diligence in spending our quiet time with the Lord each morning. Sometimes it is so easy to forgo that quiet time with the King of Kings, especially if we are I am running late, and it is not something that I am proud of.

It is that time when the tone for the day is set, and I carry His message through the day with me. This last month there have been very few days when I have not spent quiet and productive time with our Heavenly Father, as I have needed to call on His strength, guidance and wisdom in all things pertaining to our home and family. Perhaps it is good that He puts us through the difficult and trying times, for it is in those times that we are drawn closer to Him.

This last week has been particularly trying for me, as I have had stitches in my foot, due to dropping a bowl of cat dry food and the bowl smashing. My foot required stitching, and then developed an infection in it, but my friend, Gwenda prayed, claiming God’s promises and His mighty healing power. Guess what ~ the infection is gone!

My husband has been a tower of strength, as he has supervised the children while I have spent my quiet time with God, and this time is just so special. It is truly quiet time with our children studying, and I gain so much more out of the time spent with God, when there are no interruptions. I praise God that I have a husband who helps me to keep my appointment with God each morning and helps to make it special, and I praise Jesus for restoring our fellowship with God, so that we can spend time with Him, hearing His voice, praising Him and spending time in prayer with Him.

Why do we spend time in prayer and meditation with God? Because Jesus set us an example, that’s why!

The Knots Prayer

This is one of the most beautiful prayers that I have read recently, and it was sent to me by our pastor. Isn’t it absolutely wonderful and very inspiring?

Prayers for the Home

This prayer comes from the prayer book, Prayers that Avail Much for Mothers, and it is a beautiful prayer for entrusting our home into God’s care, knowing that He works all things out for our good – we truly do serve a gracious, merciful and loving God.

Father, I thank You that You have blessed me with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.

Through skillful and godly wisdom is my house (my life, my home, my family) built, and by understanding it is established on a sound and good foundation. And by knowledge shall the chambers (of its every area) be filled with all precious and pleasant riches – great priceless treasure. The house of the uncompromisingly righteous shall stand. Prosperity and welfare are in my house in the name of Jesus.

My house is securely built. It is founded on a rock – revelation knowledge of Your Word, Father, Jesus is my Cornerstone. Jesus is Lord of my household. Jesus is our Lord – spirit, soul and body.

Whatever may be our task, we work at it heartily as something done for You, Lord, and not for men. We love each other with the God kind of love, and we dwell in peace. My home is deposited into Your charge, entrusted to Your protection and care.

Father, as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord in Jesus’ name. Hallelujah!

Scripture References

Ephesians 1:3

Proverbs 24: 3,4 AMP

Proverbs 15:6

Proverbs 12:7 AMP

Psalm 112:3

Luke 6:48

Acts 4:11

Acts 16:31

Philippians 2: 10,11

Colossians 3:23

Colossians 3: 14,15

Acts 20:32

Joshua 24:15

Praise You God with my Whole ♥

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. Psalm 86: 12

for:~

• Answered prayer for my husband – his spots are healing, and his pain relief seems to be working this time. Praise You, heavenly Father that You have heard the prayers of Your people and that you have been swift to respond. Your Word says that You will never leave us nor forsake us, and God never lies.

• Our children, who have been a tower of strength through the difficult times – milking, feeding animals, doing dishes, cooking, ironing and generally helping whenever help is needed, but especially for the hugs and words of encouragement and affirmation that mean more than anyone could ever know.

• Friends – blogging friends , internet friends and real-life friends who are true prayer warriors, picking up the challenge and being prepared to pray for my husband – from the bottom of my ♥, I thank you all.

• A good hospital and doctors in our local area – this is so important at times like this.

• Our church – praise God that our church building will be going ahead – thank you Lord, once again, for answered prayer.

• Our home – warm, comfortable beds; food on the table, protection from the elements, fresh goat’s milk and a place where we can say that we truly feel close to God, as He brought us here.

• The ability to be able to homeschool - In Germany it is illegal to homeschool, and Sweden seeks to introduce a law stating that homeschooling will only be allowed under “exceptional circumstances”. Please pray that God will work with the authorities to block this law, and that Swedish homeschoolers will have the ability to be able to homeschool openly. I pray that God will open the eyes of the authorities to the benefits of homeschooling. Praise God that we, in Australia, have the freedom to be able to homeschool openly!

Praise and Prayer

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Ps 106:1

Praise You, Almighty Father for:

• Keeping us strong while my husband is waiting for a total knee replacement in August. Please keep him pain-free until then, and help the months to fly by.

• Your constant provision over us – providing the food that we eat, money to pay the bills, the home that we live in, comfortable beds, rich creamy goats’ milk to drink and Your Son – our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ who gave His life that we might live in a relationship with you.

• My husband, who continues to soldier on, doing what he can, and I praise you, Father, that he can still milk the goats. That is one job that none of us is especially keen to take on, but it looks as if my son will be milking the goats while my husband is incapacitated.

• Our children, who have shouldered more of the responsibilities of running a hobby farm while my husband waits on a new knee. That, combined with their schoolwork has kept them very busy indeed.

• Friends – especially blogging friends and IRL friends who continue to strengthen us and help us to come into a closer relationship with you. Friends, like Kylie, who almost had me in tears of joy over the poem that she wrote while looking at my blog – beautiful poetry, God-honouring poetry.

• For the beautiful ground-soaking rain that He has sent us. So far we have had 13mm, and it’s still raining – YAY!

• That we live in Australia, where freedom of religion is one of our choices, according to our Constitution, but please keep our politicians in your prayers, for there are moves afoot for:

1. “Equal Opportunity” provisions requiring para church organisations (such as Christian book stores) to employ people that do not practice a Christian lifestyle.
2. Formal directives stating that the discussion of Intelligent Design or Creation is no longer acceptable in science lessons in South Australian Christian schools.
3. Draft changes to fringe benefit laws which will make it difficult for churches and charities to meet payroll costs.

Please pray that the Family First party will continue to fight for freedom of religion in Australia, and that Robert Brokenshire will gain the numbers needed to defeat these motions in Parliament. Our religious freedoms are being eroded at an alarming rate.