Faith for today

I came across this reading from EM Bounds and found this part that I really like and needed to read today.  I need to focus on one day at a time!

"Faith covers temporal as well as spiritual needs. Faith dispels all undue anxiety and needless care about what shall be eaten, what shall be drunk, what shall be worn. Faith lives in the present, and regards the day as being sufficient unto the evil thereof. It lives day by day, and dispels all fears for the morrow. Faith brings great ease of mind and perfect peace of heart.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee:because he trusted in Thee."
When we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," we are, in a measure, shutting tomorrow out of our prayer. We do not live in tomorrow but in today. We do not seek tomorrow's grace or tomorrow's bread. They thrive best, and get most out of life, who live in the living present. They pray best who pray for today's needs, not for tomorrow's, which may render our prayers unnecessary and redundant by not existing at all!"

Vacation time

The tropics!  Love being in the humidity after spending time in Pasco, Washington where it is very dry.  Before our jump into missionary training we are spending spring break on Oahu with my twin Sister and her family.  We are planning on snorkeling, surfing, beach combing and exploring all over the island for the next week.  We are all very excited, especially since the last day with my mom and dad was hard because I had to say good-bye for a while.  My daughter Sydney says, "Mom, it's not good-bye, but see you later".  I love that.  My mom will most likely come and visit us when we settle where we will be staying, she loves to travel.

Now, we relax and enjoy our time with my sister and family!

I was reading some of John Piper's stuff and found this list for 7 things to pray for your children.  I started praying these today for Nick and Sydney and am expecting God to meet them right where they are!

1. That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (Matthew 19:13–15)

2. That they will respond in faith to Jesus’s faithful, persistent call.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

3. That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments.

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

4. That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

5. That their thoughts will be pure.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.(Philippians 4:8)

6. That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord’s work.

All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. (Exodus 35:29)

7. That when the time is right, they will GO!

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Mark 10:21
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

This doesn't sound too hard, or does it?  As a Christ follower, all that we have is God's, so why should it be so hard to do what Christ asks.  We need to change our way of thinking and ask God to guide us in what HE wants us to do in our lives.  We need to be willing to surrender everything.  Everything?  This includes, our children, our extended families, our home and all our possessions.  Yikes, that does sound hard, but I know that it will be worth it in heaven!