Me again, Lord.  Another Tuesday afternoon with just me, the cat, and the washing machine.  Plus you, Lord, always you.

I’m supposed to be online organising some accommodation for us to stay in over the summer holidays but I thought I’d check in with you first.  It’s funny how I’ve gone from struggling to fit this prayer time in (or before that, having a prayer life that was in a coma) to making this much more of a priority.  I’ve discovered how true the verse about seeking first your kingdom really is.

First up, I want to pray for Caroline, Lord.  After the Wests were a no-show on Sunday yet again I thought I would ring and check in to see how things are going.  Apparently the plan had been for them to come – or at least Caroline was going to bring the girls while Logan stayed home with Christian – but at the eleventh hour Christian had a meltdown of Vesuvian proportions meaning that none of them could go.  When I wondered why Logan didn’t just bring the girls instead Caroline got a bit frosty – I don’t know whether it was because she resented the idea of everyone leaving her behind with a screaming boy, or whether it had something to do with Logan himself.  I dared not ask any more.  However, I know you know what is really going on so I can only commit them to you, Lord, and pray that you would intervene in their lives to bring about some relief.

It’s hard to feel inadequate as a friend, Lord.  All of this is out of my depth.  I must think to maybe ask Libby what she thinks, since she’s a fountain of all knowledge – in a nice way, that is.

It seems somehow trivial to be thinking about booking a summer holiday away when people you know aren’t doing very well, but by January we will most definitely need a change of scene from the four walls.  Andrew and I had a look on one of those ‘book a holiday home’ websites, and although some are already booked out (the reasonably priced ones that look the nicest) there are still some that don’t look too bad.  As long as we don’t have to sleep under canvas or go outside to some horrid toilet facilities I’ll be happy I think.  I pray for your provision for the best we can find at this stage, Lord.

I want to end by praying for my family (my ongoing resolution) for the salvation of my children (not to mention my brother and parents), for you to be with them at school and at kindy, and for Andrew, that you would be with him at work.  Bless them all, I pray, Lord.

In Jesus’ name…Amen

Afternoon, Lord.  Well, here I am again for the start of a new working week with everyone back where they belong.  Of course I was dog tired this morning and found it difficult to wake up when the alarm went off – completely the opposite to yesterday – and even now I still feel a bit on the sleepy side.  I’m tempted to just lie on the couch this afternoon while Nathan’s at kindy but there’s some sort of weird guilt thing that runs through me when I contemplate such a move.  Maybe it’s knowing that there are working mothers out there doing loads more than I do that makes me feel almost lazy.  Mind you, someone said to me a while ago that they found it more tiring being at home with the children than working full time and trying to do it all.  Why is it there is never a happy medium, that we are always just that little bit dissatisfied with our lot in life, I wonder?

Daniel was good again yesterday.  We were up to John 3, and Daniel talked all about the chapter’s most well known verse – John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Daniel said this was probably not only the most well-known verse in John 3 but the most well-known verse in the whole of scripture, being a verse that encapsulates the entire gospel message in one sentence.  The downside of this is the old ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ scenario, where something becomes so ingrained that we start to lose sight of the wonder of what the verse actually says.  That you love us, Lord, to the extent that you would send your only Son to die for us (without deserving it) is so amazing.  Yet we are often guilty of taking our salvation for granted – not to mention what it cost you to provide this salvation.

Daniel also talked about how this verse was part of an answer you gave to the Pharisee, Nicodemus, and how you turned what he thought and knew about God on its head.  Daniel said that he wondered what you would make of us today, Lord.  Would you, if you were to come back, challenge our assumptions about the way you operate?

So, Lord, I thought I would say today – with all my heart – that I treasure the words of John 3:16 for the reality it provides me with.  I also pray that if I have some wrong thinking about you that you would correct me on it.  I want to see you, Lord, for what you are – not what others think you are.  But be gentle with me, Lord!  I’ve probably got the wrong end of the stick about all sorts of things!

I pray in Jesus’ name…Amen

Morning Lord.  I’m up early again today which is strange because I feel exhausted.  I do vaguely recall my parents saying they couldn’t understand how I could sleep so much when I was a teenager when sleeping was practically a way of life, and thinking I would never be like them.  Yet here I am, awake before even I want to be.

Anyway, the up side of waking early is that it gives me no excuse for finding time to spend with you before church, Lord.  So before I go too far I want to do my usual Sunday morning check-up and ask that you would forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness for your namesake.  As I’ve said before, I feel so much better about going to church when I know things are fine between us before I’ve even arrived.

Thank you for yesterday, Lord.  Andrew and I did find time to have a more civilised chat after James and Jasmine left about how we each spend our time and where our priorities lie.  We’ve agreed we need to make time to spend together, just the two of us, without distractions like the television, and that we should try and go out and have some ‘us’ time at least once a month.  Even our budget should be able to stretch to that.  When I think about it, there are probably lots of cheap places we could go for a meal.  It’s just that I never know when Andrew will need to work late, and we really don’t have an established babysitter.  Mum is a bit hopeless, I wouldn’t ask Dad because he needs his rest, Claire would need three months’ notice and an application in writing, and even Ashley isn’t readily available because she works shifts.

Still, you can go on making excuses forever, I guess.

Dinner with James and Jasmine was interesting.  James was his usual joking, flippant self.  I’m sure the only thing he’d ever go out of his way for is a nice little nap.  I had a small conversation with Jasmine over doing the dishes that was quite illuminating.  I must admit that I’m so used to her keeping me at a polite distance that I was surprised when she confided in me.  Ironically, she’s a bit disappointed with James in respect of his priorities!  And Andrew was worried about my priorities!  At least I lead a semi-functioning adult life, unlike James who acts as though he’s perpetually ten and the most pressing need of the day is what’s for lunch or dinner.

I felt a bit sorry for Jasmine since she really is a lovely person and James wouldn’t know a good thing if it got up and bit him.  So, Lord, I pray for both of them – for their salvation for a start since that would surely take care of at least seventy-five percent of their issues – and for their relationship too, Lord.  I also pray you would give me the wisdom to know whether I should say anything about this to my lay-about brother since I don’t want to break Jasmine’s confidence.  It’s just that he may be in grave danger of losing one of the better things that has ever come his way.

Be with us today, I pray, in Jesus’ name…Amen

Just a quick prayer time this morning, Lord, before everyone gets up and starts wanting things!  I pray for your hand to be on our family this weekend, Lord, that you would give us a restful time and that we would be able to enjoy some family time together.  I also pray for Andrew and me, Lord, that you would help us to work through some things this weekend.  As you well know things between us were a little frosty yesterday evening because he accused me of being more interested in the dramas of others than I am in him.  Sacre bleu!  I mean, here I am trying to be a good friend to people up to their eyeballs in crisis, to look after the children, worry about Mum and Dad, manage when he works late, put up with his parents and their endless criticisms, have Madison five days a week, worry about roaming homicidal maniacs, not to mention fending off overzealous, irrational, hormonal kindergarten teachers, and I’m told I don’t have enough time for my husband.

Well, I suppose in a way that is true – but really – I could accuse him of much the same thing.  It just goes to show that relationships can’t be neglected or taken for granted at any stage if they are to survive, let alone flourish.  Of course I was very indignant about all of this, but by making that list above, maybe he does have a point.  Yet a part of me does think,  “Well, he’s a big boy.  It takes two to tango.  What has he done to enrich our marriage?”  Yet as I write those words it strikes me that if you had that attitude towards us, then no one would ever have been saved.

So, Lord, I am going to try very hard not to be offended by his accusations and try to see things from his point of view.  I must also remember to bring him before you in prayer too, Lord, since I realise I pray for just about everyone else.  Boy, life is complicated!  Give me the wisdom I need to make the right decisions at the right times, Lord.

In Jesus’ name…Amen

P.S.  Before all of this blew up I foolishly invited James and Jasmine for dinner tonight.  I pray that James (the world’s most tactless person) would not make things worse between Andrew and me since, like some sort of circling shark, he can smell trouble like it’s blood in the water.

Morning Lord!  Thank you for this new day.  Nathan and I are off to do the food shopping this morning so I pray for your hand to be on us as we set off.  Thankfully Nathan’s strong interest in the content of women’s handbags seems to be lessening but I still pray he might be well behaved because where he’s concerned you just never know.

Bible Study was interesting again yesterday.  We talked about accepting the unique personalities of our children and how everyone is so different.  Libby ran a small exercise on identifying our own personality type (based on one of those standardised tests) and then asked us to fill out the same test based on what we perceived our children were like.  Of course both of my children came out with results that were at the more extreme end of the spectrum (definite personalities – especially Nathan!) and neither of them were the same personality type as me.

Libby talked about how we can often be surprised by the way our children act and react when they have different personality types than we as parents do, and how we need to factor this in when we deal with our children.  Having an understanding of the way in which the different personality types operate can help us better manage our children and also help us better manage our expectations of them as parents.  Megan talked about how her son is the polar opposite from her and how the worst thing she can do when trying to discipline him is to back him into a corner.  He just shuts down and gets really difficult and she can’t do a thing with him.  Instead she has learned to give Reuben some space before she tackles the issue, then draw him out when things have calmed down.

I fear I have much to learn as a parent, Lord.  Please give me the wisdom to know how to manage both of my children.  I am aware that Emily is not doing as well as she could be, but with everything else that has been going on I have been a bit neglectful.  I need to sit and down and talk with her about how things are.  Having Madison around so much isn’t helpful either since, by the time Jess comes to collect her, it’s dinner-time and then the evening rush of baths, homework and bedtime routines.

As for Nathan, what does one do with a child who thinks that sticking the dead end of fireworks up his nose is the most hilarious thing anyone ever thought of?  It’s like that bumper sticker says,  “Lord, grant me patience…but hurry!”

I pray all in the name of Jesus…Amen

Guy Fawkes’ day.  The day when we strangely commemorate the thwarting of a plot to blow up the English House of Parliament in the 1600’s by setting off fireworks.  A day for the pyromaniacs amongst us, a day that frightens the life out of very small children and tempts pets to turn feral.

Due to the state of things our usual Guy Fawkes barbecue with the Wests is off as they are busy dealing with fireworks of a completely different nature.  I continue to pray for their family Lord, that you would lead and guide them as to what to do with Christian, and that you would help Caroline and Logan know how best to deal with him.

Speaking of fireworks, I also continue to pray for Jess and Madison.  Jess said yesterday that the police went in search of Tony and could find no trace of him.  Who has the ability to disappear like that?  Then it occurred to me that Tony might track Madison down here – a prospect that I would not relish.  So Lord I pray for your protection on all of us.  I keep thinking maybe I should quiz Jess more about just what her ex-husband is capable of since she really only speaks of him in innuendos but how does one quite phrase this?  Is your husband a raving psychopathic monster?

No word from Linley.  I must call her and find out how things are going.  Be with her, too, I pray.

Anyway, I’m off to Bible Study again this afternoon – amazing how fast the week rolls around.  I pray for your blessing on our time together and I pray that you would help me put aside the concerns of the world to focus on you.

Amen

More trouble, Lord!  I seem to daily be coming to you with prayer for others in difficulty and today is no exception.  How all this drama puts into sharp perspective my own fleeting and trivial concerns!

As you know, I turned up at school yesterday, Nathan in tow, to pick Emily and Madison up from school only to find no sign of Madison.  Usually the girls wait together in the same spot until I come and collect them, but yesterday, no Madison.  The Amazing Miss Hollis had no idea where Madison was except to say she had been the first one out the door when the children were dismissed, and she’d assumed the usual routine would be followed.

We searched the school and finally found Madison lurking in some bushes at the back of the grounds, to all intents and purposes, hiding.  When questioned about this by Miss Hollis, Madison burst into tears and confessed she was hiding as she feared she was going to be kidnapped.  I immediately assumed that she had been listening to far too many stories from her mother, especially with the rumours of Tony being back in town, only to learn that Madison had seen Tony that very day.  From what Madison said, it sounds as though Tony has been doing some lurking of his own, namely outside the front fence of the school, on the look-out for Madison, and today he had finally spotted her and called her over.  What he’d actually said is anyone’s guess, but by the look on Madison’s face she was quite unnerved by the encounter to the point of fear.

This revelation then caused a reasonable amount of pandemonium as such things have to be properly reported, Jess informed, (by the time she arrived at school she was hysterical), and, in accordance with the restraining order, the police informed.

Today I have to pick Madison up from the Principal’s office (and probably sign for her in triplicate, give a blood sample and swear on a stack of Bibles) which is all fine, but it does strike me that if Tony is determined to find Madison (for whatever reason) he will simply try and find another avenue of approach.  So Lord, I continue to pray for Jess and Madison…and maybe even Tony himself.  He may well be the villain of the piece, but it may well be that all he wants to do is see his daughter.

I pray for this family in the name of Jesus…Amen

Oh Lord, praise be your name!  Linley is safe and well!  I couldn’t have been more relieved than when she called last night to say she was fine (relatively) and that she had just realised she hadn’t told me her thoughts or intentions when she rushed off.  Mercifully it had occurred to her I might be a bit worried.  A bit worried!  I could have cheerfully murdered her for being so casual while I sweated buckets!

Apparently her abrupt departure had stemmed from a realisation there might be a way to salvage her job so she had set off on a crusade to recruit support from some of her clients, most of whom were so put out at having their weekend tranquillity thus shattered they refused their support outright, concluding (rightly or wrongly) that they were dealing with a madwoman.

She’d then started to think of ways she might be able to prop up her financial situation since things are going to get pretty dire pretty quickly due to the unbelievable weight of debt she’s managed to clock up (the figure she mentioned that she owed on her credit card alone was equivalent of the gross national product of a small nation) but none of those ideas came to anything.  It looks as though she’s going to be in big trouble if she can’t find another job quick smart.

I feel a bit helpless here, Lord, but all I can do is continue to bring Linley before you.  She’s going to keep pushing so I pray you would help things to work out for her and that something can be salvaged out of the wreck that is her life.  How quickly things can go from being all rosy to black as night!

I must say I did not really concentrate on Daniel’s message yesterday but have re-read John 2 this morning.  I was really taken with the last two verses that say,  “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them (people), for he knew all men.  He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.”  What a sad bunch we are, Lord, and how little has changed in spite of how sophisticated we consider ourselves now.  How grateful we should all be for your love and faithfulness to us when we so little deserve it.

Amen

Oh Lord, I come before you this morning feeling considerably alarmed.  As you know yesterday turned into the most horrendous day following the news that Linley has lost her job and, just to add insult to injury, Mark dumped her as well.  When she turned up here on Friday night, weeping uncontrollably, I could barely understand a word she was saying on account of all the sobbing.  Of course I automatically assumed the worst – that she had been made redundant – but then to finally understand that Mark had told her it was over on top of this!  Talk about it never raining, but pouring!

It was quite clear that she could not be left to her own devices, so as you know, she stayed the night on Friday night, then spent all of yesterday crying her eyes out.  At first I couldn’t tell which was worrying her the most – the job or the boyfriend – until I finally understood that the loss of Mark (as wonderful and fantastic as he was!?) was nothing compared with the loss of her job – if for no other reason than the fact that Linley has financially overcommitted herself on the expectation that big money as a partner was shortly coming her way.  There were tears over the disappointment of losing a much longed-for position, loss of status, damage to the ego, loss of a man Linley had desperately hoped was The One, but the tears over the fear of what might come, the devastating loss of income, had me concerned for her sanity.  The firm, from what I can gather, are so down on their uppers that there will be no payouts to any staff whatsoever – end of story.

But then, as abruptly as she arrived, she announced her departure, and was gone before dinner last night.  I tried calling her house to make sure she arrived home safely…no reply.  I’ve called again this morning…no reply.  I’m beginning to think I should have insisted she stayed until I was sure about her state of mind.  If she’s out there doing anything stupid I really will never forgive myself.

So, Lord, I pray most fervently for your hand to be upon her.  Give her the peace to calm down and the wisdom to stay rational.  Keep her safe, Lord, and if it at all possible, motivate her to call and let me know she’s okay!  We’re off to church shortly (I don’t really want to go but Andrew says there’s nothing to be gained by hanging around waiting – and no point in any other course of action either) so I pray you would forgive me in advance if I’m not very attentive.  I know I will just fret until I learn she’s okay.

I pray in the name of Jesus…Amen