MY HOME
A house of prayer
CHILDREN
Activities
ACTIVITIES
When attending an event or activity with a child or grandchild - prayers for children whose parents or grandparents will not or cannot be there – that these enjoy the fellowship of their heavenly Father… Prayer for parents and grandparents who want to be involved but cannot because of illness or other circumstances.
CHILDREN
Whenever we see any child, may we be moved to pray for all children everywhere. A quick glance at our culture exposes children of all ages starving for knowledge of and experience with God. They demand our faithful attention because they have God’s faithful attention… May their faces continually move us to ask God to mobilize intercessors throughout the nations to pray for these precious treasures.
“Arise, cry aloud in the night at the beginning of the night watches;
pour out your heart like water before the presence of the LORD;
lift up your hands to Him for the life of your little ones
who are faint because of hunger at the head of every street.”
Lamentations 2:19 NASB
ATHLETIC EVENTS
That all realize they may win a game, but lose in life - or lose a game, but win in life, the difference is love and obedience to God… For all to desire God, purity, holiness… That they not be treated as objects of pride or sources of money for school or athletic coffers, but that they’re treasured as individuals whether they win or lose, and that they’re encouraged to
run their race with God, becoming all He created them to be… That they strive to be as successful in the classroom as they are on the field or in the gym, preparing themselves to carry out great and excellent exploits… That above all, they pursue holiness…
CHURCH
When several ladies failed to show up for work one Wednesday, I had to join one of my cleaning crews and hit five houses, finishing late – exhausted, drenched in sweat and stench, no makeup, with about three hours work to do to prepare for the following day. Kristina, about eight-years-old, was dressed for church when I arrived home. When I told her I didn’t know how we could possibly go, she didn’t hide her disappointment. God whispered firmly,
“Suffer little children to come unto me,
and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
Luke 18:16 KJV
We were running late, I had no time for a shower or to change clothes. Fortunately the church motto was, “Come as you are, you’ll be loved.” We climbed straight into the car... I’ll never forget that night – during worship I had my hands lifted singing, “For You, O LORD, art high above all the earth… I exalt You, I’m exhausted, I’m exhausted, O LORD”… I returned home with so much energy it was difficult to sleep. But one of God’s faithful promises is that those who wait upon the LORD always renew their strength. It’s like we mount up on wings like eagles, we run and don’t grow weary, we walk, and we do not faint (Is. 40:31).
Our children love God, love their church family, love serving their church and community, and have not made the mistakes with their lives that I made with mine. For this, I am profoundly thankful.
As a high school cheerleader, Kristina was faced with choosing priorities. The busy basketball season was winding down – cheer at the Wednesday night tournament or attend church. Church. And when cheer camp started Saturday afternoon, she waited so that I could drive her up after church Sunday, which also fell on Fathers Day. She was the only cheerleader on the team who made “All Star,” which qualified her alone to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. While choices were not always popular with the school, God honored her then and throughout life.
If an ultimatum is given,
A single day in your courts is better
than a thousand anywhere else!
Psalm 84:10 NLT
PRAYER ASSEMBLIES
My girls grew up in prayer assemblies. Take them when they’re young, even infants. Help them to recognize personal and corporate prayer as the source of Power, Light, and Life. The world attempts to distort their concept of God and prayer. If they grow up recognizing that it can be as natural as breathing, they will recognize their authority to stand against the powers that seek to lead their hearts astray. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous prince or princess availeth much – it moves mountains and changes the world. (James 5:16)
You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
Psalm 8:2 NLT
Here, I'm with grand-angels. The entire family participates.
Dangerous Prayer Partners
ARTS & CRAFTS
Father,
please inspire and expand their imaginations
while keeping them focused and faithful
to use every gift for Your honor and glory and praise.
COLORING
Whether teaching children colors or working with art projects, teach them to pray.
We will be adding and linking to "Colors" as soon as we can possibly get to it.
CONCERTS ~ MUSIC LESSONS ~ LISTENING TO MUSIC
Father,
plant songs in the hearts of Your children,
songs in the day, songs in the night.
When they are happy,
let their hearts dance with Your music,
dance in Your Love.
And when they are in despair,
as dark times surely come to all,
let their hearts wait with joy in Your music,
wait in Your Faithfulness,
rest and meditate, Selah, on and in Your Love.
May the music of their surrendered lives
lead vast multitudes into Your glorious Eternal Presence.
RUNNING
I laughed as my grand-angels chased one another around their dining room table.
Father, may each step lead them deeper into Your Love and Your Plan for their lives…
DANCING
May our children and grandchildren
dance in Your Presence,
dance in Your Love,
dance in Your Power,
dance with Your anointing…
May each step that they ever take
lead them more deeply into Your Will for their lives.
PAGEANTS
Moving from Houston into a very small community in Alabama, Kristina wanted to enter pageants, simply to hang out with the girls. Together we prayed for all to be everything God ever desired and designed them to be… for their purity… for the decisions they’d be making about college or marriage…
It can be brutal as girls compete against each other and mothers berate their daughters for not turning correctly or not answering a question better because the girl was a bundle of nerves...
Father,
may our daughters never seek to be judged
better than anyone else,
but only to embrace every opportunity
to share Your Light and Love.
May their beauty be inward,
as You judge the thoughts and intents of our hearts.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Teach the children to pray for the families who gave them gifts whenever they begin to play with them. Ask God to bless all who are a part of your lives, a part of your celebrations… May each year be marked by a fresh anointing… That our children and grandchildren daily recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Lights… May they always be content with what they have and willing to share with others… That they seek to be a blessing rather than to be blessed…
SEPARATION
This can be used with all ages. Whenever the girls went to cheer camp, a mission trip, or spent a night away from me, I wore one of their t-shirts or pajama pants around the house. It gave me a sense of nearness to them and kept them in my favorite, continual prayers for their spiritual and physical safety, and for them to have a God-honoring influence on their peers and leaders. I also packed notes for them to read – at least three a day. When Kristina went to China, I sent a chain with charms to add each day, each representing a prayer or scripture inspiration.
When Melissa Ann went to a government camp, I sent miniature jointed bears for her to open throughout the day. Each had a theme message or scripture. Left: George Washington, complete with a bottle that has a "Whiskey Rebellion" label.
At cheerleading camp, I sent cheerleader themed bears. It was a simple token to demonstrate my constant love and prayers for them while we’re apart.
We will be adding some of our ideas to “Warfare for our Children” and to Pinterest.
SWIMMING ~ SWIMMING LESSONS
May our children long for and take delight in Your Presence.
Saturate them with Your Love.
Saturate them with passion for You.
Saturate them with passion for Your Word.
Saturate them with passion for Your Wisdom.
Saturate them with passion for Your Will.
Saturate them with passion for the lost and hurting in Your World.
Saturate them with passion for holiness.
And saturate them with a passion for excellence
in everything they undertake to do.
How the years fly - Kristina and me in a pool filled with bubbles.
Matthew & Kristina's third child below.
STAR GAZING
“You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers –
the moon and the stars you set in place –
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?”
Psalm 8:2-4 NLT
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