Praying for Your Children and Grandchildren

Years ago, I was given a list of praying guidelines that has been a blessing to me and I would like to share it with you: 

Pray that your children will fear the Lord and serve Him.  Deuteronomy 6:13

Pray that your children will know Christ as Savior early in life.  Psalm 63:1

Pray that your children will hate sin. 
Psalm 97:10

Pray that your children’s lives will bear the fruit of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-23

Pray that your children will respect those in authority over them.  Romans 13:11

Pray that your children will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one. 
2 Corinthians 6:14

Pray that your children and their prospective mates will be kept pure until marriage.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Pray that your children will learn to submit totally to God and actively resist Satan in all circumstances.  James 4:7

Pray that your children will desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong kind. Proverbs 1:10, 15

Pray that your children will be hedged in so they cannot find their way to wrong people or wrong places, and the wrong people cannot find their way to your children.  Hosea 2: 6-7

Pray that your children will be caught when they’re guilty.  Psalm 119:71

Pray that your children will have quick, repentant hearts.  Psalm 51:1-3

Pray that your children will honor their parents so all will go well with them.  Ephesians 6:1-2

Pray that your children will have a responsible attitude in all their interpersonal relationships. Daniel 6:3

Pray that your children will be teachable and able to take correction.  Isaiah 54:13,
Proverbs 13:1

Pray that your children will live by the spirit and not gratify the flesh.  Galatians 5:16

Pray that your children will trust in the Lord for the direction of their lives, including their occupation.  Proverbs 3:56

This prayer list originally came from The Stay-at-Home Mom, by Donna Otto. 
Artwork is by Frederick Morgan (1847 - 1927)

Three Weddings and a Funeral

How is your summer going?  Down here in the deep south, it’s been hot, and the mosquitos swimming by is an indication of the humidity levels!  Thankfully, we recently have gotten lots of rain showers which has helped keep the temps down for a few days. 

As for the funeral, our dear uncle on my husband’s side passed away.  We’re missing him.  His jolly way, big smile, and easy laughter are always my first thoughts as I think of him.

Now to the good news!

We had three weddings to celebrate this June! 

I didn’t get many pictures of the first one, but the ceremony was traditional until the bride and groom walked down the aisle as husband and wife to the Star Wars Theme - quite amusing!  

The second wedding had a fifties theme and the creativity was spectacular!  The church filled quickly and when seating was full, crowds lined the walls on both sides!  

The drive to the lodge for the reception was equally packed!  Inside and out were lots of people and so much excitement hung in the air.  

The detailed touches made me feel like I had stepped into a wedding scene in a old southern movie, even down to the classic coke bottles with paper striped straws which my oldest gal is enjoying in this picture.

 Such fun!

The last wedding in June belonged to my daughter’s dear friend that is like a sister to her, and a daughter to me.  Our families are close, and we have watched our children grow up together over the years.   My daughter was a bridesmaid, and there was much excitement and lots of activities.

Making decorations for the wedding reception

(these turned out pretty hanging from the ceiling),

the girls taking a road trip to shop for bridesmaids dresses, coming out empty handed, then finding something online as they refueled at McDonalds before the long drive home,

my daughter and I on a quest for the perfect shoes to go with her dress (Incidentally, nothing brings bigger smiles to her sweet face than to take her shoe shopping!),

the bridal shower,

the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner,

 

the girls meeting for lunch and getting their nails done before the big day. . . all were happy memories in the making! 

The day arrived in no time, and

getting all prettified in a Sunday School room, lunch in the room next door,

the bouquets arriving,

final adjustments to her gown which originally belonged to her devoted mother, excited voices humming. . .more memories. . . it was all so wonderful!  And then,

the bride and her dad, walked arm and arm in this beautiful moment.  A dad that will one day hear “Well done my good and faithful servant” for being an amazing father, raising precious daughters in the Lord, along with his beloved wife.

He gave her away and then he got to perform the wedding ceremony as her pastor.

The groom choked back tears of joy as he saw his beautiful bride walk down the aisle.

This was their first kiss not only as husband and wife, but their first kiss ever!

These two have had eyes for each other since they were eleven, and this day was exceptional in so many ways!

^“Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

Psalm 37: 4-5

And He did!