The 5 Finger Prayer

You know those e-mails.

I get them all the time. Lay a guilt trip on me to forward to everyone I know. Every once in a while I get one that is SO GOOD I feel like I MUST SHARE. This is one of them.

This is so neat! I had never heard this before - and it is surely worth making the 5 finger prayer a part of our lives.

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a 'sweet duty.'

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, 'The least shall be the greatest among you.' Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Icy Days

Like everyone else in NW Arkansas, we have been iced in for the past two days. We are VERY fortunate, because we still have power! The lights have flickered several times and we hold our breath every time, but our electricity is still hanging in there. We've kept the fireplace roaring, so it's been warm and toasty inside, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the time off.
I love going outside when it snows (or ices, like it has this time) and "listening" to the stillness. It is so awesome to me that you can hear the flakes falling and everything is so clean and beautiful. Here are a few pictures I took yesterday. This is looking out our Living Room window.

You can't see them real well here, but there were three or four little birds on the hay bales. I think they were trying to make a nest to stay warm! I've been nagging Larry to get them off the porch since the day after Thanksgiving. Now he feels justified "because the birds needed it".
Whatever.

These pictures (below) are looking out the kitchen window. We do have a few limbs down now, but we are feeling very fortunate that it doesn't look anything like Springdale and Fayetteville. They have some serious storm damage there.

Hope you are staying warm and toasty!

The Meaning of the Candy Cane

My Mom and I went to a Christmas "Mugs and Muffins" at church and they had this as a party favor for everyone. I have not seen this message before, so I wanted to share it with you!

The Meaning of the Candy Cane

Hard Candy

Reminds us that Jesus is like a "rock", strong and dependable

Read Psalm 31:3

Peppermint Flavor

Is like the gift of spices from the wisemen.

Read Matthew 2:11

White Candy

Stands for Jesus as the holy, sinless Son of God.

Read John 1:7

Cane

Is like a staff used by shepherds caring for sheep. Jesus is our "Good Shepherd"

Read John 10:1-18, 27-30

The Letter "J"

Is for the name of Jesus, our Savior.

Read Matthew 1:21

The Color Red

Is for God's love that sent Jesus, and Jesus' love in giving His life for us on the cross.

Read John 3:16 and Revelation 1:5

The Stripes

Remind us of Jesus' suffering-His crown of thorns, the wounds in His hands and feet, and the cross on which he died.

Read John 19:1-30

I hope you get a Blessing out of this! Merry Christmas!!

A new blog to read

One of the blogs I really enjoy reading is Kelly, from Kelly's Korner. She has started a wonderful new Prayer blog for ladies that are waiting for God to bless them with either a Soul Mate, or a child. We all know the power of prayer is AWESOME! If you have a chance, please stop by "Dwelling in the Land" and say a prayer for these ladies as they seek God's plan for their lives. I have added it to my bloglist, click on the link over there!

I want to share just a little bit about why I think this is important. It is easy to get caught up in our own lives, I know I do. There are many women around us that are secretly hurting - longing for someone to spend their forever with. I feel very Blessed to have a Husband that loves me - and all that comes with that! We longed for children, but that was not to be. I can tell you that I know what it is like to sit in the hospital waiting room, ready to welcome your family and friends children and wonder why you will never experience that joy. It is hard to smile, and hold back the tears, when you can't explain the sorrow (and Jealousy) you are feeling in your heart as you hold that beautiful child. Mother's day is another struggle, especially since the Sunday service usually has a baby dedication. Just another painful reminder that you are not any one's Mommy.

So Prayer Warriors, get on your knees! Let's support these ladies and lift them up in prayer. God will provide!
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

A thought for today...

From BibleGateway.com

Romans 13 (New International Version)

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Romans 13
Submission to the Authorities

1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love, for the Day is Near

8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"[a] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.[c]



Footnotes:
Romans 13:9 Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deut. 5:17-19,21
Romans 13:9 Lev. 19:18
Romans 13:14 Or the flesh