Praying aloud with your spouse or family...

 When Gail and I were first married someone told us to pray aloud with each other at bedtime.  So we committed to doing this together.  It has been a wonderful discipline for us for many reasons.  By praying together we know what each other is concerned about and praying for.  Also, it has kept us at peace with each other.  We know we have to settle our differences before we go to bed.  We just can't pray together if we aren't at peace with one another! 

Gail and I also have prayed out loud for our children or grandchildren at bedtime. This is something we've done for years.  When we'd tuck our child in we'd pray for them and then our child would pray.  We've carried this over to our grandchildren.  It is a great way to end the day.  Sometimes the grandchild does not want to pray and that is alright too. 

A book I was recently reading said our prayers can really comfort the grandchildren and give them peace at bedtime. Praying aloud also sends a much-needed message that tells the grandchild, "You are loved and valuable." It also shows them that God loves them, knows them by name, and cares about their every need.

Aren't we so blessed to be able to speak to our Heavenly Father?  HE IS GOOD! 

Hang in there through the years.....teach the next generation.

 Yesterday was an encouraging day as we were back in the Limon area.  We had lived there for about thirty years some twenty years ago...so we'd lived there quite a while and we have been gone quite a while! It really was encouraging to go back.  We attended the church that we had been a part of for many years.  We had helped to build the church after the old one was destroyed by the tornado in 1990.  We'd taught there and been in leadership.  It was so good to go back and see our brothers and sisters in Christ still faithfully serving our Lord and Savior.  

Two specific people came up to me and thanked me for making a difference in their lives many years ago.  Wow!  What a blessing to know that I had made a difference in their lives.

Then we were able to go to a FCA banquet.  There they talked about the impact that those in the organization had made on other people through the years.  And the impact those currently serving through FCA are making on teachers and students now.  

The day really encouraged me.  It encouraged me to see the faithful still serving, to see that what we have previously done has made a difference in others' lives, and to see that it is still important that we keep serving God!

My morning devotion contained these verses that I thought were so adequate for this blog.

Psalm 71:17-19

7 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
    O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
    your power to all those to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God,
    reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
    O God, who is like you?