Day 209

This morning I am up early, alone with my thoughts.  I love mornings or late nights where I can get up, spend time praying/reading the Bible and just listening to silence.  It is so peaceful.

This morning, my prayers are scattered.  I usually write out a list for days like today, with people's names on it.  Praying for them as I go.  I'll leave names off today, since this is the internet.  But I have a friend who hasn't been feeling well in a far off  land.  Another friend who lost a loved one recently, and more importantly, her brother lost his wife suddenly at the age of 30 and is left with 2 tiny ones to raise without a mom.  I can't imagine what he is going through, or what the children will go through in life, but I know God has them all in his hands and somehow they will live to tell about it.  I have a friend who has several concerns for her family members on her heart. There is a young boy (12 I think) in our church that recently was diagnosed with Leukemia, that is affecting his parents, of course.  But they are a beloved family in the church with lots of close friends and relatives and it is affecting the entire church community.  There is another couple, that we're getting to know with adult(ish) children who are facing life changing events.  One is engaged and about to finish college, the other is in a serious relationship and also in college.  I have a couple people close to me that struggle with addiction issues that affect their personal lives and ability to function.  I have a friend who is in a church that she has suffered a lot of hurt from.  It is an unhealthy church and I pray for the people there because of this.  I have a friend whose son struggles with depression and addiction, so much that he quit school and moved back home.  I have another friend who is a single mom raising teen age boys.   These people are on my heart and in my prayers lately.  Not to mention my sister who is about to move, her husband who recently started a new job.  My nephew who is about to finish college this December and is looking for a job.  Another nephew in a serious relationship. My brother and his family (3 teenagers, 2 boys, 1 girl.  Need I say more?:))  My parents and things that they have going on in their life.

Then there is Chad, Nicky, and Chandler.  Nicky, who is about to undergo a life change by moving back in with her parents after not living with us for 1 1/2 years and is taking a semester off from college.  Chandler who is having to step up his academic chops at 15 to be in an AP History class and Accelerated classes in school, plus he works occasionally for a caterer, is in youth group, was in football, is about to try out for Basketball, needs to start drivers ed, and did I mention he is 15?  So, he's go the whole 15 year old boy - wants to be and is becoming but not quiet a man thing going on, with a dash of girl crazy added to it for flavor.

This list of people who I love and care about and think of often and pray for are all on my heart as I sit here this morning with God.  I'm so glad that I don't have to carry this as a weight of burden, but as a special offering to God.  I feel like one of the things that is my "shape" (see blog below) is being able to help others by praying for them.  I pray constantly for the ones that have crossed my paths, sometimes they are close friends and family, sometimes they are new people, sometimes they are people I will never see again.  But the thing they have in common, I know God cares for them and their every need.  He is watching out for them and I pray for their immediate needs, and I pray for them to see His hand at work in their lives and the lives of the ones they love.

That is my heart.