A Prayer for Our Law Enforcement Officers

Y'all, the state of our nation right now is so very scary. 

Shooting after shooting of our brave law enforcement officers

in the past few weeks is truly horrific and heartbreaking.

It seems like it just get worse each day and turning on the news is terrifying and awful. 

With every new shooting I just keep praying more 

(Jesus, come quickly!)

and asking God to protect the brave men and women 

who put their lives on the line each and every single day for you and for me.  

I can't imagine the fear and anxiety that law enforcement officers (and their families)

 must feel as they walk out the door of their homes each day. 

Their job is already normally dangerous most of the time as it is-

 but now, they have to be on guard and worried 100% of the time
that the people they are trying to protect and serve
might actually be trying to harm them!

I decided to make a little printable to print out and keep with me to hand out

to any and every law enforcement officer that crosses my path. 

One side has a thank you note and one side has a prayer. 

 I want them to know how much I appreciate the job that they do 

and that I am praying fervently for them.

I printed them front and back and left a little spot at the bottom of one side 

to write a personal note and sign it. 

Please feel free to print your own and share with others. 

You can print out your own PDF copy HERE.

The folder includes a single copy if you want to print in full page
and one formatted for printing four per page front and back. 

To print four per page just select multiple and print 

front and back from your list of options. 

Let's bless our brave law enforcement officers and

 let them know we love and are praying for them!

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

Scripture Prayer Cards

I'm a HUGE  believer in the power of prayer. 

I think many people WANT to pray but 

sometimes we all struggle though with not that we should pray,

but WHAT specifically we should pray. 

So a few years ago I made some prayer cards. 

I made one set of things that I wanted to daily pray 

my daughter and another set of things

 I wanted to pray specifically for my husband. 

Each card includes a prayer and a scripture. 

I printed them out 4 per page, cut them out, 

laminated them and put them on a ring. 

I keep them in my purse and they are a great reminder 

to me to pray specifically for those I love the most.  

If I'm stuck in traffic or line somewhere I'll pull them out and quickly pray. 

I love having something specific to pray- rather than just a general prayer. 

I have given these cards to lots of friends as gifts 

and have so loved hearing how much they have loved and used them. 

One friend has her set for her husband in the shower 

(since her set is laminated) and 

prays for her husband every day while she showers. 

Such a smart use of time isn't it?

Another friend who I gave a set to for her son says 

them out loud to him while he eats breakfast each morning.  

He got so used to hearing them that he has memorized 

the prayers and one day she sent me a video 

of him saying some of the prayers himself! 

So precious and such a great reminder that little ears are ALWAYS listening.

I had the cards listed in my ETSY store but recently had to remove them 

because I just didn't have time for the printing, laminating, mailing 

parts of creating them for orders. 

But this weekend I've added them back- this time as instant downloads!

 As instant downloads you can purchase a set, print them out 

and keep them for yourself or give them as a gift! 

The great thing about a digital download

 is that you can print as many copies as you'd like!

So you buy once, and can print multiple copies!

All of the cards can be found HERE in my ETSY store.

The praying for your husband set comes in 3 different colors (navy, red, or green) and come 16 to a set. Each of the 16 cards has a prayer and a scripture reference and are great to keep in your purse and card as a reminder to pray often for you husband. They would be great to give at Christmas but also make a super sweet wedding or anniversary gift!

The praying for your daughter, son, children, or grand children come 14 to a set and can be printed 4 per page. Each of the 14 cards has a prayer and a scripture reference.and are great to keep in your purse and card as a reminder to pray often for you sweet children. They would be great to give at Christmas but also make a super sweet baby shower gift!

All the digital download sets have general names on them (son, daughter, children, grand children, husband) but if you'd like one with a specific name, just message me through ETSY and I'll be happy to personalize a download for you and create a custom order. 

From now through Dec. 15th, use the code
 MERRY15 for 15% off your ETSY order! 

Scarf Prayers

I love scarves. 

Like big puffy heart LOVE. 

And I have a few.

{Okay more than a few. A bunch more than a few. More than 50 but less than 100.}

My favorite season is winter when I get to wear my super cute scarves. 

As I was organizing them the other day I had a crazy idea. 

Since I wear one almost every day in the winter

I decided that each day I wore one, whoever God brought to mind

as I got dressed, is who I'd pray for all day long.

Every time I noticed or adjusted my scarf, 

{which is often}

I would pray specifically for them.

So I've been doing it the past two weeks

since it finally is cool/cold here in Texas

and I absolutely love it!

It is amazing how often I look down at my scarf or adjust it 

and each time I pray for that person. 

When I look at these pics I immediately think of the person
I prayed for while wearing that scarf.
I see...
a sweet friend who is battling aggressive, terminal cancer,
a sweet friend who is dealing with some yucky, scary work issues,
a sweet friend who is fighting for her marriage,
and a sweet friend who is having some serious family relationship troubles.

I believe strongly in the power of prayer and 

truly consider it an honor to pray for my family and friends. 

One of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:6-7 which says...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Maybe you aren't a scarf freak like me but maybe you love

bracelets or hats or big chunk necklaces. 

You could easily do the same thing with whatever you wear daily.
Anything that gets us praying more often for those around us?
Is awesome indeed! 

Praying for Rain

I was going to write a silly little post about something funny 

that happened today at school but y'all I just couldn't.  

My heart is just too heavy. 

If you live in Texas you know that it's been a hot and dry year.  

Seriously, I have lived in Texas all of my 41 years 

and never can I remember it being so hot 

{65+ days over 100 degrees} and so ridiculously dry. 

It hasn't rained seriously since the beginning of the year.  

Everything is brown and dead. 

Because it's so hot and so dry here in Texas there have been fires sprouting up all over the state.   There are so many that if you walk outside, you smell smoke. 

This past weekend because of the tropical storm in the gulf it was super windy.  
Super hot + super dry + super windy = fires.  
Fires that spread quickly and can't be contained.  
There was one about a mile from our house on 
Sunday but luckily it was quickly contained.  
There is one about an hour away in Bastrop, Texas 
however that is still 0% contained and is massive- 
24 miles by 20 miles. 
It has burned down over 600 homes and killed at least 2 people.  
Firefighters from all over the the country 
have flooded the area to help. 

I have friends who have had to pack up and leave their homes- 

not knowing if they'd be there when they returned.   

I have friends of friends whose homes burned in just moments.  

I just can't imagine y'all.  

I know the things in our houses are just things 

but it's just so horrible.  
{A few pics of the fire are here and here.}

So would you please pray with me for some rain here in Texas 

and specifically for the Bastrop fire? 

For those fighting the fire and for all those 

who have lost so much because of it.  

Dear Lord, please have mercy on us!

A Prayer for the First Day of School

{I did not write this and don't know who did.  

I found it a few years ago online and oh how I love it!}

Prayer for the First Day of School

Praying for Maggie Lee

My friend Jinny's daughter-Maggie Lee was on a church bus on their way to camp on Sunday morning from Shreveport, Louisiana when the bus had a blowout. The bus flipped three times killing one young man and injuring many others. Maggie Lee received head trauma and was flown to Jackson, Mississippi. She has serious head injuries and has had a lung collapse. She has fluid on her lungs, her heart has stopped once already, her brain is swelling, and she is not stable enough at this time to have the brain surgery she needs to save her life.

Please be in prayer for Maggie Lee and for her parents Jinny and John.

Please pray for their strength, hope, peace, and healing.

Our God CAN do amazing things.

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

Ephesians 6:13-18

(The Message)