Sunday, September 28, 2008

Mother of a Prodigal

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

3 John 1:4

WomanPraying2008I realize that John is speaking of “spiritual children” in this verse of scripture; however, I have made it personal to me as a mother whose desire is to see her children walk in truth.

I’ve posted this short verse on the closet door in my study/office/computer room. It is prominently displayed and catches my eye the moment I sit down or walk by. It’s a reminder (as if I needed one) to pray for my children, ALL my children (those in our church family, other ministry friends children, but especially for the ones I physically birthed).

How blessed you are if your children are walking in truth. You should THANK God continually!

Satan knows the heartaches he causes parents when he “thinks” he has drawn a pastors or ministers child, or one of our church family’s kids away from the truth. He is attacking our children every day no matter what their age. He goes for the “jugular”... he knows how precious our children are to us. He means to draw blood... He means to hurt, kill, and destroy. But MY FAITH is in God’s WORD!

But I have NEWS for him... and I’m not being “smug” either... because I know that anyone of us can falter at any moment... after all, we are still in this degenerate WORLD and we still wear this fleshly robe. I am CLAIMING my children, my grandchildren, my church children, my friend’s children in the Name of JESUS!

I remember once hearing Sister Nona Freeman speaking at a Ladies Retreat in western Maryland... she was telling us about how she prayed for her lost children... YEARS of prayer... telling us “DON’T STOP, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY”. I have the tape...still. It never leaves my mind. I can hear her words to this day... and that is approximately 18 years ago.

Don’t stop, Mom and Dad, keep praying. There is HOPE in their returning. The Word of God gives us that!

One Mother’s Day Sunday, I spoke on God-appointed Mothers in the Bible and the challenges they faced, including our mother of origin, Eve.

I also read the following:

Mother of a Prodigal

Where is the mother of the prodigal son
On that day so long ago?
What were her thoughts
And what were her fears
As she watched him turn to go?


How many times in the dark of night
Did the tears slide down her face?
Did she get out of bed
And fall on her knees,
Just to pray that her boy was safe?


How were the days when she did not know
Was he alive? Was he warm? Was he well?
Who were his friends?
And where did he sleep?
Was there anyone there she could tell?


JourneyRoadBut, oh, on that day when she looked down the road
As she had looked since her son went away,
Did love unspeakable flood her soul?
Did she cry?
What did she say?


I think when the father had welcomed their son
And the boy had greeted his brother,
That the servants made a path
For him to enter the door
And the waiting arms of his mother.

I don't know who wrote this, but they surely had a mother’s heart.

I WILL NOT lose the vision of seeing my prodigals coming down the road to home. I still have HOPE and belief that TRUTH will prevail.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray,
and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Ps 55:17

I know that some of my children may read this... please remember I love you very much and pray for you continually!

Friday, September 26, 2008

Will our economy Collapse?

World Network of Prayer

September 26, 2008

Dear Friend and Prayer Partner.
    I am sending you information I received in a letter from Pastor Ken Wilde, head of the National Center in Washington, DC. He is onsite with a prayer team as you receive this letter.
    Yesterday he met with a Senator who is on the Senate Banking Committee. That senior Senator proceeded to inform him of the details of the crisis that we are now in and its ramifications. He informed us that last Thursday we were hours away from a total collapse in our economy! 


Ken Wilde goes on to say:
It was barely averted by taking some steps to bolster the mutual fund accounts. This Senator has been in coordination with his committee and with the Treasury Secretary, the Federal Reserve President, and with the President in attempting to come up with a plan that will bring our economy back to solvency. This is a serious and major concern because it affects all of us.
I think that this is no less a threat than the attack by terrorists on September 11, 2001. Once again it is time for Christians and Americans to humble themselves and pray to the one true God that we would hear from heaven and He would heal our land. I felt the Lord speak to me that it is time to call for Sacred Assemblies to be held across the nation and that we in concerted effort cry out to God in humility and repentance to heal our land. We may not be a nation that is known for setting up idols of wood or stone, but perhaps, we as a nation have been guilty of worshipping the idol of materialism and greed. I do know this, if we repent, God will relent!


Perhaps we need to heed the words Benjamin Franklin spoken during Constitutional Convention he spoke these words: I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?"
We are now at a moment in time at which we, and our leaders, must devote ourselves to a time of prayer and repentance and acknowledgment that we surely cannot survive unless God himself intervenes.


With the multiple crises facing our nation it appears that a "Perfect Storm" of spiritual darkness is brewing in the atmosphere of our country.
If you take even a brief look at the various events in today's headlines you begin to see that we are on the brink of a "perfect storm" of darkness. The recent terrible hurricanes earlier this fall that ravaged the gulf coast give us a glimpse in the natural of the raw destructive power of storms. It was declared on many newscasts by reporters and governmental officials that our gulf coast infrastructure cannot take much more of this! We must gather our spiritual meteorologists, reporters, aid workers, appointed officials, and financial resources and prepare to push back, offer aid, and strengthen the spiritual infrastructure to withstand the chaos that threatens to swirl around us. One glance at today's headlines gives us a glimpse at our national stormy spiritual weather forecast. Probably foremost on our minds is the economic storm that threatens to engulf us!


This is not a Republican storm, nor a Democratic storm! This is an American storm!
Regardless of where you stand politically, I am certain of where you stand spiritually! America has been the largest mission sending, humanitarian providing nation that has ever existed! Do you think that the Kingdom of Darkness will sit idly by and not try to hinder? If evil can stop us from continuing to send missionaries, and stand for freedom and justice, then all the good that our nation has done spiritually and economically for the past 200 hundred years ceases! If Satan can deplete our resources, perhaps he feels he can diminish our destiny! When our president states that "Our entire economy is in danger" that brings a dark cloud over missions financing and evangelism.


THERE IS MORE AT STAKE THAN JUST THE ECONOMY!
What does it mean when the cumulative headlines scream at us and our enemies pronounce our end! The ardent Muslim president of Iran, Ahmadinejad, declared a few days ago at a United Nations speech right here in our nation that allows the "freedom of speech" (while Christians are persecuted for speaking up for Jesus in his nation!), that the 'American empire is reaching the end of the road'! I pray that his bitter words not be fulfilled! The European Union warns us that Iran is nearing the ability to arm a nuclear weapon. North Korea removed the seals from its nuclear plant and chased out the inspectors stating that it was restarting its atomic program. Russia arrived with its Navy in Venezuela for exercises today! I am not trying to be political! I am trying to be practical!


You have never heard me speak like this, but please don't tune me out! I am not trying to become an "Endtimes Fanatic"! These are all real headlines! This appears to be a Satanic "Perfect Storm" of events! It's not about whether America has always done everything right, we haven't. It's time to repent for our nation, and the spirit of greed and pride that seems to have brought us to the brink of calamity!
There is no doubt that we are in perilous times. There is more at stake than your mortgage or retirement!


There are eternal consequences to this moment in history!
During these difficult times I have been comforted with a scripture out of Psalms:
"I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the lovingkindness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart be strong. Yes, wait for the Lord". (Psalm 27:13-14, NLV)


Today, I (Pastor Ken Wilde), with the National Prayer Center is meeting with more Senators and Congressmen. Not to politic, but to pray! Not to decide who was right and who was wrong, but to ask for God's mercy. Would you please pray that God will give them favor? And that the leaders that they meet with would have the courage to call for a time of prayer and repentance. That they would have the wisdom of Solomon and that many would join them in humility before God. He is the only one that can help in times like these.


These are critical times-the time to pray is now. Please join us in prayer and invite your friends and church to a season of prayer until we see breakthrough for our nation. This is about more than banks, and stock markets, this is about darkness against light. The only answer is to seek God and His wisdom.


Here are some Prayer Points:
1. Pray for a spirit of humility and repentance among our leaders.
2. Pray for an answer to this economic crisis.
3. Pray for favor for Pastor Ken Wilde and others when meeting with Congressional leaders.
4. Pray that Congressional leaders would heed the call for prayer at this moment.
5. Pray that Christians would understand the signs of the times activate prayer at a new level.
6. Pray for wisdom for our President, Congressional Leaders, and Financial Leaders.
7. Pray that God would hear our prayers and heal our land as we humble ourselves in repentance before Him.
Please feel free to forward this to anyone you feel would benefit from it and would be interested in praying.

Thank you for your concern and prayers.
Thetus Tenney
International Coordinator
World Network of Prayer

 

Monday, September 22, 2008

Missouri Visit - Osage Beach/Camdenton

We left Tuesday the 9th for a visit with Bud's brother, Fred and family.  We had a wonderful visit filled with the presence of the Lord. 

Here are a few photos:

P1010068 Bud's younger brother Fred during a moment of contemplative conversation.  Fred has cancer and has started another round of Chemo without radiation this time.

 

 

 

 

P1010018

"A kitchen moment"

All the Childers men are excellent cooks!!!!

Scott is in the middle.  He was having a good time with company.  Judy (sister-in-law) is observing. 

When Bud cooks, I don't mind being the observer!!!  As my mom says, he always comes up with something GOOD!

P1010023

Brynne had to smother GREAT Aunt Pam with kisses.  She was my little buddy while we were there. 

P1010060 She took about a 40 minute nap on my lap one afternoon.  I decided to join her. 

 

 

 

P1010070 Brynne and Kaylee.  I had to get a photo of both with me before we left.  Kaylee is a busy little girl.

Grandpa Fred and Grandma Judy are enjoying living near the girls.  I envy them!  I miss my grandkids so much!

 

 

 

P1010067 Robin(Fred & Judy's Daughter) and Craig with their girls.  We enjoyed visiting with them.  Robin grilled a pork loin one night that was delicious! 

 

 

 

 

P1010047

Bud and Scott enjoying a quiet moment together at the State Park on the lake.

We had taken Scott for a ride while Fred & Judy were at Fred's medical appointment. 

Stopped for a milkshake and hamburger at Sonic's. 

 

 

P1010040

We stayed at the beautiful Tan-Tar-A Resort on the lake where Craig and Robin work.  Thanks to them we stayed at no expense to us.  This was a blessing!  Thank You, Craig and Robin!

 

 

The Entrance to the resort with a beautiful winding drive to the main entrance. 

P1010052

P1010042

 

 

 

 

 

We stopped by on the way back home and visited with our middle son.  I have more photos to post of our visit there next time.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

August 2008- SlideShow

My puny GRIPE for today...

Question: Has anyone visited their Books A Million store recently? Were all the coffee tables removed?

In our city the BAM store has removed them. I didn't get a chance bamm-logo-cardto find out if this was a permanent removal. So, now BAM is becoming "browser unfriendly" again. Hubby and I never used to shop BAM stores because there weren't any chairs except around the coffee shop area to sit with your coffee and check out your chosen stack of books and magazines and decide which ones you were going to purchase. So, we frequented Barnes & Noble only. Then Barnes & Noble removed their chairs and most of their tables. So, we quit going there as BAM had put in comfortable chairs and coffee tables in front of the chairs... So, now what's up?????

We walked into our local store today (hubby needed to get out of the house after almost 10-days of hibernation due to illness) and went back to obtain seats in our favorite section of the store... and to our dismay there weren't any tables to set our books and coffee on. Needless to say, we didn't buy coffee and within 15 minutes we had left the store without buying anything. Now I won't tell you how much of our money we left in BAM during the past month... but I'm secure in saying it was worth the price of a coffee table! We won't be back if they become "browser unfriendly" again. Really they need to keep the "regulars" as we do SPEND money there. But we are getting a brand new larger Barnes & Noble... so, unless it's unfriendly too, BAM beware! We won't be back for a looooooong time!

Anyone else run into this? Want to complain? Call 1-800-876-4510 M-F