Archive for the Category »Prayer «

02
Feb
Three Free Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Valentine's love swansValentine’s Day is just two weeks away, and I’m on a hunt to find ways to show love. Like most people, our home economy is tight. Gift buying doesn’t fit into our budget at the moment, so expressions of love will have to be free.

Here’s some ways I’ve found to show sincere love—loving deeply from the heart (1 Peter 1:22).

Time

We live in a very fast paced culture. Many of us are workaholics. *scrunches face and looks guilty*

Giving the gift of your time to listen, laugh, and just “be” with someone is a gift that leaves warm memories in anyone’s mental scrapbook.

I remember wonderful afternoons of playing cards with my grandmother, fishing with my dad, hiking with my mom, and long, evening walks with my husband. These are the gifts of time I’ve received from people who have loved me and invested their time as a means to show that love.

Challenge: Purposefully set aside some time to do something special with someone you love. Make it cost effective by spending time, not money.

Thoughtfulness

It doesn’t cost much to show kindness to someone. It usually happens in the midst of doing something else— smile for a downcast face, a kind word shared with a friend, or a task completed for someone overwhelmed. Thoughtfulness = giving extra thought on how to best show kindness to an individual.

Challenge: Give the gift of thoughtfulness this Valentines Day.

Prayer

I know how special I feel when folks tell me they are praying specifically for me—especially when they share a Scripture promise that has inspired their prayer. How can you pray for someone in such a way that makes him or her feel loved and valued? Can you write your prayer on a card or send it by email? Can you put a prayer in a fortune cookie or in a bottle and give it to the person?

Challenge: Be creative and get prayin’!

Now it’s your turn: What is your favorite way to show love without spending money? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Susan Gaddis, Helping you build a spiritual legacy

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Category: Prayer, Seasons, Valentine's Day  Tags: , , , ,
01
Dec
Decorate Your Home With a Godly Heritage
window view at my Finnish home

Window view from our Finnish "home"

My home is decorated with a Godly heritage, and the decorating has taken years. I thought about this fact as I cradled my hot cup of coffee during a pause in my Christmas decorating.

Surveying the living room and kitchen from my perch on the couch, I noticed the hole in the vinyl floorcovering in front of the oven. The hole appeared about a week after the vinyl was put in when one of my sons dropped a hot skillet onto it. I’ve kept a kitchen throw rug over the hole in the years since the “christening.”  Today, the rug is in the laundry for a weekly cleaning. The laundry room floor, as well the hallway, is the original vinyl, over 27 years old. *sigh*

You’d think by now we would have replaced it all, but with the cost of raising six kids and other expenses that come with life, we haven’t. There. I’ve said it. My house reminds me of my grandmother’s–old, worn in places, and holding memories in each bump and bruise.

Luhtala home

The Luhtala home in Finland--our farmhouse "home"

This last summer we stayed in an old farmhouse while visiting Finland for our son Jonathan’s wedding. As soon as I walked in the door I felt the spiritual atmosphere of a godly heritage lived out in that home.

The small house stood empty now, but the memories smiled at me from the photos on the walls and the stash of knitted mittens in the mudroom. Loving family had lost a baby daughter and raised godly sons under a roof that kept the dark winters outside. Scrapbooks revealed a routine of worship services held in the main living area. Something else besides the physical memories lingered in that place–a sense of peace. The week we spent in that home remains one of my fondest memories of Finland.

Call me odd, but I’ve been an intercessor long enough to know that the physical realm is often influenced by the spiritual realm and visa versa. When a house has held prayer meetings, laughter, tears, and the daily living of honest Christian folk, there remains a sense of the Lord’s presence. You can feel it, and it wells up within your spirit connecting you with the kindred spirits who birthed the things of God in that house.

If you come to my home, you won’t find fancy decorating or the latest furniture styles. You’ll just find peace, people, and lots of books stacked next to each couch and comfy chair. Royal Rangers have graced my halls as well as many home groups and prayer meetings. Most of the children have been raised and the lessons taught and learned. Some of the dishes are chipped and the glasses don’t match, and that is how I like it. My house is almost done with its role in raising a godly heritage. I believe a little of our spiritual legacy has been deposited in this house for the next family who lives here. I hope they feel God here.

Are you decorating your home with a godly heritage? Are you leaving a spiritual legacy in the place where you live? Share your thoughts by clicking the green Leave a Comment link below.

(For more on this subject of creating a godly heritage in the place where you live, see my post “Is Your Home a Thin Place?“)

Susan Gaddis, Helping you build a spiritual legacy.

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Category: Daily, Prayer, raising kids, worship  Tags: , , , ,
24
Nov
What’s in Your Spiritual Scrapbook?
Three generations of women view photos

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Stirred from my sleep by a brightly colored dream, I managed to focus on the pictures running through my head. I knew the Lord was trying to answer my quiet prayer before bed, “How do you want me to pray for my child? What promise from Scripture do you want me to hold onto and pray during this time?”

I saw the wind of the Spirit blowing the pages of a photo album, turning each page slowly enough for me to grasp that they contained photos of all the answered prayers I had prayed in the past for this particular son. The colors in each photo were alive and radiant and I knew, as only you can in a dream, that I was to review and re-pray each promise for the current situation.

In the midst of this prayer adventure, the last part of Hebrews 10:23 jumped off the Scripture page at me. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (italics added).

I felt such relief. My faith wasn’t what was going to see these promises fulfilled—God’s faith would. He is full of faith (faithful), while I am often half empty in the faith department. My responsibility is simply to pray the promise of Scripture, and in the praying my faith increases. I’m not responsible to keep the promise—that’s the Lord’s job, not mine.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for a God who is full of faith and keeps his promises. I have a spiritual scrapbook to prove it.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with little opportunities to build a spiritual legacy with your family and friends.

To mimic a popular commercial, “What’s in your spiritual scrapbook?” (Really, I’d like to know. Share your remarks by clicking on the green “Comment” below.)

Susan Gaddis

Helping you build your spiritual legacy.

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06
Jul
Texas Governor Perry Declares a Day of Prayer Based on the Book of Joel

Hats off to the Texas Governor Rick Perry for declaring a day of prayer and fasting for our nation based on the Bible book of Joel. In May his official proclamation went out to all the citizens of Texas along with a letter to the other 49 state governors asking them to participate.

Since I am currently reading the book of Joel, this proclamation resonated within my spirit. The complete proclamation appears below, but you can also read it on the Governor’s website where it was posted on the 4th of July.

In 1775, the Continental Congress asked the colonies to join in prayer, seeking wisdom as they faced the responsibility and opportunity of building a new nation. As leaders of that young nation assembled in 1787 to craft a Constitution, Benjamin Franklin implored the framers to pray for guidance, famously declaring, “The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men.” Decades later, during a time of national turmoil, President John Adams declared “a day of solemn humiliation, fasting and prayer,” asking citizens of all faiths to pray for America’s protection from danger. Later, as civil war tore our young country apart, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a day of national fasting and prayer, saying “It behooves us … to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray to the God that made us.” During World War II, with our troops locked in battle on the beaches of France, President Franklin D. Roosevelt led the nation in prayer, “As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.”

Given the trials that have beset our country and world – from the global economic downturn to natural disasters, the lingering danger of terrorism and wars that endanger our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and theaters of conflict around the globe, and the decline of our culture in the context of the demise of families – it seems imperative that the people of our nation should once again join together for a solemn day of prayer and fasting on behalf of our troubled nation.

In times of trouble, even those who have been granted power by the people must turn to God in humility for wisdom, mercy and direction. In the spirit of the Book of Joel, Chapter 2, Verses 15-16, I urge a solemn gathering of prayer and fasting. As those verses admonish: “15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly… 16 Gather the people, consecrate the assembly…” As Jesus prayed publicly for the benefit of others in John 11:41-42, so should we express our faith in this way.

THEREFORE, I invite my fellow Texans to join me on August 6 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, as we pray for unity and righteousness – for this great state, this great nation and all mankind. I urge Americans of faith to pray on that day for the healing of our country, the rebuilding of our communities and the restoration of enduring values as our guiding force.

THEREFORE, I, Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, do hereby proclaim August 6, 2011, to be

A Day of Prayer and Fasting for Our Nation

in Texas, and urge the appropriate recognition whereof.

In official recognition whereof, I hereby affix my signature this the 23rd day of May, 2011.

RICK PERRY
 Governor of Texas

I don’t know if our California Governor Brown will participate in this day of prayer, but I’m encouraging those with whom I associate to put a little holy in their day by setting aside time on August 6 for prayer and fasting. If you can arrange a time to meet with others and pray as part of that day’s activities, all the better. I’m also calling our Father’s House intercessors to a day of fasting and prayer on August 6th. Mark your calendar and join with Texas in praying for our nation.

What are your thoughts concerning Governor Perry’s perspective on the need for prayer and fasting? What do you plan to do about it?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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10
Jun
My Prayer For You

June is a time of good-byes and launching our kids into their future, often in graduation or wedding ceremonies.  This prayer from the Northumbria Community is one of my favorites. It appears in their book Celtic Daily Prayer. I hope it touches your heart as it has mine.

My Prayer For You

May the Father of Life pour out His grace on you; may you feel His hand in everything you do and be strengthened by the things He brings you through: this is my prayer for you.

May the Son of God be Lord in all your ways; may He shepherd you the length of all your days, and in your heart may He receive the praise: this is my prayer for you.

And despite how simple it may sound, I pray that His grace will abound and motivate everything you do; and may the fullness of His love be shared through you.

May His Spirit comfort you, and make you strong, may He discipline you gently when you’re wrong, and in your heart may He give you a song: this is my prayer for you.

May Jesus be Lord in all your ways, may He shepherd you the length of all your days, and in your heart may He receive the praise: this is my prayer for you, my prayer for you.

Do you have a prayer that fits the launching of a graduate or wedding couple? I’d love to have you share it in the comment section below.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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01
Jun
Celtic Prayer of Safety

Life can be scary. Earthquakes, uprisings, war, famine, economic uncertainty, and just living with people who are as dysfunctional as I am, causes me to realize that our world is unsafe and unsure. I remind myself each morning and before bed of God’s protection. St. Brigid’s prayer is one of my favorites. It is also an easy prayer for your children to memorize.

Each day and each night that I place myself under his keeping,

I shall not be forgotten.

I shall not be destroyed.

I shall not be imprisoned.

I shall not be harassed by evil powers.

Do you have a simple prayer that comes easily to mind as you begin or end your day? Please share it with us in the comment section below.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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16
May
The Celtic California Adventure Begins!

This week I am honored to have Liz Babbs staying with me as she begins her Celtic California Adventure. Liz is the author of Celtic Treasure and many other books–Celtic oriented and otherwise. Having her camp out in my guest room provides the perfect opportunity for me to pick her brain about all things related to Celtic Christianity. (If you hang around this blog long enough, you’ll discover that Celtic Christianity is one of my hot topics.)

Liz lives across the pond in Nottingham, England and has traveled to our green hills to share her internationally acclaimed Bible Alive presentation with us on Thursday evening and some of her Celtic Treasure wisdom at our Ceilidh on Friday night. Then she heads over to Fresno to engage the valley folks with more of the same over the weekend. You can catch all the details on our Celtic California website.

If you are new to Celtic Christianity, my post on Exploring the Paths of Celtic Christianity provides an introduction to one of the most important segments of Christian history. The Celtic saints of old have helped shape and mold my spiritual journey and continue to impact my walk with Jesus. “A saint is one who exaggerates what the world neglects,” said G. K. Chesterton. In her book, Celtic Treasure, Liz shares this prayer in the spirit of St. Aidan (died AD 651):

Leave me alone with God as much as may be.

As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore,

Make me an island, set apart,

alone with you, God, holy to you.

Then with the turning of the tide

prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond,

the world that rushes in on me

till the waters come again and fold me back to you.

If you live on the Central Coast of California or in the Central Valley, we’d love to have you join Liz at Father’s House in Atascadero this Thursday and Friday evenings, or meet us in Fresno at the Neighborhood Thrift Store Lounge on Saturday and at University Vineyard Church on Sunday. Her books will be available at all events. Event times, maps, and details are available here.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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06
May
A Different Mother’s Day Post

This is a different Mother’s Day post. I wanted to honor those mothers who have lost children. This short video esteems life and the parents who make hard choices to love their children even if they know they will only have them for a short time. These mothers don’t have little hands to give them cards on Mother’s Day, but they have little hearts awaiting them in Heaven. I know–I’m one of them.

I hope this video puts this special day into perspective for you, and gives you a greater appreciation for the blessings God has given you.

(If you received this post via RSS or email and cannot view the clip, please visit my Holy in the Daily blog to view it–but grab the Kleenex first.)

Thoughts, comments, remarks? How did this clip impact you?

God bless you, and call your mother. She’d love to hear from you.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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Category: Eternity Future, grief, Holidays, praying for your kids, raising kids  Tags: , , , , , ,
02
May
Why I’ll Skip the Celtic Method of Cataract Healing

Last January I learned I had cataracts, and within a few months I would need to have surgery to remove them. Well that time is finally here. I’ll be experiencing a healing journey for some weeks as first one eye is operated on and then the other. In preparation, I looked through my resources to see if there was a Celtic prayer for the healing of cataracts. Sure enough, I found one—though it wasn’t what I expected.

This story is from the Carmina Gadelica, a collection of Celtic prayers, poems, and songs gathered by Alexander Carmichael between 1855 and 1910. The woman in this story suffered from cataracts and found water from special healing springs to be useful in relieving her suffering. Here is her story in her own words:

I take the basin of water home, and three green blades of grass of the plain, and I put a piece of gold or a silver coin in the basin of water, and I dip blade after blade in the basin of water, and pray to God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit, for guidance and compassion.

And I dip a blade of grass in the basin of water and draw the blade softly and gently across the cataract on the eyeball in the name of Father. And I dip a blade of grass in the basin of water and draw the blade softly across the cataract on the eyeball in the name of Son. And I dip a blade of grass in the basin of water and draw the blade softly and gently across the cataract on the eyeball in the name of Spirit.

And I ask the everlasting Trinity of life to grant me my prayer if it be Their own will so to do and if the asking be in accord with Their mind.

Her faith is remarkable, but personally, I thankful I live in more modern times and have the benefit of a specialist. Laser surgery and multifocal lenses sound like a miracle to me! I’ll let you know how my healing journey goes.

Have you or someone you know suffered with cataracts? I’d love to hear the story.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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27
Apr
Learning Trust from Columba’s Celtic Prayer

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com

Restful trust in God’s plans, purposes, and guidance is not always easy. Life doesn’t always turn out the way we expect, and circumstances can change with little warning. Learning to trust holds challenges not anticipated when the path before us seems clear. It is during the tough times that trust in God takes on substance.

Ancient stories tell of Columba being exiled from Ireland after a battle fought on his behalf where many were killed. Vowing to win numerous lives for Christ, he sailed for Scotland in 563 and settled on the small island of Iona. There he founded a movement that would give birth to the evangelism of Europe. The following is one of his prayers.

Alone with none but Thee, my God,

I journeyed on my way:

What need I fear, when Thou art near

O King of night and day?

More safe am I within Thy hand

Than if a host did round me stand.

The child of God can fear no ill,

His chosen dread no foe:

We leave our fate to Thee, and wait

Thy bidding when to go.

‘Tis not from chance our comfort springs,

Thou art our trust, O King of kings.

-Columba

Where are you in your trust of God? What has caused you to grow the most in this aspect of your journey with Jesus?

In Him together, Susan Gaddis

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