Praying Circles around Your Children, Week 2
The 2nd Circle
Making Prayer Lists
Last Thursday, we visited my in-laws at the Guire farm. A few of the kids and I hiked up to the top of farm to soak in the panoramic view of the pond, the fields and the homes the Guire children built. As I stomped in deep snow, smashing down tall grasses, I felt invigorated. Alive. God looked at his work and said, “It is good!”The work of Grandpa Guire boasting and evident before me, it is good..
The kids shared stories of past visits: hunting, hay-rides, climbing hay bales (and getting yelled at), flinging pears with a stick into the field, eating red blueberries before their time (the ones we do not speak of), Grandma’s camp Watermelon, campfires, sack races (which this Guire family definitely won), and the list goes on, memory after memory.
Every morning Grandma Guire prays in the farmhouse living room with her Bible, reading, reciting, interceding for her four grown children and their families- children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. Listing name after name, need after need. Her heritages of lists lives upon the earth-living breathing souls following in her footsteps. Her children pray, listing names and needs. Grandchildren pray. We rejoice in each other’s victories, mourn together over losses and lift each other to the mercy seat in trials and tribulations. My journal has scribbled prayers in the margins, lists, not only for my own children, but for my extended Guire family- because of the prayers of a mother- the original Mama Guire.
Our Father God has lists. He lists our names in the book of life (Revelation 3:5). He lists our doings, our works, our faith and our service.
I know your record and what you are doing, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your recent works are more numerous and greater than your first ones. – Revelation 2:19, Amplified
These habits are handed down from generation. Precious memories. Honest Faith. All the prayer lists Grandma Guire and my mother, Nanny Sally, keep my gift of ministry ablaze. What is that gift? The same gift we each have. The ministry of reconciliation -agreement. It starts with circling the Word, praying, listing, believing and acting.
That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. – II Timothy 1:5, The Message
How is your study going? What are some ways that you keep lists? Have you chosen a new way because of this chapter? How about your Mama or your Mother-in-law, have you had your faith handed down to you?
Don’t forget to check out Maria’s post! She has some great grains of wisdom to share!
Also, check out my friend and now fellow blogger Jessica @ redeemingthehome.com! She has an amazing story, watch it unfold with me!
*Photo by Ania Guire, genius-daughter