National Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 7

My outlook calendar reminded me to jet to the county office during lunch time, to gather at the entrance and pray. Maranatha's Evelyn and Tony ministered in music and we all sang "God Bless a America"; it felt great to sing out loud, for the Lord in such a public arena. There was quite a number of people who gathere, many taking time from lunch to take part. Maranatha's own Pastor Rich Webb and Pastor Jeremy, led the prayers. I was so glad that I came. I literally had a 2o minute drive to get there, but staying only 20 minutes was worth it. So much took place in that time. We prayed as a collective body, for the nation, our President, the pastors in this community, and the military. We broke into small groups to pray for specific personal needs. I shared my need to be organized at home - I know what needs to be done, but struggle with time to do it. There is so much I would like to do, but it seems far out of reach. Jennifer Ford, a sister at Marantha was in our group, along with her parents. She offered a lot of encouragement to me and we exchanged numbers afterwards.

It was like a flash family reuninon - shook hands with my former Pastor Jim, and embraced my brother who was there filming. Surprise! Surprise! There a few other church members I got to give quick hugs to before returning to work.

I felt such a peace out there. I returned to the office like a super charged energizer bunny.

We closed as a collective body, unashamed to bow our heads in front of a government office and give honor and glory to Jesus.

A specific prayer was offered...

Reverend Joe Wright was believed to have created this prayer, originally delivered by Bob Russell. In 1996 Rev. Wright offended a handful when he addressed the Kansas House of Representatives with it. The truth will undeniably do just that.

“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and seek your direction and guidance. We know your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that's exactly what we've done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values.”

“We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of your Word and called it moral pluralism. We have worshipped other gods and called it multi-culturalism. We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building esteem. We have abused power and called it political savvy. We have coveted our neighbors' possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our fore-fathers and called it enlightenment.”

“Search us O God and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas, and who have been ordained by you, to govern this great state. Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the name of your son, the living savior, Jesus Christ.”

Amen.

Zumba - Yeah Baby!

I woke up to a sea of disarray. I was determined not to touch it, or be consumed by it. BJ was with a friend until the evening, and the boys, well, they were going to spend the day with Ma and Pa. This was Mother's Day weekend and I had to train myself to not try and clean. BJ would help once he arrived home, and the little guys would do their part too.

I finally had the opportunity to attend Zumba at the Higher Ground Performing Arts studio. My friend Andrea has been raving about the class. I anticipated it. I loved it. I cannot describe the amount the of sweat that dripped from every pore in my body, only 15 minutes into the class. Our Latino dance instructor was creative and tough. The Afro Cuban beats, the salsa, reggae tone was nastalgic for me. We grew up dancing the night away with my parents. The Haitian music was at the forefront, as well; the style was quite similar. Our instructor asked me my name and if I danced. I told her how much I liked to dance. In fact, it has been quite a while since I danced. My high school days, to be exact. I was so excited at an opportunity to do something I enjoy and not feel like I was formally exercising. There were times I felt like laying out - prostrate on the floor. There were times when I just wanted to stand there and say "are you kidding me." I wanted to say no, but inside I kept saying yes, yes! The more I looked at my thighs, the more I kept moving and praising God that the day is going to come when they will disappear, and only muscle will remain. Yee Haw, or Hallelujah!

And guess what? On Thursdays they do the Total Body Blast. Does that not sound like an incentive to go to class? It sounds like video game laser surgery - love it. This class will mostly involve floor work - we can speak to those abs to come forth, and break through the fat, or blast through. Huh...huh.. I had so much energy, which truly defies the myth that exercise will make you tired. Quite the contrary.

I made it a point to tell the instructor: "I'LL BE BACK!"

I'm ready. Really I am. I want to get back in shape again. I have such a great responsibility with my boys, and with much I know the Lord has called me to do, for Him. I need the energy to be the mom with the "third arm." Someone prophesied that over me recently- He would grow me a (supernatural) third arm that would allow me to get the job done (of course He's doing it). I say "Lord, wears my third arm?" I need it!