Light of the World

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 NKJV

For many years I did not follow Jesus, even though I believed He was the Son of God, I did not follow Him. And I always had a sense of something missing inside me. I looked to the world to fill up that empty place, with relationships, with food, with drink, with work, with knowledge, but none of those things filled the empty hole inside me. Then I had a dream where Jesus said to me, "whomsoever believeth in me shall never die". That dream awoke a desire in me to follow Jesus. You know, you can't follow someone without looking at them. So I opened the Word of God and vowed within myself to read the Word everyday. I came to realize, that empty place inside me, the black hole, was the space only the light of Jesus can fill. 

Prayer for self

Jesus, shine Your light in the dark places inside me. Awaken in me the desire to follow You. You are the light of the world. When I follow You, I do not walk in darkness but have the light of life. Thank You Jesus for filling me with Your light and Your life.

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Jesus, give (___) a revelation that the empty and dark places inside him/her can only be filled with Your light by following You. Jesus, You are the light of the world and I pray (___) follows You and no longer walks in darkness but has the light of the world. In Jesus name, amen. 

Scripture and Prayers for Healing

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Prayer for self

Father, I know Jesus was pierced for my transgressions, He was crushed for my iniquities. His punishment brought me peace and by His wounds I am healed. Thank You Jesus. You paid the ultimate price to make me free and healed and whole. My mind cannot comprehend this truth Lord, please let it sink down into my spirit. Thank You Jesus!

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father, I know Jesus was pierced for (___)'s transgressions, He was crushed for his/her iniquities. His punishment brought (___) peace and by His wounds he/she is healed. Thank You Jesus. You paid the ultimate price to make him/her free and healed and whole. I pray (___) knows and believes this and receives Your redemption in his/her life in Jesus name, amen.

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Exodus 23:25 NKJV

“So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. 

Prayer for self

Lord, show me how You would have me serve You today. Bless my bread and my water and take sickness away from my midst. Thank You Lord for this promise, I believe You will do just what You say, in Jesus name, amen.

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father, I pray (___) serves You, Lord God and You will bless his/her bread and water. And You will take sickness away from (___)'s midst. In Jesus name, amen.

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Psalm 6:2 NKJV 

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak;

O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.

Prayer for self - fill in blank with issue

O Lord, have mercy on me, for I am weak in (___). Heal me of (___), for my bones are troubled. In Jesus name, amen.

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

O Lord, have mercy on (___), for he/she is weak, heal him/her, for his/her bones are troubled. In Jesus name, amen.

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3 John 2 NLT

Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.

Prayer for self

Father God, I place my hope in You to make me healthy in body and strong in spirit. Thank You Lord, amen.

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father God, I pray all is well with (___) and that he/she is healthy in body and strong in spirit. If not, I pray he/she places all his/her hope and faith in You for healing and strength. In Jesus name, amen.

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1 Peter 2:24-25 NLT

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

Prayer for self

Father God, thank You for sending Jesus, who personally carried my sin in His body on the cross so that I am dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds I am healed. Once I was like a sheep who wandered away but now I have turned to my Shepherd, the Guardian of my soul. Thank You Lord!

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father God, thank You for sending Jesus, who personally carried (___)'s sin in His body on the cross so that he/she can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds (___) is healed. Once he/she was like a sheep who wandered away but now I pray he/she turns to our Shepherd, the Guardian of our souls. In Jesus name, amen.

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Mark 11:22-24 NLT

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

Jesus, You tell us to have faith in God. Jesus, You tell us the truth. In this day where we hear so many things in the news and don't know who to believe, this I know, You Jesus, tell us the truth. And the truth is we can say to this mountain be lifted up and thrown into the sea and it will happen when we believe it will happen.

Prayer to move mountains (fill in blank with your mountain... like illness, fear, pain, etc, be specific)

Father, I have faith in You. I believe Jesus was telling the truth, so I say to (___), ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ 

and now I visualize it happening so that I can truly believe it will happen and have no doubt in my heart. Jesus said I can pray for anything, and if I believe that I received it, it will be mine. Thank You Lord! Amen.

This is not a prayer to pray only once, pray it several times a day until you see that mountain move!

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Exodus 15:6-7 NLT

“Your right hand, O Lord,

    is glorious in power.

Your right hand, O Lord,

    smashes the enemy.

In the greatness of your majesty,

    you overthrow those who rise against you.

You unleash your blazing fury;

    it consumes them like straw.

Prayer for self or others, fill in the blank with the a circumstance to pray against, such as pain, illness, depression, fear, addiction, cancer, etc.

Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power.

Your right hand, O Lord, smashes (___). In the greatness of your majesty, You overthrow (___) which rises against You. You unleash Your blazing fury; it consumes (___) like straw. Thank You Lord for defeating (__) in Jesus name, amen.

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Proverbs 4:20-22 NET

My child, pay attention to my words;

listen attentively to my sayings.

Do not let them depart from your sight,

guard them within your heart;

for they are life to those who find them

and healing to one’s entire body.

Prayer for self

Father God, I am Your child, I pay attention to Your words; and listen attentively to Your sayings. Help me Father to not let them depart from my sight and guard them within my heart;

for they are life to me and healing to my entire body. Thank You Father!

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father God, (___) is Your child, I pray he/she will pay attention to Your words; and listen attentively to Your sayings. Help him/her Father to not let them depart from his/her sight and guard them within his/her heart;

for they are life to (___) and healing to his/her entire body. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

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Psalm 107:19-20 NKJV

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

Prayer for self

Lord I cry out to You in my trouble, and You save me out of my distresses. You send Your word and heal me, and deliver me from my destructions. Thank You Lord, I received Your healing and deliverance in Jesus name, amen.

Prayer for others

Lord I pray (___) will cry out to You in his/her trouble. Save him/her out of his/her distresses. Send Your word and heal him/her, and deliver him/her from his/her destructions. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Scripture and Prayers for Salvation

            The Road to Emmaus Oil Painting 

                     by Leota Jordahl 1985

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Prayers are best spoken out loud when possible. Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

 

Prayer for self 

God, You loved me so much that You gave Your only Son so that if I believe in Jesus, I will not perish but have eternal life. Wow, Father, fill my heart with a great revelation of Your love for me. Help any unbelief I may have about Jesus, Your Son and how He saved me. Thank You Lord, amen.

Prayer for others - fill the blank with name(s)

God so loved (____) that he gave His only Son, Jesus, for (____). Lord I pray (___) will believe in Jesus and have eternal life.

Amen

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Titus 2:13-14 NLT

while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Prayer for self

Father God, I look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of my great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free me from every kind of sin, to cleanse me, and to make me His very own person, totally committed to doing good deeds. Father, I know I need You, I need Jesus, I can't do any of those things on my own. Thank You, Lord!

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father God, I pray (___) looks forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free (___) from every kind of sin, to cleanse him/her, and to make him/her His very own person, totally committed to doing good deeds. In Jesus name, amen.

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Isaiah 43:11-12 NLT

I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord.

Prayer for self

Father God, You are the Lord, and there is no other Savior. You predicted my rescue, then You saved me. No foreign god has ever done this. I am a witness that You are the only God! Thank You Lord!

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father God, You are the Lord, and there is no other Savior. You predict (___)'s rescue, then You save him/her. No foreign god has ever done this. I pray (___) will be a witness that You are the only God! Thank You Lord!

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Luke 19:10 NLT

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

Prayer for the lost - fill in the blank with name(s)

Jesus, You came to seek and save the lost. Lord (___) is lost so I know You are seeking him/her. I pray that Your ministering angels would go to him/her and that he/she will realize he/she is lost and recognize his/her need to be saved and turn to You. Lord, Your will be done in his/her life. With the authority You have given me, I decree (___) is saved in Jesus name.

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Psalm 51:14 ERV

God, spare me from the punishment of death. My God, you are the one who saves me! Let me sing about all the good things you do for me!

Prayer for self

Thank You God, that You spare me from the punishment of death by believing in Your Son Jesus, who took my punishment on the cross. My God, You are the one who saves me! Let me sing about all the good things You do for me! I praise Your Holy name!

Prayer for unbelievers - fill in the blank with name(s)

God, I pray (___) will believe in Your Son, Jesus, so that You can spare him/her from the punishment of death. I pray he/she will say "My God, You are the one who saves me! Let me sing about all the good things You do for me!" In Jesus name, amen.

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Isaiah 12:2-3 NIV

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Prayer for self

Surely God, You are my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. Lord, You are my strength and my defense; You have become my salvation. With joy I will draw water from Your wells of salvation. Thank You Lord!

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Surely God, You are (___)'s salvation; I pray he/she trusts in You and will not be afraid. Lord, You are his/her strength, defense and salvation. I pray he/she will joyfully draw water from Your wells of salvation. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

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John 6:44-45 NIV

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me."

Prayer for self

Jesus, You said, no one can come to You unless the Father who sent You draws them, and You will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to You, Jesus. Father, draw me to Jesus and teach me so that I will be raised up to eternal life at the last day! Thank You Father, amen.

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Our Father, draw (___) to You Lord and Jesus will raise him/her up at the last day. I declare, by Your Word (___) is taught by You God, and he/she hears You Father and learns from You and comes to Jesus. (___) will be raised to eternal life at the last day! Thank You Lord.

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John 3:17-18 NIV

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Prayer for self

God, You did not send Your Son Jesus into the world to condemn me, but to save me through Him. I believe in Him and I am not condemned. If I did not believe, I would stand condemned but because I have believed in the name of God’s one and only Son, Jesus, I am saved. Thank You God.

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

God, You did not send Your Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. So I pray (___) will believe in Him and not be condemned, for whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. So Father, I pray he/she believes and is saved in Jesus name, amen.

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1 Peter 1:13 NLT

So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

Prayer for self

Lord, help me prepare my mind for action and exercise self-control as I put all my hope in the gracious salvation that will come to me when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Lord, help (___) prepare his/her mind for action and exercise self-control. I pray he/she will put all his/her hope in the gracious salvation that will come to him/her when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

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1 Peter 1:8-9 NLT

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

Prayer for self

I love You Jesus, even though I have never seen You. Though I do not see You now, I trust You; and I rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting You Jesus will be the salvation of my soul. Oh, thank You Lord! Amen.

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father, I pray (___) will love Jesus even though he/she has never seen Him. Though he/she does not see him now, I pray he/she will trust Jesus and rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy, knowing and believing the reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of his/her soul. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

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Romans 5:16-17 NLT

And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. 

Prayer for self

Father, the result of Your gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God, Your free gift leads to me being made right with You, even though I am guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is Your wonderful grace and gift of righteousness. And I receive it and live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Hallelujah, amen!

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father, the result of Your gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God, Your free gift leads (___) to be made right with You, even though he/she is guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is Your wonderful grace and gift of righteousness. I pray (___) receives it and will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ, in His name I pray. Hallelujah, amen!

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Romans 5:1-2 NLT

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Prayer for self

Father God, I pray for a revelation of Your word in my heart, that I have been made right in Your sight by faith and I have peace with You because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for me. Because of my faith, Christ has brought me into this place of undeserved privilege where I now stand, and I confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing in Your glory God. Thank You Father!

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father God, I pray (___) will have a revelation of Your word in his/her heart, that he/she has been made right in Your sight by faith and he/she has peace with You because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for him/her. Because of his/her faith, Christ has brought him/her into this place of undeserved privilege where he/she now stands, and confidently and joyfully looks forward to sharing in Your glory God. Thank You Father! Amen.

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Psalm 27:9 NKJV

Do not hide Your face from me;

Do not turn Your servant away in anger;

You have been my help;

Do not leave me nor forsake me,

O God of my salvation.

This verse is a prayer for self

Father, do not hide Your face from me;

Do not turn Your servant away in anger;

You have been my help;

Do not leave me nor forsake me,

O God of my salvation.

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father God, I pray (___) is (will be) Your servant so You will not hide Your face from him/her, but help him/her. Lord, do not leave or forsake (___) O God, You alone are his/her salvation. Thank You Lord, in Jesus name, amen.

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Luke 10:2 AMP

He was saying to them, “The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few. Therefore, [prayerfully] ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.

Prayer for workers of the harvest

Father, Your Son said the harvest is abundant, that there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation. But those available to proclaim the message of salvation are few. Father I ask You, Lord of the harvest, to send out workers into Your harvest. Lord, give Your workers a heart for those who have not heard the good news about salvation. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

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Luke 24:6-7 NLT

He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.

Praise the Lord! We serve a God who is alive! He is risen!! Thank You Jesus!!

Father, today I pray for my friends and family who don't know Jesus, who don't believe He is Your Son, who aren't saved yet, Lord I pray (name each one) will come to know Jesus and be saved so we can share eternity in heaven with You Father, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

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Luke 23:34 NIV

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Prayer for self

Father, I come to You in Your Son's name Jesus and I ask You to help me forgive the way Jesus forgives. And I thank You for Your forgiveness for my sins. And I thank You Jesus, for Your finished work on the cross that has made me righteousness in our Father's sight. Thank You Jesus!

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Father, I pray (___) will know what Jesus did on the cross for him/her. That He paid for his/her sins and redeemed him/her. I pray (___) will not waste His sacrifice by rejecting this truth but believe in his/her heart and confess with his/her mouth that Jesus is Lord and be saved. Father, I want (___) to have eternal life in Jesus and I know that is Your will God, You want none to perish. Thank You Father for hearing my prayer, amen.

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Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Prayer for self

For it is by grace I have been saved, through faith—and this is not from myself, it is the gift of God— not by my works so I cannot boast. For I am God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for me to do. Father, I ask You to reveal to me the good works You have created me to do, that I may walk in Your will for my life, in Christ Jesus, amen.

Prayer for others - fill in the blank with name(s)

Our heavenly Father, it is by Your grace (___) has been saved, through faith. For he/she is Your handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which You prepared in advance for him/her to do. Father, I ask You to reveal to (___) the good works You have created him/her to do, that he/she may walk in Your will for his/her life, in Christ Jesus, amen.

Thank You Lord, salvation is the best gift ❤

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Psalm 91:14-16 NIV

Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Prayer for self

I love You Lord and believe Your Word, that You will rescue me and protect me because I acknowledge Your name. When I call on You, You answer me. You are with me when I am in trouble, You deliver me and honor me. You bless me with a long life and show me Your salvation. Thank You Lord.

Prayer for other believers

Because (___) loves You Lord, You will rescue him/her; You will protect him/her, for he/she acknowledges Your name. He/she will call on You Lord and You will answer him/her; You will be with him/her in trouble, You will deliver him/her and honor him/her. With long life You will satisfy him/her and show him/her Your salvation.

Prayer for people who don't know the Lord yet

Lord I pray (___) will come to know You and love You so that You will rescue and protect him/her. I pray he/she will acknowledge Your name. That he/she will call on You Lord and You will answer him/her; You will be with him/her in trouble, You will deliver him/her and honor him/her. With long life You will satisfy him/her and show him/her Your salvation. In Jesus name,  amen.

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Romans 10:9-10 NET

because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.

Prayer for self

I confess Jesus is Lord and believe in my heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and therefore I am saved. Lord help any unbelief I have in my heart.

Prayer for others

Lord I pray (___) would confess with his/her mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in his/her heart that you God raised Jesus from the dead so that he/she is saved.

Hope 4 Healing Prayer Mantle Ministry

Hope 4 Healing Prayer Mantle Ministry was born out of a desire to bring the love of Jesus and a faith in His healing touch to people who are suffering in a tangible way.

Rachel Cinader, President of Hope 4 Women International and affiliated charity Dress A Girl Around the World, both 401c(3) non-profits that help women and girls in impoverished nations in Uganda and the Philippines. Hope 4 Women International teaches women a trade to become self sufficient.  Dress A Girl Around the world sends hand made dresses to girls around the world. Rachel was receiving emails from volunteers letting her know of medical issues that were interfering with their ability to donate their time to the cause and requesting prayers. Rachel knew I love to knit and asked if I would make a prayer shawl for one of the volunteers suffering with a serious medical condition. When I agreed, she asked if I would like to teach others to knit. And the ministry grew from there.

We are a group of Christian women who gather on Tuesday evenings to knit, crochet and teach others to knit and crochet. We pray over each project before sending it off to the recipient. Usually we make shawls but we've also made hats and lap blankets. We believe in following the leading of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

We are finding the needs are great. We've given to men, women and children for a variety of reasons, not just physical health related problems. We've given to grieving widows, people struggling with drug addictions and others with mental health issues. We have volunteers who send in completed knitting projects as well. We pray over them and send a card with a prayer and scriptures to the recipients.

Hope 4 Healing Cross Shawl Pattern

Baptism

 I was praying one day and asked the Lord to show me anyone I needed to forgive. This is a prayer we should ask the Lord everyday because not forgiving is poison to our souls. But if I'm honest, I don't pray this prayer everyday like I should; sometimes I falsely believe I don't harbor unforgiveness, other times I simply don't want to forgive. But the Lord is always faithful if we ask and we wait on Him to show us. And this particular day I was humble before Him knowing that if I said I had no sin I deceived myself and the truth was not in me and I was ready to confess my sin and let His faithfulness to forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. I was surprised by what the Lord revealed to me, I had not forgiven myself for getting divorced. I had stood before the Lord and men and made promises I did not keep. I was divorced 17 years ago, how could I still be harboring unforgiveness towards myself for this? Haven't I been over and over this? I've asked for forgiveness a million times over it seems and I know the Lord has forgiven me, why is this coming up now? I haven't even consciously thought about it in ages. But I suddenly had a vision of myself being baptized, going under a sinner and coming up washed clean by Jesus' death and resurrection. And I started thinking about that, baptism.

  When I was 6 or 7 we were in church in Albert Lea, we met at the YMCA there and the Pastor said anyone that wanted to be baptized could be after church. I told my parents I wanted to be baptized. I remember being in the water with the Pastor with lots of people standing around the pool, their legs. That's what I saw because it wasn't about who was there, who they were, who the pastor was. It was about the water, I remember the water shimmering. It was about a calling I didn't understand but obeyed. I remember coming up out of the water feeling complete. And then my parents took me to my aunts house to dry my clothes and then we were off to the zoo. I don't remember the zoo at all. But I remember that my parents had plans to go to the zoo and they delayed those plans because I wanted to be baptized. They took my request seriously. They didn't for a moment think I was just a child that wanted to get in the pool. 

  But later in life I was just a stupid kid following the crowd and getting in the pool. As a teenager, 18 I believe I was, my parents sent me and my best friend Marcy to Christ for the Nations conference in Texas. They had a night where they called anyone that wanted to be baptized to do so in the pool. By this time in my life I was very casual about my relationship with the Lord. I talked to Him when I was in crisis but pretty much just did whatever I wanted to do. And when everyone else was getting baptized, I was baptized too. I may have been sincere in the moment but when I returned home to the world I had left, I was not concerned about following the Lord. It wasn't long after I was married at age 21 that I began doubting Jesus was the only way and started looking into other religions, cultures and beliefs. I stepped so far off the path the Lord wanted me to walk upon, it would only take His miraculous power and pull to get me back on it. That didn't come until after I was remarried and in my late 30's. 

  So here I am 45 and the Lord is showing me I harbor unforgiveness for myself for things He has forgiven me for. So I forgive myself because this is just dumb, holding things against myself that God has forgiven me for. Agreeing with the enemy who keeps bringing up my dirt to make me feel guilty. No! To hell with you devil and all your demons, I'm not listening to your lies any more. I'm forgiven by the grace of Jesus. Not because I deserve it, because of love. 

For God did not send his Son to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:17. 

  So I had a vision of myself being baptized and felt this was the Lord showing me it is time to be baptized again. With a pure heart of love for Jesus and what His death and resurrection mean... eternal life for those who believe. This is my public witness. To proclaim Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. That I go to the Father through Jesus. That I am committed to following Jesus, to putting God first and to loving my neighbors as myself. To shine His light in this dark world. 
  Don't think I didn't have my doubts. This vision came to me in early April and my baptism is scheduled for June 23, there's a gap there, not just because it was still snowing in April and I wanted to be baptized in my parents pond. There's this selfishness in me that wants to do its own thing, that doesn't want to commit everything to the Lord. And what if I am baptized again for the 3rd time and I fail to follow Jesus fully. Duh, that's why I need a Savior because I will fail, but Jesus redeems!
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

Power of our words

Proverbs 18:21 says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Remember when we were kids and we said sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me. Not true. What people say about us can hurt us if we let them, but more importantly the words we speak have power. The power of words does not come from us. The Lord's power is loosed when we speak life words. The devils power is loosed when we speak death words. Our power is in our freedom to choose whose power we will loose with the words we speak. 

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witness today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.

Matthew 18:18 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

We are so often careless with our words not paying any mind to their power. My prayer today is that we would get it, that words have power and that we would choose life words today.

#100happydays Part 4 #100plushappydays

Day 370 of 100 Happy Days

When I began the 100 Happy Days Challenge, I had no idea it would turn into a way of life. I knew when I reached 100 days I didn't want to stop so I set a new goal of 200 days. When I reached that I knew I didn't want to stop so I set a new goal, one year. When I reached that I didn't want to stop but I don't need to set another goal because once you're in a routine it's no longer a goal, it's a way of life.

But wait, I do have a goal I haven't reached, to inspire one person to begin and complete the 100 Happy Days Challenge. Who will it be? Who is up for this challenge? I know some of my facebook friends spend ALOT of time on facebook, so...do something with that time that will change your life, fill you with joy and inspire your friends and family. 

Maybe you think it would be too hard or you don't like following the rules, so make your own rules. It's your challenge, do it your way. One of the many blessings this challenge gave me was a photo gallery of the good things in life to look back on. Another blessing is hearing my friends and family tell me they enjoy seeing my happy day posts. Actually let me just count the blessings this challenge has brought me.

1- Focusing on the positive
2 - Seeking happiness
3 - Finding happiness
4 - Good memories recorded
5 - Reflecting on the good things the day brought
6 - Multiplied blessings
7 - Inspiring others
8 - Honoring others
9 - Honoring the Lord
10 - Letting go of the negative
11 - Realizing happiness is a choice
12 - Realizing no matter how dark the day, there is always something to be grateful for

Well you get the idea...I've got 369 photos of the blessings this challenge has brought me so far. So what are you waiting for? Take the challenge!!!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Even if you're not ready...check it out at...

100HappyDays.com