Saturday, March 6 – Day 18

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God…for God’s light to bring abundant life.
Seek God on behalf of Mothers

How precious is Your loving kindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and you give them to drink of the river of your delights. For with You is the fountain of life. In your light we see light. – Psalm 36:7-9

Life’s precious but often painful journey does not begin with a first step but at the point of conception. Often times a Mother first inkling we exist is a feeling of sickness and fatigue. We were brought into being and developed by our Mothers who endured the physical pain of delivery and the emotional pain of watching us make the very mistakes she warned us against. The pain is never gone but only subsides from time to time as we stumble through live returning to our Mothers for the MILK of life (Mothers Invested Loving Kindness). Today’s prayer is inspired by John 10: 11-18 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”. Jesus is drawing the analogy between shepherding and His being our protector. Mothers care for their offspring to the dying end, instinctively and aggressively protecting their children from harm.

Mothers are a Blessing to us all. Lord Bless the Mothers

• Bless you for Loving us as we develop in your wombs.
• Bless you for all the Loving pain you went through to deliver us.
• Bless you for all the weary long days that you held us and stayed with us when we were ill.
• Bless you for the comforting words and encouragement when our hearts are troubled and our eyes were wet with tears.
• Bless you for having the patience & a forgiving heart as you watched us walk in the way of the world and not by your words of wisdom.
• Bless you for teaching us we are Children of God and that Christ’s Eternal Love is for us.

Lord God you are the wellspring of Life, we offer this day to your Glory and ask that you would protect, heal and strengthen our Mothers. Bless them with an abundance of the Fruit of the Spirit and Lord teach us to be vocally Thankful for their Loving Kindness. In Jesus Mighty and Powerful Name—Amen.

Leo & Janet Bonifazi
Neighborhood Church

Saturday, March 6 – Day 18

Seeking His Light to Awaken the Lost
Seek God…for God’s light to bring abundant life.

I appreciate today’s reading about light. In Sunday School one day I gave our youth group black duct tape and – after turning off the lights—I told them to try to cover every bit of light in the room. They diligently covered the cracks around the doors, the LED lights on the sound system, the illuminated exit signs (don’t tell the fire marshal!), etc. until everything was completely dark. Once our eyes adjusted we were in total awe of how very dark it was. Suddenly someone’s cell phone lit up and we were all stunned at how much one little phone lit up a very large room.

This shows why light is the perfect metaphor for the Christian life. Darkness never creeps into a lighted place—it has no power to do so. Only light can creep in. It overcomes the darkness. Just a tiny amount of light penetrates and makes a difference.

Today’s NT verse, John 8:12 reminds us that in Christ’s light we don’t have to walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. That should keep us from stumbling around. Let’s spread that light around so others can join us in the abundant life!

Mark Forstrom
New Covenant Bible

Monday, February 22 - Day 6

As I pray for the countries listed on the bottom of the page, it’s easy for them to become just a list of names—foreign sounding places I’ve never seen and probably never will visit. 

But today’s list includes Haiti.  I just returned from Haiti, and so it is easy to pray for this country.  I see the faces of children without parents.  I see people with broken bodies and empty stomachs.  I hear the noise of the crowds looking for help.  Haiti has become real to me because I have been there myself. 

Yet each of these countries is filled with people who are loved by God.  He knows their names.  He sees their faces.  He hears their prayers.  Each country has people who cry out to God; each country has people who shut God out of their lives.

As we pray for God to impart his life-giving spirit wherever it is needed, try not to read through the names of countries as if they are some impersonal list.  Try to imagine what it must be like for those who live in these countries.  God loves these people every bit as much as he loves you and I. 

And who knows…someday we may meet them as we gather around the throne of God. 

Father, may your Spirit bring life to the many around the world who are spiritually dead.  

Terry Seufferlein

Central Church of Christ