I pray for your boxes

I pray for your...

Lunch containers that hold nourishment for your family,

and small containers in your hearts that hold malnourished hopes/plans/dreams.
May you and your family receive the nurturing and nourishment you need physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Jewelry boxes that protect memories held in creative molds
and the boxes in your hearts that hug memories from the past {hugs that squeeze joy from them, or comfort the pain}.

As you reflect on the past, may you remember the many ways the Lord has walked with you, and be encouraged to cherish the treasures of the present.

Tool boxes that help you upkeep your home

and boxes with figurative tools you have to upkeep your heart
and relational tool boxes that you have to help in times of conflict.

I pray you would be equipped to constantly be working to grow, improve and fix yourself and your home.

Storage containers that hold decorations and clothes for other seasons,
and containers in your hearts that are storing emotions and experiences from recent weeks.

May God give you great wisdom and discernment for with what, and how, you fill these.

Donation containers that carry your blessing's overflow to others in need

and the containers of time and resources you draw from within yourself to give to others in the church, community and your family.

May you feel the freedom and joy in the release, and find your personal boxes full to draw from.

"Penalty boxes" that aren't fun to sit in, but do develop character.
Whether you're sending someone (an employee or a child) to one, or are in one yourself in your heart, or in your life's circumstances,

May you have the humility to embrace a lesson, and the fortitude to let the process shape you for the better.

Laundry containers that may look more familiar than your pillow, and the washing and reusing of your own heart's wardrobe.

Our spirituality isn't always new and fresh, sometimes we see old stories and lessons in fresh ways. So like a clean shirt you've worn a dozen times, may you find fresh perspectives in 'old' morals and lessons you have relearned a dozen times.

From matchbox containers and the ignition of new ideas
to jack-in-the-boxes and surprises that will come your way
I pray for your containers - that they hold good, healthy contents
that will not weigh you down, but enable you to make a Kingdom difference, for His glory.

I pray for your soils/gardens

As we begin this new season of Spring, Lord, I'm reminded of the importance of the intentional work that goes into gardening... and I recognize that a very similar process must take place, with similar intentionality, in our hearts and lives.

God, as we would cultivate the soil in our yards, please be tilling our hearts.

...as a garden hoe would do in a vegetable garden, please break down any hardness we have in our hearts towards you, or others;
...much like we would remove rocks and other foreign objects that don't belong in our gardens, God I ask that you would remove unnecessary impurities and barricades that block the deepening of your roots in our lives;
...just as we would be intentional about using the right, nutritious soil for our garden beds, infuse and purify the soil of our lives, that our hearts would be a welcome host to your seeds of truth;

...like worms help irrigate the soil in a garden, help us have the humility to welcome good 'bugs' in our lives, those that you place there for our ultimate health, even though we may feel uncomfortable with them.

Father, as we would plant seeds, I pray you would continue to plant your truth deep into our hearts...

...That just as we would plant a variety of colors, we would seek a variety of sources to hear your truth;

...That as we would strategically plant seeds for esthetics and practicality, that you would plant us in the right places to share your light;

...as we would discern plants from weeds, and uproot the latter, that you would grant us discernment between the work you are doing and the work that distracts us, and give us the wisdom to know how to uproot the imposters;

...That as we would intentionally water the soil, and care for the seeds we can't yet see, that we would prioritize time with you and other believers so the seeds you have planted can grow;

...just as plants naturally grow towards the light, Lord I pray we would naturally draw closer and closer to you;

...and thank you, Father, for your rains that water our gardens - our hoses supplement from what you have already provided - how true in our lives as well - you send us what we need all the time!

And still in this spring season, help us to enjoy our heart's harvest as we would enjoy our own gardens...

...as we would sit with friends in our backyards, remind us to sit and commune with you in our heart's garden.

...as we enjoy the fruits of our labor, help us to give glory to you - be it flowers or vegetables, or the many blessings and accomplishments we will see throughout this month;

...help us to work hard and to intentionally take Sabbath rest, seeking to keep a healthy balance in our lives.

...I give you praise and glory for the beauty of the hearts that are represented in this email list - the parents, the children, and the volunteers. I thank you, Lord, for the work you are doing in and through them. 
...and I pray that God would bless any actual gardens you may have, with an abundant harvest.

Talk about Forgiveness

Written by Moira Gardener / Edited by Sarah Davidson

Kids know when they’ve been wronged. Children have a very strong sense of ‘fair’, especially when they feel they’ve been treated unjustly. Helping children ‘let it go’, forgive and move on is an important step in their development into emotionally mature adults.

Forgiveness means choosing to let go of the bad thoughts and feelings about someone or something that happens. Forgiveness is being truly sorry about an action and having the courage to ask to be let off the hook for what you did; or letting someone else off the hook for something they did to you.
But why forgive? To be free of the anger and ugly emotions that will twist us all up inside turning us into sad angry people. Forgiveness is where healing starts. Once we truly let go of what happened we will feel lighter and be free to heal our hurts.

In a Christian belief system we forgive one another just as Christ forgives us (Ephesians 4:3). Sometimes we get angry at God and blame him for things in our life. It can be hard but we also need to ask God to forgive us for blaming him. God wants the very best for us. God desires to bless us and when we hold onto anger, a grudge, or seek revenge, we don’t receive God’s blessings – instead, we become unhappy and life looks ugly.

Here is a story from the life of a lady named Corrie ten-boom. Corrie was in a prison camp in WW2.  Her sister died in that camp and when the war was over Corrie went home in Holland. One day Corrie gave a talk at church on forgiveness. One of the listeners was the very guard from the prison camp. After the war he’d become a Christian. He came to her when the talk was over and asked her for forgiveness. In her own words this was her experience:

“And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. ‘… Help,’ I prayed silently. ‘I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.’
“… woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.

“I forgive you, brother!” I cried, ‘with all my heart!’ (http://www.familylifeeducation.org/gilliland/procgroup/CorrieTenBoom.htm)

How could Corrie do this? She chose to, and when she did, it was Corrie who received healing.
Not all acts of forgiveness are this huge, but even in the small things, letting go of angry and vengeful feelings is freeing. It stops us from collecting them all up, making a big anger ball inside that can make us sick.
Forgiveness starts with our will. I will or I will not ask God to forgive me for the nasty thoughts, mistakes and actions that miss the mark He sets out in the Bible. When we do receive God’s forgiveness, we are able to extend the loving act of forgiveness to others.

RECAP

What

Forgiveness is a choice. It means “I will let go of …” the bad thoughts and feelings about someone or something that happened.

Why

We forgive because Jesus first forgave us. God is a forgiving God - all we need do is ask. We forgive to be free from bad thoughts and emotions that can eventually, if left unaddressed, take the joy out of life and sometimes make us ill. We forgive to free other people and ourselves.

Who

We forgive everyone, others and ourselves. Sometimes when we hold onto anger towards God we need to ask God to forgive us too. He will.

How

Start with being sorry for real. Then decide to go to the person we hurt to ask for forgiveness. Let it go and don’t keep bringing it up. Sometimes we need to ask God to help us with forgiveness because it can be really hard.
If you have been hurt and the person is not sorry, forgive them anyway. You may want to ask for God’s help or talk to an adult you trust who can help.

CHECK IT OUT

Ephesians 4:3 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Luke 15:1-20 - A series of parables that show God’s love and forgiveness
Luke 15:21-32 -The story of the prodigal son, whose father was so happy to have his son return, forgave him all.
Matthew 18:21-35 – How many times must we forgive?
Matthew 7:1-5 – Judging Others
Luke 19: 1-10 – Jesus befriends the despised tax collector.
Colossians 3:13 – Forgiveness is the way to go.
Article of interest: http://www.mayoclinic.org/forgiveness/art-20047692