June 17, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ Encouragement

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. ~Proverbs 25:11

Heavenly Father, we start this week with a lot of things ahead of us.
We’ll have challenges, successes, disappointment and excitement;
and others will experience the same kinds of things.

Help us to be sensitive to those around us,
rejoicing with them when good things happen,
empathizing in the hard times, and
encouraging them when they need a lift.

Thank You for being our constant Companion,
the Friend Who sticks closer than a brother,
the Lifter of our heads.
Help us to share Your grace
through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Tweetable: The right word at the right time refreshes like a cool breeze on a steamy day.

How can I pray for you this week?

Posted by Susan on June 17, 2013 | 14 Comments
June 10, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ Different

Is 43:19a

Heavenly Father, we begin this week with hearts that want to please You.
We confess that we have days of doubt, feeling like we’ve wasted time.
We think about lost opportunities and we grow impatient with ourselves.
We look at the accomplishments of others and feel defeated.
At the heart of our doubt and discouragement is that we feel
different.

We want to look and act and feel like everyone else,
like those who are doing things right.
But we’re learning that You designed us to be
different.

You have gifted each of us to do different things:
different ways of serving You,
different ways of helping others.

Thank You for our unique designs and for calling us to be
different.
Show us what You’d have us do this week to
share Your love with a broken world,
through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

Join me on Wednesday as I continue in our Graffiti Summer study.
We’re looking at the life of Moses, and I’ll share an insight from the chapter
A God-Given Destiny.

Graffiti tweetable: Don’t let what others consider “being different” derail you,
let it empower you. #GraffitiSummer

How can I pray for you this week?

All commenters are added to my journal and prayed for throughout the week.

Posted by Susan on June 10, 2013 | 23 Comments
June 3, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ Days Planned

All the days for me were written in your book before I was one day old. Ps 139:16b

Heavenly Father, Your wisdom is beyond our comprehension!
When we stop to remember that You
formed us and knew us and planned our lives
before we had taken our first breaths,
we have a “David moment” of our own:
“such knowledge is too wonderful for me!” (Ps 139:6)

Lord, You’ve also planned that we’d be
followers of Christ Jesus
and You’ve designed good works for us to do in His Name.
Reveal to us the unique experiences we’ve had
that might be a blessing to someone
who is very different from us.

We want to be lights of hope in a dark world and
we want no trace of prejudice, fear or apprehension.
Help us to live with
purpose, boldness and compassion
through Christ Jesus, our Lord,
Amen.

Today kicks off our Summer Graffiti study! You can get your resources at my friend Alene Snodgrass’s site, Positively Alene. You’re also welcome to follow along here each week for a prayer on Monday and a short vlog on Wednesday. In case you missed the invitation last Wednesday, check it out:

Join me on Wednesday as I share from the intro.

Tweetable: Let’s be lights of hope in a dark world, with no trace of prejudice, fear or apprehension. via @susanrstilwell #GraffitiSummer

How can I pray for YOU this week?

Posted by Susan on June 3, 2013 | 31 Comments
May 27, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ Bearing Fruit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22

Heavenly Father, we’re beginning a new week that’s full of possibilities
but will also have its share of frustrations.
We want to respond to those things the way Jesus would, with
grace and patience
and a lot of other things that don’t always come so easily to us.

Help us to keep our focus on You this week.
May we let Your Holy Spirit control our temperaments,
especially when things (or people) irritate us.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

On Wednesday I’ll be having a little fun,
so be sure to come back and see what’s up!

In the meantime, how I can pray for you this week?

Posted by Susan on May 27, 2013 | 17 Comments
May 13, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ Looking After

James 1:27, Look after widows and orphans in their distress

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the blessing of family.
We all have our own quirky dysfunctions,
but You’ve mixed us together to love each other.
We also know we have a responsibility to look after
those who don’t have families of their own.

Help us to step out of our comfort zones and
love some folks who need the connection of family today.
And would You please bless those of us
who are separated for whatever reasons?

We look forward to the Day when we’re all together,
rejoicing in Your presence through
Christ Jesus, our Lord,
Amen.

Join me on Wednesday for a practical way you can live out James 1:27.

I know Mother’s Day was hard for many of you. I’m asking the Lord to grant you a special measure of His grace today.

How can I pray for you this week?

Posted by Susan on May 13, 2013 | 10 Comments
May 6, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ Fan Into Flame

Fan into flame the gift of God, 2 Tim 1:6b

Heavenly Father, for many of us, we begin this week TIRED.
We have so many demands on us, and
we’re easily exhausted on every level:
Physically,
Emotionally, and
Spiritually.

Lord, give us the rest we need but
help us to remember that what we really need is
YOU.

Our first priority is to spend time in Your presence.
You and You alone have what we need to survive.
As we walk with You, help us to remember
we have a responsibility to
“fan into flame” the spiritual gifts
You’ve given each of us.

We want to be good stewards of those gifts this week
as we seek You and walk in Your ways.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

I don’t know about y’all, but I’ve been fighting a mean head cold and I’m not at the top of my game. I’m pressing hard into the Father and hope you are too.

I hope you’ll join me on Wednesday as I share some reflections from 2 Timothy. I just finished teaching through this short but powerful letter, and will be sharing practical ways to “fan into flame the gift of God.”

In the meantime, how can I pray for YOU?

Posted by Susan on May 6, 2013 | 23 Comments
April 29, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ God Sees The Heart

Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Sam 16:7b

Heavenly Father, we’re excited to start a new week.
We’re closing out April and about to begin May.
For many of us, it’s one of the most beautiful times of the year.

As we see all the beauty around us in nature,
we confess that we’re often attracted to
other beautiful things.
Or at least they seem beautiful to us.

We’ve learned the hard way not to make judgments
based on outward appearances.
Give us eyes to see as You see, and
help us not to overlook what is
precious to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I hope you’ll join me on Wednesday as I continue this thought:
things aren’t always what they seem.

How can I pray for you this week?

Posted by Susan on April 29, 2013 | 33 Comments
April 22, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ Devoted to Prayer

Devote yourselves to prayer, Colossians 4:2a

Heavenly Father, we begin this week praying for
those affected by last week’s tragedies.
We lift up the people in Boston and Waco.
For those who’ve been injured, we pray for healing.
For those who’ve lost loved ones, we ask for comfort.
For those who’re serving and caring for them,
we ask for a double portion of Your strength,
mercy and compassion.

Lord, we confess that we can’t wrap our minds around things like
heinous acts of terrorism,
suffering, or the
loss of innocent lives.
Such things are beyond our ability to comprehend.

But You haven’t called us to comprehend them;
You’ve called us to serve, love and pray.
We devote ourselves to prayer this week.
Keep us sensitive to the prompting of Your Spirit,
through Christ Jesus our Lord,
Amen.

I hope you’ll join me on Wednesday as I share some thoughts about the tragedies last week, as well as recommend a compelling book that sheds light on terrorism. Don’t miss it!

What are some ways the Lord has prompted you to pray recently?
How can I pray for YOU this week?

Posted by Susan on April 22, 2013 | 27 Comments
April 15, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ Trials

Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds - James 1:2

Heavenly Father, we come to you this morning with
all sorts of things on our minds.
It’s a new week with new challenges, and
we have no idea what to expect.
You, however, DO.

Before time began, You knew what this week would hold
for each of us.
Remind us to keep a good attitude,
even be JOYFUL (!)
when things get crazy and frustrating.
We want to walk in obedience and grace, and
we can only do that in Your strength.
Through Christ Jesus, our Lord, Amen.

Last week ended in a good bit of frustration for me.
Join me on Wednesday to commiserate!

In the meantime, how can I pray for you this week?

Posted by Susan on April 15, 2013 | 28 Comments
April 8, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ Our Shepherd

Psalm 23:1

Heavenly Father, thank You for such comforting words.
Thank You for being our Good Shepherd,
trustworthy and gracious and protective.

Like sheep, we’re easily distracted and
prone to wander, but Your watchful eye is always upon us,
leading us and tending to our every need.

As we begin a new week, we acknowledge that
You know more than we do, and
You’re in a better position to lead.
Help us to set aside our agendas to
follow You and trust You to order our steps.

When we walk with You, we’ll not only
accomplish the necessary work of our life, but we’ll also
accomplish the important work of Your Kingdom.
Through Christ Jesus our Lord,
Amen

When I’m in a slump, I pull out Psalm 23.
Join me on Wednesday for some reflections on this familiar psalm.

How can I pray for you this week?

Posted by Susan on April 8, 2013 | 27 Comments
April 1, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ Easter

I am the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6

It’s Easter Monday, Father, and we start this week
REJOICING!
Jesus’ sacrifice is more than we can comprehend!
Here on earth, we try to imagine the spiritual realm.
We dream of Heaven and what it will be like in Your presence, but
we pay little attention to the realm of Hell.

We know it’s very real, and
worse than we could ever comprehend.

Thank You for Your incomprehensible love for us!
Thank You for a Savior Who would love us enough to
lay down His life
to save us from such a horrific eternity.

That fact alone is worth celebrating, but
it’s even more amazing that He offers us something
here on earth:
Peace, Joy, Hope, Faith and Confidence.

We’re grateful beyond words.
Help us to live in a way that honors You and
help us to share the hope that we have in
Christ Jesus with a lost world.
We ask it in His Name, Amen.

I hope you had a fabulous Resurrection Sunday!

How can I pray for you this week?

Posted by Susan on April 1, 2013 | 19 Comments
March 25, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ Passover

Passover Luke 22-19

Heavenly Father, today is a significant day in the lives
of our Jewish friends, and
it is also significant day in the lives
of those of us who claim Christ Jesus as Lord.

As He observed the Passover meal with His disciples,
Jesus forever fulfilled that Jewish feast:
the perfect Pesach lamb
Who not only sacrificed Himself
for the sins of His own people, but
for the sins of the world.

Including us.
May we never lose the wonder of that moment.
We thank you for including us in Your redemptive plan
through Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.

Did you realize that Christianity’s “Lord’s Supper” or “Holy Communion” is rooted in the Jewish Passover meal?
Join me on Wednesday for a look at how Jesus is represented in those elements.

How can I pray for you this week?

Posted by Susan on March 25, 2013 | 28 Comments
March 18, 2013

A Monday Pause ~ On Guard

Guard Your Heart Prov 4:23

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the start of a new week.
We’ll have opportunities for all sorts of things,
some of them good, some of them not-so-good.

You know our weaknesses better than we do,
so we ask that You reveal those areas to us
that we might avoid the challenges that are ahead.

The enemy of our souls would love nothing more
than to see us fall.
But, Father, we want to stand, and stand FIRM.
Help us do that, in Jesus’ name,
Amen.

I’m traveling this week, but have my prayer journal with me!
How can I pray for YOU?

Posted by Susan on March 18, 2013 | 27 Comments
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