Dear Family and Friends,

In honor of my family; my wonderful husband, our precious babies, this is my request: As the black date approaches I ask you to pray with me.

Please join me, Friday, January 27, in recognition of three long years since we've heard their laughter, seen their smiles, and hugged their beautiful earthly bodies; in honor of what they stood for, what they believed in, how they lived; by praying for our growing closer to God, to seek His will more earnestly.

At whatever time(s) and in whatever way(s) you are led, please join me in prayer on this significant day. And, if you'd like, feel free to leave a comment on my blog, letting me know that you prayed with me this day.

Jesus told His disciples, when you pray, say "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from Evil."

Our Father - Let it sink in who we're talking to; these aren't just words. We are addressing the Creator of everything.

In Heaven - God is in the Holy place, the place where all is righteous and pure, which He created.

Hallowed is Your Name - God is holy in every way, even His Name is holy. As you pray, you come before God Himself: Holiness. Be humbled and be realistic about the awesome Power before you.

Your kingdom come - God's kingdom reigns forever.

Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven - This is both personal and global. It is for each of us to commit ourselves to allow God's will to direct our lives. Likewise, we pray for the whole world, that as God's will is revealed to people they will strive to make it their standard, as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread - Remember Jesus' response to Satan that "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Pray that God gives you today what you need to sustain your faith, just in this day. Notice Jesus isn't saying to pray for tomorrow, for as He said, "tomorrow has enough troubles of its own." Our faith is represented in our capacity to trust Him in the present.

Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors - For if God forgives, who are we to hold a grudge? Our faith is represented in our capacity to let go of the past.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from Evil - Sometimes we are tempted to pray for circumstances and material things, but God knows what is best. That's why sometimes the answer to those prayers is "No." We are tempted by circumstances that appear to make us happy, but in reality our Joy comes from our personal relationship with God. Anything that distracts us from that personal relationship or diverts our attention from our commitment to God, is Evil. Rather than praying for circumstances and material things, pray that God deliver you from anything that takes your focus off of Him, despite your own temptations. Our faith is represented in our capacity to trust God for our future.

I ask that you examine the will of our Father in your life. Is it action, or just words? We were all created by God, but unless we call upon Him for our salvation, we are not His children. There are not many roads to the One true God. There is only one.

Isn't that exclusive-doesn't it exclude other theologies? Yes. Truth always is exclusive. 2+2=4, exclusively. You can't get it to squeeze into three. It's always four. Jesus said, "There is one way to the Father. I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me."

Why believe this? It is truth. It isn't my opinion, but what is written in the bible.

Why believe the bible? I have been asked this many times in different ways. Those who have studied the bible have found hundreds of fulfilled prophecies and promises of God, including details of the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Further, there are eyewitness accounts of His birth, His miracles, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascention. In today's society we seek eyewitness accounts to verify the truth of a matter. As regards Jesus, there were more than ample eyewitnesses.

Many of those who claim the bible is insignificant, untrue or incomplete do so without an honest study. I have heard many, many people make claims against the bible, misquoting something they heard somewhere, yet they have not read it fully for themselves. This is simply ignorance. One cannot make an informed decision about that which one is uninformed.

But ultimately it comes down to faith.

Faith is believing what is not seen.

What can it hurt, whether you are a believer or not, to ask God to show you the Truth. It is your choice whether to accept it or not.

I do.

Please pray with me next Friday.