Prayer Group

About 2 or so months ago I started a prayer group. We meet every other Thursday morning at 9am. There are about 6-7 of us. This is getting to be one of my favorite times with my friends that I really look forward to more and more each time we meet. One of my favorite things about the fact that it is a PRAYER group, is the fact that I get to hear each person in their own unique way pray. I tear up pretty much every time we are praying because the genuineness I hear is such a sweet sound. I am a person of MANY words. I take about 30min to say something that can be said in 5min. I love to hear when people can find words so easily and express themselves so vividly. These women truly poor their hearts out to God. And the phrase "Surely the Lord is in this place," takes on a truer meaning for all of us.

I feel kinda bad though because I have a selfish motive to this prayer group. It makes me study. I come up with the subject each week and usually present just a little 5min thought and then we have a time of prayer. I am almost forced to study throughout the week so that I will be prepared and can present something that is challenging and encouraging to us. I always get such encouraging words from them. For that, I am thankful. I am thankful to God who has given me such an awesome set of friends who constantly challenge me to be a better person and who remind me that my will should be conforming to His will, and not the other way around.

Today we talked about Mt. 6 (The Lord's prayer) and how if we are going to be Kingdom people, we need to know that our confidence should come NOT from those who see us doing righteous acts to show how righteous we are, but from God and His presence in our life and the world. That requires trust in God. That confidence and knowledge can and should motivate us to want to listen to him, be engaged, and participate in His reign on earth. Over the next week, we are going to be doing (individually) a 'week of listening prayer.' I am excited about this! It is something I don't do hardly at all. Most of the time I pray b/c I want to talk to God and don't take much time to listen, and frankly don't really know how to listen. I am excited to start.

Aaron sleeps for the most part while we meet. Usually he wakes up at the end when we are just talking so I get him up. Jenny brings her littlest one with her and Deana brings her little girl. Avery just sits nicely in the living room and watches her movie. Today I took some pictures of the 3 kids who were there...so sweet. It's a little blurry b/c Aaron wouldn't stop bouncing, but still VERY cute. Such prayer group buddies.