We are back in Florida and enjoying the beautiful southwest FL weather. Sunny most days and flowers galore to enjoy and of course, lawn to be mowed again. I do have to say that we enjoyed the MI fall so much, with the wonderful colors and cool temps. The highlight was making our own apple cider. We even brought some back with us to FL to put in our freezer. We are really enjoying it.

Summer is now but a memory but we do have those memories and pictures to enjoy. We spent time with family and friends, swam in Lake Michigan, and connected with friends from as far back as 47 years ago. The Oatley Cousins reunion was time to spend with cousins we haven't seen in many years and connecting with church family was also a highlight as we caught up with what God is doing in their lives. All in all, God blessed our summer and we are so thankful.

I was able to meet with the local Lois Ministries group in Manistee each week and it was a joy to hear about all that God is doing in answer to their prayers for their children and grandchildren. God opened up doors for new groups as well and currently there are 10 groups meeting or about to begin meeting in the next few weeks in the northern MI area. Many more grandchildren are being covered in prayer by many grandmas!!!

Often in our prayer groups our hearts cry out for children or grandchildren that are making poor choices. The choices that are made and the effects of those choices can last a lifetime. I'm sure we can think back and know that some choices we made were not right and have had lasting effects on our own lives. But, praise God, He can take those circumstances from those bad choices and use them for good if we let him. This brings to my mind the story of Joseph, who suffered greatly from the choices his brothers made, but in Genesis 50 it says that what men meant for evil, God turned it around for good. That is comforting to know.

We DO need to pray that our children and grandchildren would make good choices and that most of all they would choose to serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15) We also need to pray that they will choose God's instruction instead of the silver/gold that the world offers (Proverbs 8:10) and that they would choose life, so that they and their children may live and that they might love the Lord their God, and listen to his voice and hold fast to Him. (Duet. 30:19-20)

BE THANKFUL, for what God is doing and is going to do in the days and weeks ahead for our families. BE THANKFUL for a God who hears and answers our prayers. BE THANKFUL that you can meet with other women and pray for these loved ones.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!!!!!

Faith, Hope, Charity

FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY

I Corinthians 13:13

"Three things will last forever - faith, hope and love (charity) - and the greatest of these is love."

Boy, where did summer go....I am really behind on my blog. Cannot believe we are experiencing fall weather and it started before September. One day, late August it was in the 80's and the next day we had the wood stove going!! That is Michigan weather though. It really has been a glorious spring and summer this year so we don't mind the early fall. Matter of fact I kinda like the cozy feeling the wood stove creates in the house.

We've had fun with our kids and the grandkids and catching up with friends, some who we haven't seen in several years. God has blessed us with safe travels as we have traveled from state to state and city to city. The red van now has almost 282,000 miles on it and we still need to make a trip with it back to Florida!!! God always takes care of us and we are trusting Him for that trip as well.

One thing I have been doing this summer is following the Glenn Beck, Reclaiming America Gathering, and all that led up to that day on 8/28/10 in Washington, DC. Before the gathering in DC Glenn had encouraged everyone to fast and pray for this important meeting at the Lincoln Memorial. I was one of those who did just that. It was a desire of mine to attend, which did not work out, but I was able to watch some of it after it happened on the Internet. This was an amazing event. It blessed my heart as I'm sure it did our Lord!!

Now I know not everyone agrees on Glenn's church, but I do not doubt his relationship with the Lord after viewing his testimony on a video I sent for. I believe God has called him to bring about something that is almost like a re-awakening of America coming back to God. I watched men, women, children from every race gather together to worship the one and only true God and to pray for our country. Many, with tears, were crying out to God, asking for forgiveness and asking God to restore our country to the Christian principles it was founded on. Glenn has been reading letters lately from those who attended on how they have turned back to God.

It was very inspiring and I even became more hopeful that we might have a revival begin in America. I will continue to pray that for our country and pray for our leaders as God has told us to do in II Timothy 2:1,2. I will also pray for the next generations that our Lois Ministries groups are praying for.....that they will rise up and take a stand for Jesus Christ and that American will experience another Great Re-Awakening, before the Lord returns.

God is at work, and I, for one, want to come alongside of Him and be involved in this great work. One way I am doing that is getting out the word about Lois Ministries. If another Revival is to take place we need to be PRAYING for that to happen within our families. At this time I have 3 Women's Ministry Groups that have asked for information and for me to come and present LM to their groups. Please pray that God will accomplish His work with Lois Ministries and that if the ministry should expand that I will be sensitive to His leading.

Well, a happy fall to you all!!!

Be praying that our children and grand-children will rise up and occupy this great land until the Lord returns.

PRAYER POWER

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

In my opinion, prayer is one of the greatest powers of all. Yes, the atomic bomb can blow up an entire city or area, which is a natural power, but prayer power is spiritual, from God and nothing is as powerful as God's power. He created atomic power!!!

We've seen prayer do the miraculous and even change history. In the current Lois Ministries devotional the story is told about the results of prayer power in Romania. Up until the late 80's Romania was ruled by the communists and the country was collapsing. Churches broke out in prayer. The prayer times were lasting 24/7, prayer services began an hour early before the services began, and many came to Christ during these times. Finally, a break through for freedom came for this country. God opened a door, in answer to those prayers, and the people were freed after the government toppled. Prayer power completely changed history!

We are told in God's Word that we have available to us the "resurrection power." Now that's pretty powerful and if you are like me, we don't see that power often. Probably because we don't ask for it or live the way we should be living. BUT, I have seen and read about much power through prayer. With prayer, I believe we come alongside of God as we pray and He does powerful work in answer to our prayers. The miraculous happens!!! Maybe that is one way the "resurrection power" is shown in our lives.

In Acts 1:8 we read that we also have the Holy Spirit's power available to us as well. We can speak, have courage, boldness, insight, special abilities and authority with the Holy Spirit's power working in us. God does have work for us to do (like intercession) and He empowers us to do those good works. In Lois Ministries we are all about using the power available to us in intercession for our children and grandchildren. Many Moms and Grandmothers are seeing prayer power changing lives. We are coming alongside of God and interceding for these loved ones and God's power is at work in many lives. Miracles are indeed happening and prayer power is being used in a very effective, life-changing way.

Don't Give Up

Psalm 22:8

Commit your cause to the Lord and let him deliver...let him rescue the one in whom he delights.

It has been a busy spring and it has been hard to meet for prayer with my Lois Ministry group. I miss them and miss the prayer times we have for our children and grandchildren.

We left FL mid April, met some friends for Birding in the UP of MI, then returned to our home in Manistee only to discover that it had been junked by our renters. Some dear friends had already come in to clean it but there is still much to be done. We emptied out the house and have been cleaning, fixing, and restoring for weeks now, taking a couple weeks off to visit our family in MN. We are now settled in, well, as much as we can. Air mattresses are our beds, we can only cook by an electric fry pan or grill and just recently got hot water....so you might say, we are camping out at the farmhouse. We have what we need to get by, thanks to friends and Goodwill. Our hearts are in this job of restoration but our bodies are fighting it. We still don't know if we will even have this home a year from now.....that all depends on the bankers here in the area. Will they work with us, is the big question, and we hope to know more next week. The house is up for sale, but we are considering making MI our home state again and it would be nice to stay here. So that is the update from the Bos'.

In all this time away from FL, we have been able to visit the family. It has been good to see everyone and we look forward to more time this summer with them here at the farmhouse. Seeing the grandchildren, always reminds me the need for lifting them up in prayer......to never give up, even in these busy times of our lives.

I have been feeling a bit guilty lately about that.....as I said before, not being able to meet with other Grandmothers. Even though I have prayed on my own there is something about gathering together with others to pray for our own family members as well as others. As I have always said, there is "MUCH power in MUCH prayer". Yes, we will have busy times going on in our lives, BUT I will never give up!!! I can see the spiritual battle going on for these kids and I will fight for them in prayer!!!

There is a story about never giving up and MUCH prayer:
In the summer of 1876, grasshoppers nearly destroyed the crops in MN. In the spring of 1877, farmers were worried. They believed that the dreadful plague would once again visit them and again destroy the rich wheat crop, bringing ruin to thousands of people. The situation was so serious that Gov. John S. Pillsbury proclaimed April 26th as a day of prayer and fasting. He urged every man, woman and child to ask God to prevent this terrible plague. On that April day all schools, shops, stores and offices closed. There was a quiet hush over all the state.
The next day dawned bright and clear. Temperatures soared to what they ordinarily were in midsummer, which was very unusual for April. Minnesotans were devastated as they discovered billions of grasshopper larvae wiggling to life. For three days the unusual heat persisted. (Despite all this the people continue to pray.) It appeared that as the larvae continued to hatch it wouldn't be long before they started feeding and destroying the wheat crop.
However, on the fourth day, the temperature suddenly dropped, and that night frost covered the entire state. The result - it killed every one of those creepy, crawling pests as surely as if poison or fire had been used. It went down in the history of MN as the day God answered the prayers of the people.

Always pray - never give up. Never doubt that God can do a miracle. His ways are so much higher and better than our ways. I say again......Pray always and never give up!!!

Praying Grandmothers

I just finished reading a book which was a sweet story about the relationship between a grandmother and a granddaughter. After reading the book I reflected on the story and began wishing I had this delightful of a relationship with all 11 of my grandchildren.

I began to think about my relationship with my grandmothers as well. I loved each of them and miss them greatly. It would be amazing to be able to sit down and ask them questions that I have about their growing up years and my parents growing up years.

I then began to think about what I do remember about them and why I loved them. It was always fun to go to their homes. They lived a few hours away from us so we always had to plan our trips to go visit which usually brought much anticipation and joy. I loved having all our families together as we ate, played, talked and stayed up late. Both Grandma's loved to bake and cook so they always had great food around for us to enjoy. I remember one cookie jar that was always filled with store-bought cookies which were a treat in those days. They did make their own bread and that was quite a treat too. We established family traditions which are still carried out in some of our homes today.

I guess the greatest thing I can say about my grandmothers was the unconditional love I always felt from them. In my later years I learned they always prayed for me too. They were Sunday School teachers and loved being in church to worship God and that impacted my life as well. I was the first one in our family that accepted Christ into my life when I was 10 years old. Subsequently, I always felt drawn to find a church to attend even if no one else in my family went. It was because I observed my Grandmothers doing that and I somehow knew I was to be attending church as well.

I've heard many stories about Grandmothers who never gave up praying for their grandchildren and have listened to many testimonies from adults who have said that they are Christians now because of a grandmother who never stopped praying for them. The verse comes to my mind that says, "The heartfelt, fervent prayer of a righteous man (woman) has much power."

One of my "verses for the year" a few years ago was Lamentations 2:19 and I've now re-committed myself to this verse for Lois Ministries and in praying for my children and grandchildren.
"Rise during the night and cry out. Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him in prayer. Plead for your children (grandchildren) as they faint with hunger in the streets."

Our children and grandchildren are needing our prayers now more than ever. This world they are living in is changing right before our eyes. The enemy is working in a stronger way than I've ever seen. We, as Grandmothers, need to be pleading to God for their very lives - physical, emotional and spiritual lives. Recently, I heard on the news that a young teen girl committed suicide because she could not cope with what was happening to her at school. I've seen teens that are angry, hopeless, making bad choices and having no respect for God and His ways......even those that have been brought up in a Christian homes.

We cannot get so involved in our own lives that we don't have time to pray for these children and grandchildren. We need to be interceding on their behalf. It has been said that "History belongs to the Intercessor" and this could be said for us as Grandmothers. History for our next generations could belong to us. It has been proven that many events in history have had prayer warriors behind the scenes, interceding on behalf of their country and it's leaders. I don't know why God works this way but he does works in answer to our prayers!!!!

Yes, having a great relationship with our grandchildren is a wonderful goal. Showing unconditional love is very important too. But one of the most important things we can give, is our "heartfelt, fervent prayers!" Let's never give up, NEVER!!!!

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

Join a Lois Ministries group near year or start one. Contact me at pbospraygap@hotmail.com

The Bible - The Key to Living

The Bible - God's Word, given to us to help us understand who God is, who Jesus is, and how the Holy Spirit works. The Word - a love letter written by many writers who were led by the Holy Spirit and then sent to us by God to tell us how much he loves us. It is also written to teach us how to live in this world, and if read, will bring insight on how we can grow in our daily walk with God. And yet, so many never even pick it up. We have a love letter that has been written and then sent to us. Can you imagine never reading a love letter that has been sent to you by your dear ones? I think we would excitedly open it and read it over and over.



This idea of how this effects our children and grandchildren was brought home to me as I was in conversation with a young teen not too long ago. He attends a Christian school and we were in a conversation about Judas, and he did not even know anything about Judas!! Well, this has opened my eyes to another way we need to be praying for our children and grandchildren.


It seems the Bible has not been taught in many churches or in many Christian school settings except for maybe the popular stories of Christ's birth or the Easter story or perhaps Daniel in the Lions Den. But is the "meat" of the Word really being taught?? Are our children and grandchildren being taught how to live by observing Biblical principles? Or are they memorizing Scripture, like we used to do in Sunday School or Youth Groups, so that God's Spirit can bring it to our minds when we need it?? I'm not sure, but it seems that way, by the conversation I had with this teenager.


We need to pray that our children/grandchildren would grow to find God's Word to "be more precious than much gold and sweeter than honey from the comb." (Psalm 19:10) To pray also "that they might read God's Word and hide it in their hearts so they would not sin against God." (Psalm 119:11) We need to pray too for the christian leaders in their lives, that they would see the need to be teaching them Biblical principles, so they can know how to live in these days we are in.

The Importance of Praise and Worship

One of the most important things we experience in our prayer time in Lois Ministries is the time we spend in praise and worship to our great God. It is so very important to begin with this time because it helps to get our focus on God instead of the heavy concerns we have.

The main reason we spend time in worship shows God that we recognize He is so much more important than what is going on around us. Worship also means that we are lifting God up and bringing oneself low. God is all powerful and He is to be lifted up and praised. David realized this and talked a lot about it in the Psalms and was a great example to us on how to praise God.

The more we praise God the stronger our belief comes and the result of that faith is that God is able to do much more than we can ever ask or imagine. We, as Christians, live in the Spirit realm. The Spirit resides in us, controls us, teaches us, etc. The more we praise God, we focus on Him and the heavenly realm and not the hassles of this world. The heavenly or spirit-realm, brings comfort, empowerment and the result of the praise is seen in answers to prayer. It is only after much praise to our God, for who He is and what He does, that we should bring our requests to Him. Praise and worship empowers our requests. Sometimes all He wants us to do is just praise Him.

I experienced this a few years ago. I had just finished reading a devotional about God being able to heal and I was meditating on this thought when I heard God say, "test me in this." He knew I had been bothered by a spot on my leg for several weeks. It had bled, gotten bigger and it would not heal. After trying all kinds of things, I was becoming concerned and wondered if I should set up a Dr. appointment. After I heard this whisper from the Lord I then asked how to do it, since everything else I had tried hadn't worked. He instructed me to put my finger on it and pray. Well, first of all I wanted to help by putting antibiotic cream on it and he said no, just put your finger on the spot and not ask anything, just praise Him!! So I began to thank Him for the healing, for His power, and for his greatness. Everyday my praise became more and more full of faith and I was rejoicing, and thanking Him for being the Creator God, for creating me, and for the healing He would do!! I prayed Scripture that was just worship and praise to God.....often out of the Psalms. After a week or so of this I began to see the spot dry up and He even told me I could begin to put something on it. It completely healed with no scar at all!!! Praise God!!

I was surprised by this healing and also surprised how my faith grew as I just spent time in worship and praise!! This was a very great lesson for me and one I will never forget.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is from II Chronicles 20 where we read of the story of Jehoshaphat, who was able to win the day, because he sent his Praise Team in first before anyone else and the battle was won in a miraculous way. You need to read this!!

Fighting for our Children and Grandchildren

FIGHTING FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

I cannot forget a broken father who shared his concerns for his children this past weekend. So many needs and the kids growing up in a world that wants those children to conform to it's ways, many of which are not God's ways. Several of them are going the way that is not God's ways.

My devotional this morning said it all. This is from a little devotional that is available at our church and there are no authors listed but the devotional is called, "The WORD for you TODAY." I would like to share it with you.

It begins with the verse from I Samuel 4:21 which says that "She named the child "Ichabod" which means "the glory has departed from Israel" Eli, the High Priest had lived to see his two sons killed in battle, the Ark of the Covenant captured by the Philistines and then his grandson is named Ichabod. The devotional continues: "There's a lesson here. Today the devil is trying to take the Ark - God's influence - out of our homes. Through media and peer pressure the forces of darkness are seeking to capture the minds of our children by exposing them to the wrong values. Mom, Dad, what's being written over your house? "The glory has departed", "or "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Jos 24:15) We are in a war, but a lot of us have not been at war!! If we're going to "fight the good fight" for and with our children, we need to get our act together. Children don't mind following someone who's showing by example how it's done, and who's doing it with them. Hannah, Eli's neighbor was such a parent. After years of being childless she made a wow to God: "If you will give me a son, I will give him back to you all his life." (I Sam 1:11) God answered her prayer with Samuel, who became one of Israel's greatest prophets. Later God gave Hannah five more children. That's because He knew He could fulfill Hannah's deepest longing and that it wouldn't make her selfish. He knew she was more interested in His glory and benefit than she was in her own. Parent, can God trust you like that?"

Years ago, I remember Pastor Charles Stanley saying "Most Christians are in a war and they don't even realize it." And I've learned it is so true.....I can remember times I've fought the enemy, and thankfully, I had been taught the spiritual weapons to do that with. We need to pray today like we've never prayed before. Satan, is out to destroy these children and grandchildren. Will we fight for them? Will we "war" in prayer for them?

We are back in FL and glad to be home. The sun is shining, sliders open with breezes blowing and it is warm!!! MN, WI and MI were beautiful but COLD!!! It was wonderful to be with family over the holidays though and we treasure those times.

While I was up there I tried to post but it never came through so thought I would try it again. Here's hoping it comes through this time!!!

GETTING STARTED

I've met with and talked with several women lately who have heard about Lois Ministries and they wondered what it took to start a group. It's very easy....find a leader, invite women over and pray!! :)

The groups that are currently meeting have a leader that has signed a Leader Application Form and then invited women to join them to pray for their children and grandchildren. The LAF is basically a statement that says you agree to the Guidelines and Vision Statement. There are also available "Tools" that will help you get started with your group which include Monthly Devotionals, Prayer Cards, Resource links, and ideas from other groups who currently meet.

The whole idea of meeting TOGETHER to pray is the power that comes from cooperate prayer. I once came upon a saying that has stuck with me through the years that says:

No Prayer-----No Power

Little Prayer-----Little Power

Much Prayer----Much Power

I have seen this in action through the years - that when people come together to pray, there is much greater power and much encouragement as all involved see answers to prayer.

I'm reminded of this when I watch the beginning scene of "It's a Wonderful Life"......where it shows much prayer going up to heaven for George Bailey. The rest of the movie shows how those prayers are answered. That gives me a picture of how our God hears and answers our prayers. Or how about the parable in Luke 11 about the man who has the persistent friend who won't give up and kept bothering him with his request. Well, times that "one" by many women who are bothering God with prayers for their children and grandchildren. You can believe that God will hear and answer those prayers. At the end of that parable is Luke 11:9 which says, "So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

The Lois Ministries groups that are now meeting are seeing great things happening over and over as they come together weekly asking, seeking and knocking on behalf of those precious children and grandchildren. Prayers are being answered in ways that we cannot even imagine.

So if you want to get started contact me and I will get the forms to you so you can get started and begin to see God working in the lives of your loved ones......in ways that you cannot even imagine.