Prayer Archives - Page 4 of 4

June 1, 2018 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Farewell to My MOPS Table

Dear Staci, Denae, Dawn, Melissa, Jenn, and Nikki, the MOPS (mother of preschoolers) at my table:

Thank you for allowing me to be the MOPS mentor mom for your “Courageous Contessa” table group this year. From breakfast and crafts to conversations and topic discussions, our table activities were meaningful and fun.

Thank you for giving me the privilege of praying for you. I treasured that aspect of of MOPS mentoring. Thank you also for communicating with me by writing out thoughts and asking for prayer in your mentoring journals. I am honored that you shared the events of your life with me this past year. Please know that I took those situations to God in prayer. I personally cannot face those issues or come up with solutions, but I know that God loves you and that His power and wisdom can effect ideal changes in your life. Even if you did not use the journals, I enjoyed praying for you regularly.

Our table discussions were fun and supportive; I hope you can remember and be encouraged by your time with this group. I still laugh at the concept of a “man poop,” or how to shut out the world and take a mini-vacation. (Thank you, Staci!) Dawn, your dedication to MOPS, obvious when you joined us after working night shift, was inspiring. This group’s willingness to share concerns with each other, from infant sleep schedules to work-husband-child-life balance, built a lot of trust and support. May God continue to nurture the relationships and validation you received, both at our table and at MOPS overall.

Staci, thanks for being a great table leader. Your transparency, insight, and skill at keeping us on topic were much-appreciated. Thanks also for coordinating group playdates and sending reminders of MOPS events.

My prayer for you Courageous Contessas is based on Isaiah 40:11:

May God be your shepherd and show you how He carries you close to His heart. May you recognize God’s leading in your life as a mom of littles. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

January 21, 2017 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

A Quick Morning Prayer

However chaotic my children’s morning—grabbing lunches and backpacks, riding in the car, walking along a sidewalk, or scrambling to catch the bus—I prayed this prayer with them before they went to school:

Dear Lord,

We pray for eyes to see as Jesus does,

Ears to hear as Jesus does,

And lips to speak the kind, loving words of Jesus.

In His name we pray. Amen.

What a privilege it is to pray with our children. In the craziness of our busy mornings, may God help us lift up our hearts and attitudes in prayer. As role models for our children, we join with them to pray for God’s help to be more like Jesus.

Tim S. (former associate youth pastor at North Valley Christian Fellowship in San Jose, CA) shared this prayer with me, explaining how his mother prayed for her children everyday before school. May this prayer bless your family as it has ours for 15+ years. Thanks Tim and Tim’s mom!

September 28, 2015 by Kristina Lunde 2,069 Comments

Praying for the Terminally Ill: Four Rs for Ruth

My mother’s best friend and prayer partner, Ruth, battled breast cancer for years. When the cancer invaded her bones, Ruth’s army of prayer warriors beseeched God to slay the dreaded disease. For many years God miraculously subdued Ruth’s cancer and pain as she continued to write, teach, counsel, and minister for His glory.

My prayers for Ruth were admittedly often fear-based rather than faith based. I could not imagine such a strong woman of God being overpowered and her ministry silenced by this horrendous cancer. As when my mother was on hospice, I frequently hesitated to pray for healing, for fear that God would answer with His ultimate healing. Our loved ones are welcomed into heaven and live eternally pain-free, but those of us left behind have to cope without them. (No, God, that’s not what I meant! I wanted you to heal her here and now – for us.) My selfish desire for them to be healthy here on earth does not always match up with God’s plan for them, and I am left to grieve the difference.

When I asked God how to pray for Ruth, He gave me a prayer mnemonic that I now use for anyone facing the end of their earthly life. These are the four Rs for Ruth:

1. Relief of pain

May God grant wisdom to everyone involved in decision-making as the focus shifts from medical cure to palliative care. May the pain be miraculously eased by God’s power and provision throughout the remaining hours/days/months of life.

2. Rest and sleep

In the midst of pain and illness, may God give sweet sleep and rest.

3. Relationship with spouse/family

In the time warp of illness and pain, may God shower this couple/family with precious intimacy as their earthly time together draws to a close.

4. Reconciliation

May God orchestrate time schedules, travel arrangements, and interactions as family and friends come to say goodbye. May God’s peace and emotional healing provide closure to relationships.

Lord, teach us to pray, even when our loved one’s ultimate healing leaves us grieving.

[Originally posted March 2015]

December 19, 2014 by Kristina Lunde 2,034 Comments

Runaway Rebecca

Dear Runaway Rebecca,

Thank you for playing that fun game with me at MOPS!

The MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group met upstairs at the church, while you and the other “Moppettes,” or little ones, were entertained downstairs. As a mentor mom, I stayed upstairs to lead a discussion group. Doesn’t seem like that long ago that I was getting up two hours before an event, racing around the house to get kids ready (with myself as an afterthought), and then schlepping two strong-willed children and lots of assorted stuff to an event. Now those teenagers are busy in school all day, and my volunteering and Bible study activities don’t require heavy lifting and kid-corralling.

But I still remember my kid-corralling skills, and that’s why your game was so much fun. In stealth-like style, you squeezed your three year old self out the front door amid the mom brigade of strollers, toddlers, diaper bags, and other kid paraphernalia. As I stood outside talking with the other, also quite relaxed, mentor mom, I saw the concerned face of your mom Rose, as she held the door open and called your name. Rose had already worked a full morning: she planned, organized, set up, presented, and then cleaned up for her many responsibilities with the food, hospitality, and decorations.

That look in her eyes told me everything; likely she had turned to quickly finish something and then looked back only to find that you, her precious Rebecca, were gone. Not really gone, just out of reach and off to the races.

Clomp, clomp, clomp – your princess shoes clattered as you raced down the sidewalk.

Swish, swish, swish – that sparkly pink dress swayed as fast as your little legs could clomp.

Bounce, bounce, bounce – your adorable blond ringlets danced to the swish of your gait.

Although relieved to find you, your mother’s attempts to call you back were completely ignored. By this time I was running off to chase you, calling over my shoulder to ask your mom if I could get you.

“I’m sending my friend Miss Tina to get you,” I heard Rose call out as I chased Runaway Rebecca, a little vision in pink speeding along the concrete.

Leaning down toward you as I finally caught up with you, Rebecca, I heard the most precious little laughter. What a sweet, albeit impish, giggle you have! I started laughing with you, determined to make the trip back to your mom just as much fun. With a couple of silly comments and a hand-in-hand u-turn, we were soon racing back to your mom together. What a fun race that was! I still smile when I think of your adorable giggle and the wild Rebecca chase I got sent on.

Oh, how I know the responsibility, fear, and frustration in your mother’s eyes when she lost you in the crowd. Over a decade ago, I was overwhelmed with the responsibility and frustration of mothering my strong-willed children. I felt overworked, overtired, and wondered how I would ever survive. And yet God has guided me through every step of this parenting journey, as He is doing for your mother also.

May God refresh your dedicated mother, little Runaway Rebecca, with lots of those precious giggles and time to play with you. May our loving God always corral you with a gentle turnaround when your strong will tempts you to run from His love and protection.