It’s a dark and stormy day as I write Thursday afternoon. The rain should become more sporadic through the day, so hopefully the flood warnings for this evening won’t become reality.
But what better activity can we take part in on an overcast day than counting blessings. I’m sharing with Susanne and friends at Living to Tell the Story.
1. Jason’s birthday was this week. We enjoyed celebrating him with homemade deep dish pizza, salad, bread sticks, and carrot cake at his and Mittu’s house.
2. An improved hair dryer.I turned my hair dryer on one morning to discover it was suddenly turbo-charged. My husband had used it one morning and thought it was running a little sluggishly, so he took it apart and vacuumed out the lint and dust inside. I can dry my hair in half the time now!
3. Praying with people is something I approach reluctantly. I’m not sure why—maybe it’s just my natural introvert tendencies. The most recent church we were members of didn’t have a mid-week prayer service, though we prayed together at Bible studies and such. Several of the churches we’ve visited over the last few months had Wednesday night prayer meetings, but usually the pastor led in prayer after everyone gave prayer requests. The church we’re currently attending has a prayer meeting where we split up into groups of three adults and a few teens or children. The idea is for us not only to get to know the younger folks, but that they might learn from praying with older people. Then the young ones are dismissed to a time in the gym while the adults keep praying.
It’s a little uncomfortable until I find whoever I am going to pray with. But I am always glad for having prayed together. Last night, one of the women I was with was either very perceptive, or the Holy Spirit was guiding her (probably both things were true) as she expanded her prayer beyond the few sentences I shared.
Then it was really sweet praying with children. We had three girls with us who were maybe 8-10. They were so earnest in sharing prayer requests and were not afraid to join right in when we took turns praying.
4. A perfect word of encouragement from Scripture right when I needed it.
5. A bright new day. Friday morning, the storms and flood warnings are over, we didn’t lose power, and Jim made it home safely from a day trip for work.
Have you found bright spots in your week?
Stray Thoughts 
I love how God sends the perfect word of encouragement at the perfect time. 🙂 Have a blessed weekend! 🙂
Thank you, Melissa–you, too!
Oh I love how your new church does prayer time. That’s wonderful. I love when I lead Book Club and we end in intercessory prayer. I used to be like you…very introverted when it came to praying out loud. But then someone reminded me, that since I’m a small group ministry leader, that I need to model this. And she said “just talk to God out loud like you do when you’re praying by yourself quietly”. And she was right….my fear left. I think it’s just awesome that the young girls joined you in prayer.
Happy Birthday to Jason…the food sounds delish.
Well we here in eastern NY now have a dismal grey rainy day but that’s ok….i had two perfect summer days this week and i need to bake today for a family BBQ tomorrow so all is good. I figure God is still in control..even with these climate changes…He’s in charge!!
That was nice of your husband to fix your hair dryer!
Happy weekend
I’m not afraid to pray out loud or in front of people. My preference is for praying all together as a group with a few people leading in prayer. But it’s probably true that when we’re all together, a lot of us battle sleepiness or our minds wandering while others pray.
Breaking into groups and finding another couple of people to pray with can be awkward. Especially when you’re new, as we are. But I have to admit, we get to know each other better when praying in smaller groups. Some would feel freer to share a prayer request or pray together in a small group rather than in front of everyone. So, I see the value of it. It’s just getting over that initial awkwardness of finding people and getting started.
ah…I see what you mean. I much prefer praying in a small group and I definitely feel freer to share certain requests with close intimate friends vs people I’ve just met.
I love your super charged hair dryer…and that your husband quietly fixed it for you!!:) Love language is definitely acts of service – isn’t that nice!!?!:)
Definitely. 🙂 And the funny thing was, I didn’t even know the hair dryer needed fixing. I was so used to how it ran that it didn’t occur to me it needed work.
Interesting on the hair dryer! I keep mine on the bathroom counter and have noticed dust building up over its vent. That’s awesome that your husband could take it apart and improve it! I feel the same on praying aloud. I feel glad I’ve done it afterwards, but it’s not something I seek out. When I was asked last-minute to lead a Bible study group last fall, it always felt awkward for me to have to lead the group prayer at the end. I guess praying for me feels so much like just talking with a friend — and then to feel like I need to do that aloud in front of various others listening feels odd and performative, even though it’s not meant that way. I love that the kids joined in. Happy birthday to your son!
We don’t have church groups here, at least I don’t know any. Senior people go to church but the young generation not. Even more and more marriages are not done with a priest. Funerals neither. Well, it depends where you live and in which family you are raised up. If I would have been born in Egypt I would probably be Muslim and in India or China Buddhist !
You made me smile when I read about your hairdryer and how your husband fixed the problem!!!! Happy birthday to Jason!
That birthday dinner sounds delicious! How nice to have a turbo-charged hair dryer that saves time.
I like the idea of integrating prayer time with a mixed group. Sounds like you are becoming more comfortable with the practice.
Glad for the brightness after the storm and that precious and timely word of encouragement.
Happy Birthday to Jason! His celebration dinner sounds yummy!
Your ‘new’ blow dryer sounds like a great improvement. And that was way better than going out to buy a new one.
Prayer times seem to be less common although our church does have opportunities to pray with our prayer team at every service.
I think we got that same storm Thursday night. Love the thunder and lightning. And rain which we need.
I love the way your church does prayer with the children and adults praying together and that the children are confident enough to join in and pray!