Tag: Friendship

The Prayer’s of Black Women

October 23

Everyone has friends or at least everyone should have friends. When I was younger and in my twenties I had a friend that baked me a birthday cake each year. And every year I missed the message God of the Universe was sending because of emotional pain. I’d been through so much mentally. My existence wasn’t important, at least to me. Yet, to this friend and to God, I was a diamond in the rough. She, like God, saw through my pain. Her kindness displayed that I was worthy to be loved. My friend is now off and living her best life. It’s been years since we’ve gone to lunch or even talked. She’s extremely occupied with traveling, family and running the family business.

My life was changed with riches of the heart because of birthday cakes! Let’s pray!

PRAYER:

God of the Universe, today and everyday I visit with you. I tell you my sorrows, my joys and about the pain of others. As I remember to thank you for your many blessings. Today, I thank my friends and I thank you for the gift of friendship. Each has played important roles in my life. Wherever they are I pray your favor over them and those they love. I continue to ask for your favor upon me and my family and our descendants. Amen

Quote for Today: Building Friendships

Photo credit: Marius Bugge
Photo credit: Marius Bugge

If you are able to figure out how to be truly interested in someone you meet with the goal of building up a friendship instead of trying to get something out of that person, the funny things is that almost always, something happens later down the line that ends up benefiting either your business or yourself personally.  Stop trying to “network” in the traditional business sense, and instead, just try and build up the number and depth of your friendships, where the friendship itself is its own reward.

—Tony Hsieh, Zappos founder and president

 

Prayers of Black Women: Appreciating Friends

Clay Balls

Photographer: Unknown
Photographer: Unknown

A man was exploring caves by the Seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls.  It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake.  They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him.  As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.

He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock .  Inside was a beautiful, precious stone!

Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls.  Each contained a similar treasure.  He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left.

Then it struck him.  He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!

It’s like that with people.  We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel.  It doesn’t look like much from the outside. It isn’t always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it.

We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy.  But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.

There is a treasure in each and every one of us.  If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay.  May we see the people in our world as God sees them.

I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with you. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.

Point to ponder:  Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends.  Life is too short and friends are too few!

‘Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps if you are not willing to MOVE your Feet’

Author:  Unknown 

The Prayers of Black Women: Prayer For Those That Talk Too Much

The Man With Leprosy
(Luke 5:12-14)

Artist: Henry Lee Battle
Artist: Henry Lee Battle

¹²While Jesus was in one of the town, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.  When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”  ¹³Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.  “I am willing.” he said.  “Be Clean!”  And immediately the leprosy left him.  14Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.“

Lord, some people talk too much because they want other’s to hear their “know it all” speeches;  then again some people talk too much because of nerves chatter; and, then, Lord, some people talk too much because of self-absorption.  But this prayer is for those that talk to much because of emotional and mental pain that overflows into their daily conversations.

Lord, help the person that is in emotional or mental pain to see that you enter into their lives everyday.  Lord help them to understand you know their spirits are filled with worries.  Let them know Lord they are no different from the man with leprosy when it comes to your unyielding love for your creation.  Lord, allow them to feel your presence; and gently convey to their spirits that you stand waiting to heal their brokenness.  Lord, give them the words to ask in prayer for guidance and healing as they create a dialogue between you and them.

I am asking for you to do these things Lord because:  I have found those that unwittingly share life experiences have been greatly wounded.  And because of their sorrows I come humbly before your Throne of Grace.  So, once again, Lord, I am asking for divine healing for those that talk too much as they try to ease their emotional and mental pains.  Lord, I ask that they find a true friend in you.  Lord, I pray that you begin to peel the layers of untold anguish from their unconscious minds.  Exposing their raw emotions for what they are as you help them to deal with each heartache privately.  For in lessening their spiritual suffering they can find hope.  And in finding hope they will find wisdom in who to share your blessings among and their tribulations with.

Your Loving Daughter,
Annette

The Prayers of Black Women: Can You Please Help My Friend

4213264-261659-vector-illustration-of-a-breast-cancer-pink-ribbon-treeLord, I went to sleep way too early yesterday evening.  And when I woke I was at a lost.  I wasn’t sure what to do with my time.  So I began to search for a young man who was on my heart.  When I could not find him I decided to read post on my Facebook account.  And then Lord I came across the below post of a friend that is fighting cancer:

Sometimes I wish I could just close my eyes & disappear….

Lord, I responded with:  “If you could do that then I would miss you; and the world would be minus a remarkable woman. Sending you a hug from the beautiful state of Colorado.”

Lord, I don’t know the ramifications of her health challenge but you do.  I don’t know how strong her emotional and mental support system is, but you do.  And, Lord, I don’t know how supportive her medical team is, but you do.  But I do know Lord, her illness and concerns are bigger than she and I can handle, therefore, I am bringing them to you.

Please Lord, give her your courage.  I’m asking that peace be still in her life.  I’m praying that joy won’t wait to visit but that it will stop by today and continue to visit everyday.  I’m asking Lord that you give her body the strength to fight for wellness.  I’m praying Lord that you will put a joyful song in her heart; and give her unmovable faith in your abilities.  I’m praying for her medical team.  I’m asking Lord that she has the best doctor’s in her state, city, or town giving her medical attention.  I’m asking Lord that she has favor with each medical staff that comes across her path.  I’m asking for emotional blessings for her family, friends, and loved ones.  I’m asking Lord that you please hold her hand and let her know you are walking with her on this journey.  And most of all I’m asking that she no longer wants to close her eyes and disappear.

Love,
Annette

P.S.

Lord, I sharing one of my favorite songs with those that need to hear something spiritually uplifting.