We hope that this blog is blessing your life in someway.
This week we asked you to pray for our friend and Front Porch sister Tammy and her son Nick and she has asked that we thank you for those prayers. So many prayers were said for Nick and so many people attempted to access his Web site that it actually exceeded the number of hits that the server allowed last week. Isn't God amazing. He sends people into our lives and shows us that through prayer and a willingness to invest in others that we can make a real difference; all for his glory!
We hope that you will continue to keep Nick and the entire family in your prayers.
Can you think of anyone more fitting to talk to us about prayer than Tammy? She offered last week, on the same day of Nick's MRI results, to write the blog for this week, despite great concern over the recent set back in Nick's condition. That is faith! I just know that Tammy's words and thoughts are going to bless you this week.
Tammy wrote a blog on Tuesday, which was wonderfully written, yet at the end of the week she felt like something may have been missing so she re-wrote it and with her permission I am going to post both bc I think they are both wonderful.
Here is the direct link to the blog on Nick's Web site.
http://www.nick7-11.zoomshare.com/3.shtml
Have a wonderful and blessed week!
Sweet Blessings,
Laurie
My Porch of Prayer
by
Tammy Nischan
Most every morning I head to my back porch (only because it is a little more private than my front porch) for some quiet time with God and His Word before I begin my day. It is in this time of solitude that I have a chance to share with God what is on my heart and soul. It is also in this time that God speaks to me through Scriptures, through nature, and through the silence of the morning.
Many times I carry personal concerns and fears to God. I try to balance my requests with praise and adoration for His Son and for His never-ending love and mercy. But I have found that when I begin to lift up those I love to God with the same passion that I have when lifting my own family I grow deeper and deeper in my relationship with my Creator.
I remember a little portion of a poem that my roommate had hanging on the mirror in our dorm room years ago in college. It said,
“Lord, let me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray
My prayer shall be for others.”
I love this poem. The depth of its words haunted me at the young age of 18....”Oh, to have a prayer life that was so “others” oriented!!!!” That was what I longed for!
Many, many years have passed. The opportunity to pray for others has been placed in my lap over and over again. Often I have said, “I'll be praying for you,” or “I'll keep you in my prayers,” only to discover that the prayer never left my lips or entered my heart. Saddened, I would experience great times of guilt and anxiety wondering how I could become the prayer warrior I longed to be.
I have found that keeping a prayer journal helps greatly. Jotting down who you are praying for and why helps to keep you focused so that, like the disciples, you do not drift off to sleep while bringing requests before God. Also, a prayer journal gives you a way to “look back” and see how God has worked and answered your prayers in direct and indirect ways. This written record truly deepens your faith in the power of prayer and gives you the opportunity to continue praying for those whom requested prayer months before. Often seeing someones name and need in your journal will serve as a gentle nudge to send a note or make a phone call or even send an email. And many times God actually uses these acts of kindness as part of the answer to the very prayers we have been praying! Isn't God amazing!? We can pray that someone will feel encouraged, and then almost without even realizing it, we can be the encourager and the answer to our own prayers for someone else.
Also, I have found that praying immediately is a gift that we often overlook. While with someone or on the phone with someone, why not simply say, “Can I pray with you right now?” These spontaneous prayers can be so powerful! I have one friend who will hug me and begin praying over my shoulder. It is so comforting to hear words being lifted to My Father concerning my life from the mouth of a precious friend.
When we step out and start praying deep, genuine prayers for others, we take a risk. The risk is that we will hurt with them and cry with them. The reward is that we will also celebrate with them. Why not start having a risk-taking prayer life? Share your porch of prayer with those who need it!
Prayer on my Front Porch and Back Porch and Everywhere I Walk and Breathe
by Tammy Nischan
I sent Laurie an article on prayer that was probably practical in some ways, but it wasn't a heartfelt writing from my soul to yours. It was an article. Here's my heart:
Through this journey with Nick my relationship with God has become the one and only relationship that matters............I mean really, really matters. I long for Him. I seek Him in His Word every chance I can. I see Him in nature. I hear Him in my children's voices and actions. I feel Him when the wind blows.
Prayer has become so less complicated for me as I have learned that talking with God is no different than talking with your oldest and dearest friend............a friend that never fails, never gives up, never forsakes, never leaves, never judges, never grows weary or tired. A friend whose promises are true! A friend who can carry all that we have on our hearts and then carry even more.
Oh, prayer. What a gift.
If I could unwrap the most beautiful package by undoing a silver bow and pulling away shiny paper, in it I would be content to simply find the gift of prayer.
When we lose someone we love, what do we miss the most? Their voice. The ability to talk with them. God gave us the gift of prayer so that even though Jesus had to return to Him for a time, we could still TALK with Him and He could speak to us through His Word.
Revelation 3:20 says,
20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Embrace the gift of prayer. Listen for God, open the door to your heart, and fellowship with the Creator of the Universe.......................He is knocking and waiting to hear from you! Whether you are on your front porch, your back porch, or somewhere in between.................spend time in prayer.
Thank you for every prayer for my son Nick.
Listening,
Tammy
www.tammynischan.blogspot.com
www.nick7-11.zoomshare.com
This weeks challenge is to begin a prayer journal if you haven't already. This is something that seems like a good idea, but you don't realize the extent of the power and impact it will have on your life and relationship with God and others until you do it. Put it down someplace that you often pray; maybe in the car or by your bedside, by your computer, on the fridge even. Each week write down people you have offered to pray for, as well as open your heart to whomever God might be leading you to pray for then use the journal as a reminder of your promises to others. We all have great intentions but life takes over. This is a simple tool to hold us close to our word and keep us close to God.
by
Tammy Nischan
Most every morning I head to my back porch (only because it is a little more private than my front porch) for some quiet time with God and His Word before I begin my day. It is in this time of solitude that I have a chance to share with God what is on my heart and soul. It is also in this time that God speaks to me through Scriptures, through nature, and through the silence of the morning.
Many times I carry personal concerns and fears to God. I try to balance my requests with praise and adoration for His Son and for His never-ending love and mercy. But I have found that when I begin to lift up those I love to God with the same passion that I have when lifting my own family I grow deeper and deeper in my relationship with my Creator.
I remember a little portion of a poem that my roommate had hanging on the mirror in our dorm room years ago in college. It said,
“Lord, let me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray
My prayer shall be for others.”
I love this poem. The depth of its words haunted me at the young age of 18....”Oh, to have a prayer life that was so “others” oriented!!!!” That was what I longed for!
Many, many years have passed. The opportunity to pray for others has been placed in my lap over and over again. Often I have said, “I'll be praying for you,” or “I'll keep you in my prayers,” only to discover that the prayer never left my lips or entered my heart. Saddened, I would experience great times of guilt and anxiety wondering how I could become the prayer warrior I longed to be.
I have found that keeping a prayer journal helps greatly. Jotting down who you are praying for and why helps to keep you focused so that, like the disciples, you do not drift off to sleep while bringing requests before God. Also, a prayer journal gives you a way to “look back” and see how God has worked and answered your prayers in direct and indirect ways. This written record truly deepens your faith in the power of prayer and gives you the opportunity to continue praying for those whom requested prayer months before. Often seeing someones name and need in your journal will serve as a gentle nudge to send a note or make a phone call or even send an email. And many times God actually uses these acts of kindness as part of the answer to the very prayers we have been praying! Isn't God amazing!? We can pray that someone will feel encouraged, and then almost without even realizing it, we can be the encourager and the answer to our own prayers for someone else.
Also, I have found that praying immediately is a gift that we often overlook. While with someone or on the phone with someone, why not simply say, “Can I pray with you right now?” These spontaneous prayers can be so powerful! I have one friend who will hug me and begin praying over my shoulder. It is so comforting to hear words being lifted to My Father concerning my life from the mouth of a precious friend.
When we step out and start praying deep, genuine prayers for others, we take a risk. The risk is that we will hurt with them and cry with them. The reward is that we will also celebrate with them. Why not start having a risk-taking prayer life? Share your porch of prayer with those who need it!
Prayer on my Front Porch and Back Porch and Everywhere I Walk and Breathe
by Tammy Nischan
I sent Laurie an article on prayer that was probably practical in some ways, but it wasn't a heartfelt writing from my soul to yours. It was an article. Here's my heart:
Through this journey with Nick my relationship with God has become the one and only relationship that matters............I mean really, really matters. I long for Him. I seek Him in His Word every chance I can. I see Him in nature. I hear Him in my children's voices and actions. I feel Him when the wind blows.
Prayer has become so less complicated for me as I have learned that talking with God is no different than talking with your oldest and dearest friend............a friend that never fails, never gives up, never forsakes, never leaves, never judges, never grows weary or tired. A friend whose promises are true! A friend who can carry all that we have on our hearts and then carry even more.
Oh, prayer. What a gift.
If I could unwrap the most beautiful package by undoing a silver bow and pulling away shiny paper, in it I would be content to simply find the gift of prayer.
When we lose someone we love, what do we miss the most? Their voice. The ability to talk with them. God gave us the gift of prayer so that even though Jesus had to return to Him for a time, we could still TALK with Him and He could speak to us through His Word.
Revelation 3:20 says,
20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
Embrace the gift of prayer. Listen for God, open the door to your heart, and fellowship with the Creator of the Universe.......................He is knocking and waiting to hear from you! Whether you are on your front porch, your back porch, or somewhere in between.................spend time in prayer.
Thank you for every prayer for my son Nick.
Listening,
Tammy
www.tammynischan.blogspot.com
www.nick7-11.zoomshare.com
This weeks challenge is to begin a prayer journal if you haven't already. This is something that seems like a good idea, but you don't realize the extent of the power and impact it will have on your life and relationship with God and others until you do it. Put it down someplace that you often pray; maybe in the car or by your bedside, by your computer, on the fridge even. Each week write down people you have offered to pray for, as well as open your heart to whomever God might be leading you to pray for then use the journal as a reminder of your promises to others. We all have great intentions but life takes over. This is a simple tool to hold us close to our word and keep us close to God.
2 comments:
Tammy,
Thank you so much for taking time to write us about prayer. I can only imagine how hard it must be to still your heart and mind when everything else seems so out of control. You have blessed my life!
I started a prayer journal last week for the first time ever in my life and this week I am going to take the prayers from my journal to my front porch and I am going to sit each day on my porch and pray for those people I have written down.
Love you.
Hi table number 35 ~ Front Porch Sisters!
I am so blessed to see and hear what the Lord began to form at She Speaks this year. What an amazing thing to witness!
I was there at the conference and recognize a couple of your faces...so thrilled to hear about your blog!
Count me in to pray for Nick...I am praying currently for some other young people battling cancer.
The testimonies of courage and strength from these youth is so powerful...God is using their testimonies to reach numerous folks...He has purpose for all our pain.
I thank you for your obedience to start this group blog thing and for sharing with us His amazing wonderous love!!
You all Rock!!
I will be back often!
Be Inspired,
Vern
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