Day 60: Ember Faith Prayer Countdown

As we continue our Ember Faith Prayer Countdown mini series on community today we want to pray for Ember's extended family, specifically uncles, aunts, and cousins. I (Shane), just as Lauren did, had many fond memories of my Grandparents. One of the things I most enjoyed about going to to my Grandparents house was knowing that my cousins were there. In fact one of my cousins just posted this on her page... I totally agree!!!
                               
Despite how fun playing with our cousins were when we were little they are just a fraction of our extended family. I have an uncle who took me to the movies regularly and another one who would pass on to me his "out dated" electronic devices... (what I mean by out dated is... THIS NEW PRODUCT A is Awesome!!! then the next week they add part B to it... so he buys product B with the new feature and give me the one that is "out dated" by a week.) I had a great uncle that taught me to fish... I COULD GO ON BUT YOU GET THE POINT. My extended family poured into my life and even today if I needed help I know my family would be there. In today's culture that is not always the case. I want Ember to have an extended family experience like both Lauren and I have enjoyed.

     As I was prepping for this post i searched out for a passage about extended family and this is the one that summed up what we want for Ember...

‘Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the stranger’s family, after he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; or his uncle or his uncle’s son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself. Leviticus 25:47-49 (NKJV)

   This passage depicts a situation where family can reach out and redeem or help a family member in need.It is my desire that Ember never finds herself in trouble... (I know unrealistic) so this is my prayer... that in those times of need one of her brothers or her uncle or her uncle’s son may redeem her; or anyone who is near of kin to her in her family may redeem her. 

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for the family you've gifted me with, the fun, the games, the support, they all have meant so much to me and now i just pray that you bless Ember with a supporting family as well. I pray that her family will be the example that they should and that as they seek you Ember can see you in them. Allow her to cherish the gift of family and give her family a desire to be invested in her life. In Jesus' name, I pray this prayer for a godly community that will support our daughter. Amen.

Day 61: Ember Faith Prayer Countdown

As we continue to pray for the community that will surround Ember and be a support network for her throughout her life, I (Lauren) remember how important extended family was to me when I was growing up. Today, I am specifically talking about grandparents. My grandparents always made me feel loved. They may have spoiled me a little bit, but they always made me feel special. They would help my parents out by buying things that we needed. My dad's parents, always bought us much needed clothes and gave us money for school trips, and my mom's parents would often bring us dinner and a couple gallons of milk when they came to visit. I was very blessed to have both sets of grandparents involved in my life, and I want the same thing for my daughter. I think grandparents play a key role in supporting and encouraging children and providing the kind of community in which they can succeed. So, today, I want to pray for Ember's grandparents.

Father, we thank You for our parents, and we pray that they will be actively involved in the life of our daughter. Lord, we ask that You would help them to be good and wise examples for Ember and show Your agape love to her. May they realize the important role that they play in the lives of their grandchildren and always look to You for the wisdom to fill that role. This we pray as we await the arrival of our precious gift, Ember Faith.

Day 62: Ember Faith Prayer Countdown

Today we want to pray for a close community for Ember. This will begin a series of prayers for her community, with today being focused on community as a whole and the coming days focused on specific parts of her community.

Why is a community important? Who is our community? I'm so glad you asked... Both of  these questions have biblical answers.

First Why... The question of why we need community was answer by God in Genesis 2:18

And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 

                                                                                               Genesis 2:18 (NKJV)

God created man to be a social creature. We need a community around us simply because God knew that it would not be good for us to be alone.

This brings us to the who...

Jesus gave us an example of community by calling 12 men to go with him and partner with his purpose. They would share meals, stories, insights, and a common purpose. Jesus came into the world, lived in the world, and ministered to the world but there were times when he separated himself from the world and drew near to his close community (His Twelve Disciples). Our community should be like Jesus', close friends and family members who we share meals, stories, insights, and a common purpose with. Simply put... people that will support us and encourage us and people who we can encourage and support.

Part of my community is the radio station where I (Shane) work. These friends were the first to throw Ember a baby shower. As we were "showered" with things that Ember would need I began to think about how wonderful it is that both Lauren and I are part of several different communities that rush in to help when needed, encourage us when we are down, and share life experiences with us as friends. We want our daughter to always be a part of a close community that will support her throughout life.


Dear Father, I thank You for the community that You have already begun to form around Ember. We see this gift of community through the out pour of support displayed by those who have given us their well wishes and prayers and thrown us baby showers. I pray that You will continue to shower Ember with not just any community, but godly community. When the world becomes too much for her to handle, may she have Christ centered communities to run to. In Jesus' name, I pray this prayer for a godly community that will support our daughter. Amen.

Day 63: Ember Faith Prayer Countdown

We hope that throughout these prayers, it is abundantly evident that we care deeply about our daughter and about her becoming who God has created her to be. God has a calling on each of our lives. Many people believe that God only calls certain people to ministry, but in reality,we are all called to serve God. As we fulfill the general call that God has placed on all those who know and love him (think the Great Commission in Matthew 28), He begins to reveal to us His specific call on our life (to be a teacher, architect, worship leader, counselor, etc.).  Today, we pray that God would reveal to Ember her life's calling and that she would live according to His purpose and plan for her.

You see all things;

You saw me growing, changing in my mother’s womb;

Every detail of my life was already written in Your book;

You established the length of my life before I ever tasted the sweetness of it.

Your thoughts and plans are treasures to me, O God! I cherish each and every one of them!

How grand in scope! How many in number!

 If I could count each one of them, they would be more than all the grains of sand on earth. 

Their number is inconceivable!

Even when I wake up, I am still near to You.

Psalm 139: 16-18 THE VOICE

For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. 

Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.

Deuteronomy 7:6 NLT

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, 

for you have been called by God.

Ephesians 4:1 NLT

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that You would give us a desire and give us the strength to live out the calling  You have placed on our lives. Lord, reveal to us our specific calling and help us to walk in that calling. We want to show our daughter what it looks like to live in the center of Your purpose and plan. May Ember know that You have a purpose for her life! In Your perfect time, reveal to her the specific calling You have given her. May she find joy in serving You and living out Your plan for her. This we pray as we faithfully wait for our precious daughter to be born!