tuesday tuesday tuesday

hey y'all

I hope you're having a delightful Tuesday!  What a super dull day of the week, but very necessary, I believe.

And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."  And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse.  And it was so.  And God called the expanse Heaven.  And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
Genesis 1:6-8 (ESV)

I love the English Standard Version because I love the verbiage.  I really like the way the words are written out.  It is translated from original writings, but in more of today's language than the King James Version.  Definitely one of my top favorite translations.

Anyway, onwards to today's prayer...

My glorious Father,

Thank you so much for this Tuesday.  Thank You for the opportunity to help women become mothers today, God, I am so grateful for that.  Thank You for supplying the means necessary for me to shadow a clinical nurse practitioner tomorrow- I am very excited to do so!

So since it's Tuesday I want to pray for the United States.  Goodness God, there is so much going on here politically.  Gay rights, abortion, TSA observing text messages and emails and other communications, already the talk of who is running for President in 2016, the issues over the Navy Seals that died overseas in August 2012... Oh Lord, the list does continue.  I find it so hard to decide where I stand on these topics so that I can vote consciously and be a good citizen, thankfully, votes are far between these days so there isn't a lot of pressure.  So I just want to pray to vote and act the way You want me to.  I know there are Christians all over America praying for the state of the Union and I pray we all act to keep America in Your hands.

I lift up our President and his Cabinet, the House, the Senate, the Supreme Court, and every other person holding office in government at any level, in any state, in any parish/county/city throughout America.  We are looking to our leadership to represent and support us, and though money often seems to have a louder voice these days, I pray that they remember what their job is.  And no matter what is coming for this nation, God, please be with us.

In Your name I pray, amen.

[xoxo]

so. behind. on. prayers.

oh my gosh y'all, this resolution is so much trickier to manage than I anticipated. This week in clinical was crazy, trying to figure out how to manage my schedule on the northshore with all my things in the city. What to bring, what to leave... Y'all. It made a total mess of my schedule. I can't exactly say I'm looking forward to living out of a suitcase for half a week, every week, for the next 4 weeks. But I am looking forward to every day in the labor & delivery unit and helping more women become mommas and taking care of the littlest babies I have ever seen... I love.

So... We're off!

monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday

world, united states, greater new orleans, church community

My beautiful and glorious Heavenly Father,

What a week it has been, God. It has been so wonderful being in a labor & delivery unit. I can't wait to see how the rest of this rotation goes and be even more involved in the most amazing, but most everyday, of miracles. I am so honored You brought me to this place and I ask for Your continued grace and an openness do mind and spirit as I learn how to be an L&D nurse. 

First and foremost, my God, I want to pray for the world. And not the world that I know, my short-reaching, nearsighted, few-hundred-thousand-populated-at-most tiny portion of the world, but the whole actual world. With all the heartbeats You're counting and all the breaths You're allowing. Blessings that we don't even know, God, too great are they for our minds to comprehend, but is all in a moment's work for Your heart. I pray for every soul on this Earth, God. I know You have placed all of us here for a reason and purpose, and I pray that these purposes are realized and the glory comes back to You. Your heart must break a million times a day for all the heartbreak You witness. I am so sorry for our imperfections. 

I want to pray for my country, God, the good ol USofA. God, I love my country. I love what was scribed into our foundation so many years ago. I feel incredibly blessed to live here. I am so thankful You allowed me to be born in and be a citizen of. I thank You, God. We live in a state of constant turmoil here God, and it can be hard. Legalities and repression and bullying and indecision and greed can oftentimes seem our rulers here. Please hold us and watch over us, God. We're a bit of a mess. And I know everything gets better when You're a part of it, so I pray that happens here. 

For New Orleans and the surrounding communities and suburbs, God, please take us into Your knowing and loving hands. I am blessed to live in an area where I can comfortably be myself, but I know many here are uncomfortable, and I know many others feel not just uncomfortable but repressed and struck down. I pray these feelings are lifted. I pray for more love to be abundant in this great city. I pray for those who are without warm coats, food, and homes to find those things, God. I pray for all of us to find the love in our hearts and share it among ourselves in the New Orleans cityscape. I remain unconvinced that there is anywhere more interesting, and rich with history, that one can live in the United States. Thank You for blessing me with the opportunity to live and learn and work and love in this great city. 

Lastly, my God, I return to You with prayers for my church community. It is far-reaching in this town and I love that so many people are a part of it. I know we have been blessed with amazing pastors and staff. It is really easy to see Your hand in the church, blessing it, allowing Your love to shine through it and working through it for the members of the community and New Orleans proper. I am so thankful for this community and what it means to me. I pray Your love never leaves it. I pray we always know Your presence and seek it. I am so thankful for STUMC, God. Thank You for it in my life. 

Thank You again for what this week has meant to me and what is yet to come in it, God. Keep me near You, drawing ever nearer into Your presence and grace. Oh, God, I love you. 

In Your most glorious name I pray, amen. 

[y'all have a wonderful Thursday now... more regular prayers are on their way.]

[xoxo]