Train Up Tuesday: Increased Faith

During our recent 2 months of chaos, we had lots of time home...which meant lots of time making due with what was in the cupboards to keep from going to the grocery store. We had plenty, but there are always those items you have to constantly replenish with 3 little boys. Top of the list? MILK!

I know you've heard the stories of the "saints" who needed food or supplies that were miraculously delivered in their times of real need...needs for themselves, orphans, or others. This particular "need" didn't rank up there with those. However, there we were, stuck with just a little milk (enough for one of them), food that "only tastes good when you are having milk with it" as a snack before bed, and the knowledge that there would not be milk for breakfast unless Nana arrived in time the next morning (she alone knew about our "need" and was bringing some by the next morning before church; my husband was out of town and could not fetch said milk or watch little sickly ones so that I could).

So...my boys and I did the only thing we knew to do. We prayed. They knew God hears prayers and answers them. I (though skeptical, honestly), thought this would be a great opportunity to see their faith increased....especially if milk "fell from the sky"! I mean, mine would have been increased, too! Those little voices asking God for something simple as milk, which, again, wasn't an urgent need, were so precious, honest, and sincere. We would have made it fine without the milk. But this need to pray was most important.

Fast forward about 20 minutes later. We await my saintly, very-pregnant-at-the-time sister who was dropping off homemade doughnuts her husband made. We were expecting her to come, but I was in no way going to ask her to stop for milk! She had 2 babies already of her own and things she needed to do.

Her car pulls in. I open the door to see her carrying the doughnuts and lugging a grocery bag obviously full of something heavy, and immediately I know what it is. I call for the boys to come to the door. They are all smiling and celebrating, "Praise the Lord! God gave us milk! God told Aunt Paige!"

He did indeed. My sis "happened" to talk to my mom before arriving at our house and my mom mentioned that we needed milk. You can call it "coincidence"...but God's timing is amazing. My boys told this story to EVERYONE for days! ....and they started praying for EVERYTHING that they saw we "needed" in the following days.

Faith increased? Check! Now to explain the difference between "need" (milk) and wants ("Oreos").

How has your faith been increased lately?

-Ashlie

Train Up Tuesday: Lest I Forget That I Only Have Them a Short Time

Ever have one of those weeks, days, or months where parenting is just plain tough?! That's been me the last few weeks. Yeah, I read the Good Book and other good books, and implement what I know to be true and timeless standards, but sometimes, it's just tough. Lately, it's been one of those "I-love-you-but-I-don't-really-like-you-at-this-moment" kind of seasons.

In times like these (come on, even those of us who see this as "no greater joy" still have times like this, right?...or is it just me?...are those crickets I hear chirping?), I've found great encouragement in a few things:

1. Admit it - to your spouse, to friends, hey, even on (dare I say?) Facebook. I did all of those things recently. My husband is amazing and knows how to refresh my spirit. And all it took on FB was a status update: "I could use prayers today. Having a tough day as a mom/disciplinarian." That alone lit up my wall with encouraging comments and prayers of friends that I know are lifted me in prayer. It also welcomed inbox messages from people who otherwise wouldn't have ministered to me (thinking I otherwise have it "together" all the time).

2. Pray - which is "admitting it" to God, but it is also a way to soften your heart towards your children, because you do want to mold them into God's image and into turning their hearts towards him.

3. Read your Bible. The ultimate in true godly counsel!

4. Good music. My 15 m.o. son figured out how to find music on my iPhone long before I did! The other night, he pulled up one of my favorites (okay, he's not really a genius, he didn't know it was a favorite, but I do think God was working through my baby's fat little fingers at that moment). Jars of Clay "Boys (Lesson One)" - it speaks of a parent handing down lessons of great worth...and the reminder that all this (growing up, parenting) goes by all too quickly...

Sara Groves also has a couple of songs that I'm trying to keep in my heart and mind: "Prayers for This Child" and "Song for My Sons" (the first being a "prayer" and the second being similar to the Jars' song for its "advice").

Hope that brings you some encouragement to keep pressing on!

Ashlie

Just Pray!

We've devoted the past few Wednesdays to the topic of prayer. There are more golden nuggets on the Roof about prayer but today we need to stop and just pray.

My Daddy ended up heading to Joplin, MO over Memorial Day to visit with the recent tornado victims and those ministering to them. The pictures and stories that bring it "home" are spine tingling. It underlines just how much these people need our support-most importantly through prayer. Many of them have lost everything including spouses, children, grandchildren, the list goes on. They have a long road ahead of them. Will you pray for this town and it's people today?

On a personal note and as the article below mentions, this devastation does magnify the importance of building our lives, our home on the Rock so that our own houses can stand!

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ~Matthew 7:25

A Memorial Day to Remember
by Janet Chismar

When Will Graham looked out over Joplin, Missouri, this morning, he saw mile after mile of devastation. The May 22 twister left a swath one mile wide and seven miles long. “The community is literally ripped apart,” he said, trying to put words to the horrific scene he witnessed. “Nothing is left. The streets are wiped clean.”

Joining his father, Franklin, on a Memorial Day visit to the tornado-ravaged community, Will met with Rapid Response Team chaplains and Samaritan’s Purse volunteers working on a holiday to show the love of Christ to storm victims, and with survivors who shared stories of tragedy and triumph.

“We met one 83-year-old lady who survived the tornado by hiding in a little closet with her pet and a picture of Jesus,” said Will. “She was literally trapped in there until her son chain-sawed through the sheet metal to dig her out. But she was smiling and talking about her love for Jesus today.”

Will and Franklin also met a young man who said he had his values “upside down” before the storm. He survived the tornado by diving from his shower into a crawl space under his house. He realizes God spared his life. “After his world was turned upside down,” said Will, “this man’s values are now right side up.”

Both Grahams stressed the importance of prayer. “We come in the name of Jesus Christ and the greatest thing we can do is pray,” said Franklin. “This community has been hit hard. This tornado will go down in the record books. We are focusing on helping people who have lost absolutely everything."

“Pray for the Rapid Response Team chaplains and the Samaritan’s Purse volunteers who are ministering here,” said Will. “Also pray for the churches in this area. Here in the Midwest—in this beautiful, hard-working community—neighbors are helping neighbors. Christians are being the body. People from around the country have come here to help.”

Some 830 people showed up to volunteer on their day off work. “I want to thank the volunteers for all that they are doing,” Franklin said. “We couldn't do what we do without volunteers.”

Overwhelming Magnitude
Preston Parrish, Executive Vice President of Ministry for BGEA, and Ken Isaacs, Vice President of Programs for Samaritan’s Purse, accompanied the Grahams on their visit today. An eyewitness to many disasters himself, Parrish found the scene in Joplin overwhelming: “This tornado has shaken both the community and the people volunteering in Joplin.

“Even the seasoned chaplains are saying this storm has affected them in a way that others haven’t,” Parrish said. “The magnitude of this tornado—you have to see it to even begin to understand it. There has been tremendous loss of life—everybody pretty much knows somebody who has either died, or been injured, or is still missing. You walk through these neighborhoods and smell death.”

Parrish said the tornado gutted several community landmarks, including the high school and hospital. Walmart and Home Depot are demolished.

“An everyday community in middle America has been forever changed,” he added. “People are in shock. Many people are grieving. I talked to a 10-year-old girl and asked if she was afraid as she looked to the future.”

The girl admitted that she was a little afraid, “but I know God is with us.”

People are looking at a future that not only includes rebuilding physically, said Parrish, “but toward a future of having to live, for the rest of their lives, with having been through an experience that has underscored for them that, in an instant, everything they know can change.”

Why We are Here
That, of course, is why we are here, Parrish added. “To help them experience the fact that God is with them, that He has not forsaken them, that He loves them, that while we cannot control the storms that come to us in life many times, we can choose to face them standing on the solid rock, the firm foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

And that is the message that RRT chaplains are communicating. “We are praying with people who are realizing that for the first time now, through the wake-up call of this storm, they need to receive Christ,” said Parrish.

Perhaps no more powerful depiction illustrates the current mood in Joplin than the sign for the local high school. The “J” and “lin” were blown off in the tornado, leaving only “op.”

Somebody took paint and painted “h” before the “op” and “e” after it: “Hope.”

“That is a great picture of the message that can come from this crisis,” Parrish added. “While it’s an awful thing, the thing to learn out of this, is that through faith in Christ, the winds blow, the storms come, the rain falls.

”But if we are founded on the Rock, our lives, our house can stand.”

You can see this article and help through the Billy Graham Association by going here or find more articles and help through Samaritan's Purse by visiting here.

Free-for-all Friday: Praying through Christmas Cards

In years past; I made a Christmas scrapbook where I placed all the photo greeting cards received, however, in all honesty, that scrapbook is on a shelf and the photographs have not received the attention they deserve for the thought that went in to the family photographed, printing and mailing of each. It is no small time commitment or cost to send them out and we so appreciate each one we are honored to receive. As I have two young boys I know it is no easy feat to get a family ready for a portrait.

Here are a few ways to pray for those friends and family that send you a card:

1. Place all the photograph/cards in a basket and each night at dinner have someone in the home select a card. This is a wonderful way to share with your children or spouse the history of the relationship, trials the family may be facing currently or in the past prior to uplifting them in prayer. Then place that specific card in another basket as a symbol that you have prayed for that family/individual. When the basket is empty you can place them all in again and start over if you wish.

2. Number each photograph/card on the back with a number. This would work well with small children that are learning their numbers and dates. For the day of the month you pray for that special family/individual with the number that correlates with the calendar month (months of the year that don't have 31 days families with those numbers will be prayed for the last day of the month). When you have numbered your cards through 31 just start numbering over again (you will have several families to pray for each night depending on the volume of cards received).

3. This same idea can be used by last name. Place all last name A's together etc. through Z and place them in order and pray for those last names one initial per evening.

4. Lastly, if the above ideas are too overwhelming for you I would encourage you to place the cards in a large manila envelope and put aside. In a few weeks I will be sharing how to establish a Prayer Basket and you may want to utilize the Christmas photograph greetings received for the Basket if you opt to implement one for your personal use.

Let's pray for each other in 2011.

I John 5:14-15
"This is the confidence that we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him".

Luke 1:37
"For nothing is impossible with God".

Home Alone, Safe and Sound!

"I cried out to the LORD, and He heard me from His temple in Jerusalem. Then
I lay down and slept in peace and woke up safely, for the LORD was
watching over me."
-Psalm 3: 4-5 The Living Bible Translation

My husband travels a lot with his job. From our early days of marriage, his job would take him out of town for 2 weeks at a time as the organization he works for was moving it's headquarters to the Charlotte, NC area and he was assisting with the move. Now, he travels quite often, usually once a month anywhere from 3-12 days at a time.

I've had to get used to it, and with two small children, this can be very hard at times. You never realize how hard it is to parent until you have to do it alone. 24/7. Everything---meals, entertaining, baths, discipline. Whenever friends hear that I am single-mommying it, I usually hear these responses:

1. "How do you do it? I would go visit my parents for the week!"

2. "I couldn't do it. I would go absolutely crazy being alone for that long without help!"

3. "Don't you get scared staying alone? I would be terrified!"

Well, I would be lying if I didn't say that all of these haven't been true before and sometimes still are. To answer the first question, now that I have children, it isn't as easy to just pick up and go to my parent's or in-law's houses for the week as it was before I had them. The kids are involved in different activities and we have our weekly routines, although it is a lot easier in the summer time. And to add in the second question, yes it is hard at times with no help. Both of our families live at least 2 hours away, leaving us with no family in town. I have to mentally get in the frame of mind that I will be the only parent to these children for "X amount of days". I will say it usually gets harder at the end of the time that my husband is away, especially the last day, and the 4:00-7:00 hours of the day are pure chaos at our house, with the kids screaming or whining and me about to go over the edge! One thing that helps me and my attitude is to hire a babysitter for a night sometimes just so I can go out to Bible study or go run some errands---alone! I also try to have one thing planned to do each day so that we can get out of the house. We meet friends at parks, or just go to Target to walk around. A change of scenery and getting around other people is a big help!

The third question is the one I hear the most. There is something about the sun going down and the night entering into the day that takes down a person's guard and makes them vulnerable. I have to say that I do enjoy putting the kids to bed and knowing that I have the entire night to myself to do whatever I want. But there are times that I sit on the couch and see my dog's ears perk up as if she's heard something and I become a little bit paranoid. And the hardest part? Finally deciding to head on up to bed, while turning the lights off downstairs and walking up the stairs alone. This is when my mind has played tricks on me in the past and I wonder, "Is someone outside watching me through the windows? Do they know I'm going to bed now? ". See?! I would never think things like this during the day, but just because it's dark outside, my mind starts to think crazy things and I don't like it! Then I slip into bed, turn off the lamp on the night stand and usually say a prayer like, "Okay, Jesus. Get us through the night safely. Protect our house and watch over us! PLEASE keep us safe!". This all changed last November.

My husband was on a trip out of the country and our daughter had a school program that we couldn't miss. The babysitter came over to watch our son and after I gave her the instructions for the night, my daughter and I left for her preschool. As I backed out of the driveway, I noticed an old pick up truck parked near our house under a lamp post with just it's parking lights on. "That's kind of strange", I thought but went on my way. Once I got to the school, my mind was very uneasy and I sat through the entire school program praying that God would protect my son and our babysitter. What a relief when I got home and saw the truck gone and everything at home was safe. The next night around the same time, I went to go get our mail and the same truck was in the same spot in the same scenario as the previous night. Our neighbors across the street came home from work as I was getting the mail and they noticed the truck, too. We called the police to report it just as the car pulled away. Normally I wouldn't be scared, but the fact that it was there 2 nights in a row worried me a little. Plus...I was ALONE! That night as I went to bed, I left the outside lights on, the lamps on downstairs and placed our feisty chihuahua in her crate right by the front door. I hesitantly closed my eyes to sleep that night. How strange that the next night, I read these verses in the Bible before I went to bed:

"I cried out to the LORD, and He heard me from His temple in Jerusalem. Then I lay down and slept in peace and woke up safely for the LORD was watching over me." -Psalm 3:5-6

Talk about the Bible speaking at the right moment! It made me so happy to read that and I instantly felt so safe. That same week in my Bible study, the topic was on feeling safe. The passage was discussing that as humans, we go to great lengths to feel safe. We get alarm systems in our homes, we lock our doors and recheck to make sure, we carry mace with us as we walk through dark parking lots, we get dogs to protect us by barking if danger lurks outside. But as Christians, the best security we could ever have is GOD! The power we have just by asking Him to protect and watch over us is amazing. I've always known this but when I read that, with the experience I had had that week, it was like a light going off in my head!

When I told my friends about what took place last November, most of them said, "Donna! You are crazy to stay there by yourself. I would already be at my parent's house!" Believe me, the thought did occur to me. But I realized if I can't feel safe in my own home, with God watching over me and my children, where can I feel safe?

So, now when my husband travels and I turn off the lights to go to bed, I pray Psalm 3:5-6 asking God to help the children and me sleep peacefully and awake safely and I close my eyes knowing that we are safe in OUR home. My husband and protector may not be there physically, but our God is going to protect us with His hedge, as he always does. I know this to be true. If that doesn't make me feel safe and secure, what will?!

Love,

Donna

Free-for-all Friday: Not just another reality show!

We're entering summer, and if you're like many of us at Roof with a View, you may already be missing your fav TV shows as they're on hiatus until Fall. Not to worry~ if you're into reality shows AND in search of some wholesome TV, we may have just the show for you to schedule on those DVRs!

The Children’s Heart Project of Samaritan's Purse identifies children with life-threatening heart disease in countries that lack technology and training, and matches them with North American hospitals and surgeons that donate their time and services. Children's Heart, featuring Cissie Graham Lynch, is a reality program telling the story of three of these children that, without help, are running out of time.

Children's Heart is premiering on network television over the next couple of weeks and we are thrilled today to feature an exclusive Roof with a View interview with Cissie herself.

About Cissie's Heart:

Cissie Lynch in Mongolia with some of Otga's (Children's Heart Project recipient) family members.

How did the concept of Children's Heart begin?
I was really excited about Samaritan's Purse's (SP) Children's Heart Project (CHP) and wanted to challenge the Samaritan's Purse staff to share what SP and CHP are to a whole new audience. I felt it was important to reach a younger generation as well as an audience that wouldn't normally turn on a Christian show. Children's Heart will give an inside look at all the hard work and details that go into getting children to the US so that they may receive surgery that will save their lives. The viewing audince will experience all the relationships that are built, the unknowns to the the family, the heart ache, the worries, the love, and the excitement of bringing children from Mongolia to the US. More importantly, viewers will see the great works of Christ.

What captured your interest in the Children's Heart Project and how did you become involved?
I found out the week after my wedding, to be able to graduate, I had to do an internship. I have grown up with Samaritan's Purse as a part of my life, and as I mentioned, I have always been excited about Children's Heart Project.

At what point did this ministry feel personal to you~different than what you "just grew up around?"
To me, growing up around the ministry of my dad (Franklin Graham) and my grandfather (Billy Graham) has just been a way of life. I've never known anything different. However, I do not take it for granted that I grew up with a family that has shown me the love of Christ and are amazing role models to me. The greatest thing that my Mom, Dad, and Grandparents have taught me is, as a Christian, you can not compromise. Our sole purpose on this Earth is to simply share the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ. As I have gotten older, I have realized that I don't have to be in a far off land to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ but the mission field is right here in our backyard. If you honor the Lord and His Kingdom, with the gifts, money, opportunities, relationships, and talents He has given you, then HE will honor you. However, if you do not, then he will find someone else who will.

If there is a family even in the United States that is blessed with a child that has a life threatening heart condition, what word of encouragement would you want to share?
Prov 3:5-6 The Lord has a great plan for your family and your child, and remember our hope is in Him.

Our theme verse at Roof with a View is Matthew 10:27. How does this relate to you in view of Children's Heart?
I feel very close to this project, since I myself have had two heart surgeries in High School. In a sense, Children's Heart is the "housetop" that the Lord has allowed me to share in the light what I too experienced in the dark.

About Children's Heart

:

How long did CH take to film?
We started the process in March of 2008, and finished filming end of August 2008.

Where was it filmed?
Most of the filming took place in the SP international headquaters in Boone, NC, San Antonio TX, where the children had the operations, and Mongolia.

Ada Livingston (Samaritan's Purse employee), Otga's family members, Cissie and Cindy (CHP Project Manager for SP).

How many episodes are there going to be?
7 part series

Can CH be shown at my Church or is it just for television?
We are looking at completion of the editing process at the end of July, and with prayer we are looking to air this on a few Christian and mainstream media.

What was the greatest thing you took away from working on CH?
The greatest reward was to watch the families accept Jesus Christ in their hearts during this time. When we open up our arms with love and build relationships with these families, they wanted to know why we wanted to help them and their children. It creates many doors to share the Gospel.

Otga and Ada using Cissie's IPod to sing Otga's favorite praise song, Yes Lord! Cissie said, "Otga was so precious to watch as he was on fire for the Lord when he went home after his surgery."

If this sparks interest for a family to become involved with the Children's Heart Project, what is the best way for them to get plugged in?
The goal of CHP is to bring more and more children over each year, but we need more hospitals, doctors, churches and families to get involved. If we are not currently working in a city near you, there are many expenses to get children here to the US, so donations are always greatly accepted. However,we especially need a lot of prayer in for the selection process,the children that are chosen, our staff, doctors, and everyone involved. We couldn't do any of this if it were not those who faithfully pray for CHP.

Thank you for sharing your heart and about this project, Cissie! RWAVers, don't forget to check here for Children's Heart listings and showtimes in your area.

God bless you and happy Friday!

Free-for-all Friday: Memorial Day

I'll admit that I've known Memorial Day is a patriotic holiday and I've been happy to observe it...largely because it symbolizes a long weekend and the beginning of summer (and pool season!).

Shame on me.

I saw these pictures and the stark reality hit that Memorial Day is SOOOOOO much more...possibly for you.
Some of you have spouses serving our country so we can have the privilege of freedom. Others of you may have even lost your spouses as they served our country in the name of freedom. This weekend, as our country honors your spouses and those that have served, we want to take a minute to honor YOU! I can't imagine...

...saying goodbye to your spouse indefinitely.
...cheerfully holding down the fort alone in their absence.
...celebrating your children's milestones without them.
...hearing all of the political negativity about our soldiers being overseas knowing THAT's what your spouse is wholeheartedly doing.

...being strong for your children when you aren't feeling so strong.
...holidays apart from them.
...the emotional roller coaster.

...not having them there to relieve you when you need a break.

...keeping from being consumed with fear and worry for their safety and well being.
...rounding up your household alone to go to church alone.
...the transition of being the leader of your home in their absence and returning to the submissive, supportive helpmate upon their return.
....being sensitive and attuned to the emotional and physical consequences of what they have encountered during their service.

....the list could go on and on.

You may say, "I'm used to it. I know nothing different." But I say you are also sacrificing for our country and we honor you. God bless you.

Ladies of Roof with a View, please join me in praying for your fellow women in these roles.

If you need some creative ideas to make Memorial Day a special celebration for you family, check out these resources:

Memorial Day Activities for Families
Don't let Memorial Day just be another day on the calendar at your house. Teach your family the true meaning of the day with these patriotic activities for families.

10 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day : Fun Things for Families to do Together this Holiday

Patriotic Crafts

Feel free to share any special Memorial Day traditions you may have in your own family. Happy Memorial Day!

A Day to Let Go

Ladies,

June 1993: boy meets girl, love at first sight.
July 1993-January 2000: emotional roller coaster of dating.
January 15,2000: beautiful fairytale wedding.
January 16,2000: reality.

Marriage is the number one place I see women tested (I can put myself at the top of those women!). We are striving to fulfill the ideal woman's role. Beautiful, intelligent, wise, organized, creative, funny, resourceful, great in bed, patient, loving and kind. We were the princess on our wedding day and somewhere along the way we became the slave girl who is serving everyone elses needs but our own. We are programmed to believe the world revolves around us, the princess, when in fact the world should revolve around the King, KING JESUS!

The motto of Survivor is outwit, outplay and outlast. Who are we kidding! Life is not a competition and we are not the enemy of each other. Why do we become the adversary of our husbands when we are to be his helpmate (Genesis 2:18-25)? Two worlds exist: God and Satan. These are the teams. When we chose to fight against our God given role we are rejecting God and therefor playing on the opposing team. Scary.

The challenge:
1) What area of your marriage are you deceiving yourself or manipulating your husband? Stop what you are doing, close your eyes, and ask God to reveal this to you...He will show you.

2) Take a minute to get on your knees and ask God to release you from the burden of being "strong". Let God come in and reign in the place you keep trying to control. Open your arms in an act of surrender to the King.

3) Go to your husband and confess the area you are trying to take control. Confess any wrong attitude, wrong desire or deceitful words you may have spoken to him this week or over the course of your relationship with him. Tell him you want to work with him and ask him to share any areas he feels you are pushing against him. WOW, being vulnerable is scary but so impacting on our husbands hearts.

4) The most exciting part about God transforming us is shouting it from the ROOF so that we can all share in giving the King the glory. I would love to hear your personal testimony of how God is working in your life today! Post your comment!

Training up Tuesday: Praying for your Child(ren)

I am a new mommy of a 4 month old baby boy. I still can't believe the overwhelming feeling of love I have for that little boy. I'll admit that when we first had him, many feelings and emotions overcame me. I wanted to do everything JUST RIGHT ...just how all the books say.

As moms, I'm sure we all want the best for our children. We'll do whatever it takes to give them what they need but how many times do we truly pray for them?

Right before we had our son, I received a list of ways to pray for your children. Knowing God blessed us with the huge responsibility of raising up a godly son, I immediately started praying these requests...a few at a time while he was in my womb. Now, I have the list taped to the side of my baby's changing table so I can see it while feeding him. I've tried to get through the whole list during many middle of the night feedings without falling asleep . :) Whether I am feeding him or just rocking him to sleep, I can glance over and pray for him.

This list helps me remember what to pray for him and the true importance of who we are called to raise him to be. I love what Proverbs 22:6 says: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is older, he will not depart from it."

Here is the list so you can join me in praying for your own children. Click here to print the list. You can frame it or post it somewhere prominent as a constant reminder.

1. Salvation - that they would obtain salvation in Christ.
2. God's Grace - that they will grow in grace and knowledge.
3. Love - that they will learn to live a life of love through the Spirit.
4. Integrity - that they may have integrity and uprightness to protect them.
5. Self Control - that they will be alert and controlled in all they do.
6. Love for God's Word - that they will regard the word as precious.
7. Justice - that they will love justice as He does.
8. Mercy - that they will be full of mercy and compassion.
9. Respect - that they will show proper respect to everyone as the Bible commands.
10. Self-Esteem - that they will develop strong self esteem rooted in who they are in Christ.
11. Faithfulness - that they will cling to this virtue.
12. Courage - that they will be courageous in their character and actions.
13. Purity - that they will have purity in their hearts that shows in their lives.
14. Kindness - that they will be kind to each other and everyone else.
15. Generosity - that they will be rich in good deeds, generous and always willing to help.
16. Peace Loving - that they will make every effort to do what leads to peace.
17. Joy - that they will be filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit.
18. Perseverance - that they will persevere in all they do.
19. Humility - that they will show true humility towards all.
20. Compassion - that they will be clothed with this virtue.
21. Responsibility - that they would learn to be responsible and carry their own load.
22. Contentment - that they will be content in every situation.
23. Faith - that they will fight the good fight of faith.
24. A Servant's Heart - that they will develop servants' hearts and serve wholeheartedly.
25. Hope - that they will overflow with hope and hopefulness.
26. Patience - that they may have great endurance and patience.
27. Passion for the Lord - that their souls would pant for God.
28. Wisdom - that they would ask and God will generously give wisdom to them.
29. Prayerfulness - that they would be committed to prayer and not give up.
30. Gratitude - that they will live their lives with thankfulness and always give thanks to God.
31. Boldness - that they would fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel of Christ Jesus.

We're already working on #27! :)