Mommy-O Prayer

“Let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer each one” Col. 4:6. Dear Lord, this affects so many areas of my life. Help me to answer my kids with kindness and love, grace and mercy. Joy. Please help me to feel good today and be a…

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My Feeble Adoration

I’ve heard it said to pray the ACTS way: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. (Actually, at my church, our whole service is modeled around this.) Trouble is, I sometimes get stuck with the very first letter. “A.” Adoration. I find myself saying, “Oh God, you’re so good. You are great. A great, great, good God.” Sounds…

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When I Say Stop, I Mean Stop!

On Saturday, my oldest and I spent the morning volunteering at a triathlon. The Seattle rain splattered us as we directed the cyclists which way to go. We also directed traffic. To instruct the cars to make way for riders, I threw my hand forward and yelled, “Stop!” The bicyclist’s safety depended on whether the…

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Mommy-O Prayer

Thank You for Your gracious love, Lord. You are with me and You never let me go. I need You so much. I can’t do this without You. I need Your patience, grace, and wisdom. Please bless each child with Your love and grace. Thank You for your provision for all our needs. “Show the…

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Father’s Day Card for My Michael

When I gasped for my life, you brought me back. As I rode in an ambulance away from my home, you knelt with Ben next to the blue couch and prayed. When I lay in a coma at the hospital, you drew our four babies to you and told them everything would be all right,…

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Mommy-O Prayer

Dear Lord, Thank You for this path I’m on. I’m feeling overwhelmed, Lord. I’m so tired and weary. I need Your strength to get me through this day. Please help me to use my time well. Help me to stay in the moment and be a good mom and wife. Bless each of the kids….

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Call to Battle

“but our confidence must rest in the Lord alone, for He is the sword and the shield of His people. . . Quail not before superior numbers, shrink not from difficulties or impossiblilities, flinch not at wounds or death, smite with the two-edged sword of the Spirit, and the slain shall lie in heaps. The…

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Do They Even Like Each Other?

Aren’t road trips fun? “Give it!” “But I want to play with the spinning toy thingy.” “It’s mine!” The argument continues until the inevitable, “Mom, she won’t give me the spinning toy thingy.” What can I expect when we’ve been driving for three hours? Road trips can be hard on everyone, but what gets me…

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Giddy Gratitude

I spent this weekend at a writers’ conference. From the time I got there, through the two workshops I taught, to the spectacular dinner and closing time, I had this incredible feeling of gratitude. I kept thinking, <i>I’m so glad I’m here. </i>And you know what I meant. I wasn’t just glad to be enjoying…

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My Favorite Part of the Day

“But I want to go, too!” my little Abigail pleaded. “Please!” The desperation in her voice rang throughout the cul-de-sac. It was almost 8:00 PM, but since the sun’s been lingering till a later hour here in the Pacific Northwest, the older kids were allowed to stay outside and run like wild banshees with their…

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Books by Ocieanna