I'm so very picky

Ron and I had a good day today. First, he asked me what I wanted to do; we always have this discussion the day before our trips.

It can be a little aggravating, trying to explain, we don't have spur-of-the-moment trips. It has to be planned, choreographed, and called in before 5 PM, the day prior to travel. We have to plan our pickup, how long we'll be at the location, and when we'll get picked up to go home. Then, of course, Metrolift can totally blow those plans out of the water with a late pickup. [shrug] Like I told the man yesterday, depending on public transit keeps me humble. It's impossible to be arrogant, waiting and waiting on a ride!

So, we decided to go to Foodtown first thing. You may wonder, why a "religious" lady like myself isn't in a church, and I'll get to that. We had a late-ish pickup that only gave me 20 minutes to shop AND checkout. A lot of people at Foodtown!

I got everything I needed, which wasn't much, only forgetting the artificial sweetener. I got plenty of diet pop to get me through the week, more tuna and mayo, and some canned salmon. I also got more cheese.

By the time I checked out, our ride had arrived. Instead of repackaging, I had to stuff everything as-is into the back of the van. Fortunately, we had a straight trip (the Holy Grail of a Metrolift experience).

We got home and I put the groceries away. Ron has already eaten the entire pound of fruit salad I purchased. We won't tell him how healthy it is. I don't even use the word salad. [laugh]

When we had planned our trips yesterday, I had mentioned a few places we could go, and told him to surprise me. He likes to do that now and then.

So, after we got home and I put things up, he told me "We're going to Taco Bell". It is entirely possible to have a low-carb eating experience at Taco Bell, I get the grilled chicken soft taco supreme (chicken, sour cream, lettuce, tomato). We got something for the driver, too.

On the way home, the driver and I discussed the fact that many church-goers don't have a good witness for Jesus. "Sunday is the worst day of the week; they are always angry." Some will shout at the driver because he's running late. Maybe Jesus would rather we set a good example of kindness and compassion? Maybe Jesus wants us to act like we have Him in our hearts?

We went to a nearby church and sure enough, the people were not kind and welcoming. The attendee had no joy; I can relate to that but you don't need to be negative.

See, I'm picky! I want a church where I can 1. Get to it on the bus, so I don't have to drag Ron if he doesn't want to go. 2. Feel at home. 3. Share the love of Jesus. 4. Get support for the tasks He has called me to do (mainly encouragement). I am asking God to give me that.

In the meantime, I guess you'll find me at Foodtown.

New Photos, and the card I'll be mailing

I took my camera to work today, and Chuck was happy to take some photos. Here's the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/RCHeather/February2010?feat=directlink I think you can really see the new progress.

Many times, Ron will comment that a particular day has seemed "pointless". We went to work, filled 'em up. I handed out a sack of Bibles and candy over the course of my day.

However, I had it in my head that after work, I would go to the Christian bookstore and buy a case or two of the economy paperback Bibles. God has had me handing out my supply, I'm down to my last one. I figured, He would make sure I could resupply.

Not. Quite. I went to the bookstore. They HAD over 100 the last time I checked, but they were sold out. On the one hand I am delighted to know someone else is out there handing out Bibles, on the other hand, Ron had given me cab fare, and dropped me off on the weekend, and for what? I did pick up some books, but it just seemed like a pointless trip.

Then, I had all the fun of WAITING on the cab. I was too goofy to take the bus... I would not have wanted to cross busy streets. Also, since we'd gone to work it was later in the day than I like to be out.

I was feeling pretty lightheaded and queasy from my medication, and my feet hurt. Annoying.

So, as I'm standing out there I get out the book by DL Moody. He was a famous preacher/evangelist back in the 1800's. I've been feeling led to read something by/about him. I found a budget paperback for $4. I don't like to spend more than $5 or so on my own books; but happily spend dozens of dollars on evangelism stuff! I think my priorities are correct.

So, I'm reading it, the chapter on forgiveness. I realize that God is convicting me.

I have one person I feel I can never forgive. It's not the family who let us down after Ron's accident. It's not people who have stolen from us. It's not the guy who ran over my husband.

It's the policeman, who investigated the accident. 1. He got all the details wrong, and basically wrote up the accident report that Ron would have had to step into the street backwards, in order to have sustained the injuries he did. When I pointed that out he 2. Blamed me for the accident, not 24 hour later, with Ron at deaths' door. What a terrible thing to do! "It's your fault! You let him go alone!" That is not serving the public, besides the guy ran a red light and admitted it. Ron had the right-of-way, alone or not. and 3. Ron had a cash deposit, for the bank, in his backpack. Officer Friendly had the backpack, and the other contents of same. The paramedics had their hands full just keeping Ron alive until the Life-flight showed, and the officer had all the stuff, except the cash.

One would be fairly easy to forgive, but all three have just weighted me down with hate. I have often thought I would love to perpetrate some trauma. To emotionally victimize a distraught wife; to fail so utterly in your duties to accurately report what occurred; and to ROB the victim of a trauma! Ron has been pretty blase about it. I envy him that.

I told God, OK, I am at the place where I could forgive him, but how? I know it's my duty.

Send him a card, Heather. Now, that's interesting. I have a ton of cards, I got the last time I was manic. I have some blank ones that would work very well.

So, I will be researching his address; and sending him a card. "I forgive you for your words and actions regarding my husband's accident. I am praying for you daily." Sign and date, and stick a tract inside. "You're Special" even though it GALLS me to do this.

I don't want this to get in the way of my relationship with God. I want Him to be ABLE to use me 100%. I don't want to drag around a 7-year-old injustice anymore.

Anyway, I'll be glad when that's over. I think I am OK with regard to other issues. I feel pity for the haters; and pray for them.

Oh, let me know what you think of the photos!

On Driver Candy

I was recently asked a question: Do I feel like a hypocrite, handing out bags of candy to people, even though I am living a sugar-free lifestyle? The answer is absolutely not.

First, I am only giving this out to adults, and rarely a parent of a child. Secondly, they are able to decline if they want. If someone offered me candy I would decline if I knew them. If I didn't, I'd accept it and put it in my bag. Later on, I'd get rid of it.

Basically, God just put it in my head to give people bags full of candy (about a handful or 2, in a plastic bag). I've been doing that off and on for, oh, 3-4 years now.

Last year, I started feeling led to hand out Bibles and New Testaments. My only regret about my mugging a few months back, was that he had gotten some driver candy I had bagged for the bus drivers. I began wishing I had a tract or something in there - it seemed a shame he mugged me and didn't get a Bible or tract out of it. He is on the prayer list, along with all the other d0ne-me-wrongs. Praying for them makes me a better person, and I notice I don't want to haul those grudges around anymore.

I thought, "Why couldn't I put a tract into a bag of candy?" I went home and tried it out. They fit great. So, I do that now.

How exactly do I compile a driver candy? I always put some kind of tract.

My all-time favorite insert is a World Missionary Press scripture booklet: http://www.wmpress.org/readbk.shtml They aren't much bigger than a business card, and chock full of Biblical goodness. Free on request (I do donate money, though). My favorites are How To Know God, and Help From Above. They come in all languages, so I get English and Spanish.

I also use Grace and Truth tracts. http://www.gtpress.org/ Again, free on request, but I donate what I can. I am a big fan of "Have a Good Day and Thank You", "Debt Paid" and "Getting Right with God". I like to put "What will the Bible do for me?" and "How to Read and Study the Bible". I have other tracts (you can request an assortment, too, and use what God leads you). I ALWAYS pray and ask God which tracts to use.

Occasionally I use a Good News Tract. http://www.crossway.org/catalog/gods.love/tracts I really like "You're Special" and "Someone Cares". "Thank You" (under the tipping section) is also excellent and very small.

So, I've got a baggie with a tract. Now we get to the actual candy portion.

I buy the big bags of bulk assorted hard candy, the fruit drops, cinnamons, butterscotch, peppermints, etc. I generally plunge my hand into the very large bag and grab a handful. I even ask God to guide me to the right candy, and He obliges. One day I had a handful of butterscotch, which I put in the bag. When I handed it to the driver, he said "Oh, I LOVE butterscotch!" so I know He's guiding every step of the way.

I like to put in a lollipop of some sort. I'm currently using Dum-Dum suckers. My mother used to use them to quit smoking, and my Grandmother would buy them for me when I'd visit. I like the Dum-Dums. For the Spanish, they get a Spanish tract, and a Paleta Enchilada (a hot lollipop) instead.

Then we get to the "Chewy". Most people like the chewies. I do a piece of the wrapped Super Bubble Bubble gum, and a "Chewy Mix" - That's what they call it at Sam's Club. It's a huge sack of assorted caramels. I pick one and put it in the mix. When a driver eats the candy in front of me, they always seem really happy with the caramel.

On an interesting note, one of my tellers has a severe peanut allergy. I always do her candy first. She cannot have a chewy, just the hard candy and a Dum-Dum. They are made on peanut-free equipment.

So, I've got the gum, the chewy, the lollipop, and the hard candy. Now it's time for the chocolate! I like the Palmer assortments. I'm really happy with the Easter Mix items they have at Big Lots - excellent prices ($1.50 to $2 per pound). I have 2 assorted mixes. I do one piece of each.

Sometimes, I feel God leading me to put in some extra, and I do it. It's all about Him anyway.

People who wouldn't accept a tract are happy to get a bag of Driver Candy. I call it that because I started by giving it to my Metrolift paratransit, and Metro bus drivers.

I absolutely feel I am doing what God has led me to do. I do not give the driver candy to diabetic drivers, though. I don't want to hurt them!

Delivery day

Today was a long day. I got up at 2:45, did my Bible study and prayer time, got ready, and off to work. I mentioned before that I'd made some flax bread, forgetting to add the sweetener! Well, it was OK, but I wasn't in a hurry to eat it.

Yesterday, I got some of the whipped cream cheese in the tub. I put that on the bread, and WOW. Suddenly I have a gourmet treat! So good! My new jeans are getting baggy, and I keep getting compliments, so I'm definitely on the right track!

It's actually pretty funny; I was willing to tolerate horrible side effects to manage my illness. I didn't care if I went bald, puked all day, and gained 100 pounds, if I could just stop the noise and demons in my head! Well, I've got the illness well-managed, and I'm getting some fun side effects: the antipsychotic has given me a bigger chest, and now the antidepressant is accelerating my weight loss! Thinner and more buxom. Let me cry for a minute. I will need at least 3 pages of complaining to deal with this! Thank you, God!

It's fun for me, because today is the 2 year anniversary of my restart on Atkins. As of this morning, I am 62.5 pounds lighter, and almost a foot gone off both my waist and hips. My size 12 jeans are getting baggy in the butt. I could very nearly pull them off without unfastening!

So, after my Jesus time, I got dressed in a Jesus t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. I think I can wait on the new shoes. My feet only got sore when I had been walking and standing for 5 hours straight - completely understandable! I ate a couple slices of flax bread with cream cheese. It did a good job of holding the medication and filling me up without making me queasy.

I brought a precooked sausage patty, which I ate hours later at work. We had planned to be at work until 9, but the deliveries were late. I asked Ron to reset our pickup, if possible, and he did. We had surprisingly good trips even after he did that. I had brought about 5 or so "regular' NKJV paperback Bibles, a Spanish Bible, and a couple of New Testaments. I had a good stash at work; still do. I always ask for God's protection and blessing on that.

I handed out one Bible on the way to work, one to a delivery guy, the Spanish on the way home, and one more on the way from Burger King. Everyone got driver candy (with a tract). I need to do a post on driver candy. One of the last questions asked on my blog was re: driver candy.

We got to work, and I did a soda inventory for Ron. Then I filled up a couple of machines. Lots of "What's this Heather?" and ducking the blind menace as he roared towards me in his wheelchair! [laugh] He could really kneecap me if I wasn't on my toes! I did lots of productive stuff, until we got the deliveries. Then I took all the junk food off the pallet, onto the handcart, and into the machines! That's what you call, a Just-In-Time inventory!

I didn't get to do some of the cookies, but we're going in tomorrow. I'll get 'em then. I never mind going in if we need to fill the machines. I love filling the machines, it means people are buying! A machine that needs filling means job security.

So, we got home just in time to catch our ride to Burger King. I had my "Heather-burger". This is what I order: 2 double cheeseburgers, plain, ADD bacon, add BBQ sauce. Then I take the buns off and mash the cheesy bacon BBQ goodness together, and eat it, in the wrapper. Yum. It only costs $3.20. Then I got a side salad (about 1.5 cups of salad, and a very nice low carb dressing), for my veggies. A large drink and I am happy for about $6. I love that.

I told Ron, no steakhouse meal could compete! Yum, yum, yum. We had to wait a while on our pickup, but the driver was nice and said thank you to the Bible. Many drivers tell me they pass them on... it will be interesting to see the journeys some have had!

Then we came home. The neighbor dad apologized for his kid, and I said, I don't mind if you or your older boy come and get a lost ball, but for obvious reasons I don't want small children in the yard. He agreed. I think the Dad's relieved that I didn't call the homeowner (they rent) and junior didn't do any more damage to the fence. A wood fence is NOT cheap.

I did look around in the sideyard and found tons of kiddie junk and threw it back over the fence. It's there if they want it now. I checked the mail, got a fun newsletter, and went back in the house.

I had some energy, but I knew I needed my rest. I thought, get it over with.

Because - Ron had to do the books and close out the month! That meant I had to read all the vending machine sales onto tape for him at work (did that pretty much first thing) and read him every receipt in the envelope. I was tired. I was slightly cranky. Ron was happy to get rid of me when we finished.

I laid down for my nap, it was quiet. It was sunny. So much for the rain!

Mr Bubba cat (the black cat) was loafing on his part of the bed. I stretched out and bam I was out. The nice thing about my new medication cocktail; if I need a nap, an hour does it. I wake up really ready to go. On the Lexapro, I felt like I could never, ever, get enough sleep. I was pretty mentally fogged up, too.

Ron and I talked about going in tomorrow. He may/may not drop me somewhere and come home by himself. I would like to go out, not sure where... I could use a little time out and about - especially since it looks to be nice. Do I need anything? No.

But I like having the option, if I want to go out. We have a stop on the main drag street, before he goes home after work.

Hi Gang!

It was a very busy day - and I need to get to bed soon so it will be short.

Got up, went to work, did EVERYTHING - placed the order, counted the pull, prepped the deposit, put what I had into the machines, helped Ron, you name it. I also put up half a pallet of soda, and all this in just a few hours!

Our first couple trips were horrible, but the rest of the trips were great. We got to the bank, did our business, went to Walmart - got the basics.

I am cheap in many regards, for instance, I don't buy brand names - unless you count the sporting-goods-store store brand jeans. At $15, they fit great and wear like iron.

The one thing I don't cheap? Toilet Paper. I can't abide the cheap stuff. I got all my supplies - Ron just loves riding around in the Shopalong cart - the blue thing on the back of the shopping cart. I even sent Shopalong an email with a link.

I barely had time to make a small deposit at MY bank, and hit the bathroom yet again - my jeans seem very loose today. I hope it "sticks". Ron bought a burger for the driver, and off we went.

My favorite part of the day - I'm sitting on my loveseat, doing my Bible Study. The neighbor kids are very loud, and I hear repeated wooden bangings. When I hear the kid shouting "Break it" I decide to check things out.

One look out the window and I'm banging on the neighbor's front door, dressed in my nightgown and robe.

"Excuse me, ma'am. I hate to bother you, but your child and his friend are trying to break down the fence between our properties!"

Mom took care of it. [laugh] Then I have to calm myself down as I hear a lot of whining from next door - those kids don't realize I can hear what they say... and get mellow enough to be in a Godly, Bible study kind of mind.

I had just prayed for good neighbor relations before all this happened. I am glad I let God guide me in what to do. I would rather the own parent deal with the kid, than me.

I need to run, up at 2-something tomorrow. I already did tomorrow's driver candy and Bibles.

I'll reply to the comments tomorrow! I love you! (((Hugs)))

It's official

I have been shut down on LOW CARB FRIENDS. Not very friendly.

Anyway, my concern is that some may worry about me. Don't worry. HOUSTON HEATHER is alive and well. I'm over here now. I'll be posting here instead, I love you all, but I think my evangelism was getting on some nerves!

It says in the Bible, if they persecute you in one town, flee to another.

An empty bag is the goal

When I do up the Bibles and tract-candy (both in a baggie, which I hand out to everyone), I always pray over it. I ask God how many English and Spanish I need. I ask him how many Bibles. I ask Him which bookmarks and postcards get stuck into the Bibles. I like to think of the Holy Spirit and I, hanging out on my couch, or sitting at the table together, He's suggesting "Put that tract, Heather" or "Mark that passage, Heather." I picture him with a highlighter in his mouth, or a handful of candy (depending on the task). It makes me smile and I know it's true.

Last night, I heard SIX Spanish Bibles, six Spanish candy, 12 English candy (I have tracts in various languages), and 9 English New Testaments. It made for a pretty heavy bag!

Of course, since I really prayed on it, sought God's will, and handed candy and Bibles out AS DIRECTED by the Holy Spirit (you can see why I moved my blog - too much Jesus!) - I had a very productive day IN SPITE OF the horrible headache. I also came home with my favorite - an absolutely empty bag and the memory of many delighted smiles.

So, I woke up early. Hit the prayer time and devotionals. I like to read a devotional passage, pray for one target group, hit another devotional, pray for another group, you saw my lists. Anyway, I like this system the best. I feel like I am alternating between ASKING and HEARING. Nasty headache, but the asprin took off some of the edge.

I finished that up in a nice, timely manner. I felt like I really had my armor on for the day.

My first Metro driver gave me one of my favorite responses when I asked if I'd given him a Bible yet. "Yes, you have". Cool. He got the first bag of candy. Ron and I had a lovely time at Starbucks, and he went home. The take-home driver for Ron got a New Testament and bag #2.

After he left, I cranked up my tunes. I walked over to my favorite gas station to the tune of "Get 'em Saved!" I was definitely well-pumped up to do WHATEVER God had on the agenda. The gas station attendants grinned when they saw me. "It's candy time!" I chirped as I handed out 2 more bags. I felt a very strong pull towards the guy in a suit. I bought my bottles of soda and pulled out my candy, put the soda in the bottom of the bag, and the candy and Bibles on top. I offered one to the suit. He pulled back. "Would you like a New Testament?" He shook his head and turned away.

OK. I do face some rejection, but that is nothing. I did send up a quick prayer for his soul. I want everyone for Jesus! I left the store and fiddled with my MP3 player. Suddenly, I heard a voice behind me. "A New Testament?" It was the suit! I took one out and offered it to him again, witha warm smile. "I hand them out, and I'd LOVE to give you this." He took it! [happy dance - but not in real life] THANK YOU GOD. I love to be His hands, and smile.

I danced off down the street. During the course of the day, I battled the headache, handed out most of the candy, and was down to my last New Testament. As I got off the bus, headed for a Christian bookstore, I did question God about the Spanish.

"Lord, I haven't seen one Hispanic person all day! What was the point?" I had the Spanish New Testaments, and the candy, in one produce-style clear plastic bag. I trudged across yet another huge Houston parking lot. Suddenly, a large truck pulls into the parking lot and stops. SIX Hispanic men get out.

OK, Lord, I get it. I walk over to the foreman. "Could you give this to your guys, when they finish, please?" I hand him the clear sack of Bibles and candy. Six of each. "Sure" he replied.

I walked off next-to-empty. I handed out a Gospel of John and candy to the one driver, then the last New Testament and candy to the last driver. She was so excited about the New Testament! She even said it was better than the candy!

I also had the opportunity to share some testimony. In Revelation, it says that the Devil is overpowered by the blood of Jesus, and the testimony of the saints. It is a beautiful and amazing thing to be used by God.

Oh, and the headache? I didn't lose it until I was almost done with the day. My aunt called me as I was ordering a meal at McDonalds, and the cashier misheard "Side Salad" as "Small Fries". They looked so tasty I didn't complain. After eating them, the headache vanished!

Thank you, Lord.

I can't please both God and Man

I have had ongoing issues with a message board. Personal attacks on me, vicious personal attacks, I might add; were permitted, at a very difficult and painful time in my life. I forgive everyone involved, but I do my best to avoid vexation. I would get cited for various small infractions. I finally avoided one area of the message board altogether. I didn't regret my decision.

It looks like the attacks have started up again. I've been cited for making an "inappropriate" post - as I consoled a terrified, grieving mother with the tale of my hideous symptoms and how well they have been managed by medication. If that's inappropriate, and I have to watch everything I type, wondering what I'll find in my In-box everytime I log onto the site... realizing I cannot please both the administration AND my duties to Jesus (ie comforting the suffering) - if I have to choose; guess where I'm going?

Right here. I'm the admin - I approve of all my posts. Well, I did one very mean spirited one a few years ago, which I deleted.

I am tired of wondering if I am talking "Too much Jesus" and "Will they get me? When will they shut me down for preaching the Gospel?" I want to put up links to the Bibles I hand out - but restrictions would prevent me from doing that on the other board.

Here I am.

Evangelists

So, I was praying and mediating, trying to figure out God's will for me one day. I felt led to compile these prayer lists. My longest category is the evangelism category. I ask God to honor these requests. Please feel free to "rip off" any of these lists and make your own changes, then use them in your own prayer time. I'd be delighted, and so would God.

1. Give all evangelists a zeal and desire for Your word, Lord, and time spent with You in prayer.
2. Give us all a humble, obedient, courageous, servant's heart.
3. Give us the desire to use Your spiritual gifts.
4. Rig us up in Your armor, Lord.
5. Give us a hunger to spend time in Your word and prayer, seeking Your will. Give us consistency in doing so.
6. Give us a willingness to be used by You, Lord.
7. Give us the courage and perseverance to accept persecution.
8. Give us unity with other belivers, and Your love for the unreached, fellow workers, new converts, the backslidden, and strong believers. Give us all physical safety.
9. Give us the strength to maintain a good witness; the wisdom to resist the devil; and the wisdom to flee from temptation.
10. Give us all good mental, spiritual, and physical health for we workers, our family, friends, and the "flock".
11. Give us the patience to accept setbacks, knowing we will "Reap a good harvest if we don't give up"
12. -important- Give us tolerance, acceptance, and affection from the unreached, as they see Your love in us.
13. Protect and guide the persecuted and unreached.
14. Grace and peace for Your workers, Lord.
15. Please ensure a continued supply of Gospel material for distribution, and guidance in using it.
16. Please allow fruitful distribution of Your Word!
17. Special protection for those imprisoned, and those working with prisoners.
18. Safety
19. Give us the grace to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors.
20. Give us ongoing encouragement, and additional encouragement as needed.
21. Send more workers, Lord!
22. Ensure Your workers have the appropriate, relevant, training.
23. Open hearts and give eager minds for the Gospel.
24. Help new believers to stay strong.
25. Please allow continued financial support for Your workers.
26. Give us the endurance and adjustment to situations that spread You.
27. Give us strong new believers, bold in sharing their faith.
28. Give us a vision and a deep love for the unreached.
29. Give us the willingness to do and give whatever it takes.
30. Help missionaries to learn new languages, quickly and well.
31. Give us a sensitivity for the cultures, Lord.
32. Protect us from Gospel "regulation"
33. Thank you for the freedom and opportunities to share the Gospel, Lord, and continue to do so!
34. Thank you for the liberty to spread the Gospel, and please continue!
35. Protect us all from division and false teachings
36. Give us job security and enjoyment, Lord.

Financial supporters

Not a very glamourous category, but I can safely say I've bought over 100 tracts and 100 more Bibles, because people gave me money for the work. I felt it was unmistakable - I need to be praying for all financial supporters, daily. So, I made my list and go down it daily.

1. Give them a strong walk of faith.
2. Give them the desire to spend time in Bible study, prayer, and seeking Your will, Lord.
3. Protect them from demonic attacks and persecution.
4. Give them good stewardship skills, to do more with Your money.
5. Give them the knowledge they are doing important work for You, Lord, and walking in Your will.
6. Guide them in their decision making.
7. Give them job security and enjoyment of their jobs.
8. Peace
9. Physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
10. Discerning spirit.
11. Harmony with all believers.
12. Give them a hunger to reach the unreached.
13. Protect them from false teachings.

One of my favorite categories...

I love praying for these guys, the "Gospel Distributors" basically, everyone involved from the tree, to the tract, to someone on their knees getting saved. The guy who prints the tracts. The mailman carrying them...the store that sells them, the person handing them out. Like I said, a fun group.

1. Protect them from demonic, and human, attacks.
2. Safety for them.
3. Guide the administrators and managers.
4. Give them a good supply chain, unimpeded, with fair prices.
5. Quality, functioning, equipment.
6. Protect the equipment, and humans, from breakdowns and accidents!
7. Safety for all property
8. Excellent production levels, to keep up with demand!
9. Safe packing and shipping, for people and materials!
10. Safe, unimpeded, expedited, shipping. You would be surprised how well this works. I have gotten several packages that looked as though they had been chewed by dogs, yet the material was fine.
11. Open hearts, for all to receive the Gospel.
12. Give Holy Spirit guidance with all decisions.
13. Give everyone, more opportunities to do more for You!
14. Protect all the computer systems, equipment, and software.
15. Fruitful distribution! My FAVORITE request, ever.
16. More workers! (second favorite request!)
17. Give Your encouragement, and zeal, to the workers!
18. Please provide excellent spiritual, mental, and physical health for the workers, family, and friends.

Bible, Tract, Testimony, and candy recipients

I testify a lot. I tell people about God and how much He's done in my life. I also hand out tracts, Bibles, and candy with tracts. I pray for everyone; and put notes in the Bibles letting people know I'm praying for them. This is what I request:

1. Open heart and eager minds for God's word.
2. Give them the courage to read/listen/and act on what they hear/read!
3. Give them an understanding of Your word.
4. Guide them to the proper passages that they need.
5. Guide Ron and I as we testify; putting Your words in our mouths, Your thoughts in our heads, and Your love in our hearts!
6. Guide me as I prepare the Bibles and Candy.
7. Lead me to the "hungry" who need You and Your Word!
8. Ensure I have the proper materials; the supplies, the correct amount of distribution material, and help me to be a good steward of what You've given me so I can keep doing this.
9. Help Ron and I to maintain a proper testimony. If we're acting like jerks...
10. Bind up any demonic influences that might get in the way of the work.
11. Good health for the recipients, their families, and friends; physical, mental, and spiritual.
12. Guide them to the proper teachers and churches.
13. Protect them from false teachings!
14. Give them Your love for all believers.
15. Give ME, Your heart, for them.
16. Give them a hunger for time spent in prayer and reading Your word.
17. Show them Your truth.

Worldwide and certain areas...

For instance, for some reason it's been all about praying for Nigeria recently. I don't know why, but if I feel God's leading me to pray for someone, I do it.

What I basically do is ask God to please apply these requests worldwide, with "double helpings" for certain areas.

1. More workers to share the Gospel (locals and imports).
2. Open doors to the Gospel; removing or bypassing legal restrictions to sharing the Gospel, blind the "Bad Eyes", open, eager hearts for the Gospel, and courage and protection for His workers.
3. Help citizens with "Daily Bread" issues.
4. Peaceful resolution of any conflicts.
5. Safety for the citizens to hear the Gospel
6. Bind up any demonic forces, exposing them to their subjects for what they are.
7. Guidance and protection for leaders and administrators - if unsaved, lead them to You.
8. Health for the citizens: good food supply, safe employment, proper nutrition, good medical care, and a reasonable cost of living.
9. Good accurate Bible and tract translations, and a ready supply of material for His workers.
10. Protection for everyone from false teachings.

Prayers for Chaplains, Ministry staff, First Responders, and Social Workers

Here's what I ask God for with regards to the above workers:

1. Safety
2. Holy Spirit guidance as they perform their duties.
3. Discernment - make them as wise as serpents!
4. Please lead them to salvation if they are unsaved, also friends and family.
5. A close walk with You if they're saved.
6. Proper equipment that works.

Prayers for me and Ron

I've been busy. Recently I took a day off and stayed home. I felt God wanted more of me, and spent some time in prayer and Bible study. At one point in the day, I found myself with a notebook in hand, pen in the other, writing down prayer requests. I feel the Holy Spirit led me to put them down, so I can ask God for my list.

Here's the list for me and Ron; I pray for many different people, but here's the list of requests for myself and my husband:

1. Deliver us from hidden faults (items 1-3 are all out of Psalm 19).
2. Deliver us from willful sins (like gossip!); so the sins don't rule us.
3. Give us gracious speech and pleasing thoughts to You.
4. Help us to find rest in You. Our hope comes from You; remind us we can't be shaken when we're in Your will. (Psalm 62)
5. Keep us from gossip and judging others.
6. Teach us Your will.
7. Help us to be forgiving of those who have hurt us. I pray for both the people we have hurt, and the people who have hurt us. All of them. I ask God to fill us with His spirit of forgiveness, because we can't forgive them; I know that. But God's love working in us can work wonders!
8. Thanks for our daily bread, and ask for continued provision of same!
9. Thanks for enjoyable work.
10. Keep us humble and obedient, with servants' hearts.
11. Put Your thoughts in our heads, Your words in our mouths, and Your love in our hearts.
12. Help us to keep a good testimony, and lead us to people who need to hear it!
13. Make us as wise as serpents.
14. Don't allow anything to separate us; together we are a mighty force.
15. Many of our needs fall under other prayer categories, so I don't worry.