From Tears on 1st Day of Kindergarten to Joy in God's Faithfulness

Prayers for our own children often have ripple effects, touching the lives of others along the way. We were delighted to receive this mom’s testimony.

“This week I was reminded of how faithful the Lord was all through the years as we raised our children. I cried as I dropped off our first child at kindergarten. Even though it was a Christian school, I knew that I was trusting what someone else would say to her and how she would receive it. I knew that her life would be impacted by the other children she met and the experiences that I could not control.

“On the way home (that morning in 1988) Focus on the Family was featuring the Moms In Touch ministry, and Fern Nichols was the featured speaker. God is so faithful. He led me to intentional prayer through this ministry. I ordered the materials that same day, and thus began specific prayer with other women for our children and their schools. Quickly our first prayer group grew, and we separated into two groups. In just a few short years, there were several groups praying in Moreno Valley, California. We moved to a small community in Bayfield, Colorado, in 1992 and once again gathered a group of ladies to pray for our children and our schools.

“It has been a tremendous blessing to see the fruit of our labors. The Lord reminded me this Sunday of Moms In Touch as I listened to our son share with our church the adventures of his missions work in New Bombay, India. Our son Joey is now 23 years old and serves as the boys shelter project manager for Tender Hands. He is basically the parent to 12 boys who have been rescued from the streets of India. In a culture that throws away their children, the Lord is raising up an army of Christian leaders to train them up in His Word and to restore them with His love.

“Joey asked the group to pray for these boys. He said he knew this was more important than money. He said it was the most important thing we could do for the children.

“It was at that point I was reminded by the Lord of the impact that prayer through Moms In Touch had on my children. This intentional prayer using specific scriptures to pray for the godly character traits in our children has made an eternal difference not only in my children's lives, but in the lives of children in India!

“Thank you so much, Fern, for your heart to bring this ministry to life and share with moms like me. Truly you have blessed me beyond my ability to repay.”

God Orchestrates Our Children's Lives

     After years of praying in a Moms In Touch group, sometimes God surprises us with how He was orchestrating the lives of our children—not just answering our weekly requests, but also putting together the puzzle pieces of our children’s lives in ways that are truly “more than all we ask or imagine.”
     We recently heard the sweet story of how God continues to pass on the legacy of prayer. Years ago, a young mom approached Valerie, a seasoned MITI mom, for help in starting a Moms In Touch group for her daughter’s school. Neither could imagine the impact it would have on their families.
     The son and daughter were in two different school districts and later attended two different colleges, yet God brought them together. The children of these two MITI moms are now husband and wife.
     For years, Valerie and Mary had prayed for their children’s spouses never imagining how God would answer their prayers.
     "All those many years I was praying for Kate, and Mary was praying for my Tyler, and we had no idea what God had planned!" says Valerie. "God is so faithful to answer prayers."
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Run to the One who Cares

     The enemy is after our children. We hear of school shootings in Alabama, a teenager kidnapping a baby in Florida, and a high school student being raped and murdered in San Diego County, CA.
Our hearts ache for these families. We cry out in frustration and anger. And even in fear. Where do we turn when our hearts are broken?
     We turn to the only One who can make sense of the senseless, our Abba Father.
     Run to the arms of the One Who Cares.
     He is the God who weeps for us. He cares for us. He comforts us.
     “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
Satan is on the attack. Now is not the time to give him one tiny foothold.
Ladies, will you join with us in greater resolve to “stand firm and without fear” (Job 11:15b)?
     We are in a spiritual battle for the very lives of our children. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Our Precious Savior, we cry out to You on behalf of the hurting moms across our country. Lord, bind up their wounds. Comfort their hearts. Strengthen their souls. Lord, we ask that You call moms together to pray fervently for their children and schools.

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A Little Song of Thanks

     Sharon Gamble, the New England Regional Director of Moms In Touch International, shares this sweet story:
     “My youngest child and I used to walk my eldest to school. On the way back, Mary would ‘sing’ to me. I still remember her tiny voice singing about birds, butterflies and the good God who made them. The songs did not rhyme and had no recognizable tune. They welled up out of a happy child’s heart and made my mother’s heart overflow! Mary did not need to sound profound or ‘beautiful.’ She just had to be my Mary, expressing her joy. I loved it!! In the same way, I don’t have to make my prayers sound impressive to please God. I just have to warble a little prayer song of thanks and, because I am His child, it will bring Him joy! As you go about your duties, join me in singing a little song of thanks! May God raise up a generation that loves Him and sings His praises! I wish you ‘music in your heart’ today.”

Share your story of thankfulness to the Lord by clicking “comment” below.
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Share a love note to our Precious Savior

     Fern Nichols, President and Founder of Moms In Touch International, shared about God’s love at Arise! Cry Out! Following is an excerpt, our Valentine’s Day gift to you, our gracious
MITI sisters.
     Praise God that His love is an everlasting love. It is an endless love. It’s a romance that lasts forever.
     In Jeremiah 31:3, God says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with loving kindness.”
     God’s love is a forever guarantee. God cannot love us any more or any less no matter what we do or don’t do.
     Women, He loved you before you were born. Yes, even before the foundation of the world, you were the object of His incomprehensible, special love.
     You are a woman greatly loved.
     Feel His tender hands cupping your face. Look up into His eyes. Do you see Him? And He says, you are mine. As you continue to look into these loving eyes, will you tell Him, "I love you"?
     I love You, Jesus. I love you.

Click “Comments” below to share a special love note to our Heavenly Father.
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Join us in Praying for the Children and Schools in Haiti

     On January 12, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti's capital city of Port-au-Prince. Will you join us in praying for the people of Haiti, especially the children and schools, as they endure the aftermath of this tragedy? Pray that God strengthens the MITI moms in Haiti as they cry out for the children and schools who have witnessed and experienced this horrendous catastrophe.
     Pray specifically for Marie Berson, director of 12 Christian schools in Haiti who leads Moms In Touch groups for each school. Pray God sustains her as she comforts the students and their families, even as she, herself, mourns the loss of loved ones in Port-au-Prince.

Join as we pray for Haiti and ask God …

• to strengthen Marie Berson, the director and MITI leader for 12 schools in Haiti, as she comforts her school staff and students.

• to clearly show God’s love and comfort to the 2,500 children in the Christian schools in Hinche and surrounding villages so they will put their faith in Christ.

• to provide for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of Haitian families.

Share a prayer by clicking on Comment below.

A New Year,
A Renewed Commitment to Pray

     It’s January. The holidays are over. Students are returning to school. Routines are back to normal. The Christmas decorations are boxed up (or, at least, are waiting to be boxed up).
     Our attention now turns to the new year ahead. A new year filled with hope and promise and joy. A new opportunity to set goals and renew commitments.
     What prayer goals are you making this year?
     Thousands and thousands of women attended Arise! Cry Out! last November, pouring out their hearts to God for the lives of their children and schools. Would you like to continue that passion
to pray?
     Our e-News theme for 2010 is “Continue to Arise and Cry Out!”
     Crying out to the Lord on behalf of our children doesn’t need to end because the November 14, 2009, date is now past. Every week, women around the world are gathering together, praying in Moms In Touch groups for children, of all ages and stages, as well as for
their schools.
     Are you committing to start, join or regularly attend a MITI group?
     Click Comment below. We’d love to hear about it!
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