Thankful, Prayerful Hearts

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Ray and I arrived back home last night after being in Winston-Salem for the North Carolinians for Home Education convention. With us for the convention was Conner, the newest member of the Notgrass Company team. Conner is a homeshool graduate and a nursing student at nearby Tennessee Tech. We are excited to have him with us during the busy summer shipping season. Though we have known him and his family for three or four years, we loved traveling with him and having him as a constant companion for the last four days. It gave us a chance to get to know him one-on-one and in that special way that you get to know someone when you travel together.

We were encouraged by spending time with a godly nineteen-year-old who loves learning, thinking, and talking about the most important things. As we drove on our bright and sunshiny way yesterday, we had another of our chats about things that really matter. One of our topics was Conner’s conviction that American Christians need to be more devoted to prayer.

I must confess that when I was sitting in church before we left Winston-Salem yesterday morning, I was feeling pretty heavy. While we were away from home, I had followed more news than I usually do. That felt heavy. A few of the stories that mamas shared at the convention felt heavy, too –not all of them, by any means, but a few of them. As I sat there with those weights on my heart, I remembered the answer–Jesus. Jesus really is the answer to all the heavy stuff.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden,
and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

I’m going to remember that.

As we drove along, I thought about the massive changes that happened in Communist countries when the Berlin Wall came down late in the twentieth century and about all the people who prayed about that. I also thought about the fact that we were traveling freely from North Carolina to Tennessee–no check points, no showing IDs, no soldiers with machine guns.

I hope you enjoy these peaceful scenes across America.

Little Rock Central High School
Little Rock Central High School
Arkansas State Capitol
Arkansas State Capitol
Massachusetts State House
Massachusetts State House

The Lord is high above all nations;
His glory is above the heavens.
Psalm 113:4

The Hermitage, Home of Andrew Jackson
The Hermitage, Home of Andrew Jackson
Denali National Park, Alaska
Denali National Park, Alaska
Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri
Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri

The Lord has bared His holy arm
In the sight of all the nations,
That all the ends of the earth may see
The salvation of our God.
Isaiah 52:10

Missouri State Capitol
Missouri State Capitol
Pilgrim's Journey Homeschool Bookstore, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Pilgrim’s Journey Homeschool Bookstore, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Ferry, Outer Banks of North Carolina
Ferry, Outer Banks of North Carolina

Praise the Lord, all nations;
Laud Him, all peoples!
Psalm 117:1

Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples,
And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
Psalm 108:3

Chautauqua, New York
Chautauqua, New York
Iowa State Capitol
Iowa State Capitol
Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia
Andersonville National Cemetery, Andersonville, Georgia

Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
Psalm 96:3

Veterans Day Ceremony, Gainesboro, Tennessee
Veterans Day Ceremony, Gainesboro, Tennessee

Let’s be grateful today for our freedom, for our veterans, and, most of all, for the One Who can hold all the heavy things. And let’s pray for our country and our world.

Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6

 

 

 

 

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2 Comments

  1. Thank you for such a wonderful photo essay!
    “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you may have peace.
    In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”
    John 16:33

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