Finding Time to Pray

People use all kind of excuses in order to not pray. Some of the most common excuses are:

• I don’t know how to pray.
• How do I know God is really listening?
• I feel self-conscious when praying.
• I just don’t have the time to pray!

Do any of these sound familiar to you?

Prayer plays a vital role in our relationship with the Heavenly Father. When we make excuses not to pray we are telling God He is not important to us.

One of the easiest excuses to fix is “I don’t have the time”. Prayers do not have to be long or time consuming. Keep in mind that prayer is not just a time to ask God for something, but also a time to praise and thank God for the things He has done in our lives. A prayer can be something as quick and simple as, “Thank you God for allowing me to miss that traffic accident on the highway”.

You don’t have to speak out loud to pray either. Remember God knows everything in our minds. Nothing is hidden from Him. It is easy to say a quick prayer while getting ready for the day, before meals, while driving, or even at the grocery store.

While the quick and simple prayers are great you still need to make sure to spend some quality time with the Lord in your prayer closet. A number of people do this before they go to bed or first thing in the morning. Set aside 10 minutes and do nothing but pour your heart out to God. Praise Him, thank Him, ask Him. If you have a prayer journal this is the time you want to bring it out.

Taking just 10 minutes out of your day to pray can make an astronomical difference in your life and in your relationship with God. By continually praying you will see your personal relationship with the Heavenly Father start to grow. Prayer can help take worries away, reduce stress, and give you peace. Having a regular prayer life with the Lord will change your life.

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Craft: Soapmaking for Kids

Soap making is a fun and useful hobby. But making lye soap can be rather dangerous, so it’s not exactly suitable for children. However, that doesn’t mean that youngsters can’t get in on the soap making fun. There are other ways to make soap that are simpler and less hazardous. Here’s a recipe for glycerin soap that is appropriate for preschoolers and older.

What You Need

• Glycerin soap (either bars or blocks)
• Soap dye
• Soap mold
• Microwave safe container
• Spoon
• Knife

Instructions

1. Cut a bar of glycerin soap into three pieces. If using blocks, cut two or three pre-measured pieces. (Only an adult should do this step.)
2. Place the glycerin soap in the microwave safe container, and microwave for about 20 seconds or according to directions that came with soap blocks. Stir, and continue microwaving 10 seconds at a time until the soap is fully melted.
3. Add soap dye. For pastel colors, use only a few drops. For darker colors, keep adding dye until the desired color is achieved.
4. Pour the soap into the mold and set aside. Allow to harden for an hour.
5. Once soap has hardened and cooled completely, pop it out of the mold. If it is stuck, place it in the freezer for a few minutes and try again.

Tips

• Use caution when removing soap from the microwave, and stir carefully to eliminate air bubbles. Soap that is heated too long or unevenly can erupt out of the container, causing burns.
• If you prefer, you can melt the soap in a double boiler over low to medium heat.
• If you would like a scented soap, you can add a couple of drops of fragrance oil. Just make sure it’s safe for use on the skin, and remember that a little bit goes a long way.
• Want a layered bar of soap? Add color to half of the melted soap, pour it into the mold, and let sit for about 5 minutes or until a “skin” forms on top. Then slowly pour the rest of the liquid soap (mixed with another color of soap dye if you like) on top.
• You can make a swirled soap by waiting until you have poured the soap into the mold, adding drops of dye, and swirling with a toothpick.
• To make a simple yet elegant soap on a rope, pour half of the liquid soap into the mold, let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, and place a strand of beads on top. Then pour the rest of the soap on top of the beads and let cool completely. This makes a wonderful gift!

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