My Prayer List for My Children – Boldness

Greetings Dear Reader,

Every time I read this in the list I hesitate.  Boldness is a good quality but only when tempered with humility.  My Sons are both bold in their own way.  Their mother used to always say that I was bold.  When I pray for them about this I pray that they are only bold about the right things.

I have been bold about good and bad things.  I try tempering my boldness so that I only take risks when they are founded in faith.  I need to only have this kind of courage in matters of following Christ.  I am sure I need more boldness in some of these areas.

There are times when I need more boldness but my fear of the results freezes me.  Having failed at times to temper my boldness with enough humility and love I do not want to repeat those failures.  I must be bold about the things Christ is bold about.  I pray that I never lose this balance.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store”

My Prayer List for My Children – Reverence

Greetings Dear Reader,

I remember watching my Grandfather plane a large piece of tiger oak in his earthy basement woodshop.  After every stroke of the plane he would step back and examine the effect.  He explained to me that the wood had a beautiful pattern in it and he wished to take off enough of the surface to bring out that pattern.  He went on to explain that this piece of wood was taken from the land he owned on a lake.  A lightning strike had felled the tree. He had counted the rings at seventy three years, most of them good ones. 

He was preparing the large piece of wood to be the replacement top of a dresser for family member.  I can still remember the smell of the wood.  I can still recall the beauty of the shavings as the fell to red clay basement floor.

What I remember the most about that day was the reverence with which my Grandfather treated the wood.  His ongoing conversation with me as I sat on the steps and watched him was also punctuated with an ongoing conversation with God as well.  He would remark to God how beautiful a certain line of grain was.  He would thank God for allowing him to find the downed tree and remark how well the mill had fashioned the boards from it for him.  As he made each stroke he would whisper for God to guide his hand. 

The piece looked beautiful once it was finished and mounted on the dresser.  The beauty that remained in my spirit was my Grandfather’s reverence for God and God’s creation.  It is one of those things that seem fading and rare in our world.  I pray that I revere the things I should and am a good example of this to my Children.  I pray that they hold a reverence for God that surpasses even my Grandfather’s.   

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store

My Prayer List for My Children – Discernment

Greetings Dear Reader,

I think that this is one of those things that is a sharp and effective weapon.  The problem is that it dulls quickly when not used.  It seems to me that discernment is one of those gifts that is very subject to the will.  Along with wisdom it easily fades when rejected or avoided.

I know there are times I have chosen to ignore that voice inside that urged me to choose other than what I was doing.  I know that I have often said that I knew better.  Discernment functions well but in our falleness we ignore it.  It is in that ignorance that discernment dies.

Wisdom and discernment must be fellows.  They must walk together in the heart if I am to follow Christ as closely as I wish.  I pray that I listen and discern.  I pray the same for my Children. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store

My Prayer List for My Children – Wisdom

Greetings Dear Reader,

I think I could write for days just on this topic.  It seems in many ways that wisdom is a dwindling attribute in our society.  I pray for wisdom almost daily.  Some days every hour it seems I need more.  I pray for my children to have wisdom in their choices.  I pray for wisdom in how I approach them when I disagree with what they do.

Wisdom seems so simple but no matter how much I know I sometimes run right past the proper application of that knowledge.  It interests me that the desire for wisdom was once used as a temptation.  It seems that now so many abandon wisdom because it leads to the knowledge that what they are doing is unwise.

Solomon wrote that a reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom.  I pray that I always remember this and apply it.  I guess that is the seedbed of wisdom; to know the truth and apply.  It grieves me greatly when I fail at this and when those I love forget it.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

My Prayer List for My Children – Zeal

Greetings Dear Reader,

I must say that my Children have this is abundance.  I know that I do too. When we purse things with the heart our zeal is impossible to mask.  We give our time and energy to them.  I watch my eldest with his Son and now Sons and see how determined he is to be a good father.  He gives his heart and energy to something that truly matters.

I must measure the things I am zealous about in light of who Christ calls me to be as his follower.  As I trade each moment of life for something I need to be aware if I am getting real value for that moment.  Am I zealous in my following of Christ?  Am I trading the life he gave me for things that matter to him?  If I am not then I cannot hope for those moments to matter in the long term.

I ask that God directs my zeal to the things that please him.  That he does the same for my children is vital to me.  Getting our passions in line with the passions of Christ is vital to a life that reaches beyond the mortal.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

My Prayer List for My Children – Purity

Greetings Dear Reader,

This is not going to be a rant about immorality or an attempt to focus on sexual purity.  If we are honest with our own thoughts we realize that we highly value things that are pure.  When I think of purity I think of a ripe Georgia peach.  I think of my new Grandson born two days ago.  I think of the well water that comes out of my tap in the kitchen.  I think of the strawberries that grow in my garden.

God wishes for me to be pure.  When I pray for this for my children it is not just about moral purity.  It is about hearts that desire what is good, right, and holy above all else.  I fear that this quality grows less in the world at a rapid pace.  I know that it is an area where I must be constantly vigilant over my own heart.  Perhaps drinking that well water more often and pondering it will help.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

My Prayer List for My Children – Humility

Greetings Dear Reader,

My Grandfather used to always say, “The problem with humility is that the moment you think you have it, you have lost it.”  Pride destroys us.  Pride eats away at who we are in Christ and replaces it with an image we have of ourselves that is a lie.

Humility is a constant pursuit.  I must always see if I can become less full of who I am outside of Christ and more filled with his Spirit.  Pride breeds destruction.  The moment I think that I can stand outside of Christ I am destined to fall.  I may be able to sustain doing what it good for a time, but if I do it on my own that is prideful as well.

It is vital that I embrace and exemplify humility.  I must not believe for a moment that I can follow Christ under any other banner.  God resists those who are proud.  He gives grace to the humble.  Pride keeps us from admitting our dire need for Christ.  We cannot approach that need without humility.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

My Prayer List for My Children – Contrite Heart

Greetings Dear Reader,

Do we really know what it means to be contrite?  When we do not have a tender spirit it is easy to fend off natural remorse when we sin.  Sometimes the guilt I feel is genuine.  I have a Catholic upbringing that saw to it that I felt deep guilt.  That guilt was not always based on what Christ wants me to feel and think when I am not following him.

I must always be aware of the moment I stop following and be ready to acknowledge my sin.  When I keep short accounts on this life is much easier.  When I avoid being contrite I put in danger the tenderness of my spirit.  I put in danger my ability to know when I have been unfaithful in my following.

When I keep my heart contrite I am more sensitive to the needs of others.  Pride is easier to fight.  My sin is much easier to avoid if I respond instantly to the genuine prodding that I have done wrong.  It draws me closer to Christ and then the following is much easier.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

My Prayer List for My Children – Tender Spirit

Greetings Dear Reader,

It seems it becomes easy to adopt hardness and bitterness in our world.  In a world that seems to be draining of compassion I am called to be compassionate.  One must work to keep a tender spirit.  One must not let the pains of life take away from this. 

Keeping a tender spirit leads me to be able to show love and kindness to others.  It keeps me aware of the needs of those around me.  Recently in a moment of tender kindness my eldest Son reminded me that something I was doing needed to be done for my benefit as well as the benefit of others. It gave me courage to do the things I needed to do with a tender spirit.

My nature is to hide this part of me.  Having a tender spirit means we can be hurt and no one wishes to be hurt.  The world is a dangerous place and it will hurt me for being tender.  Christ promises that he will be there for me.  He never promises I will not get hurt but that he will be there for me.  I pray that the world does not rob my Children of their tenderness.

What can be done for an old heart like mine?

Soften it up with oil and wine.

The oil is You in Your Spirit or love.

Please wash me anew in the wine of your blood. – Keith Green

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

My Prayer List for My Children – Prayerfulness

Greetings Dear Reader,

The journey must be a conversation.  This is something I do well on most days.  I try to involve God in my thoughts all day long.  When a sunrise or sunset is particularly beautiful I thank God for it.  When a man almost hit me pulling out of the PDQ yesterday I thanked God for his protection. 

How can one hope to truly know someone they never speak to about feelings, hopes, and the heart?  When I encounter things in my life that are difficult I talk to God about it.  On days that I teach I pray for my students.  I pray for my Children every time I think about them. 

The difference that is important is that prayer is not meant to be a high holy oratory.  It is meant to be a human and God in real conversation.  When I sin I try to acknowledge it immediately and ask God’s forgiveness.  When I see others in need I ask God how I can help. 

I cannot imagine how tormented my mind would be were I not able to speak to God about the things that burden my heart.  Prayer matters.  I pray that others learn this.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

My Prayer List for My Children – Bible Reading

Greetings Dear Reader,

I know that this is an area where I did not develop good habits in my children.  There were attempts but I failed.  Each time I read the Word I feel a longing for them to realize the richness that is there. 

So many try to marginalize the Bible but I see its validity.  Faith comes easy for me but I find it even richer when I spend time reading the words God chose to communicate himself to me.  Many have used the Bible as a weapon to their own purposes.  If we view the Word through the lens of Christ’s admonition to love God and to love people it is not a weapon but rather an excellent guide.

It is an easy thing to reason oneself away from the validity of Scripture.  Again the same thing is required in order to grasp the truth and follow it.  That thing is the thing that people do not wish to need: Faith.  So I spend more time in Bible reading and pray that my family will do the same.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

My Prayer List for My Children

Greetings Dear Reader,

I had the privilege many years ago of being mentored by a man who understood that children need prayer.  He developed a list of things for which he prayed for concerning his children and shared it with me as a place mat.  I pray for my children every morning and I pray for the things on this list.  It also serves to remind me of who we are to be in Christ. 

I know that I have shared this list with them in the past but I wonder how often they ponder how much it means to me.  I have also begun to pray for these things for my Grandsons.  Each of these things matters.  Each of these things are the small items that lead to good character and following Christ in a meaningful way.  I have decided to work through this list item by item in working to become a better example of what I wish my Children and Grandchildren to become.

My Prayer List for My Children

SPIRITUAL

Bible reading

Witnessing

Prayerfulness

Desire to learn Word

Tender spirit

Contrite heart

World vision

Humility

Purity

Zeal

Wisdom

Discernment

Reverence

Quietness

Boldness

Family worship

Buoyant spirit

Faith

Faithfulness

Honesty

Experience in teaching

Comprehension of Scripture

Love of Christ

Holiness

Absolute Yieldedness

Sound Doctrine

Joy

Tolerance

Patience

PHYSICAL

Fitness

Strength

Self-exercise program

Healing

Stick-to-it-tiveness

Desire to eat right

Hobby

Profitable leisure

Safety

Proper competitive Spirit

Modest dress

Endurance

Punctuality

Dependability

Acceptance of himself

Love to sing

Good hygiene

Diligence

Able to relax

Able to use tools

Resistance to pain

Neat

Able to cook

Able to “fix-it”

Self-control

Cleanliness

SOCIAL

Respectful

Hospitality

Loyalty

Spirit-filled friends

Good neighbors

Classmates

Mate

Occupation

Usefulness in the community

Peers

High personal standards

Teamwork

Individuality

Cooperative spirit

Thriftiness

Generosity

Responsibility

Fairness

Immediate obedience

Accepts self sexually

Submission to: God, Parents, Church, Government, Mate

Peacemaker

Courteous

Helpful

Smiling

Friendly

Outgoing

Prayerful for mate

Love for siblings

Love for God’s people

MENTAL

Good books

Stimulation

Memorization of: Scripture, Poetry, Hymns, People’s names

Reasoning ability

Logic

Desire to learn

Accepts own I.Q.

Proper priorities

Ability to organize

Disciplined mind

Curiosity

Attention to necessary detail

Creativity

Comprehension

Initiative

Orderliness

Efficiency

Appreciation for:

Art

Music

Literature

Craftsmanship

Independent thinking

Ability to concentrate

Singleness of mind

Willingness to say “no”

Simplicity

Organization

EMOTIONAL

Integrity

Forgiveness

Compassion

Love

Self-Control

Stability

Submission

Thoughtfulness

Thankfulness

Tolerance of others

Gentleness

Meekness

Flexibility

Patience

Affectionate

Kindness

Accepts own personality

Contentment

Merciful

Selflessness

Generosity

Peacefulness

Loyalty

Willingness

Balance

Empathy

Sympathy

Tenderness

Consistency

Eagerness to help

Source: Phil Myers

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Minor Changes

Greetings Dear Reader,

Things change.  This is what happens and I do not always deal with it well.  I have realized I need to change some things in my daily routine.  I have resisted this because I like routine and resist change.  I like to know what is next.  It is easy for me to have faith in big things that are beyond my control.  It is in these little things that I must address that I feel a sense of resistance.

Resistance to change is just a waste of energy.  Since the only thing that does not change is Christ I must focus on him and flow with the changes.  Jesus told his friend Nicodemus that those who are driven by the Spirit of God are driven on that wind.  This is what must be and to resist it is to resist God moving things. 

I am in the right place for this but there is still the gnawing need to know and control.  This is where the journey must be focused on Christ.  This is where I must be dependent rather than in control.  Not knowing is that makes the journey an adventure.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Valleys of Death – My Cup Overflows

Greetings Dear Reader,

I am writing this last installment over the two days I will journey home.  I begin it in a Cracker Barrel.  This is a part of the bookend of my journeys south.  I love the food and the fond memories of stopping at this restaurant on my way to summer camp.

Today I return to the place where my children and Grandson live.  I hope by tomorrow to see them all.  As I emerge from the south I hope to shed the sadness that enshrouds me along with the oppressive humidity that is the nature of my birthplace.

There has been joy in the journey.  I got to see most of my family.  I got to see a sister I have not seen since she was an infant.  I got to meet others who are already dear to me.  I had dinner with family and spent time with other siblings that I love.  I still have some time to recoup before I move on to other things.

I saw some beautiful things on my journey.  The mountains yielded a loveliness that cannot be found elsewhere.  The falls at Toccoa remain beautiful and amazing.  The drive through Illinois remains boring and endless.  It gives me much time to think as Christmas sleeps whilst I drive.

I am now home and a little rested.  I was able to bring good gifts for my children and Grandson.  We all had dinner together last night.  It was a beautiful and joyous time.  My second Grandson kindly waited for my return to emerge from the womb.  His arrival is the next big thing on the agenda.

The shadows of my journey still linger and the joys of it will remain.  I still love the living and am properly mourning the dead.  The key is that Christ was there in all of it.  His comfort and peace keep settling my troubled heart.  The shadows to the Valley of Death still cling to me like cob webs but the Light is there and I need only to continue to allow him to journey me.

As a final thought on how Christ prepared the way before me I consider this:  I started writing about this as an allusion to the 23^rd Psalm before I left.  When I visited the church where my Brother ministers they were doing an all-day meditation on that very Psalm.  I got to hear music about and meditate on the very words that my journey revolved around.  I will leave you with them.

A psalm by David: The LORD is my shepherd. I am never in need.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters.

He renews my soul. He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name.  Even though I walk through the dark valley of death, because you are with me, I fear no harm. Your rod and your staff give me courage.  You prepare a banquet for me while my enemies watch. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.  Certainly, goodness and mercy will stay close to me all the days of my life, and I will remain in the LORD'S house for days without end.  

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

Valleys of Death – Collecting the Dead

Greetings Dear Reader,

I am sitting in a Chick-fil-A; one of my favorite places to eat in the world.  It is a southern thing that I cannot get in my northern home.   As I begin my journey home, back to the place that is home to me now, I first make a final stop.  You have heard of me speak often of my Grandfather for whom I hold a love so deep that I wish the entire world could feel that love.  I write about him often and the lessons he taught me in our short time together do much to inform my faith and my view of mankind.

He was taken from me abruptly and cruelly when I was in a very serious storm of development.  A single phrase uttered by a thoughtless adult had me thinking for years that his death was my fault.  His loss still echoes inside me when life is hard or when I am in the south.  His son, my father is the focus of my day today.

My father left when I was three.  I saw him again when I was eight and then when I was a young adult.  The last time I spoke with him was twenty years ago.  Today I go to collect his ashes.  I am amazed that I was as damaged as I was when I learned of his passing.  I am astounded that I grieved as deeply as I did.  I suppose that I had always hoped for some type of reconciliation in the end. 

Today I will gather the earthly remains of my progenitor and carry them home with me to provide a proper resting place for him.  I do this mainly to honor my Grandfather as it is what he would wish.  There is something sadly poetic about the eldest son coming to collect the remains of the father who begat and abandoned so many children.  My spirit hovers over an abyss that I rarely plumb.  There is little that I can do to defend from the raw pain that is there.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

Valleys of Death – Gardens of the Dead

Greetings Dear Reader,

As I resume my journey to the place of my birth I am taking a road less traveled. There is no way to take an interstate to the next stop on our route. We have said goodbye to the dying and now our rural rout passes so many churches with their own collections of the dead. Small and large gatherings of tilted stones mark those deemed worthy of being buried in church graveyards. My Daughter is astounded at the number of churches here. Without having read my BLOG yesterday she asked me, “Papa, if there are so many churches how come there are so many people still in need?”


I could tell that it pained her to realize the depth of need that goes unmet by those who claim to follow Christ. It put her in light of true meaning of following Christ and the responsibility associated with it. She is begging to grasp that the body of Christ, the church is supposed to care for people body and soul.


So many of these individual churches attempt to care for the soul in the way they see fit. Few, however, care for the body except to give it a hole in the ground once it is a worthless shell. It is so sad that the place in our nation known for its relationship to the Bible does no better at living out true religion. If I am to follow Christ wholly I cannot see the hundreds of churches I pass and not wonder why they do not unite as THE BODY of CHRIST and combat the social ills that plague our nation.


What I mean by this is that I am to care for the needs of others no matter what my personal feelings are and no matter if that person ever listens to the message of Christ or not. My agenda is to follow Christ and obey him. If my agenda is to convert them to Christ then I muddy the purity of the message. It is love for love’s sake not to get something from them. Surely the churches wish to leave something more to the physical world than gardens of the dead.


Wishing you joy in the journey,


Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."

Valleys of Death – The Walking Dead

Greetings Dear Reader,

I realize that most of my writing on this topic is very morose.  I promise I am not depressed or in a “bad” place.  I am simply trying to deal honestly with my feelings and the way in which we deal with death.  For me it is the last best part of the journey toward God and the best result of actually following Christ. 

So many that I know have not embraced the richness of giving all that they are to Christ.  I am not condemning anyone here.  What I am saying is that there is a richness there and there are many who claim to be “Christian” who do not really care for the challenges and cost of truly following Christ.  Following Christ is not a spectator’s sport.  He demands all of us.  Many who claim to love Jesus are still dead in their pursuit of him. 

The true cost of following Christ is that no topic in life is out of bounds.  How we deal with everything is a report on our faith.  How we treat others tells of our love for Christ.  Who we put first in our conversations and actions belies our faith and following.  What we do with our time and resources explains our priorities in relation to Christ’s priorities.  Why we do what we do is a direct statement of our seriousness in following Christ.

As I drift along the line of the Bible Belt I ponder that if all these churches possessed committed followers of Jesus then the world would be a much different place.  Healthcare, homelessness, and poverty would be issues of the church and not the government.  I fear that the path of those following is much narrower than those who think they are following.  I also fear getting it wrong so I hone my focus daily.  I do not want to be one of the walking dead who think they follow something good but in truth have embraced a dead orthodoxy over true faith.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a home owner. He brings new and old things out of his treasure store."