Praying For A Picnic

"Apple Blossoms" by John Everett Millais

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20 KJV)

I can read your mind. You are thinking, “What in this world does that verse have to do with a group of ladies having a picnic under apple blossoms?”

Admittedly, it is a circuitous route, but it really has to do with prayer. I am blessed to have some prayer partners in widely scattered places on this earth. Please let me introduce them – somewhat anonymously, of course.

There is a group of Baptist Moms. We met on the web in the early days of bulletin boards. We were all mothers, all Baptists, shared lots of things such as DIY projects, recipes, plans, advice – and prayer. We knew when we posted a prayer on the board there would be sisters in Christ joining in. As the digital age progressed for years, we found ourselves in different corners of Facebook – still posting prayer requests, and still responding for our sisters. Most of these are in the USA.

Then there are some singlets where individuals met, found ourselves to be sisters in Christ and feel close enough to share prayer requests. These are scattered around the world. Some were met on the web, some at church services and others through friends. Some are missionaries who are in my prayers to help them carry Christ’s message of God’s love wherever their beautiful feet carry them:

Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Isaiah 52:6-7 KJV)

Others have become friends – scattered from Kenya through Australia into Thailand circling the globe back to my home church with many sisters in Christ:

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17 KJV)

Not all of my loved ones fall into these categories, and there are prayers that someday they will. I pray for them as I follow Samuel’s example:

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: (1 Samuel 12:23a KJV)

So – what has that to do with a picnic? That’s another prayer. You see, I visualize a verse:

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2 KJV)

Can you visualize that? Wouldn’t that be the perfect picnic place? Lot’s of time in eternity for people who do not meet here, but share the love of God and His Word while praying with each other, isn’t there?
That’s my “other” prayer – a span of existence (for time shall be no more) where those who led me to Christ can introduce those who led them, tracking all the way back to the cross, can meet with those whose lives we’ve touched, prayed with, supported in His love and will share eternity.

Now, wouldn’t that be an awesome picnic? Please – join in.