For many parents, the empty nest season arrives like a wave—sometimes expected, sometimes sudden, and almost always emotional. As children leave home to pursue their lives, many midlife parents are left with a lingering question: What now? The answer, dear friend, isn't the end of purpose—it's the beginning of transformation.

In both small groups that I’m a member of, we’re diving into Dutch Sheets' book, Intercessory Prayer. This is a deeply thought-provoking read that opens up a powerful understanding of how God utilizes prayer to enact change in our lives and the world around us.

Often underestimated, prayer is one of the most powerful tools available to believers. Prayer is a spiritual practice and a direct conduit to God's heart and transformative power. In his book Intercessory Prayer, Dutch Sheets unveils the profound truth that prayer is not just a conversation with God but a sacred partnership where we work alongside Him to manifest His will on earth. Through prayer, we are invited to partake in God's redemptive work, altering circumstances, shattering spiritual strongholds, and even reshaping the destiny of nations.

As winter tightens its grip on our local lake, a captivating sight never fails to draw me in: geese gliding gracefully over the frozen surface. Now resembling a vast glacier, the lake becomes a stage where these majestic birds perform their daily ballet. Observing them has given me profound insights into empty nest transformation, a journey many embark on as our children leave home.