And . . . ?

 

If you’re ever wondering how you can pray for me, pray that complaining words stop making their way through my lips. I know God doesn’t like it when we complain, yet here I sit – complaining far too often.

It’s silly, but sometimes I even feel like I need to complain just because others in the conversation are complaining. Perhaps my brain pacifies me with the old adage that misery loves company. Maybe complaining is just contagious.

But it’s not just when I’m with others sharing conversation. I can be happily doing the work in front of me when I fuss and complain to the Lord!

“I can’t believe the woman across the room from me is talking to her child that way, she’s making them feel so small and unseen.”

God: “And?”

“Lord, I can tell that man is cheating the system…”

God: “And?”

“That woman just stole from the store, Lord!”

God: “And?”

And just what do I think my complaining about it will do? I could just as easily pray instead of resorting to complaint.

“Father, please heal the hurt in that mother’s heart so she doesn’t take her frustrations out on her child….”

“Lord, show that man a better way to live. Open his eyes to the deception in his ways. Show him YOUR ways…”

“God, I know You’ve already made provision for the woman who just stole from the store, open her eyes to see YOUR provision.

Years ago, while complaining to God about a friend, He let me vent and then said, “You know, if you were praying for her, you wouldn’t be complaining about her.”

That was an embarrassing moment of chastisement! But I needed to hear it. It’s true for all of us.

Quickly I remembered Hebrews 12:5 & 6:

“Have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives.” (ESV)

So, I’m in good company – God chastises and corrects those He loves!

Reminds me of the words to an old song, Little by Little.

“Little by little, one step at a time, He’s changing our hearts and renewing our minds. He’s teaching us how to be patient and kind. Little by little, one step at a time.”

Tis true!

How can I pray for YOU today?

Turning The Page

 Turning the Page, “What does this look like, Lord?”

While reading the other day, I had questions about what I’d just read. I write in my books, that’s why I don’t like to borrow a book from anyone. I wrote my questions in the margin, like I usually do – in pencil. After reading another page or two, I found the answers to my questions. I went back and erased my question, because now I understood where the author was going with her line of thought.

I can be quite argumentative with the authors I read. Of course, they never know it. I challenge a lot of what I read. Just because someone wrote it, even someone I trust, doesn’t mean I’m going to agree with it. Feel free to disagree with anything you read that I’ve written, too, please.

As I completely erased my question, I was thankful to have discovered the answers I was looking for. I smiled. And – I could have sworn I heard God say to me, “This is how it is when you argue with Me, too. When you turn the page, you’ll find the answers. Keep looking.”

Great Word – however, just what did He mean by turn the page? That’s the question I’m looking for answers to, now.

We’ve been pondering a move for quite some time now; pretty much since Dave retired from the police department. Questions about this move consume our prayers often. When Lord? And where to?

We’re quite comfortable where we are. It’s beautiful here in Colorado. We have a great church family; we have plenty of friends and a nice home. We have family nearby. We have mountains to hike through whenever we’d like. We have a great healthcare plan.

Maybe it’s all the moves we made with the military, but I’m kind of feeling like we need another move. We’ve been here in Colorado for the likes of 30 years now. That’s the longest either one of us has lived anywhere.

We have family in Tennessee and in Ohio, and other places as well. Wouldn’t it be nice to live closer to them now? Yes. It would. We miss them so much!

We’ve weighed pros and cons. It’s actually more affordable to live where we are than in many other places. Plus, the cost of moving will be steep. There’s the headache of selling our home and buying a new one and settling in there.

The bottom line for Dave and I is: where does GOD want us?

What does God want us doing in this season of life?

If He wants us here, we need to be content here and be all about our Father’s business.

If He wants us to move again, we need to be patient and wait on His leading and His direction. I’ll admit, I’m not as patient as Dave. I feel like I’m spinning my wheels here.

But what if there’s more God wants to do with us here and He wants us to stay? What if there’s more to do here BEFORE we move? Plenty of questions.

Now I’m thinking those questions are answered on the next page. We need to turn a page.

Could moving be the page we turn?

No. I don’t think so. We need answers before we turn THAT page.

Please, join us in prayer as we pursue this.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths.” – Proverbs 3:5

“Wait on the LORD, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” – Proverbs 27:14

We know this very well.

 

What's That Word?

 

Futility. That’s the word that came to mind. Yet upon looking it up to make sure I was using it correctly, I was wrong. Futility means pointlessness or uselessness.

Then the word redundancy came to mind. That one technically means ‘the state of being not or no longer needed or useful’.

So, no, that’s not the word I’m looking for, either.

Sometimes we find ourselves stuck in a rut where we know that what we’re doing has a point and is needed and useful to someone, somewhere.

Shout out to all my factory worker friends, those who stand on an assembly line doing their part; forever playing your role in the production of something useful to someone else, but perhaps never seeing or using the end product yourself.

I mentioned to a friend that sometimes it feels like we’re all cogs in a giant clock, each pushing the next cog forward one click at a time.

Maybe I’m just longing for a glimpse of the big picture. And I hear this whispered into my heart:

“Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!” – Psalm 27:14 NKJV

I feel like I have my spoon in a lot of pots, stirring up others to fruitfulness, while watching from the background. Maybe that’s my role. Maybe I’m right where I’m supposed to be.

But I can’t help but feel like there’s something more for me. Somewhere. A new pot to stir?

Is it just time for a change?

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

All those years as a military wife were filled with upheaval and moving from time to time. And you know what? I loved it! Now I feel like I’ve been sitting in the same chair for too long. I need to get up and stretch my legs, if you know what I mean – before I get too old to get up out of the chair at all.

Right now, I feel like I’m pacing around in Limbo. Waiting. Not even knowing exactly what I’m waiting for.

But you know Who’s right here with me, waiting alongside me? You know Who knows the whole plan and sees the big picture? You know Who’s got His hand on my shoulder all the while calming my anxiousness? You know Who’s holding me on the faint days and dancing with me on the days I feel more ready to go than I am?

Yep. My Jesus. He’s with me.

I’m still fine. F.I.N.E.

[Finally, and] forever in need of Emmanuel.

I’m anchored in the Rock of Ages.

If you’ve ever been to the lake or an ocean and walked along the shore, you may have noticed large rocks or pieces of concrete with big metal links anchored deep into them. I have no idea what they may have been used for, but something was chained there for its own safekeeping. It was protected from drifting out to sea or from being lost in a storm or dashed against the rocky shoreline.

Jesus is my Rock. I’m safely anchored in His peace, living in my purpose. – Even when I can’t see the whole picture.

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” – Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV

I guess the word I was searching for is TRUST! I’m TRUSTING GOD!

Sing Over Me

(musicgrotto.com)

There are songs our hearts need to hear. What song is your heart longing for today? When you quiet your thoughts, do you hear it? Maybe it’s a song of comfort. Perhaps and song to energize your day? A song of rejoicing? It might be a song to distract you from everything that’s overwhelmed you today.

As I sit down to write this blog post, I hear a chorus echo through my thoughts, whispering, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him Christ the Lord. It’s so familiar it could roll through my brain without much contemplation. But when did I last intentionally take time out of my busy day to close my eyes and just worship Him? Have I even slowed down enough today to adore my Savior? No. I haven’t. And you know what? He isn’t mad at me; He’s not holding a grudge against me or sitting up there in the heavenlies pouting on His throne because I once again allowed myself to get too busy for Him. He decided a long time ago to love me, no matter what, with His never-ending love.

Would He like me to turn to Him with my every thought, my every care or worry? Would He like me to include Him in my excitement and happiness? Absolutely!

Just as we like to be included in what our friends are going through, He too wants to share in everything we think, say and do. He wants us to honor Him with our thoughts, our words and our deeds. But He’s not going to punish us for getting too busy. He’d like to help, if we’ll let Him.

Whether He’s quietly calling us to Himself, or showing off in some ridiculously crazy way to get our attention – He’s waiting on us.

(psiloveyou.xyz)

And guess what else! The Bible says He never grows weary. Even I grow weary of my busyness, or my laziness or my forgetfulness. Any reason I can give for going on with my day without Him is no excuse at all. At bedtime when I lay my blurry-eyed head on my pillow, He’s patiently waiting on me. And if I fall asleep without thanking Him for my day, still, He waits on me.

He loves me no more or no less than He loves anyone else. Does He deal with us differently? Yes. Just as my children are all different and respond to me differently, God’s children are all individuals with their own personalities, needs and love language. He knows them all; every one of His children, their quirks, their joys, their needs and how they best give and receive love. None of us is beyond His reach. Not a single one of us slide under His radar, He loves us all.

No need to stand before Him with shame, Jesus took care of all of that on the Cross.

How would you like your child to come to you? Would it bless you if they poured their heart out to you? Would you love a hug? Would you like them to honor you, to receive from you all the wonderful things you’d like to give them? Would you like them to look lovingly into your eyes?

Before you close this blog post, share something with Jesus. He’s ever so patiently waiting for you.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”                                  -Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

(thedodo.com)

Is God Still God?

Is God still God when “He doesn’t answer our prayers”?

The short answer – yes!

But, since when do I use short answers?

When we pray, particularly when we pray for someone else, or over a situation involving someone else, they continue to have the freedom to choose; as do we.

They can choose to rebel against God, as can we. (Assuming what we were praying over them was included in the will of God.)

When we’re praying for someone else, the best way we can pray is for God to get a hold of their heart, for Him to reveal Himself to them in an undeniable way. But, instead, we often pray for them to make a choice in a matter that’s pleasing to us.

When they don’t comply, God gets the blame and often, we stop praying for them; we “give up on them”. Ouch!

We lose sight of our part in their heart softening toward God; they’re salvation or they’re deliverance, or whatever God is doing in their lives.

They’re left hanging and we become angry and bitter with the God of our salvation, the God Who loves us eternally, more than our human hearts can imagine. We’ll miss out on so many blessings while we’re stewing in our bitterness.

When we pray, our faith doesn’t disappear when things don’t go our way; that’s when faith is really tested.

God already knows your faith is plenty strong enough to hold on. Do you? Ah, yes, that’s who you’re proving it to. Each test of faith we rise above is showing us just how strong that mustard seed of faith, planted in our heart, really is.

Turn around. Run to Jesus. Right now.

It may involve tears.

It’ll definitely involve forgiveness, both giving and receiving.

Now is not the time to give up on prayer. Now is the time to seek God’s face all the more passionately. We’ve still got a lot of living to do, a lot of mountains to climb, a lot of joy to be expressed!

You’re in my heart, you’re in my prayers.

But, more importantly, God has not turned His back on you. Run to Him. Now.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

Expanding NEBAI

(aecinfo.com)

Eons ago, in 2001, actually, I wrote a prayer that revealed my need to slow down, even if it was just the few relaxing moments I spent in the bathtub.

Today I filled the tub, plopped in a fizzy ball and sank into the hot water, relaxing inch by inch, as I submerged myself. “Sermons in the Tub” came to mind with full gusto, again.

“Lord I always seem to hear You….

when I’m listening….

when I’m listening to what You want to say to me…

I never seem hear You at all 

when I’m listening for what I want You to say,

the way I want You to say it.

I hear You when there’s very little 

if anything else at all that I can be doing.

You increase Your Word, only when I’m using it, not when I need it, 

not when I want it; but only when I’m using it.

When the widow fed Elijah, it was Your Word, Lord, that sustained her, only when she relented 

and gave up what she could do to sustain herself.

When Your disciples fed the multitudes from a basket of a few fishes and a loaf of bread, did they grow tired of feeding before all were fed, or did their level of excitement overwhelm their weariness –

because they saw the increase of Your Word…as it was used?

Today is a great day, without it of course, tomorrow would not come.

Today is a day of release, of letting go...of using Your Word,

so that You can cause the increase as I need it.

If I don’t let go of what I no longer need,

where will You give me what You want me to have now?

If I don’t let go to death, where will You give life.

If I’m listening for only what I want to hear You say,

where will You speak, that I would listen?”

I need to listen more and talk less. I get that. I also need to do better at being honest with myself.

(memorise.org)

 Using dietary illustrations again, there have been occasions when I’ve eaten something sugary or fatty and felt horrible afterward, and not just from conviction or guilt over eating it. I felt bloated, lazy, sleepy, queasy, sometimes even nauseous. (Then add to that, being mad at myself for consciously putting that poison in my mouth.) Those are not the words I want to use when describing how I feel. Yet, the time comes when I’m tempted to eat those very same things again – simply because my taste buds crave them or I’m feeling lonely or frustrated. If I were honest with myself when contemplating what I should do, I’d admit that those foods won’t comfort me, they’ll make me feel worse than I may already feel.

I know how those foods will make me feel. But, when I’m too busy for my own good and my focus is all over the map, not only do I not listen to what God wants to say to me, I don’t even listen to what I have to say to myself.

(by Eleanor Craig)

If you look at my life from an outsider’s point of view, you’d never guess I’m too busy. Even as I survey what I get done in a day, it’s not really all that much, most of the time. So, it’s not that I’m too busy doing things; my mind is too busy.

So, not only when I find myself being tempted to eat something that won’t be good for my body, but also when I catch my mind rushing around in pointless circles, I’m going to try to incorporate my NEBAI practice. (See my last blog post here for more on that.)

The catchy part will be noticing when my mind is evading me. Ha-ha!

Okay, Lord – I’m listening. For now.

(kickvick.com)

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (KJV)

I’m thankful that God is so patient with me, working everything together for my good and His glory. I think it’s His very good pleasure to work in us; with us, fulfilling His promises in our lives.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, 

as some men count slackness; 

but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, 

but that all should come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

(enjoyingthejourneys.com)

Just Wrap Me In Cellophane, Pink Please!

(photo from shihocraftscafe.wordpress.com)

Do we ask? Generally, no; we jump in with both feet – flesh and all.

Quite frankly, most of what I blog about relates to me, personally, whether you’d think so or not. I uncover my flesh for the entire world to see. In my own way, I guess, I’m creating my own version of intimacy with you all. If you’ve read many of my posts, you know my favorite definition of the word intimacy is: in-to-me-see. Bluntly put, I’m allowing you to see into me, whether you reciprocate or not.

I’m not cloaked with a heavy mantle, I sit here wrapped in cellophane (pink please). If you look back over my posts you’ll see a picture of how I’m growing in Christ. I’m not light years ahead of the game. I may be right beside you, perhaps one step ahead or a whole block or two behind.

We all take certain steps faster than others and we all come up against those steps that stir up great hesitation. It’s not a race. I rejoice that we’re walking together in The Way!

(photo mine)

We’re not quite as self-centered as we used to be.

We’re not quite as controlling.

We’re not quite as arrogant.

We’re not quite as mean.

We’re a little more loving.

We’re a little more giving.

We’re a little more patient.

We’re a little more faithful.

We pray. We get into God’s Word more often and more diligently, more intently and with greater understanding.

Yet, we can be caught dragging our feet. Me? Sometimes I trip on them, yes – both of them!

Do we ask? Do I ask? Not always. Why? Grrrr…..

Too often I want to jump in and fix things or give my incredible words of wise instruction before even asking what God wants done in a given situation. I presume to know what God’s doing in everyone else’s life….. (Surely I’m not alone in this, right?)

Praise God that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” (Romans 8:1)

(photo mine)

I need to be asking what God wants of me, every single time; nothing more and nothing less. More from me won’t make things better, I might be intruding on what God’s trying to do in the lives of others.

Sometimes God wants others to step up. If I was a millionaire and every time a need arose in the lives around me, and I met that need, no one else in my circle would learn to give. They’d get mighty good at the receiving part, though.

Sometimes the words I speak into a situation are the last things the person in need wants to hear. God knows their frame of mind and what they need to hear and when; I do not always know that. As a matter of fact, in and of myself, I probably never know that.

Whether it’s words or actions required on my part, I need God’s instruction before I open my mouth.

Eventually, we’ll come to a place in Christ where we’ll hear His voice even before our own. But, the God kind of self-control and humility must come into play. If we allow the Holy Spirit of God to live inside of us, we need to recognize that He’s not a decoration on the walls of our heart. He needs to be granted our permission to speak and move through us!

(picture from becuo.com)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” - Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)

Fruit is cultivated; it doesn’t just spontaneously appear on the vine or tree. Praise God we are planted in His royal garden, where He cultivates His fruit according to His plans and purposes in us – making us more and more like Him every day.

The Other Boots

(photo from linkedin.com)

Today we rightly give honor to our veterans near and far, those who’ve gone before us and those we stand beside daily. We should do so every day. God bless you all. Thank you for everything you’ve done for America and her people, and for so many others around the world. Thank you for every sacrifice and every sorrow; for every moment of frustration and every moment of fear. We celebrate with you every moment of victory and triumph and every moment of pride and your safe return from service. We salute you and bless you from the deepest parts of our hearts. And as you do, we bless and salute the ones you love.

(photo from plumdistrict.com)

To those you’ve left behind –

Your love is never forgotten.

Your sacrifices are not invisible.

Your hearts are bigger than the world will ever know.

Your voice is energy; your words are dynamic, even when whispered.

Your tears are saved in a special place as God’s treasure.

Your patience has been tried.

Your questions have gone unanswered.

Your faithfulness is often overlooked.

Your understanding of longsuffering is over-the-top.

Your songs, in your heart - carry tremendous meaning; unfathomable power.

Your pride is deserved.

Your creativity saves the day.

Your dreams are valid.

Your pain is real.

Your wounds are many.

Your confusion is misunderstood.

Your comfort is coming.

Your peace belongs to you alone.

Your joy is sometimes hidden.

Your self-control is tested.

Your prayers have often felt like they were ignored.

But, you are heard.

You are loved.

You count.

You are honored.

You are admired.

You are an over-comer.

You are victorious.

You are envied.

You are important.

You are fulfilling one of your greatest purposes, right now.

You are indispensible.

You are the mortar between the bricks; without you there is no strong tower.

You are the reason love marches forth to protect and defend and conquer evil.

There are no heroes without you, for without you, there is no need for heroes.

Thank you!

I give you all my love, now and always. 

“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Bless are all who wait for him!” – Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters,

He refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” – Psalm 23 (NIV)

Who Are We Wrestling With?

While praying the other day a point came to mind and of course I pondered it. Sometimes when we pray, we feel futility come in and try to distract us, or even compel us to give up praying for certain people or situations. It can be trying on our patience and a test of our faith to continue to pray even when we cannot see things change.

Sometimes we pray because we don’t know what else to do. Sometimes we pray because we know it’s the best thing to do.

But when we pray because we know it’s the best thing we can do – and we feel like our prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and no changes surface in the ordeal we’re facing, then what?

Most of us humans aren’t all that good at waiting, especially here in America where our culture promises everything from a microwave. If we’re in a drive-thru for more than a few minutes, we’ll mutter, “And they call this FAST food?”

I don’t claim to know the secrets to living a life of patience, quite frankly, if I couldn’t find folks to chat with while waiting in line I’d consider them a form of purgatory.

But I discovered a little nugget the other day that has changed and invigorated the way I pray for people and certain situations. I may not have authority over their minds, BUT – I can have spiritual authority over the evil influences that overwhelm them.

When God bestowed upon us the gift of freedom to choose, He didn’t intend for any of us to wrestle that freedom away from others, even when we think we know better than they do. You may not be able to force someone to see things your way – or God’s way, but you can take authority over the forces that want to see destruction throughout mankind.

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” – Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

(The photo is Australian actor/wrestler Nathan Jones.)