My greatest privilege in parenting is the assurance of God that He has heard my prayer and His answer to it is "Yes and Amen". Through faith in my God, I am able to rest knowing that "His sovereign current will take my children to their final destination" --their eternal home with Him! ( quote of Rev. Ryan Young) What a beautiful image. Wrapping them in prayer and setting them in the river. Knowing that though they walk in Egypt; Egypt will not walk them. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Nothing we do will cause Him to take his love from us. What a promise! What a gift!
Through the years, there have been few encouragements that have resonated in my spirit to the degree that this timely Word has. It has strengthened my soul. Obliterated the weariness and caused me to pick up my cross and continue, knowing the joy that is set before me!
We are instructed to put our hand to the plow and not look back. We are encouraged to not grow weary in well doing. As a parent, I have to admit, I had grown weary, deep in my soul. It is gut-wrenching to see your children follow after the things of this world and loose sight of that which is eternal. But God...He will not snuff out the smoldering flax! He renews our strength and allows us to soar on wings of eagles!
This week has been a battle. A battle fought and, by faith, won, on my knees and on my face before the Lord. Though my body is spent and exhausted, my spirit is alive with anticipation to see that which has been sealed in my heart, for my children, come to pass.
I believe God has given me a "measure of faith" to pray and partner with you, for your children. If this message is for you, and you would like me to partner with you in prayer, leave a comment with the name of your child/children. It is my great honor to believe with you for them. Amen
Monday, June 27, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wondering
Do you ever wonder why God answers some prayers and not others? I can't help but ponder this over and over. In all the years I have walked with the Lord, it has always been the one thing I would love to have an answer for. Some prayers I send up are answered quickly (like the one for my son last night!--Thank you Lord!) and others, I ask and ask and ask; some for years on end. I have studied the Scriptures and I have not found the answer to this quandry yet. I know that fasting and obedience and tithing and the like are all pertinent to a life devoted to God (spiritual disciplines) and while I am not perfect, I do practice these disciplines, but there is something so mysterious when it comes to prayer. Maybe I will never have the answer. Maybe, it is just one of the great mysteries of God. I can deal with that; but there is something in my Spirit that tells me to keep searching...
I am often surprised by the power of the Spirit of God, as I hope most of us are! I often, in my human thinking, put God in categories. Let me explain. There are certain times when I pray specifically that I am certain of what is "my job" and what is "God's job" when it comes to the answer to what I am asking of God. The written Word is clear as to what my position is and I am confident that as I stand in that position, and pray or fast or whatever, that God will do the rest as He sees fit. For example, I told my son yesterday that He was going to go to Church Camp. I had prayed about it for two weeks, ( I know that sounds strange, but trust me, it was a heart thing that required it) and finally believed that God had shown me that I must stand in the position He ordained (my parental authority). I have quite often run my home as a democracy--very rarely taking the authoritarian position, and some of my compromises have lead to disaster! Anyway, this was the position God required me to stand in, and so I did. My prayer was "okay Lord, I will take this position as you instruct, and I believe YOU will take care of the rest." I braced myself for the ensuing battle and I stood firm and lovingly behind my shield of faith as the flaming arrows shot from my little rebel's mouth! I continued to pray and asked others to join me (as the Word instructs) and by midnight, my son agreed that he would go to camp!
As I lay in bed last night, thanking God, and knowing full well that the battle for my son's heart conversion is not over and in fact, has only just begun, I asked God what the difference was in this prayer as opposed to others. I fell asleep rehearsing various Scripture in my mind and really seeking the answer as if there were some hidden angle or puzzle I had to figure out. This morning I woke with the thought (from God and His Word) that there is nothing hidden--everything in Him is light. He is not up there on His throne saying "I've got her now, she will never figure this one out--ha ha!" He is not a God of secrets. Jesus said that He revealed everything He knew of the Father so that WE could be one with Him as He is one with the Father.
Crazy thought satisfied! I have decided to continue with my study of the Scripture and beef up my prayer life. I don't know if I will find the answer to this question, but I do know that I do not know much, so this decision will be for the good!
Holy Spirit, I invite you to come upon me in power, so that I may be a witness throughout the world. In the Name above all Names, Jesus, I pray. Amen
I am often surprised by the power of the Spirit of God, as I hope most of us are! I often, in my human thinking, put God in categories. Let me explain. There are certain times when I pray specifically that I am certain of what is "my job" and what is "God's job" when it comes to the answer to what I am asking of God. The written Word is clear as to what my position is and I am confident that as I stand in that position, and pray or fast or whatever, that God will do the rest as He sees fit. For example, I told my son yesterday that He was going to go to Church Camp. I had prayed about it for two weeks, ( I know that sounds strange, but trust me, it was a heart thing that required it) and finally believed that God had shown me that I must stand in the position He ordained (my parental authority). I have quite often run my home as a democracy--very rarely taking the authoritarian position, and some of my compromises have lead to disaster! Anyway, this was the position God required me to stand in, and so I did. My prayer was "okay Lord, I will take this position as you instruct, and I believe YOU will take care of the rest." I braced myself for the ensuing battle and I stood firm and lovingly behind my shield of faith as the flaming arrows shot from my little rebel's mouth! I continued to pray and asked others to join me (as the Word instructs) and by midnight, my son agreed that he would go to camp!
As I lay in bed last night, thanking God, and knowing full well that the battle for my son's heart conversion is not over and in fact, has only just begun, I asked God what the difference was in this prayer as opposed to others. I fell asleep rehearsing various Scripture in my mind and really seeking the answer as if there were some hidden angle or puzzle I had to figure out. This morning I woke with the thought (from God and His Word) that there is nothing hidden--everything in Him is light. He is not up there on His throne saying "I've got her now, she will never figure this one out--ha ha!" He is not a God of secrets. Jesus said that He revealed everything He knew of the Father so that WE could be one with Him as He is one with the Father.
Crazy thought satisfied! I have decided to continue with my study of the Scripture and beef up my prayer life. I don't know if I will find the answer to this question, but I do know that I do not know much, so this decision will be for the good!
Holy Spirit, I invite you to come upon me in power, so that I may be a witness throughout the world. In the Name above all Names, Jesus, I pray. Amen
Monday, June 20, 2011
Community
Since arriving here in Savannah (almost 5 months ago), I have been praying for a new body of believers at the church I am attending. I have most especially been praying that each member would experience on a regular basis a "sense" of community there. I have observed for these last few months the people going in and out of the building, with very few lingering to talk with one another and enjoy the blessing of fellowship. I realize that my point of view may be a bit skewed, since I am new, and much of the time feel as though I am on the "outside looking in," but none the less, I continue to pray this blessing over these people continuously; knowing that even if this is a misconception on my part, that God will honor and reveal and answer as He sees fit.
Yesterday, we began a new study in the Book of Acts. The verse we looked at (Acts 1:8) was a verse I had memorized long ago and yet as I prayed it back to the Lord last night, He began to reveal something new to me that coin sides with the prayer for community I had already been praying. He showed me that the progression of being "His Witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" begins with our church--this is, for each body of believers, their "Jerusalem" and when we have received and utilize the power of the Holy Spirit to build community and to witness to one another (building one another up, encouraging each other, praying for each other, etc) then the light of our witness of Him overflows to all Judea (further out on the ripple), then Samaria (further still), and to the ends of the earth. The progression, like that of dropping a rock in the water, has a ripple effect. The light of our testimony of Him becomes brighter and more powerful as we come into relationship with one another. One flashlight can help an individual see his way, but a few hundred or thousand flashlights who have come together can illuminate and guide a city!
I am not an island! I may live on one, but there are plenty of others who live here with me. As I prayed last night, God showed me the lonely hearts in our small church body, mine included, and it broke my heart as He revealed that it too, breaks His. Loneliness is not part of God's plan for us; His Church. He, our loving, gracious Father, created the church to be relational--with one another, adding to our numbers, and with Him. As I wept on my bed for the many "islands" in my church body, I cried out, too, for the power of the Holy Spirit to break the chains that bind us--that keep us from being transparent with each other and vulnerable, that hold us back from answering an alter call, stepping out of our comfort zones and joining a life group or simply walking up to someone and introducing ourselves. The bondage of fear keeps us stuck where we are. What a tactic of the enemy! But "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much". So, I'm praying--how about you?
Yesterday, we began a new study in the Book of Acts. The verse we looked at (Acts 1:8) was a verse I had memorized long ago and yet as I prayed it back to the Lord last night, He began to reveal something new to me that coin sides with the prayer for community I had already been praying. He showed me that the progression of being "His Witnesses in Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" begins with our church--this is, for each body of believers, their "Jerusalem" and when we have received and utilize the power of the Holy Spirit to build community and to witness to one another (building one another up, encouraging each other, praying for each other, etc) then the light of our witness of Him overflows to all Judea (further out on the ripple), then Samaria (further still), and to the ends of the earth. The progression, like that of dropping a rock in the water, has a ripple effect. The light of our testimony of Him becomes brighter and more powerful as we come into relationship with one another. One flashlight can help an individual see his way, but a few hundred or thousand flashlights who have come together can illuminate and guide a city!
I am not an island! I may live on one, but there are plenty of others who live here with me. As I prayed last night, God showed me the lonely hearts in our small church body, mine included, and it broke my heart as He revealed that it too, breaks His. Loneliness is not part of God's plan for us; His Church. He, our loving, gracious Father, created the church to be relational--with one another, adding to our numbers, and with Him. As I wept on my bed for the many "islands" in my church body, I cried out, too, for the power of the Holy Spirit to break the chains that bind us--that keep us from being transparent with each other and vulnerable, that hold us back from answering an alter call, stepping out of our comfort zones and joining a life group or simply walking up to someone and introducing ourselves. The bondage of fear keeps us stuck where we are. What a tactic of the enemy! But "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much". So, I'm praying--how about you?
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The Proof All Around Us
Life has a way of humbling you. It can be difficult at times and cause you to lose heart. But God has a way of using our experiences to move us forward and remind us of where we are going.
I have spent the last three weeks enjoying the presence of my daughter who has been visiting. While she was here I experienced a refreshing, joyful time with her filled with laughter and some once-in-a-lifetime experiences. We went horseback riding, visited with new friends, shopping and best of all kayaking; where God provided us with the gift of meeting one of his amazing creations. We were blessed to come upon a pod of dolphins while out on the water and it was truly awesome! They swam around us and under us, they popped up out of the water and were face to face with us, they allowed us to touch them and watch them interact with each other. It was truly amazing! As we were being entertained and awe struck by these marvelous creatures, I could not help but say out loud that God is Awesome! Not only did he create these beautiful, intelligent dolphin, but he gave us the desire of our hearts (most especially my daughter's heart desire) to interact with them. The look of wonder on her face was incomparable! There truly is, as Scripture reminds us, no excuse for not believing in such an awesome God--the proof is all around us! I was so humbled by the experience and so blessed at the same time.
The funny thing about being blessed in such a way as this, was that all I could think of was how much I wished my oldest son could have been there with us. I literally ached to be able to have shared this with him. Later that night, as I fell into bed exhausted, I was thanking the Lord for such an awesome gift and He gently reminded me that though this was an exceptional day, the most awesome gift He gave me was His grace. He began to reveal to me that all of His blessings flow from His gift of grace to us. I was humbled once again.
Who would have thought that a simple prayer to see a dolphin while we were kayaking could have moved the God of the Universe to send His Word to command His Creation to come, right where we were, at just the right time to bring us such an incredible blessing? To show each of us how much He loves us, and how great His grace and mercy and power are. Unfathomable: yet made simple, so we could receive it.
As we finished up our kayaking trip and the last dolphin swam away, some other people kayaking were finishing up as well. I asked if they enjoyed the dolphin as much as we had (they were there for the last few minutes of our blessing!) and one of the women said, " its amazing that evolution had allowed them to breathe out of a hole on their head." I could not help but speak that "the only amazing thing was the intricate design of the Creator of everything--God Himself and to Him ALONE be all the Glory!"
No Way would anything or anyone else ever get the credit for this! GOD ALONE. Amen!
I have spent the last three weeks enjoying the presence of my daughter who has been visiting. While she was here I experienced a refreshing, joyful time with her filled with laughter and some once-in-a-lifetime experiences. We went horseback riding, visited with new friends, shopping and best of all kayaking; where God provided us with the gift of meeting one of his amazing creations. We were blessed to come upon a pod of dolphins while out on the water and it was truly awesome! They swam around us and under us, they popped up out of the water and were face to face with us, they allowed us to touch them and watch them interact with each other. It was truly amazing! As we were being entertained and awe struck by these marvelous creatures, I could not help but say out loud that God is Awesome! Not only did he create these beautiful, intelligent dolphin, but he gave us the desire of our hearts (most especially my daughter's heart desire) to interact with them. The look of wonder on her face was incomparable! There truly is, as Scripture reminds us, no excuse for not believing in such an awesome God--the proof is all around us! I was so humbled by the experience and so blessed at the same time.
The funny thing about being blessed in such a way as this, was that all I could think of was how much I wished my oldest son could have been there with us. I literally ached to be able to have shared this with him. Later that night, as I fell into bed exhausted, I was thanking the Lord for such an awesome gift and He gently reminded me that though this was an exceptional day, the most awesome gift He gave me was His grace. He began to reveal to me that all of His blessings flow from His gift of grace to us. I was humbled once again.
Who would have thought that a simple prayer to see a dolphin while we were kayaking could have moved the God of the Universe to send His Word to command His Creation to come, right where we were, at just the right time to bring us such an incredible blessing? To show each of us how much He loves us, and how great His grace and mercy and power are. Unfathomable: yet made simple, so we could receive it.
As we finished up our kayaking trip and the last dolphin swam away, some other people kayaking were finishing up as well. I asked if they enjoyed the dolphin as much as we had (they were there for the last few minutes of our blessing!) and one of the women said, " its amazing that evolution had allowed them to breathe out of a hole on their head." I could not help but speak that "the only amazing thing was the intricate design of the Creator of everything--God Himself and to Him ALONE be all the Glory!"
No Way would anything or anyone else ever get the credit for this! GOD ALONE. Amen!
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