Author: livinginhisgrace

Everything in my life is an unbelievable gift from the Father above to mold and shape me into the person that He created me to be! Yes, even the difficult and hard things in my life! Having said that, life, as I see it, is all about a loving relationship with God, and loving the people He places in our lives. Perhaps the journey is all about learning to love and offer grace to those around us inspite of our differences. Today’s world fights for it’s rights and has gone beyond just making it’s opinions known to a place where differing opinions are attacked and if possible silenced. Is this the world we want for our children and grandchildren? Oh how I hope not! I would love for my children and 10 grandchildren to experience a world filled with grace, hope, love and a chance to experience joy along their journey.

Trials, Trust, and Wisdom

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Trials, Trust, and Wisdom

September 22, 2011 by livinginhisgrace | Edit

      Wow, this morning’s devotion or S.O.A.P. reading is James chapter one. What a chapter, it is packed full of good stuff and some hard teachings.  The Message Bible says in the first verse, “Hello, Faith under pressure”.  For someone looking at this chapter through the eyes of human strength, they might say it is impossible to do what is asked here. One might ask, “What is this? I’m supposed to be grateful and see the trials, pressures, and stress in my life as a gift or a joy?”  But with God all things are possible-Matthew 19:26

       James also tells us not only to count it as joy or a gift, but to endure it and not try to get out of it prematurely! Why? Scripture tells us that it will make us into well-developed, mature people lacking nothing.  Does this seem impossible or too hard to do, especially if you are in the middle of a trial today? I know I have felt it was at times in my life! 

       The second verse says “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,” Notice it doesn’t say if you experience it but whenever you experience it. We all undergo times in our life where we struggle and suffer through trials that come our way. There are just things that happen to us that are beyond our control and when these come our way, we have a choice to make.  Will I become a victim to my circumstances and possibly become embittered by what is going on? or Will I rise above what is going on and become a better person because of it? Now I am not saying that we should ignore it or pretend that we are not suffering or struggling, what I am suggesting is that we acknowledge what is going on and look to our Loving Heavenly Father, and ask for the wisdom that is offered in verse 5. We can also ask what we can learn from what is happening and how we can deal effectively with what is happening. If we are believers in Jesus Christ (In Christ), we have the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us. God is with us all the time; He knows what is going on in our life!  Second Peter 1:3-4 tells us,” For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.”

      When we were given the Holy Spirit, we were given everything we need to live a godly life.  When life throws me stressful curves, I certainly haven’t always known or believed this. Over the years, when the really big challenges or the loss of loved ones has come, I have learned that my first response needs to be to go to my Heavenly Father and ask for wisdom and trust Him.  He has promised to never leave or forsake us and He is faithful!  When I have tried to take things into my own hands without His wisdom or help, it has proven disastrous. When I go to Him first, things will work out much better and if I allow Him, He will use it to make me a better person.  Basically, when life throws me a curve that seeks to overwhelm me, I have to take a time-out or pause. I then have to choose to be intentional and not immediately react to the circumstance that is challenging me because if I react immediately, nine times out of ten, I will get myself into deeper trouble! This is a time we need to seek God’s wisdom, ask ourselves if  we brought on the problem, if not is there something God wants to show us or teach us through what is going on. 

         Looking back on life, there have been so many times that I couldn’t understand the purpose of this trial or that one. However, now in hind sight I can say without a doubt that God has used each one of the trials to grow me and stretch my faith! Things in life that would have overwhelmed me in the past no longer stir up fear or offense like they did before. It has taught me to face fear head on, to depend on God’s faithfulness and trust Him more with each trial I have encountered. God is no respecter of  persons, and what He has done for one of His children, He will do for all but it is up to us to seek Him, His counsel, and His wisdom through prayer and the Word of God!  Then we believe what He speaks to us, not doubting as verse 6 tells us. If we find our faith wavering we can pray, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24b). Our God is strong and powerful and He can and will honor our honesty in this. After all, He already knows our hearts and every word we say before it has reached our tongue. Nothing is hidden from Him.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think —according to the power that works in you— to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Pushing Pause

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As  I sat at my kitchen table gazing out at the beauty of sunset through the trees last night, I was amazed again at the beauty that God places all around us each day.  So many times we get busy and running full speed on the fast track putting out a fire here a fire there and dealing with the tyranny of the urgent that we don’t have time for much else. It is no wonder that more and more people struggle with burn out and depression each year. The pressures of life can press in so hard at times that we are at a loss for what to do.  We live in a culture that is often over-stressed, burdened and hanging on for dear life, yet that was never the life we were meant to have. It is so easy to buy into the culture that surrounds us and to get lost in the madness!  

How did we get to this place? Have we forgotten what the important things in our life are? I have noticed that  I am most overwhelmed when I have gotten lost in the mad dash around me and have forgotten what truly matters in my life.  I guess the first thing we need to do when we feel the walls closing in on our lives is to take an inventory of what truly is most important to us.  Are we focused on the important things, or are the important things getting shoved aside as we rush to take care of the urgent?  Are we so busy doing that we never get around to being?  When our children get cranky, over-tired or out of control, we know what to do! Usually, it can be resolved by some rest or a time-out.  

I am realizing more and more in my life that I need occasional time-outs as well. God never created us to be creatures that never stop, always pushing harder, working harder.  He set aside one day out of every seven because He knew we needed to take time to rest, spend time with Him, to have a time of refreshing.

A few years ago, I was in Germany for a couple of weeks. It is very quiet and peaceful there on Sundays, so much so that you could hear the church bells for miles. Not many places were open on Sunday. It made me think of my childhood. Guess I am giving away my age, but when I was small, the only places open on Sunday were hospitals, fire stations, police stations and a rare gas station or convenience store.  Sunday was a day for family, faith and for rest.  During the other times of the week most stores closed up shop by eight p.m. at the latest. There was one twenty-four hour pharmacy but you had to drive almost an hour if you needed their service.  Today, there is not much that you can’t do anytime day or night. 

It is so easy to get caught up in the slogans that we can have it all, we can do anything we want in life, and we can be it all. To some degree, I will agree with this.  There is a catch, and there is a high price to pay when we live life this way. There is much truth in what “old timers” said. They say “you can’t burn the candle at both ends”. While it is quite possible to do this, there is one hard truth. If you burn that candle on both ends, eventually you will get burned. We have to learn to pick out the priorities in life and keep first things first.  God initiated a day of rest because we needed it. He commanded that even the land take a year off every seven years to allow the soil to rest. Burning that candle at both ends will prove to be painful in the long run, we may not see the effects today or tomorrow but eventually it will catch up with us. Maybe it is time, or possible past time, to slow down a little taking time to “stop and smell the roses”, enjoying watching the sunset, basking in just sitting around the table with family and/or friends enjoying each others company and finding more quiet moments to talk to the One who Created us and wait quietly to hear back from Him.  

Love- the perfect bond of unity

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This morning I was out shopping for a card and while browsing I saw a magnet that said, “Love-the perfect bond of unity” Col. 3: 14. I began to think about the truth in that little statement. Love is a very powerful force, just think about when you first find that special someone in life. You are drawn to them in a way that is different than any other. You go out of your way to do nice things for them, to put your best foot forward and to make a good impression.

As I considered it, I decided to look up the reference and its context when I returned home. The verse itself is:  “Above all, [put on] love—the perfect bond of unity.”  In order to put it in proper context I wanted to look at the surrounding verses.

“12-14So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”

Not only is that a tall order but it is so counter-cultural in the world we live in today.  Remember when you hit that age- your Mom would buy you a new outfit she picked out just for you and you’re thinking, “I’m not wearing that, you have to be kidding.”  We wanted to follow our own sense of style and do our own thing and we are still not that different today.

We live in a world that has taught us to think of ourselves first, look out for #1. Don’t let others get the best of you, stand up for yourself and make sure you are treated well and respected.  God wants us to have a different mindset, in His economy we are called to do almost the exact opposite of what the world teaches.  He tells us love is always in style no matter what our circumstances are.  It’s pretty easy to walk in love and be pleasant when our lives are going just as we want them to go, but what happens when our circumstances are less than what we desire?

I don’t know about you but I find myself in those less than pleasant circumstances as much, if not more than I find myself in the pleasant ones. You know those times when you are pushed and pulled in several directions all at once and do not have time to get everything done that needs doing. There are times when everyone needs you and you just need a break.  When these times hit God still wants us to: dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense.

It’s at these times we really want to dress ourselves and do what is pleasing to us.  What we really need is a few minutes alone to take a few deep breaths, pause to calm our spirit, and to put on the garment that He provided – love.  Love will bring out the compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline, even-temper, putting others ahead of oneself, and forgiveness. When we find these things missing in our lives, maybe we need to look at our love quotient.  Are our hearts divided between our own selfish desires and others?  Are we dressed in His best for us or are we dressing ourselves?

My sweet husband and I recently went to see “Seven Days in Utopia”. It was a great movie and had a terrific message. One thing I took away from it was the SFT principal.  It stands for see, feel, and trust.  The main character learned that we first need to see where we (the ball in the movie) are going. We need to see our behavior lining up with compassion, kindness, humility, etc. Then we need to feel it. What will it feel like to make it happen? And lastly, we need to trust that it will happen.

Can we see ourselves dressed in the wardrobe that God has picked out for us? Can we feel ourselves being compassionate, kind, humble, having discipline and quiet strength even in the difficult times? Can we see ourselves being second place and content, forgiving easily? And can we trust ourselves to follow through wearing all of these?  The key- love- it is the perfect bond of unity. If we walk in love, all the rest will follow.

Hidden Treasure in Unexpected Places

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       Are you searching for something? Do you feel empty or as if you are missing out on life? There is only one place in the entire world where complete contentment and security may be found! It isn’t in riches, no, it is not in people, fame, relationships, possessions, power, influence or any other tangible item that we seek and search for in our lives.  These things are nice and will satisfy for just awhile but before long, the satisfaction wears down and we find ourselves searching for the next big thing that will make us feel important or secure. It seems it is never enough for very long.

       I submit to you that there is only one place where we as human beings can find complete security and wholeness. For many in our world today, it is the last place they would consider looking.  The secret to our deepest needs is found only in a deep, abiding relationship with the God who created us in the first place. Before you start discounting this, please consider a couple of points. Who knows a computer program better than the one who designed that program? Who knows the inner workings of an engine better than the engineer who designed the engine?

By the same token, who better to know an individual than the one who designed them and brought them to life?

Whether you believe in God or not, I know one thing for sure. God believes in you, He loves you with an everlasting love and He desires to have an intimate relationship with you! Maybe that is hard for you to believe. Maybe your thinking that may be true for some people but He could never feel that way about me.  Some of you may think, God has too much on His plate to be concerned with little ol’ me, others just feel unworthy. If you dare, I challenge you to read on and give me a chance to convince you.

Let’s start with a look at an invitation to those who thirst for more. In Isaiah chapter 55 we will find this invitation and it is quite compelling.

 Isaiah 55 The Free Offer of Mercy

 1“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;

         And you who have no money come, buy and eat
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
2“Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance.
3“Incline your ear and come to Me
Listen, that you may live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
According to the faithful mercies shown to David.
4“Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
A leader and commander for the peoples.
5“Behold, you will call a nation you do not know,
And a nation which knows you not will run to you,
Because of the LORD your God, even the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you.”
6Seek the LORD while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
7Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
12“For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13“Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up,
And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up,
And it will be a memorial to the LORD,
For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.”

What does this have to do with me, you may ask? Maybe you are thinking “this sounds good, but how? Who is He talking to? How does something written in ancient times apply to me today?  All are valid questions asked by people in all walks of life.  Let’s set aside for a moment that Isaiah was written thousands of years ago and take an honest look at what is being said in this passage and what insight it might have for our lives today.

This book was written by the prophet Isaiah approximately between 700B.C. and 681 B.C… It is a book of judgment, prophecy and of comfort for God’s people and the world. Prophets not only foretold future events but also spoke to their people about the events actually occurring in real-time. Two chapters back, in chapter 53, Isaiah predicted the coming of Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant hundreds of years before His birth. His existence is proven through historical records, as well.

In chapter 55, Isaiah is speaking to world of that day and to us today. Isaiah calls for those who thirst and are not satisfied; he asks why we waste our cash from our labor on things that don’t satisfy. He offers us a chance to delight in the richest of fare that will bring not only satisfaction but lasting satisfaction. He asks us to seek the Lord, His mercy and pardon. He gives us assurance of God’s thoughts and ways and that they are higher than ours and that God’s Word and purpose will be accomplished. Next, he ends the chapter with some promises for those who pursue God, seek His mercy and forgiveness and a relationship with Him. He tells us we will go out in joy, we will be lead in peace, and our lives will be blessed for His renown and His glory.

It is clear by God’s invitation that it is His desire to be in relationship with mankind.  It is also clear that any sinful ways and thoughts need to be turned from and we need to seek His mercy and forgiveness. The way was made for us to be able to do this through Jesus who was amazingly foretold in Isaiah 53 and again in chapter 61.

God, because of His great love for mankind, gave His most precious gift for us.  He gave His only Son as a substitution for us in order to restore mankind back to Him. What Adam lost when he disobeyed God and brought sin into a perfect and innocent world, the Messiah, Jesus Christ purchased back for us by His death, burial and resurrection. However, it is only through Jesus that we can be made right with our Creator.  If you have already made a decision for Christ in your life, I rejoice and celebrate with you!  If you have never considered this decision, I challenge you to take a serious look at the Bible and see for yourself what is in there, trying to have an open mind and heart. It is a very compelling book!

A decision for Jesus Christ is the most important decision we can ever make in our life, but the next question that begs to be asked is: Why so many of us who have made that decision are still feeling like something is missing or we are dissatisfied?  Why do we not live out the victorious life? I believe one of the biggest hindrances’ to our living in victory is our not knowing or understanding who we are in Christ. As we continue, let’s take a look at scripture that gives us glimpses of how God sees us.

Designed with a Purpose

Do you realize that you were designed with a purpose in a Divine plan long before you were even born, before even your parents were born? Let’s take a look at this and consider what God has to say about you and your birth.  Psalm 139:13 says that God created our inmost being; that He knit us together in our mother’s womb. It continues to say that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He tells us that our frame was not hidden from Him in the secret place and He saw our unformed body! All the days appointed for us were written in His book before we ever existed. Let’s look further into this in Jeremiah 1:5.  In this passage, Jeremiah is told, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

What irresistible proof that God has a plan for each person and loves them deeply!

Let’s go back a few verses to Psalm 139: 1-12. The Psalm starts out looking at God’s knowledge of people. It tells us He searches us and knows us, and He knows all our ways. Even before we begin to speak a word, He knows it! He is aware of our every coming and going and there is no place we can go where He is not.

That is pretty powerful. Nothing we say or do is hidden for the God of all creation, yet He chose us! He formed us in our mother’s womb, knew every single thing that we would ever do, good or bad, and He chose us. He brought us into being with a plan and a purpose whether or not we would choose to serve Him and fulfill that plan.  He knows our abilities and our gifts because He is the one that gave them to us. We can choose to use them for His glory or we can choose not to. He loved us enough to allow us that freedom even though His desire is that we love Him and have a relationship with Him.

Seeing Through the Eyes of a Child

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      Have you ever watched as a small child did something for the first time? Isn’t it amazing to watch them as they try something new or see something that they have never seen. I watched in delight several years ago, as my first grandchild discovered an airplane for the first time. He must have been around eight months old at the time.  I was walking from the car to the store and he was riding in the front of the buggy, when all of a sudden he sucked in air and the sound of ahhhhhhhh met my ears. Next his arm shot up into the air pointing at the distant silver shiny object that we call an airplane. I told him that’s an airplane.  He giggled and smiled ear to ear because of the delight and wonder of something new!

        I wish I knew when it was in our growing up that the sense of wonder begins to disappear and why it seems to slip away without us even noticing.  Sure, we have glimpses every once in a while when we see a really amazing sunset or take a long drive through the mountains observing the colorful fall foliage. Yet, for the most part I think we get caught up in the whirlwind of life, running here and there trying to fit all we can into our lives.  We forget to slow down and take the time to find the wonder that is all around us unless there is an extraordinary reason, such as the birth of a child or something unexpected happens. Is it possible for us to slow down and recapture wonder? Or are we in today’s culture just too over stimulated by so much information, so many responsibilities, and such a fast paced world that it seems impossible?

       If we miss the wonder that is right before our faces in nature, then how often do we miss the wonders of the Creator of creation?  Do we take for granted to beauty of each new morning as we rush around preparing for our day making lists and checking them off? How about the smell of the rain as it washes and refreshes the earth or the sound of a gentle breeze blowing through the leaves? How many times do I catch myself   flitting around in all the busyness and don’t notice the beauty all around much less thank God for that beauty? Also, how much more important to pause and notice the wonder of our God, the wonder of His love, His graciousness, His mercy to us? There is no other being on earth or in heaven that compares to God. There is no one who will ever love us like He does! Psalm 77:13-15(HCSB) says “God, Your way is holy.  What god is great like God? You are the God who works wonders; You revealed Your strength among the peoples. With power You redeemed Your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.”      Selah

      Selah, just another way of saying: stop for a bit, take a pause, listen, ponder for a moment. What a blessing if in our busy days we could take a few minutes every few hours and just pause, look around for a moment and quiet our souls and find a little something to celebrate or something small to find wonder in! (Even if we have to schedule on the calender or set a reminder on our phone!) Just take a few minutes here and there to stop the madness and rest in something bigger than we are.  I am betting it would refresh our minds and we would be better people and more productive if we did this more often.

Psalm 71:16-18 (HCSB)  I come because of the mighty acts of the Lord GOD ; I will proclaim Your righteousness, Yours alone. God, You have taught me from my youth,  and I still proclaim Your wonderful works. Even when I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me.  Then I will proclaim Your power to [another] generation, Your strength to all who are to come. 


Storms and Harvest

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Storms and Harvest

 

   Problems are inevitable and they love to come along when you are least expecting them and many times the most unprepared for them! Have you ever examined your problem solving techniques? What is our “normal” response? Sometimes it is easier to take things in stride than others. At times we may find yourself panicking or stressing out later to find it was not necessary at all. Then there are times when we don’t take the issue seriously enough. Many times we seek help or advice from a trusted friend, relative or mentor.

      These trials or situations run the spectrum from minor irritations to major life changing ones. Some we are prepared for and others knock the wind completely out of us. There are avoidable problems that in the right circumstance could be prevented and there are the ones that come in like a hurricane that no one could control, prevent, or stop.  So what do we do when these things come?  Who do we turn to for advice? Are we available to those around us who are in the midst of storms? Do we face them head on or try to run and hide from them? How do they affect our attitudes, do we get bitter in the storm and its aftermath or do we become better for having weathered the storm?  Are we a safe place for those around us to run in the midst of a storm in their life?

Where in the world did all this come from, you might ask. I have one of those minds that ponders on something and you just never know what trails it might decide to go down. My thoughts here began with our Wednesday night service. We’ve been studying about the Harvest and the Scripture in Galatians 6:7-9. Paraphrased: what we plant or sow, we will reap, do not get tired in doing good, for at just the right time we will reap a harvest, if we don’t give up.  Pastor Tony spoke of having a safe place to bring the harvest and if you’re not reaping the things in life that you want, it might be time to change the things you’re planting. He has a wonderful way of getting to what we need to hear, telling us the truth and making the medicine we need taste sweet as honey and mixed with humor.  He reminded us that if we are not reaping the type of relationships, finances, and such that we desire then we need to examine what it is that we are doing.

After some meditations these are some of the questions I have decided that I need to ask myself:  Am I planting the seed of what I wish to reap? preparing the soil and cultivating it properly to get the desire results?  Am I keeping the weeds and pests away and nourishing the seeds and the ground in order to make the most of what I have planted? And maybe most importantly, am I waiting for the proper time to bring in the crop (waiting for it to come into maturity)? Lastly, do I have a safe place to bring in the crop when it finally yields it “fruit”, can I be trusted with the harvest?

    The answers, they may take a while. Maybe when the storms come along I’ll try asking some of these questions of myself, also. If it is a law that we reap what we sow, and it is.  Maybe if I begin to look at the problems that I could have avoided differently, then maybe I’ll sow differently and change forever what I am reaping.


Seasons

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       As the season starts to change along with the leaves and cooler temperatures that are almost in sight, it has given me pause to consider some recent changes in our lives. In every life there are seasons, and my husband and I found ourselves being called into one of those new seasons and with it there were some changes headed our way. Good changes.

    Normally, good changes are welcomed with open arms.  A good example is when it is a beautiful spring day, you are inside working taking care of all the things that ‘need’ to be done and a friend or your spouse calls and says let’s go out and enjoy this wonderful weather.  Most would jump at the chance to take a break and enjoy the day. 

    Then there are the times when it seems that just when we get comfortable in the current rhythm of life and everything seems to  be flowing along fairly peacefully, something comes up to interrupt the flow. It could be anything from a minor inconvenience to something major. Often when this happens, we fight it, question it, or get annoyed by it. It breaks in our schedule interrupting our plans and often it can even change our course. 

In “Life interrupted”, Priscilla Shirer compares the two very different scenarios. She gives the example of the telemarketer who interrupts your dinner vs. the ringing door bell during dinner. We are annoyed by the telemarketer, and probably at first the doorbell, as well, until we see that it’s the Prize Patrol and we are the winner of a large sum of money. It’s about perspective and on what we focus! In this new season we are entering, am I going to focus on the new direction and the good things coming along or am I going to let interruptions knock the wind my sail and  rob me of the joy this new season brings?

 In John 10:8-10 we are told: “ All who came before Me  are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.  I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.  A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.”(HCSB)

     We live in a world where there will always be trials and troubles. Something will  come along to steal our joy, our peace, distract us from the calls on our lives and keep us from being effective in our walk with the Lord. What will we choose when they come, because they will come.  James 1:2 makes it clear they will come when it says ” Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”  It doesn’t is if you experience them but when you experience them.

Here is hoping  we keep our focus and put first things first when these things come along, giving our burdens over to Jesus and keeping God first. May we tend to the important things and not let the ‘tyranny of the urgent’ take over stealing away precious time, peace and joy.

     

New Ideas to Ponder

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The last week has been filled with new concepts to ponder, reminders of things learned in the past that had slipped in the recesses of my mind and just an overload of information that will take some time to ponder and process. 

One topic was on prayer. I had the opportunity to watch Louie Giglio’s dvd:  Prayer:Remix (on sale for $5 at Family Bookstore for a couple of days near Labor day).  He challenges God’s people to do a remix on three of the most commonly used repetitive phrases we all tend to use in prayer.

  • bless us or our loved ones

He reminds us that in Ephesians 1:3-4 that God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. The suggestion he makes: consider asking God to help us bless to Him, to allow Him to live thru us in a way that will bring blessing and Glory to Himself.

  • be with us or our loved ones

For those of us In Christ, we have already received the Holy Spirit-Christ in us, therefore He is with us. Scripture tells us He will never leave or forsake us, that He goes with us and will be our rear guard. Remix- Lord, please help me allow You to live through me in a way that affects and influences others for Your Glory.

  • watch over us or our loved ones

Here Louie reminds us that there is no place we can go where God is not already there, there is nothing hidden from God ! 

   This dvd is interesting and makes one think! Louie is not saying that there is anything wrong with these and admits he catches himself doing these same things. It is funny and has a lot of truth and has given me fresh ways to approach prayer.

    For me, it becomes a  problem  when  prayer becomes rote  or routine, just going through the motions.  That is when the daily issues of life tend to creep in and interrupt my time with the Lord.  (to do lists, we need … from the grocery,etc.)  I am beginning to  look  for ways to remix prayer and make it come alive in a new way that will keep it fresh.

    One way I have found is spending time focused on who God is and in thanksgiving. Keeping it more focused with more specific things helps also, then there are less of the little darty distractions  and a quieter mind that can take time and listen for the ‘Still small voice’ who is more than happy to direct our prayers in areas of need both in ourselves and in those around us.

A Challenging Prayer Time

Published on by livinginhisgraceLeave a comment

   Have you ever been praying and felt the Holy Spirit was challenging you by giving you words to pray and suddenly your routine time with the Lord just comes alive with a life of its own???

   Just a time of normal prayer for normal things, those who have health needs, financial need, thanksgiving for all the Lord’s love,mercy, grace, blessings-then comes the prompting to pray for the really big stuff that we often neglect to think about and maybe there are others that do as well:

  • Un-reached people groups
  • Those suffering martyrdom 
  • And the Body of Christ at large

  Today,  I was reminded of a statement I’d recently heard. The person I was listening to related that the United States was the third largest un-churched nation in the World. I have not confirmed this however after seeing many changes in our country throughout my life, it doesn’t totally surprise that it is true.  Ok, so how do I pray about these huge things? It reminded me of the old question: How do you eat an elephant?~One bite at a time.

Where to start?  was my next question and it seems the answer was to begin with the Body of Christ and the challenge to pray for us as a body to  put aside our denominational and doctrinal differences and to be united; to trust God more fully with the circumstances in our lives so that we can be more selfless and spend more time loving others; to quit seeing church as something to do and look toward being the church in ways that will have a positive effect on those we love and come into contact with; to see the Body of Christ work in tandem and to raise up more individuals who are devoted to allowing God to be first in their life and allow Jesus to not only live in them but to also live through them fully.

What a large challenge! Am I up to it? No. Do I believe God can and will answer it? Yes, with God, all things are possible and nothing is impossible!  Would you mind if I ask you who may choose to read these ramblings to join with me in these prayers if you are not already doing this? Changed hearts will change the world and how better than to unite together and boldly ask our Father in Heaven for these things??