PRAYER–YOUR FIRST OR LAST OPTION?

Apr7

Sitting by the bedside of her only child, my friend stated in grief, “There’s nothing left to do except pray!” I heard what she was saying, and I knew she already had been praying, but what she was really saying was “It’s totally out of my control, the doctors don’t know what else to do, and God alone is my only hope.”

There’s nothing wrong with that! In fact, that’s where we should have been every day since the birth of any of the ones that God has given into our hands! Yes, sometimes we mess up–sometimes we make mistakes and there’s no going back because none of us are perfect, or even ‘good’–but we keep on giving them into the hands of the Savior. But when it has come to the point where no one can help, we turn to God in a different way, don’t we? We pray with an intensity that is fervent (and yet we all know that God still sometimes says “No.”)

Have you read the book of Nehemiah lately? His life of prayer gives us so many insights into his character! He had gone to Jerusalem after the captivity of Babylon, and was going to oversee having the wall rebuilt, but there were many enemies! Now turn that into your own life: you’ve had a difficult time going through a valley, and you start trying to rebuild: maybe a relationship, a life that was almost destroyed.. it can be almost anything! But when you start to rebuild, you find there are many “enemies.” These may be in the form of discouraging words from family members, friends that turn away, Satan’s devices to use obstacles that seem so terrifying, and you have a decision: do you keep on re-building or give up?

Nehemiah didn’t give up; he gave us a set of steps, and if we can use them, it might turn our valleys into mountaintops. First, he assessed the situation. He really wanted to know what was involved in the rebuilding, but the enemies were so many that he took only a couple of men and in the quiet of the night took a tour around Jerusalem to see what needed to be done. Secondly, he prepared a plan. He didn’t tackle this on his own–his narrative is filled with the prayers he prayed continually, asking God’s help, but he also involved the people. Not just any people! The people who “had a mind to work!” Surround yourself with friends who will encourage you, no matter how small the number, and who will be praying. Thirdly, while they were praying, they also worked: in fact, you will see if you read Nehemiah that the enemies were so great that while some worked, others were on guard with weapons! Choose friends, pastors or others whom you know who will be praying a hedge of protection about you and your friends as you rebuild! “Do not be afraid of them [the enemies]; remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your [family]!” (4:14b). Let others help you! Delegate the problem to those whom you can trust. And lastly, some of the workers worked with one hand, and held weapons with the other! Just because you have done your ‘homework,’ gotten people to pray and help you, you can’t relax your vigilance while you are rebuilding your life, your relationship, or whatever you are trying to repair–especially if it is going to bring glory to God in the end–you have to remember that Satan will try to attack in every way he can. So have your guard up, don’t be afraid, put your faith in Christ and Christ alone, and know you are fighting a spiritual battle at the same time you are re-constructing!

Read Nehemiah sometime! His is a story that is a definite guide to walking so closely with the Lord that his life gives us a guide to follow.

Father, if someone reads this and is trying to get a broken marriage back together, restore a child to the family, or rebuild a relationship for your glory, please give them wisdom, send friends who will intercede and fight on their behalf for victory, and shield them from the power of the enemy. Put a hedge of protection around them, and let them enjoy the days that You have made! In Christ, Amen

Spring–A New Beginning!

Apr4

Saturday: It’s a beautiful sunny morning, with a temperature warm enough to get outside and work! What joy that spring is finally here! Sunday: Heading for church (8:45). Chilly, but no big deal, since it’s early, but suddenly I think my eyes catch something pass my vision. Turning to my husband I ask, “Is there a winter mix advisory, by any chance?” “NO!” Thirty seconds later.. “Did I just see a snowflake?” he asks. … End of story. Of course he had–that’s why I asked about the advisory!! For the next couple of hours it poured down!

This has been the craziest winter I can remember; how about you? Maybe you’re still plowing through it! (Pun intended!) As we do, we have to remember that nothing here on earth is certain except–as the old saying goes–death and taxes! Weather forecasters and Farmer’s Almanac may try, but ultimately, unless they have a word from the Lord, they just hope they are right!

But all the uncertainty teaches us one thing: lean on God for everything, trust Him for everything, and let Him walk with you today, whether it’s sunny, snowing, or a day of frustration! Take comfort that everything that happens “comes to pass,” and I always hope that ‘passing’ means it will go on down the road and be a forgotten memory!

Have a great day, thank God for life, and ask Him what He wants of you today! Pray for Him to put someone in your path today who needs a smile, a word of encouragement, or look at their eyes and see if they need prayer. You may be the only one who has a tender heart toward them today!

Now go out into the mission field–but don’t get stained!

Stains?

Apr3

The beautiful yellow pillow was perfectly centered in front of the shams on the bed. The entire set had a gorgeous vintage look, and some bold accessories were going to make a lovely bedroom! As I, as seller, was packing the set for mailing to a buyer, I picked up the pillow to put it into plastic. Suddenly it toppled backward–one of those “wish I could undo it” moments, because it landed right on the butter dish, sitting on the dining room table! (Yes, I spent hours whipping myself that I had not moved the butter!)

I grabbed everything I could find in the next hour, trying to get the stain out; I “googled”; I prayed; I worked, used elbow grease, and every suggestion that anyone made! Finally, after it had had time to set for a day or so, it was about 98% perfect.

We’re so like that!! We go where we shouldn’t, or pass something we shouldn’t, and all of a sudden a worldly stain gets on us! Nothing the world can do will take it away–only by repentance, crying out to the Savior, will we be cleansed from anything unrighteous (1 John 1:9).

James tells us “for this is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God and man: to visit the widows and orphans in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the sins of the world!” (James 1:27, loosely quoted). And Ezra, many years before, had said the “children of Israel who had returned from the captivity ate together with all who had separated themselves from the filth of the nations of the land in order to seek the Lord God of Israel.”

A holy life is the desire of God’s heart for believers who are living in the world! Have you prayed today that your hours would be filled with His will, and that His protection would keep your life from getting stained today? If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late!

Tunnels!!

Apr2

The bridge between St. Peterburg, FL going south toward Sarasota was long and very high when we lived there. One day, going across the bridge, I glanced over at my husband only to see his eyes shut! He has a phobia about heights–and tunnels! Going through Baltimore’s tunnels, I have to keep an eye on him, hoping he’s not freaking out while driving!

That’s how this year has been for me–how about you? As you could see, I had this grand plan for a sequel book, when our lives became one very long tunnel, filled with a few bridges in between–and they definitely were not mountaintops! But out of all of that, God has worked miracles, and more importantly, taught us more of His daily love, that He is beside us through every valley (or tunnel or bridge!)

Out of it has come three more books that are in the writing mode, so I’m excited about that! So if you were looking for more “Love Notes,” don’t give up on me–they’re still coming! Also, I have been part of the writing team for Thomas Road’s daily devotional, “MY TIME,” which is not only a smartphone app, but can also be accessed online. You can have this free added devotional by going to http://www.mytrbc.mobi.

Proverbs 16:9 tells us that a man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his paths. Definitely I have learned that no matter how much I think I’m fulfilling His will, He may have plans that are very different from mine! He had things to teach me this year, which hopefully will make the next books more applicable to those of you who are in valleys!

Thank you for hanging in there with me! If, by chance, you read “Am I Missing Love Notes From God?”, would you take just a couple of minutes and go to Amazon ( http://www.amazon.com ) or Barnes & Noble ( http://www.barnesandnoble.com ) and write a one or two sentence “review” as to whether you were touched by it–or not!–so that I can move forward on the next book? It would be greatly appreciated!

Father, thank you for the faithfulness You’ve shown this past year as life has been going so fast, with so many detours that seemed insurmountable! Thank you for holding our hands through the tunnels and valleys, and breathing new life into us! In Your Name and Your Son’s Name, Amen!

Waiting Patiently or Taking Control?

Feb18

Do you get frustrated waiting for God to answer a prayer? Lately I have been more and more aware of the “control” I want to take when things do not go the way I wish them to! Yet at the same time I’m fully aware the Bible tells me to “wait patiently on the Lord, and He will bring it to pass.” Why, then, is waiting so hard?

Obviously, part of the reason (maybe the main one!) is that we live is a society that is geared to NOW: we go through the fast food restaurant when we feel hunger pains (and get upset if the line is more than 3 cars long!); we hit ‘enter’ on the computer and then get irritated when the circle spins for more than ten seconds; we pull up to a red light with our left foot on the brake, the right on the accelerator in order to hit it as soon as green appears, and on and on. Control in our eating habits, control on the road (and don’t we holler at other drivers–since they can’t hear us!–when they make us five seconds later than we want to be?!), control over the computer, —control, control, control. You would have a hard time convincing me that most of our frustrations do not arise out of losing that control.

God does not work on our time table. That may not surprise you, but at the same time, have you accepted it so that you can trust in peace? Lately it has come to me as I’ve been reading in the Old Testament, trying to absorb the culture as I read that I do not have the faith of the old time saints. Noah was faithful, spending many years building a boat–did he know what a boat was? Did he know what it was for? Did he understand rain? I’m not sure–perhaps his faith was so great that he didn’t care about the unknown, since he had heard the voice of God telling him to build the ark. How long would we have worked, while people jeered and taunted us for doing something “stupid?” A day? A week?

Abraham was told by God to go away from family to a place God was going to give him and that his descendants would outnumber the sand on the seashore; ten years later the covenant was renewed, and yet it was another fourteen years before Isaac was born. Twenty four years! It’s not a wonder that Sarah got frustrated with waiting, but yet there is no indication Abraham had anything except total trust in God.

David was anointed king by Samuel. Did he take the throne immediately? Not by any means! He even was ‘hired’ by Saul to play on his instrument in order to quiet the insanity of Saul–an unknown king consoling a reigning king! He had to run for his life for years before being anointed king, and then served faithfully in Judah before Israel became part of his kingdom as well.

All of these patriarchs point out that God definitely does NOT see as we see, nor is He tied to a time that says “do this immediately!” Yes, there are times He acts quickly: Nehemiah, cupbearer to the king, showed a sadness in his face when he came before the king: an act that could have gotten him killed. The king asks, “Why are you sad?” and Nehemiah prays! All he has time to say in his prayer is “HELP!” He did not have the luxury of waiting ten minutes before answering the king! I’m convinced God gave him the words to speak truth to the king and gave it to him at that moment. But that was God’s timing!

What can we learn from these? That when God promises something, He will do it! Which is more important to us–that we submit our will to His, or that we control God to get it done sooner, rather than later? If I can order God around, He is not the right God! My God does what He wants, when He knows He needs to, and not one second sooner. He gives me faith to continue to serve Him even when I see nothing happening–or do I? These are hard questions. St. Augustine, one of the most famous of the early church fathers, had a mother who prayed for his salvation night and day–never giving up, never letting go of the hem of the garment of the One Who brought salvation, and eventually her prayer was answered.

It is a light-bulb moment for us when we realize that inactivity drives us up a wall, and that waiting patiently is adverse to everything in us: waiting for God to act seems fruitless when days become weeks, and nothing seems to have been done! So we say to God (perhaps not aloud!) “Here, just give it back to me, and I’ll work on this problem while You do something else.” And God usually does! He’ll give it back, watch our fruitless actions, and wait patiently for us to come to the realization that all we’re trying to accomplish is only resulting in unrest, a lack of peace, and NO productivity! Years ago in high school I remember the analogy the teacher used for work: was pushing against a boulder or a building, with every muscle in you, pouring sweat in the process, red in the face, work or not work? It was not work because it would end in nothing being accomplished. So it is with our activity when it’s outside the realm of waiting on God.

May He find us faithful as we wait for Him to answer our prayers, our pleas, the desires of our hearts. May we have enough trust in Him that we can rely on every promise He has ever made, knowing somehow good is coming from the waiting! May we continue steadfast as we lift us wayward children who may be destined for hell, husbands who may be playing at church, fathers or mothers who want nothing to do with God, siblings who fight against serving God, and neighbors whose lifestyle slanders everything He is. Let us serve Him for He is Holy, Faithful, and deserving of all we can give Him!

Father, I’m probably the worst of your children who gets impatient with waiting. Help me to realize the stronghold this can have in my life, and let me give my problems completely over to You, and then wait patiently for You to bring good out of them! Send sowers to those we love who will plant seeds, water, fertilize and get the Gospel into their hearts, so that You can bring them to fruition! Increase our faith, Lord! Amen

LOST OR FOUND?

Aug27

It seems we all have a story to tell about getting lost, whether it was as a child or as an adult! For most of us, the situation made deep impressions that have stayed with us for years!

When the severe storms hit the east coast and central Virginia this summer, our daughter tried to get home with her three youngest children. It was very late, becoming pitch black as power lines were being torn down under the weight of uprooted trees, and every street she turned down seemed to have a tree blown across it with the hurricane-force winds. The more streets she tried to navigate, the more panicked she became, while her husband talked to her on her cell, trying to calm her. As he kept asking her location, in her fright all she could say was that she was lost. In reality, had she continued to drive, she would have eventually come across a known street and been okay. Our city is not that large.

This past week my husband and I drove to Baltimore, Md. We had a choice to either drive northeast on Interstates around or through Washington, D.C., or else go in a large loop west, then head north, coming south into Baltimore from the northwest side–but at least we would avoid the D.C. traffic! Going up was no problem, but as we started the trip home, soon the maze of interstates and freeways became more than slightly confusing as our GPS died on us, and nowhere that we stopped was there a road map left to buy! We traveled south–we thought on Rt. 29–for more than two hours before we realized we actually were lost! The traffic was bumper to bumper, moving slowly, and we saw no road signs indicating a known route! About the same time I saw “Delaware Ave.”, then “Indiana Ave.”, and as light bulbs started going off, I realized “Pennsylvania Ave.” was coming at us! Sure enough, we were in the middle of Washington, D.C., in late afternoon traffic, with no clue how to get out! Several streets later a cop was sitting by the side of the street. We pulled next to the vehicle, I rolled my window down, and explained, “We’re lost, we have no map, and our GPS has died! Please! Point us South!” The kind officer did better than that: gesturing for us to follow right behind, they led us several miles where we junctioned with a route to take us home! The instant the police car got in front and started to lead us I felt such huge relief, knowing someone who knew the road system was now in control, and they would work the problem out!

It did not take long to realize that is how our relationship with Christ should be every moment. We don’t have to wait for a situation where we lose control: we can bring Him every burden, every concern, every tear, and every moment, turning it over to Him to guide us safely through a day or a crisis. Why would we continue to carry those stressful feelings on our shoulders when He is so ready to show us the way? Pride? He tells us to “Come, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest! Take My yoke upon you..” Commit your way today, and see if He does not prove worthy of your trust!

Father, help us to be so trusting of You that we don’t hesitate to give You our day, knowing You will lead us safely through, as You take us by ‘cool waters’ and ‘green pastures!’ Increase our faith, Lord! In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen