Have you ever noticed that when we pray we ask for deliverance, healing, comfort, or more of whatever it is we want? Just wondering.
Have you ever heard people talk about going through difficult times and then testify about how much God taught them through those experiences - and how they wouldn't want anything about that time to change?
We are on a journey through Acts right now, and as I read I am stunned by the fact that the early believers did not pray for the persecution to stop. No, they prayed for boldness in order to speak clearly and continually about their Savior. And as I'm thinking about that, I'm reminded that later Paul often spoke of how he was able to witness to those around him while in prison.
What if we prayed for boldness instead of deliverance? What if we prayed for illness rather than healing? What if we prayed for discomfort instead of comfort. What if we stopped trying to acquire things and spent all that effort on helping others? What if we prayed that WE would be bold? What if we prayed that through everything God would be glorified? What might God reveal to us about Himself if we prayed differently?
What if . . . .
Psalm 116:12-14: What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of His people.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Random Thoughts on Prayer
Prayer. A six-letter word that can be more difficult than it sounds. How do we do it? What is its purpose? How often do we do it? What are we to pray about? Who and what should we pray for? So many questions.
Prayer is not a natural for me. As a matter of fact it's a real struggle at times. Now, if you tell me that it's all about having a conversation with God? I think I do that almost always. One conversation right after another -- about everything that's going on in my realm at the time -- both mundane and important.
I have friends, some of you know them, Dana, Jana, and Jennifer, who melt my heart of stone when they pray. Their prayers make me feel as though I've entered the very throne room of God. If I had to say what I've missed most about being home? That would probably be it. Praying with Dana, Jana, and Jennifer. I'm so glad God has given me the privilege of hearing them . . .
Last year our small group started a video series by Jim Cymbala, pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City. Their experience with prayer is amazing and well documented. One of the things that has stuck with me from that series is this, when they pray for someone they pray that ultimately that person would come to the place where they will call upon the name of the Lord. Let that roll around and settle in your brain and then your heart for a few minutes. At the risk of offending some of you -- that scares the hell out of me. Maybe because I know how stubborn I can be at times.
This morning as I was trying to finish up the study in 2 Samuel (there's been lots of interruptions) I came across this passage in 1 Chronicles 29:18. David is praying for his people and for Solomon. "Oh LORD, the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You." Sweet, sweet magnificence.
If I call upon the name of the Lord who or what can interfere with that? When I call upon the name of the Lord I've gone straight to the top. He alone has all the answers I need. He alone can release me from the chains that bind. With Jesus as our High Priest we ARE in the very throne room of God. Amazing.
If I pray for your heart to be directed to God where else can you go? Is there any better place to be? Who else can calm your fears, convict you of sin, and heal your mind, body, soul, and spirit? There is no one else.
Two short lines, but so powerful. And so for all who read this today and others on my heart, here is my prayer for you: May you call upon the name of the Lord, and may your heart be directed to Him.
This blog is dedicated to those beautiful friends of mine who speak so sweetly and so eloquently when they talk with their Father. I love you ladies! - Dana Hodges, Jana McDonald, Jennifer Parker
Prayer is not a natural for me. As a matter of fact it's a real struggle at times. Now, if you tell me that it's all about having a conversation with God? I think I do that almost always. One conversation right after another -- about everything that's going on in my realm at the time -- both mundane and important.
I have friends, some of you know them, Dana, Jana, and Jennifer, who melt my heart of stone when they pray. Their prayers make me feel as though I've entered the very throne room of God. If I had to say what I've missed most about being home? That would probably be it. Praying with Dana, Jana, and Jennifer. I'm so glad God has given me the privilege of hearing them . . .
Last year our small group started a video series by Jim Cymbala, pastor of The Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City. Their experience with prayer is amazing and well documented. One of the things that has stuck with me from that series is this, when they pray for someone they pray that ultimately that person would come to the place where they will call upon the name of the Lord. Let that roll around and settle in your brain and then your heart for a few minutes. At the risk of offending some of you -- that scares the hell out of me. Maybe because I know how stubborn I can be at times.
This morning as I was trying to finish up the study in 2 Samuel (there's been lots of interruptions) I came across this passage in 1 Chronicles 29:18. David is praying for his people and for Solomon. "Oh LORD, the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You." Sweet, sweet magnificence.
If I call upon the name of the Lord who or what can interfere with that? When I call upon the name of the Lord I've gone straight to the top. He alone has all the answers I need. He alone can release me from the chains that bind. With Jesus as our High Priest we ARE in the very throne room of God. Amazing.
If I pray for your heart to be directed to God where else can you go? Is there any better place to be? Who else can calm your fears, convict you of sin, and heal your mind, body, soul, and spirit? There is no one else.
Two short lines, but so powerful. And so for all who read this today and others on my heart, here is my prayer for you: May you call upon the name of the Lord, and may your heart be directed to Him.
This blog is dedicated to those beautiful friends of mine who speak so sweetly and so eloquently when they talk with their Father. I love you ladies! - Dana Hodges, Jana McDonald, Jennifer Parker
Monday, September 12, 2011
Not Just A Quilt
I started a beginning quilting class on Saturday. My Mamma made many, many quilts, and I can never remember a time when she wasn't working on one. Most were pieced and quilted by hand. I used to love looking at the finished product and seeing pieces of different articles of clothing worn by myself or some member of the family. Always a fun thing. And yes, I still have many of her quilts. They hold a very special place in my heart.
Since I need another project to add to the long list of ongoing projects (sarcasm font) I decided it was time to get busy. I went from being the only girl who never took home-ec in school to being the mom who made everything our family wore. The only thing I didn't master was making Mike's dress pants. Then, like other moms I had to start working full time, and the sewing machine went into the closet for 20 years. It's been out the last year making blankets for little guys. O Happy Day!
Oh, and I also taught sewing classes. So, imagine my surprise when I go to the first class and learn all kinds of new things! I am so excited. And of course, technology and new methods and products continue to evolve, meaning I am way behind. Some of my notions will need to be replaced, because it's important to use the right tools. Michael will be so impressed. Not.
After some basic lingo instruction we discussed the correct way to cut the fabric using a rotary cutter and mat. I can't tell you how many inches of ribbing for t-shirts I've used that process on. Millions, okay, maybe just thousands, but a lot. Our instructor stressed the importance of squaring up the fabric in order to make precision cuts, and the need to re-square everything after the third cut. If you get off just a little on one cut by the end of 12 you could be in serious trouble. The seam width is also very important. So important that we were given fabric pieces to practice on in order to get the correct settings on our machines.
There are some great spiritual parallels here. In the quilt of our lives we have 'pieces' from many different places. We can look back and see the influences and impacts made by other people. Some of them were made directly, some were made indirectly - a piece of fabric from someone else's clothing. And those influences, like pieces of a quilt, show up in different patterns, and different paradigms depending on the time and event. We continue to learn and gain new insights. And new pieces are being introduced all the time. And they all come together to make us who we are and who we are becoming. Some of the pieces we really like, they are our favorites. There are others we'd love to forget, if only we could.
Occasionally we need to stop and 'square-up.' We need to do some checking and make sure we're on the right track. Are we using the right tools? Are we using them correctly? It's easy to get off track. We start letting things in a little at a time - an eighth of a inch that ends up being a whole inch. An inch that distorts, warps, and damages the finished product. An inch that makes the quilt difficult to work with, makes it hard to look at, and causes pain to the creator and those around it.
Hebrews says, "the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." God's word is our 'squarer-up-er'. When we learn and study different pieces of it we are influenced by it, given deeper insights.
We think we know one part well and then a different instructor comes on the scene and refreshes and updates the truth for us. It means different things to us at different times. A verse that once convicted and admonished now speaks comfort and rest. It reminds us of who we were, and who we are becoming in Christ Jesus. It encourages and admonishes to keep us from self-inflicted pain. It reminds us that He is using everything to make us into a new creature, a beautiful creation.
Is He teaching you new things? Is He updating and giving you new insights into what you already know? Is He bringing you the correct tools? Is He telling you to 'square-up?' Are you even paying attention to know what He's doing? He IS the Master Quilter, and He longs to make a beautiful creation, each one unique, each one with its own purpose, each one with its own flaws which He makes right.
O Happy Day!
Since I need another project to add to the long list of ongoing projects (sarcasm font) I decided it was time to get busy. I went from being the only girl who never took home-ec in school to being the mom who made everything our family wore. The only thing I didn't master was making Mike's dress pants. Then, like other moms I had to start working full time, and the sewing machine went into the closet for 20 years. It's been out the last year making blankets for little guys. O Happy Day!
Oh, and I also taught sewing classes. So, imagine my surprise when I go to the first class and learn all kinds of new things! I am so excited. And of course, technology and new methods and products continue to evolve, meaning I am way behind. Some of my notions will need to be replaced, because it's important to use the right tools. Michael will be so impressed. Not.
After some basic lingo instruction we discussed the correct way to cut the fabric using a rotary cutter and mat. I can't tell you how many inches of ribbing for t-shirts I've used that process on. Millions, okay, maybe just thousands, but a lot. Our instructor stressed the importance of squaring up the fabric in order to make precision cuts, and the need to re-square everything after the third cut. If you get off just a little on one cut by the end of 12 you could be in serious trouble. The seam width is also very important. So important that we were given fabric pieces to practice on in order to get the correct settings on our machines.
There are some great spiritual parallels here. In the quilt of our lives we have 'pieces' from many different places. We can look back and see the influences and impacts made by other people. Some of them were made directly, some were made indirectly - a piece of fabric from someone else's clothing. And those influences, like pieces of a quilt, show up in different patterns, and different paradigms depending on the time and event. We continue to learn and gain new insights. And new pieces are being introduced all the time. And they all come together to make us who we are and who we are becoming. Some of the pieces we really like, they are our favorites. There are others we'd love to forget, if only we could.
Occasionally we need to stop and 'square-up.' We need to do some checking and make sure we're on the right track. Are we using the right tools? Are we using them correctly? It's easy to get off track. We start letting things in a little at a time - an eighth of a inch that ends up being a whole inch. An inch that distorts, warps, and damages the finished product. An inch that makes the quilt difficult to work with, makes it hard to look at, and causes pain to the creator and those around it.
Hebrews says, "the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." God's word is our 'squarer-up-er'. When we learn and study different pieces of it we are influenced by it, given deeper insights.
We think we know one part well and then a different instructor comes on the scene and refreshes and updates the truth for us. It means different things to us at different times. A verse that once convicted and admonished now speaks comfort and rest. It reminds us of who we were, and who we are becoming in Christ Jesus. It encourages and admonishes to keep us from self-inflicted pain. It reminds us that He is using everything to make us into a new creature, a beautiful creation.
Is He teaching you new things? Is He updating and giving you new insights into what you already know? Is He bringing you the correct tools? Is He telling you to 'square-up?' Are you even paying attention to know what He's doing? He IS the Master Quilter, and He longs to make a beautiful creation, each one unique, each one with its own purpose, each one with its own flaws which He makes right.
O Happy Day!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Great Expectations
While participating in Beth Moore's study of Esther a couple of years ago I kept being intrigued by her referral to a young woman who felt guilty because she had not lived up to everyone's expectations of her. That's played around in my head on occasion. We are good at telling children and youth they are 'special' and can do 'great things' if they just put their minds to it. Are we doing them a favor by telling them that, and what exactly are 'great things?'
Our daughter and youngest son both finished their bachelor's degrees in just three and a half years. Part of that feat was due to taking concurrent classes in high school, the other part was due to them being focused on what they wanted. We assumed the same thing would happen once they started grad school. Each had a specific goal in mind, a plan from God, if you will, about where and what they were to be doing. But it didn't happen that way. Were their expectations set too high? Did they hear the 'wrong' voice from God?
Recently, our daughter has started seeing someone. He lives in Chicago (everyone calm down-he's a Texas boy). He came down one weekend to see Jeanna and to meet us. The siblings are all abuzz. Their expectations for him are high, after all, it's Jeanna. This last weekend he met her in DFW to meet her friends. Their expectations are also high. He has yet to meet the siblings, but I'm thinking the DFW crowd was good practice. I actually felt bad for him having to face them. They're a great crowd, but those expectations . . .
So again, the question, "Is it fair to put our expectations on someone else. Heck, is it even fair for us to put expectations on ourselves?" Perhaps.
We know that children perform at a higher level when high expectations are set. On a personal level, I know that I perform at a higher level when certain expectations are placed on me. I'm guessing you've experienced the same.
Maybe the answer lies in the rigidity or flexibility of our expectations (and the expectations of others). Maybe when we remember that God is sovereign, and He has no problem changing our plans and those that we think are His plans, life just becomes a little more forgiving. Isn't that called grace? Maybe those changes are a reminder to us about who is actually in control.
Maybe we need to re-define 'great things'. Instead of that meaning we will be well-known in our field, or command great audiences, or invent new policies, etc., maybe it just means that we quietly go about engaging others in our workplace, or at Wal-Mart, or the kid behind the counter at the fast food place. Maybe it means we encourage someone else in a bible study class, or the gym, or when we're getting a pedicure. Maybe it means God has other things He wants to share with us and that fast-track we're on needs to be interrupted in order to get our attention.
Maybe we just need to be concerned with what God's expectations of us are. Are we available? Are we aware? Are we intentional? Are we always on mission? Micah 6:8 says, "And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Sounds simple doesn't it?
One of the most important things I learned during our addiction treatment process was this, "Trust people to be who they are." I get push back on that a lot, but wow-to me, it screams 'Freedom!' For example, we trusted our teenagers to make good decisions, to act on the principles we had instilled in them since birth. But when they were seventeen? I trusted them to be seventeen. I knew they would make good decisions for the most part, but I also knew they had those 17-year-old brains, ideas, hormones, influences . . . I knew that some days they were going to act as if they were 17. And when they did, there were no meltdowns, recriminations, hateful words spoken in anger. . . It meant that we set down the consequences, used those as teaching moments, and moved on. And yes, we messed up too. We were parents who had our own issues (you know, like not liking rules and stuff)
So, do you make others feel guilty because they aren't meeting your expectations? Are you beating yourself up because you haven't lived up to others expectations of you? or the expectations you have for yourself? Maybe it's time to have a heart to heart with the One who knows all things. Maybe what He wants is for you to stop striving and to rest in who He is. Maybe it's time to concentrate on being instead of doing. His expectations are high, but there's help, grace, and mercy to meet them. And chances are, you're right where He wants you to be in order to work on those expectations.
Our daughter and youngest son both finished their bachelor's degrees in just three and a half years. Part of that feat was due to taking concurrent classes in high school, the other part was due to them being focused on what they wanted. We assumed the same thing would happen once they started grad school. Each had a specific goal in mind, a plan from God, if you will, about where and what they were to be doing. But it didn't happen that way. Were their expectations set too high? Did they hear the 'wrong' voice from God?
Recently, our daughter has started seeing someone. He lives in Chicago (everyone calm down-he's a Texas boy). He came down one weekend to see Jeanna and to meet us. The siblings are all abuzz. Their expectations for him are high, after all, it's Jeanna. This last weekend he met her in DFW to meet her friends. Their expectations are also high. He has yet to meet the siblings, but I'm thinking the DFW crowd was good practice. I actually felt bad for him having to face them. They're a great crowd, but those expectations . . .
So again, the question, "Is it fair to put our expectations on someone else. Heck, is it even fair for us to put expectations on ourselves?" Perhaps.
We know that children perform at a higher level when high expectations are set. On a personal level, I know that I perform at a higher level when certain expectations are placed on me. I'm guessing you've experienced the same.
Maybe the answer lies in the rigidity or flexibility of our expectations (and the expectations of others). Maybe when we remember that God is sovereign, and He has no problem changing our plans and those that we think are His plans, life just becomes a little more forgiving. Isn't that called grace? Maybe those changes are a reminder to us about who is actually in control.
Maybe we need to re-define 'great things'. Instead of that meaning we will be well-known in our field, or command great audiences, or invent new policies, etc., maybe it just means that we quietly go about engaging others in our workplace, or at Wal-Mart, or the kid behind the counter at the fast food place. Maybe it means we encourage someone else in a bible study class, or the gym, or when we're getting a pedicure. Maybe it means God has other things He wants to share with us and that fast-track we're on needs to be interrupted in order to get our attention.
Maybe we just need to be concerned with what God's expectations of us are. Are we available? Are we aware? Are we intentional? Are we always on mission? Micah 6:8 says, "And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Sounds simple doesn't it?
One of the most important things I learned during our addiction treatment process was this, "Trust people to be who they are." I get push back on that a lot, but wow-to me, it screams 'Freedom!' For example, we trusted our teenagers to make good decisions, to act on the principles we had instilled in them since birth. But when they were seventeen? I trusted them to be seventeen. I knew they would make good decisions for the most part, but I also knew they had those 17-year-old brains, ideas, hormones, influences . . . I knew that some days they were going to act as if they were 17. And when they did, there were no meltdowns, recriminations, hateful words spoken in anger. . . It meant that we set down the consequences, used those as teaching moments, and moved on. And yes, we messed up too. We were parents who had our own issues (you know, like not liking rules and stuff)
So, do you make others feel guilty because they aren't meeting your expectations? Are you beating yourself up because you haven't lived up to others expectations of you? or the expectations you have for yourself? Maybe it's time to have a heart to heart with the One who knows all things. Maybe what He wants is for you to stop striving and to rest in who He is. Maybe it's time to concentrate on being instead of doing. His expectations are high, but there's help, grace, and mercy to meet them. And chances are, you're right where He wants you to be in order to work on those expectations.
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