I woke up multiple times in the night and again this morning praying for a pastor and his family who are going through a season of multiple funerals. These words were going through my mind...
We know we were made for so much more Than ordinary lives It's time for us to more than just survive We were made to thrive
Yes! One definition of 'thrive' is 'to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances'! That is exactly what we, as pastors, need to do. We need to press on toward the goal of eternity with Jesus as we minister to so many hurting people. This is not always easy. The stress on a pastor and his family is great. Family time is difficult at times due to other people's needs. Pastoral couples find themselves lacking in couple time due to time constraints. All of these things can cause a spiritual dryness if we are not careful. We must stay close to the Lord and pray for Him to open doors for alone time as couples and family time. Sometimes that means saying 'no' and not feeling bad about it. There has to be boundaries that no one can be allowed into our lives. Sometimes the stress can become so great that the enemy gets an open door to cause even more havoc. Once again, it takes staying close to the Lord in order to get through tough days. In Philippians 3 Paul gives advice about forgetting the past and looking to the future. When pastors and families go through stressful days, they have to remember God is their strength. We are not alone in this walk with Him. He is there to give comfort; wisdom; physical, mental, emotional, financial and most of all spiritual strength. He is there when emotions get high and words come out we really don't mean. He is there when children become rebellious and parents don't know what to do. He is there when a spouse feels like they are last on the list of priorities. Plain and simple. He is there. Dear Jesus, Thank You for giving me the privilege to pray for this pastor and his family. As I prayed for them you brought their youngest to my mind to pray for. I pray he will see how much You love him and also will give his parents strength during tough days. I also prayed for other pastors and families going through some tough days. Father, You are our Strength and for that I am grateful. May You be our words, actions, attitude and focus throughout this day. May You enable us to not just survive but 'thrive' throughout this walk we are on ministering to others. Thank You for being My Living Water. Amen.
"Thy will be done...thy will be done..." Yes! That is exactly what I pray for in all situations that are happening in my little world today. The electric is out at our home...dealing with a stressful situation with a friend...physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted...'Thy will be done' in all of these. The song continues... It's hard to count it all joy Distracted by the noise I can honestly say I am not to this point yet. His Spirit lives in me so His joy is there also. There is always someone worse off than me. Hurricane Irma did not hit us directly. Therefore, our homes are safe. Today we will know if the water will come into our home. If it does, God will provide whatever is needed to get it taken care of. I am at peace with the weather and the after effect. I just wish my body would get with it and quit having issues. i am praying against MS issues. Dear Jesus, Thank You for being my Strength, my Joy and my Peace. Thank You for all the ways You take care of me and provide for me. Father, today is here and I ask You to bless me with opportunities to be You to others. I pray for Your words, actions, attitude and focus to be mine today. Father, You know what is ahead in this day and I pray Your continued peace over me. Be with those who are dealing with weather issues, relationship issues and physical issues. May they know Your peace in their spirits. Thank You Jesus for being My Joy, Peace and Strength. Amen.
I prayed throughout the night and again this morning for pastors and worship leaders. At the beginning of Romans 8 Paul discusses the idea of living through the Spirit. One meaning of the word 'through' is 'in the midst of' and another is 'allowing continuous passage.' As I was praying I thought of verses twelve and thirteen that tell us we are not to live by our flesh but we are to live by the Spirit. When we allow the Holy Spirit to have 'continuous passage' within us, He will direct us and give us the strength to not live in our flesh. All believers need to live in this manner but especially leaders in the church. I prayed for pastors who are more concerned about finances to forget about who holds the purse strings in the church and think about their souls. Many people will go inside the doors of a church today who don't even realize they are not living the way God desires of them. They are oblivious to where they are headed. I prayed for boldness from the pulpit that will wake people up to what they need. I prayed for those who need to allow the Holy Spirit to have 'continuous passage' in their lives. The Lord prompted me to not just pray for the people in the pews but to pray for many pastors who are not living in this manner. He had me pray for pastors to not forget the call He placed upon their life to preach the Gospel. He had me pray for them to not think their position as pastor is to make people feel good but for their eternal state of being. He also had me pray for worship leaders who are living in the flesh instead of the Spirit. There are many who are being filled with the boasting from people instead of the Spirit.
Dear Jesus, Thank You for Your Spirit that has 'continuous passage' in me. Thank You for the opportunities You will give me today to be You to others. Father, You know the desires of my heart and I pray for them to come into existence in a mighty way. I pray for a cleansing in my spirit so I can do what You desire of me. Give me boldness with my words. Give me gentleness in my actions. Give me directness in my focus. Father, I am struggling with cognitive issues. I pray for Your healing touch upon this issue in my body. I pray against MS issues. I pray for Your empowerment over not just my physical body but most importantly over my spiritual body. Thank You Jesus for being My Continuous Passage. Amen.
"My heart will sing...no other name...Jesus...Jesus.." This song is going through my mind over and over again this morning. Yes! He will "Forever Reign" in my heart! Yesterday was a tough day emotionally, mentally and physically. At the end of the day as I reflected on all that happened I was grateful the Lord was with me every step of the day. My plan was to study all day and take my exam today. Yesterday morning I felt an urgency to take it and get it over with so I did. I didn't do well but I was not surprised with everything going on. My words and mouth are not working together so it didn't surprise me with the results of the exam. But He reminded me I did my best and He was proud of me. Thinking there were a couple more days before evacuating, the day was spent preparing and planning but not in a rushed way. I did go to the gas station to fill up the truck and gas can. That was an experience with some stations being out but the task was accomplished without too much trouble. I cooked food and got it in the freezer to take when we left so we don't have to eat out for the next week. Once again I walked through our home and wondered if it will be here when we return. I wondered how long we will be away. I went over and prayed with my ninety-four neighbor who was so upset over all that was going on. I checked on other neighbors and some checked on us. I was feeling pretty good about things until the 4:30 press conference by the sheriff. Then life went crazy. Evacuations start tomorrow so we need to leave today to try to avoid hours of waiting on the highways. Last year with Matthew we actually left a day earlier than with this one. But they keep saying Irma is not Matthew which makes things even harder. The Lord provided a hotel for the weekend. He provided strength to get the boards up over the windows. Dinner did not happen until after 10:00 and by that time we were both beat. Mordecei spent the evening in his crate. He just cannot figure out what is going on with the suitcases down from the attic and the outside furniture in the living room. I don't know what today holds with traffic and I don't know what the next week holds with our lodging, our home, etc. But I do know who does and I know Him intimately and for that I am grateful. He will calm the storms in my body as I deal with Hurricane Irma. He will either take away the tingling in my face or He will give me the strength to endure. He will stop the tears from flowing or He will allow them to cleanse my emotional being. He will give wisdom on decisions that need made. Most of all He will enable us to look for opportunities to be Him to others throughout this process. As I reflect back on Hurricane Matthew I have fond memories of meeting neighbors for the first time who are prayer warriors with us in this neighborhood. Oh how I will miss them when they move in November. I also have fond memories of getting to know another neighbor better whose husband was deployed at the time. In fact, they are more like family than just friends. We became stronger in our faith through Hurricane Matthew and I know the same will happen with Hurricane Irma. I don't know how people live life without God's strength and guidance. I can't imagine leaving today without knowing He knows the outcome and He will provide physically, mentally, emotionally, financially and most of all spiritually for the days ahead. Praise His Holy Name! On the mountains, I will bow my life To the One who set me there In the valley, I will lift my eyes To the One who sees me there
When I'm standing on the mountain I didn't get there on my own When I'm walking through the valley I know I am not alone! Dear Jesus, Thank You for who You are in my life. Thank You for being with me every step of the day even when it appears as if the future is bleak. Father, I pray for people that don't know You to find You. I pray You will use Hurricane Irma to bring people to their knees. I also pray for those who know You but haven't been living for You to realize they need to change. Thank You for the way You used me yesterday to pray for the elderly mother and son. What a blessing to find out my prayers were needed in a mighty way. Thank You for prompting me to go pray with Grammy yesterday. My heart breaks for her. She is such a precious lady. I pray for Your protecting hand to rest upon her during this time of evacuation. I feel like You have given me another 'Lenore' with her in the way she prays for us. Lord, protect our neighborhood from Irma. I pray against damages to homes. I pray for the ones who do not know You to find You in this storm. Use us mightily! Be our hands and feet. Give us boldness with our words. Enable us to be comfort during these days. Be with our church people and keep them safe. I especially pray for Mr. Fran. He is another ninety-four year old precious gem who prays for us. Wow, God! You sure do bless us with prayer warriors. I know there are many in Ohio praying for us too. Thank You Jesus for being My Provider! Amen.
2AM, 4AM and 5AM the Lord woke me up to pray for a family, specifically for the elderly mother and one son. I don't know what they are going through but He had me pray "for the two of them to come together on their differences." It is so strange when He has me pray for people who I don't see or even talk to but as I told Him I am His servant and will do whatever He asks. Every time I woke up the song "Never Been A Moment" was going through my mind. There's never been a moment I was not held inside your arms And there's never been a day when You were not who you say you are
I know this Momma has depended on God throughout her life. She has gone through some tough things but remained steadfast in her faith. Whatever she is going through right now, may she feel His loving arms wrapped around her. I think of all the Momma's I know who are hurting because of their children are not walking with the Lord. So many are dealing with children who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. There are so many Momma's who raised their children to love the Lord yet they see them living so far away from Him. With all of the things happening in the world today it appears we are living in end times. There is an urgency for people to not only know Him but to be in relationship with Him. I am so blessed with my boys and their relationship with the Lord. But I have family members who continue to not walk with Him. Time is drawing short for them to make this decision and I pray they will. I pray they will see He is the Only Hope in the midst of chaos. He is the Only One to give peace in the midst of the storms of life. Dear Jesus, Thank You for the privilege to pray for this family. Thank You for the ways You use me as Your servant. Father, I need more of You to fill me to overflowing so You will ooze out of me in a way that people will know You are living in me. I pray for boldness in my spirit as I witness for You. I pray for the fulfillment of Paul's words in Philippians for people to become Christ-like. I pray for relationships to be healed through Your love. I pray for families to become whole in You. I pray "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Thank You Jesus for being My Savior. Amen.
As I read the book of Lamentations this morning I pondered on what is happening in our nation in recent days. Wild fires on the West Coast, droughts, tornadoes in Ohio, Hurricane Harvey hitting Texas, and Hurricane Irma getting closer to Florida and possibly coming up the East Coast. I believe our time is drawing short on this earth. The time of the Lord's return is drawing nearer every day. Isaiah 26:9 reads, "For when the earth experiences Your judgements the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness." Is that what God is doing with all of these weather situations? Is He trying to get people to realize the urgency in being in relationship with Him? Isaiah 24:3-4 talks about drought. Deuteronomy 28:23-24 and Zechariah 14:17 talk about it being a consequence of disobedience. Jesus Himself speaks about wild weather in Luke 21:25. "There will be...dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves." The word 'roaring' come from the word 'echeo' in Greek which means to make a loud noise. This makes me think of the hurricanes and tropical storms. Heavy rains are prophesied in Isaiah 24:18..."For the windows above (the floodgates of the heavens in NIV) are opened..." It is believed by many scholars torrential rain will show God's judgements on the rebellious nations. We do not have to fear these weather events. They are part of the process as we draw nearer to His return. We do not have to fret and worry but instead need to live in the peace He gives us. We need to allow Him to direct our decisions such as if and when to evacuate. We must stay in a relationship with Him where we hear His voice and walk in obedience. He loves us and will protect us. He desires to use us to be Him to others. He desires us to realize He is all we need. Matthew Henry writes: Bad as things are, it is owing to the mercy of God that they are not worse. We should observe what makes for us, as well as what is against us. God's compassions fail not; of this we have fresh instances every morning. Portions on earth are perishing things, but God is a portion for ever. It is our duty, and will be our comfort and satisfaction, to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. Afflictions do and will work very much for good: many have found it good to bear this yoke in their youth; it has made many humble and serious, and has weaned them from the world, who otherwise would have been proud and unruly. If tribulation work patience, that patience will work experience, and that experience a hope that makes not ashamed. Due thoughts of the evil of sin, and of our own sinfulness, will convince us that it is of the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. If we cannot say with unwavering voice, The Lord is my portion; may we not say, I desire to have Him for my portion and salvation, and in his word do I hope? Happy shall we be, if we learn to receive affliction as laid upon us by the hand of God. These words describe how I desire to live. He is my portion and that is all I need. I don't need 'stuff' but I need Him. As long as I am in relationship with Him I have hope. That hope fills me so I do not have to complain but instead will look for opportunities to be Jesus to others. I cannot pray for the Lord to be with me and then turn around and complain about what He is doing or not doing. What I pray with my mouth must come from my heart. Dear Jesus, Thank You for the book of Lamentations that reminds me You are all I need. I pray for more people to come into relationship with You. Father, I've said it before even though it is a hard thing to say...whatever it takes to get people to know You. Whatever it takes. Those words take courage to say because it can mean death, devastation from a storm, disease...all kinds of things but whatever it takes. Father, I pray for little Eli as he goes through testing. I pray You will provide wisdom to the doctors and peace to his parents. I pray for little Richie who is on his trip to Disney with Make-a-Wish. Oh how I pray the weather will not dampen his trip. I also pray for myself as I need to take my final in the next couple of days and am distracted with Hurricane Irma. I pray You will help me to retain what I have learned and give me wisdom on when to take the final. Lord, You are all I need. Thank You for being My Portion. Amen.
The Lord took me to Hebrews 12 this morning and had me ponder upon the first three verses. When I went to find a picture to put the Scripture on, He led me to this one I took a couple weeks ago. It was a getting ready to storm but we were having some much needed 'us' time and sat at the waterfront park swinging for a bit one evening. As I look at this picture this morning and think about what He has said to me I am reminded even when things look 'ugly' He is still there. The light coming through the dark clouds tells me He is always looking over us. These verses tell me we must keep living for the Lord, doing His work even through times of darkness or bleakness. It will only be then that we will win the race. The race set before us is that of service, sufferings and obedience. We are not on our own but rather have the supernatural empowerment of Him. I love how these verses describe Him as our "Perfecter of Faith"! Woo hoo! It takes a lot of faith to run the course He sets before us. Sometimes the course doesn't make sense. Sometimes it is hurtful. Sometimes it takes more perseverance than we ever thought possible. But most importantly it is doable when He is our Focus. This morning I was thinking about Jeremy's family and how their course had a detour. This detour was one they never expected but they are doing their best to keep their focus. I was also thinking about the detour Eli's family is on as they search for answers with his health. My prayers have been and will continue to be with both of these families. I also was praying again for those effected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. I continue to pray for Irma to go back out to sea but her path is unknown. No matter what happens we must keep our faith and know God is in control. He will give us wisdom on leaving our home and He will protect us. He also will give us opportunities to be Him to others if that happens. Dear Jesus, Thank You for all the ways You shower us with Your love. Thank You for the way You use me to pray for others. What a privilege to know You entrust me to this task. Father, today You have heard my prayers for different ones. I also pray for a healing touch upon Doc as he works in pain. I pray for others who are in pain to find Your peace. Sometimes that means a healing and sometimes that means hearing from You. Whatever it takes, Lord. Whatever it takes. Lord, fill me to overflowing with more of You. Fill me up so You ooze out of me. Be my words, actions, attitude and focus throughout this day so people will know You are living in me. Build my faith more than it has ever been before. Thank You Jesus for being My Perfecter of Faith. Amen.
