Psalm 39 - "Psalm 39"

I woke up with an urgency to read Psalm 39. This Psalm is one where David cries out for God's forgiveness and His wisdom. It shows how frail humans are and how much they need God. In The Message we are described as a "vapor" and in the New King James Version we are described as a "shadow" in verse six. Matthew Henry states, "Therefore let us pray that God would enlighten our minds by his Holy Spirit, and fill our hearts with his grace, that we may be ready for death every day and hour." I pray for more people to gain this wisdom so they will be ready for His return. I was in a discussion yesterday with some classmates about a weekly assignment we have. It is entitled "Weekly Planner" and is basically a schedule showing when we will accomplish all we are to. I feel like this assignment has opened my eyes up to having 'down time' every day. This is something I struggle with. Even when I am resting physically, I not always am resting mentally. When I lay down to rest or nap, I usually have something going on before that can happen. 'Just one more post for school...one more phone call...one more...one more...' A few years ago God challenged me that I was allowing my lists to get in the way of Him. I was making sure everything on my list was done instead of being willing to listen to the Holy Spirit direct my path. When I realized just how much truth this was I quit using daily lists. I received such a freedom when I did. I realized I can accomplish everything NEEDED in a day without a list. I prayed God would remind me if I started to forget something. I still use a list if we are having a special event happening but I no longer feel the need for daily life. This assignment with the Weekly Planner has opened my eyes that I need to remember God does not expect me to do everything. He just expects my best in what He calls me to do. One problem I have with this thinking is with school. My 'best' is an 'A' in every class. Is that what God is calling me to? I believe it is in my present circumstances but it is not always that way. If I need to back off of doing another post to take a nap so I can continue the path He is leading me in that day, so be it. If that means dropping to a 'B,' I need to realize that is His will. If I need to make a visit to someone who needs a little bit of Jesus in their day, I need to realize that is what I need to do. School cannot nor should it be in front of what God has planned for my day. If I allow anything to take my focus off of God, I am sinning. Last night when I asked the children what their thoughts were on 'love' I loved the response of one of the little girls. "Keeping our focus on God." She continued talking about how if we want God to know we love Him then we need to be focused on Him. Wow! Out of the mouths of babes! This came from a eight year old who has no church background and has been attending our Tuesday night group for maybe two or three months. Wow, God! These children are being little sponges as they soak in what we are teaching them. What a blessing! Sometimes Tuesday nights are tough physically but then God reminds me I am walking in His will through the blessings like last night. Matthew Henry writes:

The believer expects weariness and ill treatment on his way to heaven; but he shall not stay here long : walking with God by faith, he goes forward on his journey, not diverted from his course, nor cast down by the difficulties he meets. How blessed it is to sit loose from things here below, that while going home to our Father's house, we may use the world as not abusing it! May we always look for that city, whose Builder and Maker is God.

Amen! 
No matter what happens on this earth, I have His strength. 
No matter where He leads me, I will go even when it may not make sense to me. 
No matter what, I will keep my focus on Him.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for Your love, mercy and grace. Thank You for loving me so greatly. Thank You for the blessings from last night with the children. Thank You for all the ways You lead me. Father, cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May You be in every word and action that comes from me. May You be in my attitude. May You be greater than any aspect of my humanness. Father, You know what is ahead in this day and I pray You will guide me to be a shining light for You. Thank You Jesus for being My Builder and Maker! Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13 - "The Lord's Prayer"

Woo hoo, God! Yesterday morning 'out-of-the-blue' He prompted me to pray for a new friend. I didn't know what for so I prayed she would have His strength throughout the day. This was around 6:30AM. I continued to pray for her and later in the morning found out she was being taken to the hospital but I still didn't know the circumstances. Last night I found out one of the things they suspected was a stroke. All of the tests came back clear! Woo hoo, God! There are people who do not believe in God. There are also people who believe in God yet have little prayer life. It is hard to comprehend the 'why' of both of these groups of people. My God is living in my life 24/7. He directs me and loves on me in ways that are not always understandable. I don't know if my prayer for Trish was what protected her or not. But what if it were and I didn't pray it? My prayer life is as much about my spiritual walk as it is about the people I pray for. When I have instances such as this, my faith is taken even deeper. Yesterday Doc offhandedly said something about how maybe we should ask God for something. It is a BIG something that would not in the human realm even be possible. But what if it were in God's will to happen? We would not know until we prayed WITH faith for it. I'm thinking for the thought to come into his mind it must be in His will. Are we willing to take a step of faith and pray that prayer? Are we willing to see what God has for us in this area of life? Big questions to ponder upon today. No matter what, I will never stop praying and believing. I am a product of many prayers. I know what miracles are. I have lived them out many times. I am so grateful for the God I serve who is still in the miracle-making business. Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the way You protected Trish from a stroke yesterday. Thank You for the way You deepened my faith. Thank You for the way You will continue to direct my prayers. Lord, I continue to pray for the teen who returned to school yesterday. I pray they were protected by You in their emotional being. I pray for the ones around them today to be loving. Father, continue to direct the family with this situation. I also pray You will be with one of my little guys who is sick again. Lord, give the doctors direction with his disease. Wrap Your loving arms around his family as they battle it. Father, I pray for a healing in his little body. I also pray for a healing in another friend who is struggling with infection and dear Mr Fran who is struggling with a cold along with the Parkinson's. I pray for wisdom for their doctors. Lord, these are physical ailments that are not found in heaven. I am praying 'for earth as it is in heaven' to come down upon these ones. Father, I pray You will cleanse me so You can fill me today in a new, different way. I pray for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to start at the tip of my head and go to the tip of my toes. Open doors for me to be You to all I meet and speak to. I pray for one who is dealing with dementia to be agreeable today as I spend time with her. Thank You Jesus for being The Great Physician. Amen.

Philippians 4:13 - "This I Believe"

Yesterday was such an awesome day. The Lord blessed me in abundance as we sang as a corporate body of believers in worship. Then He blessed me through Doc's message as He spoke through him to encourage us to go deeper in our faith. The afternoon time with six of our teens delivering Valentine cards at a nursing home was such a blessing. Finally, hearing Him speak through Dan Bohi was the 'icing on the cake' for me. He spoke of much of what Doc had spoke of in the morning's message. One of my favorite hymns that we sang yesterday morning was also one sung last night. Wow, God! You are so good! I am still pondering upon the two sermons from yesterday. I think I need to 'chew' on them a bit before I write about them. It was a full day in so many ways and I need an extra dose of His supernatural strength for today but I could not have asked for any better of a day. This morning I woke up an hour early and thought 'I can't do this.' I fell back to sleep and when I woke up the right time I had these words going through my mind...

I believe in God our Father
I believe in Christ the Son
I believe in the Holy Spirit
Our God is three in one
I believe in the resurrection
That we will rise again
For I believe in the Name of Jesus

If I believe in God, then I believe He will give me the strength that is needed in this day. If I believe in Him, then I believe He will bless me throughout this day with opportunities for people to see His love ooze out of me. If I believe in Him, then I will have no doubt or fear about the day that is ahead. "If" is not a word in my vocabulary when it comes to God. I do believe in Him and I do believe He will provide exactly what I need for the day ahead. Woo hoo! I believe! There is a line in this song that goes...

For I believe in the Name of Jesus

Yes! All I have to do is call on His name and He is with me. I do not know how people get through the 'tough' stuff of life without Him. I do not understand why people don't allow Him into their lives. I also do not understand how those who believe in Him don't have the desire to go deeper and relinquish everything to Him and live in His will. But thankfully I do not have to answer for others. I am only responsible for the way I live. 

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace. Thank You for all the ways You love on me such as days like yesterday. Thank You for being the One I desire to live for. Father, I pray for Your supernatural strength to come down upon me for the day ahead. I pray You will go before me and open doors for me to be You to all I meet or speak to. Lord, I pray for my friend who You brought to my mind this morning. I don't know what is ahead in her day but I pray You will be very close to her. I also pray for the teen and their family who are going through some tough days. May their faith draw deeper. I pray for healing in dear Mr. Fran. I pray You will be very near to Him as he battles illness. Thank You Father for being Who I Believe In. Amen.

John 1:1 - "Word of Life"

I prayed before I went to bed for pastors and then the Lord woke me up two hours early to pray again. He also gave me "Word of Life" when I woke. As I started singing the lyrics, I asked Him why is it that I always pray specifically for pastors who are going through tough times. He told me they are the ones who need the most encouragement. I thought about these lyrics...

Word of life
Speak to my weary heart
Strengthen my broken parts
Lead me to Your open arms
Word of truth
Illuminate all these lies
The enemy speaks inside
In freedom I will rise

Oh my, yes. There are so many pastors who are feeling weary. Some are even feeling broken and need a healing in their spirit. Some are going through things no one else can even begin to imagine. This morning I am praying for pastors with...

• illness in their wife such as Scot and Steve
• illness in their own body such as Terry and one struggling with cancer
• children and/or grandchildren with illness such as Mike and Rodney
• prodigals
• transition in their ministry including retirement
• struggles financially, personally and the church
• church issues
• time management to ensure their family is not forgotten
• major change happening in their ministry such as Mike and Greg

He also had me pray for those on the road spreading the Gospel and their families who sacrifice so much with their loved one away so many weeks out of the year.

• Dan Bohi, Craig Rench, Terry and Melissa Wright as they minister at the Summerville Church the next few days. He had me pray in agreement with Pastor Mike that their church be revived through these services. Jay and Judy as they minister in Florida this week.
• Michael Adams

He brought into my prayers the people who support pastors. Some are in their churches, some are not. Some are believers, some are not. The thing He desires is for these people to see pastors living Christ-like lives. He desires everyone to live such lives but especially pastors. He had me pray for more prayers warriors to surface to stand in the gap for pastors and their families. May all pastors know He is more when we live in His Presence.

Spirit of God
Take me to a deeper place
Take me out of what is safe
I will not be afraid
Spirit of God
Fill me with joy again
Springing up from within
It cannot be contained

Dear Jesus,

Thank You once again for the privilege to pray for pastors. May You continue to encourage them in their life. May You strengthen and heal areas of their lives that desperately need it. May Your will be for more pastors to strive to live Christ-like. Lord, that is the desire of my heart. I desire to live with You as my Focus. Will You please cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit? Will You continue to encourage me as I minister? Will You empower me to have Your love ooze out of me in a new, different way today? Lord, bless each pastor as they go into the pulpit today. Cover them with Your peace as they preach You boldly. Thank You Jesus for being My Word of Life. Amen.

James 5:13-16 - "Build My Life"

Over the last couple of days I had two intense prayer requests answered. As I praised God over these answers I wondered how many prayers were answered I didn't know about. Yesterday afternoon the Lord stopped me in the middle of the afternoon to pray for a teen going through tough days. I found out later in the day there was a change in their situation. Another time this week I was prompted to pray again for a man who had previously been diagnosed with the 'flu.' God told me it wasn't just a regular 'bug,' there was more. Later I found out he is going through more than just a normal round of flu. What about all the other prayers I have sent up for people? Have they been answered? Were they answered in the way they wanted? Only God knows and that is OK. I do not have to know the answers. All I have to do is continue to be obedient in praying as God prompts. I remember one time being told there is no reason to pray because God already knows the outcome and we can't change His mind. I pray because it enables me to draw closer to God and it encourages others when they know they are being prayed for. Can we change His mind? I do not know the answer for sure to that question and I'm sure it is a debatable issue. I believe prayers can be changed. The last part of verse sixteen of James 5 reads, The effective prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much. There are two keys words in this little statement. First, 'effective' when it comes to praying means the prayers are answered. Second, 'righteous' means one who is living in God's will. I do not believe God changes His mind with prayers. I believe we are the ones to be changed. We may pray in our flesh at times yet as we live in His presence we will pray in His will. As we do this, all of our prayers will be answered. The answers will be in His will and in His timing. These are not easily accepted by those not living in His will. Some want what they want, not necessarily what is in the will of God. The deeper we go in our spiritual walk, the more we will realize no aspect of life is about us. Everything is about God and what He desires. Oh how I pray for more people to get to the point in their life where things do not have to be about them. I pray for people to be as Doc has been preaching on these last few weeks, 'self-less' instead of 'selfish.' It is not always the easiest way to walk, especially when we have a loved one dealing with disease or dying. Our prayers are for God to heal them but we must realize if they are living for Him He will heal them either on this earth or by taking them to heaven where they will have a brand new body free of disease. If they are not living for Him, it is more important to pray for their souls than their physical bodies. No matter what I believe...

I am changed daily as I live in His presence. I am grateful for the way He changes my thoughts, my actions, my attitude, my words...all of me. The desire of my heart is that all of my prayers be raised up in His will.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the way You change me! Thank You for the privileges You give me to pray for people! Thank You for putting the desire in my heart to be striving to be Christ-like! Father, I'm not sure what this day holds but I do know You are the One who does. Go before me, cleanse me so You can fill me with more of Your Spirit. May You be my words, actions, and attitude throughout this day. May You never allow me to miss an opportunity to be You to those You put before me or to pray for someone You give me to pray for. Father, thank You for the answers to prayers whether they are known or not known. Thank You For being My Life Changer. Amen.

Galatians 4:6-7 - "Good, Good Father"

This is the second Friday to wake up at 4:30. The difference was this week when I asked God who to pray for He was silent. I thought about the news about Richie's bone marrow test and my niece's mammogram coming back good and praised God for them. I prayed for all of those going through treatments for cancer. I also praised Him for yesterday. I was apprehensive about something I had to do but it went great. I also praised God for the beautiful sunshine but most of all I praised Him for shining down on me. He blessed me in abundance as I took this picture...

He did not have to say that but He knew I needed to hear it. As I told Doc about it over dinner the tears came to my eyes once again. When I hear Him say 'Daughter,' I know there is going to be something special given to me. Sometimes it is an answer to prayer. Sometimes it is direction. Sometimes it is like yesterday where He just wanted to lavish me with His love. No matter what, when I hear 'Daughter' I am listening expectingly. This world and the circumstances we deal with can be hard at times. But we must never allow the enemy an open door. He will use people's words, actions, and attitude to try to pull our focus off of God. We must stay firm in our faith so we do not falter. What we call 'hard times' really can be 'good times' because it can stretch our faith and take us deeper in our walk with God. We just never know when God will speak words such as what He said to me yesterday. We cannot give up even when times seem too tough to continue. Doc said in his sermon Sunday that he felt like throwing in the towel but God told him he just needed to use the towel to wipe the sweat off of his brow and keep on. There were many times I felt like 'throwing in the towel' with health issues such as the nine months of not being able to walk on my own with the MS or getting the breast cancer diagnosis. But God kept encouraging me to continue. Many times with relationships I feel like I can't continue on but God encourages me to continue. The only way for me to hear His encouragement is to live in His presence. The only way for me to live in His presence is to be totally surrendered to His will. The only way to be totally surrendered to His will is to quit being selfish and allow Him total control over my life. That is where True Peace is found. He is such a "Good, Good Father" and it does not surprise me one bit that this song is what is on my heart today. I want to sing praises and worship to Him all day long. I desire for Him to be encouraged by my words, actions, and attitude. I desire Him to be proud of me. He wasn't telling me I was beautiful on the outside. He was telling me I am beautiful in my soul. That is where beauty is the most becoming. That is where people will see Him through me. Woo hoo. I love the words Paul gave to the Galatians in the fourth chapter, verses six and seven. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Woo hoo! Thank You Father!

Dear Jesus,
Thank You once again for the words You spoke over me yesterday. Thank You for the encouragement You pour into me. Thank You for the beauty of Your creation as the sun was shining down upon the blooming flowers and trees. Wow, God! You are such a Magnificent Artist! Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me with more of You. I desire for my soul to be more beautiful today than it was in days past. I desire people to see/hear/feel Your love from me today in a new, different way. May You be greater, Lord. May You be greater. Thank You for Richie and Colleen's good news yesterday. Continue to be with them and their families. Thank You Jesus for being my "Good, Good Father." Amen.

Matthew 22:36-40 - "Dream Small"

These words were going through my mind when I woke up this morning...

Dream small
Don't bother like you've gotta do it all
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time
Live well
Loving God and others as yourself
Find little ways where only you can help
With His great love
A tiny rock can make a giant fall
Dream small

This is the way I strive to live but I know I don't always succeed. If we all at least tried to live in this manner, we would be living in a different world. As we talked about how this world is last night in our group, I was saddened to think about it yet I was encouraged when Doc said we are living out the last days as found in scripture. There is so much for believers to do in these days but the most important thing is to love God more than ourselves. We need to love others more than ourselves. What does that look like?

Keep loving, keep serving
Keep listening, keep learning
Keep praying, keep hoping
Keep seeking, keep searching
Out of these small things and watch them grow bigger
The God who does all things makes oceans... from rivers

Yes! The more we live in this manner, the more others will have the same desire. It is possible to see God take 'rivers' and make them into 'oceans.' I truly believe if more people walked in obedience to His will there would be more miracles seen on this earth. We would see more physical bodies healed but most importantly we would see spiritual bodies healed. We would see addiction taken out of people; blatant sin in people's lives to be gone; physical, mental, and emotional abuse to no longer be; relationships to be restored; etc. Life can be different but it takes change. It takes people who love the Lord to go deeper and allowing Him control of their life. It takes people who love the Lord sharing Him so others will also be in relationship with Him. If "A tiny rock can make a giant fall," then believers need to start believing as David and start knocking down the 'giants' of this world. Is it possible? Of course it is but only when we have faith in the Lord and allow Him to work in and through us. Woo hoo! I am ready to see what 'giants' God will use me to knock down today!

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for Your love that is so instrumental in my life. Thank You for the privileges to love on others to the point change is seen. Thank You for cleansing me this morning so You can fill me with more of You. Thank You for going before me and empowering me to knock down 'giants' today. Father, You know the hurts and the desires of my heart. Would You please continue to guide me through them? Would You be greater than anything that comes my way today? I know You can as I allow You total control of every aspect of my life. I am so blessed by You. Thank You once again for our group last night. Wow, God! I love being a sponge to learn more about where You walked. It brings back such special memories of our trip to Israel. Thank You once again for the way You lead Doc to teach us. Thank You Jesus for being My Giant Slayer. Amen.