"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." ~Jesus
Praying with my young son once, he told Jesus he wanted to see some little birds. At the time, I thought it was a silly prayer as I prayed for much more "lofty" things. You know, salvation for the world, the end of hunger in my community, cure for cancer and all the other more "ecclesiastical" and "big" things.
A couple hours later, my three year old was standing on the couch looking out the window and giggling with glee. I sauntered over to see what he was so entertained by and there in the bushes not more than two feet from the picture window was a flock of the tiniest birds I'd ever seen. They were twirling around branches, fluttering at each other and pecking at berries. Primping and posturing, they put on a show that kept us in giggles for at least half of an hour. My heart rang with love for my heavenly Father who answers our prayers. I asked my son if he had thanked the Lord for his birds and he said, "Oh yeah, a long time ago." I joined him in thanksgiving and joyful praise!
Through this simple answer, I learned that no prayer is silly to God. I've prayed for a cat not to pee on the stove (again... or Dad will kill it!) and the end of a mole problem. I've prayed for the cure for funky smells in furniture and for sunshine to cure the blues. I've also seen people cured of cancer, others snatched from hell, and my community feed the hungry. No prayer is too small or too big for God. Certainly, no prayer is silly!
"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. for I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." ~Jesus
Monday, August 26, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Seeing Miracles
Jesus answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah."
I befriended a single mother who was working and going to school. Her life was one crisis after another and it seemed that I was constantly praying for her and her financial situation. At one point, she was actually making ends meet and feeling like she'd made it when her car broke down. She needed money to fix it. She told me she needed a miracle. I told her we needed to pray and she rolled her eyes. I prayed anyway and she received an unexpected bonus in the exact amount of the bill for the repairs on her vehicle. When I explained to her that God loves her and that Jesus was calling her, her response floored me. She sighed dramatically and said, "If only he would show me a miracle, then I would believe in him." Unable to contain myself I replied flatly, "Oh, the money wasn't enough?"
What sort of miracle would it take for a person to realize that God is real and unavoidable? How much answered prayer does it take? What a loving God I serve that continues to hold out holy hands to obstinate and blind people! I'm still praying for a miracle in my friend's life and it has nothing to do with the miracle itself and everything to do with eternity.
"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" ~Jesus
I befriended a single mother who was working and going to school. Her life was one crisis after another and it seemed that I was constantly praying for her and her financial situation. At one point, she was actually making ends meet and feeling like she'd made it when her car broke down. She needed money to fix it. She told me she needed a miracle. I told her we needed to pray and she rolled her eyes. I prayed anyway and she received an unexpected bonus in the exact amount of the bill for the repairs on her vehicle. When I explained to her that God loves her and that Jesus was calling her, her response floored me. She sighed dramatically and said, "If only he would show me a miracle, then I would believe in him." Unable to contain myself I replied flatly, "Oh, the money wasn't enough?"
What sort of miracle would it take for a person to realize that God is real and unavoidable? How much answered prayer does it take? What a loving God I serve that continues to hold out holy hands to obstinate and blind people! I'm still praying for a miracle in my friend's life and it has nothing to do with the miracle itself and everything to do with eternity.
"He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" ~Jesus
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Empty Worship
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." ~David
In my private worship time today, my voice was steady and I didn't miss a chord. The words flowed and the music was a treat to play. When time was up, I set my guitar down, put away the music and left the room to get busy. It was halfway through a chore that I felt like something was missing. That still small voice in my spirit said, "What you did was not worship".
What I had done was practice my playing and singing. My mind had not been on God or even the words that I was singing. Thoughts were of how good it sounded and what chores I should be doing and just about every thing else but him. I had not been worshiping in spirit and truth. I had performed a good concert for my own entertainment.
Going back to my guitar, I went straight to the throne of God. I joined in the song of every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them and I sang to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. I sang the words of Revelation and gave him praise, honor, glory and power in, over and for my life. When I put down the guitar and went off to finish my chores, the music didn't stop. Praises and hymns just kept streaming past my heart and out my mouth. God had renewed my spirit and restored the joy of my salvation just like I asked him to! How cool is that?
"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." ~Jesus
In my private worship time today, my voice was steady and I didn't miss a chord. The words flowed and the music was a treat to play. When time was up, I set my guitar down, put away the music and left the room to get busy. It was halfway through a chore that I felt like something was missing. That still small voice in my spirit said, "What you did was not worship".
What I had done was practice my playing and singing. My mind had not been on God or even the words that I was singing. Thoughts were of how good it sounded and what chores I should be doing and just about every thing else but him. I had not been worshiping in spirit and truth. I had performed a good concert for my own entertainment.
Going back to my guitar, I went straight to the throne of God. I joined in the song of every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them and I sang to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. I sang the words of Revelation and gave him praise, honor, glory and power in, over and for my life. When I put down the guitar and went off to finish my chores, the music didn't stop. Praises and hymns just kept streaming past my heart and out my mouth. God had renewed my spirit and restored the joy of my salvation just like I asked him to! How cool is that?
"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." ~Jesus
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Eyes of Prayer
"After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed..." ~John
When it came time to pray in Sunday school, I would ask each of my students to pray for the person next to them out loud. All they had to do was pray that the child next to them would have a good week. We would all bow our heads and dutifully close our eyes. There were always the ones that peeked at their hands or glanced at their neighbors but I noticed that when they were being prayed for or praying, most of them would squirm uncomfortably and squeeze their eyes shut real tight. One week, I read to them the seventeenth chapter of John while they doodled. That first verse nudged me. I began praying out loud for each one in my class during the week with my eyes open.
The next Sunday at prayer time, I asked my students to keep their eyes open during prayer. I told them that Jesus prayed with his eyes open some times so I thought we would see how that felt. I then proceeded to pray out loud for each of them the prayers that I had been praying all week long for them and their families. I tried to maintain eye contact with each one of them during this exercise. Eyes would light up and some would roll shut. Some would watch others wiggle while being prayed for but when their turn came, they would clamp their eyes shut and assume a pained expression. There were lots of giggles and sideways glances as each one watched their friends receive my blessing and the blessing of a classmate. It sure was fun. You might say it was a real eye-opener!
"I have made you known to them , and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." ~Jesus
When it came time to pray in Sunday school, I would ask each of my students to pray for the person next to them out loud. All they had to do was pray that the child next to them would have a good week. We would all bow our heads and dutifully close our eyes. There were always the ones that peeked at their hands or glanced at their neighbors but I noticed that when they were being prayed for or praying, most of them would squirm uncomfortably and squeeze their eyes shut real tight. One week, I read to them the seventeenth chapter of John while they doodled. That first verse nudged me. I began praying out loud for each one in my class during the week with my eyes open.
The next Sunday at prayer time, I asked my students to keep their eyes open during prayer. I told them that Jesus prayed with his eyes open some times so I thought we would see how that felt. I then proceeded to pray out loud for each of them the prayers that I had been praying all week long for them and their families. I tried to maintain eye contact with each one of them during this exercise. Eyes would light up and some would roll shut. Some would watch others wiggle while being prayed for but when their turn came, they would clamp their eyes shut and assume a pained expression. There were lots of giggles and sideways glances as each one watched their friends receive my blessing and the blessing of a classmate. It sure was fun. You might say it was a real eye-opener!
"I have made you known to them , and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." ~Jesus
Monday, August 19, 2013
Glorious Joy
"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one; I in them and you in me." ~Jesus
I imagine that the group of people listening to this prayer of Jesus' were having different reactions to his words. I wonder what aspect of it would have caused my spirit to grasp out. Reading it this morning, the verse above grabbed my attention. He has given me glory! Jesus said he did, so it must be true. A wellspring of joy bubbles up in me when I think about listening to his prayer and hearing the very son of God giving me glory before the Father! Of course, how could I not give it back? We're one and he's way more worthy of it.
A full measure of the joy of the Lord has been put within me because of the words that Jesus prayed that day. I can be one with the saints of ages simply because those words have endured and are written for me to feast on. The fact that I can read it centuries later makes me so grateful and fills me with glorious joy!
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" ~Legions of Angels
I imagine that the group of people listening to this prayer of Jesus' were having different reactions to his words. I wonder what aspect of it would have caused my spirit to grasp out. Reading it this morning, the verse above grabbed my attention. He has given me glory! Jesus said he did, so it must be true. A wellspring of joy bubbles up in me when I think about listening to his prayer and hearing the very son of God giving me glory before the Father! Of course, how could I not give it back? We're one and he's way more worthy of it.
A full measure of the joy of the Lord has been put within me because of the words that Jesus prayed that day. I can be one with the saints of ages simply because those words have endured and are written for me to feast on. The fact that I can read it centuries later makes me so grateful and fills me with glorious joy!
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" ~Legions of Angels
Friday, August 16, 2013
Never Alone
"Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me." ~David
I am never alone. I am constantly aware that God is with me and I'm surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Like David, I know that if even my parents were to forsake me, Jesus would still be there. I haven't always taken comfort in that. There have been times when I wish that he would just leave me alone! I've learned that those are the times that I really need to be still and know he is God. He can't leave me alone. He promised he never would. It's perhaps the promise I cherish most and yet I find myself wiggling around uncomfortably at the thought of such intimacy. He sees my sin. Blah.
No matter how hard I try, I'm still a stinking sinner. No matter how clean I feel, I will always need Jesus to wash my feet. The fact that he is eager to clean off the dirt any time gives me joy. I am surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses and they are cheering me on! Yes, I'm a dirty sinner but Jesus loves me and nothing can separate me from the love of God. Amazing grace!
"...For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." ~Paul
I am never alone. I am constantly aware that God is with me and I'm surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Like David, I know that if even my parents were to forsake me, Jesus would still be there. I haven't always taken comfort in that. There have been times when I wish that he would just leave me alone! I've learned that those are the times that I really need to be still and know he is God. He can't leave me alone. He promised he never would. It's perhaps the promise I cherish most and yet I find myself wiggling around uncomfortably at the thought of such intimacy. He sees my sin. Blah.
No matter how hard I try, I'm still a stinking sinner. No matter how clean I feel, I will always need Jesus to wash my feet. The fact that he is eager to clean off the dirt any time gives me joy. I am surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses and they are cheering me on! Yes, I'm a dirty sinner but Jesus loves me and nothing can separate me from the love of God. Amazing grace!
"...For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." ~Paul
Thursday, August 15, 2013
One Word Lies
"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'no,' 'no'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." ~Jesus
Why is this such a struggle? What makes it so hard to say what you mean and mean what you say? I catch myself all the time saying "yes" when my head is telling me "that's a no". So out sneaks the one word lie. The problem with these one word lies is that they bring needless trouble to my life and unnecessary guilt. My body and my spirit were not created to bear guilt. Guilt entered the world with the act of disobedience in the garden of Eden. Guilt builds walls not only between us and God but between us and each other. It's a crippling emotion that can be hard to overcome so I choose to heed the words of Jesus and simply say what I mean and mean what I say.
It gets easier and easier to avoid planting that seed in my life. I still haven't gotten it completely right all the time but I'd rather practice integrity and repent when need be than feel guilty. The wall between me and God came down when Jesus took my guilt off me. I hadn't realized how heavy it had been and I certainly would rather not pick it up again! Especially, with one word.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~Jesus
Why is this such a struggle? What makes it so hard to say what you mean and mean what you say? I catch myself all the time saying "yes" when my head is telling me "that's a no". So out sneaks the one word lie. The problem with these one word lies is that they bring needless trouble to my life and unnecessary guilt. My body and my spirit were not created to bear guilt. Guilt entered the world with the act of disobedience in the garden of Eden. Guilt builds walls not only between us and God but between us and each other. It's a crippling emotion that can be hard to overcome so I choose to heed the words of Jesus and simply say what I mean and mean what I say.
It gets easier and easier to avoid planting that seed in my life. I still haven't gotten it completely right all the time but I'd rather practice integrity and repent when need be than feel guilty. The wall between me and God came down when Jesus took my guilt off me. I hadn't realized how heavy it had been and I certainly would rather not pick it up again! Especially, with one word.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~Jesus
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