Prayer Changes Things

I have told myself and close friends that I need to stand in front of a mirror and practice saying the word “no” aloud. I need to see what it looks like. I need to practice “no” with loving expressions. I need to experience how it feels deep down to say “no”. Why? Because all too often I say yes and commit to “doing” something before I’ve prayed to make sure it’s a task my Heavenly Father desires for me.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

~Philippians 4:6

At times, I have had too many consecutive “yes” tally marks, while the “no” column often has none. This leads to a very unbalanced life of a lot of “doing, “being” is left whistling with its hands in its pockets, and I am a frazzled anxious mess. I’ve been reduced to a sobbing tirade of tears squandering a box of tissues.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

~Matthew 6:33

So, my first step in the process of learning how to “be” in the “doing” is to PRAY! It’s best to “be” in prayer to seek the wise counsel of the Holy Spirit before you “do” anything. Did I just really say that, because…WOW…I fall way short of prayers before everything I “do”. You really can’t “be” in what you “do” unless you take Jesus with you into it. Don’t leave God out from the get go. Pray first, then “do”, and the “be” will follow.

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

~John 14:26

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you for your patience with my reckless decision making without talking it out with you first. Please help me to remember to seek you first in all my decisions. I want to take the time to sit in prayer and be sure what I’m about to “do” is what you desire and have planned for my life. If I am in your will it will be much easier for me to “be” in your presence while I “do” the work you have put before me.

~Amen

God Smiles

I have many sisters in Christ and I praise God for each and everyone. There are a chosen few of these God loving souls who without a doubt bring me to some of my most honest moments with myself. I realized in one such conversation; I deeply desire to feel needed and be loved. I know…you’re thinking…doesn’t everyone? I would definitely answer a resounding yes, but yet my quest to find love and be needed is a gut wrenching thirst that at times has seemed unquenchable.

Lately, I must admit I have not found myself missing love or yearning to be needed. I sense a peace about my life. It’s been like a deep breath with an everlasting exhale. I realize my only need is to be close to my heavenly Father. I don’t miss out on love, because when I’m with him in a quiet moment, his embrace of love is sufficient to sustain me. He takes me in His arms, holds me tight, and sings over me. It is beautiful indeed to experience his peace and be confident, if just for that moment…He is all I need.

It is funny you know; I long to be loved and needed, but so does Jesus. He longs to be needed and loved by me and also by you. Really, fellowship with Him is what God created us for in the first place. God was lonely and desired relationship. So I guess it shouldn’t surprise me when I crave the desire. God has craved for the same thing from us for a very long time.

All I know…when I take the time to love on Jesus and just sit awhile with him, it brings a smile upon my face. And you know what…God smiles back and is well pleased with His child.

"Come near to God and He will come near to you..."

~James 4:8

God's Creation

So thankful for the home God has given us!

Even amidst the shadows He reaches to comfort our soul.

His beauty peeks at us all day long. If only we choose to see it.

His beauty blooms all around.

I am thankful this day for picking up my camara this morning and shooting these beautiful shots. God surrounds us everyday with his love. We just need to choose to see it. Please take the time to see it today! God's blessing on all of you today!

"Be" in "Doing"

Lord, please help me to just "be" today. Let not my working hands, moving feet, and busy mind consume me and squelch your very presence in my daily walk. I need to "be" more and find you in all I "do"! Open my eyes and teach me how to "be" even when I am "doing". I'm not sure I have given myself over to you in such a way or if I even know how to reach this lofty thought. I do know all things are possible in you...so show me your ways so that my hands might be yours working through me igniting your flame in another ones life. To you oh Lord I deeply desire to bring glory and honor.

~Amen

My choice

It’s blazing hot here in Eastern Pennsylvania. Yesterday, the temperature read 100 degrees on the thermometer and today will be much the same but more humid. I hope a thundershower will arrive this afternoon. The much needed rain would awake the wilted flowers and the crisp grass which now appears rather brown than green.

I must admit, I too have felt like a wilted flower as of late. Life circumstances sometimes seem to blur my vision so the view of my true self is not so clear. I begin to “dry up” and don’t realize how much I need to be thankful. I dwell more on everything that is wrong rather than rejoicing in the good set before me. Have you ever had a dry spell such as this?

I brewed my coffee, filled my cup, and sat on the front porch. I determined…

“This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” ~Psalm 118:24

He gives us every day, every hour, every moment. It is our choice how we live it.

My King

The sun reaches down,

Lifts my chin,

To receive the warmth,

My Father created,

All for me...

All for me.

I sit between the thorns of the garden,

The morning dew touches my feet,

The fragrant rose fills the air I breath,

A red bird sings from the tree,

All for me...

All for me.

Tears fall as the pain cuts deep,

I want to hide within myself,

My mind craves silence,

Where only the whispers of your Spirit abide,

All for me...

All for me.

Please take me home in my thoughts,

Where only you and I exist,

I long for the embrace between your strong arms,

So your princess might know true love once again,

All for me...

All for me.

The time has come,

To awake from my slumber,

And walk forever with you,

For I have been kissed by my King,

All for me...

All for me.

My Heart Cries Retreat

Today was a very, very tough day. I don’t care to go into the details of events which have led me to this conclusion. I just wish to erase part of the last four weeks and stomp upon the injustice of those who point fingers in the wrong direction. Have they forgotten they have three of their own fingers pointing back at them? I believe others need to take a better look inward upon the true intent of their heart in the words they speak and the actions they choose.

I’ve cried a river of tears frustrated over the lack of integrity I see in others, my own need to see justice prevail, and my overwhelming desire to pull back and give up on relationships. I could very easily, after the events of the last few weeks, retreat deep within and shut out all others. I crave silence within my mind.

I went to my bedroom and prayed aloud to the one true friend I can always trust. He never tells anyone the deepest secrets of my soul. I can always be real with Him. I asked Him to comfort me this night. I confided in Him that I didn’t even know what or how to pray, but just let the pain go away. I know the Spirit knows just what to say to my Abba on my behalf. So in the meantime, I’ll just wait for His healing rain to soothe the wounds that have brought such grief.

Psalm 119:49-51

Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.

My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.

The arrogant mock me without restraint,
but I do not turn from your law.

Pain, Pain Go Away

The rain beats down on my window pane and the thunder rumbles in the evening sky. The lightning flashes across the black abyss and brings a glint of light to the storm. As quickly as the rain poured down, it has hushed now to nothing at all…not even a pitter pat can be heard. It is silent except for the tap of my finger tips on the key pad and the roll of a distant thunder.

Sometimes the pain within us is deep and sometimes it is shallow. But no matter where the pain sits, in the back row or front and center, it only causes a deep chasm stealing life from our soul and weaving death into our daily walk. The saddest part of pain is the wall of protection built to safeguard ourselves from our deepest need…what God created us for…fellowship with Him.

When the storm is intense, the stress level high, and all you want to do is run…pain sits in the front row with applause and conviction that run is what we need to do. But if we would just stop and hush our mind from the race it thinks it can win, we would find the Spirit in the yawning fissure lighting the way to the path of peace in the arms of our Abba.

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Deepen in me the actions of a peacemaker.

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“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the son’s of God.” Matthew 5:9

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“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:18

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When my heart is angered and screams for justice to prevail…

Let me sow in peace.

When I’ve made myself busy by my own choice…

Let me sow in peace.

When my husband doesn’t understand me as a woman and my heart as a mom…

Let me sow in peace.

When friends let me down and family is not near…

Let me sow in peace.

When teachers neglect the precious gift I’ve entrusted to them…

Let me sow in peace.

When a coach sets a bad example and favors some players over others…

Let me sow in peace.

Remind me always you have given me your peace and I should not be troubled but continually…

Let me sow in peace and let the light of Christ shine to the world and those around me!

~Amen

Choose Life

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

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Although Moses was addressing the Israelites, I couldn’t help but think how this applies to all who believe. We all have a “Promise Land” to get to and, “Yes!” it matters how we get to it. We can choose to love the LORD…to walk in his ways…keep his commands and live, increase, and be blessed once we reach our destination or we can choose disobedience…distractions which cause many to make “things” an idol and more important than the work God has set before us or more important than God himself. If we choose the latter, we may get to where we are going, but it won’t last long. It will be short lived and eventually destroyed leaving one to start all over again. But, isn’t that the beauty of knowing Jesus. His mercies are new every morning and He is a God of second chances. He longs for us to get it right…to choose life, listen to his voice, and hold fast to Him.