Today Lord

Today, Lord, please walk beside those who cannot stand on their own. Wrap them in your comforting embrace. Allow their tears to fall, and by your love let those tears wash away their pain and sorrow. And in love, wipe those tears away and let them see hope.

Today, Lord, please give courage and strength to those those who have none. Hold them near to you and allow them to feel your presence. Bring a light of hope to those who see only darkness. Bring peace to the chaos and despair which echos in their hearts and minds.

Today, Lord, please bring comfort to those suffering depression and loneliness. Allow them to feel your warmth and love. Give them hope for a brighter tomorrow.

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Today, Lord, be with those who walk beside the depressed, the lonely, the grieving. Give them the strength to be your comforting embrace. Give them the courage to take the falling tears onto themselves, and to be able to give the gift of your comfort and love to those who desperately need it.

Today, Lord, please fill the hearts of the caregivers and loved ones with your love and light, so they can reflect this back onto those who are in darkness. Help them bring your peace to those who feel only chaos and despair.

Today, Lord, please bring comfort to these loved ones who are reaching out to the suffering. Fill them with your warmth and love. Give them hope for a brighter tomorrow.

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In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
Amen

Looking For Answers in All the Wrong Places

Tell me if this sounds familiar...

You're weighted down by troubles, whatever they may be. Your heart is heavy, your burdens heavier. You've been taught time and again to give those burdens to God, and to pray. And so you do. You pray over and over again. But either God hasn't heard you, or simply doesn't care. A friend (or even a stranger) offers a hug and kind word. You smile politely, then walk away, praying harder for God to please help you. But again, you receive no response.

Many of us tend to expect and long for and await that miracle voice of God's saying "It's okay child. I've got this." At which point, all our problems *poof!* are gone. And, in this waiting... in this looking for the answer through a miracle... we don't see that God already answered. We simply did not recognize that answer. That person (or persons) who came up to us offering a hug and kind word - that could very well have been the vessel through which God was telling you "It is okay child. I've got this. I'm taking care of you."

God uses people to help others. God uses you to help me in my time of need, and me to help you in your time of need. We just need to open our hearts to recognize this. We need to recognize and trust in the person God uses as His hands to lift us when we're down. We need to hear His call when He needs us to be His hands to lift up someone else.

God's miracles aren't usually in the form of *poof!* all your problems are gone. Instead, His miracles are in the form of loving, kind, generous people who hold our hands when we're scared, hug us when we're sad, sit with us when we need to cry, and give us love when we feel alone.

Stop looking for answers in all the wrong places, and learn to trust in those God puts in your path. And even moreso, let yourself be placed in someone else' path to be God's loving hands.

Stripped Bare (Just a desperate plea)

Lately, I've found myself slipping, becoming more and more separated from God. I go to Bible Study, and it lifts me a little, but I'm still stumbling around lost in the desert, searching for something. I sit in the Church pew on Sunday, wishing I could feel Him, at least a little. I open my Bible and find only words - no hope, or joy, or comfort.

My heart grows colder, darker, lonelier. I reach out, but there is no hand there to grab mine and pull me from this pit. There is no light, showing me the way out. No voice offering peace or comfort. I'm alone. Separated. Afraid.

I fall to my knees in desperation. I cry out in hunger. The pain inside slowly turns to numbness, to nothingness. And yet I still cry within.

Oh, Lord, where have You gone? Why have You left me alone, enveloped in shadows? Why have You stripped from me this love and joy? Why do You withhold from me peace and comfort? Why have You left me without a single strand of hope to cling to? Please help me feel Your presence once again. Bring Your light back to me. Dress me again in the warmth of joy, peace, hope and love.

We Only Pray For Those We Deem Worthy!

I read something earlier today that has really ruffled my feathers. Simply, it was a blog post saying we should not be saying "rest in peace" (R.I.P. - Are They Really Resting In Peace). Now granted, most of what is said in that article isn't necessarily false. We are told not everyone will get into heaven. What I had a problem with was saying we should not be saying "rest in peace" to everyone.

Christian Fundamentals

There are many things we're told to do and not do as Christians. But two in particular I want to stress are:

1. We are to love and pray for everyone. This includes friends and enemies; believers and non-believers. We aren't allowed to pick and choose who we choose to love, or for whom we choose to pray. 

   But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44)

2. Only God can see into the hearts of man. Yes, we tend to assume a lot. We see someone living a godless life, we assume they are godless. We hear someone confess they are a Christian, we assume they are Christian. But we cannot truly see what is in their hearts. 

   So he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts... (Luke 16:15)

Rest in Peace

These three words (or five if you go with the lengthy version "may he rest in peace") is essentially a prayer. We say these words to prayerfully request the person's soul goes to Heaven. We, as Christians, should want all people to go there. We should be praying for the souls of all - friends and enemies. Those who stand by us and those who persecute us. Those who believe in the Lord, and those who don't yet.

As I said before, we aren't supposed to be picking and choosing who to pray for. Yes, I may not think someone is a Christian. He's a sinner. He has perhaps even actively stated there is no God. Is this not more reason to pray for his soul?

And, as I also stated before, I can't truly see into his heart. True, someone who would state aloud "there is no God!" quite probably is not Christian. But I do not with 100% certainty know this to be true. And I cannot know with 100% certainty if this person's soul is saved. All I can do is pray for him.

That is all any of us can and should be doing - pray for everyone. Pray while they're alive that they are able to find Christ. And pray when they die a request that their soul may rest in peace.

God bless!

When Tradition Becomes Bad

How many times have you asked "Why are we doing things this way?" and received the answer "because this is how it's always been done"?

How many times have you been told you can't do something a certain way, because it's never been done that way before?

The Church is bad for things like this. Just go to any church where someone decides to shake things up a bit - they higher a band for the music, or change up the normal prayer, or toss in a hymn that isn't "right" for the season.

Every Church has its traditions - many not based in the Bible. 

The requirement to have weekly communion? Sorry, this is a tradition/ritual - not God ordered. The requirement to be Baptized a certain way (by immersion, or sprinkling; as an infant or adult)? Sorry, this is tradition/ritual - not God ordered. The "proper" stance to pray? Tradition. The proper music? Tradition. The proper order of the worship service? Tradition. (trust me... you aren't going to hell because your pastor decides to give the sermon first, followed by the OT reading, then some heavy Christian rock music...). Yelling out "Amen!" during a sermon (or, refusing to yell out "Amen!" during a sermon) - tradition.

Traditions aren't necessarily evil...

On the surface, traditions and rituals are not necessarily bad. Most (if not all) of these traditions began to help Christians grow closer to God. They were created to develop a unity during service, with fellow congregants.

Everyone kneels together, or sings together, or prays together, to show and become a unified body in Christ.

The Eucharist is served regularly to help people remember what Christ did for them, and to help them grow spiritually closer to our risen Savior.

Certain prayer stances were developed again to develop unity, but also to incorporate the mind, soul, and body - all working together to glorify God.

Old hymns are selected and traditional piano or organ music played to praise and give glory to God in familiar ways. Newer music is selected to appeal to a different crowd of people so that they may also give praise and glory to God in ways they are most comfortable with.

When Tradition becomes evil... 

There are two ways in which tradition can get in the way of its intended purpose. Well, perhaps there are more... but the two I see (which actually is only one... just displayed in two different ways...):

1) When tradition comes before God:

When we start uttering the Lord's Prayer, without understanding or believing its meaning;
When we go to the Lord's Supper just to taste the wine;
When we uncomfortably kneel in prayer, worrying more about our knees than the prayer we're giving;
When we mumble the words to the song, or are concerned with how loud and off-key the person next to us is singing;
When we simply go through the actions to any part of tradition, without allowing it to bring us closer to Christ, or without allowing the Holy Spirit to enter us;
When we put our traditions before true personal and communal worship, praise, prayer, and glory of God.

2) When tradition comes before others:

When we argue with others over the proper way and age to Baptize someone, especially to the point of us telling someone they are not saved because they're doing it wrong;
When we argue over how often we should be partaking in Holy Communion, and whether the bread and wine is truly flesh and blood, or a symbolic gesture done to bring us closer to Christ - especially when we tell someone they are not saved because they do not believe as we do;
When we argue over the correct way or time to pray, especially to the point of telling others their prayers won't be answered because they're doing it wrong;
When we put our traditions before being loving, supporting, unified members of the Church of Christ (which is people of all sects and denominations, believing in God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ);
When we allow ourselves to spread anger, hurt or hate to anyone simply because they do not follow our traditions.

Now, before I started these two lists, I said that they actually fall under one way tradition becomes evil. That one way is when tradition comes before God. When we allow ourselves to argue (not simple debates, but rather arguments meant to say "I'm right, and you're going to hell if you don't agree with me"), we are putting our traditions ahead of truly serving God.

Our two commandments (of which all others fall) are - Love God, and Love one another. Anytime tradition overshadows either of these, they have lost their intended purpose, and actually cause us to move away from God.

To summarize this rather lengthy rambling:

Hold to your traditions, so long as they help you serve God. But always make sure God comes first. When that stops, it's time to reconsider those traditions you hold so dear.


God Bless!

Help Us Hear Your Call

Dear Heavenly Father,

At some point in each of our lives - perhaps at several points - you call us. You call us to join Your family of believers here on Earth. You call us to serve You. You call us to spread Your message. You call us to spread Your love. And, eventually, You call us Home.

With the exception of being called Home - an act we cannot control or choose to ignore - we often miss Your calls. We don't hear them. Perhaps, at times, we don't want to hear them. Sometimes, we are so wrapped up in our earthly lives, we can't hear You. The volume is turned down, or off, because we are too focused elsewhere.

At times, we know You're calling, but the reception is bad. We can't understand what You're saying or what You are needing from us. We try to answer the call, but do so in a noisy place. We think we understand what You want, but have misunderstood Your Words.

Please help us to hear Your call when You make it. Help us to listen. Help us to act upon Your Will. Within the calm of prayer, give us clear reception so we are able to understand what You ask of us. And give us the courage and strength and know-how to do Your desires.

And, if we don't answer - don't give up on us. Eventually we will hear that ringing...

In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
Amen

Encountering God

A wonderful blogger, author, pastor, and friend (+T E Hanna) recently did a series on his blog (http://ofdustandkings.com/) about encountering God. I was one of 5 authors requested to write for this series. And now that the last post has been published, I have got to say... Thank you! Thank you giving us the opportunity to write for the series, and especially thank you for posting the series.

I have always known that we all encounter God in different ways. I don't think any Christian would disagree with that. However, the vast differences in our stories... and the similarities... were simply amazing to read, and I am immensely grateful to have been a part of it.

These encounters have come to each of us through nature and through silence; through the love and help of others; through service to others and from within the innocent eyes of a child; through the serene offering of oneself in prayer; through the desperate plea for God's help. Some encounters were earth shattering. Others were more subtle. And yet each have very real, very wonderful, common elements.

I hope you will all take the time to read these articles regarding personal encounters with our Lord. Can anyone find the similar elements that are in each of these stories?

Lessons From A Cross-Cultural Christ by Chris Wilson

God Still Seeks Us Out by Shawn Mullins

The Power Of Silence: Encountering God In The Beauty Of The Quiet by John Wallace

Lifting The Cup: How God Responds To A Thirsty Heart by Melanie Baker

This Is The Power Of God’s Love In Human Hands… by me

Thank you again, and God bless!

Asking for Help for Dummies

I almost entitled this post "God is Really Gibbs". Why? Well, let me explain...

A couple days ago, I had a bit of a melt down. Actually, it was more of a complete and utter temper tantrum in which I completely went off on my best friend, accusing him of not caring about me and never asking how I'm doing and never having time for me. I was not nice. And, the worst part, none of what I accused him of was even remotely true. In fact, it was the complete opposite of the truth. But I was being very selfish. I wanted attention. I was hurting and I wanted someone to realize that I needed help.

Ok, so yes, asking for help probably would have been easier and much less painful. But, I can't ask for help. I don't know how. Well, I can... if I can't reach a bowl off the top shelf, or if I can't figure out how to operate the cordless skill saw - then I can ask for help. If I hurt myself or am too sick to do something for myself - I can ask for help. But when I'm emotionally - or worse, spiritually - in desperate need? Then, I'm an idiot.

 So, today I was feeling very sorry for myself. And very much feeling lower than low. I knew God wouldn't bother to help me. But, at the same time, I did recognize that I truly did need help. I just wasn't sure what is wrong with me. Why can't I ask for the help I need? In my apology to my friend, I expressed these questions and failings of mine.

I sent the email, and decided to check my blog stats. Oddly enough, I had several visits during the time I was writing my email - all to the same blog post. "Don't Help." This is one I wrote 9 months or so... and honestly I couldn't recall what it said. So I reread it - and immediately pictured God giving me a good Gibbs' slap.

This event was immediately followed by a friend posting something on Google+ about how God is still here for us, even when we don't realize we need Him. And how He is faithful even when we are faithless. And, Gibbs' slap again.

Then I read a couple incredible blog posts published today: Push Starting a Spiritual Life and Why Faith, Interrupted.  Slap! Slap!

 So yes, my day was filled with Gibbs' slaps. With God slaps.

God truly is here with us. He answers us. He gives us that very definitely smack upside the head when we're too stupid to realize He's here and He cares. So, what answers did he send my way? How does one learn to ask for help? Why is it so difficult for me to do so? How do I get around this and get the help I quite obviously and desperately need?

Growing up I learned that asking for help (even for physical needs) was a sign of weakness. And it was a symbol of trust, which was always broken. So - to ask for help you need to trust someone, but I learned not to trust ever. And, to ask for help was to say "Hey, I'm weak." Growing up in an abusive home, admitting weakness was pretty much a death sentence. For a while, I did pray to God for help, but the more my prayers seemed to go unanswered, the more I died spiritually.

So to summarize:
Asking for help = Trust + Weakness + Unanswered prayer
Trust = emotional death
Weakness = physical death
Unanswered prayers = spiritual death.

One doesn't need to be a mathematician to recognize that this equation does not equal rainbows, butterflies and giggles. 

Asking for Help for Dummies...errr... Beginners...

One of my biggest issues is asking for help when I don't really have a valid reason. My faith is low? Well, that's a stupid reason. I have a lot of issues going on? Who doesn't? I'm lost? ... ? so find yourself? I mean seriously, if I were to ask the pastor to meet with me because I need help, I really wouldn't even know what to say.

So, perhaps that is actually fear keeping me from asking? I don't want to look stupid. I know I need help but don't know why or in what way. Yup, dummy here.

Of course, it is fear. It's always been fear. Fear of being stupid. Fear of being hurt. Fear of someone pretending to care. Fear of opening myself up to someone and letting them see the pain held within.

Fear of someone seeing the evil inside me. The worthlessness. Fear of being cast aside. Fear of being drawn in. Fear fear fear.

I really have no answers. I still have not asked for that spiritual help. I know I need it. I know I need someone to sit with me and pray for me. I know I need some borrowed strength. But I don't have the strength to admit the weaknesses within me.

So I sit at this impasse, knowing the truth is there somewhere, but uncertain of what this is.

Who do you ask for help? And how? (Besides God) Am I the only one afraid to reach out for help?

The More Praying, the Better Heard?

"Because of [my daughter's] connections, we literally have people around the whole world praying for him."

I just heard this statement... as well as others... in regards to one woman's husband making it out of brain surgery relatively safely. He still has physical problems because of the health problem that warranted the surgery, and possibly from the surgery itself. But, the basic message was that he got well because he had the whole world praying for him - he had people from 20 different countries at least praying for him. All because his daughter is a missionary.

My father-in-law is dealing with terminal cancer. My husband is looking at choosing between killing another kidney or having his leg amputated (actually, he won't be given the choice most likely... he'll lose the leg). This woman's message, to me, says that the men in my life don't deserve and/or won't have their prayers answered. They don't have a missionary daughter. They don't have hundreds of thousands of people offering prayers for them.

Instead, they have a few very close, very wonderful, friends and family members crying and praying in earnest for these men whom they love.

Don't get me wrong... this other person has that as well. I am one praying for him. Although I do not know him very well, I have worked with his wife and one of their daughters. I know and adore his grand-kids. And the thought of them having to continue through life without him is heartbreaking to me.

My point, however...

Is it better to have 10,000 people throwing up a brief prayer for someone they don't know (you know the kind... "and please also be with...[commence reading from a list of 185 names]".... or 10 falling on their knees in sincere, heartfelt prayer?

Does it matter? Will God listen to the 10,000 over the 10? Will He answer the more He's hounded? Have we condemned our loved ones to death because we don't know thousands of people in dozens of countries?

Lord - Help Me Learn to Shut Up

In a couple of my previous posts, I’ve discussed prayer – what to pray and where. But there is still so much more to be said about this topic. Why is it such a lengthy and important topic? Because it is our one way of communicating with God. How important is your cell phone? Your email? You use these items to communicate with friends and loved ones. Imagine if you were unable to contact them… think of how lost you’d be. This is how it is with prayer. Prayer is our direct line to the Lord, and without it, we’d be lost.

I can’t really speak for anyone else – but I will tell a bit of how I used to be when it came to prayer… and how it appears to me that some other people often are. Prayer used to be a one-sided conversation for me. I would pray for something, and eventually I’d get an imagined reply. I’d assume God had answered me through actions and events, because God didn’t speak to me (as I said… the conversations were one sided). Let me give an example:

When I first started getting physically abused, I prayed a lot. I wanted it to stop… I wanted to know why it was happening. I didn’t feel I deserved the pain being inflicted on me. And during my prayers, I expressed this to God. I wanted God to give me what I deserved. That night, at around 2am, my mother drug me out of my bed by my hair, dragging me down the hallway, punching me. When my father tried to stop her, she told him “she’s your daughter… you deal with her.” He started kicking me.

As I lay in bed that night, bruised and bleeding, I (wrongly) realized that this had been God’s answer to my prayer. I had gotten what I deserved. I’m sure you can imagine the damage that realization… that answer from God… inflicted.

Now yes, this is an extreme example. But, how many of you have prayed and prayed… and “in response” something tragic (or at least not-so-good) happens. How many times have you said “It’s part of God’s plan,” or “God gave him what he deserves”? How much damage is this thought process inflicting on us? If your child came to you crying and said “I prayed to God for a puppy, and now my fish died”… would you tell him that this is God saying he’s not ready for a pet? Would you tell him God killed the fish because of something the child did or said? Basically, when we imagine God’s reply – especially when it is something tragic – we are causing damage to ourselves, to our loved ones, and most especially to our relationship with Christ.

Now granted, yes, it is entirely possible that these actions and events are an answer. But if we’re only having one-sided conversations with God, how can we know this?

So, how do you have a two-way conversation with God?

This is an excellent question. But, it isn’t an easy answer. It requires one thing many of us aren’t too skilled in…

Listening.

Actually, it takes two abilities… the ability to listen, and the ability to shut up. I am particularly bad at both.

So, how do we gain the needed skills? Practice. When you take your morning shower, talk to God. Speak to Him out loud if you want to. Tell him your plans for the day. Ask Him to guide you through the work day or school day or whatever you have going on. And then be silent, allowing the water to flow over you as you simply open your heart to him.

You may not recognize it right away – the first few times I felt it, I brushed it off as me just being “out of it”, but eventually you will come to feel… different. I can’t speak for anyone else, but for me… I feel happy and yet completely calm. Sometimes, I can feel tears rolling down my cheeks, but they aren’t tears of frustration or sorrow. They’re tears of a sudden, bursting, overwhelming, insane… peace. Joy. Comfort. I have an overflowing amount of wonderful thoughts dancing through my soul.

This is God speaking to me. This is God letting me know He is here.

God doesn’t always answer in the sense of saying “Ok, you screwed this up… here’s what to do to fix it.” Instead, God calms my chaotic thoughts and comforts my frightened soul and consoles my crying heart, to the point that quite often the answer is just suddenly clear.

And now this brings me to the next skill that is required for a good, effective, two-way communication with God. Trust.

When that calm surrounds you – don’t fight it. Trust in God. When those answers just suddenly appear in your mind out of nowhere – don’t brush them off. Trust in God. Accept the answers he places there for you.

And don’t forget to thank Him. Just as you would show your love and appreciation to a friend who helps you through a difficult time, show your love and appreciation to our Lord. Even if you didn’t feel that calm or get the answers the first time you prayed, still thank God for being with you, then try again. It takes time to learn to listen. 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your presence with me tonight, and always. I know I do not always listen to you with an open heart and open mind. I know I do not always follow the advice and wisdom you impart. Please help me to become better at listening to you and to what you want for me to do, and where you want me to go. Help me to learn to stop talking long enough to hear you. Help me to develop a more trusting and open relationship with you, through Christ my Savior and Lord.

In His name, Amen

Prayer in the Shower?

Last night, I discussed what I pray for. Tonight, I want to discuss when I pray. 

First, I want everyone to understand that I do not believe there is a specific or correct time to pray. Yes, there are some people who believe there is a correct time. Some religions teach this. Even Martin Luther believed there is a time in which to pray:  “It is a good thing to let prayer be the first business of the morning and the last at night.”

Many people make certain to cut aside a specific time of day for prayer. For some, this is first thing in the morning. They will read a devotional, and say a prayer before their busy day. For some, this is in the evening, before they lay down for sleep at night. And there truly is nothing wrong with this. It takes a great deal of self-discipline, and perhaps a bit of sacrifice, to be able to assure this set prayer time happens.

For me – with a disabled husband, and six children, and a full time job, and all the other craziness in my life…. And for the simple fact that I have no self-discipline… I find it very difficult to cut out a specific time. God gets prayers from me at random times throughout the day.

I often converse with God while I am walking to work in the morning, when the town is still and nature is so incredibly lovely and peaceful. I find this a perfect time and a perfect environment for prayer. How can we not pray and give thanks to the Lord when we are surrounded by such beauty created by Him?

I converse with Him again on my way home, although this is different. After 8 hours of intellectually challenging work, it’s difficult to notice the environment around me. This time, the prayer is more just a “oh thank you Lord for helping me make it through another day!” If I’m still frazzled and frustrated from the workday, I will often drop off my purse and coffee at home, then take a longer walk to brush off the workday, until I reach that point where I can truly focus my thoughts on the Lord.

One of my favorite times to pray is while I am showering. There is something about the water pouring over me, cleansing me, that brings me closer to Him. It is here where I will trace a cross on my forehead. It is here where I will allow the tears to flow should they need to. It is here I have the most intimate conversations with God.

I tend to pray again at night, right after I climb under the covers. I’ve even fallen asleep conversing with God (sorry Lord!). And, I will pray at random other times throughout the day as I find necessary… or as I feel God speaking to me.

And, one of the most important times I pray…?

How many times has someone called you, or emailed you, or posted on Facebook or Google+, asking you to please pray for someone? How many times have you replied “Oh yes, I will be sure to pray for him/her!”? How many times have you followed through with that?

For me…. When someone requests this of me, I drop what I am doing right then and there and take a few seconds to throw a prayer up to heaven. I don’t wait until a specific time – I know I’d forget to include that person in my prayers if I wait. So I do it immediately. It only takes a few moments.

God doesn’t mind those quick calls –

“God, please be with…”

“Thank you Lord for this weather!”

“Praise to you Lord for this miracle!”

“God please grant me peace…”

One thing I have heard of, but have not done yet myself – drop everything and offer to pray right at that moment with the person making the request. I think this is a fabulous idea.

I don’t believe the when makes a difference, so long as we all cut out time to have these conversations with our Lord. God gives us so much – even when it feels we have nothing. Cutting out time throughout our day to remember this is the least we can do.

What works for you? When do you pray?

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for taking the time to be here for me whenever I call on you. Please continue to be with me throughout my day, and continue to bless me with the ever-present proof of your existence and presence. Hear my words in the early hours of the morning, when all is still and peaceful and full of beauty. Hear me in the evening when the chaos of the day is weighing on me. Be with me as I allow your Spirit to cleanse me. And be with me as I lay my head to rest with your name upon my lips.

In Jesus’ name, Amen