Not just today, but everyday people are praying. You don’t hear about it on the news, but it is happening, all across our land. You don’t hear about churches going out into the community feeding the homeless, finding them shelter, hitting the streets with the Good News, taking care of orphans and widows. They are the hands and feet of Jesus, living in the Spirit following His lead sometimes at great personal sacrifice. There are those of us who enter the daily trenches, praying under our breath all the while, living out our faith to others, being a light in the darkness, doing the best we can. And there are those raising children at home, making hard choices, doing the right thing when nobody sees. There are the persecuted Christians being martyred all over the world for their faith, you don’t hear about them either. Still they pray, still they meet, adding members daily. There are those in the land of shadows, helping people with AIDs die, educating their children so they might have half a chance. Here in America we can still worship without fear, and I pray it will always be so……Join me in prayer for our country today.
He sees you…..
Don’t think I don’t see you,
I feel your pain rolling out of bed in the morning.
I am as close as your breath
“You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.” Psalm 139:3
I see you making your way into the kitchen blindly for that
first cup….
I see you getting ready for work, presenting your best self.
Crisp, clean, ready as you’ll ever be
to face the day….exuding outward confidence,
but I know you are quaking inside.
“O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.” Psalm 139:1
Don’t think I don’t know.
I am nearer than your next prayer
I know about that speech, that presentation, that project
that irate caller, I know what you face.
I know you feel unprepared, but remember:
There is nothing that comes up today that I am unprepared for,
that you and I can’t handle together.
So today, when you feel My Presence, know this…..
I am with you, in fact I have already been there!
“You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5
I see your courage, I see your dedication.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed.
I am with you my child, in every moment of the day.
I love you….
I felt led today to focus on workers outside the home today, (I know there are many working just as hard inside the home.) Since I have been off work, I have had a new appreciation for those who get up and fight the daily commute, since right now I don’t have to. The days are flying by and soon I will be joining them again….
Multitude Mondays
Lifting my Gratitude today for what the Word does in my life!
#291 When I lose my way, it brings me back to the right road: Proverbs 3:6……#292 It gives me clarity of mind, important for someone like me who tends to over-analyze things to death: 2 Timothy 1:7….#293 It draws me close to the Lord because I know those are His living words: Hebrews 4:12….#294 It brings peace when my soul can’t seem to rest: Psalm 119:165…..
#295 It gives me strength and assurance that He is with me at all times: Hebrews 13:5…..#296 It causes me to grow and makes me better able to handle stressful situations: Romans 10:13-17….#297 It keeps my eyes focused on eternity and it exposes my inability to do what it says on my own: John 15:26….#298, for without Him it would be impossible: Matthew 19:26 #299 It exposes things in my life that ordinarily I would not see a need to change: 2 Timothy 3:16….#300 I am blessed when I read it! Revelations 1:3
It is set apart from every other book on earth and it does what no other book can do because it is alive, filled with the very breath of God!
When I try to live without it, I sink fast!
Keeping the gratitude alive, along with Ann and many others….
God’s Adventure Club
“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,” he used to say. “You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to. J.R.R. Tolkien
The magic of a new day, a trail untried, the magical bend in the curve, the mystery of not knowing where it goes, the hope of new adventure, the challenge of not letting go of the great mystery that is life. Sometimes it is not easy to remember that we are all a part of God’s grand scheme of things. 
Greer, Arizona
I pray that we can see a glimmer of eternity in the little everyday moments today, capture them and hold them close for we have no certainty that they will come again. These times are dear, every last one, for each of them takes us nearer and nearer to our future forever home.
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
The joy of creating
“Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
Sometimes all we need to do to find peace is to go back to that one activity we have loved to do from an early age. You know what it is…..the one that makes you smile without even realizing it, the one that makes you forget everything else, the one where you find yourself whistling or humming along with it.
It could be re-painting a fence, digging in the garden, puttering in the shop, baking cookies….But this simple thing, when lifted up to God can become an act of worship, consecrated, blessed. Then when we do it for someone else He smiles because He knows we have found the secret.
It is healing, it is cleansing, it is good for the soul. It is the joy of simple work.
When we create, God joins in. He can’t help it, it is part of His character and ours and it is how the whole world started! My act of worship today will be chocolate chip cookies…..I will send them with a prayer and a smile, knowing a bit of God’s love goes along with them.
What act of creation brings you joy today?
Earthen Vessels
“For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.” 2 Corinthians 4:7
“What do you do when you are always comparing yourself with other people? What do you do when you always feel that the people you talk to, hear of, or read about are more intelligent, more skillful, more attractive, more gentle, more generous, more practical, or more contemplative that you are? What do you do when you can’t get away from measuring yourself against others, always feeling that they are the real people while you are a nobody or even less than that?” Henri J. M. Nouwen, Genesee Diary
Sometimes I am surprised to know that successful people who have accomplished what I consider great things have the same feelings I have and I confess, it makes me feel better! Sometimes I feel like I have two selves, one that I concieve in my mind, the way I would like to be and react to people and things, and the real one, the one I actually see living my life. It’s crazy. Sometimes being human makes you feel crazy.
I open my Bible for a sanity check, I need God’s reality not my own. I read: “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12 and then in verse 18, “For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.”
Our world system is set up to disappoint us. It is a system masterminded by the enemy and will throw us into turmoil every time. There is always another who is smarter, better looking, more talented, one who does everything wrong and still gets rewarded, even one who seems be be more favored by God. But God’s kingdom has knocked Satan’s system off it axis for good. Everytime we try to live by that “old” system we get discouraged.
So today I bring you Good News…..you are a unique individual fashioned by God Himself and you are perfect! Nobody can do the things you do exactly the way you do them! Don’t fight the Potter, praise Him for His excellent workmanship instead! He has given us the honor of placing His precious Holy Spirit in our humble vessel, this humble clay jug, filled with Heaven’s light.
Forgive me, Lord for comparing myself to anyone else!
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14
The Bible, fair and balanced….
I read a fictional book recently called Shades of Blue by Karen Kingsbury. The story revolved around two young people haunted by a decision made when they were young, one with dire consequences. Now years down the road, both are trapped by the past and can’t seem to move on. One couldn’t forgive herself and the one who abandoned her in her time of need, and the other refused to accept his responsibility so he buried his secret and hid behind an image he wanted the world to see. As a result they both lost their faith in God because they both blamed Him as well. Isn’t that just like human nature?
He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” Genesis 3:10
We all have a past, and God knows all about it! “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1
Does that mean we are automatically sinless from that point on? No, we will fail because we still have that old sin nature we fight with, but thankfully, now we have the Holy Spirit who is stronger than that “old nature.” That’s why the Apostle Paul says this: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12,13
Note that he said, “work out”, not “work for.” The more I read and study the Bible I am amazed at just how perfectly balanced it is. It resonates with hope! We no longer have to dwell on the past, we can embrace our future with confidence, knowing we are forgiven. When God looks at me, He sees Jesus!
Our future home…..
Grounds, Mt. Angel Abbey, St. Benedict, Oregon
What is the thing you most look forward to about Heaven, other than eternally being in God’s presence? For me, I think it is that there will be a sense of being totally “complete.” There will be a sense of rightness about it all. In this life we are always confronted with something that is just not fair, not right; there is a sense of something out of balance, even when things are right in our world, they are wrong for someone else.
I know people who are extremely happy about the immigration bill that just passed and some who are extremely upset by it. Some think it is “just” and some think it is “unjust.” Until we get to Heaven that is our reality on this earth. But here is true justice, there is a way we can all go to Heaven, because God is just!
Jesus made it possible. He took all that was wrong and made it right, permanently. This is not wishful thinking this is fact……”And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:3
Lord, I pray for people to find hope in You today. Circumstances change, but You never do. Thank you for the light of Your Word and Your Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth, comforts us in our distress and magnifies our joy. I pray that where there is confusion and darkness, Your light will shine forth as the noonday sun! In Jesus name, Amen.
Water and the Word…..
I continue counting blessings today…..
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth, and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater…… #282
so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. #283
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. #284
Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.” Isaiah 55:10-13 #285
Not too long ago I read a commentary over at Musings of a Minister about these passages that really deepened the meaning of this Scripture for me, so thank you Cliff! Hop over here to read it! So many times reading this passage I thought of it only in terms of God’s word going out and producing fruit, but the deeper meaning is that God is comparing the word to water that permeates the ground that nourishes all of creation. It is in all and through all. So that everything we see is part of that Living Word “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1 #286
So today, I lift my gratitude to God for His Word, the more I read it the more it comes alive to me. Behind every desert bloom, and every sunrise it speaks for those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. Thank you Lord, for without You I never would have seen it!
#287 Cool mornings, #288 quail’s plaintive cry through open windows, #289 the bloom of new life in the desert, #290 taking God along on my morning walk!
Keeping the gratitude alive, along with Ann and many others….
All photos provided by Google….
Sometimes silence is best
Went out to dinner last night and three young people came in and were seated close by. One of the guys proceeded to talk non-stop for a solid hour about himself and his particular way of eating. It was obvious that he thought his way was superior than everyone else’s and it seemed like he was trying to convince his audience of two, well, four if you count my friend and I. He proceeded to tell them about the evils of things like red meat, as his friend, unfazed, went ahead and ordered a rare steak.
It was an interesting evening.
Have you ever went out with someone and had them talk non-stop about themselves?
“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” Proverbs 17:28
Lori's Prayer Closet 