Prayerful Expectations

I journal almost every day.  Even on days when I honestly can’t think of anything to write.  There are days I can’t wait to fill up the blank page and other days, I just stare at it and struggle to come up with even a sentence.  So why do I write on those days?  Because it’s good discipline for me.  I struggle with discipline and routine and I thrive on variety and change!  Though change is good and adds spice to my life, discipline and routine are the things that help me to grow and be the best at I can be.  So, those days when my small journal page seems like it is 50 feet long, I purposely put my pen to paper. 

I start out with a lot of “surface” stuff (the weather and what I ate for breakfast) and then I find as I write that my words are coming from something deeper.  I realize there is a lot more going on inside of me then I thought.  I also find it is God’s sneaky way of getting me to open up to him.  He knows that I tend to stay on the surface with our conversations a lot of times so as I write about the weather and last night’s casserole, He starts to speak to my heart and the next thing I know, I’m telling Him things I wasn’t even aware of myself and that page gets filled up really fast.  My potentially useless journal entry becomes a heart-felt prayer/conversation with my beloved Father.  I imagine a sly smile on His face when that happens. 

Prayer is like that for me at times.  I don’t always feel like having the conversation, but when I choose to discipline myself to spend some precious moments in prayer I get so much more than I put in and that puts a smile on MY face.

Please spend some time with God right now.  I can guarantee that you will get so much more than you were expecting!

“By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.”  Psalm 42:8

“May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” Psalm 141:2

Blessings,

Lisa

Refreshment

The lazy days of summer are winding down and as we head into our normal business, I want to ”re-share” a Worship Moment I wrote a few years ago with you.

The other night as I sat outside with my daughter and enjoyed the cooler breeze, the dancing fireflies, and the playful light from the kerosene lantern, I couldn’t help but praise God in my heart for such a glorious moment!  I just didn’t want it to end!  Have you ever felt that way?  Do you wish you could put those experiences in a bottle so you can get them out to savor over and over again?  I completely embrace those times because they seem to be so rare.  I purposefully refuse to think about the paper work that needs to be done, the dirty dishes sitting on the counter, or the crickets that need to be caught for the lizard.  (What?  Are we the only ones that do that?)  I choose to immerse myself in the moment.  It’s one of those times where I am aware of God’s pleasure and his desire to fill me up with every good thing. I feel like every day God is creating special moments for us and we are so busy and focused with our own agendas that we miss out.  

I am reminded of the time when God provided manna when the Israelites were in the desert.  He provided all they needed, but they had to get out of the tent to retrieve and receive it.  God provides all sorts of “manna” for us but so often we are too self-absorbed to notice and receive it.  We refuse to get out of the tent. 

Today, give yourself permission to take the time to notice what God has created for you.  Get out of your tent!  Watch the bunnies chase each other in the yard.  Notice the spectacular colors of the sunset or sunrise.  Listen to the myriad of bird song in the trees.  Enjoy the sweet fragrance of fresh roses that some kind friend brought.  Ponder and reflect on God’s Word.  Don’t rush.  Don’t try to just get through.  Let this day be one of re-discovery.  Open your heart and mind to God’s refreshment so that when he beckons us to do his work throughout the day we are ready and filled up to overflowing.


 “… And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)

Worshiping with you today,

Lisa

The "Lettuce" Passage

Hey Fellow Worshipers! 

                “...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies      washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:22-25 (NIV)

I call this portion in Hebrews 10 the “lettuce” passage.

Vs. 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings...

Vs. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Vs. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,...

Vs. 25 (let us) not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing...

Vs. 25 (let us) encourage one another... 

I encourage you today to draw near to God, hold unswervingly to our Hope, consider spurring someone on today, meet with a fellow believer, and find ways to encourage those around you for “we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved”. (vs. 39)

Worshiping with you today,

Lisa

That "Old Country Buffet" feeling!

Have you ever had that “Old Country Buffet” feeling?  That’s what our family calls it when we’ve eaten so much we almost feel sick.  The feeling we always got after eating at Old Country Buffet (or ANY buffet for that matter).  I know, you would think we would learn to restrain ourselves after the first time, but it’s a buffet!  You have to try everything and get your money’s worth, right?  Anyway, as we patted our bloated bellies and groaned at just the thought of food, we would always say we wouldn’t have to eat for a week.  Well, we all know that didn’t happen.  In spite of our gluttony the day before, we were hungry and needing nourishment the next day.  Just the memory of the feast before couldn’t control the hunger or give our bodies the needed energy for our minds and body to perform properly.  Yet, we expect that to happen in our spiritual life.  We go to church on Sunday for worship, fellowship, teaching, etc...a spiritual buffet.  We load up on spiritual things and expect it to last us the whole week.  Charles Ringma says, “In our busy serving we often attempt to live off of the memory of God’s presence and grace and not out of the present reality of God’s nurture and care.”  My prayer for us today is to live off of the present reality of God’s nurture and care”.  Just like our physical bodies, our spirit needs daily nourishment and the best part is that God will give us all we need (2 Peter 1:3, Phil. 4:19); we just need to go to Him.  Beth Moore said something to the fact that God supplies the manna.  We just need to get out of the tent to collect it. (My paraphrase)

Collecting manna with you today,

Lisa

What I learned from Ezekiel

I have been reading, “The Soul’s Quest for God” by R.C. Sproul.  In Chapter two, Sproul writes about the importance of God’s Word.  He used examples of Ezekiel’s life and God’s instructions to Him to emphasize his point.  This is what I learned I’ve learned from Ezekiel......

1.  I must make sure that I make time for personal preparation...

                “Son of man, let all my words sink deep into your own heart first.  Listen to them carefully                  for yourself.  Then go...” (Ezekiel 3:10-11a)

       

         Notice, God says to let His words penetrate.  Don’t just brush by them.  I found it interesting         that He emphasizes the fact the Word needed to penetrate Ezekiel’s heart FIRST, before God                released Him to prophesy to others.  Some of us are so quick to answer and speak before we                really know what we’re talking about.  I must make time for personal preparation. 

2.  Commitment to studying the word, allowing it to digest, and letting it become every part of me...

                “Son of man, eat what I am giving you-eat this scroll.  Then go...” (Ezekiel 3:1)

                What a great picture!  I’m not sure how many times in Ezekiel that God told him to eat the                  words or eat the scroll.  God even goes so far to tell him to digest it.  (NLT version) God                      made it plain that before Ezekiel was ready for service to God he had to completely absorb                 God’s words. They had to become a part of him.  It was only after Ezekiel “ate” the scrolls                   that God told him to go.  Again, I am reminded of patient preparation.  This is hard for a                     “storm the mountain” girl like me to take in!

3.  Obedience to God no matter the circumstances or the outcome...

                “Son of man, do not fear them or their words.  Don’t be afraid even though their threats                 surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions.  Do not be dismayed by their                      dark scowls, even though they are rebels.  You must give them my messages whether they                    listen or not.” (Ezekiel 2:6-7)

                Wow!  I think of the Nike slogan, “Just Do It!”.  God is saying, “Do what I say no matter                    what the outcome.  Just be obedient to me.  I’ll take care of everything else.”  I don’t know                  how many   times I don’t do something I think God wants me to do because I don’t think it                  will matter, make change, or have a positive outcome.  However, I’ll jump at the chance to                  obey if it means something great will probably happen, or to be brutally honest, if it will                      make ME look good.

4. Recognize the Holy Spirit’s role in my life...

                “Then the Spirit lifted me...” (Ezekiel Chapter 2:2, 3:12, 14, 24,...)

                Ezekiel says it over and over again.  In Chapter 1 verse 28 Ezekiel was so astounded by                        what God was showing him that he fell face down on the ground.  A voice told him to get                    up.  Ezekiel says     the Spirit came into him and set him on his feet.  Ezekiel was                                  powerless.  The Spirit had to help him obey.  I had to ask myself, first of all, how many                       times am I so astounded by God that I am left helpless on the ground? I’m ashamed to say,                   not enough.  Then I had to ask, how many times do I first make sure I am aware of the Holy                 Spirit doing all of the work?  Or am I just getting in the way? Again, I tend to take all the                     credit. (I am realizing that this reflection time is NOT making me feel very good about                         myself!)

I don’t know if any of you struggle with these same issues.  Lack of personal preparation; lack of fully absorbing God’s Words, not being obedient in ALL things, and trying to do it all on my own without the Spirit’s help or even acknowledging it on those good days that I’m aware of it!  

However, in spite of my impulsive nature, childish behavior, and ego I’m so thankful that God has chosen to make me his daughter and allows me to help Him in His Kingdom work.  What an awesome God we have!  The Great I AM!  

Worshiping with you today,

Lisa

PS. Check out the song, “Great I Am”, by New Life Worship

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5CWGi82N7k