A prayer from March 2, 2008
This evening saw tornadoes in the OKC area. Thank you, Lord, for the protection You provide. It is an awesome power that a tornado displays. Yet, it is only a drop of the power that You hold. It is amazing and fascinating to watch. A tornado can capture your attention and keep it. Thank you, Lord, that I've never been in a tornado.
Watching the video on the news just captured my thoughts. I couldn't look away for fear of missing something. Lord, I want to look at You in that same way. I want to see Your awesome power and holiness. I want to be captured and captivated by Your presence so much that I can't bear to look away for fear of missing something awesome. You deserve my complete attention.
Help me to see You in everything. Thank You for what You do that I never acknowledge. Forgive me for glancing past even the smallest miracle. You are incredible, powerful, true, just and perfect. I cannot understand it all. I accept it anyway. Now, dear Lord, help me to rest. This prayer I utter with the groaning desires of my heart in Jesus name alone. Amen.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Bumpy Monday - Breath and Challenge (06/06/08)
Well, it's almost time to get back into regular work activities. I'm thankful for the job that I have even though I don't always treat it honorably. There are times when I just get tired of getting up and going to the stress each day. This week I'm looking forward to addressing a couple of items that have been hanging on for quite some time. I'm sure there will be other things that interfere with the primary plans but I'll be seeking a singular focus from God in order to do the job He gave me for His glory.
Today's God Moment happened as I began praying for this week's work activities. God reminded me that He has the power over it all. And when I dwell on that thought, I recall that He has the power over my next hearbeat. He and He alone has given me breath. Just as He give power to the stars to light the night sky. How awesome.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10)
Our pastor challenged us today to live our life pure as if we know that Jesus is returning for His church at a set time some few hours in the future. God is good and will help when His children ask. There are times when I'm comfortable and don't consider how soon the return might be. Yet, I long for Christ to come. He has promised that we won't have the same struggles in heaven as we have on this earth. I desire that struggle free time. I desire the time when I can praise and honor with abandon knowing that the world and this flesh no longer have influence on me.
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:9)
Thanks for listening.
Today's God Moment happened as I began praying for this week's work activities. God reminded me that He has the power over it all. And when I dwell on that thought, I recall that He has the power over my next hearbeat. He and He alone has given me breath. Just as He give power to the stars to light the night sky. How awesome.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. (Job 12:10)
Our pastor challenged us today to live our life pure as if we know that Jesus is returning for His church at a set time some few hours in the future. God is good and will help when His children ask. There are times when I'm comfortable and don't consider how soon the return might be. Yet, I long for Christ to come. He has promised that we won't have the same struggles in heaven as we have on this earth. I desire that struggle free time. I desire the time when I can praise and honor with abandon knowing that the world and this flesh no longer have influence on me.
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. (Revelation 19:9)
Thanks for listening.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Encouraging Words: Kind
Let's use an encouraging word today. Share it with someone you love, with a co-worker, with a friend, with a clerk at the store, or with a complete stranger anywhere.
Kind - benevolent, compassionate, and humane.
Try these also... warm, loving, altruistic, charitable, caring, responsive, tender, sympathetic, merciful, tolerant, affable, amiable, cordial, polite
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Garden Lessons: Control
There are many things our garden has taught us this year. From the early days of trying to start the plants to the times of putting them out to the small harvest gleaned, we've gained knowledge. However, the one thing that stands out to me right now about our garden is control.
My awesome husband put a sprinkler system in so that the garden would always have water. That has worked really well. It "rains" on our garden every other day for about 30 minutes early in the morning. Has that helped our plants produce? Do we have an overflowing abundant crop of tomatoes? Are the squash coming out our ears? Are we leaving corn on everyone's porch? Are we selling our peppers to the local restaurants? I don't think so.
Our part of the country is gripped in a massive heat wave. It is oppressive. The temperatures are in excess of 100 degrees early in the day and continue that way through the night. It is tiresome. The grass is dry and crispy so that our dog can hardly walk on it. It is severe. We eagerly look to the skies for some indication that there might be some rain. It is relentless. It hurts us. It hurts our garden.
So, even with the sprinkler system running regularly, the garden shows the stress of being in the drought and heat. Grasshoppers have decimated the corn. Squash bugs are on everything. Potato bugs are on the eggplant. There aren't any bugs on the hot pepper plants, nor are there many peppers. Honeybees are rare visitors to our garden.
Ultimately, it has shown me that even when I think I can control things, I cannot. I still HAVE to rely on God for the increase. I can do my part to till the earth (prepare my heart), to plant the seed (read His Word), to water the plants (read His Word and pray), and to care for the plants (watch my tongue, etc) but the increase comes from Him. I can be doing everything right but still not have a good harvest.
(Father God, I thank you for the harvest that has come. It is an abundant bounty from you but may seem small in the eyes of the world. Lord, it is more than we had and that makes it abundant. I pray for relief from this gripping heat. Thank you. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)
My awesome husband put a sprinkler system in so that the garden would always have water. That has worked really well. It "rains" on our garden every other day for about 30 minutes early in the morning. Has that helped our plants produce? Do we have an overflowing abundant crop of tomatoes? Are the squash coming out our ears? Are we leaving corn on everyone's porch? Are we selling our peppers to the local restaurants? I don't think so.
Our part of the country is gripped in a massive heat wave. It is oppressive. The temperatures are in excess of 100 degrees early in the day and continue that way through the night. It is tiresome. The grass is dry and crispy so that our dog can hardly walk on it. It is severe. We eagerly look to the skies for some indication that there might be some rain. It is relentless. It hurts us. It hurts our garden.
So, even with the sprinkler system running regularly, the garden shows the stress of being in the drought and heat. Grasshoppers have decimated the corn. Squash bugs are on everything. Potato bugs are on the eggplant. There aren't any bugs on the hot pepper plants, nor are there many peppers. Honeybees are rare visitors to our garden.
Ultimately, it has shown me that even when I think I can control things, I cannot. I still HAVE to rely on God for the increase. I can do my part to till the earth (prepare my heart), to plant the seed (read His Word), to water the plants (read His Word and pray), and to care for the plants (watch my tongue, etc) but the increase comes from Him. I can be doing everything right but still not have a good harvest.
(Father God, I thank you for the harvest that has come. It is an abundant bounty from you but may seem small in the eyes of the world. Lord, it is more than we had and that makes it abundant. I pray for relief from this gripping heat. Thank you. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Encouraging Words: Joyful
Let's use an encouraging word today. Share it with someone you love, with a co-worker, with a friend, with a clerk at the store, or with a complete stranger anywhere.
Joyful - expressing or feeling intense happiness or pleasure.
Try these also... glad, happy, thrilled, joyous, lighthearted, buoyant, effervescent, expansive, pleasured, ecstatic, sparkling, bubbling
Joyful - expressing or feeling intense happiness or pleasure.
Try these also... glad, happy, thrilled, joyous, lighthearted, buoyant, effervescent, expansive, pleasured, ecstatic, sparkling, bubbling
Friday, July 15, 2011
Encouraging Words
I've decided I want to have more encouraging words in my vocabulary. I know there are a bunch already there but I may have forgotten one or two along the way of living. So, for Saturday entries in my blog, I'm going to have "Encouraging Words."
I found these words on a set of scrapbooking cards by Autumn Leaves. There is an encouraging word for each letter of the alphabet. The only problem is that I couldn't find the ones for A-I. I've only got the ones for J-Z. :(
But that's okay, I have another list that I can use to cover those letters. :) The definitions come from my Webster's Quick Reference Dictionary Notebook.
(Father God, thank you for the encouraging words that you provide in scripture. I pray that you will use these words to bless others. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)
I found these words on a set of scrapbooking cards by Autumn Leaves. There is an encouraging word for each letter of the alphabet. The only problem is that I couldn't find the ones for A-I. I've only got the ones for J-Z. :(
But that's okay, I have another list that I can use to cover those letters. :) The definitions come from my Webster's Quick Reference Dictionary Notebook.
(Father God, thank you for the encouraging words that you provide in scripture. I pray that you will use these words to bless others. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Gravel Road, Paved Road
My husband and I live in the city. It's not a huge city and it's close to the country but it is still "in town." We have a small garden spot about 12 miles from our house because our lot is too small to have a garden on it. In order to get to the garden, we travel on paved roads and gravel roads.
Several days ago as we were happily traveling along, the gravel road shook us. Now, our little Ford Escape has been a tremendous blessing and we appreciate the job that it does for us. As we traveled down the gravel road, our Escape groaned and worked and squeaked and rattled and labored. The noise filled our ears like the roar of much rushing water. We gritted our teeth and finally reached our destination.
We quickly checked the squash plants for bugs. Ugh. We harvested a few tomatoes. We observed the jalapeno peppers developing. We lamented the lack of blooms on our okra. We were surprised by the sunflower that had blossomed. We dusted the corn in an effort to cut down on worms and fertilized everything for the first time this season. We labored. No, it was not intensive labor but we worked. Then, it was time to head back home.
We gritted our teeth as the Escape groaned, worked, squeaked, rattled and labored back down the gravel road. Again, the noise filled our ears nearly drowning out everything else. Then one final section of rough gravel and we were on the pavement. And the silence was deafening. No more groaning, no more squeaking, no more rattle, there was just the quiet hum of the tires.
As we traveled I reflected on it all. When our lives are on a gravel, bumpy, washed-out path, do we squeak and rattle and groan to God? Then, when our lives are on the smooth path, are we silent? Sadly, I could only answer the questions with, "Yes." When trials and tests come our way, we spend many hours in prayer telling God what we want and asking Him to fix everything. But when things are going the way we want, we don't take the time to talk with Him at all.
(Father God, please forgive me when I forget that you are the provider of the smooth path. Help me to remember you in the good times and to thank you for them during them. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.)
Several days ago as we were happily traveling along, the gravel road shook us. Now, our little Ford Escape has been a tremendous blessing and we appreciate the job that it does for us. As we traveled down the gravel road, our Escape groaned and worked and squeaked and rattled and labored. The noise filled our ears like the roar of much rushing water. We gritted our teeth and finally reached our destination.
We quickly checked the squash plants for bugs. Ugh. We harvested a few tomatoes. We observed the jalapeno peppers developing. We lamented the lack of blooms on our okra. We were surprised by the sunflower that had blossomed. We dusted the corn in an effort to cut down on worms and fertilized everything for the first time this season. We labored. No, it was not intensive labor but we worked. Then, it was time to head back home.
We gritted our teeth as the Escape groaned, worked, squeaked, rattled and labored back down the gravel road. Again, the noise filled our ears nearly drowning out everything else. Then one final section of rough gravel and we were on the pavement. And the silence was deafening. No more groaning, no more squeaking, no more rattle, there was just the quiet hum of the tires.
As we traveled I reflected on it all. When our lives are on a gravel, bumpy, washed-out path, do we squeak and rattle and groan to God? Then, when our lives are on the smooth path, are we silent? Sadly, I could only answer the questions with, "Yes." When trials and tests come our way, we spend many hours in prayer telling God what we want and asking Him to fix everything. But when things are going the way we want, we don't take the time to talk with Him at all.
(Father God, please forgive me when I forget that you are the provider of the smooth path. Help me to remember you in the good times and to thank you for them during them. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.)
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