Prayer Moves God

Year 6-Day 61: Today, I am grateful prayer moves God. 

Let me be clear, it does not and will not make God a genie in a bottle awaiting our best three wishes or Santa looking at His naughty and nice list. Our God is mighty, holy, righteous, thundering at times, all powerful and omnipotent. 

Humans are his soft spot. He designed us with the ability to love Him back and he can be moved by prayers that in line with His character, His truth, His will and the His big picture. Our lives are a part of that story, as we accept or reject Him, but God genuinely hears our prayers. 

"When you pray, real things happen that wouldn't have happened if you hadn't. Your prayers move the hand of God." -John Piper

When we pray for wealth, fortune or fame, we are missing the mark. When we pray for the widows, the orphans, the slaves, the ill, the broken, the addicted and the bitter people... he moves in the midst of our prayers. More time in prayer, makes us more sensitive to the "audible voice of God" that we can hear in our heads. Sometimes, it is startling. 

A little over a year ago... a special prayer was placed heavy on my heart to claim a particular child for adoption into the safe haven of a Jesus loving home, to live and grow up treasured and protected. It was scary to do that, and share it. What if I misunderstood - or their outcome was disappointing? Still, I had no rest until I jumped fully on the prayer wagon and gathered some amazing warriors for the ride. Amazingly enough, there were others who had the same seed and prayer planted in their hearts, too. They were already there. When we pray together, God moves mountains. Even bigger than mountains... the social justice system.  The wait is not over... but very, very close. Stay tuned. 

Warriors on their knees in gratitude, submission and offering up their lives to His service are game changers. When we come together, His Spirit is present, too. 

"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” -Matthew 18:19-20

In this high tech age... we can gather in cyberspace to pray and seek God's hand of intervention in whatever storm arises. It has happened several times this week. What an honor to join in prayer with brothers and sisters nearby and around the world!  Remember, his spirit hovers over the earth. No place is to dark or two deep for His hand to reach or His ear to hear. 

Never take the power of prayer for granted or flippantly. Some days in my human weakness, I fall into the "Talking about it more than I've prayed about it" zone. It is a shameful place, but it is real for me. I need to bend the knee and raise the prayer and wait more patiently at times. 

Still, His grace floods my days with goodness I can't even count. He is faithful and hears our prayers. Even over all these many generations of believers. He still longs for one to come to him for the first time in belief and surrender... so He can restore all that is shattered and broken. He is so very good. 

Today, I am grateful  prayer still moves God. 

Cute Wellies

Artwork from Pinterest: Carol Belleau

Year 6-Day 60: Today, I am grateful for cute wellies... galoshes... or rubber boots. 

This image delighted me today. March has arrived. Like a lion or a lamb... it will come and go as the seasons. One thing we can be sure of in the Midwest, is a little rain. Okay, sometimes it pours. 

I recently found some really cute red rubber boots. I've discovered that they put a little happy into my rainy days. They keep my feet dry and are a bit stylish with bit of a heel and polka dot lining inside. Honestly, any rubber boots that fit and don't leak are a blessing. 

The rains have already begun here. The water levels are high. Some have battled the water in basements, but in Illinois, we like our basements for the safety they provide as tornado season is upon us. 

We can't control the weather, but we can choose our galoshes carefully and our attitudes. I love the British term, "wellies". They sound like friends, and indeed they are.  

Carol Belleau has some Bible Journaling pages on Pinterest. This image is hers, but I have saved it to pages I want to make. The scripture is from Deuteronomy 11. It reminds of of God's watch over us in all seasons. It clearly states the importance of obedience to His commandments. 

"Rather, the land you will soon take over is a land of hills and valleys with plenty of rain— a land that the Lord your God cares for. He watches over it through each season of the year!


“If you carefully obey the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil." -Deuteronomy 11:11-14

Jesus echoes these words often in the New Testament.

"Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind." -Matthew 22:37 

Jesus ... God taking on man's skin... had experienced the weather of all seasons and knew that sometimes we must endure the seasons. Some are glorious and others are hard. When the ground is dry, how our hearts dances watching the rain pour down to renew the life that is struggling with thirst. Attitude and perspective make a difference, even when it rains. 

Since we cannot control the weather, and frankly, I would not want that job... we can choose how we respond to the weather. When it rains, choose the rubber boots. If it matters to you, make them cute ones. Celebrate the protection from the rain and the earth that is quenching its thirst. 

Today, I am grateful for cute wellies... galoshes... or rubber boots. 

No Fear of the Dark

Year 6-Day 59: Today, I am grateful we don't have to be afraid of the dark.

Times are changing. In truth, I don't know that people have changed all that much, just the avenues of expression with modern technology. When darkness lies in the human heart, it strikes out when given the opportunity. There is free will... but on the other side, there is power and hope.

It all goes back to a bad decision in a garden. A pride and arrogance that grew out of listening to the voice of the serpent. Free will was a gift uniquely given, but it came with great responsibility to trust the truth that on tree was forbidden. It was for their own good to avoid that tree. They did for a season. Then, at Satan's suggestion, they began to doubt God. They abandoned trusting His word or his truth. Everything changed. 

The battle between good and evil is not just theology. It is real. We can look around and see that truth. On this last day of "Love Month", I am reminded that we are in the season called Lent. The forty days before Easter, when we celebrate a love that was willing to step down from heaven and fight the biggest battle of all. The battle over our death sentence caused by sin.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23 (NLT)

I love that in the newer translations with more scholars to dig up the gems from the original Greek and Hebrew texts, free is emphasized. It is not a double negative. Some gifts have strings attached. Not this one, the free gift of God  is eternal life through Jesus. No need to fear death. He shed light into our darkness and changed everything. 

"I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark." -John 12:46 (NLT) 

We don't have to fear the dark. I find that the listening to too much news makes me crazy. I like to get a "snapshot" to know what is going on in the world, but unless my hands and feet can help, obsessing over the dark in the world builds anxiety. We need to be educated and help where we can. We need to pray for our leaders and protectors. We can lift our hearts to the throne of God, knowing that he hears our cries. 

We no longer remain in the dark, when we call on His name. He sheds light in our darkness. Sheds is a perfect word. If you have ever had a pet that sheds? It is everywhere, even long after the pet is gone. The price of Christ blood and the essence of his love sheds into our struggles and breaks the chains. (Good morning earworm, "Chainbreaker" is the song of the morning.)

"All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us." -Revelation 1:5 (NLT)

Imagine that kind of shedding of light. It conquers darkness every time. One small match or candle flame disperses the darkest night. Every time.  

Every time. 

Today, I am grateful we don't have to be afraid of the dark.

Love In Action

Year 6-Day 58: Today, I am grateful love is an action verb.

We must learn to not just speak words of love, but to act on them. Actions speak louder than words... and the to love in truth is to put others before ourselves. So counter-culture...  so Jesus. 

Years ago, we did a Willow Creek program called "Flipped". I didn't want to do it, because it used a video and I thought kids already spent too much time in front of the TV, but the team as a whole prayed and trusted that it was where we were being led that year. 

Wow! What a wonderful surprise it turned out to be. Some of the video still haunt my memory, and many days I have no idea where I parked my car. They were good. We all got flipped.

My favorite video was challenging for me, as I enjoy fashion and shoes. A teen girl told the story of showing up to youth group and discovering that there was a need for shoes. There were some who had none. It was an urgent need. The leader asked, "Who in this group would be willing to give up their shoes to meet someone's need?". 

The teen telling the story was wearing her favorite purple shoes. They may have even sparkled or shined. I understood favorite shoes. She wrestled with the decision, but in the end... she added her shoes to the pile. The sacrifice become freeing and created a sense of joy inside of her that she barely understood. We hold so tight to things, but love happens in actions and in truth. She chose to love as Jesus loved, and it filled her with something better than fabulous purple shoes. 

"Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:18

John, the Beloved not the Baptist, penned the Johns in the back of your Bible. I believe most of "the Johns" were written in his later years in his ministry in Ephesus, but I don't know for sure. 1 John, especially, included important things he would want them to remember before leaving them. 

One Biblical scholar, Bob Utley, notes that 1 John is more of an "Impassioned Office Memo from Headquarters" than a personal letter. It is not addressed to specific people, but could be written to each on of us today. It is ultimately, God's word and John is just his scribe. 

The lesson in 1 John 3 help us to love Him and each other better. When your read it, don't forget to pause at the semi-colons to really reflect on what it means and how the thought after it connects. So much to learn in such a short passage. 

What "purple shoes" do I need to surrender in love? 

Today, I am grateful love is an action verb.

Hand Holding

Year 6-Day 57: Today, I am grateful for hand holding.

There is something romantic and sweet about holding hands. It is a simple intimacy. It brings about a sense of oneness and is a wonderfully encouraging. 

Holding hands says:
I want to be near you.
I want to keep you close.
We will walk as one.
I am with you... side by side.

To have a loved one hold our hand is a sweet spot in any day.  The calm reassurance that we are not alone. 

I found this Max Lucado quote:
"Your goal is not to know every detail of the future. Your goal is to HOLD THE HAND of the the One who does and never, ever let go." 

Anxiety is crippling so many these days. I have my moments, too. Still, we can "be still and know" that the great "I AM" is still on the throne and his hand still hovers over this pretty blue planet we call our temporary home. He is control and we can put our trust in Him, and take a deep breath.


Keeping priorities straight helps us to relax. First things first is a good approach for most things. Knowing what matters most helps us define our how we will spend our resources, including our most valuable one... our time. 

This passage addresses our priorities and reminds us of God's promise to never abandon us. 


"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” -Hebrews 13:5 

Such a simple verse, but it hits on three important truths. We can use money but not love it. We can choose to be content with what we have. Our Lord has promised that He never abandons his children. We have a God who wants us to reach out and take his hand with hearts that trust him. 
Will we have the courage?

The simple affection act of holding hands pours love into our days... but it is so much more.  

Today, I am grateful for hand holding.

Forgiveness

Year 6-Day 56: Today, I am grateful for forgiveness.

Love is many things. Forgiveness is an important ingredient in any long term love relationship. When we truly choose to love... we are "all in"... with our whole hearts. In human relationships, there will be bumps and struggles. 

Jesus gave us such wise instruction, "Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us." The the seeds of redemption seem to be planted in the soil of forgiveness. Forgiveness given and forgiveness received. Because no human is perfect, forgiveness is a necessary ingredient. 

Samuel's life was one of service to God. He was faithful and truthful, and that made him unpopular at times. He advised  the people against a king because God was to be their only king, but the people persisted. They nagged. They wanted a king. Finally, they were given what they asked for, but it would lead to many trials and troubles. Samuel wanted them to understand that God should be their true king and their first love. 

The people feared God and Samuel. Samuel continued to preach that God longed for the Israelites to be faithful and return to Him with repentant hearts. God longed for them to have a change of heart and to trust him in all things.

“Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him. -1 Samuel 12:20 

By this chapter in the historical record of Samuel, he was old and tired. That did not mean God was done with him. He had seen their sins and observed their fickle behavior. They wanted God to be at their beck and call when they were in trouble, but they wanted to live their own lives when things were going well. That attitude broke Samuel's heart. He pleads with them to "make sure now that you worship the Lord with all of your heart." 

"With all of your heart"... holding nothing back, creates an image. God already knew their sins and shortcomings. If they acknowledged them, repented and returned to Him, the relationship would be healed.  

Isn't amazing that He still offers that forgiveness to us today? He is our example so that we can love better in all of our relationships. Unforgiveness is self-destructive. It weighs us down. Forgiveness is freeing. 

 Today, I am grateful for forgiveness.

Promises Kept

Year 6-Day 55: Today, I am grateful for promises kept.

As "love month" still has a few more days, I am so glad I stumbled onto this image from "The Voice of Truth". 

A faithful spouse is such a gift. This world is full of temptations and marriage must be viewed as special and intentionally protected. "I will never leave you, nor forsake you." is a statement that is perfect for the binding covenant of marriage. 

It is a big promise. It means that we will choose to love, even in the moments that "like" is in question. Of course, "like" is a major factor in a good marriage. It helps us sustain and choose love daily, from sunup to sundown. Like, love, passion, romance, adventure, storms, sweet moments, smooth waters and trials all come in the marriage package. As in our faith, there are times we grow more in the struggles if we choose continue to choose love. 

Friends, love is not a feeling.  It is an intentional decision. Romance is more emotionally packed. It is good. But it is not enough to go the distance. Marriage is a perfect commitment to an imperfect person. Love is the glue. 

Billy and Ruth Graham were always a fun couple to watch. They were a team. He could not have done the things he did without her support and encouragement. I imagine, she would remind him to take some down time to rest and restore. He was so full of passion, he likely needed her to say. "Billy, slow down." or "Billy, have you prayed it through?" She was "with him" all the way, until her last day. 10 years they were apart, as she died in 2017. For her it was a blink of an eye, but the days for him, were surely long at times. 

I imagine Joshua felt a deep grief when he took the leadership of Israel after the death of Moses. He would lead them into the promised land. Moses had tough shoes to fill. The people could be impatient and difficult at times. Joshua knew it. He must have been in awe that God would intrust the people to his leadership... and he must have been overwhelmed. After 40 years. they were antsy and ready to claim the promised land. This is what God said to Joshua:

"No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you."  -Joshua 1:5

What a promise! It was a promise made and a promise kept. 

It is a great day to celebrate promises kept in marriage, in friendship, in family, in faith and the ones our God has planted in His Word that they might take root in our hearts and grow.

Today, I am grateful for promises kept.