Quick Prayer for Encouragement

Lord, I told Amy that I was praying for her, and I want to make sure that I do and that I am!  Please flood her heart and soul with peace and assurance that You are directing her paths.  That's all for now.  In Jesus's name~Amen.

Oh, So Tired

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.  Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

That's about the size of it, Lord.  I just looked up "tired" in the Bible Gateway keyword search, and those results with the verses above bring tears to my eyes and down my face.  A la "Malachi's Message" from Adventures in Odyssey~what would I ask for today as a special gift from You?  Whit asked for inspiration.  Today I ask for refreshment.  And maybe energy.

1. Bill and Mom: If I am tired, how much more tired is she?  He, in some ways thankfully, isn't very aware of what is happening to him.  Please bring her refreshment, too.  And relief from any pain for him?  These times are difficult and confusing in their lives.  Direct them, support them, send angels to minister to them both.  Please?
2. John: How sad.  I have no idea how aware he is of what is happening to him.  With the progressive supranuclear palsy as well as whatever else is ravaging his body, he remains a "stubborn Polack."  :)  Is it time for another card?  Do I have any other pictures of him?  (Do I have time to look for one????)
3. Amy: [long pause] I don't even know where to begin to pray for her with regard to her near future.  Tijuana or Gordon?  What are You up to, Lord?  I cannot speak for her, but I will speak for myself.  Either one is fine, as long as it is definitely Your will for her.  We just sorta kinda need to know....you know?  In the meantime, please give all of us the peace that passes understanding as we wait, patiently~~or not so much patiently but wanting to develop that fruit of the Spirit.
4. Julie: Please help her find the right church.  Thank You for a Christian RD!  Bless Julie and Mary Frances as they embark on this roommate thing.  Preserve their relationship.  Living together can be stressful and damaging to a friendship.  Empower her for a successful year of studying for service in Your kingdom, wherever You are leading her in Your field.

I know there is SO much more.  I will enter again soon, but for now, I am going to try to organize my to-do list.

Francis Chan's challenge in Crazy Love remains fresh in my mind: "DO NOT ASSUME YOU ARE GOOD SOIL."  Make me good soil, Lord.  I may need to be hoed, turned, fertilized with stuff that doesn't smell so good, cleaned out of rocks and twigs and junk. Make me rich, fertile soil in which Your word takes deep and healthy root.

In Jesus's name~~Amen!

Still Waiting

So, Lord, we didn't get an answer on Wednesday.  However, Amy had a second interview on Friday.  Wait...we did get an answer.  Amy reported that she has not been anxious.  She is excited, she really wants this job, and she is open to whatever You lead her to do, but she is not anxious.  That is an answer to prayer.

So thank You.  Help me to be calm and trusting, too.  I can say the words, but sometimes my heart rebels.  I can feel it speeding up, and I can feel the upset in my stomach.  I wish I could just order my internal organs to obey!

(Along those lines, I wish I could order my cholesterol levels to come down.  That's for another post, yes?)

I keep telling her that I am praying without ceasing, or praying continually.  May it be true!  Calm her, and me, dear Lord.  This entire movie (a la Francis Chan's Crazy Love) is not about her or me.  You are the main character, the protagonist, the hero.  We are only bit actors.  You are the theme and the plot as well.  Help us to see how we fit into your script, and help us to play our parts well--but ultimately, help us to let You be the star.  Whatever happens to this job and to Amy's immediate future, whether it be Gordon or Esperanza, be glorified, Lord.  She is willing to be used by You wherever You assign her.  May that be true for me, too.  For Jesus's sake and the sake of the extension of Your kingdom~Amen.

Anxious!

So, Lord, when You tell us to "be anxious for nothing, but in everything let your request be made known to God," how do we obey that when our--my--nature is to be anxious?  I'm taking a deep breath and doing my best to "let my request be made known to [You]."  This is my request:  Please, by Your great grace, help Amy to release her anxiety as well.  ???  I also wouldn't mind at all adding this request: Would You provide for her needs for income, a job, a mission, by allowing her to work for Gordon for a time?  This job as admissions counselor seems tailor-made for her, at least to us.  However, we acknowledge and admit that You know far better than any of us do what is best not only for Amy but also ultimately for Your kingdom.

So here is a third request: Could we hear fairly soon?  The wait is hard.  She's supposed to hear today, and here it is, already 2:15 p.m.

It's all about You, dearest Lord God.  Amy's heart is toward You, I am quite sure.  Please bless her, calm her, and love on her during this time of waiting.  No matter what happens, whether she works at Gordon or volunteers at Esperanza, she will be serving You.  Thank You for that!

"Not my will, but Yours be done."  Amen.

Praying Without Ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "pray without ceasing."  I am so blessed, dear heavenly Father, that Amy frequently asks me to pray for her, and today is one example of many.  She has her interview in just under an hour.  Please bless her in whatever way Your will dictates.  Allow her to see Your hand in her life, leading her, using her, and providing for her.  Honor, please, her desire to serve You, whether at Esperanza or at Gordon.  I have to run now, but I know that I do not have to use many words to be heard by You.  In Jesus's name and for His sake (and for Amy's sake, too, yes?)~ Amen.

Amy's Opportunity

Lord, what are You up to in Amy's life?  :)  Thank You for the chance that she has to interview for the Admissions Counselor job at Gordon.  Thank You even more that someone pursued her for it.  What a compliment!  And maybe what a provision for her (and for us, her parents, who would have been supporting her this next year)!  If this is Your will, calm any anxieties she may have and let her light shine.  You lead the way, dear Lord.  I'm pretty sure she will follow.  In Jesus's name and for the sake of Your work in her life and in the world~Amen!

Taking Time

SOOOO much to do, Lord, before we have the Cochrells--new pastor at HBC--for dinner tonight!  But SOOOO foolish to try to do it without asking for Your blessing on tonight's meeting.  Please be glorified in our conversation.  Don't let me (especially) say anything negative or unkind.  Please direct our questions, our responses, and their questions and responses to build Your kingdom's work at HBC and in the world.  For Jesus's sake~Amen. 

Greetings!

Greetings, dear God!  Today's daily reading from Your word comes from Romans 16, where Paul shares about a dozen greetings.  (I didn't count, but I am estimating.  :)  ) 

"to address with expressions of goodwill, respect, etc.; greet.

 

to express respect or praise for; honor; commend"

I'm not sure what my agenda today includes (who does, really?) but I hope to "greet" at least one or two of my friends in an unusual way today.  Would You help me with that?

But on to different things, Lord...It has been a little while since I have sat down to spend some time with You.  My bad.  It isn't that I haven't been in constant prayer communication with You, and that is good.  Sometimes I feel that trying to "study" every day from Your word confuses the message.  I need time to ponder, meditate, absorb the content.  I really love to reflect on what You say over the course of a day or two or sometimes three, and then to figure out how to act upon it.

Well, enough excuses.  :)  I just cruised over to see whether Beth Moore has any online Bible studies that could help me get into studying the Word on a regular basis.  Boy, is my life topsy-turvy right now.  The daughters will be coming home next Sunday, and then Julie will have only 10 days at home before returning to college.  Amy will have about a month before going to Esperanza.  Interspersed with these joyful challenges is Bill's ongoing chemotherapy and the family support that it demands.  Whew!  Of course, that is in the arena of family.  I didn't even touch on the Christian Education ministry at HBC!  Yes, I am tired, but fulfilled.  I am (usually) operating out of my comfort zone.  Sometimes I wish for a week off to address all the small and large details of organizing my home and my life...maybe that will come with the surgery in October?

God, the book Crazy Love is challenging me.  In a good way.  This chapter (only chapter 2; I'm slow) highlights our selfish focus on ourselves rather than the appropriate focus on You, since all of history and all of life is all about YOU.  I really am amazingly blessed that my husband and my daughters get this.  In fact, just Wednesday Julie chose to spend her day off from camp with her grandmother and grandfather at chemo.  I tended (and may still tend?) to worry a little more about her spiritual health since she attends a non-overtly-Christian college, but I forget myself that You are not limited.  She's pretty good!  So I will keep surrendering her and her spiritual growth and feeding to You.  You are doing a great job!  ;)

I have only 10 minutes left here, and I would like to capture Bill's story in the other blog.  For now, Lord, good-bye!  I love You with all my heart, all my soul, and all my strength!