Ending 2013

Lord, I may have only about 10 minutes, if that, for this entry.  It's Your birthday week!  What a whirlwind it has been, and it's not over.  Still, it was a good week, but I am tired.  I just wanted to connect with You briefly before the craziness of the weekend and the New Year commences.

So, I didn't do as well as I wanted in keeping an Advent journal, but I did read the Advent devotional almost every day.  It was John Piper's "Good News of Great Joy."  He quoted Tim Keller at the end, and I cannot get the quote out of my mind:

"Humility is so shy.  If you begin talking about it, it leaves."

Oh, yes.  John Piper's final meditation talked about Jesus's humility and servanthood as noted in Philippians, which he called a Christmas text.  Well worth pondering, which I guess is what I am doing.

Well, not to be rude, but I really should get going.  The family won't understand the huge delay.  If only they knew that I need some time alone to journal...but George particularly would want to read what I write, and it is intended ONLY for You.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

My Nephew Joe

Dear Father, my impulsive but courageous and good-hearted nephew Joe did something incredibly stupid recently.  He totaled a police cruiser that he was driving to a domestic dispute by running a red light.  Please, in Your great mercy so powerfully illustrated in the Christmas story, spare him the awful consequences of losing his job.  He was foolish.  We all know that--even he knows that.  But we have all been foolish.  Let this be an example of great grace, or wonderful forgiveness, of second chances and the opportunity to start again.  Please allow him to hold on to his job because he loves it, because his family needs it--and him, and because You are trying to get into his life.  We know that this is something that we can give to You to weave into Your plan for his life and ultimately his relationship with You--his salvation.  In Jesus's name~~Amen.

"Mommy's Mad!"

Dear Heavenly Father, I contracted with myself to spend some time in prayer before I returned to working on the talk for MOPS on Thursday.  Here I am.  I'm a little bit tired, but tonight was a gift.  My only client canceled (although for a horrible reason--her daughter is in jail and the father of the grandkids committed suicide in jail), and I came to Barnes and Noble to spend some time with You.  It's a date!  So would You meet me here?

(I took a moment or two to look for an old worship song I knew.  I couldn't find it, but the idea was "I'm here...Meet me here.")

Who but You knows how many women will be with us on Thursday?  Please bring the ones that need to come.  Let me be sensitive to them and to Carra's desire to get the wrapping done early--maybe by 8 p.m. so that she can leave.  Let me be both Biblically sound and clinically competent, which has been my career-long prayer.  Please give me exactly what someone needs, or several someones need, to be effective mothers and excellent examples of emotion management.

This is an honor to speak, of course, and I want to point women to You for their strength and wisdom in parenting.  I hope that I speak from the experience of relying on You for that strength and wisdom.  What would my daughters say?

Okay, the timer went off.  I will do a bit of research now and get a PowerPoint up, mostly for myself to stay on track.  "Bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory (my influence), and [may] your hand ... be with me, and [may] you ... keep me from harm!"  1 Chronicles 4:10

Urgent: Kimberly's Aunt

Dear Lord, I never again want to promise to pray without actually praying. Kimberly's Aunt Barbara is in a coma secondary to anoxia for 12 minutes (somehow related to hip replacement surgery). What is the appropriate prayer in a situation like this? Grace...comfort...wisdom...mercy! Lord, have mercy. I don't know how old Barbara is, but that doesn't really matter. Have mercy on her, on the family, and (from my perspective) specifically on Kimberly. Give her safe travel and the knowledge and experience of your presence. In the healing name of Jesus~~Amen.

The Best Daughters

Father God, I think this topic came to my mind because one of the deaf patients at the hospital recently lost her son to a gang shooting.  I began to wonder how I would feel, how I would cope, if my children made bad choices.  How grieved would I be?  How self-loathing, because at some level the thoughts almost always turn to blame for the parents for not raising the child properly?  How much time would I spend in pleading prayer for my babies?

I am amazingly grateful for the wonderful, Godly daughters I have.  Wow.  You done good, God!  :)  I think Julie is a bit more "liberal" than Amy, but she seems to be well grounded in the Word and in her relationship with you.  They both have big hearts for others, with the overriding purpose of loving them into the Kingdom.  Thank You.  That's all.  Just thank YOU.  And I will try to pray for them as much as I might if they were wayward.  They deserve that much of my prayer protection and attention, maybe more, to keep them close to You.

Barrington Nicols & Granny

I will have to make this super-quick, but I promised Kimberly I would pray, or had prayed, for Your will for "coverage" for Mary Ann while they sail the Caribbean next year. Please provide the right situation for Mary Ann. Kimberly is trying to be responsible for her while still being responsible for her own family. ???

George's Back

Lord, I probably "should" have done this earlier, even days ago.  The short story: making lasagna for George's family because we are going north to visit his mother (and everyone else) today.  So, I am sure you understand.

George's spine is sick.  Without boring you with the details that you already know thoroughly, I want to ask you officially to intervene.  He is painstakingly (and there is an emphasis on "pain") compliant with his stretching exercises.  He is also stubborn with respect to taking a pain reliever.  The best case scenario would be complete healing.  Is that in Your will?  In whatever way you step in, please bring him relief and a certainty that you have touched him.  Please reduce the pain.  I am impressed with how he hides his discomfort, but I do wish he would take something to help with it.  Especially today, with all his family, please make him comfortable.  He isn't terribly "comfortable" with them in the first place, and having pain is likely to make it less so.

In Jesus's name, out of love for my Godly and wonderful husband, and in the modern-day power of the Holy Spirit--Amen.

My Baby is Sick

Is there a way to make this work? I keep seeing "Error on page" at the bottom of this post. :(For the moment, I will write in HTML and not the Compose pane. So... Dear Father, You are the Healer. Healing is in Your hands. Please be merciful to my youngest daughter, Julie, and restore her health quickly. She is so responsible, and she takes seriously the commitments that she has to her education and her volunteer positions. Would You honor that and give her the rest, the healing rest, that she requires to allow You to fix her? Please strengthen her immune system and allow it to knock out the virus that I suspect has attacked her. This is for her and for You and Your kingdom. In Jesus's name, Who healed a bunch of people during His earthly ministry...and by the work of the Holy Spirit, Who heals today~~Amen.

Daughters Serving the Lord

• Amy: First day as "Graduate Assistant for Women's Programming" at Taylor University.  Please, Lord, let her ... what? ... "succeed" according to Your will, make disciples of the women students, feel Your presence in her work.
• Julie: Last week at Lakeside Christian Camp.  Please, Lord, let her also succeed according to Your will, make disciples of the campers with whom she has worked, and feel Your presence in her work.

All in Jesus's name!  Amen.

Moment

Lord, it is a Thursday night.  Right now, Julie's at Lakeside, Amy's at Samantha's, and George is...who knows?  Dear Lord, I am not very focused right now.  If I were to sit quietly for a bit of time, I know that I would think of several if not a dozen things to bring to You.

90 seconds from home!  That's George.  Later, Lord.  Love you!

Sydney Allen

Oh, God!  How tragic this event that took a 3-year-old baby girl's life!  1 Thessalonians 4:13 says,

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

May we not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.  May we, and especially the Allens, grieve with the comfort that comes only from You.  Supernatural, extraordinary comfort that is next to impossible for the human mind to comprehend but which our regenerate hearts can glimpse.

Wishing for a Long Time

Lord, it's just before 10 a.m. today, and I will have to get to work on time for 11:30 a.m.  :(  In between, I need to package some things for Julie and send out a quick invitation to the MOPS gals for Sunday.  I am still dripping wet from my shower!  Thank You that You are master of time, and the number of minutes I spend here is not indicative of my prayer or of Your love.

So--Do I have a blind spot when it comes to that patient at work?  I seem to butt heads with the psychiatrist over him.  He is a pain; that is not the issue.  In fact, in general it seems that we are ("we" meaning the professional staff) failing to treat most of our patients with dignity and respect.  However, I digress.  My initial question concerned a blind spot.  If I have one, dear Lord, reveal it to me and open my eyes.  This stalemate, this conflict is not comfortable (although my comfort is not the goal here).

Please bless both my daughters, but especially Julie this week at Lakeside.  Please give her extra wisdom, maturity, patience, love, and endurance.  Show her a glimpse of Yourself?  That will keep her going!  She's a special one.  May she bless You right back.

I wish I didn't have to go.  I have SO much more to pray about.  Accept this small entry as a token of my praying without ceasing, but having no evidence to support that.  :)  I love You!  Amen.

In the "Garden"

That may not be the best title for this post, Lord, but it reflects my wish to spend time in the quiet place in my heart--Your garden--with You.

Today's One Year Bible reading is Paul's testimony to ... Jerusalem?  In this part of the story, he speaks Greek to the commander of the barracks and Aramaic to the crowd.  This made me think of Franklin, and his interest in languages for the purpose of translating Scripture for those who have no version for themselves.  Please bless that young man, Lord, and preserve his life and health for the furtherance of Your Kingdom.

One part of the passage that I wondered about was this: "The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth."  Would this mean me, too?  "You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.  And now what are you waiting for?"  This fits well with the premise of David Platt's book Follow Me, that our only purpose and Your overriding will is to tell all people the message.

Oh, to spend more time here with You.  It's almost 9 a.m., and I have to mail that Keurig K-cup holder today, and I haven't showered yet, and I have to be at work by 11:30 a.m.  For a day alone....

Love You, dear Lord!

PS  Blessings on Julie!  She is probably exhausted in her work at Lakeside.

Thoughts from Follow Me

Hi, Lord.  I took a sick day from work today, and in truth I feel a little off.  Despite that, I accomplished a great deal today, not the least of which is making this entry.

David Platt's premise in Follow Me is a very powerful argument: that our only and most important calling in life is to follow Christ "radically" (related to the title of his other book).  Nothing else matters.  That does not, paradoxically, mean that we become spartan or that we quit our jobs to "minister" full time.  It does mean that everything is subjected to the ultimate purpose of evangelizing.

So, here I am.  I am about to make cupcakes for Amy's friend Samantha's bridal shower on Saturday. Of course, it is about 80 degrees in the house.  :)  Sacrifice!!  Love you, Lord, and may You be glorified by me at the shower, at work, everywhere!

One Thousand Dollars

Oh, my goodness, Lord.  I wish my husband had been more understanding about our daughter's desire (call?) to return to Mexico for a week of celebration for all the ones whom she has grown to love.  However, he did it.  We are contributing half of the above amount to make this trip happen.  Please bless this step of faith and obedience.  How does one ever really know what You are calling her to do?  Paul--you, the after-apostle--you seemed to know even when it didn't make "sense."  Lord, please confirm this in some way.  We are not very experienced at this following thing, certainly not as much as our years of living with You might suggest.  And bless her trip, her friends, and most of all, her.  In Jesus's name and by Your Spirit~~Amen.

Praying Julie Home

Ahh, Lord!  The weather for flying is terrible.  Please help.  I started to try to specify how I want You to help, but I believe You already know what to do.  Please bring all those young people to the ground safely and return them all to their families.  I beg You to be gracious and redirect the storms OR the flight to ensure their safety.  Please.  In Jesus's name~Amen

For Junior Church

The weight of responsibility for Junior Church is sometimes heavy, dear Lord.  Please touch some people's hearts to help this Sunday.  I need to put together the June schedule, but we have to get this Sunday set immediately.  I'm pleading.  I'm not just asking.  This is for You and Your work in the lives of these precious children.  In a minute or two, I will send out another email.  Would You bless it with fruit?  In Your wonderful name, so worth sharing~~Amen and amen.

Julie in Montana

Lord, I checked the weather forecast for Ashland, MT, and it looks like thunderstorms today and rain until Friday.  :(  And the team is camping.  I remember a "camping" trip with Crossroads many (many) years ago that was wet and miserable, and You impressed James 1 onto my heart:

Consider it all joy, my brethren (and sisters), when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  (verses 2-4)

Well worth memorizing for myself, and  I will also pray this for the GO West team.  Please guard Julie's heart from any bitterness over the bad weather, and shine Your Spirit through her joy.  This is an amazing adventure that she is on!  Open the eyes of her heart, Lord.  She wants to see You.  Please grant that desire of her heart.

And from my mother-heart, please bring her home safely and well.  I am really looking forward to the trip home with her (although I suspect she will sleep some or most of the drive).

Holy Spirit, I ask You for special work in Julie's life during these last few days of this ministry.  Do Your thing.  You know that I am asking this for Julie's sake, of course, and also for the sake of the spread of the Kingdom--Your Kingdom--through Jesus Christ and for the glory of God.  Amen!!

Julie GO'd West

Father God, I have been holding Julie in my thoughts since she left a week ago for Colorado on the Global Outreach (GO) trip to the West.  I haven't had as much time to write, though.  Please accept this prayer for her retrospectively and prospectively.  The messages that the team members are posting on the information line seem positive and even fun!  I ask for her a chance to share You with the others, a glimpse of Your call on her life, and an experience that will stay in her memory as a wonderful time.  Please keep all of them from sickness and exhaustion.  Refresh their bodies as they camp even as You refresh their spirits every day.  I can hardly wait until I can hear all her stories, told in her funny, pithy way.  Guard her closely and protect her from every evil.  In Jesus's name and in the leading of the Holy Spirit, for the sake of Your kingdom in Julie's life and through her as well~~Amen.



My Alone Time

God, I know my time is extremely limited this afternoon.  Without going into all the details of the tasks awaiting me, please allow me to spend this completely necessary time alone with You to refresh.  I am uncomfortable even doing this at home.  Interested "nosy" eyes look at what I am writing, and sometimes this is intensely personal stuff.

And that is, after all, what prayer is supposed to be.  As I sit here and think about that statement--"what prayer is supposed to be"-- I also recall that prayer is supposed to be a time of devoting myself to You, to adoring You, to appreciating You.  You really have been amazing (more so than normal, which is amazing) throughout our trip to pick up Amy in Tijuana.  I, on the other hand, have not been so amazing.  Man, has my sin appeared.  I leap to justifying my behaviors, of course; after all, I am a normal human in that regard.  I don't think I can even begin to acknowledge the specifics; I still have an emotional reaction to the situations.  I will surrender, God.  I am an inappropriate, imperfect, sinful woman, and I have quick and judgmental reactions to people.  I need much more "tolerance" (though I hate that word) for people who are less than perfect, too.  (My DH falls into that category, of course.)

So, over the past month I have been...lonely.  There are not very many, if any, people to whom I can talk openly and without fear of judgment.  I have retreated into my relationship with You even more.  I don't think that's all that great.  Not that it isn't wonderful to tell You everything, and hopefully to listen to You and learn.  I run the risk of becoming "right in my own eyes" but not in the views of others.  And then, to complicate matters even further, I run the risks (plural) of measuring my success by others' opinions of me OR of not caring to verify my truths with others.  Oy.  My head begins to hurt.

Ideally, God, I would be in such close communication with You that only Your approval and direction would matter to me.  Would You allow that for me?  I'd really like it.

Oh, for more time!  In Jesus's name and in the fullness of the Holy Spirit~Amen.

For My Babies

Lord, I am rushing.  Sweetly and simply, may they (my daughters) both finish strong.  Julie: clear mind through exhaustion.  Amy: grace and love through sorrow over leaving La Casa.  In Jesus's name and in the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen~

Daughters

Amy: THROWING UP!  Tijuana version of Montezuma's Revenge?  We face-timed after her message about the vomiting; so, I know that she is all right, if a little dizzy/queasy.  Dear Father, this last week of her time there is precious--and emotionally weird.  It sounds like she has learned a lot, some of which she may not have wanted to learn.  Help her to integrate these lessons into her life and into herself in a way which testifies to Your love and makes her a better minister of the Gospel.  And...let's bring her home safely!

Julie: GO retreat this weekend, final classes next week, and some final exams before May 10th.  I'm tired just typing this.  Dear Father, bless her with efficiency and a wonderful closeness to You such that she knows as she has never known before the filling and power of the Holy Spirit.  Thank You for her ministry in a more secular environment.  Please give her opportunities to share not only her "faith" but You Yourself.  Be glorified~

~in both my daughters' lives and in my own as well.  What gifts, what blessings they are to me!  I am so eager to be with them over the San Diego trip.  Please make our time together sweet fellowship.

And PS, a selfish request: and I will understand if You say no: Could we get that 2-bedroom condo while we are there?  (In the face of the poverty that both girls have been and will be witnessing, this is a strange thing to ask, I know... )

Sophomore Year Finals

Dear Gracious and Omniscient Father God--yeah, I sound like Eugene Meltsner or Spencer Reid, don't I?--please bless my daughter Julie during these last days of her sophomore year.  She is sending me a 15-page research paper to review tonight, and then she goes into finals week.  Give her rest, even if she shorts herself on sleep.  Please make her studying very efficient, her retention of the material almost "anal" (haha), and her ability to recount what she has learned effective and persuasive on papers and finals.  I am excited to have her coming with us to get Amy from the orphanage!  I can't pray here for much longer since I am at work, but I did want to get this off my mind and into Your heart (although I really do know I can do that without writing it.)  In Jesus's name~~Amen.

For Julie

Julie's my more silent daughter, Lord.  :)  Please bless her during these last 2-3 weeks of school with clear thinking, learning, efficiency, faithfulness, and joy.  I trust that You are pursuing her (not that she is running away from you) since the cares of this world can interfere with anyone's relationship with you.

Miguelito's Eye

Father, please bless the surgeons who are operating on Miguelito's lazy eye.  Give them steadiness, focus, extra skill, and extra grace.  Please touch Miguelito's little heart as well as his little body with Your loving and healing hands.  Fill Amy with such grace and love and wisdom that it effortlessly pours from her all over him.  May he be blanketed with peace as You heal him, and I ask a special guard against anything that could interfere with or interrupt this wonderful work that is being done--that You are doing--for him.  In Jesus's name and by the healing work of the Holy Spirit in this age~~Amen.

Daughter's Medical Ignorance

Dear Heavenly Father, You are the Great Physician, and my oldest daughter is so ignorant.  Please protect her from her lack of knowledge about medications and restore her from having taken the Naproxen, an NSAID, when she is "allergic" to that category of drugs.  I want to wake her up way out in Tijuana, but it is only 6:20 a.m. there and I would imagine that she is sound asleep, perhaps even more because she is sick.  This is incredibly hard for me as Mama, You know.  My heart races to reach her and educate her and get her to an epi-pen!! Or at least Benadryl or some other antihistamine.  But here I sit, Lord, forcing myself to pray.  Please...please protect her and heal her.  This is one act of faith on my part.  You graciously indulged my anxiety last night by having her respond to me.  Now, please, wake her up just enough to respond again, if I may be so bold--actually, so weak--to ask.

I know...I get a little bit annoyed with all the people who pray for medical problems and healing.  This is hypocritical of me.  Forgive my two-faced hypocrisy, I ask, since You, too, have the heart of a parent and understand the desire to keep Your children from harm--even if the harm is brought on by their own stupidity.  In fact, maybe especially because of their own stupidity!

Lord, there is so little time to pray.  I would do this for hours--pray, that is.  But I have responsibilities and I must attend to the rapid passage of time.  Please make time for our praying soon?  I love You, and I trust that You love my daughter and will keep her in Your hands until her body can get rid of the medicine.  In the power of the Holy Trinity who love and serve each other~~Amen.

Bold Speech

Luke 11:37 Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders

Oh, my goodness, Lord!

Luke 12:1 A Warning Against Hypocrisy

Double-oh, my goodness, Lord!!

This is a minefield for me.  I am quick to criticize "religious leaders," and then I do find myself wondering at my own hypocrisy.  Please work in my heart to see as You see, to hold everything including myself up to Your high standards, but not to judge.  That responsibility belongs to You alone.  Just because others do not see things as I see them does not (necessarily) mean that they are wrong.  That is the normal way of interpreting the world, though.  How does one know when one is right?  Holy Spirit, You need to lead me into all truth, and that must include the truth about being right--and wrong.  I will listen, though I know it will take practice and humility.  I don't have enough of either.  In Jesus's name, for the sake of the kingdom of God, and by the tutelage of the Holy Spirit I pray~~Amen.

Two Months!

My last post here, Lord, was almost two months ago!!  Yikes.  No excuses, since You know everything already.  :)  What do busy people do for prayer time?  I really dislike the pace that prohibits a lengthy, or lengthier, time of prayer.  (And just now, I had to run to the bathroom.)  I wonder...whether the Devil interferes with times of prayer on purpose.  It would make sense that he would want to interrupt communications between You, our commander, and us, your soldiers.

I don't have very much time even now, because I have a podiatry appointment within the hour (plus 4 minutes, according to the computer clock).  One quick prayer: MOPS Ladies' Night at our house on Friday.  Please bless it all.  I need to prepare, clean, and "mentor."  Dearest Lord, this is all for You and the spiritual growth of these young women.  I am Your handmaiden, maidservant, and obedient daughter.  Thank You for all of those privileges.  In Jesus's name and by the indwelling Holy Spirit's power and guidance~~Amen.

Random Prayer Promises

• David Huillca: trabajo!
• Kassidy Jones: application to Monty Tech

My Sick Baby Girl

Dear Father God, I need to pray quickly because my time is running out on this Ash Wednesday.  My baby (age 20, but still....) is sick.  She has flu, strep, ear infection, and now apparent conjunctivitis.  Please heal her.  Bring her rest and relief from her discomfort and pain.  (On a side selfish note, it is nice to have her home.)  Restore her to life and ministry for her sake and, more importantly, for Your sake.  In Jesus's powerful healing name~~Amen!

Just to Be With You

Good morning, dear sweet Lord.  It's a grey, foggy day today.  However, it is still "the day the Lord has made" and I will rejoice and be glad in it.  (Psalm 118:24)

I often try to have a topic of some sort to talk over with You.  Today, there is either too much--or nothing, depending on how I look at it.  I could not even begin to sort through the myriad points on my prayer list; there are so many.  Many of them are dear people in my life, and some are situations or issues that I would really love to discuss with You.  But I feel bogged down.  Bogged down by the "list," I think, as if it is important to check off each item when it is done.

I don't think that's what prayer is supposed to be.  Is it?  I try to get into the skin of the great heroes of the Bible and (impossibly) into Jesus's own heart and imagine their prayer lives.  Did they have lists?  I can imagine Jesus praying for each of his disciples when there were only a few of them, but when there were thousands, did He spend all that time talking about each one of them with You?  I suspect not in the way that we often "pray" for people.  Hospitalizations, illnesses, marriages and divorces, wayward children, cars and money and jobs...

The pastor in Iran, Saeed Abidini, who was recently convicted and sentenced to 8 years imprisonment, most definitely warrants prayer, though.  Last night I was drifting off to sleep and was praying for him.  What was I praying?  I wasn't sure what was most aligned with Your will, although from a human and compassionate place I asked (and still do, by the way) that You might spare him this almost certain persecution and suffering.  Then I wondered whether Your way of praying would focus on strengthening him and shielding his heart and spirit from the attack of evil as he passes through these very deep and dark times.  In either case, or both, dear Heavenly Father, please accept my prayer joined with many others, I hope, for my unknown brother.

My children at Heritage...what a powerful letter from Kim Russo about Sara and Sam!  To You be all the glory!!

My biological daughters, one being a "mother" in Tijuana and one being a student and volunteer in the Bronx...would You encourage them today and guard their hearts, minds, souls, and very lives in places that my mother's heart finds dangerous.

My own mother, recently widowed and living relatively successfully with macular degeneration: she had dental work on Monday, and may I pray that she is recovering with minimal pain?

My mother-in-law, who frustrates me many times, who is living much more unsuccessfully with macular degeneration (from 20/60 to 20/400): soften my heart and hers, please.

My dear husband, faithful in every way (but dieting, but even for this period of time he is "counting points"): What can I say?  He is a true gift.  He needs a sharp, quick mind in his job, and he grows tired.  Fuel him, please?

See what I mean?  The list has so many items on it.  I think I might rather just sit, or kneel (for as long as I could), with You and feel Your eyes looking into mine and only by the grace of Jesus have the boldness to look back into Your eyes, and melt.  Boldness not from myself, I emphasize, but boldness and confidence because of the blood of Christ all over me:

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19)
 

 So, dear God, time's a-wastin'.  I am blessed to have a job that in most ways and at most times I really love.  Make my remaining time this morning exceptionally efficient, please, to bring glory to You.  In Jesus's name, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and for the sake of the Gospel and the Kingdom~~~Amen

Maestra and "El Arbol Generoso"

Dearest Holy God, my "Mexicana" daughter is concerned about the woman co-director of the orphanage.  As she describes Maestra, I see a frustrated, angry woman whose life has not turned out the way she had hoped.  Is this vision from You?  She has become a Giving Tree (Shel Silverstein) who might not be a willing one....

Maestra, as my daughter sees, is harsh, punitive, and sometimes even violent in her discipline of the ninos.  At one time, my daughter reported that the Mexican style of discipline is largely harsh, and the poor residents of the orphanage cannot expect any softness or affection in life anyway; so, almost to prepare them for a hard life, there is little in the way of love.


Is that what happened to Maestra, Lord?  Was her childhood difficult?  She married Profe many years ago, and perhaps she expected a more middle-class life since they are both educators.  Now...52 children at this time, and more have been there at other times.

Father, soften her heart.  I suspect that she has not really experienced Your gracious and forgiving love.  Please remove the veil from her eyes and her heart to see how gently and still firmly You discipline, and to what end--repentance and restoration of relationship!  May this become true for her and then through her may this become true for the ninos.  In Jesus's name~~Amen.

Mary Ann

Oh, dear God, Mary Ann is also a cause for concern.  Her vision is dramatically worse, and she was dizzy and vomiting earlier this week.  Of even greater concern is her distortion of the Gospel.  Please, dear Lord, touch her body and especially her soul and spirit with divine healing.

What we didn't know...current smoking increases the risk of AMD 6.6-fold.  Past smoking, 20 years before the exam/AMD, shows no increased risk.  Former smoking increases risk 3.2-fold.  Oh, Lord.  Even if she quit now, it won't help without your blessing.

Please, God, strengthen Dan and especially Kimberly.  They have been amazingly supportive of Mary Ann, almost to the point of being the only, exclusive supports--not to put down Kim Marie's and Beth's loving attentions when possible.  These are hard times for Mary Ann, and by their close proximity and relationship, for Kimberly and Dan, too.  Guide them to the right doctors; give everyone (and most importantly Mary Ann) wisdom to choose the correct course of action and treatment; and soften Mary Ann's heart toward You.  I hope that she won't become hardened or bitter toward You because of this difficult blow.

Donna and Tom

Aww, come on, Lord.  I don't mean to be disrespectful.  Why did Tom have to lose this job?  It appears from Donna's account that it was a change of ownership and no fault of Tom's.  And Maine won't pay him unemployment benefits because he collected from another state within the past 12 months?  This really doesn't help Donna's anxiety.

And there is an intervention.  Please give me a verse to send to her.  What should it be?

There's Philippians 4:6-7 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 

And there's 1 Peter 5:7, my older daughter's favorite verse

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
 

Father God, You are the giver of all good gifts.  Here we have Tom, a man who is motivated to provide for his family--both his wife and daughter AND his elderly father.  Please honor his heart and lead him to the job that You have already known.  In the meantime, please help Donna to trust You. Show them both, or perhaps more accurately, make it exceptionally obvious to them that You love them and have their needs close to Your heart.  Give them peace, and provision, and grow their faith--Tom's especially, but also Donna's as a way to reduce her anxiety.   I promised Donna I would pray right now, and so I am.  I ask in Jesus's name and for His sake in their lives and in the world~Amen.

Holy Spirit

Dearest God, I have been a bit stuck in composing the annual report for Junior Church.  Please inspire me.  There have been so many crazy and new situations this year that have frustrated and annoyed and stretched me.  I do not wish to quench the Holy Spirit, and I definitely want the Holy Spirit to empower my life and my (measly) work for You.

Hurry!

Lord, my husband is in the shower, we are taking the tree down today, my mother is coming over...help!

• Wanda's eyes: restoration?
• Julie at FCRH: "success"
• Amy at Casa: ministry with love
• George: healing from this flu

...and many other things.  Have to run now.  Love you so much!

Convicted But Not Condemned

Dearest God, You know what this is about.  Thank You for pointing out my sin, and thank You even more that You no longer condemn me for it.  Give me what I need--more of Your Spirit--to keep me from falling into this sin again (and again...).

Wanda's Eyes

Please, dear God, have mercy on Wanda and preserve or even restore her vision.

Flu

Dear Great Physician, my husband is sick.  Even though he may exaggerate his sickness, the reality is that he has a flu, and it is not fun.  Please allow me to be more supportive and compassionate.  Please also strengthen him and heal him quickly.  He would not do well with a chronic illness!  May this illness soften his heart toward those who struggle with illness on a daily basis and find that Your strength is made perfect in weakness.  May he learn not to judge those who become ill as if the illness was their fault or a result of poor choices on their parts.  And thank You once again for the blessing of being able to "pray" through this blog/journal in private.  It does help me to focus and to really talk to You.

On that note, I think I will try to get to bed by 10 p.m. tonight, to ward off flu for myself.  We are vey fortunate to have such good health care, Lord.  Let me (especially) not forget that You really are the ultimate Great Physician.  In Jesus's name and in the Holy Spirit's power~Amen!