Just a Minute

That's about all I have...a minute.  I almost don't even want to record this, but it is most assuredly a matter for prayer.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY SISTER?  She behaved SO badly at Mom's house yesterday.  I cannot fathom what happened in her life, or in her relationship with Mom, that makes her so difficult.  Mom claims that it's because she was "Daddy's little girl," and I suspect that might be partly true.  Sis certainly learned at a young age that Dad would side with her in most face-offs with Mom.

Was there abuse?  Sexual abuse?  (I hate asking that.)  Is there depression?  I'd have to come down in the camp of a personality disorder of some type.

Treatment?  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the one that keeps coming to my mind.  Of course, she probably wouldn't go.  She has such idiosyncratic interpretations and memories of things that reasoning with her is not only useless, but incredibly frustrating.

Lord, this is horrible.  I'm glad that Mom calms down when she talks to me.  She says so!  :)  But what about my sister?  Why did she even come up this way?  What is she hoping to accomplish by staying with Mom?  What is her purpose?  (if one accepts that all behavior has a purpose)  If her behavior is not driven by a purpose, then perhaps it is a response to something.  If I jump into traffic, for example, it may not be my purpose, but maybe someone pushed me.  ?????

Please intervene.  Give me, or better yet, them, some wisdom about how to rebuild their relationship.  Sister is not a happy person and has not been for years, probably decades.

What do You think about an antidepressant?  Is she really depressed?  Or is it "just" a personality disorder?

Help.  Please.  I hate family disharmony, and I think You do, too.

Way Too Long, and Way Too Much

Lord, I have so many things that I really want to talk over with You.  I have certainly been praying.  That never stops.  I haven't had much time to journal/post or whatever it should be called.  I like the recollection that looking back on these entries allows.

I just don't know where to begin.

Perhaps the first, or one of the first, may be the Junior Church program.  I will and I suppose I even must admit to a high degree of frustration and disappointment with Heritage over their treatment of children.  In a more accurate way, I might even call it their ignorance of children.  Not ignorance about, but the ignoring of them and their needs.  Lord, for years now I have said that Heritage needs at least a part-time, paid Christian Education director.  It has been hinted that the new youth pastor may eventually take on the entire Christian Education program.  God help us...God, help us!  I do love the children, and I love teaching You and Your word to them.  I am getting older and much more tired.  Working full time is also hard.  I don't have as much time to do the multiple, myriad things that would make Junior Church as effective as possible.

Well, enough about the overall picture and on to this summer.  Please, Lord, help us to put the summer schedule together smoothly and easily.  I feel overwhelmed (see above regarding the multiple, myriad things) by even thinking of what needs to be done, and soon.  Help me to strategize and prioritize the first, and only the first, thing.  (A July schedule for staffing PreK/K and the large group?)

Lord, my eyes are not focusing well right now, probably due to fatigue.  DH is not home yet.  He's undoubtedly more fatigued than I am.  So, prayer request #2 (not in order of importance, Lord) is his stamina. 

He's home!!

New Favorite

My new favorite for several reasons!

 

I will need to spend some more time on this entry since I don't have a lot of time right now.  It looks increasingly like our younger daughter is being called by God to this school.  (So much for my former preference.)  This is an exercise in listening to God revealing His will and saying, "Not my will but Thine be done."  That is my prayer, Lord.  May it be ever more true as I submit my will to Yours.

College Considerations



My preference....


Yes, I do admit it.  I hope fervently that my YD will choose BC!  I think it is the best choice for her future, and I think I am not terribly biased because it is my alma mater as well.  Lord God, You are Lord and God.  I know that my daughter loves You and wants to serve You.  I also know that she listens to You, and that You speak to her.  So, I ask You to guide her in the path which You have chosen for her regardless of my opinion!  You know her future.  You know her heart, her talents, her gifts from You, and her calling.  Help her to make the right decision.  In Jesus's name and for the sake of Your kingdom I pray...Amen.

TOO LONG

I have perhaps 20 minutes to write here and try to capture some prayer ideas.  (I'm afraid if I just sit with my eyes closed and "think," I'll drift off to sleep.)

If I do try to rest in the heart of God, what do I sense? 

• Marriages in trouble (clients)
• Women who do not feel cherished by their husbands
• Children (Joey P) who are not cherished by their parents
• Children (John L) who are not understood by their parents or teachers
• My own husband's sacrificial toil at a distant job for the sake of our daughters' education
• A messy, violent, vicious world (a Bangladeshi teen of 14 tender years whipped to death for "adultery" when it was really rape)
• A call to rest--really rest, really trust, really surrender all the anxiety about the future of my daughters (education, spouses) and my husband (almost 50 and tiring intellectually)

This reminds me of me.  I am on a journey, and I need to stop from time to time and rest.  Love the dog companion, although I wish it was a Sheltie!

(Oops.  DH came home earlier than I expected and surprised me!  Since this and my other blog are totally private, between God and me, I closed out without officially logging off.  I am so grateful that a draft was saved!  But I'm at work now and can't spend too much time.  :(  Later--and I crave this time.)

Big Addition!

THE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI IN JAPAN!

Dear God, this is major.  I am trying to read through the Old Testament this year, and I have encountered so many instances of Your disciplining Your people through wars and natural phenomenon.  May we all--Japanese and others--turn to You with all our hearts in this disaster.  And--Maranatha, Lord!!



More to Pray About

1. My student Lindsey and her sister
2. My older daughter's graduate school decisions
3. My younger daughter's college decisions
4. Sick kids and adults all over!
5. Clients
6. My own relationship with God

Prayer Journal

So much to do today--and I have called in sick with a slight headache and a slight sore throat.  For today, I'll just outline some things on my heart and share them with God's heart.  Love you, Lord.  Take these?

1. MOPS Steering Committee meeting March 24
1. Anna Harvey
2. Roles for everyone
3. Kathryn Dennett
4. Jackie Pawlowski
2. Husband!
3. Daughters
1. Husbands for them?
2. Julie's college choice
4. HBC Children's Ministry
5. MOPS on Thursday
6. Mother/stepfather: Alzheimer's