What an incredible thought - Jesus is praying for me!

Yesterday I was struck by this quote:
“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me." Robert Murray M'Cheyne

I didn't know who Robert Murray M'Cheyne was, so I googled it and found out he was a minister in Scotland during the 1800's. From there I went to another website with a quote by Louis Berkoff, a Reformed theologian, who lived in Grand Rapids, MI during the early 1900's.

“It is a consoling thought that Christ is praying for us, even when we are negligent in our prayer life; that He is presenting to the Father those spiritual needs which were not present to our minds and which we often neglect to include in our prayers; and that He prays for our protection against the dangers of which we are not even conscious, and against the enemies which threaten us, though we do not notice it. He is praying that our faith may not cease, and that we may come out victoriously in the end."

These words reminded me of a song we sang at church this past Sunday. (Well, I tried to sing... I never make it past the first phrase without a lump in my throat and usually by the end of the first verse I've given up singing and just wipe away the tears!)

"Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great high priest who's name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me..."

What a blessed, comforting thought - my Savior prays for me!

Fanning the flame

I love to be creative - rubber stamping cards, scrapbooking, cross-stitching, setting a pretty table, trying a new dish, writing music... Lately, though, I've been dry and not too, well, creative. For someone who gets their boost of energy from creating, you get the idea why it is such a troubling thing.

I've been reading a book by Michael Card - Scribbling in the Sand. This book on Christ and creativity has been such an encouragement to me.

One statement really hit me - "Fear and terror, no matter what form, will destroy our creativity." (p. 133) Since I read it this morning, I can't get away from the truth of that statement. The fear doesn't necessarily have to be about what you are trying to create. It can just be something you are dealing with that causes you to become paralyzed and ineffective. Been there - done that!

So once again, God lovingly reminded me what counters the dry, non-creative-due-to-fear times. His Word is alive and so right for every moment of life!

I John 4:18 says "there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear..."

Paul encouraged Timothy to "fan into flame the gift of God...for God has given us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self control (2 Timothy 1:6-7) - which reminds me that whenever I get distracted with fear, I am to "take every thought captive". (2 Corinthians 10:5) Great verses!

Being creative isn't about me or my abilities or something I can make or do - it is all about reflecting the beauty of God to others. So this is my desire ~ I want God to help me take the fading ember and fan it into a blazing flame!

Overwhelmed

This week, both girls started their fall routine. So with all that free time (ha ha), I had a list of projects I wanted to accomplish before my schedule starts on Monday. Over the summer, in between graduations, parties, a trip to PA, and a wonderful vacation with Tim, I made quite a few piles of things to deal with later - ummm, quite a few... and later had arrived!

I walked into the room to work on this project and immediately was OVERWHELMED with what needed to be done. As in, I just stood there paralyzed for a few minutes because I couldn't figure out where to start. It seemed no matter where I looked there was another pile and it was growing before my very eyes. I couldn't even manage to ask for help. The good news is my night-in-shining-armor arrived right at the moment when I was walking back out the door for the 3rd time because I just couldn't do it. He wasn't bogged down with enormity of the situation and with a few words of encouragement helped me put it back into perspective. And to show what a great guy he is, he even rolled up his sleeves and helped me deal with the piles.

That whole image made me think about when I get overwhelmed with what the enemy sends my way... when life seems to be growing before my eyes and I don't know how to deal with it... when I get paralyzed and can't even whisper a prayer. I'm SO thankful that God comes along side me and whispers words of encouragement that puts everything back in place. I can't imagine what a day would be like without Him walking with me on this journey called life.

" Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19

God's care about the "little" things

This fall my two youngest daughters have started new schools - Carissa at Purdue and Kimberly at Rossville High School. Both girls have had their moments of anxiety and excitement. But it is so amazing to see how God is showing His love for them in what could be considered the "little" things. Let me give you one example.

Yesterday was Kimberly's first day at her new school. All day, at the weirdest times, I sensed an invitation by God to pray for her. So what a wonderful thing it was to see of relief and a bit of excitement in her eyes when she got home. As we sat on the couch and I listened to her tell about her day, I couldn't help but comment about the kindness of God she had experienced! She even won a Monster drink because of getting the highest score on a quiz in one of her classes. How cool!

My girls aren't the only ones who have been gently reminded of God's care - I have walked away from the past week with several reminders:

1) God cares about us - even about things we might consider small - if it touches us, He cares!
2) God gives us the privilege of bringing our concerns to Him
3) God wants us to leave those concerns with Him and let Him handle it as He sees best
4) God ALWAYS brings about His best (not always what I might want - but what I need)
5) I need to remember to say "thank You" to my loving Abba!

Books

If you have ever been to my home it will not come as a surprise that I love books. Other than the bathrooms, every room in our home has at least one bookcase. Reference books, picture books, study books, how-to-fix, how-to-do, cookbooks, poetry, biographies, history, fiction - I love 'em all!

When asked to name my favorite author, I stumble how to respond. I love one certain author because of her believable characters. I love another author because their plots always have me on the edge of my seat. Then yet a different author has me mesmerized by their descriptive language. Who can pick just one favorite?!

Around here, someone in our family usually has their nose in a book - so it always baffles me when I hear someone say they don't like to read. It just doesn't compute for me. Reading takes you to places you will probably never visit, gives you knowledge how to do something, captures your imagination, and stretches you beyond your comfort zone. Books are incredible treasures.

I need to close for now... I'm in the middle of a good book and I want to see how the story is going to end.

Serving - with joy, laughter, and a few tears, too

I met some friends at Beef and Boards in Indianapolis yesterday to see The Church Basement Ladies. It was hilarious! This musical, about 3 (shall we say somewhat older) ladies who take care of the kitchen and hospitality of a Lutheran Church in Minnesota takes place in the last part of 1969 - 1970. The set and clothes made you feel like you were truly back in that time period. And oh the funny things they talked about!
But then it turned more tender as one of the ladies' daughter shows up and announces she and her husband are moving back home - and that she is going to have a baby. One of the last songs had me very choked up as I thought about my own precious daughters and how life keeps moving on.
As I drove away, I couldn't help but think about the parts of ministry I have had the privilege to be part of during my life... the many different ladies I have worked with... and the times of laughter and tears shared with all those gals. It gave a little boost of energy as I think about the fall and all the activities just about to start back up.
So - here's to another year of ministry - may it be filled with joy and laughter, and a few tender moments, too!

Leaving my concerns where they should be

I don't like stressful times. I don't like how the issue or problem becomes the all-consuming focus in life and takes away precious time from other people or activities. It bothers me when words get misunderstood because of the intensity of a conversation and causes tension. It especially gets to me when the stress point is brought to a person's life not by any action of their own but just because of association.
So what causes stress anyhow? For me, I think it comes when something is going on that I think shouldn't and then I try to take control to fix it... or at least lessen potential damage. My Mama Bear instincts come out (and sometimes my claws, too) because I don't want any one - including me - to get hurt.
I was reading in Valley of Vision yesterday and was clobbered over the head with how God wants me to live and respond to life.
"Teach me to be resigned to Your will, to delight in Your law, to have no will but Yours,
to believe that everything You do is for my good.
Help me to leave my concerns in Your hands, for You have power over evil,
and bring from it an infinite progression of good, until Your purposes are fulfilled."
Some great words to make a prayer from my heart.

Try... try again!

Ok - I'll just pretend that I have been writing right along and that it hasn't been over a year since I last posted something...

The summer has gone by so quickly and we are looking at the start up of - well, everything that starts back up in fall. School, church activities, teaching piano lessons - you get the idea. We've done the back-to-school shopping and putting-away-summer-stuff jobs, so for now it is just waiting for the starting gun to go off announcing it is time to go.

I can't say that I feel ready for it all to come crashing back onto my calendar. I'm still in the lazy feel of summer. I know what the pace of the year is like - so once again, I'm going to try and limit some of the extra's in life so I can do justice to the importance things. Not sure how well I'll succeed at it, but that is the beauty of the start of the fall - another beginning!