The Fast is over - at least this one. There will be other fasts in the near future. Tonight we went to a new Indian restaurant in the area, and though I went vegetarian it was a lot more spice and other "ingredients" than I have had for ten days. Chana Masala = YUM!
Yesterday I posted comments about the reading from 1Samuel 3:9, and pointed up the listening piece. But as the day progressed the rest of the message began to really take hold: we must listen and then follow! It is not enough just to listen - we must act on what God has told us - we must follow the path He has put before us. "Your servant is listening" - but the servant must then act!
Remember the story that I used, about the policeman? It would have been no help if the people had listened to his voice but not followed what he said. If they had not followed his voice, they would have perished. Liewise, we must not only listen but follow.
So the revelations of this fast have been this:
1 - take (MAKE) time to listen to God, through prayer and through His Word (the Bible)
2 - act on those things we learn by listening.
There is much to be done, and there are many who will want us to go other routes and listen to them instead. But the way I go must be the way God directs - popular or not, easy or not.
Thank you for being with me on this journey. your prayers have been appreciated and your comments will be as well. There will be more in the future - more fasts and more enlightenment as a result, and more revelations through prayer even without the fasting.
And more time in the presence of our God.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Fast - Day 9
Good morning!
Last night I was with some wonderful ladies from our church who knit and crochet. We all knit and/or crochet constantly and get together monthly for fellowship and lessons and support. One of our primary ministries is prayer shawls.
One asked me "so have you had any revelations during the fast?" and I shared that only the bit about my personal eating habits had been a revelation thus far. And that was a freeing and enlightening revelation - in fact, it made me laugh with relief!
This morning I was looking back over the readings of the week. 1Samuel 3:9 jumped out and I read it...
(NIV)
The source of my reading this verse this week was an email that has a verse and a short story and a prayer. The story was about a police officer who helped guide people out of the Pentagon on 9/11/2001 - the smoke was thick and people were confused so he told them to walk toward his voice. Five people were led to safety because they followed the sound of his voice to safety.
God calls us out of the confusion of our lives if we will listen to His voice!
There is confusion all around us! It may not look loike smoke or sound like the rushing of flames or the screaming of scared and injured people. Rather it may look like friendly people who seem to want what is best for us. It may look like authors and speakers and even friends and family members. It may look like logic that makes sense or kindness that seems politically correct.
We need to listen to God's voice. Sometimes it is calling to us loudly like the police officer, trying to save us from certain death. But more often it is a still small voice - in our hearts, in our spirits, and in the Bible (His Word). It is important to listen to His voice - listen FOR His voice - in the midst of all the chaos and mixed-messages of our lives. It is necessary to make time to listen - and in a place quiet and peaceful enough to hear him. Prayer is a conversaton, and part of that conversation is listening.
My revelation this morning - in the issues about which I have been praying, it is critical that we focus on God's voice. He will speak the words we need to hear.
Has God spoken to you lately? Please share...
Last night I was with some wonderful ladies from our church who knit and crochet. We all knit and/or crochet constantly and get together monthly for fellowship and lessons and support. One of our primary ministries is prayer shawls.
One asked me "so have you had any revelations during the fast?" and I shared that only the bit about my personal eating habits had been a revelation thus far. And that was a freeing and enlightening revelation - in fact, it made me laugh with relief!
This morning I was looking back over the readings of the week. 1Samuel 3:9 jumped out and I read it...
The source of my reading this verse this week was an email that has a verse and a short story and a prayer. The story was about a police officer who helped guide people out of the Pentagon on 9/11/2001 - the smoke was thick and people were confused so he told them to walk toward his voice. Five people were led to safety because they followed the sound of his voice to safety.
God calls us out of the confusion of our lives if we will listen to His voice!
There is confusion all around us! It may not look loike smoke or sound like the rushing of flames or the screaming of scared and injured people. Rather it may look like friendly people who seem to want what is best for us. It may look like authors and speakers and even friends and family members. It may look like logic that makes sense or kindness that seems politically correct.
We need to listen to God's voice. Sometimes it is calling to us loudly like the police officer, trying to save us from certain death. But more often it is a still small voice - in our hearts, in our spirits, and in the Bible (His Word). It is important to listen to His voice - listen FOR His voice - in the midst of all the chaos and mixed-messages of our lives. It is necessary to make time to listen - and in a place quiet and peaceful enough to hear him. Prayer is a conversaton, and part of that conversation is listening.
My revelation this morning - in the issues about which I have been praying, it is critical that we focus on God's voice. He will speak the words we need to hear.
Has God spoken to you lately? Please share...
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Fasting - Day 7
Today has been a day with at least one revelation: I need to permanently eliminate sugar, caffeine and most grains from my diet. I feel good, have more energy (as witnessed by the fact that I am writing this at nearly-midnight) and there are no aches and pains or stiffness. Next week I will add dairy (yogurt) and a little meat back in and see what happens.
Health was one of the issues about which I have been seeking guidance, but not the primary focus of this fast, so I thought. Then I opened the box that came today from Christian Book Distributors with the book Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer Townes. I had ordered it last week when I was researching the Daniel Fast. In his book, he outlines nine different fasts and the reasons to follow each one. Accordiong to his writings, the Daniel Fast is particularly good for the purposes of healing and health issues.
I am committed to finishing the ten-day fast, which is another point in his book - no matter what you should finish the fast for the time you have committed.
Fasting is a commitment - and should be done in an intentional fashion, It should have a beginning and an end, a purpose or focus, and be supported in prayer - both by those fasting and by others who will pray for the fast.
Let me say that the real difference between this fast and all previous Daniel's Fasts I have done is the prayer support. In times past, I have done these fasts on my own and told no one. This time it has been shared publicly and supported by the prayers of brothers and sisters in Christ. Some had wanted to walk this path with me, but were unable to stay the course for one reason or another. Some were not called to join but to pray.
Are you considering a time of fasting? Perhaps you would like to add fasting to your prayer life. One way to start is to do a partial fast one day per week. The Daniel guidelines are good for a one-day fast to start (just vegetables and water for a day - either a 24-hour day or sundown to sundown). Most people can tolerate this type of fast without health concerns ( but check with your doctor). Use extra time in the morning or at the onset to pray about the fast.
What good is a one-day fast? it will give your system an opportunity to rest, and will give you some extra time in prayer and Bible study.
Longer fasts are good for fasting to a purpose - making a big decision, healing, discernment ...
Thank you for keeping me in prayer as I fast - I still have three more days before this journey is done, and I am praying for more insight before the time is up.
This is has been a fairly boring blog over the past week - hope to make it more interesting as time passes. Write a question or comment!! and thanks for reading.
Health was one of the issues about which I have been seeking guidance, but not the primary focus of this fast, so I thought. Then I opened the box that came today from Christian Book Distributors with the book Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer Townes. I had ordered it last week when I was researching the Daniel Fast. In his book, he outlines nine different fasts and the reasons to follow each one. Accordiong to his writings, the Daniel Fast is particularly good for the purposes of healing and health issues.
I am committed to finishing the ten-day fast, which is another point in his book - no matter what you should finish the fast for the time you have committed.
Fasting is a commitment - and should be done in an intentional fashion, It should have a beginning and an end, a purpose or focus, and be supported in prayer - both by those fasting and by others who will pray for the fast.
Let me say that the real difference between this fast and all previous Daniel's Fasts I have done is the prayer support. In times past, I have done these fasts on my own and told no one. This time it has been shared publicly and supported by the prayers of brothers and sisters in Christ. Some had wanted to walk this path with me, but were unable to stay the course for one reason or another. Some were not called to join but to pray.
Are you considering a time of fasting? Perhaps you would like to add fasting to your prayer life. One way to start is to do a partial fast one day per week. The Daniel guidelines are good for a one-day fast to start (just vegetables and water for a day - either a 24-hour day or sundown to sundown). Most people can tolerate this type of fast without health concerns ( but check with your doctor). Use extra time in the morning or at the onset to pray about the fast.
What good is a one-day fast? it will give your system an opportunity to rest, and will give you some extra time in prayer and Bible study.
Longer fasts are good for fasting to a purpose - making a big decision, healing, discernment ...
Thank you for keeping me in prayer as I fast - I still have three more days before this journey is done, and I am praying for more insight before the time is up.
This is has been a fairly boring blog over the past week - hope to make it more interesting as time passes. Write a question or comment!! and thanks for reading.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Fasting under the Palm Tree - Day 4
If anyone is actually following this, we are in Day Four of the Daniel Fast. Hardly seems like it has been four days...
In the book Fasting for a Spiritual Breakthrough, it is recommended that one designate - and write down - the focus and purpose of the fast. At the onset, I had set down two areas on which I felt I was to focus. This morning as I awoke, I saw exactly the questions for which I am seeking answers. I saw themn written in the notebook I am keeping for this Fast journey. So when I got up, I came to the table and wrote them just as I envisioned.
Four questions are there. Actually there are four areas about which I am asking the same question: What am I supposed to do, and how?
There is a danger in asking a question: someone will give you an answer.
In my "day job" I often have people come to the door of my office and start by saying "I have a question" - to which my usual response is "and you expect me to have an answer, don't you?"
When we ask God a question, He will always answer. We sometimes have to wait a bit for the answer (sometimes the answer is "wait") and we always have to listen for it. But He always answers. And many times the answer is not the one we expected or wanted. Sometimes we miss it because we are so sure we know the answer already.
(Remember the story about the guy and the flood? His house had water up to the first floor and and a boat came by - he said "Go on - God will save me". The water rose to the second floor and along came another boat - and again he sent it on with the same response. The water rose and he was standing on the roof. Along came a helicopter and again he called "o on - God will save me." And then he drowned. When he appeared before God in heaven, he asked "Where were you?" and God replied "I sent two boats and a helicopter!" Sometimes the answer is not what we were expecting...)
So now I have posed four questions to God and I am awaiting His answers... will they be what I expect? what I want to hear? easy to follow?
Do you have questions you would like God to answer? Meet Him in prayer and in His word, and spend some time in quiet meditation - He will answer. And He will give you - us - whatever is needed to do what He directs.
Oh - and the fast? Not bad... I had a challenging day today, as we were at a Rennaisance Faire and my only food choice was an ear of corn... but otherwise not too bad. Vegetables and water are available almost everywhere in the form of salad. For breakfast I had a half an apple with fresh-ground peanut butter... for supper? Baked potato, a tomato, and some nuts and blueberries.
More tomorrow evening.
In the book Fasting for a Spiritual Breakthrough, it is recommended that one designate - and write down - the focus and purpose of the fast. At the onset, I had set down two areas on which I felt I was to focus. This morning as I awoke, I saw exactly the questions for which I am seeking answers. I saw themn written in the notebook I am keeping for this Fast journey. So when I got up, I came to the table and wrote them just as I envisioned.
Four questions are there. Actually there are four areas about which I am asking the same question: What am I supposed to do, and how?
There is a danger in asking a question: someone will give you an answer.
In my "day job" I often have people come to the door of my office and start by saying "I have a question" - to which my usual response is "and you expect me to have an answer, don't you?"
When we ask God a question, He will always answer. We sometimes have to wait a bit for the answer (sometimes the answer is "wait") and we always have to listen for it. But He always answers. And many times the answer is not the one we expected or wanted. Sometimes we miss it because we are so sure we know the answer already.
(Remember the story about the guy and the flood? His house had water up to the first floor and and a boat came by - he said "Go on - God will save me". The water rose to the second floor and along came another boat - and again he sent it on with the same response. The water rose and he was standing on the roof. Along came a helicopter and again he called "o on - God will save me." And then he drowned. When he appeared before God in heaven, he asked "Where were you?" and God replied "I sent two boats and a helicopter!" Sometimes the answer is not what we were expecting...)
So now I have posed four questions to God and I am awaiting His answers... will they be what I expect? what I want to hear? easy to follow?
Do you have questions you would like God to answer? Meet Him in prayer and in His word, and spend some time in quiet meditation - He will answer. And He will give you - us - whatever is needed to do what He directs.
Oh - and the fast? Not bad... I had a challenging day today, as we were at a Rennaisance Faire and my only food choice was an ear of corn... but otherwise not too bad. Vegetables and water are available almost everywhere in the form of salad. For breakfast I had a half an apple with fresh-ground peanut butter... for supper? Baked potato, a tomato, and some nuts and blueberries.
More tomorrow evening.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Fasting under the Palm Tree - Day 2
Please forgive the delay in writing... so much has happened that needs prayer that I have not had much prayer time to devote to these posts.
Decisions have been made by the parent denomination of our church that require much prayer and discernment. I will not use this space as a political platform, but please pray for the ELCA, the congregations that are affiliated with it and the individual church members in each of those congregations.
My husband had business in Dallas, and we were blessed to worship with friends there. Richard is the pastor of a wonderful, Spirit-filled, God-following church. We were truly inspired by the worship. It began our week away in such a glorious manner. It reminded us of things we were neglecting in our worhip life. And the week away, with much free time for me to read and write and pray, allowed me time to ponder those issues and make decisions to change. Thus far I have been able to apply most of them (opportunities for some have not yet arisen) and God continues to remind me of those decisions.
Now I come to the present: the Daniel Fast. This has mostly been impressed on my heart by the decisions that will need to be made in our congregation in the very near future. God placed it on my heart to fast and pray for the church council, the pastors, and the individual congregation members - that they will seek God's wisdom and guidance in the days and weeks to come, and then follow His leading. I need to do the same for myself. And there are other issues in my life that need some examining and prayer as well.
I have decided on the 10-day Daniel Fast because it is based on Daniel's decision (See Daniel 1) not to eat the foods of the King. Please pray for me and the others who have decided to join me in this fast. We began on Friday September 4th and will end on Sunday September 13th.
We are using the guidelines for this fast as they are given in the book Fasting to a Spirititual Breakthrough (author Towns). It is not a strict fast, and can be adapted to many health issues and personal requirements. A true Daniel Fast is just vegetables and water but this allows that vegetables really referred to vegetation and includes fruit and grains. Those who follow the fast can be as strict or inclusive as they wish as long as they follow the basics and make the decision before they start. In other words, make a decision that one will eat only vegetables and drink only water, OR make the decision to allow grains and fruits and nuts and seeds.
In the past I have followed the stricter fast. This time I am following the more inclusive fast, allowing for fruits and seeds and nuts. Limited grains as well (oatmeal and rice).
Praying and reading God's word are the focus of a fast. Using whole, fresh vegetables and fruits allows me to grab something and then spend the time in prayer and reading and meditation that would have been spent preparing foods.
Is a fast for you? Do you feel called to fast about a concern? First pray about whether you should fast. Pray about what type of fast would work for you. Research fasting (there are full fasts where you drink only water for the duration; partial fasts like the Daniel Fast where you follow specific guidelines; 24-hour fasts and longer fasts). The important thing to remember is that fasting always regards food - giving up TV or playing cards is a great way to spend more time in God's Word and in prayer, but it is not a fast.
Please let me know if you decide to fast - I will pray for you (this is a great help: ask others to pray for you while you fast. If it is a corporate issue such as our church concern, ask a small group of others to join you and then ask those who cannot fast with you to pray for you those days).
I am planning to update this post daily with at least something regarding this fast. Hope to talk to you again tomorrow.
Decisions have been made by the parent denomination of our church that require much prayer and discernment. I will not use this space as a political platform, but please pray for the ELCA, the congregations that are affiliated with it and the individual church members in each of those congregations.
My husband had business in Dallas, and we were blessed to worship with friends there. Richard is the pastor of a wonderful, Spirit-filled, God-following church. We were truly inspired by the worship. It began our week away in such a glorious manner. It reminded us of things we were neglecting in our worhip life. And the week away, with much free time for me to read and write and pray, allowed me time to ponder those issues and make decisions to change. Thus far I have been able to apply most of them (opportunities for some have not yet arisen) and God continues to remind me of those decisions.
Now I come to the present: the Daniel Fast. This has mostly been impressed on my heart by the decisions that will need to be made in our congregation in the very near future. God placed it on my heart to fast and pray for the church council, the pastors, and the individual congregation members - that they will seek God's wisdom and guidance in the days and weeks to come, and then follow His leading. I need to do the same for myself. And there are other issues in my life that need some examining and prayer as well.
I have decided on the 10-day Daniel Fast because it is based on Daniel's decision (See Daniel 1) not to eat the foods of the King. Please pray for me and the others who have decided to join me in this fast. We began on Friday September 4th and will end on Sunday September 13th.
We are using the guidelines for this fast as they are given in the book Fasting to a Spirititual Breakthrough (author Towns). It is not a strict fast, and can be adapted to many health issues and personal requirements. A true Daniel Fast is just vegetables and water but this allows that vegetables really referred to vegetation and includes fruit and grains. Those who follow the fast can be as strict or inclusive as they wish as long as they follow the basics and make the decision before they start. In other words, make a decision that one will eat only vegetables and drink only water, OR make the decision to allow grains and fruits and nuts and seeds.
In the past I have followed the stricter fast. This time I am following the more inclusive fast, allowing for fruits and seeds and nuts. Limited grains as well (oatmeal and rice).
Praying and reading God's word are the focus of a fast. Using whole, fresh vegetables and fruits allows me to grab something and then spend the time in prayer and reading and meditation that would have been spent preparing foods.
Is a fast for you? Do you feel called to fast about a concern? First pray about whether you should fast. Pray about what type of fast would work for you. Research fasting (there are full fasts where you drink only water for the duration; partial fasts like the Daniel Fast where you follow specific guidelines; 24-hour fasts and longer fasts). The important thing to remember is that fasting always regards food - giving up TV or playing cards is a great way to spend more time in God's Word and in prayer, but it is not a fast.
Please let me know if you decide to fast - I will pray for you (this is a great help: ask others to pray for you while you fast. If it is a corporate issue such as our church concern, ask a small group of others to join you and then ask those who cannot fast with you to pray for you those days).
I am planning to update this post daily with at least something regarding this fast. Hope to talk to you again tomorrow.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Appointment with prayer
Good morning! Have you had time to read Scripture and pray this morning?
This week I was blessed to attend The Leadership Summit 2009, sponsored by the Willow Creek Association. It was an awesome experience! Some of the speakers include Bill Hybels, Wes Stafford, Bono and Tony Blair plus others... what a diverse group it was.
(you can check it out at www.willowcreek.com)
One of the take-aways that Bill Hybels pointed out in his closing remarks was to make sure to take time with God every day.
Make a daily appointment with God and keep it!
This conference was for leaders - mostly they were church leaders but many attendees (and presenters) are leaders in the business community as well. "Take time for God daily."
Think about it - God is the original leader. Wouldn't it be fantastic if He was truly the Leader of all leaders? Think of the difference it could make in the world if every leader - at every level - began the day with a time of Scriptures and prayer? Think of the way decisions would be made - decisions that impact the economy, health, relationships and welfare of people and governments all over the world. Amazing!
In reality, not all leaders do that. So we must each do what we can to support them and create change. And though praying generically for "all leaders everywhere" is one way, I suggest that we pray for each leader that we know by name. Pray for the local leaders (mayors, county executives, governors, etc). Pray for our local congress reps and senators. Pray for the leaders of businesses you patronize (your own employer, the man who owns the supermarket where you shop, the woman who runs the yarn store, the people who own the coffee shop...) - and if you don't know their names, start by praying for them generically while you find out their names. Pray for your pastors and church leaders. Pray for the coaches.
You get the idea:
Pray for the leaders within your sphere of influence - anyone who leads a group, an organization, a club, a team, a ministry, a county, a state, a country ... any leaders you know by name. Pray that they will make a daily appointment with God and keep it - seeking God's guidance in every decision. Pray that God will protect them from their own poor decisions and the poor decisions of others. Pray that he/she is safe and well. Then let God take it from there.
Be a leader - lead with prayer.
Make that daily appointment with God - put it on your planner - and keep it!
This week I was blessed to attend The Leadership Summit 2009, sponsored by the Willow Creek Association. It was an awesome experience! Some of the speakers include Bill Hybels, Wes Stafford, Bono and Tony Blair plus others... what a diverse group it was.
(you can check it out at www.willowcreek.com)
One of the take-aways that Bill Hybels pointed out in his closing remarks was to make sure to take time with God every day.
Make a daily appointment with God and keep it!
This conference was for leaders - mostly they were church leaders but many attendees (and presenters) are leaders in the business community as well. "Take time for God daily."
Think about it - God is the original leader. Wouldn't it be fantastic if He was truly the Leader of all leaders? Think of the difference it could make in the world if every leader - at every level - began the day with a time of Scriptures and prayer? Think of the way decisions would be made - decisions that impact the economy, health, relationships and welfare of people and governments all over the world. Amazing!
In reality, not all leaders do that. So we must each do what we can to support them and create change. And though praying generically for "all leaders everywhere" is one way, I suggest that we pray for each leader that we know by name. Pray for the local leaders (mayors, county executives, governors, etc). Pray for our local congress reps and senators. Pray for the leaders of businesses you patronize (your own employer, the man who owns the supermarket where you shop, the woman who runs the yarn store, the people who own the coffee shop...) - and if you don't know their names, start by praying for them generically while you find out their names. Pray for your pastors and church leaders. Pray for the coaches.
You get the idea:
Pray for the leaders within your sphere of influence - anyone who leads a group, an organization, a club, a team, a ministry, a county, a state, a country ... any leaders you know by name. Pray that they will make a daily appointment with God and keep it - seeking God's guidance in every decision. Pray that God will protect them from their own poor decisions and the poor decisions of others. Pray that he/she is safe and well. Then let God take it from there.
Be a leader - lead with prayer.
Make that daily appointment with God - put it on your planner - and keep it!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Welcome!!
Thank you for stopping by to read about prayer. Let me introduce this blog by explaining the title. I am an author of short story collections. They all started out as "stories you could read in twenty minutes, when you just want to relax under a palm tree". The palm tree began to symbolize a time of relaxation in my conversations. I would remind people - especially busy women - to get some palm tree time every day. That meant I wanted them to take at least 15-20 minutes just for themselves, to relax.
In one aspect of my life I am involved in prayer ministry. So as I was beginning to blog more, I thought perhaps there could be a place to share prayer stories, prayer thoughts and questions, prayer requests, and other comments etc about prayer. And what better place to do it than under a palm tree? Relaxed, calm, peaceful...
So feel free to comment, ask questions, share prayer concerns and requests, and meditate on God's goodness with us - under a palm tree.
In one aspect of my life I am involved in prayer ministry. So as I was beginning to blog more, I thought perhaps there could be a place to share prayer stories, prayer thoughts and questions, prayer requests, and other comments etc about prayer. And what better place to do it than under a palm tree? Relaxed, calm, peaceful...
So feel free to comment, ask questions, share prayer concerns and requests, and meditate on God's goodness with us - under a palm tree.
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