Sunday was an interesting day, and it all started at church.
As I was maneuvering a cart of children's books and such from the church to the outdoor worship area, a young woman pulled into the parking lot and stopped me. She was meeting friends and wanted to know where to park. Noting my Lay Pastor name tag and the contents of the cart, she asked "Are you the Lay Pastor of Children's Ministry?" I laughed and assured her that I was not, but rather was called to prayer ministry.
"Oh, thank God I met you, because I really need prayer!"
She parked and I continued my journey with the children's cart.
A few minutes later she was taking a bulletin from me and we chatted about her visit: where she lives, why she was visiting the area, where she was traveling next, etc. She mentioned that she is Jewish by heritage and accepted Christ as Saviour just a few short years ago. Others joined our conversation, giving their impressions of the state she is about to visit and making her welcome. Eventually her friends arrived and she joined them for worship.
All morning I had felt it was important to have the annointing balm with me... Patting the little pot of balm in my pocket I prayed "Father, please lead me to the person who needs prayer today - or lead them to me." As we worshipped and prayed and as the message was shared, I continued to ask the same prayer, and was getting the same message: I already have.
Looking at each person gathered, in my head rang the young woman's words I really need prayer. Of course - God had connected me with this person on purpose.
After worship I tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she had ever had anyone pray for her with laying on of hands and annointing. She said "Not in a long time." Assured that she indeed would like to have someone pray with her, I grabbed another Lay Pastor and we went to the church where it was peaceful.
This young woman was totally overwhelmed that people who had just met her would stop, listen to the concerns of her heart, annoint her (a young Jewish woman, and the annointing balm in my pocket came from Galilee last year with our pastor), lay hands on her and pray for her. Suddenly we became her new Christian sisters, sending her off on her travels and then back to her home with our prayers for God's blessing and guidance in her life.
We gave her our contact information and will all meet on Facebook soon. But we talked about how God sometimes gives us the opportunity to say or do something - perhaps sew the seeds and perhaps water them - in a one-time meeting. We may never again meet face-to-face before Heaven, but our lives are intertwined because our paths crossed for two hours on a hot summer morning on the lawn of the church.
So our lesson was this: follow those little nudges to do what God wants you to do ... when I asked her about prayer and annointing, she could have reacted in a totally different way. But my responsibility was to ask. The rest was up to God.
What is God leading YOU to do today? Where is He placing you? Who will He put in your path? I pray you are open to His leading. God will take care of the rest.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
How shall we pray?
People will often ask how to begin a time of prayer. This is an interesting question with a seemingly easy answer.
Prayer is merely conversation. All the same things that apply to any conversation apply to prayer. The difference is that this conversation takes place between a human and God. But this is really the only difference.
Think of children waiting for Daddy to come home. The car enters the garage, the kitchen door opens, and the children run to greet the father who has just returned from a busy day at work.
"Daddy, Daddy! Guess what I found on the playground?!" "Daddy, look what I drew in school!" "Daddy, see this trick?" "Daddy, Joey got a new puppy - wanna go see it?"
Children don't stop to consider the importance of their news compared to the concerns of the father's career. They simply want to share everything with him. And that Daddy delights in every word. He wants to hear about their day.
Sometimes the child approaches the father a little differently... perhaps with "um, Dad, can I talk to you?" or "can I ask you something?" which precipitates a serious discussion. That father wants to hear these things too – to be approachable.
So it is with our Heavenly Father - He wants to hear all about our day and our concerns, whether it is something that excites and pleases us or something that hurts or burdens us.
Thus, we simply start by talking, just as we do with others with whom we have conversation every day.
Prayer is merely conversation. All the same things that apply to any conversation apply to prayer. The difference is that this conversation takes place between a human and God. But this is really the only difference.
Think of children waiting for Daddy to come home. The car enters the garage, the kitchen door opens, and the children run to greet the father who has just returned from a busy day at work.
"Daddy, Daddy! Guess what I found on the playground?!" "Daddy, look what I drew in school!" "Daddy, see this trick?" "Daddy, Joey got a new puppy - wanna go see it?"
Children don't stop to consider the importance of their news compared to the concerns of the father's career. They simply want to share everything with him. And that Daddy delights in every word. He wants to hear about their day.
Sometimes the child approaches the father a little differently... perhaps with "um, Dad, can I talk to you?" or "can I ask you something?" which precipitates a serious discussion. That father wants to hear these things too – to be approachable.
So it is with our Heavenly Father - He wants to hear all about our day and our concerns, whether it is something that excites and pleases us or something that hurts or burdens us.
Thus, we simply start by talking, just as we do with others with whom we have conversation every day.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Passing on the Legacy
Driving home last night from Costco, I was listening to a message on the radio about what we pass on from one generation to the other. The message got me to thinking about that very thing, especially on the day after Mother's Day.
The preacher was talking about the "stuff" we pass down from one generation to another: jewelry, china, trophies, furniture... all those things that collect dust and cause family squabbles.
On Sunday at worship we gave thanks for the ways that mothers care for their families and for others, and acknowledged the influence they have in our lives (both good and bad).
And the two together has me thinking about what we do pass down from one generation to another.
In addition to the recipe for macaroni and cheese and angel cake, we should be passing down the respect for the home arts and for the women who choose to stay at home to raise their children. We also need to pass along the respect for those who wish they could but cannot because of financial issues. Most of all we should be supporting the next generation of mothers by passing along lessons and love.
Rather than the jewels and furniture, we should be more concerned about the life skills and experiences we are passing down. When our children remember us will it be as understanding and caring? or absent and consumed with amassing those jewels and furnishings?
Sometimes an heirloom evokes memories that are clear and almost tangible. Will those be positive memories of fun and laughter with parents who were loving and fair? Or of parents who were too busy and too angry and too mean?
What will our children and grandchildren inherit from us? Will it be furniture and land and money? Things that will either be put in an attic or cabinet for fear of being harmed, or eventually fall apart from use and be tossed away?
Will they inherit a world that we have used up? or will they inherit our respect for God's creation and our attempts to do less harm than good? Will they inherit high blood pressure and obesity and addictions? or will they inherit our desire to eat organically and be active and lead a healthy lifestyle?
Rather than passing down the family Bible, we should be more concerned about passing down the family faith - a faith that will still be fresh and strong for generations to come. We should be raising them to believe and trust in God - to look to Jesus for salvation and the Holy Spirit for guidance - and how to discern the teachings they hear, rather than passing along the family pew in what we consider the "right" denomination. We should be leaving them the power of prayer, that they can be in continual conversation with a Father who will be the perfect parent even though we weren't.
So I ask you today, as you are praying about your family and all those of the next generation in your sphere of influence, to pray how you would be used to leave a legacy - an inheritance - of faith and salvation.
The preacher was talking about the "stuff" we pass down from one generation to another: jewelry, china, trophies, furniture... all those things that collect dust and cause family squabbles.
On Sunday at worship we gave thanks for the ways that mothers care for their families and for others, and acknowledged the influence they have in our lives (both good and bad).
And the two together has me thinking about what we do pass down from one generation to another.
In addition to the recipe for macaroni and cheese and angel cake, we should be passing down the respect for the home arts and for the women who choose to stay at home to raise their children. We also need to pass along the respect for those who wish they could but cannot because of financial issues. Most of all we should be supporting the next generation of mothers by passing along lessons and love.
Rather than the jewels and furniture, we should be more concerned about the life skills and experiences we are passing down. When our children remember us will it be as understanding and caring? or absent and consumed with amassing those jewels and furnishings?
Sometimes an heirloom evokes memories that are clear and almost tangible. Will those be positive memories of fun and laughter with parents who were loving and fair? Or of parents who were too busy and too angry and too mean?
What will our children and grandchildren inherit from us? Will it be furniture and land and money? Things that will either be put in an attic or cabinet for fear of being harmed, or eventually fall apart from use and be tossed away?
Will they inherit a world that we have used up? or will they inherit our respect for God's creation and our attempts to do less harm than good? Will they inherit high blood pressure and obesity and addictions? or will they inherit our desire to eat organically and be active and lead a healthy lifestyle?
Rather than passing down the family Bible, we should be more concerned about passing down the family faith - a faith that will still be fresh and strong for generations to come. We should be raising them to believe and trust in God - to look to Jesus for salvation and the Holy Spirit for guidance - and how to discern the teachings they hear, rather than passing along the family pew in what we consider the "right" denomination. We should be leaving them the power of prayer, that they can be in continual conversation with a Father who will be the perfect parent even though we weren't.
So I ask you today, as you are praying about your family and all those of the next generation in your sphere of influence, to pray how you would be used to leave a legacy - an inheritance - of faith and salvation.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
prayers for children
Two very brave and wonderful people I know are making a pilgrimage - a mission trip - to Tanzania. As I write this Karen and Jim are in Mbeya, being hosted by Father Robert Mbinda and his wife Mariam. The Mbindas oversee the Good Samaritan Orphanage.
The children at the orphanage have lost their parents to AIDS - it is epidemic there. There is often a shortage of medical assistance, and in an emergency there is no 9-1-1.
As we sit in neat clean houses and eat healthy food (I hope you are eating healthfully) washed down with clean water, these little ones are carrying water great distances which is not as pure as it could be and their meals are often the same each day and are meager.
Children in the United States and other "developed" countries are suffering from the opposite problem: they are over-fed and under-active. While the Tanzanian children schlep water great distances and gather sticks for fires, the children in the U.S. are munching high-calorie snacks while sitting for hours in front of a tv or computer. They will have shortened life spans not because of AIDSand diseases from unclean water but from diseases borne of obesity: heart disease and diabetes.
Please pray for our children - the children of Tanzania and the children of the United States... pray for their health and their futures. And then pray for inspiration for ways that you can help them all.
The children at the orphanage have lost their parents to AIDS - it is epidemic there. There is often a shortage of medical assistance, and in an emergency there is no 9-1-1.
As we sit in neat clean houses and eat healthy food (I hope you are eating healthfully) washed down with clean water, these little ones are carrying water great distances which is not as pure as it could be and their meals are often the same each day and are meager.
Children in the United States and other "developed" countries are suffering from the opposite problem: they are over-fed and under-active. While the Tanzanian children schlep water great distances and gather sticks for fires, the children in the U.S. are munching high-calorie snacks while sitting for hours in front of a tv or computer. They will have shortened life spans not because of AIDSand diseases from unclean water but from diseases borne of obesity: heart disease and diabetes.
Please pray for our children - the children of Tanzania and the children of the United States... pray for their health and their futures. And then pray for inspiration for ways that you can help them all.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Praying for families with children
My children are adults. We enjoy one another's company as adults - we do things together and are friends on Facebook. I am not a mother who regrets not having young children in the house - I enjoy being able to pursue my pastimes without concern for the schedules of little league, choir and youth group.
That being said, I must tell you that I enjoyed all of the years when my children were, well, children. And it is no secret that my favorite demographic group is teens...
What prompts this missive today is reading the Facebook posts by mothers (and fathers) who are complaining about having been snowbound for much of the past two weeks. For those of you not in the mid-Atlantic area, we have had two blizzards in a single week and schools have been closed for over a week with delayed start since they opened Wednesday.
First, before you mutiny, let me say that it is understandable for those who need to make alternative child care arrangements so they can work to be somewhat upset. Not everyone can work remotely and not all businesses were closed the entire time.
Then let me say that what does bother me is the complaining tones of parents who seemingly have no idea how (or no interest) to engage and have fun with their kids. Each day that school was canceled was met with "I can't stand another day in the house with my kids" followed by a chorus of "Hooray they are gone and the house is quiet!" on the first day back.
We noticed on the days when our road was still unplowed that there were no children out playing and laughing and no one flying down the two fabulous sledding hills created by the accumulation. [The last time that my kids were young enough to be home for such a snow event was 1983, and every kid in the neighborhood was out there (yes, they are streets, but when they are under 20+ inches of snow they are sledding hills!) with quite a few parents.] We did see several teens tromp through the hip-deep snow to meet rides at the top of the road where the state road had been plowed - I did not see them (or any other children) assisting elderly neighbors get shoveled.
Exciting were the posts by parents who were out sledding, snowballing and such with the kids as well as having the kids help shovel snow. I love reading posts by parents baking cookies and making meals with the kids. It's great to see that there are families who can work and play together and have fun doing both.
So where is the prayer here?
I pray that parents and children will learn to laugh together, chase lightning bugs together, build snowmen together and play games together (board games as well as video games).
I pray that parents and children will learn to vaccuum and dust together, bake cookies together, shovel snow and clean off cars together, clear a neighbor's walk together, weed a garden and plant flowers together.
I pray that parents and children will go to church together, pray together, share concerns with one another, care about one another, talk to one another, listen to one another.
I pray that parents and children will serve at a shelter or soup kitchen together, take things to the Salvation Army together, walk/run/bike for a cause together, recycle together.
I pray that parents will have the wisdom needed when it is time to set boundaries and to discipline, and that these will be done in a loving and teaching manner.
I pray that children will see discipline as a way to help them learn and grow and to keep them safe.
I pray that parents always remember that they are not raising children, but rather guiding and preparing the next generation of adults - the next generation of parents.
I pray that parents will have the wisdom and strength to know when to let go and simply stand ready to support appropriately (and when not to do anything).
I pray that when the children are grown, both the parents and the children can still laugh and talk and play games and serve and work together.
Will you join me in these prayers? What prayers would you add?
That being said, I must tell you that I enjoyed all of the years when my children were, well, children. And it is no secret that my favorite demographic group is teens...
What prompts this missive today is reading the Facebook posts by mothers (and fathers) who are complaining about having been snowbound for much of the past two weeks. For those of you not in the mid-Atlantic area, we have had two blizzards in a single week and schools have been closed for over a week with delayed start since they opened Wednesday.
First, before you mutiny, let me say that it is understandable for those who need to make alternative child care arrangements so they can work to be somewhat upset. Not everyone can work remotely and not all businesses were closed the entire time.
Then let me say that what does bother me is the complaining tones of parents who seemingly have no idea how (or no interest) to engage and have fun with their kids. Each day that school was canceled was met with "I can't stand another day in the house with my kids" followed by a chorus of "Hooray they are gone and the house is quiet!" on the first day back.
We noticed on the days when our road was still unplowed that there were no children out playing and laughing and no one flying down the two fabulous sledding hills created by the accumulation. [The last time that my kids were young enough to be home for such a snow event was 1983, and every kid in the neighborhood was out there (yes, they are streets, but when they are under 20+ inches of snow they are sledding hills!) with quite a few parents.] We did see several teens tromp through the hip-deep snow to meet rides at the top of the road where the state road had been plowed - I did not see them (or any other children) assisting elderly neighbors get shoveled.
Exciting were the posts by parents who were out sledding, snowballing and such with the kids as well as having the kids help shovel snow. I love reading posts by parents baking cookies and making meals with the kids. It's great to see that there are families who can work and play together and have fun doing both.
So where is the prayer here?
I pray that parents and children will learn to laugh together, chase lightning bugs together, build snowmen together and play games together (board games as well as video games).
I pray that parents and children will learn to vaccuum and dust together, bake cookies together, shovel snow and clean off cars together, clear a neighbor's walk together, weed a garden and plant flowers together.
I pray that parents and children will go to church together, pray together, share concerns with one another, care about one another, talk to one another, listen to one another.
I pray that parents and children will serve at a shelter or soup kitchen together, take things to the Salvation Army together, walk/run/bike for a cause together, recycle together.
I pray that parents will have the wisdom needed when it is time to set boundaries and to discipline, and that these will be done in a loving and teaching manner.
I pray that children will see discipline as a way to help them learn and grow and to keep them safe.
I pray that parents always remember that they are not raising children, but rather guiding and preparing the next generation of adults - the next generation of parents.
I pray that parents will have the wisdom and strength to know when to let go and simply stand ready to support appropriately (and when not to do anything).
I pray that when the children are grown, both the parents and the children can still laugh and talk and play games and serve and work together.
Will you join me in these prayers? What prayers would you add?
Monday, February 15, 2010
Prayers in WInter
How has your winter been? Where you live has the weather been typical?
Here in Maryland we have had an atypical winter. We have had more snow here this winter than any on record, and more snow than cities that usually get lots more.
Friends in other areas though have reported unusual winters too - snow in Dallas and Charleston, warmer temps in Maine and less snow in Rochester....
Climate shifts (a term I like better than global warming) seem to be more common, and many are pointing to the end of the age when they talk about it.
How shall we pray? Come Lord Jesus Come!
And of course, we need to pray for the here and now - the weather provides opportunities to pray for safe travel, for shelter for the homeless, for warmth and food for all, for power lines that will remain up and functional... the list goes on and on.
What are your "winter prayers"? What requests show up in your prayers that would not be there in other seasons?
and what about the winter of life? those seasons we go through that make us feel bleak and cold? are there prayers then too that are different than other seasons of our life?
Share them here - share them most of all with God - He is always listening, in every season.
Here in Maryland we have had an atypical winter. We have had more snow here this winter than any on record, and more snow than cities that usually get lots more.
Friends in other areas though have reported unusual winters too - snow in Dallas and Charleston, warmer temps in Maine and less snow in Rochester....
Climate shifts (a term I like better than global warming) seem to be more common, and many are pointing to the end of the age when they talk about it.
How shall we pray? Come Lord Jesus Come!
And of course, we need to pray for the here and now - the weather provides opportunities to pray for safe travel, for shelter for the homeless, for warmth and food for all, for power lines that will remain up and functional... the list goes on and on.
What are your "winter prayers"? What requests show up in your prayers that would not be there in other seasons?
and what about the winter of life? those seasons we go through that make us feel bleak and cold? are there prayers then too that are different than other seasons of our life?
Share them here - share them most of all with God - He is always listening, in every season.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Fast - the final day
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.
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.
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