Conversations, Reflections & Meditations


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Sign Guestbook \| View Guestbook Comments? Questions? [email protected]	Prayer topics Counsel Darkened By Words Without Knowledge? Your Order of Authority ... and New Levels of Understanding Details of the Daily Journey ... And Your Gentle Guiding Voice Is There More of Me That I Need to Give to You? ...Transform Me, Lord! Counsel Darkened By Words Without Knowledge? Date: March 8, 2007 A young lady recently wrote me: "I think it is so interesting that we can think we have learned a lesson and then God will bring a circumstance into our lives that will cause us to see that we need to relearn it on a whole different level. It is not that we did not learn the first time but I think it is more that He does not want us to be overwhelmed with the immensity of the shortcomings in our lives so he reveals them to us bit by bit (and that way we always have room for improvement, too...). I also think that God does provide people in our lives to support us but He will find a way to remove our dependence on them if He sees that it is getting in the way of us relying on Him... God really taught me... that I am not always able to please everyone... and that I cannot depend on everyone else to find my worth.... I am a child of God and that is where my worth comes from. I am not a good person bcause every person I come into contact with likes me..., my value is in the fact that I am created by God and He loves me... As much as I hate to admit it, I have been the biggest liar there is, always trying to be whatever I thought others wanted me to be. It is exhausting when my self worth comes from what I think others think of me." Such words of wisdom from such a young woman! And how neat that You are teaching 2 women -- one younger, one older -- the same things, and they can share together, and receive confirmation of what You are teaching them! Thank You! I was reading in Job today, the words of the young Elihu, who was convinced he was so wise and that he was actually speaking for You, dear God. And what was Your response? "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" Oh dear God, please help me to be very, very careful of what I ascribe to You. Please help me be very sure of what is Your Word, and what is my own "human wisdom" which is not wisdom at all. In the book of Job, the "counsellors" are full of seeming "words of wisdom" and so much of what they have observed is true on the face of it, but somehow they have drawn the wrong -- or at least inadequate -- conclusions (sometimes just plain wrong!) Sometimes I wonder how I dare to put pen to paper (for anything that might be read by others) because it is so difficult to keep Your wisdom from being polluted by "my knowledge and wisdom" that constantly is striving to be added in. sometimes when I look back at what I have previously written. I am just filled with awe and wonder. "How could I have written that? I don't have that wisdom." Wll, those are probably the writings that are led by You! But then, what if it's just my pride swelling, rather than true awe? No, I know that sometimes for sure it is You! And I also see where I am rambling along with my thoughts and questions, and suddenly I am writing a "new thought" that can only be Your Spirit lighting my puzzled way! Thank You! You are so wonderful! I haven't actually started writing "the book." I feel like I need to update my "prayers and meditations" since the end of April last year, as there is much in there that I need to review, that You have taught me. (But there are also great gaps when I wrote very little... Ha! I've probably written more in the last month or so than in the past year or so!). Funny how that goes... just like little kids seem to grow in their learning in sudden leaps and bounds after long "plateaus"... but of course they have been observing, learning, getting prepared physically all along... and then one day, bang, they literally "get up and run with it." Return to the top Your Order of Authority ...And New Levels of Understanding Date: March 10, 2007 Lord, lately I feel more and more uncomfortable being aone with men (even a group of them) if they are not my husband (or son or brothers). I believe You are bringing me into a more righteous understanding of Your "order" of things, and of the outworkings of Your principles of submission! This also (I expect!) means that for women who do not have a husband, father, or brothers to be under their protection, we as other women need to provide the companionship and other care and protection they require... I can see how when women freely associate, often alone, with unrelated men, as our society encourages under the guise of "equality" there is great temptation (by both male and female) to enter into an immoral relationship (even close emotional ties) -- as the man almost "naturally" seeks to take a position of authority/headship and the women almost "naturally" seeks to come under submission/protection. So the enemy takes and prevents the righteous natural order that Creator God originally instituted! (Hmm... I wonder if this is something to be added into the "submission" Bible study as a point to consider??) I have been enjoying reading through, marking, and starting to type up, prayers and meditations from the past year. It amazes me to see a pattern developing in which You keep teaching me the same things over and over, yet each time You guide me into a new aspect, a deeper level -- a closer relationship to You -- and everytime it seems to be totally fresh and new and amazing and exciting -- and I wonder how I missed it before! It's like having an orange in Your hand, and you think you know all about it -- its color, skin texture, scents, etc. Then you stick your thumbnail into it, and suddenly you discover a far more overwhelming scent, and a stinging sensation (from its acid) you didn't know about before, and its juciness... and then you peel it, and break it up, and sink your teeth into it, and chew it and drink its juice, and swallow it -- and at every step you discover new sensations, each of your senses discover new aspects you hadn't known before... and as it goes into your body, although you can no longer see it or feel it or anything, it continues to be in there making you healthy and filling your appetite, and even when the original orange is all broken down and some parts discarded by your body, and the rest transformed to becomes part of your cell structure, its effects -- combined with all the other foods you swallow, and exercise, and so on, in minutest detail -- in a sense its effects become part of you as long as you live in your human body! Wow! What a picture! I've thought about the "parts about peeling and eating before -- but never really thought about how it becomes a part of you always and contributes to your health and growth. Yet Your Word is also like that... eternally! And one day I will encounter Your Word -- Jesus, God incarnate! -- face to face, and will bow before the Father Himself in the heavenly courts! Amazing grace! Amazing, great mercy! Joy, total, unbelievable joy! Hallelujah! Return to the top Details of the Daily Journey ... And Your Gentle Guiding Voice Date: March 10, 2007 Lord, You know I haven't been using my "prayer manual" for quite some time... but have been praying (quite a bit, though not as faithfully or obediently as I should -- I know! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!) for people as You bring them to my mind and heart. I'm thinking that I should come to the point where immediately as I see people, talk to them, think of them, meet up with them, read their emails, whatever -- that I should just automatically by sending up prayer for them to You, and also offering to pray with them right then and there! Can You please help me do that? Lord? ...... Father, last night at the street meetng, a man and boy rode by on their bikes, and the man said to me, "Hi, neighbour!" and I suddenly recognized him as the guy who lives in the other half of our house. I think of them quite a lot, because not only do we share a house (though we seem to have our backs turned toward each other...) but they are a white-native couple too! Is there some way we can come to know each other, and maybe I can lead them to You? Thank You, Lord. Please, guide me -- Your will be done! ...... So many things have happened in the past few months, and so many of them (including wonderful things You have taught me) have just seemed to slip my mind! thank You for my journals, and the love of writing which You have given me, and the wonderful words and wisdom and knowledge You have spoken to me! Oh Father, You know how much I love You -- and how much more I long to know and love You in far deeper ways! Thank You for Your Spirit speaking to my spirit, thank You for living in me because of Jesus Christ, Your Son and My Saviour, thank You for Your Father love and for making me (yes, You did it!) Your little child! (So I had to make a choice, perhaps? Looking back, the only wonder is that I did not do it sooner -- How could I have missed comprehending Your amazing, incredible, wondrous, unbelieveable love for me? Oh, the wonder of knowing You! It just changes everything! Last night at the street meeting a couple young guys went by, and one of them said, "Yes, Jesus died! So just forget it! He's dead!" or words to that effect, plus some rough language... and I see that he just doesn't know You... so in his mind You are nothing, just some dead, historical guy... and yet, if he really thinks that, why did he get so loud and bitter about it? Oh dear God, please bring him to You. Please let him really meet You and know You! Thank You! It will change everything for him! Praise Your name! Thank You, Lord! Amen! ******** Really love My children, child. Put into action the things I have taught you. Take and use the opportunities, day by day, which I place before you. Listen to My Spirit. Just do one thing at a time as I give you guidance and wisdom. I will provide for you all that you need, physically, emotionally, financially, relationally, spiritually! Just one step at a time. Trust me. Don't try to step ahead of Me. Or even beside Me. Walk in My footsteps, walk in My shadow -- in the shadow of Jesus, in the shadow of the old rugged cross -- so that it will not be "you" doing it, but it will be My work in you! And so people will only see Jesus -- and will want to know Me, their heavenly Creator and Father who loves them with boundless, eternal love. ********* Christianity Today, March 2007 (p 120): "... life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived. Prayer offers no ironclad guarantees, just the certain promise that we need not live that mystery alone." (Philip Yancey) Return to the top Is There More of Me That I Need to Give to You? ...Transform Me, Lord! Date: March 11, 2007 Today I was talking to a missionary/pastor, about desiring to go on missions, and yet my husband and I are not "together" in this desire... and he looked troubled, and said maybe there is something in my life that is blocking Your will, that I need to let go of... And oh dear God -- I feel so heartbroken, because I thought I have given You, over and over again, all of me... and I honestly don't know what lese there is... Unless it is giving up my "South America" dream itself... but Lord, even there, if it is not Your will, I am willing to not go... like I've told You before, over and over, if I'm not to go anywhere or do anything, still all I want is Your will. I thought I have given You "all my hope, ambitions, plans..." And I'm willing to just stay put for the rest of my life if that is what You have for me (even though it makes me cry to write it!)... Lord, I understand that my husband must be the leader. I know I cannot run ahead of him... or You! Is there something more? Is there something I am holding back? Something in my life that is a block? Please -- though it frightens me to ask it because, I guess, I'm tired and don't know how much more purging I can take... which sounds dumb, I know... Still! I am willing -- yes! I desire! You to unblock anything in me, that might be a block. Okay? (Please and Thank You). (I am willing to wait as long as it takes... I am even willing to give it all up... Am I really blocking You??) Lead me, fill me, overflow me, use me in Your work, dear Heavenly Father, Lord God, Holy Spirit -- in Jesus' name... Return to the top
Main Page \| My Articles for The Life Connection \| Prayers and Meditations \| Poetry Haida Gwaii Reflections \| Education & Home-School \| Family


	Main Page \| My Articles for The Life Connection \| Prayers and Meditations \| Poetry Haida Gwaii Reflections \| Education & Home-School \| Family
Sign Guestbook \| View Guestbook Comments? Questions? [email protected]	Prayer topics Counsel Darkened By Words Without Knowledge? Your Order of Authority ... and New Levels of Understanding Details of the Daily Journey ... And Your Gentle Guiding Voice Is There More of Me That I Need to Give to You? ...Transform Me, Lord! Counsel Darkened By Words Without Knowledge? Date: March 8, 2007 A young lady recently wrote me: "I think it is so interesting that we can think we have learned a lesson and then God will bring a circumstance into our lives that will cause us to see that we need to relearn it on a whole different level. It is not that we did not learn the first time but I think it is more that He does not want us to be overwhelmed with the immensity of the shortcomings in our lives so he reveals them to us bit by bit (and that way we always have room for improvement, too...). I also think that God does provide people in our lives to support us but He will find a way to remove our dependence on them if He sees that it is getting in the way of us relying on Him... God really taught me... that I am not always able to please everyone... and that I cannot depend on everyone else to find my worth.... I am a child of God and that is where my worth comes from. I am not a good person bcause every person I come into contact with likes me..., my value is in the fact that I am created by God and He loves me... As much as I hate to admit it, I have been the biggest liar there is, always trying to be whatever I thought others wanted me to be. It is exhausting when my self worth comes from what I think others think of me." Such words of wisdom from such a young woman! And how neat that You are teaching 2 women -- one younger, one older -- the same things, and they can share together, and receive confirmation of what You are teaching them! Thank You! I was reading in Job today, the words of the young Elihu, who was convinced he was so wise and that he was actually speaking for You, dear God. And what was Your response? "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" Oh dear God, please help me to be very, very careful of what I ascribe to You. Please help me be very sure of what is Your Word, and what is my own "human wisdom" which is not wisdom at all. In the book of Job, the "counsellors" are full of seeming "words of wisdom" and so much of what they have observed is true on the face of it, but somehow they have drawn the wrong -- or at least inadequate -- conclusions (sometimes just plain wrong!) Sometimes I wonder how I dare to put pen to paper (for anything that might be read by others) because it is so difficult to keep Your wisdom from being polluted by "my knowledge and wisdom" that constantly is striving to be added in. sometimes when I look back at what I have previously written. I am just filled with awe and wonder. "How could I have written that? I don't have that wisdom." Wll, those are probably the writings that are led by You! But then, what if it's just my pride swelling, rather than true awe? No, I know that sometimes for sure it is You! And I also see where I am rambling along with my thoughts and questions, and suddenly I am writing a "new thought" that can only be Your Spirit lighting my puzzled way! Thank You! You are so wonderful! I haven't actually started writing "the book." I feel like I need to update my "prayers and meditations" since the end of April last year, as there is much in there that I need to review, that You have taught me. (But there are also great gaps when I wrote very little... Ha! I've probably written more in the last month or so than in the past year or so!). Funny how that goes... just like little kids seem to grow in their learning in sudden leaps and bounds after long "plateaus"... but of course they have been observing, learning, getting prepared physically all along... and then one day, bang, they literally "get up and run with it." Return to the top Your Order of Authority ...And New Levels of Understanding Date: March 10, 2007 Lord, lately I feel more and more uncomfortable being aone with men (even a group of them) if they are not my husband (or son or brothers). I believe You are bringing me into a more righteous understanding of Your "order" of things, and of the outworkings of Your principles of submission! This also (I expect!) means that for women who do not have a husband, father, or brothers to be under their protection, we as other women need to provide the companionship and other care and protection they require... I can see how when women freely associate, often alone, with unrelated men, as our society encourages under the guise of "equality" there is great temptation (by both male and female) to enter into an immoral relationship (even close emotional ties) -- as the man almost "naturally" seeks to take a position of authority/headship and the women almost "naturally" seeks to come under submission/protection. So the enemy takes and prevents the righteous natural order that Creator God originally instituted! (Hmm... I wonder if this is something to be added into the "submission" Bible study as a point to consider??) I have been enjoying reading through, marking, and starting to type up, prayers and meditations from the past year. It amazes me to see a pattern developing in which You keep teaching me the same things over and over, yet each time You guide me into a new aspect, a deeper level -- a closer relationship to You -- and everytime it seems to be totally fresh and new and amazing and exciting -- and I wonder how I missed it before! It's like having an orange in Your hand, and you think you know all about it -- its color, skin texture, scents, etc. Then you stick your thumbnail into it, and suddenly you discover a far more overwhelming scent, and a stinging sensation (from its acid) you didn't know about before, and its juciness... and then you peel it, and break it up, and sink your teeth into it, and chew it and drink its juice, and swallow it -- and at every step you discover new sensations, each of your senses discover new aspects you hadn't known before... and as it goes into your body, although you can no longer see it or feel it or anything, it continues to be in there making you healthy and filling your appetite, and even when the original orange is all broken down and some parts discarded by your body, and the rest transformed to becomes part of your cell structure, its effects -- combined with all the other foods you swallow, and exercise, and so on, in minutest detail -- in a sense its effects become part of you as long as you live in your human body! Wow! What a picture! I've thought about the "parts about peeling and eating before -- but never really thought about how it becomes a part of you always and contributes to your health and growth. Yet Your Word is also like that... eternally! And one day I will encounter Your Word -- Jesus, God incarnate! -- face to face, and will bow before the Father Himself in the heavenly courts! Amazing grace! Amazing, great mercy! Joy, total, unbelievable joy! Hallelujah! Return to the top Details of the Daily Journey ... And Your Gentle Guiding Voice Date: March 10, 2007 Lord, You know I haven't been using my "prayer manual" for quite some time... but have been praying (quite a bit, though not as faithfully or obediently as I should -- I know! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!) for people as You bring them to my mind and heart. I'm thinking that I should come to the point where immediately as I see people, talk to them, think of them, meet up with them, read their emails, whatever -- that I should just automatically by sending up prayer for them to You, and also offering to pray with them right then and there! Can You please help me do that? Lord? ...... Father, last night at the street meetng, a man and boy rode by on their bikes, and the man said to me, "Hi, neighbour!" and I suddenly recognized him as the guy who lives in the other half of our house. I think of them quite a lot, because not only do we share a house (though we seem to have our backs turned toward each other...) but they are a white-native couple too! Is there some way we can come to know each other, and maybe I can lead them to You? Thank You, Lord. Please, guide me -- Your will be done! ...... So many things have happened in the past few months, and so many of them (including wonderful things You have taught me) have just seemed to slip my mind! thank You for my journals, and the love of writing which You have given me, and the wonderful words and wisdom and knowledge You have spoken to me! Oh Father, You know how much I love You -- and how much more I long to know and love You in far deeper ways! Thank You for Your Spirit speaking to my spirit, thank You for living in me because of Jesus Christ, Your Son and My Saviour, thank You for Your Father love and for making me (yes, You did it!) Your little child! (So I had to make a choice, perhaps? Looking back, the only wonder is that I did not do it sooner -- How could I have missed comprehending Your amazing, incredible, wondrous, unbelieveable love for me? Oh, the wonder of knowing You! It just changes everything! Last night at the street meeting a couple young guys went by, and one of them said, "Yes, Jesus died! So just forget it! He's dead!" or words to that effect, plus some rough language... and I see that he just doesn't know You... so in his mind You are nothing, just some dead, historical guy... and yet, if he really thinks that, why did he get so loud and bitter about it? Oh dear God, please bring him to You. Please let him really meet You and know You! Thank You! It will change everything for him! Praise Your name! Thank You, Lord! Amen! ******** Really love My children, child. Put into action the things I have taught you. Take and use the opportunities, day by day, which I place before you. Listen to My Spirit. Just do one thing at a time as I give you guidance and wisdom. I will provide for you all that you need, physically, emotionally, financially, relationally, spiritually! Just one step at a time. Trust me. Don't try to step ahead of Me. Or even beside Me. Walk in My footsteps, walk in My shadow -- in the shadow of Jesus, in the shadow of the old rugged cross -- so that it will not be "you" doing it, but it will be My work in you! And so people will only see Jesus -- and will want to know Me, their heavenly Creator and Father who loves them with boundless, eternal love. ********* Christianity Today, March 2007 (p 120): "... life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived. Prayer offers no ironclad guarantees, just the certain promise that we need not live that mystery alone." (Philip Yancey) Return to the top Is There More of Me That I Need to Give to You? ...Transform Me, Lord! Date: March 11, 2007 Today I was talking to a missionary/pastor, about desiring to go on missions, and yet my husband and I are not "together" in this desire... and he looked troubled, and said maybe there is something in my life that is blocking Your will, that I need to let go of... And oh dear God -- I feel so heartbroken, because I thought I have given You, over and over again, all of me... and I honestly don't know what lese there is... Unless it is giving up my "South America" dream itself... but Lord, even there, if it is not Your will, I am willing to not go... like I've told You before, over and over, if I'm not to go anywhere or do anything, still all I want is Your will. I thought I have given You "all my hope, ambitions, plans..." And I'm willing to just stay put for the rest of my life if that is what You have for me (even though it makes me cry to write it!)... Lord, I understand that my husband must be the leader. I know I cannot run ahead of him... or You! Is there something more? Is there something I am holding back? Something in my life that is a block? Please -- though it frightens me to ask it because, I guess, I'm tired and don't know how much more purging I can take... which sounds dumb, I know... Still! I am willing -- yes! I desire! You to unblock anything in me, that might be a block. Okay? (Please and Thank You). (I am willing to wait as long as it takes... I am even willing to give it all up... Am I really blocking You??) Lead me, fill me, overflow me, use me in Your work, dear Heavenly Father, Lord God, Holy Spirit -- in Jesus' name... Return to the top
Main Page \| My Articles for The Life Connection \| Prayers and Meditations \| Poetry Haida Gwaii Reflections \| Education & Home-School \| Family