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Prayer topics
No Turning Back: A Deadly Serious Decision
Trust and Obey - No Matter What
God's Peace vs the World's Peace
Missed Opportunity? Lord?
Trust and Obey - Like Jesus
Trust

No Turning Back: A Deadly Serious Decision
Date: May 1, 2005

“Would you like to be a radiant Christian? You may be. Spend time in prayer. You cannot be a radiant Christian in any other way…. It is because prayer makes God real. The gladdest thing upon earth is to have a real God! I would rather give up anything I have in the world…than give up my faith in God…. Unless you take time for fellowship with God, you cannot have a real God. If you do take time for prayers you will have a real, living God, and if you have a living God, you will have a radiant life.” (Dr. R. A. Torrey)

I have thought of something else. Oh, I mean the Lord has told me something else! And that is that even if I never have the chance for “Bible School,” it is really no loss because I have Him and He gives me opportunity to know and communicate and be in relationship with Him. And if I truly take all the opportunities I have, and give Him my spare moments too, He will teach me far and above all I could even learn in Bible School. And His teaching will be pure and unadulterated by the world’s false ideas. And He will give me the strength and faith and mercy and grace to do exactly what He wants me to do and be.

But, no turning back! Am I ready to really face forward, eyes on Him alone? No turning back or aside? That’s what He is asking me for. It’s a deadly serious decision. It means truly giving up anything I have in the world – my dreams, my ways and plans, my responsibilities, even my family and my happiness. “The cross before me, the world behind me, no turning back, no turning back.” He loves me so much. If I do love Him, I have no choice. True love responds to love. True love obeys God. That’s it.

Okay. Yes, Lord.

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Trust and Obey - No Matter What
Date: May 3, 2005

I am still tired but I feel much more peaceful. I no longer feel under pressure to “do” and to “succeed.” This is a great relief. Last night I read "In His Steps" by C Sheldon. It is the challenge to ask, before everything you do, “What would Jesus do?” This is kind of scary because doing things the Jesus way is certain to bring suffering, persecution, possibly financial loss, possibly antagonism from one’s own family, and so on. But it does not seem to me that there is any choice if one really wants to follow Christ, and it certainly brings into a practical light what is meant by “trust and obey.” So I have decided to follow this track. I have, of course, no idea exactly where it might lead, but in a sense that is a relief, because I am so tired of “planning” as the world recommends. It seems to me that as every event, no matter how small, happens, it could be a turning point to a totally new direction and adventure – and of course, possibly to major carrying of my cross.

I don’t know what the Lord’s plans are for us, financially, but now suddenly, I don’t care, really!! The song, “All of these things shall be added unto you” keep running through my mind and heart: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness!”

I sure need to pray more.

I’m having a really hard time even thinking of starting because I’m so tired, and focused prayer seems to take so much effort. But I do talk to You and listen off and on, don’t I? Help me to focus (Your will be done).

Thank You. I love You. You are so wonderful, amazing, awesome, incredible, unspeakable. God Almighty. Creator. Lord. Saviour. King of kings. Alpha and Omega. Shepherd. Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit. One God, now and forever. Amen.

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God's Peace vs the World's Peace
Date: May 4, 2005

“My life…hope…strength…is in You, Lord!” “Lord I lift Your name on high, Lord I love to sing Your praises!” I’m listening to worship tapes now in my spare time, and when I first wake up. I used to scorn people who did that, but oh, it does turn my heart and mind to my God! Praise Your holy name, Lord! “Come let us worship and bow down!” “Blessed be the Lord God Almighty Who was and is and is to come, Who reigns forevermore.”

I love You, Lord! Thank You for a restful night. And though I know I dreamed, my dreams were peaceful, too. What a mighty God!

“This is the day the Lord has made.” “Your mercies are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness!” heading Off with You, Lord, on a new day totally planned and purposed by You, no matter what may happen. And oh, please, help me to do what Jesus would do (it’s hard). Thank You, Lord.

This afternoon I was thinking about peace and reading scripture verses about peace. It comes down to the fact that real peace is peace with God through Jesus – reconciliation!

Any other kind of peace, any peace built on any other foundation, is false peace and cannot last, though it can sure be used to draw people away from desiring, pursuing, accepting peace with God. Maybe that’s a difference: we pursue worldly peace, but we accept God’s peace; the world’s peace is by works we have done, God’s peace is by His grace alone.

Thank You for Your true peace, dear God. Please help me to focus my eyes on You alone, to grow in relationship with You, to know that Your peace is the only peace worth having. Thank You.

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Missed Opportunity? Lord?
Date: Dec 6, 2005

Dear Lord, last night at our life group our leader was away. So we just sat there “helplessly” and talked about house renovations! We very briefly spoke of Sunday’s sermon, and everybody agreed it was awesome, because it wasn’t just a repeat of what we’ve all heard before; it was a really fresh approach. But then we didn’t go any further. I just sat there. I took out my Sunday sermon notes, and they noticed, but the conversation just went on to renovations again.

I guess I could have been strong and suggested we pray, but I just sat there quietly, mostly. And this morning I woke up feeling kind of let down. Lord, I think I missed an opportunity. I may have been waiting for the men to lead. But when they didn’t, should I have just gone ahead? Help me to know what to do if such a situation occurs again.

Love, Norma. Thank You. I love You, Lord!

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Trust and Obey - Like Jesus
Date: May 9, 2005

I have been feeling gradually (but startlingly!) more and more challenged by Jesus’ words, “All that you have seen Me do, these things you will be able to do, and more!” What would happen – Wow! – if we really took Jesus at His Word?!? Reminds me of that quote to the effect that “If there were just one person who truly believed, the world could be totally changed.”

I feel that You are challenging me to that? And that that is the message to bring to the prayer group at camp … and maybe to our church too … maybe to the world! Lord??

O Lord, I’m ready, willing and eager – eager and trusting. I’m a little child. Right now I’m reaching out and taking Your hand. You’ll keep me safe. You’ll hold back the "monster". You’ll take care of me in every way. Please take me down the path You have chosen. (“E’en though it be a cross that lifteth me … Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey”). There is no true happiness – joy - outside complete surrender to Jesus.

“Trust and obey”… like Jesus! Time to sit down and read the gospels again, and find out what Jesus did. How else can I be like Jesus if I don’t imitate Him? And how can I imitate Him if I don’t know about Him (through His word and actions) and know Him (through His Spirit, whom I have in me if only I will open up and let Him work, lead, guide, teach, comfort, exhort, be my conscience, be my source of strength, power, rest, peace.

….. Norma, my child, welcome back into my arms.

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