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Prayer topics
Still Fruitful in Old Age
Feeding on the Word
No Righteousness in my own Strength
Great is the Lord
Thanks for Many Blessings

Still Fruitful in Old Age
Date: April 3, 2006

My mom was crying last night because she feels there is nothing she can do any longer to "help" in the Kingdom of God. We assured her that God has used her mightily all her life, and reminded her that she can still pray. She was crying because she feels that maybe she isn't a Christian anymore. O dear God, please comfort her in this state of dementia, and help her to know that the righteous "shall still bring forth fruit in old age"(Psalm 92:14). She has led so many people to You in the past and that legacy continues to grow and spread. Even in her present condition she continues to be sweet and loving to those around her including the nursing staff and other clients. And she continues to influence me even now, as I am learning so much from this experience she is going through, and it is softening my heart and opening my eyes to a whole new area of very necessary ministry, reaching out to elderly people with Your love and care, and salvation. Loving the "unlovely" whom the world hides away. Bringing in the sheaves even at the last moment. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

I have sometimes been discouraged myself, with the thoughts of how old I am getting and how little time and strength I have left to do God's will and work. But listen to this! "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age... To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.... Thy throne is established of old; thou art from everlasting" (Ps 92:14,15, 93:2). You still have productive times ahead for me, You will stand with me and be my rock, and that is only the beginning, because when the few years I have left here are over, I will be with You, serving and worshiping You, forever! Thank You, Lord!

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Feeding on the Word
Date: April 4, 2006

It does seem strange not to be reading the devotional book every day; in fact, I find myself kind of craving it, much as I find myself craving food when I think about fasting! (That's a message from You, right there, isn't it!). On the other hand, In find myself much more focused on Your Word, looking carefully at it, listening for Your voice and direction concerning it, because I know I'm not going to get the "predigested" devotional message. So thank You, Lord. Thank You for Your instruction in Your Word, Your perfect law that converts the soul and rejoices the heart (Psa 19). Praise Your holy name!

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No Righteousness in my own Strength
Date: April 5, 2006

Reading in Leviticus this morning, about how if they sinned in any way, without realizing it, they were guilty nonetheless. And the sin offering was a ram, not just a lamb or doves. My reaction, once again, on reading that, was "Who could ever live up to that?" But that is exactly the point, isn't it? We can't be righteous in our own strength. We constantly sin, no matter how well we know the rules (law) and try to follow them. That is why there is no choice except Jesus' once-for-all, perfect sacrifice to pay the debt of death that sin has brought upon us, and to really cleanse us from all sin and unrighteousness. Only the Spirit of God dwelling in us and changing us into the image of Christ, can bring our fleshly part into line with the work of redemption that Christ's blood has done in our spirit to make us holy in the sight of God. Yes, we are 100% NOT good or holy, without faith in Jesus. Lost! Judged! Turned over for eternal destruction! Oh, Lord God, Thank You for Jesus. Help me to tell others Your good news! Amen.

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Great is the Lord!
Date: April 6, 2006

Today in Leviticus 5:4-5 I noticed how if one sins by keeping or stealing or not returning someone else's belongings, he must not only make a sacrifice of a ram, but return all the goods and one-fifth extra. Again and again Leviticus emphasizes the total wrong, the evil, of sin; even sins of "omission," things we tend to "overlook" or at least not consider too significant. God expects total, perfect holiness. No wonder the world does not want this Jewish/Christian God. He insists that all our life be about Him, not us; and we rebel against that. Like Adam and Eve, we are seduced by the desire to be "gods" ourselves, even as satan desired that same thing, and fell. Oh dear God, help me to make all of my life, every moment, every aspect, to be about You, focused on You, given to You absolutely and unconditionally, in perfect worship of Your holiness and worthiness and perfection and sovereignty and almightiness. Thank You, Lord.

The reading in Isaiah spoke of Your blessings on the righteous, but woe to the wicked! But it also speaks of Your amazing mercy: (Isa 3:13) "The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people." How incredible that You plead with us to turn to You, before You judge. "Amazing mercy, grace unknown, and love beyond degree!"

And then the Acts reading: how great You are, O God! Man cannot comprehend Your greatness, and certainly cannot contain it. And yet we try; we try to make You into our image, put You into a little box that makes us comfortable, that we feel that we can control. Impossible! "You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you do always resist the Holy Spirit." Oh Lord, please forgive us, please be merciful to us, please keep speaking to our hearts with Your Holy Spirit, please keep pleading with us to turn back to You fully and completely, to come under Your Lordship and rule, and help us love and worship You alone, with all our hearts and minds and souls and strength. Thank You for Your love, Lord. What a mighty God we serve. In Jesus' name, amen.

Lord, this morning on email I received a notice from the Hi5 site that my daughter had written a couple of "hero" statements about me, and I had to approve or reject them from appearing on my Hi5 page. I was kind of embarrassed when I read them because they were so glowing about me, and I wondered if posting them would make people think I'm proud instead of humble. But then I realized that it really came from her heart, and that made me happy, of course. But even more so, I felt You telling me that it was also from You, to comfort and encourage me. I have felt myself to be such a failure in some many ways, particularly as a mom and wife, and even as a teacher, and this note was an affirmation of my worth in Your sight as Your child, saved by the blood of Your Son. Through this note You speak to me of Your love to me!

Yesterday was a rough day at school, with a lot of tension in the air, arguing, anger, rudeness, negative emotions going on. Lord, I pray that You will protect and guide and strengthen Your people, and that Your will will be done today and in all the future days of the school. May it not only be a place of academic excellence and learning, and socially happy and safe, but may Your Spirit fill it, and fill all those who attend there in any aspect; students, staff, parents, visitors, Ministry of Education officials, whoever. This is a spiritual battle, Lord, but You are already the victor. The battle is already won through Jesus. Hallelujah!

Lord, we live in a world of great evil and sorrows. And the enemy desires to destroy all that is good and righteous, all that is of You. Dear God, You are totally more powerful. Lord, please bring forth Your mighty strength and overcome the attacks of the enemy. Make this school, dear Lord, a beaming light house, a haven of rest, a stronghold and a temple of Your glory, reaching out, bringing Your Word, bringing You, to the world around it. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.

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Thanks for Many Blessings
Date: April 9-17, 2006

Thank You, Lord, for helping me figure out a way to divide up my prayer request notebook for each day of the week. It was getting so long, and I was getting to the point of dreading to open the list, knowing I could almost never get through it all at one time. Now I can still happily add requests, and my prayer life can grow with it! Thank You!

April 10, 2006

After the church's general meeting last night I am very encouraged because I saw a pastoral team really united in the Lord, focused on seeking God's heart, tenderly understanding the feelings of the people when they are going through this transition time, totally dedicated to the truth and guidance of the Word of God, and truly having an open ear and heart and mind to listen to the concerns of the body, and to be open and eager to draw on the wisdom and giftings and participation which God has placed among the body.

I thank You, Lord, for the work You are so clearly doing in the midst of our church. Pour out of Your Spirit, Lord, and may everything be done in Your purposes and for the honor and glory of Your name. Thank You, Lord. Praise Your name!

Monday, April 17, 2006

This morning I have been reading the scriptures I was to have read yesterday, plus today's readings. I am glad to be reading them together, for they are speaking so strongly to my spirit, by the teaching and power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord!

The Leviticus 16 to 17 reading is appropriate for this Easter season, for it is the law of the annual sin offering, the one time a year that the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for himself and for the people, and then the scapegoat was sent into the wilderness outside the camp, and the sin offerings burnt outside he camp after the blood was sprinkled before the altar. Oh, there is so much emphasis of the blood being for atonement of men's souls. It is all about Jesus and His sacrifice. Thank You, Lord God, for Your amazing salvation. Bless Your holy name!

Then Isaiah 14 spoke of the fall of Lucifer, who exalted himself and strove to "be like the Most High" but who is brought down to hell instead. What a warning to us. Pride, striving to be our own little gods: it leads only to eternal punishment and destruction. There can only be One God, and in His mercy He has provided a way, through the shedding of the blood of Jesus His Son, once for all, for us to repent and be saved, redeemed, reconciled, atoned for. Praise Your holy name, Lord. Hallelujah! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!

And then in Acts 17 and 18 Paul preaches to the people at Athens and tells them of the true God who is not far off from any of us, and who each of us can find, and in whom we have life and can become His offspring by repentance and receiving of the salvation provided by His Son whom He has raised from the dead. Hallelujah!

Also, in Acts 17 I read again about the Bereans who "received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether these things were so." And then in chapter 18, I read of Apollos who was "mighty in the scriptures," and "being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John" until Aquila and Priscilla "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly." After that "when he had come, [he] helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."

Lord, when I read this passage, I felt You telling me that it is a special word for me today. For You have given me a longing to be like the Bereans, and ability to seek the truth in scriptures, and then to teach others, seeking always to "know your way more perfectly," and so to help believers to really know and understand that Jesus is the Christ. This is what I need to really emphasize. I have often chatted about peripheral issues like creation vs evolution, and other religions compared to Christianity, and how archaeological finds back up the Bible, but Lord God, right now You are showing me that I am to focus on "preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified!" by expounding and explaining to people the whole scriptural record, the whole revelation of God, which culminates in the death and resurrection of His son Jesus, who died as the final and perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men, that "whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but should have everlasting life!" Praise God! Thank You, Lord, for Your great assignment! In Jesus' name!

So what, Lord, does this mean about the "proposal" I gave to the pastoral team? It certainly lines up with what ___ told me she is praying for me. Thank You, Jesus. You have called me to preach the gospel, and teach Your Word. To build and edify Your church, while bringing the lost to You. The great commission! I finally "get it"!

Typing up all these journal entries, today's readings, ____'s prayer for me, bring it all together. Thank You, dear God: Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord, Holy Spirit my guide and comfort and power. Hallelujah! Praise Your holy name! Thank God!

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