Conversations, Reflections & Meditations


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Sign Guestbook \| View Guestbook Comments? Questions? [email protected]	Prayer topics Jehovah Jireh Our Vision Lies Arrogant Holy Spirit Morning Worship Jehovah Jireh Date: Aug 7, 2005 "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." (Psalm 37:25). Lord, somehow it is easier for me to "believe" the first part "the righteous not forsaken"; than the second part "nor his seed begging bread." It is easier for me to trust You for spiritual care, it seems, than for physical care. After all, as I look around I see so many apparently righteous people suffering hunger, wars, ill health, unemployment. Then I wonder, why? Is Your Word not literal in that sense? Or are people not "righteous enough"? Or are they being "tested," or what? But still, I just want to believe it, accept it, expect it. You are Jehovah Jireh, my provider. And Your grace is sufficient for me, in all aspects of my being. I want to trust You in everything. Because I do believe You are faithful and that Your Word does not fail. So it is really important that I know and comprehend Your Word: Your will, Your plans, Your purposes. And that I become like Jesus Christ, that I may truly become righteous and thus fulfill the conditions of Your Word. That I may want only what You want, that Your desires will become my desires, that Your will becomes mine. That I will truly enter into the freedom of doing what You desire because I have entered into unity with You, the One whom I love and want to please because You first loved me. Return to the top Our Vision Date: Aug 8, 2005 Lord, something that is heavy on my heart is how when we are with other Christian people, we do sometimes chat with them about You, but we rarely if ever pray or get into Your Word. I want real fellowship to become part of my lifestyle, not just something we do in a scheduled life group, or Bible study, or church service. Move our hearts toward including You in all our dealings together, please. Thank You! Lord, it seems to me that at church we've gotten somehow hung up on our "vision." And although there's probably nothing inherently wrong with those kinds of goals and desires, we need to remember that, first and always, You are to be our vision! Oh, dear God, let our focus be on You alone! Like the old hymn says, "Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be else to save me, save that thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always: Thou and thou only, first in my heart, High King of heaven, my treasure thou art." Lord, the vision You would have for us is not really big buildings and large congregations and great schools and conferences with big-name speakers. Those so easily become things of the world. Lord, I believe there are good things that underlie "the vision"; things like bringing people to You, healing the world's hurt through You - but Lord, our vision sometimes looks frighteningly like the goalsof the world, at least on the surface. Of course, Lord, they may be Your plan of how You intend to fulfill Your true vision in this place and time - but Lord, as long as we have our eyes focused on these things and not on You, are we really following Your vision? Return to the top Lies Date: August 12, 2005 Lord, again I find myself exaggerating when I tell stories about incidents that have happened. I don't mean to lie, but I so often embellish the details. People compliment me on my story-telling ability! Well, that's what it becomes : story-telling. But I am telling about the events as real incidents, not as stories. So that means I'm lying! It's a deeply ingrained habit, Lord. I really saw it loud and clear last night when I did it again. I've always tried to pass it off as just imaginative, colorful story-telling. But the fact of the matter is that I twist the truth. The fact is, any untruth or shade thereof is a lie. So that means I lie - a lot. O dear, God, please help me in this area. Help me to be honest, no matter what people may think. Actually, please help me to stop worrying about what people think about me. Forgive me, please, Lord. Cleanse me, please! You have been so patient with me. But I have to get over this. Permanently. Help me, please, dear Jesus. My kids have often accused me of lying, and I have denied it, But they were right, Lord. Oh, dear God, what a terrible witness I have been. Please forgive me. Return to the top Arrogant Date: Aug 16, 2005 Lord, I am feeling so humbled. Humiliated, really. I am such a rank beginner in the things of the Spirit. I was thinking I finally had something worth teaching and sharing with others (what I have been studying about the Spiritual Disciplines). I felt that somehow I had reached at least a small level of maturity. But now I feel like I really haven't started at all. I can see that this study group I will be leading will not be a teaching or even facilitating experience for me. It must be a "sitting and learning together at the feet of the Master" experience. In myself I have nothing to offer. Anything I can do in this group can only be "submitting my members" to Christ, allowing Him to do His work in any way that pleases Him, using me only if and as He wills and purposes. Forgive me, please Lord, for my arrogance in thinking that "I" have something to offer. Please take away my pride and my desire to impress others. Help me to focus only on You and on Your guidance and approval. I have nothing to offer in myself. Only "Christ in me" gives me any value. And amazingly, because of Christ in me, I have value in Your sight! Wow! Thank You. Return to the top Holy Spirit Date: Aug 21, 2005 Only 2 more weeks of summer holidays. It has gone so fast. It sure didn't turn out the way I had planned, but it has been so much better! I am very rested. I think my relationship with my husband has deepened. I really got into studying about the spiritual disciplines, and I believe You are ready to use me for this study group. Thank You, Lord! Just before our Pastor left on his sabbatical, he preached, stressing, "Don't do anything without the Holy Spirit!" This is something that I have truly learned on this surprising summer vacation. Your ways and thoughts are truly above ours. You do accomplish Your Word within us as we open ourselves to Your work in our lives. And I do not need to fear, because I have learned that You do prosper all that You purpose. Return to the top Morning Worship Date: Aug 22, 2005 Dear Heavenly Father: I am needing You so desperately! I feel so small and alone - which of course I am without You. I was laying here thinking of all the things You are to me: My bridge over troubled waters, my path through the Red Sea, my streams in the desert, my foundation rock, my rock-solid path through sifting sands, my strength, shield, buckler and sword, my shoes of peace in a world of trouble, the One who makes the rocky ways smooth, my green pastures and quiet waters, my table spread before my enemies, my shelter (l'abri!) in a stormy land, my Creator, Saviour, Lord, God, Almighty One, shepherd, friend, King of kings and Lord of lords, my bread of life, the light of my world, the salt of my life bringing flavor, value, wages/reward. Oh, dear Lord, You are my everything, You are my all in all! I love You! Thank You for Your love. Thank You for being with me always, even in the dark night hours. Thank You that Your Spirit is with me, ready and willing to commne with, lead, guide, teach, convict, accept, forgive, comfort my spirit. I need You, oh, I need You! "Day one of a new, deeper, more intentional walk with You!" That thought just came to me, Lord. Thank You! And help me, please. It must be all about You. It must be Your Spirit alone - no strength of mine. It must be "all about You, Jesus!" Thank You! Oh, You are so worthy of all my love and praise and honoring and glorifying of You, dear Lord God! Praise be to You! Hallelujah! Heavenly Father, here in this early morning hour, before I have risen from my bed, I give this full day to You. 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 Jehovah Jireh Our Vision Lies Arrogant Holy Spirit Morning Worship Jehovah Jireh Date: Aug 7, 2005 "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." (Psalm 37:25). Lord, somehow it is easier for me to "believe" the first part "the righteous not forsaken"; than the second part "nor his seed begging bread." It is easier for me to trust You for spiritual care, it seems, than for physical care. After all, as I look around I see so many apparently righteous people suffering hunger, wars, ill health, unemployment. Then I wonder, why? Is Your Word not literal in that sense? Or are people not "righteous enough"? Or are they being "tested," or what? But still, I just want to believe it, accept it, expect it. You are Jehovah Jireh, my provider. And Your grace is sufficient for me, in all aspects of my being. I want to trust You in everything. Because I do believe You are faithful and that Your Word does not fail. So it is really important that I know and comprehend Your Word: Your will, Your plans, Your purposes. And that I become like Jesus Christ, that I may truly become righteous and thus fulfill the conditions of Your Word. That I may want only what You want, that Your desires will become my desires, that Your will becomes mine. That I will truly enter into the freedom of doing what You desire because I have entered into unity with You, the One whom I love and want to please because You first loved me. Return to the top Our Vision Date: Aug 8, 2005 Lord, something that is heavy on my heart is how when we are with other Christian people, we do sometimes chat with them about You, but we rarely if ever pray or get into Your Word. I want real fellowship to become part of my lifestyle, not just something we do in a scheduled life group, or Bible study, or church service. Move our hearts toward including You in all our dealings together, please. Thank You! Lord, it seems to me that at church we've gotten somehow hung up on our "vision." And although there's probably nothing inherently wrong with those kinds of goals and desires, we need to remember that, first and always, You are to be our vision! Oh, dear God, let our focus be on You alone! Like the old hymn says, "Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be else to save me, save that thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light. Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always: Thou and thou only, first in my heart, High King of heaven, my treasure thou art." Lord, the vision You would have for us is not really big buildings and large congregations and great schools and conferences with big-name speakers. Those so easily become things of the world. Lord, I believe there are good things that underlie "the vision"; things like bringing people to You, healing the world's hurt through You - but Lord, our vision sometimes looks frighteningly like the goalsof the world, at least on the surface. Of course, Lord, they may be Your plan of how You intend to fulfill Your true vision in this place and time - but Lord, as long as we have our eyes focused on these things and not on You, are we really following Your vision? Return to the top Lies Date: August 12, 2005 Lord, again I find myself exaggerating when I tell stories about incidents that have happened. I don't mean to lie, but I so often embellish the details. People compliment me on my story-telling ability! Well, that's what it becomes : story-telling. But I am telling about the events as real incidents, not as stories. So that means I'm lying! It's a deeply ingrained habit, Lord. I really saw it loud and clear last night when I did it again. I've always tried to pass it off as just imaginative, colorful story-telling. But the fact of the matter is that I twist the truth. The fact is, any untruth or shade thereof is a lie. So that means I lie - a lot. O dear, God, please help me in this area. Help me to be honest, no matter what people may think. Actually, please help me to stop worrying about what people think about me. Forgive me, please, Lord. Cleanse me, please! You have been so patient with me. But I have to get over this. Permanently. Help me, please, dear Jesus. My kids have often accused me of lying, and I have denied it, But they were right, Lord. Oh, dear God, what a terrible witness I have been. Please forgive me. Return to the top Arrogant Date: Aug 16, 2005 Lord, I am feeling so humbled. Humiliated, really. I am such a rank beginner in the things of the Spirit. I was thinking I finally had something worth teaching and sharing with others (what I have been studying about the Spiritual Disciplines). I felt that somehow I had reached at least a small level of maturity. But now I feel like I really haven't started at all. I can see that this study group I will be leading will not be a teaching or even facilitating experience for me. It must be a "sitting and learning together at the feet of the Master" experience. In myself I have nothing to offer. Anything I can do in this group can only be "submitting my members" to Christ, allowing Him to do His work in any way that pleases Him, using me only if and as He wills and purposes. Forgive me, please Lord, for my arrogance in thinking that "I" have something to offer. Please take away my pride and my desire to impress others. Help me to focus only on You and on Your guidance and approval. I have nothing to offer in myself. Only "Christ in me" gives me any value. And amazingly, because of Christ in me, I have value in Your sight! Wow! Thank You. Return to the top Holy Spirit Date: Aug 21, 2005 Only 2 more weeks of summer holidays. It has gone so fast. It sure didn't turn out the way I had planned, but it has been so much better! I am very rested. I think my relationship with my husband has deepened. I really got into studying about the spiritual disciplines, and I believe You are ready to use me for this study group. Thank You, Lord! Just before our Pastor left on his sabbatical, he preached, stressing, "Don't do anything without the Holy Spirit!" This is something that I have truly learned on this surprising summer vacation. Your ways and thoughts are truly above ours. You do accomplish Your Word within us as we open ourselves to Your work in our lives. And I do not need to fear, because I have learned that You do prosper all that You purpose. Return to the top Morning Worship Date: Aug 22, 2005 Dear Heavenly Father: I am needing You so desperately! I feel so small and alone - which of course I am without You. I was laying here thinking of all the things You are to me: My bridge over troubled waters, my path through the Red Sea, my streams in the desert, my foundation rock, my rock-solid path through sifting sands, my strength, shield, buckler and sword, my shoes of peace in a world of trouble, the One who makes the rocky ways smooth, my green pastures and quiet waters, my table spread before my enemies, my shelter (l'abri!) in a stormy land, my Creator, Saviour, Lord, God, Almighty One, shepherd, friend, King of kings and Lord of lords, my bread of life, the light of my world, the salt of my life bringing flavor, value, wages/reward. Oh, dear Lord, You are my everything, You are my all in all! I love You! Thank You for Your love. Thank You for being with me always, even in the dark night hours. Thank You that Your Spirit is with me, ready and willing to commne with, lead, guide, teach, convict, accept, forgive, comfort my spirit. I need You, oh, I need You! "Day one of a new, deeper, more intentional walk with You!" That thought just came to me, Lord. Thank You! And help me, please. It must be all about You. It must be Your Spirit alone - no strength of mine. It must be "all about You, Jesus!" Thank You! Oh, You are so worthy of all my love and praise and honoring and glorifying of You, dear Lord God! Praise be to You! Hallelujah! Heavenly Father, here in this early morning hour, before I have risen from my bed, I give this full day to You. Return to the top
Main Page \| My Articles for The Life Connection \| Prayers and Meditations \| Poetry Haida Gwaii Reflections \| Education & Home-School \| Family