Conversations, Reflections & Meditations


	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 23rd Psalm From My Heart Renewing My Worship Your Way, Your will, Your Time - Perfect! I Really, Really Need to Pray... No Excuses! I Need to be Part of a Team The Machpela's In my Life 23rd Psalm From My Heart Date: June 29, 2004 I’m just Your little lamb, Lord. Oh, dear Shepherd, hold me in Your arms. Pasture me in Your green pastures, by Your still waters. Restore my soul, dear Lord God. Lead me in Your righteous paths. Make me like Jesus, dear Father and Spirit. Help me to fear nothing the enemy can throw my way; for You, dear God – Father, Spirit, precious Jesus – are with me. Mighty, kindly shepherd, Your rod (yes, I do need correction, badly. Forgive me, Lord) and staff (oh the comfort of Your love and care. Help me to lean upon You, oh My Father) do comfort me. Over and over You provide lavishly for me, preparing a table laden with untold good things, both physical, spiritual, and emotional, in the presence of my enemies (Your enemies, Lord). Over and over You anoint my head with Your oil, and my cup does overflow, with mighty abundance and joyfulness and wholeness and completeness in You and through You. Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, because You have been there always, waiting with Your arms outstretched, and receiving me gladly when I finally turned and ran into Your arms. And I will dwell in Your house – already I dwell in Your presence! – now and forevermore. Amen and amen. How I do love You, Lord! Return to the top Renewing My Worship Date: July 6, 2004 Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for the worship focus group. After last week’s group I found ___’s clarinet and brought it to her, but she didn’t want it and told me to keep it! So I’ve starting practicing again. And last night’s worship group was so good, the sharing and the music and singing. I was dancing a bit, praying and singing both in English and in tongues, with a freedom I have not had for so long, though still I experienced some hesitation. Today I got out my worship tapes and listened to them and sang along, as I drove up to visit Mom and Dad. And yesterday I finished reading the New Testament, and have decided now to read a chapter in the Psalms every day (along with Genesis). And really take the advice to meditate on each Psalm, to praise, to pray, to record my insights, love God with all my heart, mind, body, soul, strength. I don’t know where You’ll take me with all this, but there have been too many God-incidents for me to ignore my need to really get into worshipping You again and more. (I want to work on my guitar again, too. And it would be nice to have a piano, Lord, or a keyboard even? Lord? Your will be done). Return to the top Your Way, Your Will, Your Time - Perfect! Date: July 8, 2004 “For the vision is yet for the appointed time. It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it, For it will certainly come, it will not delay” (Hab 2:3). That’s how You work, isn’t it, Lord! I see it – with myself, my family, my life group, my church, mom’s situation, even this 50th anniversary we are planning. Your way, Your will, Your time. Perfect! Return to the top I Really, Really Need to Pray... No Excuses! Date: July 17, 2004 Dear Heavenly Father, I love You! I want to serve You. I’ve wanted to be a life group leader for a long time, but I’ve come to realize that I wouldn’t be much use, and I certainly cannot evangelize my neighbors and my world, unless I really start praying seriously (daily, long-term, reaching out to and connecting with God). I do lots of study, which is good as far as it goes. But I need to really, really pray, pray, pray, to connect with God and serve others. “Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation.” (PDL). And study without real prayer and real connecting with God leads to spiritual stagnation, too. No wonder our group hasn’t grown. I haven’t been praying… I don’t know if I have leadership potential, or if my being a woman is a problem in leading a cell group, but that’s really irrelevant, in the sense that, no matter what, I am a part of this group, and therefore responsible to both help it grow spiritually within the group, and to multiply externally! No excuses! Return to the top I Need to Be Part of a Team Date: July 22, 2004 I just can’t get out of my mind that bit of discussion at our life group last night. I would love to organize things so that newcomers and new Christians are immediately drawn into the life of the church, and into a caring cell group, and discipled, and others outside evangelized and also brought in. I love planning, organizing, studying new ideas and teaching them to others and trying them myself. I like paper-work and record keeping, when it has meaning and results. And I would also love to lead a cell group, really, I think, a focus group, to help and disciple and evangelize women and their children who need guidance and and care. Maybe teens too. I couldn’t do it all myself, but I could gather and organize people who would (I think that data-base idea still has a lot of merit; and I could do that, too). I also love close family relationships and have a great desire for my children to follow God. But I have also learned that I am not very effective on my own. I need to be part of a team. What about my burden for concerted prayer for life groups? Oh! I cold find prayer warriors (data base again) and organize them and encourage others – organization and prayer working together for evangelism, caring, discipling… Dear Lord, what do You want from me? From us? Your will alone be done. Amen. Return to the top The Machpela's In My Life Date: July 28, 2004 Dear Heavenly Father, Here I am again sitting out on the porch in my cozy quilt after a good night’s sleep in the fresh air. Oh how wonderful You are to make such a wonderful world! It’s getting a bit chilly at night and the sun is rising later, but the days are still plenty warm. Lord, please take care of the people, and the creatures, where there are wild-fires burning. Thank You, Lord. I just love Your Word, Lord. 23rd Psalm this morning, and chapter 23 of Genesis: Abraham buys the cave of Machpela to bury Sarah. How small a bit of land it must have seemed, when God had promised the whole land to Abraham. And yet it was a foot hold, a first step, an opening, a little promise in itself. Thank You for the caves, the footholds You give me, the signs and seals of Your promises and purposes in my life and in the lives of all Your people. Hallelujah! Well, the question today from The Purpose Driven Life is “In what way can I see myself passionately serving others and loving it?” Lord, it keeps going back to my vision. In some ways, I think I’ve just kind of filed it away because it seems to slow in coming. Not impossible at all, but just so far off (seemingly. You could make it happen even today, of course). But Lord, I do believe it is from You, and that You are going to fulfill it. Oh Lord, I do want to teach and share Your Word, in the context of hospitality and caring and wholeness in all life’s aspects. But yes, I can see that the things I’m doing right now are building the experience and credibility and networking that will make my role in Your vision work. Thank You, Lord. What a mighty God we serve. Hallujah! Amen. "Really KNOW Knowing!" July 29, 2004 As I was continuing to read and study in Psalms and Genesis today it just struck me! I used to think, more or less, that the Bible is mostly stories about people (and their relationships to God), but as I once again listed the things the chapter taught me about God, I realized that really the Bible is about God Himself (and His 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 23rd Psalm From My Heart Renewing My Worship Your Way, Your will, Your Time - Perfect! I Really, Really Need to Pray... No Excuses! I Need to be Part of a Team The Machpela's In my Life 23rd Psalm From My Heart Date: June 29, 2004 I’m just Your little lamb, Lord. Oh, dear Shepherd, hold me in Your arms. Pasture me in Your green pastures, by Your still waters. Restore my soul, dear Lord God. Lead me in Your righteous paths. Make me like Jesus, dear Father and Spirit. Help me to fear nothing the enemy can throw my way; for You, dear God – Father, Spirit, precious Jesus – are with me. Mighty, kindly shepherd, Your rod (yes, I do need correction, badly. Forgive me, Lord) and staff (oh the comfort of Your love and care. Help me to lean upon You, oh My Father) do comfort me. Over and over You provide lavishly for me, preparing a table laden with untold good things, both physical, spiritual, and emotional, in the presence of my enemies (Your enemies, Lord). Over and over You anoint my head with Your oil, and my cup does overflow, with mighty abundance and joyfulness and wholeness and completeness in You and through You. Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, because You have been there always, waiting with Your arms outstretched, and receiving me gladly when I finally turned and ran into Your arms. And I will dwell in Your house – already I dwell in Your presence! – now and forevermore. Amen and amen. How I do love You, Lord! Return to the top Renewing My Worship Date: July 6, 2004 Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for the worship focus group. After last week’s group I found ___’s clarinet and brought it to her, but she didn’t want it and told me to keep it! So I’ve starting practicing again. And last night’s worship group was so good, the sharing and the music and singing. I was dancing a bit, praying and singing both in English and in tongues, with a freedom I have not had for so long, though still I experienced some hesitation. Today I got out my worship tapes and listened to them and sang along, as I drove up to visit Mom and Dad. And yesterday I finished reading the New Testament, and have decided now to read a chapter in the Psalms every day (along with Genesis). And really take the advice to meditate on each Psalm, to praise, to pray, to record my insights, love God with all my heart, mind, body, soul, strength. I don’t know where You’ll take me with all this, but there have been too many God-incidents for me to ignore my need to really get into worshipping You again and more. (I want to work on my guitar again, too. And it would be nice to have a piano, Lord, or a keyboard even? Lord? Your will be done). Return to the top Your Way, Your Will, Your Time - Perfect! Date: July 8, 2004 “For the vision is yet for the appointed time. It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it, For it will certainly come, it will not delay” (Hab 2:3). That’s how You work, isn’t it, Lord! I see it – with myself, my family, my life group, my church, mom’s situation, even this 50th anniversary we are planning. Your way, Your will, Your time. Perfect! Return to the top I Really, Really Need to Pray... No Excuses! Date: July 17, 2004 Dear Heavenly Father, I love You! I want to serve You. I’ve wanted to be a life group leader for a long time, but I’ve come to realize that I wouldn’t be much use, and I certainly cannot evangelize my neighbors and my world, unless I really start praying seriously (daily, long-term, reaching out to and connecting with God). I do lots of study, which is good as far as it goes. But I need to really, really pray, pray, pray, to connect with God and serve others. “Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation.” (PDL). And study without real prayer and real connecting with God leads to spiritual stagnation, too. No wonder our group hasn’t grown. I haven’t been praying… I don’t know if I have leadership potential, or if my being a woman is a problem in leading a cell group, but that’s really irrelevant, in the sense that, no matter what, I am a part of this group, and therefore responsible to both help it grow spiritually within the group, and to multiply externally! No excuses! Return to the top I Need to Be Part of a Team Date: July 22, 2004 I just can’t get out of my mind that bit of discussion at our life group last night. I would love to organize things so that newcomers and new Christians are immediately drawn into the life of the church, and into a caring cell group, and discipled, and others outside evangelized and also brought in. I love planning, organizing, studying new ideas and teaching them to others and trying them myself. I like paper-work and record keeping, when it has meaning and results. And I would also love to lead a cell group, really, I think, a focus group, to help and disciple and evangelize women and their children who need guidance and and care. Maybe teens too. I couldn’t do it all myself, but I could gather and organize people who would (I think that data-base idea still has a lot of merit; and I could do that, too). I also love close family relationships and have a great desire for my children to follow God. But I have also learned that I am not very effective on my own. I need to be part of a team. What about my burden for concerted prayer for life groups? Oh! I cold find prayer warriors (data base again) and organize them and encourage others – organization and prayer working together for evangelism, caring, discipling… Dear Lord, what do You want from me? From us? Your will alone be done. Amen. Return to the top The Machpela's In My Life Date: July 28, 2004 Dear Heavenly Father, Here I am again sitting out on the porch in my cozy quilt after a good night’s sleep in the fresh air. Oh how wonderful You are to make such a wonderful world! It’s getting a bit chilly at night and the sun is rising later, but the days are still plenty warm. Lord, please take care of the people, and the creatures, where there are wild-fires burning. Thank You, Lord. I just love Your Word, Lord. 23rd Psalm this morning, and chapter 23 of Genesis: Abraham buys the cave of Machpela to bury Sarah. How small a bit of land it must have seemed, when God had promised the whole land to Abraham. And yet it was a foot hold, a first step, an opening, a little promise in itself. Thank You for the caves, the footholds You give me, the signs and seals of Your promises and purposes in my life and in the lives of all Your people. Hallelujah! Well, the question today from The Purpose Driven Life is “In what way can I see myself passionately serving others and loving it?” Lord, it keeps going back to my vision. In some ways, I think I’ve just kind of filed it away because it seems to slow in coming. Not impossible at all, but just so far off (seemingly. You could make it happen even today, of course). But Lord, I do believe it is from You, and that You are going to fulfill it. Oh Lord, I do want to teach and share Your Word, in the context of hospitality and caring and wholeness in all life’s aspects. But yes, I can see that the things I’m doing right now are building the experience and credibility and networking that will make my role in Your vision work. Thank You, Lord. What a mighty God we serve. Hallujah! Amen. "Really KNOW Knowing!" July 29, 2004 As I was continuing to read and study in Psalms and Genesis today it just struck me! I used to think, more or less, that the Bible is mostly stories about people (and their relationships to God), but as I once again listed the things the chapter taught me about God, I realized that really the Bible is about God Himself (and His Return to the top
Main Page \| My Articles for The Life Connection \| Prayers and Meditations \| Poetry Haida Gwaii Reflections \| Education & Home-School \| Family