Conversations, Reflections & Meditations


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Sign Guestbook \| View Guestbook Comments? Questions? [email protected]	Prayer topics Resolutions 2004 Challenge All About You, Lord Finances, Television: Your Way, Lord Open My Heart to See and Hear Insecurity Resolutions 2004 Date: January 3, 2004 Today in church a lady gave her testimony. The thing that really struck me is when she said that God showed her that the most important dream we can have is to reach the point where we "love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength." Until we commit to that, do that, begin to live that out, nothing else will work, however good our dreams and visions are. I see that everything in my life - everything - must be subservient to my total, complete, uncompromised, indeed unshared, #1 love for God my Creator and Saviour. Dear Lord, so let it be in my life. 2004 resolutions for my walk with God: Eph 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Eph 6:18 Will all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit... for all the saints. Thank You, Lord! Return to the top Challenge Date: January 4, 2004 Lord, keep me in Your path, Your purposes. Yesterday in his sermon, the pastor made a couple challenges that I must follow: First, stop just praying about your "vision statement" and start living it out; and second, If I had unlimited time, money, information and energy, what would God want me to do for Him? That's God vision for me! Listen to God. See it. Start doing it. Do it! This morning I was crying out to God that I want to pray! I've been thinking about that so much lately, remembering how I used to pray for an hour or more every day in my bedroom in the garage, with my tiny grandson in my arms. And I started wishing I could be part of a prayer group, or start praying again like before. And then God spoke to my heart: "Just do it! Get down on your knees and do it!" So I did. I just used the "Lord's prayer" as my framework, and I prayed. It sure wasn't anywhere as long as I used to pray, but oh, I did it, and God was there listening and hearing, and, I believe, answering - connecting! I mean, God and I have been, in His great mercy and love and faithfulness, connecting in so many ways lately, but I've longed to really pray. Reading that "old fashioned" magazine really brought it into focus for me the other day. It brought back memories of prayer meetings at church and camp meetings as a child. And moments at the altar throughout my walk with Christ, like when I was 12 years old (I've often underplayed that experience, but oh, I was serious then about walking with Christ, and He has been faithful, even during my "cool" rebellious years!). I was wondering again this morning how I can have been so slow in understanding and acting, obeying and trusting, the Word and will and purposes of God my Father, my Creator, my Saviour and Lord and Guide. In starting my study of Philippians today, I was reading background scripture in Acts, and read this answer: Acts 28:26-27: "You will keep on hearing, but will not understand. And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive. For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely heart, And they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their hearts and return, And I would heal them." I believe that this is as true of my generation - indeed of myself - as it was when Isaiah first spoke these words by the inspiration of God's Holy spirit, and also centuries later when Paul quoted them to his generation. How the enemy must be cackling with glee as we sit in our comfortable pews with our self-righteous, bored, self-satisfied attitudes, glutted with our material possessions and relatively easy lifestyle. And he has take full advantage of it to drive our nation and our world into ever greater evil and wickedness, and the most we do about it is to moan and groan a bit (perhaps, sometimes). But we refuse to rise up, take up the armour of God, and stand firm against the attacks (we don't even understand or perceive what is right before our eyes and ears) of the powers and principalities of the evil one, arrayed against the church and against God and His Kingdom, both on earth and in the heavenly places. Return to the top All About You, Lord Date: January 5, 2004 Oh Wow! Thank You, Lord for speaking to me. Thank You for really opening my heart to see that it's not my ministry, my gifts, my life "for" You - its YOUR everything. Oh God, make me and keep me humble. Forgive me for my self-centeredness, for my desire (the enemy's desire) for human acclaim and approval and notice. I didn't see it before. It really is all about You! Return to the top Finances, Television: Your Way, Lord Date: January 6, 2004 Dear Lord, the enemy - and my old "self-ish" habits - are trying to get me worrying about our financial situation. Dear Lord, You know that we have major bills coming up at the end of this month, with no sign of income in time. So, please provide for our needs. And thank You. I'm not even going to suggest ways for You to do it, because my ways are so conventional and limited. And Your ways are so amazing. And if it is Your will that we go through a rough spot, so be it. Only help us to learn from it and grow closer to You, and become more obedient and joyful. Oh - and please help the kids to understand. Thank You for all Your mercies! I love You, Lord God Almighty. Praise Your holy name! Hallelujah. Amen. Last night I watched some really stupid Tv - Grace and Will, That 70s Show. At the same time I found myself laughing, then immediately being distressed at the "humor," especially the sexual innuendos which are rampant in these programs. (The kids were also watching a vampire movie earlier on; the violence was terrible). What is the trouble with us? Why do we so easily accept this garbage, the sin that is thrown in our faces and our minds, every time we turn on the tube? Lord, You know how I have struggled with this issue for years, and just seemingly caused trouble if I try to stand against it. This morning again I read Philippians 4:8-9, and honestly I can think of very little on TV or in movies (at least the vast majority) that fit this description of true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, worthy of praise. How can I possible "guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus" when that garbage is filling my mind? Lord, only You can convict our minds and hearts of these things. Lord God, please get ahold my family, and shake them up, dear God. And oh dear God, really, really painfully convict me when I allow myself to get sucked into that box where the enemy lives! (Okay, I'm going to try way harder to stand firm and resist the devil's temptation box!) Oh dear God, convict all Your people to saturate themselves in Your Word. In Jesus' name! Lord, as I've been reading Philippians, I've been more and more convicted about being of the "same mind and same attitude as Christ." Lord, I worry about my outward behaviours, but my attitudes and my mind are what really stink. Oh dear God, please help me, and other Christians around me, to truly "put on the mind of Christ." You know I've been concerned about things like the New Year's Eve service and church potlucks and other "Christian events" where we talk and laugh about everything but You. Oh God, what is wrong with us? Oh, dear God, revive us! Put our minds and hearts on You alone. In Jesus' name! Return to the top Open My Heart to See and Hear Date: January 7, 2004 How can it have been that I have been reading, hearing, even memorizing God's Word all my life - "knowing it" at least in a Trivial Pursuit kind of way - yet it has taken me this long to suddenly start to understand it, to know God, not just words, and to love Him and want it to be about Him, not me, truly? Is this "normal"? Or has there been something really wrong with me? Lord? Keep on, dear Lord, keep on truly revealing Yourself to me, and give me a soft heart, and wide open, hearing and seeing and understanding Your Word - Your Son - Yourself - to me! Thank You, Lord! Amen. Return to the top Insecurity Date: January 10, 2004 Lord, Thank You for getting me over my self-discouragement and insecurity - but, oh, may all the words I speak be from You! I'm still getting this "voice" sitting on my shoulder whispering that I should be quiet because people really don't like me very much, and don't want to hear me. (And I do get carried away, and don't listen to people carefully enough. Help me, Lord. I don't listen to You carefully enough way too often. But, oh, You are so merciful). But Lord, while it is probably good to be cautioned to listen carefully and use words more sparingly and wisely, I don't think that "shut up... people don't like listening to You," voice is from You at all! Because You have told me to preach, to proclaim Your words, to share Your will with the world. And You have been making me bold, and really giving me the words, I believe. And oh, Lord, sometimes I feel like I could just burst! I want to serve You and speak for You and live every moment for You. Truly... "It's all about You, Jesus... It's not about me, As if You should do things my way; You alone are God, And I surrender to Your will." 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 Resolutions 2004 Challenge All About You, Lord Finances, Television: Your Way, Lord Open My Heart to See and Hear Insecurity Resolutions 2004 Date: January 3, 2004 Today in church a lady gave her testimony. The thing that really struck me is when she said that God showed her that the most important dream we can have is to reach the point where we "love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength." Until we commit to that, do that, begin to live that out, nothing else will work, however good our dreams and visions are. I see that everything in my life - everything - must be subservient to my total, complete, uncompromised, indeed unshared, #1 love for God my Creator and Saviour. Dear Lord, so let it be in my life. 2004 resolutions for my walk with God: Eph 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Eph 6:18 Will all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit... for all the saints. Thank You, Lord! Return to the top Challenge Date: January 4, 2004 Lord, keep me in Your path, Your purposes. Yesterday in his sermon, the pastor made a couple challenges that I must follow: First, stop just praying about your "vision statement" and start living it out; and second, If I had unlimited time, money, information and energy, what would God want me to do for Him? That's God vision for me! Listen to God. See it. Start doing it. Do it! This morning I was crying out to God that I want to pray! I've been thinking about that so much lately, remembering how I used to pray for an hour or more every day in my bedroom in the garage, with my tiny grandson in my arms. And I started wishing I could be part of a prayer group, or start praying again like before. And then God spoke to my heart: "Just do it! Get down on your knees and do it!" So I did. I just used the "Lord's prayer" as my framework, and I prayed. It sure wasn't anywhere as long as I used to pray, but oh, I did it, and God was there listening and hearing, and, I believe, answering - connecting! I mean, God and I have been, in His great mercy and love and faithfulness, connecting in so many ways lately, but I've longed to really pray. Reading that "old fashioned" magazine really brought it into focus for me the other day. It brought back memories of prayer meetings at church and camp meetings as a child. And moments at the altar throughout my walk with Christ, like when I was 12 years old (I've often underplayed that experience, but oh, I was serious then about walking with Christ, and He has been faithful, even during my "cool" rebellious years!). I was wondering again this morning how I can have been so slow in understanding and acting, obeying and trusting, the Word and will and purposes of God my Father, my Creator, my Saviour and Lord and Guide. In starting my study of Philippians today, I was reading background scripture in Acts, and read this answer: Acts 28:26-27: "You will keep on hearing, but will not understand. And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive. For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely heart, And they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their hearts and return, And I would heal them." I believe that this is as true of my generation - indeed of myself - as it was when Isaiah first spoke these words by the inspiration of God's Holy spirit, and also centuries later when Paul quoted them to his generation. How the enemy must be cackling with glee as we sit in our comfortable pews with our self-righteous, bored, self-satisfied attitudes, glutted with our material possessions and relatively easy lifestyle. And he has take full advantage of it to drive our nation and our world into ever greater evil and wickedness, and the most we do about it is to moan and groan a bit (perhaps, sometimes). But we refuse to rise up, take up the armour of God, and stand firm against the attacks (we don't even understand or perceive what is right before our eyes and ears) of the powers and principalities of the evil one, arrayed against the church and against God and His Kingdom, both on earth and in the heavenly places. Return to the top All About You, Lord Date: January 5, 2004 Oh Wow! Thank You, Lord for speaking to me. Thank You for really opening my heart to see that it's not my ministry, my gifts, my life "for" You - its YOUR everything. Oh God, make me and keep me humble. Forgive me for my self-centeredness, for my desire (the enemy's desire) for human acclaim and approval and notice. I didn't see it before. It really is all about You! Return to the top Finances, Television: Your Way, Lord Date: January 6, 2004 Dear Lord, the enemy - and my old "self-ish" habits - are trying to get me worrying about our financial situation. Dear Lord, You know that we have major bills coming up at the end of this month, with no sign of income in time. So, please provide for our needs. And thank You. I'm not even going to suggest ways for You to do it, because my ways are so conventional and limited. And Your ways are so amazing. And if it is Your will that we go through a rough spot, so be it. Only help us to learn from it and grow closer to You, and become more obedient and joyful. Oh - and please help the kids to understand. Thank You for all Your mercies! I love You, Lord God Almighty. Praise Your holy name! Hallelujah. Amen. Last night I watched some really stupid Tv - Grace and Will, That 70s Show. At the same time I found myself laughing, then immediately being distressed at the "humor," especially the sexual innuendos which are rampant in these programs. (The kids were also watching a vampire movie earlier on; the violence was terrible). What is the trouble with us? Why do we so easily accept this garbage, the sin that is thrown in our faces and our minds, every time we turn on the tube? Lord, You know how I have struggled with this issue for years, and just seemingly caused trouble if I try to stand against it. This morning again I read Philippians 4:8-9, and honestly I can think of very little on TV or in movies (at least the vast majority) that fit this description of true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, worthy of praise. How can I possible "guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus" when that garbage is filling my mind? Lord, only You can convict our minds and hearts of these things. Lord God, please get ahold my family, and shake them up, dear God. And oh dear God, really, really painfully convict me when I allow myself to get sucked into that box where the enemy lives! (Okay, I'm going to try way harder to stand firm and resist the devil's temptation box!) Oh dear God, convict all Your people to saturate themselves in Your Word. In Jesus' name! Lord, as I've been reading Philippians, I've been more and more convicted about being of the "same mind and same attitude as Christ." Lord, I worry about my outward behaviours, but my attitudes and my mind are what really stink. Oh dear God, please help me, and other Christians around me, to truly "put on the mind of Christ." You know I've been concerned about things like the New Year's Eve service and church potlucks and other "Christian events" where we talk and laugh about everything but You. Oh God, what is wrong with us? Oh, dear God, revive us! Put our minds and hearts on You alone. In Jesus' name! Return to the top Open My Heart to See and Hear Date: January 7, 2004 How can it have been that I have been reading, hearing, even memorizing God's Word all my life - "knowing it" at least in a Trivial Pursuit kind of way - yet it has taken me this long to suddenly start to understand it, to know God, not just words, and to love Him and want it to be about Him, not me, truly? Is this "normal"? Or has there been something really wrong with me? Lord? Keep on, dear Lord, keep on truly revealing Yourself to me, and give me a soft heart, and wide open, hearing and seeing and understanding Your Word - Your Son - Yourself - to me! Thank You, Lord! Amen. Return to the top Insecurity Date: January 10, 2004 Lord, Thank You for getting me over my self-discouragement and insecurity - but, oh, may all the words I speak be from You! I'm still getting this "voice" sitting on my shoulder whispering that I should be quiet because people really don't like me very much, and don't want to hear me. (And I do get carried away, and don't listen to people carefully enough. Help me, Lord. I don't listen to You carefully enough way too often. But, oh, You are so merciful). But Lord, while it is probably good to be cautioned to listen carefully and use words more sparingly and wisely, I don't think that "shut up... people don't like listening to You," voice is from You at all! Because You have told me to preach, to proclaim Your words, to share Your will with the world. And You have been making me bold, and really giving me the words, I believe. And oh, Lord, sometimes I feel like I could just burst! I want to serve You and speak for You and live every moment for You. Truly... "It's all about You, Jesus... It's not about me, As if You should do things my way; You alone are God, And I surrender to Your will." Return to the top
Main Page \| My Articles for The Life Connection \| Prayers and Meditations \| Poetry Haida Gwaii Reflections \| Education & Home-School \| Family