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Prayer topics
God's Call and Perfect Timing
My Job is Part of My Life With You
They That Wait Upon The Lord
Go Forth In Peace, And Walk With God
Believing Expectation Shall Be Realized
Child of My Love, Lean Hard
Incomplete Without Time Spent With You

God's Call and Perfect Timing
Date: August 31, 2003

I am really seeing my new job as a mission-field and outreach. I want to tell people about Jesus, and invite them to church and cell groups. I want to be a Christ-like presence at all times.

And I want to give my new house to the church to be open and hospitable for cell groups or whatever way God wants to use it.

Yesterday ___ and I walked from our new house to the school, and God has given me a heart to reach my neighborhood for the Lord. It's a bit "run-down" but seems neighborly, with people sitting in their yards, talking to each other, smiling as we passed. Young people, natives, all kinds of people I can relate to and enjoy - and all within easy walking distance of where our church will be located just a month from now. I think I better get out and do prayer walks around my neighbourhood!

God's timing is so perfect. He had our pastor preach about God's call - the day before our moving time. Just think, in the past couple months, after years when things seemed so impossible, especially in view of the vision and call I have had from the Lord for so long, my daughter went to Bible camp and has since attended church faithfully, and I see God so working in her life. Out of the blue, ___ said we should move to Penticton, and then everything worked out with wide open doors: house rental (perfect house, cost, location, landlord), garage sales, packing ahead of time so when I suddenly got a great job (an amazing story in itself) I'm already almost ready to move, another daughter comes to church and signs up for a cell group, yet another daughter is baptized, my son is looking forward to attending church in our new community, the kids' schools are just a short walk from our home, my job is within walking or biking distance, the car keeps miraculously working (but according to the mechanic, it is on its last legs, so it's also a good thing we are moving where we are not so car-dependent)... all leading up to the Pastor's challenge today to respond to God's call on our lives. And the Lord has been so good financially too, right down to the dollar and the minute needed!

.........

The creek in our backyard was dried up for a few hours today (perhaps for dredging upstream), and the poor little fish were lying in tiny pools of water, half sticking out of the water, flopping around and gasping and some already dead. And then the water started coming again and next thing you know, there they were swimming around so happily. They reminded me of all the gasping, dying people out there desperately needing the living water! What a picture for me. I was trying to push the fish around with a stick into slightly deeper parts of the puddles, but they just flopped around and I was no help at all with my solution - but then the water came and brought them life!

.......

____ just dropped by and picked a bunch of apples. I had mentioned to her that the summer reds were ready, and to come and get some. It is a miracle for them, as her sister's husband died yesterday, and they have to go out to Alberta for the funeral. She wanted to make apple pies and strudles for they people coming to the funeral, but she couldn't find any apples that were ready, and then I called her (not knowing of her need). And I'm so happy to see the apples being used instead of just falling off the tree! Hallelujah!

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My Job is Part of My Life With You
Date: September 3, 2003

Yesterday at work my trainer worked out front most of the day, and I felt as though I was a beginning dog-paddler swimmer who was suddenly dumped in the deep end and told to swim! With the dishwasher broken and it being delivery day and one of the girls with larynjitis, and Dave the truck drive ordering me to get things ready for him even though I had not been trained to do that and had no idea what to do, I ended up all flustered and actually teary.

And of course, this being the Lord's job, and my life belonging to the Lord, He gave me the answer just now. Thank You, Lord. Of course You are longing to help me, but You can't if I don't relax and partake of Christ fully, every moment. Lord, in a way it is a new concept to me, to make my job part of my life with You. My job, I see, is another area in which I need to stop depending on myself at all, and depend totally on You. Please help me with this today. Also please help me with the moving, which is actually coming along quite well.

Sunday, September 7, 2003

Thank You, Lord, for Your Word. The last few weeks have been great and exciting. As today's readings show, help me to be prepared to trust in You with joy when troubles come. A lot of things that have happened lately, I would have considered in the past to be troubles, and been upset by them, trying to solve them by myself. Thank You for Your presence, and for helping me to recognize it in both good times and hard times. You are always so here for me. Praise Your holy name! Amen!

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They That Wait Upon The Lord
Date: September 8, 2003

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They small run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40) Teach me Lord to wait upon You.

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to stand upon the truth of Your Word instead of upon the mantras of this world. Yes, my earth suit is getting worn and tattered, but my spirit is daily renewed and totally refreshed anew by the power of Your Holy Spirit. And Your Word promises that if I wait upon You, my spirit communing with, listening to, obeying Your Spirit in me, then my strength will be renewed and I will be energetic and not grow weary: no more whining and crying of "I'm so tired!" Renew my strength today, dear Lord. Forgive me for failing to trust You yesterday. Maybe I was wrong to unload the shed and put things away, "working" on the Lord's day... I don't know. Our pastor said every day is the Lord's day, and to cease from our labour means to go and live, not work. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit again today, right now, dear Lord. And so fill me with Your power, power to do the job You have given me and to bring people to You, power to be a good mother and wife. Oh Lord, somehow I knew yesterday, from the reading, that trouble was on the way. ___ was so upset Lord, and I didn't know what to do. I should have called on You instantly, but I tried "my" solutions first, and ended up seeing how silly and useless, even destructive, they were. The problem settled down when I went back to bed, gave the problem to You, and went to sleep! Resting in You, letting You do the work - without strain. Thank You, Lord. Please continue to work through this situation for ___.

Lord, please forgive me for my lack of trust and my independence. Help me to walk every step of today with You in charge. Your will be done!

I love You, Lord. I honour You. To You be all blessing and honour and glory, in the name of Jesus. May every thing I do, say, and think be only for Your glory. Amen!

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Go Forth In Peace, and Walk With God
Date: September 10, 2003

Dear Heavenly Father, I am so happy and joyful to be able to come into Your Presence in a concentrated way (for I am always in Your Presence, O blessed God! Hallelujah! - but I yearn for uninterrupted times with You). Thank You for loving me so much.

You know the very thoughts of my heart, the words of my mouth, the actions of my body before they even happen, from before time, from eternity! You are God Almighty! Thank You so much again and again for the great, incredible, miraculous gift of Your Son who shed His precious blood for my salvation, that I might be able to come directly into Your presence, into deep and true and growing love and fellowship and relationship and maturity with You. Praise God! Thank You, Lord!

I come before You now to ask forgiveness for my failings, for not being more forthright in witnessing on my job, for not trusting You more fully, for time and again trying to do things in my own strained strength (weakness!) instead of depending on You, the solid Rock, my foundation, my strength. I am so sorry, Lord, and I ask You and thank You for Your love and patience and forgiveness and Presence and direction and strength.

Thank You for the peace that is coming over me even right now as I bring my self to You. Please take all of me, and may everything I do be done to Your honour and glory alone. Please speak to me today by Your Word and Your Spirit and all Your revelation. And please help me to be a good listener.

Lord, You know the concerns of my heart. Here and now I lay them all before You, and ask You to take care of them in the way that will bring the most glory to You.

Thank You for Your Word which continues to speak new and wonderful truths from You to my heart, as I read it over and over again. Oh, Thank You! for Your Word, Your Spirit, Your Son, You my Father! Glory to God! Amen.

"Go forth in peace, and walk with God. Thanks be to God."

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Believing Expectation shall Be Realized
Date: September 11, 2003

Dear Heavenly Father: "Believing expectation shall be realized." Thank You that when I drove to work yesterday, and then home again, the car did not smoke. My daughter says it smoked as soon as she started driving (after I came home).... I don't understand all that, but I am "believing expectantly" that You are providing us with a good car, the car that we need, and that You will keep us going safely with this one until the other one is provided.

Thank You that it is true that "all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose." in Your way and will, which is always best.

Bless Your holy Name. Praise You, precious Jesus. I love You, Father God. Fill me, guide me, indwell and overflow me, please, dear Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, amen.



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Child of My Love, Lean Hard
Date: September 12, 2003

Lord, dear Heavenly Father, You know about how we went to 7-Eleven yesterday on the way to the grocery store, just so ____ could get a slushie. My husband noticed a man gassing up a car with a for-sale sign in the window. He went over to talk to the man, who showed us the car thoroughly. Lord, my husband is so excited. He loves the car, and the price is great. It is in immaculate condition inside and out, with great engine, tires, etc. The man has owned it from the very start and has taken excellent care of it. There are 203,000 km but it has been treated with TLC. It is top of its line and has many great features. Lord, You know we went in yesterday for a preapproved loan. Lord, You know our financial needs, and everything about us, past, present and future. Please, if this is Your car for us, open the doors wide; have it available and have the loan approved. If it isn't Your car for us, have the car unavailable and the loan not approved, too. Thank You, Lord, that we can give these hard decisions to You, Who knows all! Praise God! In Jesus' name, amen.

Thank You, Lord, that You don't take all the burdens out of our life (thank goodness - how else could we mature and learn to truly love and trust You, and be useful to You in reaching others - though You surely can do the latter without us - how loving You are to want to use a vastly imperfect vessel like me! What a loving, wonderful God You are!).

Today in my devotions, I cam again across that poem "Child of My love, lean hard..." It was such a help and comfort to me in the past, and again it touches my heart, and speaks directly again to my circumstances and understandings, though they are different, in detail, than before. Thank You that Your Word is always living and always relevant, just as You are!

"'I shall be near, and while she leans on Me,/ This burden shall be Mine, not hers;/ So shall I keep My child within the circling arms/ Of my own love.' Here lay it down, nor fear/ To impose it on a shoulder which upholds/ The government of worlds. Yet closer come;/ Thou art not near enough. I would embrace thy care;/ So I might feel My child reposing on My breast./ Thou lovest me? I knew it. Doubt not then;/ But loving Me, lean hard." (from Springs in the Desert, Sept 12)

Speak to me, please, dear Lord!

..... Norma, My Precious Child: Remain always in the circle of My love. Lean into Me, never away from Me. I will always strengthen and uphold you. I will never let you go. You are mine, You are bought with an infinite price, bought for eternity with Me. I have put you in the place where I need you, and I will always be all Your provision. Hang onto Me, dear Child. All is in My will.

I love You, little child. You are mine!
Your Heavenly Father.



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Incomplete Without Time Spent With You
Date: September 13, 2003

The people brought their car over and we test drove it since our loan was approved yesterday and we can get it Monday when the bank opens. My husband is so happy. So many blessings. What a wonderful Lord!

Yet all day I've been tired, groggy, kind of negative - just "off." I could put it down to the rich food I ate before I went to sleep last night, but that's not really it. I just have felt - incomplete. And I know! I didn't spend time with You this morning.

It really came home for me when I just now read Exodus 34:2 "Come up in the morning... and present thyself unto me in the top of the mount."

"The morning is the time fixed for my meeting the Lord. In the morning! Then God means me to be at my best in strength and hope. In the night I have buried yesterday's fatigues, and in the morning take a new lease of energy. Blessed is the day whose morning is sanctified! Successful is the day whose first victory was won in prayer! Holy is the day whose dawn finds thee in the top of the mount! My Father, I am coming. At Thy bidding I come, so Thou wilt meet me. Morning on the mount! It will make me strong and glad all the rest of the day so well begun." (Joseph Parker)

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