Happy First Day of Fall

 I LOVE fall.  It is spectacular.

The vibrant colors of leaves.

The crunch as you walk through them.

The squirrels as they gather their acorns.

The pumpkin spice candles.

The darker mornings and earlier evenings.

The holidays.

The long walks and relief from the intense summer heat.

The pumpkins and acorns and squash.

The loaves of fresh baked bread.

The steam off my coffee.

Hot chocolates with whip cream.

Total bliss.

I am so incredibly thankful God created a world where there is fall.💝

Tidbits

Well, my forty-fifth birthday dawned with the stomach virus throwing an all out party for me and one of my girls.  Not the kind of party I was imagining...but SO thankful it was less intense than my husband's experience!  And so glad that it is over.  

Do you ever get frustrated with the news?  They will sensationalize a story for a few weeks and then it is difficult to find any updates?  I feel like this is exactly what is happening with Afghanistan and Myanmar (Burma) as well as what happened years ago with Aleppo, Syria...I am left wondering what happens to the people there - what life is like for them - are they suffering...how is God moving in their midst?  Joel Rosenberg, Nazarene Fund, and Paul Washer give (semi) regular updates for Afghanistan and  Golden Shores Initiative and Paul Washer give prayer points and updates about Myanmar (Burma).  I think we are going to get a world map to put pins in it so that it is in front of us all of the time and we don't forget - it is so tempting to just let the next story sweep you along and forget the fact that these are actual real people who need us to go the distance with them in prayer and ministry support for those that are on the ground serving them.

We were supposed to be on vacation this past week., lying on a beach soaking in the waves and sun...instead 3/5 of us were sick/not feeling good - at home and in bed.  We spent time sleeping and watching a LOT of hallmark movies and mysteries - we LOVE hallmark's movies and mysteries (especially the older ones - like Garage Sale Mysteries, Aurora Teagarden, Flower Shop Mysteries...).  

I also stumbled upon an AMAZING book.

Have you ever heard of Watchman Nee?  He was a Chinese Christian and church leader who worked in China during the 20th century.  I recently got his book The Normal Christian Life on kindle and OH MY GOODNESS - this is SUCH a treasure.  This book is SO rich in truth and flips what I thought it meant to follow God on its head.  It explains the truths in the book of Romans (and the rest of the New Testament) in such an amazing way - for example this morning I read this :

"It is a great thing when I discover that I am no longer my own but His.  If the ten shillings in my pocket belong to me, then I have full authority over them.  But if they belong to another who has committed them to me in trust, then I cannot buy what I please with them, and I dare not lose them.  Real Christian life begins with knowing this." this passage is located in Chapter 6 of The Normal Christian Life.

This whole time I have spent such effort trying to become a better Christian - better follower of Jesus.  But in this book, God is slowly opening my eyes to the truth that my flesh was crucified with Christ - I have heard that verse SO many times, I can spout it off in my sleep probably...but I didn't truly grasp the truth of this:  I have been crucified with Christ - so I no longer live.  The life I now live in the flesh - I live by faith.  I am those ten shillings - they no longer belong to me.  They are His to spend how He sees fit - He has given me this life to steward according to His purposes.  

Anyway - this book is going to be one of those books that totally turns everything I thought I knew upside down.  Like when I read Insanity for God.  

I am also reading :

Hammer of God by Bo Giertz

Satisfied! by Rhona Epstein 

City Spies by James Ponti (reading aloud)

Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola (slowly reading aloud)

Last week was a long week...

My husband got sick last Sunday and as the week wore on - he got progressively sicker until we landed in our local ER Friday morning.  He is home and I (think) slowly feeling better, but still pretty sick - this is a nasty stomach virus.  

My heart hurts for those that had hard goodbyes this week and for those that marked the 20th anniversary of 9/11.  My heart goes out to all of the families with someone they love in a hospital - I was reminded of the very real heaviness of sitting in a hospital room, waiting for test results - waiting for the doctor to tell you what is wrong...time seems to stand still, barely crawling forward.  So many thoughts race through your mind and it is so much easier to text someone else to pray for you, because sometimes it feels like the words won't or can't come.  There were several doors with warning signs on them, so I knew those people were battling COVID and I just prayed for them - for the strength and endurance to face this battle and for fortitude for their family and friends.  

I also re-hurt my knee (yes again) last Friday (right before labor day).  I went on a walk and as I was walking uphill, I pulled my calf muscle - it was immediate - I knew something was wrong.  I depend a lot on my surrounding muscles to stabilize that knee (I tore my ACL several years ago).  So walking has been more along the lines of hobbling this week.  

So, all in all, this has been a looooong week.  It has been oddly quiet, my husband, who is like my second half - has been out of commission and I miss him.  I hate seeing him suffer, I hate seeing him tired and weak and sick.  I want to do something to make it better, but truly sometimes all you can do is come along side and go through it with them.  Here is hoping for a better week this week - 💙

Practical Prayer Ideas...

This is an eclectic blend of ideas from Kari, Arabah Joy, and Val Woerner :

Some tools you might want to collect and have ready:

*journal or composition book - something to write in and something to write with

*your Bible

*your computer and/or phone for your favorite Bible apps

*topical guide (Nave has one, Blue Letter and Bible Hub have one for free on their website and/or app you can use)

*index cards and/or post-its

*gummy or elastic bracelet

1) Make a master of list of what/who you want to pray for.  
* I even divided mine into four subcategories - the easy (example - friends and family), the ones that require the most discipline and humility from me (people that you do not particularly like, get along with, or even that are downright mean to you), the critical (urgent), and then requests for supplication.  Make sure as you compile your list, you pull from your family, friends, neighbors/community, church, colleagues, teachers, preachers, doctors, veterinarians, and pharmacists etc; - but don't forget the larger picture of our military, first responders, government (local and federal), as well as other countries, missionaries, and finally our brothers and sisters in Christ around the globe.  

2) Assign a day of the week to your categories.  Example on Monday you might pray for friends and family, while on Tuesday you want to pray specifically for missionaries, churches (leaders and laymen), and maybe a specific country where you know persecution is very, very difficult right now, then on Wednesday you will pray for your neighbors etc; 

3) Take some time and look up some promises from God. (*be sure to read them in context so that you grasp exactly what God is and is not saying) and write out the Scriptures or references so that when it comes time to pray - you have it all ready.

4) Start your prayer time with confessing any sin that comes to mind, next spend some time singing praises to God, and then start journaling.  This can be as formal or informal as you want - but keep a record of what you pray so that you will be able to accurately thank God when He answers. (this is also SUCH a rich faith building activity)

For yourself and your urgents:

1) Make or get an elastic or gummy/silicone type bracelet and a list of specific promises from God's Word - transcribing one or two onto an index card or post-it - this is where the topical Bible comes in handy.

2) Arabah Joy explains this so much better - but the gist of it is : pray God's Word over you and your circumstances and your list - then throughout the day - when you feel anxious, worried, nervous, angry, despairing etc; take that bracelet off, pull out your card or post-it and pray that verse/promise from God's Word again and slip it on to the other wrist.  This will make sure you are communing with God and His Word more than you are stewing in your own thoughts.

Reflect :

One of the easiest aspects of praying (for me) to overlook is the step of reflection.  Take time each week to look back over what you prayed and spend time praising God for His provisions, His answers, and His presence.  Do this at the end of each month and then collectively at the end of the year.  God is so faithful and so worthy of my praise - but how often do I rush from moment to moment and forget to acknowledge this and to simply say thank you.  Thank you God for Your Word, thank You for Your presence, thank You for the gift of prayer and for the gift of these people and situations in my life.

***

Also - if someone asks you to pray for them - stop right then and pray.  But - then take a second to text it to yourself, or jot it down so that when you have a minute you can write them down on your master list.  Don't forget to jot a date by their names and then about a week or so later - send them a text and see how things are.  

Another practical thing that you can do is anytime you see or hear a police, ambulance, and/or fire siren/truck - pray right then.  Hear or see a medical flight overhead?  Pray - pray for the person, their family, the medical crew - both those that are there and giving life-saving efforts, but also for the facility about to receive them.  That they would have wisdom, compassion, strength, and knowledge on how best to care for the patient and their family.

Making sure I don't forget

to pray is one of the biggest hurdles I face.  When I type out that statement, I see the pride and presumption so clearly in my heart.  I need to take that time to worship God, to pour out my heart to Him, to sit in silence and humble myself to simply draw near to Him.  Why is it then so hard to actually sit, be quiet, and pray?  Why is my first instinct to charge into something (as if my way is the best way) and then send up a quick prayer to God on the way or worse yet as an afterthought, especially when I find myself in hot water (i.e. discovering quickly that my way was not best way...in fact it may very well have been the worst way 😕)?  

Praying is a chance to humble myself and admit, I don't know what actually needs to be done - God does.  I don't actually know when this needs to be done - God does.  I don't have the power to get all that needs to get done, when it needs to get done by...but God does.  God also knows what He needs me to do and when He needs me to do it.  This is a continual tug of war with me.  Pride is such an ugly beast.

My struggle to pray has also uncovered the battle of unbelief in my heart.  I can rest and God will act - whether that is simply leaving it to Him to sort out, or whether He will guide the next few days or weeks with opportunities for me to take action.  (Example - praying for Afghanistan.  Praying is all that we could do for the first few days - even the first week, then as time has gone on, doors have opened up to take action.)

So, as I am building the habit of praying for others  - whether it is in my immediate circle - family and friends or the larger circle of brothers and sisters in Christ and people around and across the world - here are practical steps I can take to help build that habit:

1) Obey - sheer obedience to humble myself under the mighty hand of God. 1 Peter 5:6

2) Continually remind myself that Psalm 33:13 is true - that God looks down from heaven and sees all the children of man.  And Jeremiah 23:24 - "Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD.  "Do I not fill the heaven and the earth?"  declares the LORD.  He sees.  He sees and He cares.

3) It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.  Lamentations 3:26

So this morning, I lift up those that are hurting -

Dear God, 

I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.  As I learn more about You, may it humble me even more - so that there is less of me and more of You.  God, my heart hurts for those that are hurting this morning.  There are so many - from cases of cancer and covid to loss to divorce and relational fractures.  There are broken families and friendships and churches.  There are broken minds and broken emotions.  There is devastation in Haiti, flooding and so much loss and devastation from Hurricane Ida, there are fires in California, there is much brokenness and deception in the way our country left Afghanistan - Father lives were lost, lives were left behind, lives are in danger. 

Yet - I bring to mind this truth.  Because of Your great love we are not consumed.  Because of Your faithfulness, which is new every.single.morning., we have hope.  You are our portion, our hope is in You.  We seek You - we wait quietly for Your salvation.  Father, strengthen those that are barely hanging on to this hope.  Strengthen us to wait in such a way that glorifies You.  Be an ever present help to the persecuted.  Father God, help them to not be afraid, to not fear the threats against them.  Finally, please strengthen each of us to the end, so that we will persevere under any and all trials.  Please continually remind us, your sons and daughters across the world, what we are actually striving towards - eternity with You.  The crown of life You have promised to those that love You.  May we keep our eyes ever upon You.  In Jesus' name I pray.  Amen. 

Mark 9:23-24, 1 Peter 5:6, Lamentations 3:22-26, Jeremiah 1:8, Isaiah 49:13, James 1:12, 1 Peter3:14

Praying

Last year when my family and I were going through an extremely difficult year, my mom suggested when I prayed to write a letter to God in my journal each day.  And then as time passed to go back and cite Scriptures in the margins for the heavy things, the painful things - promises that cover those problems.  Then she said after some more time has passed, go back and write how God has answered.  That simple exercise was so important for pulling me through in tact last year.  I actually wrote them on paper and placed them in an envelope - there were things I needed to share with God - raw things - I didn't want anyone else to see.  So - I offer that suggestion to you too - if you need a new way to pray - try it and see if it works for you.  

This morning I am going to pray through Ephesians 3:14-21.  This section of Scripture is what I chose to pray over my girls and my husband this year...but as I returned to it this morning, I realized that the people in Afghanistan - Myanmar - Haiti - Louisiana + areas surrounding it, people being ravaged by cancer and covid and disease and special needs/mental health struggles - what they need to make it through in tact is for God to strengthen them in the inner man with His very Holy Spirit AND for each and every person to comprehend the depth and length and breadth of God's love.  May He teach us to swim the ocean depths of His love - to lose sight of the shoreline and to plunge headlong into His love.  God has not and will not fail you - He sees you even when it feels like no one else does.  

Ephesians 3:14-21 NASB

For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; 

and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.  Now to Him is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen.