Continuing the 21-day prayer challenge from mobsociety.com (see post for Sept. 7)
Till he dies, may__________never put away his integrity (Job 27:5).
McGlothlin, Brooke (2011-05-02). Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most (Kindle Location 471). Kindle Edition.
Definition of integrity:
"adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty" from dictionary.com
or
doing the right thing even when no one else is watching
Also thanking God for my grandson(s)' parents who are living examples of integrity.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
It's a M.O.B. prayer challenge!
My step-daughter challenged me to 21 days of prayer for my grandson, Auron, an almost- 4- year- old fireball of vim and vigor, all boy, rambunctious, rowdy and loud. In his short 47 months of life Auron has managed to short out the home microwave and subscribe for a $50 gaming service online [no parental guidance needed, thank you very much!]. Auron can also be sweet and tender, like when he stops in the middle of play with Grandpa to say, "You are my best friend, Grandpa", or states an out-of-the-blue "I love you". There you have it, a brief introduction to my prayer target.
When Amanda, his mom, told me she has been hanging out with other mothers at a site called The Mob Society, I had visions of Amanda finally losing it and succumbing to the influence of some anarchist coterie plotting assault on offspring. What I actually discovered was a group of Mothers of Boys with this mission: Reaching the hearts of boys for the Gospel and preparing a generation of men to love the Lord. http://www.themobsociety.com/ Pretty cool, eh?
September 6-26 has been declared a 21-day opportunity to prayer for the little men in our lives. I hope to take you along on the journey by listing the prayers I'm praying these days for Auron. Most of them are taken from an ebook the MOBs are promoting called Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most by Brooke L. McGlothlin. (Actually, I'm going to sneak all my grandsons into the prayers and you can add any boys you want to include).
Day #1
May__________be like the wise man, whose heart inclines him to the right (Ecclesiastes 10:2).
(Kindle Location 280). Kindle Edition.
Day #2
May __________ obey his leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over his soul, as those who will have to give an account. Let __________ do this with joy and not with groaning (Hebrews 13:17).
(Kindle Locations 357-359). Kindle Edition.
When Amanda, his mom, told me she has been hanging out with other mothers at a site called The Mob Society, I had visions of Amanda finally losing it and succumbing to the influence of some anarchist coterie plotting assault on offspring. What I actually discovered was a group of Mothers of Boys with this mission: Reaching the hearts of boys for the Gospel and preparing a generation of men to love the Lord. http://www.themobsociety.com/ Pretty cool, eh?
September 6-26 has been declared a 21-day opportunity to prayer for the little men in our lives. I hope to take you along on the journey by listing the prayers I'm praying these days for Auron. Most of them are taken from an ebook the MOBs are promoting called Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most by Brooke L. McGlothlin. (Actually, I'm going to sneak all my grandsons into the prayers and you can add any boys you want to include).
Day #1
May__________be like the wise man, whose heart inclines him to the right (Ecclesiastes 10:2).
(Kindle Location 280). Kindle Edition.
Day #2
May __________ obey his leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over his soul, as those who will have to give an account. Let __________ do this with joy and not with groaning (Hebrews 13:17).
(Kindle Locations 357-359). Kindle Edition.
Friday, September 2, 2011
For Every Stupid Thing I've Done
My floor exercises. Check. The early morning walk. Check. Make-up on and clothed. Check. In the kitchen, I begin to gather items for my lunch bag, start the coffee pot, and spoon out the non-fat, plain yogurt into the white corelle bowl. I layer on the usual embellishments.- walnuts, rolled oats, cinnamon...and I squish out a few blueberries from a bag in the freezer to complete this habitual breakfast. Roaming through the house between yogurt bites I finish this morning's wrap-up before leaving for work-- stamping a piece of mail, shutting a bedroom window, wiping the counter... The yogurt mouthfuls register a unique taste, but I'm preoccupied and don't stop to decipher the unfamiliar savoriness. After swallowing thoughtlessly, more times than I care to admit, I finally paid attention to the signals on my taste buds. Like a slap to the forehead in a could-have-had-a-V-8 moment, and recalling the frozen bags in the freezer, I realize I am tasting black olives in my yogurt!
I laugh off my silly mistake and slip it into the 'Stupid Things I've Done' file. Amazing how quickly this brings up other bloopers I've committed in days gone by. Like last February 14 when I sent my daughter's Valentine's Day package to my son's address several states away. Or the more recent day when I set my cell phone in my purse, slung the purse over my shoulder and prepared to leave the house only to have the home phone ring. I briefly glanced at the cordless' caller ID and recognized the number as familiar, though not certain who it was, and answered it. Only silence on the other end. I hung up. I won't tell you how long it took me to figure out that -you guessed it- I had accidentally knocked the speed dial button for 'home' on my cell, and I was the mysterious caller to my own home phone. It doesn't get much bloopier than that.
It's harder though, to excuse myself for those blunders that have me worried that I've ruined a friendship, or permamently scarred my kids, or tarnished my reputation. Those nights when sleep competes with relentless thoughts of fear of rejection and reruns of the embarassing episode never quit. And they play in slow motion, so I can examine the details again, searching for a merciful conclusion.
The deep, relaxing breathing recommended for times like these, doesn't soothe me. I don't like the step of holding my breath before releasing it slowly. Somehow, the amplified sound of my heart freaking out isn't music to my ears. And the muscle squeezing exercise doesn't do much for me either. It reminds me of a book I used to read to my kids about two racoons, Gus and Buster. Older brother Gus isn't too pleased with Buster's tossing and turning in the bunk above him and tells him to try harder to go to sleep. So Buster tries harder.
"Go to sleep, toes, he [Buster] whispers. Go to sleep, legs.
But by the time he got to his knees his toes were wide awake again."
So what's a frazzled, zooming mind to do to get some peace and rest?
Is God's word true? Does his peace pass understanding? Does he answer a desperate plea for release of vain imaginings and for an anxious mind to be pacified? I can say with confidence, yes he does! But it may not come quickly, and it takes a deliberate resolve to refocus and set my mind on the Prince of Peace. Comforting words from Bible verses I've memorized as a child can be summoned to the moment.
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I will not be in want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides still waters, he restores my soul." Or "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of trouble." Help! is the operative word here.
Dwelling on names that describe God, in alphabetical order, brings his awesomeness into clearer focus: Almighty, Beautiful One, Creator, Deliverer, etc. (If you come up with a good one for N, let me know!) I'm amazed how many songs I've memorized, just by singing them in church or listening to them on the radio. I find sweet comfort in reciting in my mind, words of hymns:
Open the wells of grace and salvation,
Pour the rich streams deep into my heart.
Cleanse and refine my thought and affection,
Seal me and make me pure as thou art.
or
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him,
How I've proved him 'ore and 'ore.
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus,
Oh, for grace to trust him more.
As I've proved his care and faithfulness to come to me in my distress, my faith has grown. Could this be part of what it means for his strength to be made perfect in weakness? For every stupid thing I've done, he gives grace enough to cover it? Even turns it into something good? What a God is this!
Oh, back to that dreadful morning of spitting out black olives from my yogurt. Would you believe I also set the toaster on fire trying to warm one of my favorite Panera Bread bagels? It's the cinnamon crunchy one with all the sweet, sugary, crumbly, crackly bumps on top. Did you know? Blackened bagels aren't edible.
I lamented my loss of delectable carbs all the way to work. At least the house is still standing, and when I got home later that day there was no second-hand smoke to give away my pyromania.
I laugh off my silly mistake and slip it into the 'Stupid Things I've Done' file. Amazing how quickly this brings up other bloopers I've committed in days gone by. Like last February 14 when I sent my daughter's Valentine's Day package to my son's address several states away. Or the more recent day when I set my cell phone in my purse, slung the purse over my shoulder and prepared to leave the house only to have the home phone ring. I briefly glanced at the cordless' caller ID and recognized the number as familiar, though not certain who it was, and answered it. Only silence on the other end. I hung up. I won't tell you how long it took me to figure out that -you guessed it- I had accidentally knocked the speed dial button for 'home' on my cell, and I was the mysterious caller to my own home phone. It doesn't get much bloopier than that.
It's harder though, to excuse myself for those blunders that have me worried that I've ruined a friendship, or permamently scarred my kids, or tarnished my reputation. Those nights when sleep competes with relentless thoughts of fear of rejection and reruns of the embarassing episode never quit. And they play in slow motion, so I can examine the details again, searching for a merciful conclusion.
The deep, relaxing breathing recommended for times like these, doesn't soothe me. I don't like the step of holding my breath before releasing it slowly. Somehow, the amplified sound of my heart freaking out isn't music to my ears. And the muscle squeezing exercise doesn't do much for me either. It reminds me of a book I used to read to my kids about two racoons, Gus and Buster. Older brother Gus isn't too pleased with Buster's tossing and turning in the bunk above him and tells him to try harder to go to sleep. So Buster tries harder.
"Go to sleep, toes, he [Buster] whispers. Go to sleep, legs.
But by the time he got to his knees his toes were wide awake again."
So what's a frazzled, zooming mind to do to get some peace and rest?
Is God's word true? Does his peace pass understanding? Does he answer a desperate plea for release of vain imaginings and for an anxious mind to be pacified? I can say with confidence, yes he does! But it may not come quickly, and it takes a deliberate resolve to refocus and set my mind on the Prince of Peace. Comforting words from Bible verses I've memorized as a child can be summoned to the moment.
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I will not be in want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures, he leads me besides still waters, he restores my soul." Or "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of trouble." Help! is the operative word here.
Dwelling on names that describe God, in alphabetical order, brings his awesomeness into clearer focus: Almighty, Beautiful One, Creator, Deliverer, etc. (If you come up with a good one for N, let me know!) I'm amazed how many songs I've memorized, just by singing them in church or listening to them on the radio. I find sweet comfort in reciting in my mind, words of hymns:
Open the wells of grace and salvation,
Pour the rich streams deep into my heart.
Cleanse and refine my thought and affection,
Seal me and make me pure as thou art.
or
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him,
How I've proved him 'ore and 'ore.
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus,
Oh, for grace to trust him more.
As I've proved his care and faithfulness to come to me in my distress, my faith has grown. Could this be part of what it means for his strength to be made perfect in weakness? For every stupid thing I've done, he gives grace enough to cover it? Even turns it into something good? What a God is this!
Oh, back to that dreadful morning of spitting out black olives from my yogurt. Would you believe I also set the toaster on fire trying to warm one of my favorite Panera Bread bagels? It's the cinnamon crunchy one with all the sweet, sugary, crumbly, crackly bumps on top. Did you know? Blackened bagels aren't edible.
I lamented my loss of delectable carbs all the way to work. At least the house is still standing, and when I got home later that day there was no second-hand smoke to give away my pyromania.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Smack-Dab in the Middle of God's Love-A Book Review
Smack-Dab in the Middle of God's Love by Brenan Manning and John Blaze will have you smack-dab in the middle of a delightful interpretation of what it means to be centered in Abba God’s love, “love big enough to hold us all”. The words, though not in rhyme, ripple across the page in poetic cadence. Lively words like tousled, smushed, dollop and twinkled draw the reader into a story you’ll want to visit again and again. Children will enjoy the vibrant, close-up illustrations, created by Nicole Tadgell, that flow across the center of every page spread. The artwork nicely defines the setting of a place where sopapillas, burros and abuelas fit comfortably and abundantly. Willie Juan and Ana, the two main characters, are sketched just-right as the man and wife who aren’t “old and crotchety” nor “young and giggly” either.
This childless Mexican couple take grandparent roles with the neighborhood children as they bake together, take time to notice nature with them and engage the children by asking and answering questions. Most of the story is centered around a conversation about God’s love that all starts with Willie Juan’s question, “…someday when you are in heaven, what do you think Abba [his name for God] will ask you?”
As different children respond, you get a glimpse into what they each think is important to God. Willie Juan responds kindly, using the opportunity to expand their appreciation for how much God loves them. Willie shares that because of Abba’s love for them, God wants them to enjoy his gifts; gifts like hummingbirds and late summer evenings and good friends. The book ends in an endearing group embrace with laughs and belly laugh tears.
During the question and answering session one of the children talks and everyone seems surprised. The authors don’t explain why it was unusual for this boy to speak. Did he have a handicap? Was he shy? It adds a bit of mystery to the narrative, but I found it a tad distracting and wondered if I had missed something I should have picked up on.
Published in hardback with a dust jacket, this book is written at a preschool level, but children much older will delight in the warmth of the characters and will find a sense of belonging as they realize the message of being smack-dab in the middle of God’s love.
I received this book free of charge from the Booksneeze.com program in exchange for my honest review.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Oh, Joy!
It's one of those seasons when Joy doesn't come easy. At least the feeling of deep contentment and "all's right with the world" isn't my default mode right now. I know it's only a temporary state and there aren't any big reasons why I'm seeming a little Eyorish. So what do you do while you wait for the Joy to return?
I speak to my insides some Davidese like Psalm 42: 5. (msg)
"Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God--
soon I'll be praising again."
or
I'll cry a prayer for wisdom and understanding
surrendering any areas that worry has eroded
and admitting my need for help
or
I listen to those songs that keep coming to mind,
deposits in my psyche from listening to the radio
or Sunday worship last week
or from hymns stored in my long time memory,
my waking-up-mind hearing the musical words,
like a heavenly jukebox dropping the perfect song
just for me.
or
I remind myself that God has restored my soul before,
and he will again.
or
I deliberately choose to think on good things,
I build a list in my mind of things to be thankful for,
and wear a smile anyway, not to deny my cheerlessness,
but to cast hope into grace pools, and defiantly reel the empty line in,
confident one of the next casts will pull up the Joy.
Like this quote another blogger posted last week.
"Joy in this world," says John Ortburg, "is almost always a joy
in spite of something. It's a defiant joy."
So I borrow comfort from others and expect much from the Joy-Giver.
And I trust again, today. And quietly wait, again. And say, "I love you,
anyway, Lord."
I speak to my insides some Davidese like Psalm 42: 5. (msg)
"Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God--
soon I'll be praising again."
or
I'll cry a prayer for wisdom and understanding
surrendering any areas that worry has eroded
and admitting my need for help
or
I listen to those songs that keep coming to mind,
deposits in my psyche from listening to the radio
or Sunday worship last week
or from hymns stored in my long time memory,
my waking-up-mind hearing the musical words,
like a heavenly jukebox dropping the perfect song
just for me.
or
I remind myself that God has restored my soul before,
and he will again.
or
I deliberately choose to think on good things,
I build a list in my mind of things to be thankful for,
and wear a smile anyway, not to deny my cheerlessness,
but to cast hope into grace pools, and defiantly reel the empty line in,
confident one of the next casts will pull up the Joy.
Like this quote another blogger posted last week.
"Joy in this world," says John Ortburg, "is almost always a joy
in spite of something. It's a defiant joy."
So I borrow comfort from others and expect much from the Joy-Giver.
And I trust again, today. And quietly wait, again. And say, "I love you,
anyway, Lord."
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Random Encouragement
Sometimes it's refreshing to read familiar verses of Scripture in a different translation or paraphrase. Here's where I was meditating one day this week.
Eph. 3:14-20: (Msg)
...I ask him[the Father] to strengthen you by his Spirit-not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength-that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
I've prayed some wild requests and thought, God can do even more than this, more than I'm capable of thinking right now. He never lets us down and he isn't limited to what we ask him for. I'm so glad.
Another day this week I listened to a radio podcast on The Smart Stepdad. If you've searched for good material or support for stepparenting, Ron Deal has some practical and encouraging advice. I'll let you listen for yourself: http://www.wbcl.org/media-manager-week.aspx Scroll down to Thurs. Aug. 11 on the web page. (If you check this out at some later time, you may have to find this date in the program's archives) My husband and I have combined two families and have gleaned from Ron's expertise. Our kids are gone from the house, but we are still learning how relationships work in this setting. We put together a curriculum from Ron's materials for a small group study. Ron's organization now has a DVD and study series available, also. For any local people, we are open to going through the study with anyone who would like to learn more about building a successful step family. God's grace is awesome and his gifts are given generously!
~~ruthshow1@gmail.com~~
Generously! Consider just a few ways of how our Father gives:
The Magi brought gifts to Baby Jesus that if sold, probably sustained Mary and Joseph during the ensuing years of their flight to Eygpt.
Water turned to wine was a generous wedding gift, considering the miracle happened near the end of the celebration. Perhaps the leftover wine was sold and the money used for the young couple's start-up costs.
Not only were 5,000 some people fed with a few loaves of bread and fishes, but there was more food than they all could eat. I'll bet the overage went for some further need the Father wanted to provide for.
When taxes needed to be paid, Jesus took a withdrawl from one of his vaults-- the mouth of a fish! Mt. 17:27
He imparted healings whether asked for with loud cries or just a timid touch to his garment. He offered living water to one who others would have labeled less than worthy.
Be encouraged! We have a God who gives beyond what we can ask or think. Watch for his generosity to you.
Eph. 3:14-20: (Msg)
...I ask him[the Father] to strengthen you by his Spirit-not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength-that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
I've prayed some wild requests and thought, God can do even more than this, more than I'm capable of thinking right now. He never lets us down and he isn't limited to what we ask him for. I'm so glad.
Another day this week I listened to a radio podcast on The Smart Stepdad. If you've searched for good material or support for stepparenting, Ron Deal has some practical and encouraging advice. I'll let you listen for yourself: http://www.wbcl.org/media-manager-week.aspx Scroll down to Thurs. Aug. 11 on the web page. (If you check this out at some later time, you may have to find this date in the program's archives) My husband and I have combined two families and have gleaned from Ron's expertise. Our kids are gone from the house, but we are still learning how relationships work in this setting. We put together a curriculum from Ron's materials for a small group study. Ron's organization now has a DVD and study series available, also. For any local people, we are open to going through the study with anyone who would like to learn more about building a successful step family. God's grace is awesome and his gifts are given generously!
~~ruthshow1@gmail.com~~
Generously! Consider just a few ways of how our Father gives:
The Magi brought gifts to Baby Jesus that if sold, probably sustained Mary and Joseph during the ensuing years of their flight to Eygpt.
Water turned to wine was a generous wedding gift, considering the miracle happened near the end of the celebration. Perhaps the leftover wine was sold and the money used for the young couple's start-up costs.
Not only were 5,000 some people fed with a few loaves of bread and fishes, but there was more food than they all could eat. I'll bet the overage went for some further need the Father wanted to provide for.
When taxes needed to be paid, Jesus took a withdrawl from one of his vaults-- the mouth of a fish! Mt. 17:27
He imparted healings whether asked for with loud cries or just a timid touch to his garment. He offered living water to one who others would have labeled less than worthy.
Be encouraged! We have a God who gives beyond what we can ask or think. Watch for his generosity to you.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Wisdom for a Creative Mind
Recently, I received a revelation about pursuing new projects or plans I want to do. My mind thinks very creatively, and I love to dream about how I could do this, or remake that, or repurpose something. Some of the schemes come to be, others are discarded, and some are tried with frustration being the result. What if I prayed that God would lead me to pursue the ideas that He wanted me to accomplish and just let go of the others? And to do this early on in the thinking process, before I had wasted sleep time or money to gather the equipment to do the project?
I believe He will show me, and I will be more effective in what I put my hand to.
I believe He will show me, and I will be more effective in what I put my hand to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)