Will you pray for me?

How often is it that someone approaches, asking for prayer regarding something? Or maybe they don't flat out ask for prayer but they share a concern or praise regarding person family illness, financial situation, friendship or work related situations?  I know I am often guilty of even saying on my own accord after soemone has shared something with me, "I'll be praying for you about that." The common response is thank you. And then we go our separate ways, and I don't know about you - but I sometimes forget to pray.

I spent my summer of 1998 in Wildwood, NJ on a Summer Project with Campus Crusade for Christ (now called CRU). That summer it was SO easy to pray.  A friend hurting...we stopped and prayed, co-worker struggling...we stopped and prayed, passing a traffic accident...those in my car would turn off the radio and turn our thoughts and words to prayer for those involved. It was an honor that summer to be considered a Prayer Warrior...

Upon arriving back home, and in the years following, I found myself pausing and hesitating to pray for someone in need. I often hesitatied because I was concerned about offending someone or making someone else feel uncomfortable. But, God has laid it on my heart to step out of my comfort zone.  It's in those moments that God brings someone to mind, or when He prompts me in a conversation to pray ... I realize I must obey.

When someone asks for prayer, I ask them if I can pray for them right then. I have found that, unfortunately, they are shocked to think I would stop everything to pray for them.  It means a lot to tell someone you are praying for them - but God doesn't just call us to do it 'later,' He longs for us to seize the opportunities the moment they occur.  This way, I don't promise to do something and fail to follow through, and I am more in tune with God. When He brings that person or situation back to mind, I am more inclined to stop again and pray. 

It doesn't take much to send someone a facebook message or post, a text message or an email to let them know that God has brought them to mind and that you were praying for them.  We don't always know what is going on in the lives of those around us, what they are facing, walking through and attempting to conquer.  Would you be willing to set aside your own agenda to put someone else first?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁶ Rejoice always; ¹⁷ pray without ceasing; ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Cross references:

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 : Phil 4:4
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 : Eph 6:18
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 : Eph 5:20

  

Get out of the way…

I spend a lot of time waiting for God to move. You know, for Him to provide opportunities for me to share His love, to put myself out there for the sake of the cross…only to get frustrated when I didn’t see any opportunities to seize. 

But as today unfolded, I was reminded of how many opportunities there are out there, if only I would get out of the way. If I would stop a moment to look around, to put the circumstances of my own day to day business out of the way. Only then can I be available to serve the way God desires. God longs to move through us, even though he truly doesn’t need us to do his work.  He longs to bless us through the process. 

It could have been as simple as the smile to the volunteer helpers in the Nursery this morning as a thank you for watching my daughter so I could worship with my husband. Or the hug to the woman from our womens’ group, the handshake or kind word said to the person sitting next to me.  What about the young couple that is eager to make their marriage better and asked for a moment of our time to talk…I came away from that conversation so much more blessed than I ever thought possible. And best of all reading the Veggie Tale Bible stories with our boys over thousands of miles. Hearing them laugh and shout “God made you special and He loves you very much!”

There were so many ways God desired to move today and once I got out of the way…He blessed me in the process.  What a gift! 

1 Peter 4:9-11

New International Version (NIV)

^“9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

When it's time to listen

So, today I’ve sat down to write this blog many different times and could never get clarity of mind as to what I was to write about.  It was so frustrating.  I felt myself thinking, "If God wanted me to do this, why isn't he giving me the topic to write about?”  I tried many times to go off a scripture I read or even over entire passages.  I started jotting down my words and still nothing worked the way I wanted it to.  It was as Chris got home from work and was asking how things went today that I expressed my sadness about not being able to get the words ‘just right.’ 

He reminded me it never had to be a long drawn out thing – it’s often best if it is just what I experienced that day.  That’s when it hit me. The whole day it was about my words, my thoughts, my experiences. I was trying to make ‘my words’ be the right thing and realized I had spent more time ‘talking’ than ‘listening.’

Oh, how often that takes place, especially in my world.  I get so many things going on in my head that I spend time swirling them around and trying to get ‘my’ point across.  Yet in the process my actions drown out God’s words.

That happens so much in our day to day world. How often do you spend your time talking over the still small whisper of the voice of God? He says in His word, “Be still and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10

As this journey unfolds, I am reminded that I may not be given something to share every day, but you can be certain when He places something on my heart I will share.

So the words I feel He wants to remind us all is just that… slow down, be patient, be silent and be still.  And…Listen.

**Disclaimer**

I am new at this and I am finding that the blogger system automatically hyperlinks some of the words I choose to put in my blogs.  Please know that I am not backing these nor in support of these hyperlinks.  I am working to get them to stop linking.  Thank you!
Heather

And So We Begin...

Let me start off by telling you a little bit about me...

My name is Heather. I am married to the man of my dreams (whom I didn't meet until I was 33), I am a mom to two adorable step-sons and a beautiful little girl: Caleb, Logan and Stella, I'm a barbershop singer, I’m an event planner and most importantly a daughter of the King.

I grew up in a household of almost all girls...I have amazing parents that have shown me the importance of a relationship centered in Christ, value in communication and what a marriage should look like. They have been married for over 40 years. God is good! I have two sisters, two brothers-in-law, five nephews and five nieces (with another niece on the way).

As I sit and reflect back on my life thus far, from childhood, teenage years and my young-adult life, I, like so many, catch myself saying "Man, If I knew then what I know now...oh, the things I would do differently." [and sometimes things that upon reflection I know that I would wish them to be exactly the same way.]

I’d love to say I have lived enough to know it all – but, HA, that is the biggest joke ever. The thing I know is that I will never have all the answers; I will make more mistakes and will have to pick myself up time after time.  But, if any of my experiences can help you to feel that you are not-so-much alone, to make decisions you will be proud of…then it is worth it.

I’m praying God’s words throughout this journey so that you hear His guidance and words, not mine.

My favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5-6.  My mom gave me this verse when I was a little girl. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight.” So many times in so many situations things just didn’t make sense. It was at those moments that this verse came back to me and helped me to be ok with the fact that I may not understand, but I can still trust Him with every step and thought, action and words that I say.

I look forward to this journey and I’m blessed to share it with you!