Friday Findings

12/9/11 Noticing notes jotted all over my fading yellow legal pad, I decided to share some of my most recent "finds."

"written under the influence of grace"---that's my desire to write under His influence.

Nourish your soul with Bible reading. It will prepare a spiritual feast for you. (Augustine)

Prayer is union with God.....reconciles people to God, produces holy tears, forms a bridge over temptations, and acts as a buttress between us and afflictions. (Spidlik, Thomas, Drinking From the Hidden Fountain p. 355)

Prayer is born of joy and gratitude. Prayer makes gentleness blossom in the heart. (?)

It is better to pray in the silence of the heart than to pray only with words, without the mind paying attention. (Spidlik, Thomas, Drinking From the Hidden Fountain p. 367)

Many people want to direct God instead of surrendering themselves to be directed by Him. (Madame Guyon)

Order my steps in thy word: ... Direct my steps according to thy word: (Psalm 119:193)

The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. (Jeremiah 10:23)

...repentance is the gift of God. If you ever cease to know the virtue of repentance, you are in darkness. Examine yourself. (My Utmost for His Highest, 12/7)

I never meant for you to be self sufficient. I crafted your longings and feelings of incompleteness to point you to me. (Jesus Calling, 12/8)

“God appoints people who do disappoint – to point to a God who never disappoints.” (Ann Voskamp 12/8)

Joy sometimes needs pain to give it birth. (Streams in the Desert, p. 457)

ANSWERED PRAYER

Answered prayer----Here's what it looks like---a car for Ruben in Mexico City to use for frequent travel to the Tlapaneco Indian mission in the mountains and incredibly great news from Michael's St. Jude report. So grateful.
Ruben and team still need prayer for safe travel and Michael still has bone marrow aspirate report due as well as one questionable spot---So.....keep on praying!

An update from Michael's mom----

Hello Team Michael!!!

Great news!!! We received the results of Michael's Cat Scan and MIBG scan. The Cat scan=clear. On the MIBG, the three spots on Michael's skull, tibia and femur were gone! There is one tiny light mark on the femur that they are calling "equivocal" which means that they cannot say for sure if it is neuroblastoma or not neuroblastona, so there is a question mark, but that aside, there was no other evidence of disease!!!!!!! I wish we could say "all clear" because technically there is NO disease showing up but since we have that TINY questionable spot we will go with INCREDIBLY GREAT NEWS!!!!
We will not have his bone marrow aspirate results until Tuesday and we ask you to continue praying that he will be all clear. After we receive those results we will speak with Dr Furman and decide our plan of action from there!!
We feel so BLESSED!!!!! Please give all praise to God as I BELIEVE that He has healed Michael! Please give prayers of Thanks to Him and ST Jude Hospital and continue to BELIEVE in the amazing power of prayer!!!!! Thank you all so much. We love you dearly and are forever grateful! PLEASE KEEP PRAYING for continued great news next week!!!!!

Thank you God!!!!!!

KEY TO PRAYER

12/7/11 Prayer is key in every aspect of life. What key do you (I) need to unlock your (my) heart for prayer and worship?
"Chapel closed." That was the info I received yesterday in the clinic waiting room at St. Jude after Michael, with his dad, had gone back for testing. Sitting in the rocker, I sensed a need to "Be still and know that I am God." Did that mean I didn't need to kneel at an altar to fully concentrate on God?
Remembering that "Prayer is the slender thread that moves the hand of God,"(Corrie Ten Boom) I just rocked and prayed for a little boy I barely knew. Praising the Lord for the timely way I had even found Michael in the labyrinth of hallways and walkways of the hospital, I began to seek the Lord on his behalf---not using Michael as a bargaining tool, but expressing gratitude for the mercy and grace shown him and his family this past year. I saw them once more between tests and saw his cheery little face---
an innocent face filled with grace and an extra measure of mercy.

Leaving the clinic area, I found a gift shop. Jesus Calling was available. What an answer to prayer.

With it, I found a card of "hope" that included the verse that I had used for meditation the day before---
what an affirmation that I was right where God wanted me to be on a rainy, dreary Tuesday. How blessed I was!







Prayer is the key. The key is prayer. Interchangeable keys that move the hand of God!

MEET MICHAEL

12/6/11
TODAY IS "PRAY DAY" FOR MICHAEL!
Will post more info later. Michael's tests at St. Jude will start at 10 am today and continue until 2:30.
As the Lord brings him to your mind, please pray God's best for this precious little curly-haired blonde from Chicago!

Let us.....

12/5/11 Let us draw near to God..... Let us hold fast to our hope that is in Him..... Let us consider one another..... (Hebrews 10:22-24) Part of my BSF lesson tonight dealt with these actions. Yet, it was verse 25 that has been speaking to my heart today. It comes right after stimulating one another to love and good deeds. "Encouraging one another."

It brought me to my knees. Then it brought me to my computer to solicit more prayers for Michael at St. Jude. The response has been so encouraging to me---others willing to approach the throne of grace on his behalf. Now Larry & I are asking the Lord to "let us" encourage this family in some way while they are in Memphis.

Let us all meditate on the "let us" verses and then let us rise and take action as we encourage the one whom God brings across our path.

Sabbath Snapshots: Chicago & beyond

12/4/11 First Week of Advent begins---
Toy Truck give-a-way
Owen "shot" truck pic
Palmer House Tea---glorious MAC, scar to scar, meeting once again.
Christmas Tree Marshall Fields Walnut room---
though technically MF owned by Macy's since 2005---
Christmas Market Connection/ Gigi & Bonnie---regardless of the spelling
Christkindl Market (German Christmas Mkt.)
Fourth Presbyterian--Chicago
2nd Pres--Memphis
An English Christmas

Chicago Bound

12/1/11 Ascending with psalms of ascent---More when I return.

Outgoing

11/20/11 A stack of letters caught my attention. Outgoing mail. Many filled with stamps across the envelopes. A philatelist I'm not, though I was a member of the 5th grade "stamp collectors club." But I've always loved stamp art and often choose to buy ones that depict areas of life which I appreciate. Even today I love to personalize letters with appropriate, interesting, and to me, pretty stamps.
Yet, it wasn't the letters so much as the term outgoing that kept coming to mind. Not as fast as e-mail but a way of my love and concern going out to others. The outgoing was just a visible overflow of my inward thoughts and feelings. Hopefully these small gestures "shout" outwardly my inward affection and concern for them. "Shout" was a typo for show, (but I like the idea that my actions shout my love)

What is outgoing from your life? That question is one I've been musing all day. What about other outgoing aspects of my personality. Is the meditation of my heart worthy of visibility? What visible outpouring of care are my hands "about." What about my words? How encouraging our my "outgoing" remarks? "So encourage each other and build each other up...."

If I'm feeling godly emotions why am I not being His hands and feet---and even mouth. Once I get the "outgoing" going out, how do I maintain this?

How do I keep "outgoing" ongoing?

Going a step further this afternoon, I took grandson Owen shopping with me to give to the WRVR toy truck for Porter Leath Children's Home. One little melt down occurred when he realized he wasn't getting the toy himself but only choosing it for another little boy or girl. Sharing is outgoing but for a preschooler it can be a hard, but necessary, lesson to learn.


Today was a beginning as I want my 4 yr. old grandson to experience "outgoing" with me so that it will be ongoing in his life.

Priestly Encouragement

11/29/11 Last night's BSF lesson gave me lots of "meat" for thought. I have to say "meat" because at this point, I need to be on solid food and not milk. Cathy's lecture on our High Priest was so thorough and kept emphasizing the "big idea" of a priest who understands our weaknesses.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 14:15)

Yet, it's two verses before that which, when paired with verse 15, really spoke to me today.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 14:13)

Knowing all there is to know about me (and you) inside and out. From my bad habits and waylaid good intentions to my fears and deep seated hurts, He sees it all. (v. 13) Not only does He understand, but He sympathizes with what He sees and knows. (v. 15)

That's real comfort. He knows me completely---all is laid bare---and yet he empathizes rather than rejecting. That's encouragement of the highest order from my High Priest.

Crying Out to God

11/28/11 At the beginning of his reign, King Asa of Judah did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord. When he needed help, he cried out to God. When he faced the multitude he cried out to God. Between now and January 1, I, as many of you, am facing a variety of multitudes. Multitudes that can conquer me if I battle them in my own strength. A multitude of decisions. A multitude of car miles. A multitude of logistical maneuvers. A multitude of packing. How about you? What multitudes are you facing.
Like Asa, believers should cry out to Elhoim. “The Almighty” in the sense of “God” (The New Strong’s Complete Dictionary of Bible Words #410) The Name of strength. Our Lord is a strong tower. (Proverbs 18:10)

And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. (2 Chronicles 14:11)

This week identify the "multitude" you are facing in your life. Cry out to God for help.