Prayer: from meditation to dialogue

12/12/11 Morning prayer time had me petitioning the Lord to "give ear" to my prayers. David prayed similarly in Psalm 17: 6. "I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words." (ESV) Yet my heart was reminded that I needed to afford the Lord the same opportunity. I needed to offer my ear to hear from Him. Prayer is a two-way communication.
In Habakkuk, the prophet dialogued with God. He waited to hear from God and even considered His reply. I need to consider his model.
Like a sentinel keeping watch on the wall of his city, he waited expectantly for God's reply. Waiting is often part of the listening.

I will stand on my guard post And station myself on the rampart; And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,....(Habakkuk 2:1, RSV)

When the Lord does reply, He instructs Habakkuk to record it and share it as a herald, of sorts----that I can understand. (Sounds a little like journaling and blogging.)

Today my ear was open to hear. Was yours?

Often we just have to be willing---even willing to wait.

Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints, to those who turn to him in their hearts. (Psalm 85:8)

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: MEMPHIS TO PICKWICK & BACK

12/11/11
WOMEN'S MINISTRY DINNER----
A LIVE PAINTING UNFOLDS "Divine Imagery:
Finding Christ....

• 

in the Canvas of our Lives."
I LOVE NANDINA BERRIES EVEN WHEN ICE COVERED
PICKWICK LODGE HOLIDAY LIGHTS TRAIL---
FROM FISHING & DANCING SANTAS...



TO BOATS & TRAINS ---


AND "THE REASON FOR THE SEASON"






LESSONS AND CAROLS---
CHOIR & ORCHESTRA IN ONE ACCORD---

A GREAT - ENDING---"HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING"
1152---FROM THE MANGER TO THE CROSS

Where's Waldo??????????

12/10/11 Lately daughter, Molly has felt like she has been playing "Where's Waldo?" but with the book Jesus Calling. The security guard had it open at the apartment of her grapic designer. One of her "Brooks Art Gallery's" teachers at a parochial school in an impoverished neighborhood had one on her desk. It had been given to her by a fellow teacher who knew she was going through a hard time. She, like the other recipients, kept the "little book with the big blessing" chain going as they too passed it on to loved ones and other teachers.
Both the security guard and the teacher shared the same comment. "This little book meets me right where I am every day. It's like it is written just for me."
I too have "found" Jesus Calling everywhere from an equestrian camp barn in middle Tennessee to nurses stations in Dallas hospitals and the receptionist desk at a Memphis heart clinic. Just this week I found one at the St. Jude gift shop and tonight at a Christmas dinner, I found one on a table in a sunroom at a home in Pickwick.
Responses have been the same as the ones my Molly related to me. I remember an e-mail from Sarah Young where she told me that she prays daily for those people who are reading Jesus Calling. I wonder if she prays that the Lord will use the words of each entry to meet her readers at the point of their need for that day. If so, that prayer is being answered in a BIG way.
Thanks Sarah for your words and the chosen scriptures that help so many of us enjoy peace in His Presence from your book. It's been an exciting hunt these last few years to see all the places Jesus Calling shows up.
It's a lot more fun than Finding Waldo---just ask my daughter!

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.