I BELIEVE!!!!!!

"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

The desperate man cried out in Mark 9:24.....knowing that Jesus said, all things are possible to him that believeth.(Mark 9:23)

This morning's reading from Henry Blackaby's, Experiencing God p.171 had me with the first sentence. 

You can say prayers in your mind but doubt in your heart.

Is it possible to be a "person of prayer" and yet not have faith?

May it never be in my life!

As I align my will with His in prayer, I can wait expectantly to see how God will answer.

Today I am meeting with other prayer warriors at FEC to pray for revival. But....am I preparing for its coming? A reflective life of absolute trust?

I need to look for His hand at every turn. A God wink. A God sighting.

May I not miss His response to my requests..........or I'll miss the joy of praying faith!!

RX FOR DESPAIR & STRUGGLES

RX---I could post a pic of LOTS of drug and other pain relieving accoutrements but....that would put the focus on me. I don't want my pain, physical and emotional, to be my ID/significance or leverage. 

Instead Psalm 118:5 reminds me, Out of my distress, I called on the Lord: the Lord answered me and set me free. Simply put but truly a 12+ hour struggle for me. But God...was faithful even when I was not.

Jesus Calling Daybrightener 7/5

As Sarah Young puts it, "I can never be in control of my life's circumstances" but I can trust in His control. Seek to know God better. Christ is central. Stop clinging to the old ways. Continue to be on the look out for God's hand and be thankful.

Regardless of which RX verse gives you the most comfort and relief, take it daily with a cuppa Gra-TEA-tude to the One who gives life in abundance! (John 10:10)

GOD WINK!

What is a God Wink? Is it something you see physically? Is it something you "see" in your mind?

For me, a God wink can be when God comes alive as I'm reading His Word as if speaking directly to me and my circumstance. Often a God wink becomes evident after the fact. Hindsight. Surely God has done this thing in His timing just for me.

Sometimes  a God wink looks me right in the face----square in the eye,  through a friend whom God had spoken to and she passed along the blessing. God had such a God Wink planned for me this morning.

I was going in the door as Marsha was coming out---I can't even remember her last name but I know her daughter is married to a friend from church's son. Her smile spoke volumes of recognition. (Psalm 27:13)

Then she reached in her "exercise tote" and pulled out a box of "D" stationery. 

She said, "I bought these months ago to benefit a "hope" women's ministry and prayed, knowing God had just the person whose name began with a D to cross my path. And here you are!!!"

That, my friends, is exactly what a God Wink looks like---a blessing, that sometimes is a surprise wink of blessing both ways. (2 Corinthians 1: 3-4)......

....and in some unique way seems to have God's stamp on it!

CHOOSE: AN (ART) FORM OF WORSHIP

Nothing like falling in love with a piece of sculpture and having the one you love,  buy it for you. Add to that, the delivery by the sculptor herself (Heidi Walter) and you have the perfect anniversary gift.

"LEAN"---HEIDI WALTER,  Mixed Media Conceptual Sculptor
I wanted to create a contrast that illustrates people's posture in life, or on issues. People usually find what they are looking for. You can lean way in , or away. Some are eager to look and others, refuse. What are you looking for? 

YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART. (JEREMIAH 29:13)

L

Every time I walk by it, I am drawn to it in a new way. Scripture floods my mind. 

On this our 48th anniversary, I see those magnifying glasses and am grateful to share Psalm 34:3 with hubby.

MAGNIFY THE LORD WITH ME AND LET US EXALT HIS NAME FOREVER!

CHOOSE: INTENTIONALITY

One must see clearly to see God. That's why I am choosing today to intentionally look for Him. To see God's hand in everything is a choice. Intentionally looking to see God at every turn. Open your eyes to Him---He's at every turn/circumstance. Nature is an easy way to not only glimpse Him but to clearly see Him.  (Romans 1:20) 

One just needs to be looking for Him. That's intentionality!

For more on being intentional, grab yourself a cuppa intentionali-TEA and just click blue link to read this archival blog. 

CHOOSE: SEEING

This entry could have easily have been entitled, Choosing Joy Again!

Interestingly enough, finding joy was Jesus Always entry for 2/17----the day I began choosing "my one word." No wonder my first thought was that "joy" would be my word. Sarah Young's latest devotional book, Jesus Always is all about embracing joy!

Young reminds readers that "joy can be found in the most unexpected places." 

One just needs to search for the "good" in life---to "see" joy. As she puts it, "Living joyously is a choice...and gladness must be chosen many times daily." (2/17)

Choose is my word because I want to keep on choosing "right living" as Proverbs shows.

Choosing is about seeing God's hand in our lives and trusting the outcome regardless of our trials and most difficult times.

Seeing His goodness requires focus. Focus requires "fixing one's eyes on Jesus." (Hebrews 12:2) Seeing Him. Regardless.

It's a choice!

Traveling Treasures

Cannot post until camera is found.

The bad news is---big Canon camera is "lost"---tho not for the first time on this trip. 

The good news is----it was left in a shop in Overland Park Kansas and friend Drenda lives near there and will check as soon as the store opens.

The prayer concern is---store manager (or patron) is honest and it will be found there and kept safe.

***Praises for answered prayer. Early phone call from the road confirmed camera found, safe and secured in the shop safe. It was "literally "kept safe."
Later received phone call that Drenda had the camera, would reward the honest young man for me and bring camera to Memphis when she visits in June.
Whew-w-w-w!!! As I've often said, RELIEF is one of my favorite emotion.

Back to the original blog idea......Relationships---life is all about friends and family----reacquainting from old times and enjoying new ones along the way.
Real treasures of this trip have been a renewed faith in mankind----so many "good folks" have crossed our path, both planned and unplanned.
Char & her cousin Ronnie who had us to dinner & arranged golf in Palm Springs---he plays barefoot. Whatever it takes to play well---seemed to work for him.

Carolyn and Don Lowe, Hopkinsville High School chums of brother Buddy, now living in Laguna Beach, treated us to lunch at Monarch Bay Club. What fun to reconnect---even I knew them. Little sisters always look up to older brothers and their friends.

Gigi and Keith, our north California friends, tried to surprise us in Nevada  and stay at same hotel...but Truckee and the Donner pass had snow that kept them at home. We did stay at the plush hotel they recommended. Room view of pool and hot tub was blurry but hubby and I enjoyed the hot tub 'til the rain started----for 13 seconds as hubby exaggerated. It was too short, for sure. 

Our last night on the road was spent at friend Drenda's in Leawood, KS (Kansas City area) Her son-n-law, "Chef" David fixed a delish meal for us. I treasure any time I can have with her as we worked side by side at Houston High for our last teaching tenure.

The treasure of seeing God's hand in so many instances----especially in our relationships with dear ones has been a BIG blessing during our travels.

H is for.............Hand of God

12/19/09 Assignment: Look for it today in your life.
I certainly have seen the hand of God at every turn this year in my cancer journey.