The Changing Seasons

Even a hint of fall is cause for great excitement in Florida. This morning, out on the patio enjoying the 65 degree sunrise, living in the ahhh of the cool, it dawned on me that I am not so excited about some of the changing seasons in other parts of my life. God is clearly in them, yet for me, I wrestle with not knowing where things are going and sometimes get irritable. God just waits for me to get over myself and remember Who He Is. He's the God who miraculously birthed me into this place in time, drew me to Himself at 17 (and then had to get my complete and undivided attention again at 41), and walks with me whether I'm holding His hand or not. Oswald Chambers has said that when we struggle or are at odds with God, we should "always believe He is the God we knew Him to be when we were closest to Him". Reflect on that time for a minute... brings back how great God is, doesn't it?

And, just like the first refreshing signs of a changing season, those memories can usher in the ahhh of God. Our God who has this under control and is at work in every detail- financial, relational, vocational, physical, and spiritual...

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.     Matthew 6:25-34

30 Minutes or 20 Seconds ...God at Work in Tiny Increments

Sometimes I ramble too much. Sometimes I'm high maintenance. And, sometimes I am laser focused, articulate and clear. (All God's doing) Yesterday, the day started under attack early on.  I needed encouragement and clarity, so an email to a friend resulted in a 2:15- 2:45pm scheduled stop at Starbucks. Frankly, it sounded like too little time, but I was desperate to hear my friend's voice... And, God was desperate to connect us. My friend was able to move my perspective, encourage my frazzled heart, and pray for me, all in those squeezed in 30 minutes. A very gracious gift at the perfect time... but more was coming...

Just about an hour later, a 20 second voicemail from another friend, who remembered an imminent retreat, called to share she was praying for it and asked me to let her know if there was anything specific she could pray for. THIRTY MINUTES and then TWENTY SECONDS... restored, recharged and feeling deeply loved by God through them.

This week let's give some tiny increments to God, that He might be poured out through us...

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV

An Answer Given

My personal Dr. Phyl is an amazing woman, who connected me to Mark Batterson's books on prayer, "The Circle Maker" and "Draw The Circle". Mark's view into the theology and traditions of prayer are encouraging and downright humbling, yet give a perspective on the on-going and eternal consequences of prayer that is compelling. This week, the power thought came right out of Scripture- where Daniel in chapter 9, verse 20, is "speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for His holy hill (Jerusalem)" when the archangel Gabriel shows up and says in verse 23, "As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed..." NIV 1984 translation

An answer was given at the moment Daniel began to pray- how cool is that : )     I wish I could get my heart around that because it would explode my faith and allow me to embrace the mystery of God's answers may not  be my answers, but they are the best answers.

Here's my "note to self" this week - PRAY FIRST AND AT THAT MOMENT AN ANSWER IS GIVEN.