six impossible things

The other day a book caught my eye in the kids' section of the library. It is called Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast by Jane Yolen. It was the title that captured my attention. I am interested in impossible things.

The phrase sounded familiar, but I wasn't sure why. I brought the book home.

Then, for my birthday, a friend and I went to see the new version of Alice in Wonderland. The theme of the movie was believing the impossible. Alice had been taught to "believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

That's where that phrase came from. Jane Yolen, in writing a collection of fractured type stories, chose to double the number of impossibilities believed each morning.

This really stuck with me. Usually when I see a theme or idea repeated, I pay attention. God usually is trying to tell me something.

See, I have an entire section of my mental prayer list that is labeled "Impossible." I pray for those things now and then, but it often seems futile.

You know, the situations: physical problems, economic problems, emotional problems. Things that look too big, too constant to ever change.

And people--the people who never change. People so deeply rooted in sinful lifestyles or broken behavior patterns that you've never seen any growth in them.

I know that speaks poorly of my faith. I know that "nothing is impossible for him who believes." And that nothing is too difficult for God. But this is one of those cases of believing something with my head, but not so much with my heart.

Time to get it into my heart.

So I've decided to start believing the impossible. I try to think of at least six each morning. And as I say, "Lord, I believe that you can change_____'s heart." I also say, "Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief."

Are you believing the impossible? Maybe you always have. Or maybe you're like me and have a little section of prayer requests that are labeled "Impossible."

this is my prayer

These are some of the prayers that frequently spill from my mouth:

"Empty me of me and fill me with You."

"I surrender all. If there is something I'm holding on to, show me, and help me let it go."

"Show me Your heart. Make me love what You love and hate what You hate."

"Help me to love."

"Help me."

"Give me a eternal perspective."

"Not my will but Yours be done."

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You."

Sometimes --frequently-- all I can say is what is called the Kyrie:
"Christ have mercy."

the sinner

It's so easy to pray for those who have been sinned against. The abandoned woman. The betrayed husband. It's easy to pray for the child who has been abused or the victim of a random crime.

And that's good. These things all require our prayers. We need to reach out to these hurting people and love them.

But, do we think to pray for the man who left his family? The adulterous woman? The child abuser or criminal?


When Jesus was on earth, we don't see Him going to all the people who had been ripped off when they payed their taxes. He went to Zacchaeus. He didn't go minister to the spouse betrayed, He ministered to the betrayer. Time and again we see Him reaching out and touching the sinner. The one who caused pain.

Oh, I know that he ministered to the victims. I know that because I know Jesus. I know that he cares for them. Even now He reaches out and touches them, comforts and restores them.

But I think He knew that part would come easy for us. But how easy is it to pray for the man who abandoned your friend -- his wife, his children? How easy is it to pray for those whose sin affects so many around them like ripples on a pond.

I think we need to remember how Jesus loved. Whom He loved. And though it's not easy, we need to remember to pray for, and reach out to the sinners. Because, after all, isn't that each of us?

Here is an older, related post.

worship

One time a friend said, "There is only one thing we have that we can give to God.  Do you know what it is?"  I said, "Ourselves."  Which I believe is true.  I'm a big proponent of surrender.  But she said, "Our worship."

The past several churches we've attended - going back years- are places where people feel comfortable raising their hands as they worship the Lord.  In one church people knelt, or stood or sat according to what they were led to do rather than worrying about what other people would think.   I love that kind of openness to the Spirit.

The church we go to now has a couple of people who dance a little bit.  A few months ago I was able to visit the Anglican church we used to attend and at the end of the service the South African Pastor was dancing sort of hoe-down style to "I'll Fly Away."  It was joyous!  He wasn't making a spectacle; he was down in an area not everyone could see.  But he was overflowing because he had just returned from Cuba where he had seen God work in mighty ways.  Should we not express that joy?  That worship?  A couple of nearby children joined him and it was wonderful.

I sometimes put on praise music and dance in my worship.  I don't do it in public - it would be a spectacle

My friend Michelle at Just a Minute prays with colored pencils in hand and draws her prayers.  She has examples on her blog.

I sing.  That's not very creative or pleasant, but it is a way I worship.

Sometimes I simply sit.  I try to be as still in body and mind as possible and just listen.  "Lord speak to me."  And I listen.  Especially if there is something specific I am needing direction on.

I read books.  Good books by godly men and women that deepen my faith.  Even fiction frequently leads me to a place of worship.

Sometimes I lie flat out on my face and  just let Him be God.  

I can sit here and look out my window and worship.  Being on a mountain or at a lake or in some other beautiful natural setting always inspires me to praise.

I pray.  I often pray during the singing time at church rather than sing.  So often the words to the songs spur prayers of wonder or confession.  I pray in the car, in the shower, in bed, while watching TV, while reading, while eating, while visiting with friends.  I pray when I shop, when I have questions and problems, when I am overwhelmed.  I pray when I sin, when I am in a tight spot.  I pray.  My prayers are incense that rises up before God on his throne and he delights in them.  (look in Revelation)

What are some ways that you worship?  Or maybe what are some situations or surroundings that are conducive to worship?

Jesus' name

The Bible says that what ever we ask for in Jesus' name we will receive.  So we all tend to end our prayers with "in Jesus' name we pray" or something like that.  We ask for a new car and then add the magic words and expect God to give us a new car because after all, we prayed it in Jesus' name.

I don't think that's quite what He meant.  I see it as asking for the same thing Jesus would ask for.   We are here, before the throne of God because of what Christ did for us.  Only by His work and in His name can we come.  You know how people will say, "tell them I sent you" to get you an "in" someplace.  That's what Jesus did.  We are before the Father because of Him and representing Him.

If someone goes to Blockbuster and says, "I'm here on behalf of Kay Day and I want the worst porno horror flick you *&**&^))), *&^%$(* have in this *&%%$#$ store and I want it &&^^%$^&** now!"  Then I'd say they've represented me falsely.  You could say they've taken my name in vain.  Which leads me off track a bit, but that's what I personally think the command against taking the LORD's name in vain is referring to.  I think the Crusaders and Inquisitioners were guilty of this sin.  I think any time we falsely represent Christ we are guilty of this sin.

Ok, back on the prayer track...  So if asking in Jesus name means asking for the thing we think He would ask for, how do we know what He would ask for? 

The Bible also says that whatever we pray for according to His will He will give us, so I think the two things are basically the same.  

The way we know is first of all to be familiar with Jesus.  Know His heart and learn what things He did pray for while on earth.

Know the Word of God.  We know that we can pray for unity of all believers because Jesus prayed for that.  We know that we can pray for marriages to be restored because God says He hates divorce and the Word says that men should love their wives and women should respect and submit to their husbands.

We can pray for people to be saved because the Bible says "it is His will that none should perish but that all should have eternal life."

We can pray for things He's promised and know that He will answer.

Does that make sense?

When it comes to things like healing - we have examples both ways in the Bible.  God sometimes heals and sometimes doesn't (David's infant son and Paul' thorn, for example).  So when I hear of someone who needs healing I always pray for them to be healed unless God directs me otherwise.

This is the other way we can know how to pray according to His will.  Be tuned in to the Holy Spirit.  I personally believe that all prayer is initiated by God.  He first reveals to us what He wants us to pray for - what He has already determined to do, then we pray for that and then He accomplishes it.  

Why bother, some may ask.  If God is just going to do what He wants, why bother?  Because it's all about relationship.  It's all about God including us in His work.  He doesn't need us --- He's God for goodness sake.  But He blesses us with letting us have a part in what He is doing.  And He wants the connection that pray provides.  He speaks to us, we speak to Him, He answers, we thank Him, He blesses us, He speaks to us again, etc.

Once a friend of mine learned that her son-in-law was diagnosed with a type of ALS.  I knew this man and his wife and I was very sorry to hear that.  I prayed for them and I wanted more than anything for him to be healed.  But every time I started to pray for his healing I felt a strong restraining, I guess I could call it, of the Holy Spirit, and I felt strongly led to pray instead for their strength and comfort and surrender instead.  So I did.  And God answered those prayers.

The same friend herself had cancer and I prayed for her healing and God answered that prayer.  Right now I am praying for a blog friend to be healed of cancer, but it's looking as if God is going to heal her by taking her home instead.  My faith will not be dashed.  I trust Him to do what is right.  Sometimes I feel that the Holy Spirit is directing me to pray a certain way, but it doesn't come to pass that way.  That's ok.  I am obedient in what I know and I trust God with what I don't know.

I'm sorry this post is so long... I'll try to keep tomorrow's post brief!

Love you all and I hope none of you are being flooded today!

offended

When I was ten years old, my grandma had to go to the hospital to have surgery for brain cancer.  I prayed that she would be well and I believed she would be.  That's what prayer is for, right?  

She never came home from the hospital.  The swelling from the surgery killed her and they were unable to remove all of the cancer anyway.

That was my first experience with death, other than a pet.  And my first experience with God answering my prayers differently than I had expected.

I continued to pray throughout my life.  But I wonder why?  I had a very strong belief that God answered prayer, but a very strong doubt that He would answer mine.

When I was pushing forty, I went to a Bible Study called Believing God by Beth Moore.  It changed my view of God and faith and prayer in so many ways.   I would have to do a whole post about that to do it justice.  

But there was one section on not being offended by God.  

Remember when John the Baptist was in prison and he was soon to be beheaded?  

There is a wonderful book called The Prisoner in the Third Cell that talks about all this.  I recommend the book.  

Anyway, he's in prison and he's heard all these stories of the wonderful things that Jesus is doing.  Jesus, his cousin.  Jesus, the Lamb of God.  While still in the womb, John had recognized who Jesus was.  He spent his entire life preparing the way of the Lord.  Making the path straight.  Clearing the way.  He was a spiritual bushwhacker for Jesus (that sounds like an old fashioned sermon).  Now here HE was in jail.  So he asked his followers, "Is Jesus really the Messiah?"  Was he thinking "if He were really the Messiah, I wouldn't be here"?  "How can he be who I thought he was and let me stay locked up here?"  His followers went back to Jesus and asked the question for John.  Jesus gave them an answer for him.  They were to tell him of all the miracles they had seen Jesus perform and of the lives that had been changed and then they were to say to him, "Blessed is he who is not offended by me."

I had spent thirty years offended that God had said no to my prayer.  Thirty years holding it against Him, basically.  What an eye-opener.

The thing that God had been teaching me, that came to a clear point at this time, was that if I put my faith in my request then I will be disappointed.  

If I pray for something with complete confidence that God is going to give that thing, I may be disappointed.  Because I don't always know the right thing to pray for.  My faith is in the one who answers, not in the one making the request.  My faith says "I am going to ask for this thing, but I trust God to answer the best way and I will accept His answer with thanksgiving."  I have complete faith that God CAN heal brain cancer.  He CAN do anything.  And sometimes, because it is the best thing, He does do the miraculous.  Other times, because it is the best thing, He does not.

I'm going to post more on prayer tomorrow.  

St. Patrick's blessings

I had trouble formatting my post the way I wanted, so I decided to put my prayer and blessing in it's own post.

 This Prayer is taken from St. Patrick's breastplate:

Christ be with me

Christ before me

Christ behind me

Christ in me

Christ beneath me

Christ above me

Christ on my right

Christ on my left

Christ where I lie

Christ where I sit

Christ where I arise

Christ in the heart of every man

who thinks of me

Christ in the mouth of every man

who speaks of me

Christ in every eye that sees me

Christ in every ear that hears me

Salvation is of the Lord.

And I like this little blessing.  I pray it for you.

"May the smile of God light you to glory."

It's kind of hard to find Irish blessing and prayers that don't center around beer! LOL, but I found a nice little page full of them.  Take a look if you like.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.  I hope you are wearing green!  Consider yourself pinched if you aren't.

saturday stuff

It looks like March is coming in like a lamb here. What about your neck of the woods?

My wonderful friend Mel has given me a very sweet award! Thank you SO much! Love you.

If you don't regularly visit her blog, you should go look at this fun clip. It's a hoot!

Maybe it's not PC, but I would like to give this award to Julie, Jen, Mom, and Queen. Yes, they are my family, but that's how I know how wonderful they are! I would also like to give it to Robbie because her blog, like herself, never fails to make me smile.

Pray for our friend Will and his wife Karen, please. This morning he is flying to North Carolina to take a new job as a teacher. It is his first teaching job as well as being in a new part of the country for them. He will be there for several months alone while Karen finalizes things here. I know they would appreciate your prayers.

I know that Mel and her family would, too as they are packing up to move to Florida in a week. She has five kids, you know. Moving isn't easy in any circumstance!

Have a wonderful weekend and a Beautiful March!

prayers of my life

I want to share a few of the things that I consistently pray for. Most of these are things I've talked to God about for at least 20 years.

~ You're will be done. Whatever that means. However it may look to me. I want what You want. And I want to want what you want.

~Give me an eternal perspective. I want to see everything in light of eternity instead of only seeing how it affects me in the here and now. I don't want to be limited by this physical, time-bound realm.

~I surrender all. I give up this. I give up that. Show me what I've not given up and help me to let it go, too. This one is a constant one, because I tend to re-grab hold of things I've already let go of.

~Teach me the truth. If this thing that I believe is wrong, show me. I don't want to believe lies. If that thing that I think is wrong is actually right, then show me. I want to believe the truth.

~Show me your heart. I want to love what you love. Hate what you hate. I want to weep over the things that break your heart and rejoice over the things that make you sing.


These are only a few, of course. But I think these prayers have made a huge difference in who I am as a person. How I intrepret things. How I see life and God. And He has taught me so much.


*What is wrong with my spell check?! I can't spell! And it won't let me insert photos either!*

miracle monday

After Tragic Sunday, we are having Miracle Monday. If you haven't yet visited Kristy Dyke's blog, do so right now. She is beginning a course of radiation today for brain cancer. The doctors have given a bleak prognosis, but nothing is too hard for God. So go look at the blog and say a prayer today for the Lord's healing on her. He does all things well.

Continue to pray for the Colorado communities affected by the shootings yesterday. Two people announced dead since I blogged about it. A total of five dead including a shooter. Five wounded.

Thank you.