I was thinking about my prayer life the other day... I came to the conclusion that I believe God and I have lots of conversations throughout my day. I get mad I tell God...I get excited I tell Him...
When I think of prayer I don't see the whole bowing my head kneeling stuff... It's me , a cup of coffee, and God having conversation. If no one is around I usually talk out loud to Him. It's funny becuase I carry on with Him just like I would anyone else.
I know during our ladies group on Thursday nights I shared with them I never have quite understood the whole unspoken prayer request thing. If it's unspoken why tell anyone else? God knows what's in your heart, why get anyone else to pray for something that they know nothing about?! I'm just saying I don't get it! Also, the whole everyone tells us prayer request in a circle and then one person has to try to remember everyone's request and repeat them. God already knows. I have been in those situations where someone's request wasn't repeated and then they took it personally. My point, God already KNOWS! Why risk hurting someone's feelings, mind you, unintentionally when God has heard the request once or maybe more times already.
I feel we should share our prayer request so others can pray for you and your request throughout their week. But why back track and keep repeating ourselves. God definitely Already KNOWS!
I was reading a book, "Confessions of a Pastor" by Craig Groeschel. It's a great book you guys should check it out. Craig in his book talks about how the Bible tells us to "pray continually" and he says how his knee jerk reaction was he didn't like to pray, his mind wonders and drifts, how could he pray continually when he can't even pray for five minutes straight. (sounds like me) He says now that continual prayer has become an attitude- not just a set of behaviors- directed to God. He also states that he's learned to pray honestly, to pray about anything, and to pray continually. He gives some great ideas about prayer - writing out your prayers, pray during routine tasks, pray in different places, pray varying your body'd position, and pray by listening.His last line or so about his prayer life I really liked... "Like breathing air, allow moment-by-moment fellowship to become a way of life- starting this very moment. Go ahead. Communicate."
I really believe that prayer is communicating with God. You know all these professionals when it comes to relationships harp on communication... well if we use their advice with others why not use it with God. Be honest and open with your communication with God. Say it out loud to Him. He knows who you are, be yourself with Him!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
What am I missing?
I keep thinking about the things missing in my life... I have 3 great kids... I might not always approve of their behaviors but I love them no matter what and would give my life for them. I have a husband that loves me unconditionally for the last 25 years. He's a wonderful man and father. We've had to grow up together and find ourselves. But it seems over the last year or so we've become closer than ever. It's like we have the time now to get to know each other and talk about other things besides just the kids. That use to be all our conversations existed of was something to do with one or the other of the three kids.
Our kids are getting older and making a life of their own. It's scary and sad at times. I tend to have this problem of knowing what's going on with each of them and having some type of control. Well that is slowly deminishing... I have to learn that they are old enough now to have control of their own lives and Mom is just around as a sounding board when they need me... I hate losing that control. We still have two of the three here at home but they spend most of their time out of the house. I feel very lonely at times, wondering when they'll be home and what can I do with them to have one more special moment with them.
I have my salvation... My relationship with Christ! I tend to take alot more time with Him and asking Him what He wants for my life and what are my next steps. I tend to not always agree with Him but He is my Lord and I try not to argue and just follow.
Then there is my family... My sister, brothers, and Mom and their families. I find it really hard to stay a part of what is going on in their lives as well...I've lost my control there... What's up with all this control stuff? I feel needed if I'm in control and I tend to have less and less of that as I get older. I was a big part of my siblings lives when they were growing up since I am the oldest. But now most of the time if there is anyone that needs me it's my sister, I love her like she was one of my children. She is 10 years younger!
So I have my children, Hubby, family, my LORD, and last but not least my friends. I have friends all over the US but some I haven't talked to in years but they're always in my heart and prayers. Then I have the friends that live close. They are the ones that I speak to weekly and try to see just as often. Not that it always works out that way but we try to keep caught up in each others lives.
So what am I missing? Really I can't find anything. God has blessed me with so much that I truly can't ask for anything else. Am I missing anything? I would say NO! I have the love of my children, hubby, family, and friends. Most of all I have the love of my LORD! Jesus Christ!
I look at my past and wonder how I got as far as I did and it all comes down to Love! Love is the key to life! Without it in your life there isn't life! Make sure the people you have in your life know that you Love them. If you don't have Christ in your life ask me how you can get Him there! There is nothing more wonderful than knowing I'm always Loved no matter my screw ups.
I'm glad to know that I have everything in my life that I need. LOVE!
Our kids are getting older and making a life of their own. It's scary and sad at times. I tend to have this problem of knowing what's going on with each of them and having some type of control. Well that is slowly deminishing... I have to learn that they are old enough now to have control of their own lives and Mom is just around as a sounding board when they need me... I hate losing that control. We still have two of the three here at home but they spend most of their time out of the house. I feel very lonely at times, wondering when they'll be home and what can I do with them to have one more special moment with them.
I have my salvation... My relationship with Christ! I tend to take alot more time with Him and asking Him what He wants for my life and what are my next steps. I tend to not always agree with Him but He is my Lord and I try not to argue and just follow.
Then there is my family... My sister, brothers, and Mom and their families. I find it really hard to stay a part of what is going on in their lives as well...I've lost my control there... What's up with all this control stuff? I feel needed if I'm in control and I tend to have less and less of that as I get older. I was a big part of my siblings lives when they were growing up since I am the oldest. But now most of the time if there is anyone that needs me it's my sister, I love her like she was one of my children. She is 10 years younger!
So I have my children, Hubby, family, my LORD, and last but not least my friends. I have friends all over the US but some I haven't talked to in years but they're always in my heart and prayers. Then I have the friends that live close. They are the ones that I speak to weekly and try to see just as often. Not that it always works out that way but we try to keep caught up in each others lives.
So what am I missing? Really I can't find anything. God has blessed me with so much that I truly can't ask for anything else. Am I missing anything? I would say NO! I have the love of my children, hubby, family, and friends. Most of all I have the love of my LORD! Jesus Christ!
I look at my past and wonder how I got as far as I did and it all comes down to Love! Love is the key to life! Without it in your life there isn't life! Make sure the people you have in your life know that you Love them. If you don't have Christ in your life ask me how you can get Him there! There is nothing more wonderful than knowing I'm always Loved no matter my screw ups.
I'm glad to know that I have everything in my life that I need. LOVE!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Where do you abide?
I have a small group of ladies that meet in my home on Thursday evenings. We are doing a study by Max Lucado...I love how he writes!
Over the last couple of weeks in Max's study in Colossians and Philemon we've been discussing relationships with each other and the church. It's been truly great conversation. It's nice to see people put down those walls and get REAL with each other. My biggest thing about having a small group is that we're REAL with each other and we always reflect on how does what God tells us affect us in everyday life TODAY! How can we live it out?
The title of this blog is "Where do you abide?". Where do you live out life? Truly live! Does anyone truly live out life anywhere?
I guess my past experiences tell me I've just been taking up space. I really haven't lived anywhere. One of my friends just found out she's moving to CA. and it started my hubby and I discussing if we'd ever move. I guess the conclusion was that we'd only move closer to those few TRUE REAL friends that we've made over the last year or so. Not that they would want us any closer... but it sure would be interesting!
(1 John 4:16)
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him.
The verse above makes me ask, "Where is my preferred dwelling?". I'd have to say I found mine and it's in God. No matter where I'm at as long as God is in me and truly dwelling there, I abide in Him and He abides in me.
Take time today and look at where your really living. Where are you calling home and do you really live out life there? People tend to live out life in their homes, the four walls that protect them from the world... Did Christ live behind four walls or did He live out in the world? I want to live out in the world, not as the world but as a Christ follower in the world. Let me get out from behind these four walls, let me live life with others! How can we have church (the body of Christ) hiding behind four walls? We can't!
I live in my home but truly I live through and for Christ. Some people have the conception of "Home is where the Heart is!"... Do you have Christ in your heart? If you do your home is in Him!
Over the last couple of weeks in Max's study in Colossians and Philemon we've been discussing relationships with each other and the church. It's been truly great conversation. It's nice to see people put down those walls and get REAL with each other. My biggest thing about having a small group is that we're REAL with each other and we always reflect on how does what God tells us affect us in everyday life TODAY! How can we live it out?
The title of this blog is "Where do you abide?". Where do you live out life? Truly live! Does anyone truly live out life anywhere?
I guess my past experiences tell me I've just been taking up space. I really haven't lived anywhere. One of my friends just found out she's moving to CA. and it started my hubby and I discussing if we'd ever move. I guess the conclusion was that we'd only move closer to those few TRUE REAL friends that we've made over the last year or so. Not that they would want us any closer... but it sure would be interesting!
(1 John 4:16)
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in Him.
The verse above makes me ask, "Where is my preferred dwelling?". I'd have to say I found mine and it's in God. No matter where I'm at as long as God is in me and truly dwelling there, I abide in Him and He abides in me.
Take time today and look at where your really living. Where are you calling home and do you really live out life there? People tend to live out life in their homes, the four walls that protect them from the world... Did Christ live behind four walls or did He live out in the world? I want to live out in the world, not as the world but as a Christ follower in the world. Let me get out from behind these four walls, let me live life with others! How can we have church (the body of Christ) hiding behind four walls? We can't!
I live in my home but truly I live through and for Christ. Some people have the conception of "Home is where the Heart is!"... Do you have Christ in your heart? If you do your home is in Him!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Where God leads
I've really never posted a blog but I thought I'd give it a try. Over the past several months I've been really lead to look at friendship (aka relationships). What does it mean to and for me?
I've really taken a hard look at what it means first to be a friend. How important is it to have a few strong relationships in your life. Well I can honestly say God has put those few relationships in my life.
I thought I knew what it truly meant to be real and to have friends. Unfortunatley I have seen over the last year that even though you might think a person is your true friend just try making a decision in your life that they don't agree with. They drop you like a hot potato. Yeap! I mean drop you.... I think there was even a little bounce to it!
I've really tried to strive to be a real person. What you see is what you get kind of thing. People either love me for who I am or they don't. You want everyone to like you and most importantly respect you. But in today's world that's pretty hard to come by. I guess in the real world REAL relationships or friendships will continue to be few and far between. I want this to change... God wants this to change!
When talking about relationships that big word TRUST comes into play. Did you grow up in a world where people continuosly let you down and even hurt you so deeply you thought you'd never get over it. Well those feelings are carried over into the rest of your life. It's hard to let down the walls that you've built to stay protected... Don't let anyone get to know the REAL you...Don't let them see that you are vulnurable... that you have feelings....that you can be sympathetic... don't care about me to much and then I don't have to care about you!
I have been truly blessed over the last year or so with people that love me for who I am...they might not always agree with my behavior but they still love me. I know they truly want to know ME for who I am. They want to be apart of my life in good and bad times. I have to say I feel the same about them. I've let down the walls once again and God has shown me that there are those true and meaningful relationships out there.
Wouldn't it be great if everyone good say, "I have true friends in my life that will love me no matter what!" I can make stupid choices and go off the deep end and they'll be there to tell me I need to straighten up and catch me when I fall. Just like God, He's always there to catch us and put His arms around us when no one else will. But I beleive that I have found those few friends in my life that will be there to wrap their arms around me and catch me when I fall no matter what. And just LOVE ME!
I've really taken a hard look at what it means first to be a friend. How important is it to have a few strong relationships in your life. Well I can honestly say God has put those few relationships in my life.
I thought I knew what it truly meant to be real and to have friends. Unfortunatley I have seen over the last year that even though you might think a person is your true friend just try making a decision in your life that they don't agree with. They drop you like a hot potato. Yeap! I mean drop you.... I think there was even a little bounce to it!
I've really tried to strive to be a real person. What you see is what you get kind of thing. People either love me for who I am or they don't. You want everyone to like you and most importantly respect you. But in today's world that's pretty hard to come by. I guess in the real world REAL relationships or friendships will continue to be few and far between. I want this to change... God wants this to change!
When talking about relationships that big word TRUST comes into play. Did you grow up in a world where people continuosly let you down and even hurt you so deeply you thought you'd never get over it. Well those feelings are carried over into the rest of your life. It's hard to let down the walls that you've built to stay protected... Don't let anyone get to know the REAL you...Don't let them see that you are vulnurable... that you have feelings....that you can be sympathetic... don't care about me to much and then I don't have to care about you!
I have been truly blessed over the last year or so with people that love me for who I am...they might not always agree with my behavior but they still love me. I know they truly want to know ME for who I am. They want to be apart of my life in good and bad times. I have to say I feel the same about them. I've let down the walls once again and God has shown me that there are those true and meaningful relationships out there.
Wouldn't it be great if everyone good say, "I have true friends in my life that will love me no matter what!" I can make stupid choices and go off the deep end and they'll be there to tell me I need to straighten up and catch me when I fall. Just like God, He's always there to catch us and put His arms around us when no one else will. But I beleive that I have found those few friends in my life that will be there to wrap their arms around me and catch me when I fall no matter what. And just LOVE ME!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)