I am sitting in my "prayer chair" across from my bed watching my 8 year old and 10 year old fast asleep in my bed. Two thoughts cross my mind, if I don't move them, it will be very crowded in my bed tonight, and how much I love them both and could sit and stare at them for hours. I think that is what God thinks about us too. Not the 'my bed will be crowded' part, the how much I love them part.
Pastor Melissa preached this morning at our church, a rare thing, but the message was awesome! She spoke about how we have believed lies about ourselves. Things that are untrue and not what God says about us. I know I have had those "You're not good enough" and "There is no way that you are going to be able to do THIS thing" thoughts. Even those, "I am just average" thoughts. When I started this blog, I did hesitate at calling myself an average person, because I know for a fact that I am no longer average since I have been found in Christ. I have been set apart, called, chosen, set in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, I am more than an over comer, I am victorious in Christ Jesus, I am a princess, a queen and a royal priest, I am His and I am brand new.
However, this blog was meant to accentuate what happens when an ordinary person comes in contact with the Divine and heaven meets earth, because this same stuff is available to every single person. Now I would love to think that I am His absolute favorite, and He does in fact love me more than any other person on this planet now, in the past and in the future. However, I know that He is no respecter of person and what He will do through me He will do through anyone. The inverse of that, and the good news for me, is that what He will do through His greatest servants He will also do through me as diligently seek Him. The abridged version: EVERY SINGLE BELIEVER CAN WALK IN HIS HEALING POWER! THANK YOU JESUS!
Needless to say the ministry team got to pray with a lot of people this morning. There are so many people out there everywhere that have believed the lies that they can't do it, they aren't good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, whatever the lie, that they are unworthy. They are in the churches, in the streets, in our workplaces and schools in businesses and the places we have lunch. They are everywhere just waiting and longing silently for a hand to reach out and touch them and tell them that God loves them, He sees them and He cares about them. God, I am so grateful to You for letting me be Your hands and Your feet. Lord, help me to be more like You so that I won't miss touching a single life. In Jesus' Name Amen.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Day 29 ~ So Grateful
It is day 29 and I am so grateful to God for walking with me and leading me down this path with Him. When I am too distracted to be intentionally walking it out, He more than makes up for my inadequacies. Today was one of those days where I am just trying to make it through, hoping/knowing that tomorrow or the next day or the day after that will be better. I have been too busy the last two days to really be paying attention to His voice and His moving. I have been focused on the wrong stuff.
God in His goodness however stands in the gap, when it seems I can't make it one more step, He is there and He carries me.
It was about 7pm tonight when I finally sat down and I began to drift to sleep the minute my head hit the arm of the couch. As I was falling asleep I thought, "Oh, no, I didn't pray for anyone today." I was kind of bummed out, because this would have been the first day that I actually missed it. God gently reminded me that I did pray for someone this afternoon. A friend was at the conference I attended and she wanted to be there so badly she came sick. After lunch I saw her sitting alone and went up and asked what was wrong and she said she had the flu. We prayed and God touched her and she immediately looked and felt better. It was so awesome.
I am not sure how it happened that I forgot about God touching her. I picked up two messages out of this. One: God please don't let me become so lackadaisical about this walk with You that I fail to celebrate and recognize Your goodness. Father don't let me become complacent with You or with this journey that we are on. I don't want to be one of those that doesn't remember to thank You for Your goodness. Two: God thank You for helping this to be my first nature, that when stuff arises, my first impulse is to bring it to You, so much that I don't even remember doing it until You remind me.
Even better He kept me on track for my NYR when I couldn't have done it myself. I was exhausted and being self centered and overwhelmed by life today and in the midst of all of it, He was more than faithful to help me to continue walking out this project. I am EVEN MORE GRATEFUL for that. For His grace and mercy, compassion and love. Again I have to ask Him, "Father, who are we that You are mindful of us?"
God in His goodness however stands in the gap, when it seems I can't make it one more step, He is there and He carries me.
It was about 7pm tonight when I finally sat down and I began to drift to sleep the minute my head hit the arm of the couch. As I was falling asleep I thought, "Oh, no, I didn't pray for anyone today." I was kind of bummed out, because this would have been the first day that I actually missed it. God gently reminded me that I did pray for someone this afternoon. A friend was at the conference I attended and she wanted to be there so badly she came sick. After lunch I saw her sitting alone and went up and asked what was wrong and she said she had the flu. We prayed and God touched her and she immediately looked and felt better. It was so awesome.
I am not sure how it happened that I forgot about God touching her. I picked up two messages out of this. One: God please don't let me become so lackadaisical about this walk with You that I fail to celebrate and recognize Your goodness. Father don't let me become complacent with You or with this journey that we are on. I don't want to be one of those that doesn't remember to thank You for Your goodness. Two: God thank You for helping this to be my first nature, that when stuff arises, my first impulse is to bring it to You, so much that I don't even remember doing it until You remind me.
Even better He kept me on track for my NYR when I couldn't have done it myself. I was exhausted and being self centered and overwhelmed by life today and in the midst of all of it, He was more than faithful to help me to continue walking out this project. I am EVEN MORE GRATEFUL for that. For His grace and mercy, compassion and love. Again I have to ask Him, "Father, who are we that You are mindful of us?"
Friday, January 28, 2011
Day 28 ~ Answered Prayer
Today was the second day in a row that I was blessed to start my day by praying with someone. My friend became my friend because God brought us together. She works for the company that I buy product for my business through. Who knew when she was trying to build a clientele for her company that God had a BIGGER and BETTER PLAN! She has been a tremendous blessing in my life and I am so blessed to call her my sister in Christ. I got to pray with her for her grandfather-in-law this morning for healing throughout his body. We know that God is a big God and He is working on James' body right now even as I type.
OK, Testimony TIME!
On Monday I prayed with a guy at school who had been shot in Iraq in 2006, and it seemed like nothing happened. I was so disappointed when I got the "It's just not God's timing" speech. Not wanting to be too pushy on him, I just politely waved and smiled at him this morning on my way in to class. He stopped me in the hallway and called my name. "Cara, can you come over here for a second?" "I have something to share with you." He proceeded to tell me how he had gone to the doctor the day after we prayed to have tests run and to get a refill on his morphine pump. All of sudden he realized he had absolutely NO PAIN in his body. He explained that he had had a morphine pump since 2006 and even with the constant medication he was always in pain. Tuesday, he had NO PAIN! Glory to God!
I was so excited and overflowing with joy I probably could have run through a brick wall and not even felt it at that moment. Even though it was just a small part of his healing it impacted him so greatly and I could have flown to the top of the world and screamed VICTORY! God I KNEW You were doing something. God I KNOW that You want him healed and completely healed! We talked a few more minutes and all I could think was, "the good work that I have begun in you, I will complete." God is so AMAZING! When He invades this earth with His love and His presence, things just can't stay the same, they have to change, and they have to change for the better!
If that isn't good enough, my friend Chris and I were praying for her friend who WAS in a coma yesterday morning. He is no longer in a coma! GOD YOU ARE SO GOOD! Seeing how God will work through anyone in any situation, whatever it takes to bring Heaven to earth, it blows my mind. Who am I that You are mindful of me? God I love You! I do not believe it is possible to ever get tired of seeing You work!
OK, Testimony TIME!
On Monday I prayed with a guy at school who had been shot in Iraq in 2006, and it seemed like nothing happened. I was so disappointed when I got the "It's just not God's timing" speech. Not wanting to be too pushy on him, I just politely waved and smiled at him this morning on my way in to class. He stopped me in the hallway and called my name. "Cara, can you come over here for a second?" "I have something to share with you." He proceeded to tell me how he had gone to the doctor the day after we prayed to have tests run and to get a refill on his morphine pump. All of sudden he realized he had absolutely NO PAIN in his body. He explained that he had had a morphine pump since 2006 and even with the constant medication he was always in pain. Tuesday, he had NO PAIN! Glory to God!
I was so excited and overflowing with joy I probably could have run through a brick wall and not even felt it at that moment. Even though it was just a small part of his healing it impacted him so greatly and I could have flown to the top of the world and screamed VICTORY! God I KNEW You were doing something. God I KNOW that You want him healed and completely healed! We talked a few more minutes and all I could think was, "the good work that I have begun in you, I will complete." God is so AMAZING! When He invades this earth with His love and His presence, things just can't stay the same, they have to change, and they have to change for the better!
If that isn't good enough, my friend Chris and I were praying for her friend who WAS in a coma yesterday morning. He is no longer in a coma! GOD YOU ARE SO GOOD! Seeing how God will work through anyone in any situation, whatever it takes to bring Heaven to earth, it blows my mind. Who am I that You are mindful of me? God I love You! I do not believe it is possible to ever get tired of seeing You work!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Day 27
So my day this morning started off getting to pray for two individuals who need real miracles. I keep my phone on vibrate all the time, and it pretty much never leaves my side. I am not a morning person AT ALL! My kids have to be at school at 8:30 and I am not exaggerating when I say we roll out of bed at 7:45 just about every morning! My phone began to buzz a little after 7am. I heard it go off and sleepily I rolled over. A friend and prayer partner sent me a text asking me to pray for miracles for two people.
Now I am just saying that my brain and my fingers are not at all coherent at 7am. I do not understand how morning people do it. I also love how my pastor takes that "seek the Lord early" scripture and tells us it's all good if you don't do it first thing in the morning, the point is to seek Him at all times and "early" in every situation, not necessarily early in the morning! My brain doesn't really start working until after a big steamy cup of something warm and after about 9:30 or 10 am! The good news is that even when my flesh is not awake, my spirit was. My spirit immediately began to rise up inside and pray for those two people, even though my eyes were still closed and that pillow felt so good. My heart was to see God move even if I couldn't get my flesh to get out of bed at all! After becoming coherent, my friend and I prayed together for her friends and I know that God is working on their behalf. I haven't heard for sure yet, but it sounds like a good report for at least one of the people we prayed for this morning. Glory to God!
Here is an even better story, though. I would've rather told this one first, but it isn't my story. It is amazing though! My friend was at a funeral this afternoon. She saw a woman who was struggling to walk. She asked her if it would be alright if she prayed for her. God touched the woman and she was healed. After the funeral service she brought her sister over and asked if she would pray for her as well. My friend prayed for the sister, God touched her AND SHE GOT HEALED! People began lining up to receive prayer for healing at a funeral! REVIVAL BROKE OUT AT THE FUNERAL HOME! That is how it is supposed to be when the Kingdom of Heaven invades earth! It puts such a hunger inside of me to know God, to know His ways in greater and deeper detail, to know who He is, because He is SO GOOD that He will show up wherever someone is willing to step out in obedience and the result is many lives are touched! I cannot wait until the day where people are getting healed everywhere we go!
There is a song by the Newsboys that has a line in it, "Everywhere we go, that's where the party's at!" That song used to sound so lame and arrogant to me; but now I get what they meant. Everywhere we go there is the opportunity for Heaven to invade the Earth.
Father, give me ears to hear You, eyes to see what You are doing. Keep my heart humble before You and help me to be obedient to Your tiniest direction. Release Your Kingdom upon the Earth that it may be as Jesus said, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, here on earth as it is in Heaven." I ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen!
Now I am just saying that my brain and my fingers are not at all coherent at 7am. I do not understand how morning people do it. I also love how my pastor takes that "seek the Lord early" scripture and tells us it's all good if you don't do it first thing in the morning, the point is to seek Him at all times and "early" in every situation, not necessarily early in the morning! My brain doesn't really start working until after a big steamy cup of something warm and after about 9:30 or 10 am! The good news is that even when my flesh is not awake, my spirit was. My spirit immediately began to rise up inside and pray for those two people, even though my eyes were still closed and that pillow felt so good. My heart was to see God move even if I couldn't get my flesh to get out of bed at all! After becoming coherent, my friend and I prayed together for her friends and I know that God is working on their behalf. I haven't heard for sure yet, but it sounds like a good report for at least one of the people we prayed for this morning. Glory to God!
Here is an even better story, though. I would've rather told this one first, but it isn't my story. It is amazing though! My friend was at a funeral this afternoon. She saw a woman who was struggling to walk. She asked her if it would be alright if she prayed for her. God touched the woman and she was healed. After the funeral service she brought her sister over and asked if she would pray for her as well. My friend prayed for the sister, God touched her AND SHE GOT HEALED! People began lining up to receive prayer for healing at a funeral! REVIVAL BROKE OUT AT THE FUNERAL HOME! That is how it is supposed to be when the Kingdom of Heaven invades earth! It puts such a hunger inside of me to know God, to know His ways in greater and deeper detail, to know who He is, because He is SO GOOD that He will show up wherever someone is willing to step out in obedience and the result is many lives are touched! I cannot wait until the day where people are getting healed everywhere we go!
There is a song by the Newsboys that has a line in it, "Everywhere we go, that's where the party's at!" That song used to sound so lame and arrogant to me; but now I get what they meant. Everywhere we go there is the opportunity for Heaven to invade the Earth.
Father, give me ears to hear You, eyes to see what You are doing. Keep my heart humble before You and help me to be obedient to Your tiniest direction. Release Your Kingdom upon the Earth that it may be as Jesus said, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, here on earth as it is in Heaven." I ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Day 26
Our church has been doing this whole "Born Identity" thing since the beginning of the year, basically teaching us to know who we are in Christ. Pastor Dave talked tonight about how when the Israelites were in the desert on the way to the promised land they saw the miracles of God but they didn't know Him. They were so rebellious in fact that God said He grieved over their behavior. What I took from this was that I can't look to the miracles and healings in my life as God's approval of who I am and what I am doing. God wants to do good things because He is good. He wants to heal people because He loves them. It's not because I am good enough, or the televangelist is good enough, or the preacher is good enough, it is because God is good enough. He can use a talking donkey if He needs to in order to get what He needs accomplished.
It is so important that I just spend time with Him in His presence and get to know Him for who He is. I do not want to hear Him say, "depart from me, for I never knew you."
I got to pray with two wonderful women today. God blessed those prayers because they have great faith and they believe that they received what they asked for ( Mark 11:24) and I know that God heard those prayers and is working on their situations even as I type this.
I love that this prayer and love journey has taught me so much already and I am still in the first month!
Be BLESSED!
It is so important that I just spend time with Him in His presence and get to know Him for who He is. I do not want to hear Him say, "depart from me, for I never knew you."
I got to pray with two wonderful women today. God blessed those prayers because they have great faith and they believe that they received what they asked for ( Mark 11:24) and I know that God heard those prayers and is working on their situations even as I type this.
I love that this prayer and love journey has taught me so much already and I am still in the first month!
Be BLESSED!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Day 25
So apparently that spirit of boldness I had going on the last two days seems to have left the building today. I had a perfectly lovely and easy day, after having lunch with two of my most favorite women and mentors I made a quick run into Walmart because I needed to get a birthday card for my dad and I had some time to kill before picking up my kids. As I wandered aimlessly around Wally World I saw a lady with an oxygen tank and at least two people in wheelchairs... and I walked right by. I even circled back without thinking and ran into most of them AGAIN! My spirit was wanting to pray with them, however my flesh and my mind were not even paying attention, in fact I wonder if we were on the same planet!
I spent the rest of the day in a fog of the flesh. It's not really a bad thing, I just wasn't paying attention to God and when or where He wanted to move. In hindsight it really kind of bums me out a little. Thank God that His mercy is renewed daily. Tomorrow is a new day!
And God in His infinite goodness, and I know this is going to seem ridiculous that I would call this good, but I was talking to God tonight during my prayer time and I told Him that I was sorry for not paying attention to Him very much today and that I didn't complete my NYR for the day. All of a sudden I felt a sharp pain in my right hand and it began to swell. I can only figure that I got bit by a spider of some sort in my basement. The itching and swelling was continuing to get worse. So I prayed over myself. I am happy to report the pain left immediately and the swelling is almost completely gone! Glory to God! Note to Self: don't wait til 11pm to pray for someone!
I spent the rest of the day in a fog of the flesh. It's not really a bad thing, I just wasn't paying attention to God and when or where He wanted to move. In hindsight it really kind of bums me out a little. Thank God that His mercy is renewed daily. Tomorrow is a new day!
And God in His infinite goodness, and I know this is going to seem ridiculous that I would call this good, but I was talking to God tonight during my prayer time and I told Him that I was sorry for not paying attention to Him very much today and that I didn't complete my NYR for the day. All of a sudden I felt a sharp pain in my right hand and it began to swell. I can only figure that I got bit by a spider of some sort in my basement. The itching and swelling was continuing to get worse. So I prayed over myself. I am happy to report the pain left immediately and the swelling is almost completely gone! Glory to God! Note to Self: don't wait til 11pm to pray for someone!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Day 24
WOW! I am getting this started early tonight! I am finding that my boldness is growing as I walk this out. I got to class this morning and on my way in I saw a man sitting on a couch reading. I noticed he had a cane which is something you don't see on a college campus very often. After setting my things down at the desk, I walked back out of the classroom without even thinking. This in itself is a huge triumph, the doing it without thinking part I mean. I went out there and bluntly asked him what had happened, stumbling over my words the entire way, and I am sure sounding like a complete idiot.
He told me he was a soldier with the Army in Iraq and was shot in the back in 2006, which left him paralyzed in the lower half of one of his legs. I am not gonna lie, I had to fight back my thoughts and worries and just rely on God's Word which says that He heals, and it is His will to heal, all the time. I explained that I believe that God heals through prayer and asked him if it would be alright if I prayed for him. He agreed and said that he believed in God's power to heal as well and attended a church that also believed in healing.
I knelt down right there in that hallway and lifted his feet into my hands and began to pray. I prayed for a few minutes ( which felt like an eternity ). People began to walk down the hall, and there I was on my knees holding this guys feet in the middle of Peck Hall. My mind started to drift to self conscious thoughts, "What are they thinking? What does this look like?" I had to struggle to keep my mind fixed on God and His healing power. After a few more minutes we stopped praying. I asked him if he felt anything. He took a seriously long time answering.
I think he was looking for the right words so that my feelings wouldn't be hurt. He gave me the standard, "I think this is a part of God's purpose for me and He will heal me when that has been fulfilled." I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't disappointed. I was. Maybe I still am. I know God has a plan, I know that this guy's class is next to mine every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from now until May. I am also fairly willing to pray til I am blue in the face to see him healed ;O) So I suppose we will see! God is good and He loves to do good things for His children and all He is waiting on is us.
He told me he was a soldier with the Army in Iraq and was shot in the back in 2006, which left him paralyzed in the lower half of one of his legs. I am not gonna lie, I had to fight back my thoughts and worries and just rely on God's Word which says that He heals, and it is His will to heal, all the time. I explained that I believe that God heals through prayer and asked him if it would be alright if I prayed for him. He agreed and said that he believed in God's power to heal as well and attended a church that also believed in healing.
I knelt down right there in that hallway and lifted his feet into my hands and began to pray. I prayed for a few minutes ( which felt like an eternity ). People began to walk down the hall, and there I was on my knees holding this guys feet in the middle of Peck Hall. My mind started to drift to self conscious thoughts, "What are they thinking? What does this look like?" I had to struggle to keep my mind fixed on God and His healing power. After a few more minutes we stopped praying. I asked him if he felt anything. He took a seriously long time answering.
I think he was looking for the right words so that my feelings wouldn't be hurt. He gave me the standard, "I think this is a part of God's purpose for me and He will heal me when that has been fulfilled." I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't disappointed. I was. Maybe I still am. I know God has a plan, I know that this guy's class is next to mine every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from now until May. I am also fairly willing to pray til I am blue in the face to see him healed ;O) So I suppose we will see! God is good and He loves to do good things for His children and all He is waiting on is us.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Day 23
It's Sunday again, one of my favorite days of the week! Pastor preached on being in the right place and the right time, for such a time as this. I got the opportunity today to be at the right place and at the right time.
After church today the kids and I were out having lunch at a restaurant, as we were sitting down to eat a woman with a neck brace on came in with her family. They were seated right behind us. The entire time from the moment we ordered our food til we finished eating, I was thinking about praying for this woman and what I was going to say to her. So many thoughts ran through my mind, I can't even begin to list them. The really cool thing though was that I did not get nervous at all! No butterflies, no hot sweats, nothing! The kids and I are finished our food, and following my Pastor's advice that people will be nicer if you have your kids around, I asked for volunteers to go with me. None of the kids were overly willing to participate.
After several minutes of cajoling and near bribery I reasoned that I was not going to get participation on this. I got up from my chair and walked over to the woman with the neck brace. There was no Hallelujah moment, the clouds did not part and I did not see some golden glow, there were no tingles and not even really an push from the Holy Spirit. I got up and went over there without having a single "feeling" that I needed to. All I was armed with was the knowledge that God doesn't want us sick or hurting. This is a huge triumph for me. I am always laying out fleeces or putting conditions on my obedience, "God if you'll do (x) then I know that thing that I think you are asking me to do is you." when I got over to her table, all 3 kids were there behind me. We prayed with her and you could see God touched her right there at that table that day. I believe with all my heart, my mind, my soul and my strength that the surgery she had just had will have worked and be healed supernaturally fast and there will be no more surgeries.
God is so good! The only word of knowledge that I had today was that she was wearing a neck brace and that wearing a neck brace is not in God's plan. Thank You Father for helping me be obedient even to the tiniest nudge!
After church today the kids and I were out having lunch at a restaurant, as we were sitting down to eat a woman with a neck brace on came in with her family. They were seated right behind us. The entire time from the moment we ordered our food til we finished eating, I was thinking about praying for this woman and what I was going to say to her. So many thoughts ran through my mind, I can't even begin to list them. The really cool thing though was that I did not get nervous at all! No butterflies, no hot sweats, nothing! The kids and I are finished our food, and following my Pastor's advice that people will be nicer if you have your kids around, I asked for volunteers to go with me. None of the kids were overly willing to participate.
After several minutes of cajoling and near bribery I reasoned that I was not going to get participation on this. I got up from my chair and walked over to the woman with the neck brace. There was no Hallelujah moment, the clouds did not part and I did not see some golden glow, there were no tingles and not even really an push from the Holy Spirit. I got up and went over there without having a single "feeling" that I needed to. All I was armed with was the knowledge that God doesn't want us sick or hurting. This is a huge triumph for me. I am always laying out fleeces or putting conditions on my obedience, "God if you'll do (x) then I know that thing that I think you are asking me to do is you." when I got over to her table, all 3 kids were there behind me. We prayed with her and you could see God touched her right there at that table that day. I believe with all my heart, my mind, my soul and my strength that the surgery she had just had will have worked and be healed supernaturally fast and there will be no more surgeries.
God is so good! The only word of knowledge that I had today was that she was wearing a neck brace and that wearing a neck brace is not in God's plan. Thank You Father for helping me be obedient even to the tiniest nudge!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Day 22
So I made it past the 21 day mark yesterday. Prayer is starting to become a habit. The Word tells me that I am to come to Him with all things in prayer and supplication and thanksgiving. Prayer is starting to become my gut reaction to everything. I was chatting with a friend today and as soon as I heard her speak negatively about a situation, I immediately prayed out loud and cancelled it without even thinking!
Before I was a christian, my hairdresser used to tell me all about her Jesus. She talked about Him constantly. If I would say anything at all even remotely negative she would immediately say, "I rebuke that statement in the Name of Jesus!" I would joke and call her the "church lady"! I used to think that that was THE most backward and ridiculous thing. I was just being realistic. I didn't realize that my "realistic" was really pessimistic. I was looking for the negative and planning for it so that I couldn't be disappointed or hurt.
The Lord has shown me that ANYTHING is possible to him who believes. God is just looking for people, bodies, vessels who are willing to pray to exchange the negative in this world to His positive. See, Jesus died on the cross so that we could not only have life but that we could have life more abundantly. God is looking for a body of believers that will dare to think the VERY best of Him and expect the VERY best FROM Him. I thank God for this journey, that He is teaching me about who He is and how He wants to work in this world. I thank Him that it is becoming a natural reflex to combat the negative in this world with His Word and His will! I also LOVE how He has brought me full circle to do the very thing that I despised. Humbling. Wow God! Thank You for the Beautiful Exchange!
Before I was a christian, my hairdresser used to tell me all about her Jesus. She talked about Him constantly. If I would say anything at all even remotely negative she would immediately say, "I rebuke that statement in the Name of Jesus!" I would joke and call her the "church lady"! I used to think that that was THE most backward and ridiculous thing. I was just being realistic. I didn't realize that my "realistic" was really pessimistic. I was looking for the negative and planning for it so that I couldn't be disappointed or hurt.
The Lord has shown me that ANYTHING is possible to him who believes. God is just looking for people, bodies, vessels who are willing to pray to exchange the negative in this world to His positive. See, Jesus died on the cross so that we could not only have life but that we could have life more abundantly. God is looking for a body of believers that will dare to think the VERY best of Him and expect the VERY best FROM Him. I thank God for this journey, that He is teaching me about who He is and how He wants to work in this world. I thank Him that it is becoming a natural reflex to combat the negative in this world with His Word and His will! I also LOVE how He has brought me full circle to do the very thing that I despised. Humbling. Wow God! Thank You for the Beautiful Exchange!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Day 21
Today is the 21st day. I have heard that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. So now praying for people should be a habit from this point forward, right? I hope that means it will get easier and I will grow bolder. I will say that God is certainly continuing to teach me everyday about being a vessel for Him. He must love me a WHOLE LOT because I have been learning some of those really difficult lessons lately.
The weather was still pretty yucky here today and my car was in the shop so I didn't really go out of my house all day. At 5:30 I had to go and pick up my rental car. I have dealt with this company before and had a less then pleasant experience and I had called their office earlier in the day and no one had returned my call. So on the way to the rental car place I was gearing myself up for what I figured was going to be a painful experience. I got there and was completely on edge, athough I didn't realize it until later, hindsight is always 20/20! I wasn't mean or nasty, if I have to give a disclaimer like that my attitude was definitely in the wrong place. I was pretty unobservant and uncaring about what anyone else in that place of business was going through though. I was so ready for battle, I don't think I would have noticed if someone with leprosy walked through the door!
I may have and probably did walk right past the opportunity to release God's Kingdom here on earth because I was busy and expected things to be difficult because they had been in the past. That wasn't the case at all, I was in and out of that rental car place in 15 minutes. The guy who helped me was efficient and pleasant. So the lesson is to relax and trust God and know that He will take care of me and to always pray and ask God to open my eyes to see what He sees, hungry to hear His voice and obedient.
I did get to keep up my New Year's Resolution today though. I got to pray with a few people. As is normal this time of year, lots of people are quitting smoking. I was a smoker once and I smoked A LOT and for a LONG TIME! God took that addiction from me almost five years ago. I was blessed to get to pray with two friends today who are trying to break free from it too. It was awesome to see God take the cravings from a 6/10 to a 0/10!!! Anyone who has ever tried to quit smoking knows how bad those cravings can be and to see God lift that, WOW! I am so grateful that Jesus died so that I could live a life that is free and abundantly filled with good things instead of stinky, smoky, expensive cigarettes!
I also got to learn a lovely lesson in humility today. I think that is going to have to be a story for another day, but I am grateful to God for reminding me to pray His will in every situation instead of my own!
Trust in the Lord with all my heart and Lean Not Upon Your Own Understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths... Reverse: Don't trust in God, Rely on yourself, lift yourself up and He will not direct your paths. As I learn to trust Him instead of my own ways the things that I am holding on to so tightly will be given to Him, and I know that as I give those things to Him, He will give me better things.
I really learned a lot today, thank You, Father! It is no wonder that I am so tired! Good Night!
The weather was still pretty yucky here today and my car was in the shop so I didn't really go out of my house all day. At 5:30 I had to go and pick up my rental car. I have dealt with this company before and had a less then pleasant experience and I had called their office earlier in the day and no one had returned my call. So on the way to the rental car place I was gearing myself up for what I figured was going to be a painful experience. I got there and was completely on edge, athough I didn't realize it until later, hindsight is always 20/20! I wasn't mean or nasty, if I have to give a disclaimer like that my attitude was definitely in the wrong place. I was pretty unobservant and uncaring about what anyone else in that place of business was going through though. I was so ready for battle, I don't think I would have noticed if someone with leprosy walked through the door!
I may have and probably did walk right past the opportunity to release God's Kingdom here on earth because I was busy and expected things to be difficult because they had been in the past. That wasn't the case at all, I was in and out of that rental car place in 15 minutes. The guy who helped me was efficient and pleasant. So the lesson is to relax and trust God and know that He will take care of me and to always pray and ask God to open my eyes to see what He sees, hungry to hear His voice and obedient.
I did get to keep up my New Year's Resolution today though. I got to pray with a few people. As is normal this time of year, lots of people are quitting smoking. I was a smoker once and I smoked A LOT and for a LONG TIME! God took that addiction from me almost five years ago. I was blessed to get to pray with two friends today who are trying to break free from it too. It was awesome to see God take the cravings from a 6/10 to a 0/10!!! Anyone who has ever tried to quit smoking knows how bad those cravings can be and to see God lift that, WOW! I am so grateful that Jesus died so that I could live a life that is free and abundantly filled with good things instead of stinky, smoky, expensive cigarettes!
I also got to learn a lovely lesson in humility today. I think that is going to have to be a story for another day, but I am grateful to God for reminding me to pray His will in every situation instead of my own!
Trust in the Lord with all my heart and Lean Not Upon Your Own Understanding, In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths... Reverse: Don't trust in God, Rely on yourself, lift yourself up and He will not direct your paths. As I learn to trust Him instead of my own ways the things that I am holding on to so tightly will be given to Him, and I know that as I give those things to Him, He will give me better things.
I really learned a lot today, thank You, Father! It is no wonder that I am so tired! Good Night!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Day 20
We have an ENTIRE FOOT of snow on the ground! I do not like snow. It is cold and it keeps me from doing things and did I mention it is cold. School was cancelled for the kids and me today. So we were having a "stay home" day. About 11:30 I went out to begin to dig my way out of our driveway. 2 hours later I finally had finished shoveling the driveway and the walkway and I had recruited my wonderful 10 year old boy to salt them so that the snow that was continuing to fall would not stick. Just as we were finishing up, I saw my neighbor across the cul-de-sac come out of the garage with her shovel.
I waded my way across the cul-de-sac and asked her if it would be alright if my son and I came over and shoveled her driveway for her. She replied that we were welcome to help her. I went back and grabbed my boy and an extra shovel. As we started working to clean off her driveway, another couple who live on our cul-de-sac saw what we were doing and came over to help. We finished the job in under an hour with the five of us working on it.
After everyone else had left, my neighbor and I began talking. I have lived across the cul-de-sac from her for almost 20 years and had never had a conversation with her. I know that is really sad. As we started talking, I found out that she was a born again, Holy Spirit filled woman of God. Her husband passed away last year and she was really battling depression. We talked in her driveway until my fingers and toes were completely numb. I got the opportunity to invite her to church and I asked her if it would be alright if I prayed for her. We prayed for a few minutes and I could see and feel God's presence touching her heart and her mind. When I had finished praying, she hugged me and said, "I am so glad it snowed."
I am glad it snowed too.
Father, give me eyes to see the needs of Your children. Help me to recognize that every need I see is Your green light. It is Your "Go". Go into all the world and share the Good News! Thank You that I got to be Your hands and feet ( and strong back) and mouthpiece today. Thank You for letting me be an instrument of Your love. In Jesus' Name. Amen
I waded my way across the cul-de-sac and asked her if it would be alright if my son and I came over and shoveled her driveway for her. She replied that we were welcome to help her. I went back and grabbed my boy and an extra shovel. As we started working to clean off her driveway, another couple who live on our cul-de-sac saw what we were doing and came over to help. We finished the job in under an hour with the five of us working on it.
After everyone else had left, my neighbor and I began talking. I have lived across the cul-de-sac from her for almost 20 years and had never had a conversation with her. I know that is really sad. As we started talking, I found out that she was a born again, Holy Spirit filled woman of God. Her husband passed away last year and she was really battling depression. We talked in her driveway until my fingers and toes were completely numb. I got the opportunity to invite her to church and I asked her if it would be alright if I prayed for her. We prayed for a few minutes and I could see and feel God's presence touching her heart and her mind. When I had finished praying, she hugged me and said, "I am so glad it snowed."
I am glad it snowed too.
Father, give me eyes to see the needs of Your children. Help me to recognize that every need I see is Your green light. It is Your "Go". Go into all the world and share the Good News! Thank You that I got to be Your hands and feet ( and strong back) and mouthpiece today. Thank You for letting me be an instrument of Your love. In Jesus' Name. Amen
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Day 19
So today I passed a lady in a wheelchair in Walmart... not once but twice! I know, the chicken in me came out... I should've not thought and just did it. I passed her a second time and realized that she was in the wheelchair because she was missing a leg. When I saw that, I was relieved I didn't go up to her, because it's not like God was going to give her a new leg in the middle of Walmart and she was gonna get up and do a dance in the aisle or something, right? Well, I suppose anything is possible for them that believe. However, I suddenly found myself lacking in the belief department!
Now don't get me wrong, I would love to see that happen. I have even asked God to let me see it happen when I was in one of those really jacked up and hungry for the greater things times. Today was not one of those days... I was just there to pick up snacks for the kids in children's church that night. Ok, I just hit the realization that I was there picking up stuff for church and I walked by a lady who may have needed to know God loved her. UGH!!!! MAN!!! Rough!!!! We're supposed to be light and salt! Man, I missed it!
Good news is I realize I missed it and admitting you have a problem is half the battle! Also, God's mercy is new every morning and He knows that I am learning. I am definitely not going to get it perfect every time or even most of the time. He loves me and uses me anyway!
Our pastor was talking tonight about how God will give us above and beyond what we can ask or even think of and that we are currently living in what we had asked for in the past. I realized I hadn't been very kingdom minded in my asking lately. So here it goes, Father I ask you in Jesus' name to help me to walk out all of the things that you have planned for me. I ask you to give me a heart for your people and strengthen my faith to believe for everything that your word promises. Father I want to see creative miracles in people, I want to see the dead brought back to life; I want to see the captives set free. I want to see your glory in this place. I want to see the Kingdom of Heaven invade this earth. Give me a passionate heart oh God to seek your face continually and to be obedient to your every whim. I love you Father. I thank you for these things in Jesus' Name, Amen!
Just so it is recorded though, I did get to pray for someone out loud in person today. We prayed for a lady to be healed of chest pain at church tonight and I got to pray with a client over facebook. God is so good, and I am so grateful that He is training me to be an awesome woman of God!
Now don't get me wrong, I would love to see that happen. I have even asked God to let me see it happen when I was in one of those really jacked up and hungry for the greater things times. Today was not one of those days... I was just there to pick up snacks for the kids in children's church that night. Ok, I just hit the realization that I was there picking up stuff for church and I walked by a lady who may have needed to know God loved her. UGH!!!! MAN!!! Rough!!!! We're supposed to be light and salt! Man, I missed it!
Good news is I realize I missed it and admitting you have a problem is half the battle! Also, God's mercy is new every morning and He knows that I am learning. I am definitely not going to get it perfect every time or even most of the time. He loves me and uses me anyway!
Our pastor was talking tonight about how God will give us above and beyond what we can ask or even think of and that we are currently living in what we had asked for in the past. I realized I hadn't been very kingdom minded in my asking lately. So here it goes, Father I ask you in Jesus' name to help me to walk out all of the things that you have planned for me. I ask you to give me a heart for your people and strengthen my faith to believe for everything that your word promises. Father I want to see creative miracles in people, I want to see the dead brought back to life; I want to see the captives set free. I want to see your glory in this place. I want to see the Kingdom of Heaven invade this earth. Give me a passionate heart oh God to seek your face continually and to be obedient to your every whim. I love you Father. I thank you for these things in Jesus' Name, Amen!
Just so it is recorded though, I did get to pray for someone out loud in person today. We prayed for a lady to be healed of chest pain at church tonight and I got to pray with a client over facebook. God is so good, and I am so grateful that He is training me to be an awesome woman of God!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Day 18 ~ My First No
Wow! Day 18, I think this is the longest I've ever had a New Year's Resolution last!
So today was a special day. I got my first adamant and powerful "No!" It felt like someone had slapped me in the face. It was so bizarre. One of my biggest hang ups with praying for people in public was fear of that "N" word. Questions like, "what am I going to do if they say no?" and "what if they think I am some kind of freak?" would fill my head and paralyze my feet and hands from moving where His hands and feet would have me go. So I passed by a lot of people that I could see were hurting for the last several years. The odd thing was about this "No!" today, I wasn't upset at all, my boat wasn't even rocked, not for a second. In fact, I was almost joyful about it. I cannot explain it, but I kid you not, I sang really loud (and most definitely off key) all the way to school this morning.
This is such an amazing thing that I know it had to be God's hand in it! I used to worry so much about offending people that I forgot that I shouldn't be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Here I am actually delighting in the fact that I offered to pray and believe God in faith regardless of the outcome. It really didn't matter if he got healed, it didn't even matter that he didn't want me to pray for his son. All that mattered was that I felt God ask me if I would and I did it with only a minor hesitation! I know this seems redundant, but I used to over think EVERY single situation that I would be in, but this time God just took over!
I was still so ecstatic over my "no" that I prayed and asked God to bring someone when I went out to lunch today. I have a slight advantage here that I ought to note. I used to own a business in the town I live in and so I see a LOT of people that I know out in restaurants and stores. So far I haven't really been too moved to walk up to a complete stranger. I know/hope the day is coming when I will be able to do it without a second thought, but thank God, He is letting me do it in baby steps! I ran into an old client and friend at St. Louis Bread Co. I went over and after talking with her for a few minutes, I knew she and I ran into each other for a reason. We prayed together and God hit everything area she was needing breakthrough in. Then we each finished our lunches and went our separate ways. I will probably never know what kind of impact that made on her and it doesn't matter if I know it or not. More importantly the people around her will know that God touched her life today.
I love my Jesus. I am so grateful to all the people who sowed seed into my life whether they saw the fruit that resulted or not I am grateful and they will be richly rewarded in heaven!
So today was a special day. I got my first adamant and powerful "No!" It felt like someone had slapped me in the face. It was so bizarre. One of my biggest hang ups with praying for people in public was fear of that "N" word. Questions like, "what am I going to do if they say no?" and "what if they think I am some kind of freak?" would fill my head and paralyze my feet and hands from moving where His hands and feet would have me go. So I passed by a lot of people that I could see were hurting for the last several years. The odd thing was about this "No!" today, I wasn't upset at all, my boat wasn't even rocked, not for a second. In fact, I was almost joyful about it. I cannot explain it, but I kid you not, I sang really loud (and most definitely off key) all the way to school this morning.
This is such an amazing thing that I know it had to be God's hand in it! I used to worry so much about offending people that I forgot that I shouldn't be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. Here I am actually delighting in the fact that I offered to pray and believe God in faith regardless of the outcome. It really didn't matter if he got healed, it didn't even matter that he didn't want me to pray for his son. All that mattered was that I felt God ask me if I would and I did it with only a minor hesitation! I know this seems redundant, but I used to over think EVERY single situation that I would be in, but this time God just took over!
I was still so ecstatic over my "no" that I prayed and asked God to bring someone when I went out to lunch today. I have a slight advantage here that I ought to note. I used to own a business in the town I live in and so I see a LOT of people that I know out in restaurants and stores. So far I haven't really been too moved to walk up to a complete stranger. I know/hope the day is coming when I will be able to do it without a second thought, but thank God, He is letting me do it in baby steps! I ran into an old client and friend at St. Louis Bread Co. I went over and after talking with her for a few minutes, I knew she and I ran into each other for a reason. We prayed together and God hit everything area she was needing breakthrough in. Then we each finished our lunches and went our separate ways. I will probably never know what kind of impact that made on her and it doesn't matter if I know it or not. More importantly the people around her will know that God touched her life today.
I love my Jesus. I am so grateful to all the people who sowed seed into my life whether they saw the fruit that resulted or not I am grateful and they will be richly rewarded in heaven!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Day 17
So today I slept in until almost ten a.m. and didn't go out of the house all day. It was fabulous! That does not make praying for people and keeping up with my New Year's Resolution very easy! However, God was awesome and He brought people to me. :o) I got to pray with several people via facebook and text today. One of the best parts of praying with people is the peace of God that comes as His love is poured out. It is truly amazing! Freely He gave to me all of the peace and love and joy and mercy and grace and I get to learn how to give those things away just as freely. No strings attached. Just pour out the love of God which has been shed abroad in my heart. I love how the more I pour out the more I am filled up each and every day. It is kind of like the story where Elisha tells the woman to go get as many jars as she can find and pour out the oil from her little jar. As she poured out that little oil she had left, it filled many jars and did not stop pouring out until she ran out of jars to pour into. I think the Holy Spirit is that way in us. We may just have a little oil in us but as we pour it out into other vessels it will keep pouring and pouring until we run out of vessels to pour in to.
I am so thankful that God has allowed me to pour in to others and to realize I should always make time for others, never to be to busy to stop and pray for someone, no matter what I am doing or how important I think it is. Sharing God's love is the most important thing.
I am so thankful that God has allowed me to pour in to others and to realize I should always make time for others, never to be to busy to stop and pray for someone, no matter what I am doing or how important I think it is. Sharing God's love is the most important thing.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Day 16
Jimmy Turner passed away this morning. I know this has nothing to do with the purpose of this blog. But it's mine and I can decide what's in it, so WhatEVER! LOL I would be dishonest if I said I wasn't disappointed that Jimmy died. I was. Not because our prayers didn't get answered, they did I believe. More importantly this young man will never live out the destiny and the amazing good things that God had planned for his life. It shifted my whole perspective, refocusing more not on actually seeing the amazing miracles happen, but on touching lives for the Kingdom. You never know what's going on in a person's life really, but when God's love comes it changes circumstances and situations. I am so blessed to be able to carry His love because He gave it to me, I get to share it.
This afternoon when I was thinking about Jimmy and his family, I thought about when I was a kid, I was the absolute worst secret keeper in my whole family. In fact I had such a big mouth that my family always teased me and made jokes about not telling me anything that they didn't want the whole world to know. It's true, as a child, when I would get a piece of information about ANYTHING I felt the need to share it with anyone who would listen. I suddenly realized today that I have grown into an excellent secret keeper. In some things it is good to learn to keep your mouth closed and your ears open. But when it comes to sharing God's goodness... well, the Bible says that we are to have a child's heart. So I guess that means I need to tell the whole world that Jesus lives and God forgives and He is good and He loves them.
When I get all caught up in thinking about "should I go over to that person, should I not?" I am keeping Him a secret. He is the secret that is meant to be shared, shared from the highest rooftops and in the lowest valleys! God help me not to keep you a secret.
Today was Sunday so I was SUPER blessed and got to pray with a TON of people today. Believing God for miracles in every one of their situations! God's goodness is Astounding. Not only did He get me to the age of 31 but He has placed me in one of the absolute best places in the world and He allows me to share His love that He gave me with others. AMAZING!
I am so thankful that God has a good plan for my life and for everyone else's. I am humbled that I get to be a part of what He is doing. It is truly an amazing gift!
This afternoon when I was thinking about Jimmy and his family, I thought about when I was a kid, I was the absolute worst secret keeper in my whole family. In fact I had such a big mouth that my family always teased me and made jokes about not telling me anything that they didn't want the whole world to know. It's true, as a child, when I would get a piece of information about ANYTHING I felt the need to share it with anyone who would listen. I suddenly realized today that I have grown into an excellent secret keeper. In some things it is good to learn to keep your mouth closed and your ears open. But when it comes to sharing God's goodness... well, the Bible says that we are to have a child's heart. So I guess that means I need to tell the whole world that Jesus lives and God forgives and He is good and He loves them.
When I get all caught up in thinking about "should I go over to that person, should I not?" I am keeping Him a secret. He is the secret that is meant to be shared, shared from the highest rooftops and in the lowest valleys! God help me not to keep you a secret.
Today was Sunday so I was SUPER blessed and got to pray with a TON of people today. Believing God for miracles in every one of their situations! God's goodness is Astounding. Not only did He get me to the age of 31 but He has placed me in one of the absolute best places in the world and He allows me to share His love that He gave me with others. AMAZING!
I am so thankful that God has a good plan for my life and for everyone else's. I am humbled that I get to be a part of what He is doing. It is truly an amazing gift!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Day 15
I believe Jimmy Turner is being kept alive as the result of the multitudes of people praying for this young man. Jimmy was removed from life support early this afternoon and as far as I know he is still here on earth. The Word says that we are to pray without ceasing, and I can honestly say that this one of the few times in my life that I have been doing exactly that. I am usually the kind who will pray for something once, maybe twice, and I pretty much consider it done after that. I can only think of one other instance in praying for someone where I really truly prayed without ceasing to see God heal them. I know that it is a result of my prayers and the prayers of others that that young man is still breathing on his own. I thank God for his complete recovery.
As amazing as Jimmy's story already is, it doesn't really qualify for my resolution. I must admit, I did really meet my goal today. I had my opportunity this afternoon at lunch. I scanned the room looking for an opportunity. I saw a woman with a four prong cane at the restaurant where we were eating. I thought, "That's it, that is my word of knowledge, the four prong cane." As I was doing the "Great Debate" in my head as to whether or not to get up and go over there, I realized that she and the person she was sitting with were getting up to leave. I completely used that as my excuse not to get up and go over there. I even thought, oh well, it's early in the day, maybe that is not who God wants you to pray for. It didn't occur to me until right this minute that God didn't set a LIMIT of one person per day, it was more of a minimum. God wants to touch ALL of His children. So using the "oh, it's early in the day it's probably not that person" excuse will not work. Thank God I know that His mercies are renewed every day and tomorrow will be a new day. There will be more opportunities to be His hands and feet tomorrow, Thank You God!
Lesson Learned: Do not overthink the whole thing, just suit up, show up and be willing and obedient no matter what the situation.
As amazing as Jimmy's story already is, it doesn't really qualify for my resolution. I must admit, I did really meet my goal today. I had my opportunity this afternoon at lunch. I scanned the room looking for an opportunity. I saw a woman with a four prong cane at the restaurant where we were eating. I thought, "That's it, that is my word of knowledge, the four prong cane." As I was doing the "Great Debate" in my head as to whether or not to get up and go over there, I realized that she and the person she was sitting with were getting up to leave. I completely used that as my excuse not to get up and go over there. I even thought, oh well, it's early in the day, maybe that is not who God wants you to pray for. It didn't occur to me until right this minute that God didn't set a LIMIT of one person per day, it was more of a minimum. God wants to touch ALL of His children. So using the "oh, it's early in the day it's probably not that person" excuse will not work. Thank God I know that His mercies are renewed every day and tomorrow will be a new day. There will be more opportunities to be His hands and feet tomorrow, Thank You God!
Lesson Learned: Do not overthink the whole thing, just suit up, show up and be willing and obedient no matter what the situation.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Day 14
I know it is early in the evening for me to have posted already. I don't think there is a single more beautiful thing than I saw tonight though. A client/friend sent me a text asking for prayer for a young man named Jimmy Turner. Jimmy had hung himself last night and he did not die. He is in a coma and having seizures. Jimmy doesn't know Jesus as his personal savior.
As I started praying, I realized I should ask others to pray too. I put the information that I had about Jimmy into a text and went through my contact list adding everyone I knew that prayed. As I checked each name, I realized what awesome men and women of God and powerful prayer warriors I had as friends. A large group of people willing to intercede for this young man that none of us know and will probably never meet; believing God to give him one more chance.
I believe that God spared his life last night to give Jimmy one more chance. That is something most people never get. I believe that right now his brain function is being restored and the blood vessels in his brain are regrowing, that any damage done to his organs is being restored and that he will make a full and complete recovery. It is my greatest hope though that Jimmy will know how many hundreds and possibly thousands of people prayed for him to have a second chance, and that God will be glorified in this process and Jimmy will come to know that God really does love him, that He cares for him and has good plans for his life.
As I started praying, I realized I should ask others to pray too. I put the information that I had about Jimmy into a text and went through my contact list adding everyone I knew that prayed. As I checked each name, I realized what awesome men and women of God and powerful prayer warriors I had as friends. A large group of people willing to intercede for this young man that none of us know and will probably never meet; believing God to give him one more chance.
I believe that God spared his life last night to give Jimmy one more chance. That is something most people never get. I believe that right now his brain function is being restored and the blood vessels in his brain are regrowing, that any damage done to his organs is being restored and that he will make a full and complete recovery. It is my greatest hope though that Jimmy will know how many hundreds and possibly thousands of people prayed for him to have a second chance, and that God will be glorified in this process and Jimmy will come to know that God really does love him, that He cares for him and has good plans for his life.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Day 13
Today was awesome! I absolutely love it when God delivers someone right to your door! My last client of the night tonight came in sick, running a fever, coughing, nose running and a diagnosed viral infection. Most people would have groaned inside knowing. I on the other hand was thrilled! I was blessed with the opportunity to pray with her. God showed up and she was feeling better by the time she left. God is so Good!
I love that God touched this girl who came to see me to get an airbrush tan. My favorite thing is when He brings people right to me. I meet them in my day to day encounters, sometimes they are so easy to pass by. I'm am so grateful that He is helping me to become sensitive to notice other people and their pain. I asked for His help with that last night at church and He has already answered my prayer. I love how sometimes all I need to do is ask for His help and He is so quick to supply all that I need: the willingness, the faith, the love, and the compassion to be able to be obedient to even His slightest nudge.
Thank You, Father for opening up my eyes to see your people how You see them and for helping me to carry Your presence and show them how much You care for them. You are Amazing!
I love that God touched this girl who came to see me to get an airbrush tan. My favorite thing is when He brings people right to me. I meet them in my day to day encounters, sometimes they are so easy to pass by. I'm am so grateful that He is helping me to become sensitive to notice other people and their pain. I asked for His help with that last night at church and He has already answered my prayer. I love how sometimes all I need to do is ask for His help and He is so quick to supply all that I need: the willingness, the faith, the love, and the compassion to be able to be obedient to even His slightest nudge.
Thank You, Father for opening up my eyes to see your people how You see them and for helping me to carry Your presence and show them how much You care for them. You are Amazing!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Day 12
Wednesday, day 12 of my New Year's Resolution. A resolution to step outside of my comfort zone and bring God's love to His people regardless of the circumstances and regardless of the outcome. I am so glad I am not in charge of the outcome. I am also extremely grateful that God would allow me to carry His love! WOW!
During worship tonight at church, I was asking God to open my ears to hear His instructions better and to open my eyes so I can see the people who are hurting better, and to send me the ones that are in pain, so that I can pray with them and see God work in their lives. That's the ultimate goal of my resolution, to share the love of Christ which has been shed abroad in my heart.
Our pastor was talking about out destiny tonight and he asked the question, "what would you do if you could do anything? This is not 'if I won the lottery' but 'when I win the lottery.'" I took that to mean, what are you going to do with what God has already put inside of you, the desires of your heart. God's word says in Psalm 37 that he will give you the desires of your heart. What is the desire of my heart? The exact thing that I asked God for during the worship. What is the desire of God's heart? He wants to see His children healed and whole and living a life that will give glory to God. He wants us to have an abundant life. Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly!
It was really encouraging to see that my heart was lined up with God's on this whole New Year's Resolution. I was beginning to grow weary in well doing ( I know, it's only day 12)! It seemed like the last few days it wasn't going as easily as it did in the beginning ( last week! LOL). I wasn't seeing the sick/injured people and the instantaneous healings had slowed down. Now I know that God's will is always to heal, deliver, save and set free. I was beginning to buy into the lie that this resolution wasn't really what He wanted me to do. However, I was made strong again tonight by the renewing of my mind in Christ Jesus. Pretty Awesome!
I did have the opportunity to pray with several people and saw God move in their lives tonight as well, including my own daughter. She had injured the heel of her right foot, and Mary and I prayed for it. I love that my daughter sought out prayer for her sore foot. I am so blessed to be able to raise up the next generation of Christian warriors! A generation who will believe that God's word is truth and life and are willing to carry it to others!
During worship tonight at church, I was asking God to open my ears to hear His instructions better and to open my eyes so I can see the people who are hurting better, and to send me the ones that are in pain, so that I can pray with them and see God work in their lives. That's the ultimate goal of my resolution, to share the love of Christ which has been shed abroad in my heart.
Our pastor was talking about out destiny tonight and he asked the question, "what would you do if you could do anything? This is not 'if I won the lottery' but 'when I win the lottery.'" I took that to mean, what are you going to do with what God has already put inside of you, the desires of your heart. God's word says in Psalm 37 that he will give you the desires of your heart. What is the desire of my heart? The exact thing that I asked God for during the worship. What is the desire of God's heart? He wants to see His children healed and whole and living a life that will give glory to God. He wants us to have an abundant life. Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly!
It was really encouraging to see that my heart was lined up with God's on this whole New Year's Resolution. I was beginning to grow weary in well doing ( I know, it's only day 12)! It seemed like the last few days it wasn't going as easily as it did in the beginning ( last week! LOL). I wasn't seeing the sick/injured people and the instantaneous healings had slowed down. Now I know that God's will is always to heal, deliver, save and set free. I was beginning to buy into the lie that this resolution wasn't really what He wanted me to do. However, I was made strong again tonight by the renewing of my mind in Christ Jesus. Pretty Awesome!
I did have the opportunity to pray with several people and saw God move in their lives tonight as well, including my own daughter. She had injured the heel of her right foot, and Mary and I prayed for it. I love that my daughter sought out prayer for her sore foot. I am so blessed to be able to raise up the next generation of Christian warriors! A generation who will believe that God's word is truth and life and are willing to carry it to others!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Day 11
I'm not sure if my NYR is broken or not. I didn't pray out loud with anyone really today. Oh, I prayed. I prayed for lots of people. It just wasn't the way I had planned. His plans are higher than my plans anyway. Maybe I wasn't as attentive as I should have been. If I missed You today, Father, I am sorry. I am grateful that His mercy is renewed daily!
At 11:30pm, I realized that the day was almost over, I asked the Father who I could pray for. He brought a person to mind and as I began to pray for that person different things would pop into my mind to pray for. Not being able to speak with the person directly, I sent them a message through Facebook. I believe in my heart that that person was greatly encouraged and hopefully was reminded about how much God really does care about them.
Even if it is a small thing, and not how I intended, I believe that God knows my heart, and I will try and pay better attention to Him tomorrow!
Here is a link to a really cool video that was on facebook if you didn't see it, it is incredible!
http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=%2Fvod%2FSAF13v5_WS
At 11:30pm, I realized that the day was almost over, I asked the Father who I could pray for. He brought a person to mind and as I began to pray for that person different things would pop into my mind to pray for. Not being able to speak with the person directly, I sent them a message through Facebook. I believe in my heart that that person was greatly encouraged and hopefully was reminded about how much God really does care about them.
Even if it is a small thing, and not how I intended, I believe that God knows my heart, and I will try and pay better attention to Him tomorrow!
Here is a link to a really cool video that was on facebook if you didn't see it, it is incredible!
http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=%2Fvod%2FSAF13v5_WS
Monday, January 10, 2011
Day 10
WOW! I can't believe I have made it to Day 10! This is the longest I have ever had a New Year's Resolution last I think!
Today was the first day that I actually prayed for someone out loud and in public. That in and of itself is pretty amazing. I did kind of drag her into the corner of the cafeteria at school though so we could pray instead of doing it in the open. LOL It's my inner chicken! Buack buack buack, Buack Buack, Buack!
A couple of days ago I prayed for a girl over the phone and her back pain was better. I ran into her in the school cafeteria this afternoon. I know it was a God set up because I should've been in class at that time but the professor let us out early and I had some time to kill so I thought I'd grab a bite to eat. I asked her how her back was and she said that she still had quite a bit of pain in her low back muscles. So I asked her if we could pray here; she agreed. So we went over in a corner that was less conspicuous. We began to pray, and pray, and pray. Nothing happened, it didn't get any better. I felt my had get really warm, but she didn't feel a thing and the pain was still there. I am going to be honest, I was just a little bummed. So we left the cafeteria and talked about God and I shared some of the things in my life that have led me to where I am in my own personal walk. Even though she didn't feel relief from the pain right at that moment, I am in full belief that God touched her this afternoon and I am believing that she will wake up pain free in the morning, in Jesus' Name! I know that God is a big God and His desire is to see us living whole and healthy lives all the time!
I am so grateful for all that He is teaching me in this process. I am especially glad that I already learned not to take credit for people getting healed or I would undoubtedly be trying to figure out what I did wrong to cause her not to get healed. Instead I know that I can trust God and that He is working on behalf of that young lady to bring some awesome things into her life :O)
Today was the first day that I actually prayed for someone out loud and in public. That in and of itself is pretty amazing. I did kind of drag her into the corner of the cafeteria at school though so we could pray instead of doing it in the open. LOL It's my inner chicken! Buack buack buack, Buack Buack, Buack!
A couple of days ago I prayed for a girl over the phone and her back pain was better. I ran into her in the school cafeteria this afternoon. I know it was a God set up because I should've been in class at that time but the professor let us out early and I had some time to kill so I thought I'd grab a bite to eat. I asked her how her back was and she said that she still had quite a bit of pain in her low back muscles. So I asked her if we could pray here; she agreed. So we went over in a corner that was less conspicuous. We began to pray, and pray, and pray. Nothing happened, it didn't get any better. I felt my had get really warm, but she didn't feel a thing and the pain was still there. I am going to be honest, I was just a little bummed. So we left the cafeteria and talked about God and I shared some of the things in my life that have led me to where I am in my own personal walk. Even though she didn't feel relief from the pain right at that moment, I am in full belief that God touched her this afternoon and I am believing that she will wake up pain free in the morning, in Jesus' Name! I know that God is a big God and His desire is to see us living whole and healthy lives all the time!
I am so grateful for all that He is teaching me in this process. I am especially glad that I already learned not to take credit for people getting healed or I would undoubtedly be trying to figure out what I did wrong to cause her not to get healed. Instead I know that I can trust God and that He is working on behalf of that young lady to bring some awesome things into her life :O)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Day 9
Sunday is one of my favorite days of the week because I get to see my church family. I love every single one of them! This morning was pretty cool, at the end of service a group of us get to pray for people for whatever they need! I love belonging to a group of people who can believe God for Anything and Everything because of who He is. That has been one of the biggest gifts in my life!
After service was over a woman came up and asked Donna and I to pray for healing in her neck. She was having quite a bit of pain and had been to see a doctor earlier that week and had received a report that wasn't so good. I am not sure what the doctor was recommending; we didn't ask. We began to seek God instead of worrying about what the doctor said. As we began to pray she immediately began to see relief. The pain went from an 8 to a 2 on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst. We prayed again speaking into her body the healing power of God and believing that she would be pain free. When we finished praying the second time she had NO PAIN in her neck and we had prayed and reversed EVERY single negative word spoken by the doctor without even knowing what he had told her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized that the pain was completely gone and she said incredulously - she almost couldn't believe it, "You prayed against EVERY THING he said!"
God is SO good! So Amazing! He really loves His children and doesn't like to see them hurting and He knows every word that is spoken and when we can turn our worry and fear about any situation over to Him, He WILL turn it around for our good! I love Him SO much!
After service was over a woman came up and asked Donna and I to pray for healing in her neck. She was having quite a bit of pain and had been to see a doctor earlier that week and had received a report that wasn't so good. I am not sure what the doctor was recommending; we didn't ask. We began to seek God instead of worrying about what the doctor said. As we began to pray she immediately began to see relief. The pain went from an 8 to a 2 on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the worst. We prayed again speaking into her body the healing power of God and believing that she would be pain free. When we finished praying the second time she had NO PAIN in her neck and we had prayed and reversed EVERY single negative word spoken by the doctor without even knowing what he had told her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized that the pain was completely gone and she said incredulously - she almost couldn't believe it, "You prayed against EVERY THING he said!"
God is SO good! So Amazing! He really loves His children and doesn't like to see them hurting and He knows every word that is spoken and when we can turn our worry and fear about any situation over to Him, He WILL turn it around for our good! I love Him SO much!
Day 8
Day 8 is here and almost over. The last 7 days of this resolution nothing seemed to be the way I intended it to when I started this resolution. As of yet, I still had no prayed for a single random person in some random place like walmart. To be honest I was telling God last night that I was ready to do it and to bring it on! As with most of the days it was evening time and I still hadn't prayed with anyone yet. The kids and I went to dinner with my friend Amy and her two kids. As we finished eating dinner, my son noticed a man with crutches leaving the restaurant. My friend turned to me and asked if I had prayed for anyone yet today. Of course I hadn't. My son says to me, "Mom, why don't you go and pray for that guy over there." Quickly I said, "No" with a nervous laugh. Mason replied, "What are you a big chicken?" Yes, Mason, Yes your mother is a big chicken! The guy walked out the door.
I believe that little encounter was just God's way of reminding me that His ways are higher than my ways and He knows better than me so I better just sit back and be patient and enjoy our little journey together.
God didn't want me to miss out on fulfilling my NYR for the day, so He sent me Cindy later that night. My friend Cindy called and she had been under the weather all day with her face swollen and upset stomach issues. I started out praying the very best prayers I could pray. Of course not much happened! :o) But we continued to talk for quite sometime about God and His infinite goodness and by the time the conversation was coming to a close I asked her how she was feeling and how the swelling in her face was. That was when she realized that her stomach was no longer upset and the swelling was almost completely gone in her face! Glory to God!
He is so Amazing! He didn't touch her because I said the right words or did the right thing. But as we spoke of His goodness and kindness and mercy, my friend was healed!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Day 7
OK, Sad but true I am already having a hard time keeping this New Year's Resolution. I wonder how many other people out there have already quit theirs? It's not the praying part that I am struggling with it's the writing part oddly enough. Being diligent to do this every night is a lot harder than I thought it would be. It will be worth it though at the end of the year when I can look back at the amazing journey that God has led me on and not only to see how I have changed and grown over the year but to see the amount of lives God will touch just because of the tiniest shred of obedience.
It was pretty cool today though. This evening I got to pray with a beautiful young lady for healing in her low back over the phone. The fact that I even got to pray for her is miraculous in and of itself. This young woman worked with a guy who goes to my church at a local restaurant. One night, several months ago, while eating dinner with a friend, the guy who goes to our church introduced her to us. This awesome man of God had planted seeds with his coworker for a long time and we got the opportunity to talk to this young woman about God and His goodness for over an hour and it was a great conversation. We exchanged contact info on facebook and left the restaurant. I would see her statuses from time to time and watch her as she was growing in her walk with God. I ran into her once at the gym and talked briefly. But I never really got to know her.
Yesterday she posted on facebook that she had hurt her back so I commented on her status: " We can pray and have God realign it for you:-) I do it all the time call me and we can do it on the phone. My number is on my info." I didn't hear anything from her so I figured that I freaked her out... So... I inboxed her... No really call me here is my number
We finally got to talk today and we prayed and God touched her and realigned her back while we were on the phone. She still had some muscle stiffness but was not in any pain anymore! GO GOD!
But here is the BEST part, not only did God touch her but I got the opportunity to share with her that she could pray for herself and others to be healed as well. I shared with her a few of my own testimonies about my personal healing and how I had prayed for God to realign my spine several times and how God loves us SO SO MUCH that He wants to see us healthy, happy and whole! The way any good parent would want to see their child living. She confided that she had never really believed God for healing before. I believe that she is believing that He heals tonight.
Mark 11:24 I tell you, you can pray for anything and if you have believed that you have received it, it will be yours.
John 4:36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!
It was pretty cool today though. This evening I got to pray with a beautiful young lady for healing in her low back over the phone. The fact that I even got to pray for her is miraculous in and of itself. This young woman worked with a guy who goes to my church at a local restaurant. One night, several months ago, while eating dinner with a friend, the guy who goes to our church introduced her to us. This awesome man of God had planted seeds with his coworker for a long time and we got the opportunity to talk to this young woman about God and His goodness for over an hour and it was a great conversation. We exchanged contact info on facebook and left the restaurant. I would see her statuses from time to time and watch her as she was growing in her walk with God. I ran into her once at the gym and talked briefly. But I never really got to know her.
Yesterday she posted on facebook that she had hurt her back so I commented on her status: " We can pray and have God realign it for you:-) I do it all the time call me and we can do it on the phone. My number is on my info." I didn't hear anything from her so I figured that I freaked her out... So... I inboxed her... No really call me here is my number
We finally got to talk today and we prayed and God touched her and realigned her back while we were on the phone. She still had some muscle stiffness but was not in any pain anymore! GO GOD!
But here is the BEST part, not only did God touch her but I got the opportunity to share with her that she could pray for herself and others to be healed as well. I shared with her a few of my own testimonies about my personal healing and how I had prayed for God to realign my spine several times and how God loves us SO SO MUCH that He wants to see us healthy, happy and whole! The way any good parent would want to see their child living. She confided that she had never really believed God for healing before. I believe that she is believing that He heals tonight.
Mark 11:24 I tell you, you can pray for anything and if you have believed that you have received it, it will be yours.
John 4:36 The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Day 6
So Day 6 did not really go as I had planned. I have found that the best things in my walk with God have not been they way I planned. I am really glad that God has better plans than I have! I didn't pray with anyone in out loud or in public. So the purpose of moving outside my box was really not accomplished. However, God did do some Amazing things today! I learned a new concept: Pray it Forward. Here is how it happened...
My friend Chris and I had been texting all morning long when suddenly she called and said, "Pray for my mom, she might have had a stroke. I am waiting for my sister in law to call me back, so I have to go." Before I even hung up the phone, the other line was ringing. Deborah was on the other line. Deborah is like another mother to me, she has taught me so much about praying and believing and living a life for God. I told her about Chris' mom and we immediately prayed. I talked with Deborah a long time and she encouraged me so much. She reminded me about Mark 11:24 (NLT) I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. She reminded me that I needed to believe that I had already received it and it would be mine.
Does anyone else ever have a difficult time believing that God will answer your prayers. Oh I can pray with anyone else and believe for just about anything, healing, jobs, finances, restored relationships, peace in their hearts and minds. When it comes to my own life though, sometimes I wonder, "God, where are You in all of this?" That scripture Mark 11:24 reminds me that all I have to do is Believe and it will be mine!
Later that day my friend called me back and said that her mom was fine, when they arrived at the hospital God had already healed her body, her blood pressure had returned to normal and she was concious and coherent. My friend got to take her mother home from the hospital that afternoon and before 3pm she was having a cheeseburger and some fries! Glory to God!
I asked Chris to also keep Deborah's mom in her prayers and believe for a good report from the doctors as she is going in for some medical tests next week. I know that God has heard those prayers and is working on healing her body right now!
All day long I was blessed to have some of the most amazing women of God to talk with. Deborah has taught me so much about how God loves me and how to love other people and see them the way that God loves and sees them. Donna has taught me to pray prayers that reach the Father's heart and to be diligent in the things that I do, and when it gets tough not to give up. Chris is going to teach me to have a servant's heart. She doesn't know that yet, but she will if she reads this! :o) These women ministered to me this morning as they were helping me learn to walk out the things that God has placed in my heart. As they ministered to me, I was able to minister to another amazing young lady as we were going through similar things. I prayed for her as those other three women had prayed for me.
It may seem silly but I think there must be something to this Pray It Forward business. As we pray it forward, more and more people will feel His love for them, and the number can grow exponentially large. I can imagine a world in which all of the people pray for each other and express God's love for each other through such a simple act of faith. Build Each Other Up instead of tear each other down!
My friend Chris and I had been texting all morning long when suddenly she called and said, "Pray for my mom, she might have had a stroke. I am waiting for my sister in law to call me back, so I have to go." Before I even hung up the phone, the other line was ringing. Deborah was on the other line. Deborah is like another mother to me, she has taught me so much about praying and believing and living a life for God. I told her about Chris' mom and we immediately prayed. I talked with Deborah a long time and she encouraged me so much. She reminded me about Mark 11:24 (NLT) I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. She reminded me that I needed to believe that I had already received it and it would be mine.
Does anyone else ever have a difficult time believing that God will answer your prayers. Oh I can pray with anyone else and believe for just about anything, healing, jobs, finances, restored relationships, peace in their hearts and minds. When it comes to my own life though, sometimes I wonder, "God, where are You in all of this?" That scripture Mark 11:24 reminds me that all I have to do is Believe and it will be mine!
Later that day my friend called me back and said that her mom was fine, when they arrived at the hospital God had already healed her body, her blood pressure had returned to normal and she was concious and coherent. My friend got to take her mother home from the hospital that afternoon and before 3pm she was having a cheeseburger and some fries! Glory to God!
I asked Chris to also keep Deborah's mom in her prayers and believe for a good report from the doctors as she is going in for some medical tests next week. I know that God has heard those prayers and is working on healing her body right now!
All day long I was blessed to have some of the most amazing women of God to talk with. Deborah has taught me so much about how God loves me and how to love other people and see them the way that God loves and sees them. Donna has taught me to pray prayers that reach the Father's heart and to be diligent in the things that I do, and when it gets tough not to give up. Chris is going to teach me to have a servant's heart. She doesn't know that yet, but she will if she reads this! :o) These women ministered to me this morning as they were helping me learn to walk out the things that God has placed in my heart. As they ministered to me, I was able to minister to another amazing young lady as we were going through similar things. I prayed for her as those other three women had prayed for me.
It may seem silly but I think there must be something to this Pray It Forward business. As we pray it forward, more and more people will feel His love for them, and the number can grow exponentially large. I can imagine a world in which all of the people pray for each other and express God's love for each other through such a simple act of faith. Build Each Other Up instead of tear each other down!
Day 5
This New Year's Resolution thing is not as easy as it first appeared to be. No wonder so many people dump their's within the first couple of weeks after the New Year! At about 6pm last night I realized I had yet to pray for anyone today. Now it wasn't that I didn't look, I just didn't go anywhere! It's hard to find people to pray for when your nose is stuck in a book on your living room couch!
I didn't even really pray for anyone at church last night. My friend Amy's son had to leave because he got a severe migraine right as church was starting. It didn't even pop in my head that I should pray for him until about 15 minutes into the service after they had already gone home. After church was over my friend Donna and I prayed for Amy's son to be healed. I sent Amy a text to let her know that we had been praying for Hayden and she replied that he was already doing much better. Glory to God. That isn't the best part though! The best part was that Amy got to see how God's love really worked. She saw people that cared for her and her family and were willing to put our love into action. It touched her so much she posted it on facebook. A light in the darkness that was lit for all to see!
Sharing God's love for His people is really what this resolution is about. An extremely wise woman told me when I started this that it's not about whether or not the person actually gets healed or not. That would make it about you and your works and not about God being God. She is right. For me personally, it is about stepping out in faith, passing by my own fear and insecurity and shyness in order to carry God's love for His other children (which includes every other person on this planet). Those receiving prayer get to see God's love first hand in their own lives and realize that He actually cares about their needs and their worries and their lives.
I didn't even really pray for anyone at church last night. My friend Amy's son had to leave because he got a severe migraine right as church was starting. It didn't even pop in my head that I should pray for him until about 15 minutes into the service after they had already gone home. After church was over my friend Donna and I prayed for Amy's son to be healed. I sent Amy a text to let her know that we had been praying for Hayden and she replied that he was already doing much better. Glory to God. That isn't the best part though! The best part was that Amy got to see how God's love really worked. She saw people that cared for her and her family and were willing to put our love into action. It touched her so much she posted it on facebook. A light in the darkness that was lit for all to see!
Sharing God's love for His people is really what this resolution is about. An extremely wise woman told me when I started this that it's not about whether or not the person actually gets healed or not. That would make it about you and your works and not about God being God. She is right. For me personally, it is about stepping out in faith, passing by my own fear and insecurity and shyness in order to carry God's love for His other children (which includes every other person on this planet). Those receiving prayer get to see God's love first hand in their own lives and realize that He actually cares about their needs and their worries and their lives.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Day 4
Tuesdays are my favorite day of the week. Because I am in school full time right now and the business I run I set my own hours, I have the privilege of having lunch with two amazing women every Tuesday. They are my other "moms". They have taught me so much about what walking out God's plan in my life really means. Without their help, I am pretty sure I wouldn't have had the boldness to undertake this resolution! I am so grateful to both of them!
We always go to the same St. Louis Bread Co, Panera to everyone who isn't from St. Louis. We eat there often enough that we have gotten to know some of the staff by name. Yes, that means we eat there a lot! Their food is good! Don't judge! Just Kidding! Seriously though, most people wouldn't think of the daily watering hole as an open door for God to share His love with someone. I am here to tell you, that He will use any opportunity to show His love. Bill Johnson posted on Facebook a couple of weeks ago, "God's not picky where He shows up, His Son was born in a manger." This quote has stuck with me because I am learning that He will use whatever and wherever I give Him.
My friend Donna saw employee K. first and said that she appeared to be in pain. I asked Donna if she had prayed for her before as her pain was caused by a fall. She said she had and had only seen a little bit of relief for K.
Donna and Peggy, of course know about my NYR and I said, "Well I haven't prayed for anyone yet today, so let's ask her if we can pray for her again." As K. was leaving at the end of her shift she stopped to talk with us for a minute: OPPORTUNITY!
I am not going to lie, I was having a hard time getting the words, "Can I pray for you?" out of my mouth. This of course is the basis of self improvement for my NYR, to practice praying for people and talking to people so I can do it without fear when I see a stranger hurting, and of course so they can have the opportunity to experience God's love first hand for themselves. Donna so graciously got the conversation going (this is one of the many reasons that I hang around the two of them so much, I am hoping even one tenth of their boldness will rub off on me!) K agreed to let us a pray with her and she sat down with us at our table. We prayed and fairly quickly she began to experience some relief from the intense pain in her neck and shoulder. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most painful she reported to be a 9, after praying the first time her pain was down to a 7 and she could turn and bend her neck. We talked with her a little more and I wasn't really satisfied with a 7 so I asked her if I could pray again... she agreed and we prayed again. This time however, she didn't feel any change. :o( Honestly, I was a little disappointed. However, I know that healing can be a process and sometimes the complete healing hits later that day, the next morning, even the next week or month. I do know that God wants to heal K completely of the pain in her neck and shoulders, and I know that God loves K. I know that He loves her so much that her body will be healed and she will give Him the glory.
On the upside, we did get to be a light in that restaurant today and a light to K letting her know that there are genuine people out there that really do care about her well being and that there is a God that loves her!
Good Night
We always go to the same St. Louis Bread Co, Panera to everyone who isn't from St. Louis. We eat there often enough that we have gotten to know some of the staff by name. Yes, that means we eat there a lot! Their food is good! Don't judge! Just Kidding! Seriously though, most people wouldn't think of the daily watering hole as an open door for God to share His love with someone. I am here to tell you, that He will use any opportunity to show His love. Bill Johnson posted on Facebook a couple of weeks ago, "God's not picky where He shows up, His Son was born in a manger." This quote has stuck with me because I am learning that He will use whatever and wherever I give Him.
My friend Donna saw employee K. first and said that she appeared to be in pain. I asked Donna if she had prayed for her before as her pain was caused by a fall. She said she had and had only seen a little bit of relief for K.
Donna and Peggy, of course know about my NYR and I said, "Well I haven't prayed for anyone yet today, so let's ask her if we can pray for her again." As K. was leaving at the end of her shift she stopped to talk with us for a minute: OPPORTUNITY!
I am not going to lie, I was having a hard time getting the words, "Can I pray for you?" out of my mouth. This of course is the basis of self improvement for my NYR, to practice praying for people and talking to people so I can do it without fear when I see a stranger hurting, and of course so they can have the opportunity to experience God's love first hand for themselves. Donna so graciously got the conversation going (this is one of the many reasons that I hang around the two of them so much, I am hoping even one tenth of their boldness will rub off on me!) K agreed to let us a pray with her and she sat down with us at our table. We prayed and fairly quickly she began to experience some relief from the intense pain in her neck and shoulder. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most painful she reported to be a 9, after praying the first time her pain was down to a 7 and she could turn and bend her neck. We talked with her a little more and I wasn't really satisfied with a 7 so I asked her if I could pray again... she agreed and we prayed again. This time however, she didn't feel any change. :o( Honestly, I was a little disappointed. However, I know that healing can be a process and sometimes the complete healing hits later that day, the next morning, even the next week or month. I do know that God wants to heal K completely of the pain in her neck and shoulders, and I know that God loves K. I know that He loves her so much that her body will be healed and she will give Him the glory.
On the upside, we did get to be a light in that restaurant today and a light to K letting her know that there are genuine people out there that really do care about her well being and that there is a God that loves her!
Good Night
Monday, January 3, 2011
Day 3
When this post is finished I will be caught up and I can start fresh tomorrow! I know I should have started days ago... Thank God His mercies are renewed daily!
Well I almost missed my 24 hour deadline today! Tonight I was with my son at his karate class. My son's instructor's instructor - his grand instructor - was teaching the class about etiquette, protocol and manners. About 20 minutes into the class, I noticed the instructors ankles looked malformed and his feet were purple. I thought to myself, "Here's your guy, Cara!" I even watched him as he struggled to get up and down from the floor at one part during the class. I thought to myself at the end of class I will just go up and ask him if he would mind if I prayed for him. I wasn't even nervous! I went back to studying my book and waited til what would have been the end of class. At about 20 minutes after what should have been the end of my son's class, his instructor realized it was getting late and dismissed any of the younger kids that needed to leave. My son (10 y/o) looked at me with pleading eyes saying, "Please can we go?" I gave him the "no" nod. The scowl he returned made me keenly aware of his dissatisfaction! I had to wait until the end of class though or I would not have an opportunity to pray for the guest instructor. So I waited. My son had to sit patiently and listen to this guy talk about manners and such for about another 40 minutes. In my personal opinion, regardless of getting to pray for this guy and see God heal him, forcing Mason to listen to a lecture on manners and obedience was worth the waiting!
As class ended and I was beginning to chicken out, the guest instructor invited anyone with questions for him to stay after and ask them. As soon as one of the adults in the class walked up and started talking to him ( and I knew it was going to be a L-O-N-G converstation ) I saw my out! "I can't keep Mason out any later!" Total cop out! Excuses, excuses, excuses. But I went home without praying for him anyway.
Last night, while studying the Bible with Tiffany, we were reading Romans 5 and verses 18 and 19 just seemed to change my perspective. Since it seems to be relevant to my NYR I will share it with you. Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righeousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. (NLT) If we are supposed to live as Christ lived, could our acts of disobedience to God leave people where they are or push them farther away from Him. Through our acts of obedience to God can people be drawn closer to Him?
Something to think about.
After reading the Word and seeking the Lord tonight, I had somewhat resigned myself to give up the silly idea of writing a blog about God working in my life, especially in light of my earlier failure. I came upstairs to look up some information about a conference in August and was on Facebook when a friend from Nebraska caught me and said hey. It was 11:49pm. She said she wasn't feeling good because of an allergic reaction. With new resolve I told my friend Barb about my NYR and about how I dropped the ball earlier. I asked her if I could pray for her healing because I still had 11 minutes remaining on 1/3/11! We began to pray and the precious Spirit of the Lord began to move. We spoke Isaiah 53 over Facebook, Certainly He hath born our sickness and carried our pains and with His wounds we are healed. In less than ten minutes the itchiness and redness from the allergic reaction were almost completely gone. By 12:09am the symptoms including a stuffy nose and head had completely dissipated! Glory to God!
He really is faithful! After we finished praying I decided I needed to sit down and start writing this out. This is going to be an Amazing journey with an Amazing God and I don't want to forget a single minute of it!
Love,
Cara
Well I almost missed my 24 hour deadline today! Tonight I was with my son at his karate class. My son's instructor's instructor - his grand instructor - was teaching the class about etiquette, protocol and manners. About 20 minutes into the class, I noticed the instructors ankles looked malformed and his feet were purple. I thought to myself, "Here's your guy, Cara!" I even watched him as he struggled to get up and down from the floor at one part during the class. I thought to myself at the end of class I will just go up and ask him if he would mind if I prayed for him. I wasn't even nervous! I went back to studying my book and waited til what would have been the end of class. At about 20 minutes after what should have been the end of my son's class, his instructor realized it was getting late and dismissed any of the younger kids that needed to leave. My son (10 y/o) looked at me with pleading eyes saying, "Please can we go?" I gave him the "no" nod. The scowl he returned made me keenly aware of his dissatisfaction! I had to wait until the end of class though or I would not have an opportunity to pray for the guest instructor. So I waited. My son had to sit patiently and listen to this guy talk about manners and such for about another 40 minutes. In my personal opinion, regardless of getting to pray for this guy and see God heal him, forcing Mason to listen to a lecture on manners and obedience was worth the waiting!
As class ended and I was beginning to chicken out, the guest instructor invited anyone with questions for him to stay after and ask them. As soon as one of the adults in the class walked up and started talking to him ( and I knew it was going to be a L-O-N-G converstation ) I saw my out! "I can't keep Mason out any later!" Total cop out! Excuses, excuses, excuses. But I went home without praying for him anyway.
Last night, while studying the Bible with Tiffany, we were reading Romans 5 and verses 18 and 19 just seemed to change my perspective. Since it seems to be relevant to my NYR I will share it with you. Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righeousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. (NLT) If we are supposed to live as Christ lived, could our acts of disobedience to God leave people where they are or push them farther away from Him. Through our acts of obedience to God can people be drawn closer to Him?
Something to think about.
After reading the Word and seeking the Lord tonight, I had somewhat resigned myself to give up the silly idea of writing a blog about God working in my life, especially in light of my earlier failure. I came upstairs to look up some information about a conference in August and was on Facebook when a friend from Nebraska caught me and said hey. It was 11:49pm. She said she wasn't feeling good because of an allergic reaction. With new resolve I told my friend Barb about my NYR and about how I dropped the ball earlier. I asked her if I could pray for her healing because I still had 11 minutes remaining on 1/3/11! We began to pray and the precious Spirit of the Lord began to move. We spoke Isaiah 53 over Facebook, Certainly He hath born our sickness and carried our pains and with His wounds we are healed. In less than ten minutes the itchiness and redness from the allergic reaction were almost completely gone. By 12:09am the symptoms including a stuffy nose and head had completely dissipated! Glory to God!
He really is faithful! After we finished praying I decided I needed to sit down and start writing this out. This is going to be an Amazing journey with an Amazing God and I don't want to forget a single minute of it!
Love,
Cara
Day 2
Ok, Day 2 was better than Day 1. I have decided after much deliberation that if I pray for people at church on Sunday or Wednesday and they get healed it counts for my one person a day.
I have the privilege of being on our church ministry team and I get to pray with people for God to heal them every Sunday and Wednesday. Originally I wasn't going to count it if it was at church. It would only count if I had to pray without knowing anything about them, the situation or whether they even believed in healing or even believed in God. However, I decided to go easy on myself and have a free pass on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Hopefully this exercise in faith will increase my boldness and I won't want the free pass two days a week. I will want to pray for as many people as I can get my hands on! We'll see!
I felt this tug at my heart to pray for my friend B at the end of the church service Sunday night. I went up to her and asked her if there was something she needed prayer for. When I looked in her eyes I could see that she needed something. So we walked off to the side to pray and my friend P. who I have termed "the spiritual bulldog" came over too. She said to B., "I have been praying for you since this morning."
God had a plan to show B. how much He loves her and cares for her that night. My friend P and I we began to pray and as we began to pray, every single thing that my friend B was worried about got prayed for. When we finished praying you could see the peace come over her face as God lifted her worries from her and gave her His Peace, the Peace that Passes All Understanding in place of it! You could see it in her smile :o)
God is Good and He is faithful in All things!
I have the privilege of being on our church ministry team and I get to pray with people for God to heal them every Sunday and Wednesday. Originally I wasn't going to count it if it was at church. It would only count if I had to pray without knowing anything about them, the situation or whether they even believed in healing or even believed in God. However, I decided to go easy on myself and have a free pass on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Hopefully this exercise in faith will increase my boldness and I won't want the free pass two days a week. I will want to pray for as many people as I can get my hands on! We'll see!
I felt this tug at my heart to pray for my friend B at the end of the church service Sunday night. I went up to her and asked her if there was something she needed prayer for. When I looked in her eyes I could see that she needed something. So we walked off to the side to pray and my friend P. who I have termed "the spiritual bulldog" came over too. She said to B., "I have been praying for you since this morning."
God had a plan to show B. how much He loves her and cares for her that night. My friend P and I we began to pray and as we began to pray, every single thing that my friend B was worried about got prayed for. When we finished praying you could see the peace come over her face as God lifted her worries from her and gave her His Peace, the Peace that Passes All Understanding in place of it! You could see it in her smile :o)
God is Good and He is faithful in All things!
Day 1
The only person I could pray for today was myself. I must have talked too much last night at the fabulous New Year's Eve party I hosted for my wonderful friends. I woke up this morning and my voice was barely a squeak. I sent Happy New Year's text messages to all of my friends and family. Nothing like a text message to spread the holiday cheer! Day 1 = LAME No Amazing God experience... And I still can't talk.
New Years Resolution's
1/3/11
New Year's Resolutions
We all make them. Most of us break them before the end of the first week or sometimes the first day.
This year like many before came from a place where I knew I should be doing something differently; but I just couldn't seem to do it. I would struggle and try and make myself do it, because it is the thing that I am SUPPOSED to do. I think in my head all of the ways that the scene could work itself out obsessing over the worst. "What will they think of me?" "How will they react?" "What will they say?" These statements were like little cartoon bubbles popping over my head. But no more. I have resolved that this year will be different. No more excuses!
My New Year's Resolution is to pray. I know that seems simple enough, right? However, it is not just to run through my laundry list of prayers every morning and every night praying empty words. No, My New Year's Resolution is pray... for someone... at least one person... to be healed every day in 2011. I am not talking about some little Mickey Mouse prayers, no offense to the mouse. My intention and resolve are set to praying out loud for that individual wherever and whenever.
This is no small feat. I am an extremely introverted person and the committee inside my head has strongly advised against this action. I am determined however to see people touched by the infinite love that is God. The opportunity to share His love for me and for all of you will hopefully trump the sweaty palms, heart palpitations, butterflies in my stomach, and cotton mouth.
So here I start an adventure with God in 2011. Pray that I stay obedient!
New Year's Resolutions
We all make them. Most of us break them before the end of the first week or sometimes the first day.
This year like many before came from a place where I knew I should be doing something differently; but I just couldn't seem to do it. I would struggle and try and make myself do it, because it is the thing that I am SUPPOSED to do. I think in my head all of the ways that the scene could work itself out obsessing over the worst. "What will they think of me?" "How will they react?" "What will they say?" These statements were like little cartoon bubbles popping over my head. But no more. I have resolved that this year will be different. No more excuses!
My New Year's Resolution is to pray. I know that seems simple enough, right? However, it is not just to run through my laundry list of prayers every morning and every night praying empty words. No, My New Year's Resolution is pray... for someone... at least one person... to be healed every day in 2011. I am not talking about some little Mickey Mouse prayers, no offense to the mouse. My intention and resolve are set to praying out loud for that individual wherever and whenever.
This is no small feat. I am an extremely introverted person and the committee inside my head has strongly advised against this action. I am determined however to see people touched by the infinite love that is God. The opportunity to share His love for me and for all of you will hopefully trump the sweaty palms, heart palpitations, butterflies in my stomach, and cotton mouth.
So here I start an adventure with God in 2011. Pray that I stay obedient!
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