Monday Morning Memo: Hot Water Bottle Prayers

Quite a few years ago, I wrote about how difficult it was when my children were young to find time to spend with my Jesus.  I shared that some years later, I taught classes on “God’s Plan for the Wife & Mother” and the material I used was from a woman by the name of Shirley Price from back in the 70’s.  For some of it, I played cassette tapes with her speaking on it, so that gives you an idea how old this material was.  But, since all of her teaching was Bible based, it was never out of date.  One of the chapters was entitled, “How to Keep Up With the Proverbs Woman” and she talked about Proverbs 31:15 taken from The Amplified Bible which says that the Proverbs woman, “Rises while it is yet night and gets spiritual food for her household.”

Shirley told how, just like me, she had struggled with having a daily time with her Lord.  Finally, one day she said, “Lord we have got to work out something different.  Will you please help work out a time when I can be alone with You?”

The next morning at 3 a.m., she suddenly woke up.  She couldn’t figure out what made her do this, so she went back to sleep. The next night the same thing happened. Suddenly, she remembered what she had asked of the Lord and she told Him that there was no way she could wake up that early, so she went back to sleep.  But you see, we have a Father who doesn’t give up when He knows we’re serious about something.  So, the next morning at 3 o’clock, off went her alarm and this time she got out of bed, went downstairs and started a 3 o’clock devotional period that went on for all the time her children were growing up.

She said there were times when the Lord would fill her to the brim in just 5 minutes and she would go back to bed.  Then there were other nights where she never went back to sleep because she was so excited with what He was sharing with her and she never became tired.  She shared that she always woke up refreshed and thrilled about what the Lord was doing within her.  Shirley was a wonderful example of what happens when we allow Him to have complete control! 

This came flooding back into my mind recently, when a dear friend shared with me that she has been suffering with sinus headaches and pain behind her eye.  She said that when this pain hits, she takes her hot water bottle to bed with her and rests.  As she lays there, she uses that time to, as she says, “Pray and Pray”. She cries out to the Lord asking for forgiveness if need be, and then lifts ups her praises and prayer requests to her Heavenly Father.  She has realized that even in her pain, she can use that time wisely to spend time with her Jesus.

Are you frustrated that your schedule is not allowing you time to spend with your Jesus? If you are really serious about it, just ask Him to give you that time in your day.  Since He loves to spend time with you, I’m confident He will figure out how your schedule can be rearranged so that He can work within you in a powerful way.  Whether it is during the day or night…or involves a hot water bottle…I know it will be worth it! 

 “But when you pray, go away by yourself, 

shut the door behind you, 

and pray to your Father in private. 

Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

Matthew 6:6

Monday Morning Memo: The Look

Oh, I remember it well.  I don’t think it happened really often…but then again maybe it did, and it is just a part of my past that I have conveniently forgotten.  I’m guessing it took place at some point in your years of growing up also because, more than likely, all of us at some point were the recipients of “the look”.

Yep, we’ve all been there.  Maybe it was when we were sitting in church and whispering and giggling with our friends took precedence over listening to the sermon.  Maybe it was when we were out in public with our parents and our behavior looked more like we were raised by wolves instead of by hard-working parents. Regardless of the situation, many of us can remember those times when all our parent had to do was give us “the look”…and we knew we better straighten up or sitting down might be rather painful for awhile J

Memories of those days came flooding back to me last week when I was reading scripture. It was a passage that I have read many, many times before, but on this particular day, a sentence jumped off the page at me.  It was the story of Peter denying that he knew Jesus three different times.  We pick up the story in Luke 22:59 when someone recognizes Peter for the final time, “About an hour later someone else insisted, ‘This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.’  But Peter said, ‘Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.’  And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.  At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: ‘Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.’”

What stood out to me when I was reading was the fact that the Lord gave Peter “the look”. I just can’t imagine the despair that went through Peter at that moment.  Jesus had forewarned him…but I doubt Peter thought he was capable of doing such a thing. But he did…and as a result, all Jesus could do was look into his eyes.  Immediately, Peter felt shame like he had never known before.  Jesus didn’t scream or yell...all He did was look.

I wonder what Jesus was thinking as He looked at Peter.  Peter’s actions weren’t a surprise to Him, so we know He wasn’t shocked. And, I have a hard time believing that Jesus was thinking, “I told you so, Peter.  I told you that you would fail me.  Way to go Peter…can’t you do anything right?”  I just don’t think His thoughts were condemning.  If I had to guess, I’m thinking that maybe the words that were going through His mind were, “Peter, even though you deny me…I will never deny you.  My grace and love are sufficient, even when you choose to turn away from Me.”

I’m so thankful that those same thoughts are true for me too.  Just like Peter, there have been times when I have let Jesus down…doing things that aren’t pleasing in His sight or neglecting to stand up for Him when given the opportunity.  I’m sure in those moments, He has given me His look…a look not filled with revenge but with grace and love…a look that I don’t deserve…but He’s freely given.

Maybe you are struggling today because you feel like you have done things that can’t be forgiven.  Maybe your past continues to haunt you and you picture Jesus giving you a look of disgust and rejection.  Take time to look into His eyes once again…His grace and forgiveness are sufficient to cover your transgressions.

After he denied His Lord three times, Peter was the one chosen to give the first sermon, explaining from Scripture who Jesus really was and why he had died.  Many were saved because of his words.  If the Lord could continue to use Peter in mighty ways even after his failings…He can surely use you and me for His glory.  So, look up my friend…His loving eyes are fixed on you!

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Psalm 32:8

Monday Morning Memo: Taco Tuesdays

Like so many other people, I made the decision at the beginning of this year to get serious about taking weight off and improving my overall health.  I had taken weight off previously, but then had a year with two major surgeries and that combo was brutal on my weight.

I decided I would begin this physical “overhaul” on January 7^th, because I knew we still had one Christmas gathering left on January 4th.  I wasn’t sure my willpower would withstand the many temptations that would be there.  So, to be a little easier on myself I chose to enjoy eating what I wanted to until all the holiday celebrations were over.

But then…life happened.  I started on the 7^thand on the 9^thwe were told by my dad’s doctor that his health was rapidly deteriorating and we had some decisions to make as a family. He had been sick for about a week, but his rapid downward spiral happened rather quickly and by the 13^thmy dad was in heaven.

So why would my dad’s passing have anything to do with my decision to begin eating healthier? Because I am a stress eater.  I’ve heard people say that they were so stressed they couldn’t eat…that my friend…is a statement that makes no sense to me. The more stressed I am…the more I eat…so throw in an unexpected loss in my life and I’m ready to inhale everything I can get my hands on in the cupboard.   Plus, we all know that stressed spelled backwards is desserts…so obviously they are meant to go hand-in-hand!

My first thought was this, “Oh if I would have only known, I would have waited to start my healthy eating after dad’s service”.  I was so tempted to just ditch my plans and resume them after my stress level lessened. 

But, because I believe our God has a sense of humor, the day I had that thought I saw this graphic:

  

I just had to laugh, because I knew God was reminding me that there will always be a reason for quitting.  There will always be a reason to give up.  There will always be something to entice me to cheat or to not even begin at all. 

I’ve thought a lot about this graphic these past weeks because I’ve realized that it is true for so many areas of my life.  How many times do I know God is telling me to step out and do something for Him…but I use every excuse in the books as to why I shouldn’t obey?  How many times did I start to follow His plan, but then something came along to discourage me and I just gave up?  And then how many times have I told Him that I would step out of my comfort zone…but then just kept putting it off because it was too close to Valentine’s Day, Easter, Summer, Friday or Taco Tuesday.

How about you? Is there an area of your life that God is telling you work on but you are afraid to even try?   Or is He asking you to step out in faith to follow Him…but you are putting it off because the conditions aren’t absolutely perfect?  I want to encourage you to make the decision to begin following His plan for you today and not allow the “hiccups” of life to detour you or stop you in your tracks.   Remember, if God is leading you…He will never leave you…and His plan is always designed perfectly just for you.  And since He is all-knowing, you can rest assured that none of the holidays, seasons or even Taco Tuesdays will be a surprise to Him J

^“No test or temptation that comes your way 

is beyond the course of what others have had to face. 

All you need to remember is that God 

will never let you down; he’ll never let you 

be pushed past your limit; he’ll always 

be there to help you come through it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 The Message

Monday Morning Memo: God Is There!

We survived! I wasn’t sure we would, but since this is February 4^thand I am able to write this and you are able to read this, it proves it.  What did we survive?  January! It was such a long month and I’m sure it had more than 31 days in it.  I can’t tell you how much joy it brought me this past Friday to finally be able to turn our calendar to the next month.  Of course, getting to look at pictures of my grandchildren on the calendar never hurts either J

Why does it seem like winter drags on and on…but then spring, summer and fall just fly by? Winter can be such a hard time on our emotional health, especially if you live in a colder climate.  To see the sun in the sky is often a real treat and having to stay inside can become depressing.  

Unfortunately, though, I have talked to quite a few people lately that are really discouraged, and the source of their despair has very little to do with the season. Life has just become almost more than they can handle and they are asking quite a few “whys?”.  It is all they can do to put one foot in front of another and they are really wondering when the sun is going to shine again in their lives. They are wonderful children of the King who have just been dealt some hard blows and right now they are reeling from what they feel has been a sucker punch in the gut.

I recently read this quote, “The Christian life is not a constant high.   I have my moments of deep discouragement.  I have to go to God in prayer with tearsin my eyes and say, ‘O God, forgive me, or help me.”   Do you have any idea who said that?  You might be surprised to know that it was Billy Graham.  Yes, even Billy Graham had times of despair, but he knew to Whom he needed to turn during those times.

The exciting thing is that the same God that Billy Graham turned to, is waiting for us to turn to Him also.  Wherever we are in our life…God is there.  Just because we are in a valley doesn’t mean that God is standing on the sidelines waiting for us to pull ourselves out.  He is there.  He is in the trenches with us and loves us more than we can even imagine.  He loves us with all of our faults, sins, attitudes and failures.  There is no way He would have sent His Son to die for you and me…if He didn’t love us beyond measure.

Are you struggling today?   Are you wondering why your view right now is from the valley instead of from the top of a mountain?  Please know that you are not alone…everyone has times in their life when troubles seem to build up and detours and potholes are at every turn. We live in a broken world where Satan wants nothing else but to keep you discouraged and feeling like there isn’t any hope.  Don’t listen to him.  Instead, lift your eyes to your all-powerful God and ask Him to help you.  He is there and able to do far more than you can even imagine.  With Him…the Son is always shining and wants nothing more than to fill your life with His warmth.  Look up to Him today…because He is there!

"Though they stumble, they will never fall,

for the Lord holds them by the hand."

Psalm 37:24

"I cling to you; your strong right hand

holds me securely."

Psalm 63:8