Prayer Changes Us

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On the way home from church today, Zoey told me that her Sunday School class prayed for her. She said that they heard her coughing and prayed. They, just as I, know that she has had this cough for about a month now. After two different trips to the doctor, we have concluded it comes from a sinus infection that has been further aggravated by allergies. We now have medicine that seems to be working; however, she is still coughing. Thus, the moment of prayer over Zoey.

I expressed to Zoey how wonderful it was for her class to pray for her. I asked her if she felt any better. She said no. Then I asked her if she felt happy that her class cared enough about her to pray and want her to get better. She said yes, that she felt loved by her class. It seemed their prayers really affected her in a positive way.

This conversation made me think a little more about prayer and the power it has. Prayer is how we communicate with God and He with us. It is how we express our dreams and fears to our Lord. However, it doesn't matter what we say about ourselves or others, it does not change God. It will not change his mind because He cannot be changed.

1 Samuel 15:29 -- "And he who is the Glory of Israel will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!"

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However, prayer does change us. I've always believed that expressing to others that you will pray for them, and actually follow through on it, is one of the most powerful things you can do - especially when you stop in the moment to lift up prayers with them. It is not even that God would change the situation, though it is within his power to do so; instead, it is a simple way to show others, through action, that you care what happens to them. And that, in itself, is a very powerful thing indeed.

We go through this world of billions of people, living day to day, hoping to simply make a difference, to matter to someone, and to be loved by someone. When others stop thinking of themselves and take the time, the forethought, and the energy to pray for you, it means that they care. As one among many, there is someone who connects with you and that cares what happens to you. When we all care for each other, look after each other and lift each other up, we are loving our neighbors. It is the second most important commandment given to us by Jesus only after loving God (Matthew 22:39).

Zoey coughing this morning could have been a moment of sadness, frustration or illness; instead, because she has people who love and care about her, it was a morning of happiness, joy and learning. When we lift others up with our words and our actions, when we take the time and effort to pray for others, it changes us. It changes those we pray for, giving them a positive outlook and encouragement during a time of tribulation. It changes us as we pray because it helps us realize that everyone has troubles and we all need some love to help us through the bad days. When you reach out and help lift others up, they will be there to hold you up when you begin to fall.

It is a beautiful thing, the power of prayer. It is a joy to see love in the actions of those around us. Prayer changes us for the better. It lifts you up when you are down, it gives you light when you can't see, it brings love and companionship even when you feel all alone. Pray for others, lift them up, encourage them and when someone offers to pray for you, let them, it may just change your life.

God's Incredible Love For Us

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Isaiah 41:10 -- "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Romans 5:8 -- "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

John 3:16 -- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Romans 8:39 -- "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 John 4:16 -- "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."

No Condemnation

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This is a drawing that really spoke to me. It is depicting a scene in John 8 where a woman has be caught in adultery with the Pharisees ready to stone her. Jesus comes in a completely diffuses the entire situation. He says, "Alright, let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone." All of the men walk away one by one, for all of us have sinned. The woman is left with Jesus who turns to her and asks, "Where are you accusers? Did even one of them condemn you?"

Here is the entire encounter:

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn't even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
John 8:1-11 (NLT)

I have always wondered what Jesus is writing in the dirt. It must be important to be included at all. It seems like it would have been something powerful for the Pharisees to back down so easily; they were always looking for a way to trap Jesus in his words. However, in this situation they were put in their place -- as sinners.

This is one example of many where Jesus completely diffuses a situation. I am constantly amazed at the power he has over people. But it isn't in a "I'm Lording over you" way. It is simply a loving and respectful way. He really does live by the commands Love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). He doesn't give into petty arguments or fuss over details. He doesn't condemn for wrongdoings; instead, he provides protection, comfort and guidance. 

There really is something powerful to living this way. To living a life that absolutely betters others. But it has nothing to do with dogma or precedent. It has nothing to do with having to be right or even heard. Jesus is the quiet counselor that helps others help themselves and then he goes on to the next group. It is beautiful. 

This is the kind of life I want. This is what peace means to me. This is the joy I want to feel. I want to live a fulfilled life that betters the world around me. Jesus is a perfect example of that. That is why I want to live like Jesus.

Writing Is My Life

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I have taken an at-the-time needed sabbatical from my blog to regain focus and also be in the moment to the many things going on in life and the people around me. However, I have noticed that I am more easily stressed out and have more trouble organizing my thoughts the past couple months.

I needed to take time to focus on my family, but in doing so, I have neglected writing. I must be honest...writing is my sanity. It is much cheaper than therapy. I think and process information by writing it all out. When I don't write, it seems everything begins to break down and lose clarity, slowly, but surely.

I may not be the best writer, the most articulate or use the greatest imagery; nonetheless, writing is my life. It is the way I make sense of the world and how I deal with things, both good and bad, that I encounter.

Some may never understand this process I am trying to describe. On the other hand, some know exactly what I am talking about and are sitting there just nodding your head. The beauty of life is in our diversity. Some write, some talk, some draw, some paint -- I can't even imagine all the ways different people think and work through things. But we all have our own unique way to understand the world. There is strength in figuring out your own personal method.

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I don't have it all figured out. I don't know that any of us ever truly will. However, I know that I love to write and I love to learn and challenge ideas. I don't want to be afraid to explore ideas anymore.

For me, blogging is an outlet. I enjoy sharing my thought and ideas with you, and I love to get feedback and share community. But at the end of the day, blogging is really for me. I need this - a place to understand, organize and explore ideas. I encourage you to explore with me. I will cover many different things because I truly enjoy many different things.

We live in a world full of expectations, judgments and categories. I have always had trouble living up to expectations, bowing to judgments or fitting into categories. I am ready to break free and just be me. Writing is my life and I am ready to explore a whole new chapter of discovery and adventure!

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Our Light Overcomes Darkness

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It has been a busy couple of weeks. I sure many of you can relate: you feel like you are being pulled by five different things in ten different directions. That's how I've been feeling lately. I love it, in all honesty, I thrive when I have many things to accomplish; however, that doesn't mean I don't get overwhelmed in the process.

It is really easy to get overwhelmed isn't it. After a while you begin to shrink back into your comfort zone and barely manage the things closest to you. You don't intentionally allow it, but a sense of fear comes over you.

I understand this one all to well. I have been fearful much of my life. It is an all encompassing emotion that will keep you in bondage like nothing else. God has spent a lot of time helping me to expel my fear and fill it with His faithful love. It has not been an easy road. It also isn't over because it still comes back to me sometimes.

Like recently, when I've been so busy with so many things, fear has begun to crawl its way back into my heart. Just like I did before, I am turning to God's Word for the remedy, found only in His strength and presence.

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"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 

In other words, God has our backs. He's not going leave us in fear, He's going to comfort us and stay with us through every moment. He will give us His strength to overcome fear and hold us up through everything. I don't know about you, but that gives me goosebumps. I may be afraid, but I can do great things while holding my Daddy's hand.

As I was contemplating on all of this and filling my heart with God's love to go out and tackle more busyness God put something on my heart: We are suppose to be a light in the world and to overcome darkness, just as Christ did. 

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 

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Jesus was the light of the world and when we follow Him we will walk in light, even through the darkness. Jesus is our guide, He shows us the way we are to go and protects us on our journey. God takes us all in many different directions, using our many different types of gifts. However there is one thing we all have in common - whatever direction we are walking with the Lord, we are to replace darkness with light.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5

Darkness can not prevail over light. It's only attack is to take out the light. However when we walk with God, the darkness cannot touch us. It is only when we stray from our light, from God's faithful love for us, and focus on the darkness and the fear that we are in danger. But God does not want us to fear because He is always there with us wherever we go.

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

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Since God is light and we walk beside Him, we too become light to the world. Our commission, no matter where we go, is to let our light shine for the world. When our light shines, it overcomes the darkness. However, when we stay in our comfort zone and shine our light only into light, we overcome nothing. 

It is when we dispel fear for God's love and step out into the unknown, trusting God to be there with us, that our light shines the brightest for the glory of God.

Blessings,