Which Is More Amazing?

Carolyn

I’ve had this thought lately.

Which is more amazing? The fact that the God of the universe, our Creator and Savior, would care so intimately for us, would stoop to us, would invite us near to Him and His throne of grace, would assure us that when we draw near, He draws near to us — wow, what a thought! I think of all the passages in Scripture that tell us when His people cry out, He hears and answers and delivers. Just reading the Psalms the other day, I was struck again by this, not to mention the times I see it in the Old Testament as He would deliver His people Israel.

So which is more amazing? That our God cares for us in this way and gives us the privilege of prayer and of communing with Him — or the fact that I so often refuse?

I sometimes sleep late or resist getting out of bed to read and pray. I let other thoughts consume my mind during a day. I get busy, spend too much time on the computer, and the list goes on — and I forfeit those moments of time spent with the Lord. Moments of prayer, moments of my day given to Him. The very thing that most brings peace and joy to my day, I often miss.

Do you ever do that, too? So which do you think is more amazing? His seeking or our resisting of such an incredible invitation?

Prayer

Carolyn

With my theme for the year being prayer, it’s on my mind a lot, and I have a feeling my blog posts may center around this often this year. Here is something that happened this past week.

My friend called me one afternoon asking me to pray for her 6-month old niece who was being diagnosed with a serious form of cancer on her hand called a sarcoma. Her parents were being told that an amputation might be necessary, but it could be worse. They were waiting to do the biopsy which would help them know how best to treat it. There was hope that possibly chemotherapy would be effective.

We joined them in praying. As I was running errands that same evening, I was praying aloud, hoping to be focused in prayer for them. As I prayed for many things surrounding these circumstances, there was a passage of Scripture that came to my mind clearly. Psalm 18. This was the only one that came to mind during the prayer, but was very clear. I was thinking of the early verses knowing God is our Rock.

When I pulled into the Chick-fil-a drive through (a far too common experience for me, I might add!), I looked at the car in front of me, and they had on their license plate “Psalm 18:6.” I felt for sure the Lord was speaking through this.

That portion of Scripture is about death encompassing David, but he cries out to the Lord and is heard and delivered. Now I didn’t know what to make exactly of it, but loved the reminder that in crying out to God, He hears.

Later that week, I got a call from my friend. She said they had just learned that the biopsy had shown it was not cancer! Rather, it was something very rare that the doctor had only seen one other time in 35 years — it was an aneurysm in her hand which would completely heal!

Who knows God’s ways, whether He healed her or gave another diagnosis because of the many prayers for her — or whether it was this way all along and He wanted those involved to walk through it for good and glorious purposes (or both or more?!). But what I do know is that He heard the cries of His children. I do know that through prayer, I got a window into His heart and saw the story differently than had I simply received a call to pray, said a brief prayer, carried on, and then heard she was fine. Praying opened my eyes to see God at work and to trust Him more.

I am encouraged to keep bringing my requests before Him. I know He doesn’t always answer each situation the same way, but He does seem to speak and lead in the midst of them. And that is a mercy, a grace, a peace, a comfort. God — living, breathing, caring, loving, involved!

Part of prayer includes praise, and that is what I want to do tonight — praise Him!

A Year in Song: 2011

Carolyn

The Lord often speaks to me through music. These are a few songs that I want to remember from 2011 that really ministered to me at specific times. Out of context, maybe they seem strange, but they all came at very specific times and helped direct and strengthen me.

Josh Wilson “I Refuse”: Though he wrote this after a natural disaster and his desire to do something, for me, it was a reminder to not refuse what God would ask me to do, to be obedient. It always played at key moments, right on time, right when I needed the encouragement and reminder.
Matthew West “Strong Enough”: These next two songs from Matthew West and Mandisa about strength helped remind me of the Lord’s strength and that the things that seemed hard would in fact bring growth and make me stronger.
Mandisa “Stronger”
David Crowder Band “SMS”: I was listening to this “Show me a sign” and praying for that, for wisdom. I’d wished I had someone to give me counsel. The phone rang during the song as I prayed. My lifelong friend from Arkansas was on the phone, and she and her husband, a pastor, gave me the exact counsel I needed! Praise the Lord!

And one last one about new beginnings, “Listen to the Sound” by Building 429: this also came at an exact moment when I was waiting, thinking, and then listening and heard this.

I’ve never thought to write about my year through music like I do themes, but I think I’ll start doing this. These songs remind me of God’s faithfulness to me, for some of the ways He shepherded me along, and for His continuing love and direction in my life. He provided abundantly well, and I praise Him!

2012 Theme: Prayer

Carolyn

It’s Friday, January 13, and I’m sitting at the park while the kids and a friend sled. We finally got our first big snow of the winter. January 12 was pretty late for it to arrive, but this Southerner has enjoyed the first warmer winter since I’ve lived here, now 10 years! We had temperatures in the 50s just two days ago! I stood in the sun outside talking to a friend and loved every minute of it.

The last few years I’ve had a theme for the year. Last year it was the Lord as my Shepherd. Every year, it’s such a blessing to ponder a theme, study more, and it seems to go with the circumstances of the year.

Last year as I was faced with a decision I didn’t know how to make, I realized I wanted to know the end answer immediately. But I had to trust that God knew that answer, and I simply needed to let Him show me one step at a time, to lead me as my Shepherd. Over the course of a few months, it became obvious and unmistakable what His plan was. He led me step by step, revealing just what I needed for each moment.

My theme this year is prayer. I had been in a bit of a rut lately, and two days ago, I finally took time to pray. I was amazed at the things that happened that very day after specifically praying about some things. I asked the Lord for wisdom about a friend, and she literally emailed me less than an hour later telling me the very answer I had prayed about!

I had asked him some things about purpose, like “am I missing anything?” I see some of my friends doing amazing things, adopting, moving around the world — and I was wondering if I was being faithful and pursuing all He wanted me to. It seemed so clear as people came to mind that the Lord was wanting me just to be faithful to the ones He has put in my path.

I needed to go out to get some books at the library, and ordinarily when I need to do that, I just go at lunch. But I decided to go out at 10:30 a.m. I debated this back and forth, this out of the ordinary timing. I was so close to turning around. But I went, and when I arrived at the library and parked, a lady was by her car beside me. When she turned around, we both looked at each other shocked. She is someone I haven’t seen in a while, who doesn’t live in the area, who I only knew through a previous work relationship. She went on to share some heavy burdens, and she said she had thought about calling me to pray for her. She felt sure God had brought us into each other’s path that day. And of course, I had no doubt about that. It was an answer to prayer.

I also was convicted by something the Lord had shown me to do in the past, children He has me outreach to, and its been awhile since I took the initiative. So today at the park, we are all together again, 3 sledding while one sits with me playing on the iPhone. I canceled dental appointments for my kids so we could invite them today after school.

Prayer. God used prayer to open my eyes to things I would have overlooked. He hasn’t asked me personally (at least yet!) to go on the mission field or adopt, though I can love and support those who do, but He has placed before me people to love and encourage, alongside my commitment to my family and my work. I am thankful that the Lord is gracious to lead me as my Shepherd, and I pray I will have ears to hear and eyes to see where He is leading. I pray I will pray with consistency and belief that those moments are powerful and effective because of Him.

A quote from Spurgeon to end: “Prayer must not be our chance work, but our daily business, our habit and vocation. As artists give themselves to their models, and poets to their classical pursuits, so must we addict ourselves to prayer. We must be immersed in prayer as in our element, and so pray without ceasing. Lord, teach us so to pray that we may be more and more prevalent in supplication.”