Honor The Asking

There have been a few times in my life...not many, but occasions where a prayer has been prayed over me and the Lord has shown me very clearly, that the prayer was answered because of that persons prayer.    There have also been times when He has very clearly answered prayers for someone else because of a prayer I prayed.    Now we know we serve a faithful God, and His word says in 1 John 5:14 that if we ask anything, according to His will, He hears us.  But we also know that His answer is not always going to be a yes.   We know that He sees the big picture we cannot see.    But still we are called to pray for one another and I believe that sometimes, on those occasions that the prayer was answered through intersession of another is, at least in part for these reasons.  

First, The building of faith.  

I worked at a restaraunt called The Red Pony for many years.    When I started there I was young and not walking as closely with the Lord as I should have been.   But over the course of a year or so, the Lord pulled me back to Him and I fell more deeply in love with Jesus then I had ever been.    I wanted desperately to leave the restaurant business but the Lord would not allow me to leave at that time.   So I began to pray.    I began to see my job as my mission field and prayed daily over the building, the people, my coworkers, even the food.   I would pray for hours at times, crying out to God to move over the lives of those I worked with, those I served, and those affected by the behaviors of some in the building.   Slowly the Lord began to move, the whole feel of the restaurant changed.    People began asking me to pray over situations or struggles and the Lord would answer.   I remember one instance very well.   One of my sweet coworkers names Lisa had a cat.   She was never able to have children and I could tell by the way she talked about her husband, and their struggles that the wound was very deep for both of them.  As a result, the cats became like their kids.    This women is as sweet a women as you would ever meet.   She has a heart of gold and a love for people.   We would sometimes talk about the Lord but she struggled too believe and accept God’s love for her.   One day she came to work very upset.  She told me that her cat was sick and that her vet did not expect him to make it.     So I took her into my prayer closet (the upstairs ladies, one stall bathroom) and we prayed.    We prayed for absolute healing over the cat.  I have never prayed so hard for an animal before, or since.   I prayed not because the cat meant anything to me.   Not because they would not be able to get another one....but because I knew just how much this cat meant to her, to their marriage.     The next day she came to work and said the vet could not explain it but that the cat was completely healed...off all meds, completely restored.     It showed me that the Lord cares about things that may seem small.   And spoke volumes to her of the love that her creator has for her, that He would do something miraculous in her life.      She did not become a child of God that day….And I may never, this side of heaven, see her turn to Jesus as Savior, but I know He moved in her life in a way she could see and understand, to show His love to her.     

The second reason I believe that God answers prayers of intersession for someone else is because I believe He honors the asking.    As believers we have the ability to go to the Father with anything.   Any struggle, and joy.   But we are created for community, for fellowship.  And when we lay down our pride and fear and choose instead to be vulnerable and ask for prayer...we are not only walking in humility, but giving the Lord more opportunity for receiving glory the answered prayer.    I struggle with this.   I know others that do as well….You don’t want others to see your weaknesses, and sometimes feel like a burden to those you love in the asking.   But the word says where two or more are gathered He is there.   He wants to be a part of our lives.  When we keep things between He and us, We are stopping Him from having full access to the glory He could receive in a community.    This does not mean that He will never answer a silent prayer or that every prayer is meant to be shared…. But I do believe that in a dark world in need of light, it often comes in answered prayers.   And He will sometimes….Honor the asking.

Bring On The Rain

I want my life to be an example of God's faithfulness.   I want people to be able to look at my life and say "wow, God does answer prayers, God does hold true to His promises, God is who He says He is".  The problem is.....this is not an easy life.   Not one of comfort and perfection.   Things do not always go your way and you will not always have everything fall into place.    Yes, I do believe the Lord blesses obedience and that there is favor for those who walk in righteousness.   But sometimes that favor comes by way of protection during a storm, not the absence of the storm.
I have a friend who went to Africa a few years back to help build a town in a part of Africa that had been ravaged by war and famine.   He helped with a well, and then in building a church, a school building and a few other smaller structures for other uses.     Not something that would see a big deal to us but was huge to those living in this community.      He told me a story of one of his experiences while visiting for the first time.    You see in Africa (among many many other things) they don't really have roads. They have these dirt "paths" that lead from place to place and are driven mostly by 4x4 vehicles that can handle the bumps and dips that come along.    The small town of Jale Sudan where he was working, does not even have a hospital, so anyone who is injured or in need of medical care has to take a rough and bumpy ride, a few hours into the nearest city to go to the hospital there.   And depending on the time of year, that is a nearly impossible journey to make.    In this part of Africa, it is either dry, or very very wet, and when it rains, the roads that they travel are nearly impossible to navigate safely.  In fact even my friends journey itself had to be carefully timed to fall before the rainy season, or they would not have been able to get to the town much less have the necessary equipment or supplies they needed, brought in.     So knowing this brings a level of caution when working in a construction environment.   They hired the locals to help with the building process, both due to the small group of men who were on the trip, and to help boost the economy of the town.    They worked diligently for about a month when the rainy season began to approach.  They were coming close to being done, when one evening one of the women of the town began to go into labor.     She needed to be brought to a hospital, but due to the rain and the condition of the roads it was a very dangerous journey.   My friend felt the Lord calling him to offer to drive her in one of the vehicles they had rented for the building process.    So he and one of the other men, took her and left.   He told me that in the long drive, through the rain and darkness, he had never been so afraid.  There were moments when they could not see and didn't even know if they were going the right direction.  He said that he just kept praying and trusting the Lord to guide him to the hospital.  He heard the Lord tell him, "I did not protect you from the storm but instead I lead you through it."   They made it to the hospital, the girl and her baby healthy and safe, and soon returned home.
 I am reminded of so many stories in the scriptures where God's children were faced with horrible situations....things that any normal person would be terrified of and want to run away from, and yet through their story we can see the power of our King.   Through their story we can have hope and confidence in who God is and what He does.  
Esther.    She was faced with the giant task of protecting her people from a king who would have otherwise sentenced them to death.   Not only did she succeed, but had the kings favor.  
David.   He was faced with a giant named Goliath.   Not only did he win that fight but did it with a simple slingshot in 1 strike.
Moses.   Called to lead God's people out of Egypt.    Succeeding despite a stubborn king and a significant amount of doubt and insecurity.
There are so many examples of men and women overcoming all kinds of difficulties and trials.
Scripture does not say that they met these situations with no doubt or fear or struggle, but it does say that they met these situations as humans walking with the strength of the Father.  
The truth is, without those stories...the crazy, wild callings, the Lord would not be able to show a hurting and desperate world who He is.     To be an example of His faithfulness, there first has to be a reason for Him to be faithful.   So rather then being surprised and frustrated when storms come, we can praise Him.....for He is setting the stage for a beautiful display of His faithfulness, His divine love and His everlasting promises.     Bring on the rain.

The String

So imagine a string.   Whatever color you want, whatever material you want.   This string represents God's hand, and it is woven through each part of who you are, from the beginning of your life to the end.  Lately, the Lord has been showing me the truth of Romans 8:28 that says "And we know that in all things God works for the good for those who love Him, and have been called according to His purpose."  Let me explain by sharing a recent example from my life.
  My house went on the market a few days ago.   This is a very big deal to me, in fact it's miraculous.    It's a townhouse I have owned for about 9 years.  It's been rented out since my husband and I got married because it is too far away from where my stepson goes to school and we decided it was better to live closer to his mom to keep things easier on everyone.   We live in an apartment now, which is not my favorite thing, not even my second favorite thing, but it's a season.  When I bought my townhouse I had not yet met my husband and thought it would be a nice place to start a family, spend a few years and then move to a bigger place together.   I'll be honest.....it was a hard thing to let go.   I love my husband, I love my stepson, and I would not change anything for the world, but there was a part of me that morned when I moved out of my house.   A part of me that felt like I had to let go of a dream, and watch someone else raise their kids in my home.  
Here is the part that causes me to stop and say "what a mighty God we serve".  
You see, about 8 years ago, when I was still living in my townhouse, Bank of America sold one of my loans (I had an 80/20) to a different company.  At the time I didn't totally understand what had happened so I called Bank of America to get clarification and was told that the bank had sold a loan but had actually sold the wrong one.  They were suppose to have sold the smaller loan but had sold the larger one instead in error.   No big deal on my end, just meant making payments to two banks instead of one.  Didn't give it much more thought.    The next few years brought many struggles and many joys, but when I finally decided it was time to move and rent out my house, I felt the Lord say that He had not forgotten my hopes.   That He would restore what I was letting go of and that He would use the situation for good.   A few months after our wedding, I was at church for a rehearsal and our worship pastor said these words I will never forget, he said "The Lord has been telling me lately to pray for something crazy.   Something I would never even think to ask for or pray about and believe that He is a big enough God to do it, I encourage you to do that this evening".   So I prayed.    I prayed for $100,000.    Totally crazy right?!    You see....right after I bought my house all those years ago, the market crashed and I had been left with more debt then the house was worth.   My hearts desire was to pay off the smaller loan (27,000) so that we would be able to sell the house and buy one in the part of town we need to be in.    I don't know why I chose that big a number, I guess because it was a round number, easy to remember.   I prayed that prayer every day for about 3 months and then out of the blue, I received a letter from Bank of America.   The letter stated that due to a mandate from the department of justice they had been required to pay back a certain amount of money to home owners and that they would be forgiving my loan.   Forgiving it.   Completely.    I have never felt the reality of grace in my life so much as when that loan disappeared.    And just like that....the smaller loan was no more.    This is miraculous in a few ways....first, Not only did the Lord answer my crazy prayer, but He did it in a way that I knew it was Him.   Second, this has allowed me to be able to put my house up for sale because I no longer owe more then the house is worth.   Third...and this is what He has been reminding me this week, had Bank of America sold the smaller loan like they were originally suppose to do....none of this would have happened.   8 years ago, a small administrative mistake made the way for a miraculous event that has given me more then just hope.   It has restored something that was lost.    The older I get, the more I can see His hand, like a string in my life, woven through each crease and crevice....and it pulls me closer to Him with ever twist and turn.  Does this mean every crazy prayer will end in something like that....no....but a prayer prayed will never go unanswered and when we look back on our lives and see His hand...the string....we can see the evidence that He is working all things for our good and for His glory.

Overcome

The last few days I have been practicing for Sunday Easter service in the kids class.  The worship songs were chosen by me and the leaders of the classroom.    I have been super excited about being in this class on Easter because there really is nothing sweeter then worshiping with kids...And to be able to share in the joy of our Savior's resurrection with those sweet little ones...humbles and blesses me in ways I can't even describe!   But for some reason the songs we chose were not really resonating with me.   The songs are Stronger, Revelation Song, and Overcome.   All great songs...all very powerful songs....so last night, I decided to dig a little deeper.    I decided to go with my ever so trusty dictionary.  One thing I have learned, when you want to go deeper...finding the definition of a word or words can really help to open up a whole new perspective.   

So I chose the word Overcome.

The definition of Overcome is to Defeat, Crush, Overpower.  To succeed in dealing with.

  As I read this, I let that definition sink in for a minute.    Really thought about those words, defeat, Crush and overpower..... Christ won.   He is stronger.   He defeated the enemy....and the prize was us.   

Then I thought, normally I focused on Easter as a time to celebrate what Jesus did on the cross to save me and make a way for me to be a child of God to spend eternity in heaven, so true and powerful.  But what about the part where He overcame the world.   This world we live in right now.   Our eternity has been changed, AND our day to day lives have been altered by Christ's resurrection. 

      

John 16:33 says "These things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world."      

He has defeated the world....Succeeded in dealing with the world.   Pain, sadness, fear, anger, sickness, anxiety, hurt, depression....He has defeated all of these things.   He has made us overcomes, through His death and resurrection.    1 John 5:5 says "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."   We have the power, in Christ, to be overcomes as His word says.   He has overcome it all, and through Him, we can overcome it all.   Does this mean nothing will ever go wrong for us?   Of course not, but it does mean we do not have to face life feeling helpless and prey to this world.   We can stand in confidence knowing that we walk with the one who already beat this world.    He holds the victory.  And we are walking on this earth, in that victory through Christ.

Last night I filled in at The Hope Center.  The Lord put it on my heart during my time with the ladies, to challenge them as overcomes to choose something they felt was controlling them, or something that was pulling them away from Christ.  A struggle or difficulty.  Something that they wanted victory over, and surrender it to the Lord believing that He would bring them overcoming freedom.   Most of them stood when I asked who had surrendered something and one girl even gave a testimony of surrendering, and feeling freedom from the bondage of sugar addiction and bulimia.  

I wonder if there aren't things that we carry around.  Times when we are robbed of freedom because we accept or learn to deal with.   Or just assume that because we are in this world we will have to bare as a burden.  When Jesus is saying to us "Look, I already won.  I already overcame the world.   You can walk in this freedom today.  You are no longer in the bondage of sin and the world is no longer a threat to you.  Give that thing to me, let me show you my overcoming love.   In me my child you can overcome."

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love

Destined to die, poured out for all mankind

God's only Son, perfect and spotless one

He never sinned but suffered as if He did

All authority

Every victory is Yours

All authority

Every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory

Worthy of all our praise, You overcame

Jesus, awesome in power forever

Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame

Power in hand speaking the Father's plan

You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb

And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

In the Right Hands

I wrote my first song when I was 6.    Nothing fancy, not even a fully formed song, but I still remember it.   And still sing it occasionally.

 "I can do a lot of things, like run hop jump and song, I can climb and bounce a ball, but there's one thing I can't do, and that's to stop loving you, Jesus my Savior I love You."

Clearly not an award winning lyric, but it has a cute little melody and for whatever reason, I have never forgotten it all these years later.  
I got to thinking a few days ago about that song.   See the thing is, growing up my family didn't listen to much music, in fact it wasn't until I was in Jr. High that I started becoming interested in music as
listener.   I was not trained to write or sing, I didn't grow up in a musical family.    And yet somehow, like an instinct, I was a songwriter as early as I can remember.   I didn't try, not initially, but it just came out of me, like breathing.   Does this mean if you don't start writing as a child you aren't a real songwriter...absolutely not...nor does it mean I am an amazing writer myself.    But I know that I know that I know, that God planted that gifting in me from the beginning, and that song is a sweet reminder.    I can't help but wonder if thats the reason why the Lord brings that song to mind now and then.  

So today I was thinking about the hundreds of songs I have written over the last 25 years.   The dreams I had as a child.    My move to Tennessee 11 years ago.    And how still, I have not had any of my songs reach "the right hands".   The hands that would take a song and make it a hit, or bring it to that new artists who would take it across the world.  Or take it and bring it to churches across the country.  I'm not going to lie...it was a bit of a pity party.  But as I was thinking about all of this, I heard the Lord say to me "You are looking for the right hands in man, but the right hands are my hands."  I realized in that moment....I was thinking about it all wrong.   It doesn't matter who ever touches one of my songs.   From His hands I received my gifts and in His hands they are safe.  His mighty hands will use them in the way He chooses.  James 1:17 says "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. "  This verse reminds me that He is the giver of every gift.   And He does not make mistakes.   When I go Christmas shopping for my family I do my best to buy something that I think they will like, but God created us and knows our innermost being.   He has tailor made each person's gifting's to fit like a glove.    He knew before we were made, what would be the most effective tool for each of us to have, to bring Him glory.    This carries with it great honor, no matter the type of gifting.  Regardless of the platform we reach here on earth....when our gifts are placed in the hands of the giver....they are right where they need to be.

Enter In

A couple of days ago, I had the privilege and honor of leading worship for the 1st-5th grade class at my church.    They recently went through some changes in structure and have been watching videos of worship songs instead of having a live person leading worship.   After discussing the idea of doing live worship once a month, I was asked to come in and lead a few songs.    For the whole week before I was praying over the songs, the kids, the leaders and what the Lord would want to say to those sweet kids.    The thing He kept telling me all week, and all morning on Sunday was, "You know I am here, but you still have to acknowledge my presence and enter in".   As I sat at the keyboard that morning it was ringing in my ears....those words.    God meets us, but we still have to enter in.   We still have to choose Him.   I told those sweet kids what the Lord had laid on my heart and let me tell you....did they ever enter in!    At one point I could not even hear my own voice over theirs!  And I received messages later stating that some of the kids had said it was a great morning of worship.    I stand here to say that I take no credit for that....none at all.    God showed up big time, and those kids entered in.    But this week I have been thinking about how childlike faith, and acknowledging and entering into His presence really go hand in hand.     I remember being a kid....the weight of the world not yet on my shoulders.    The heaviness and reality of life that comes with adulthood not yet rearing it's ugly head.    I remember trusting my Heavenly Father.  Even before I knew exactly what that meant.    I think that's part of it really.   The innocence.   The inhibition.   No awareness of the pressures or concerns of others thoughts toward your actions.   No fear of rejection.   Just simple, pure, affection for the Father.    Being completely honest with myself I know that when I worship, whether alone or on stage, I struggle to fully surrender.    To stand before Him with no agenda or concern for myself.    Maybe it's because as a musician/artist, there is more of a pressure and responsibility to present a good performance.  Maybe it's because there are those who might judge.   Or maybe we are too hard on ourselves.   No matter the reason...the struggle is real, as they say.    Children love with no agenda.   They love without much thought for why or how.   They are teachable and willing to listen.    And they trust fully with no need for justification.
Psalm 8:2 says "Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger".  I can't help but think that maybe this verse in part...is referencing that the Lord uses those with a pure heart and an innocent tongue to silence evil.  That this can be anyone from a tiny baby to an elderly person, who has a heart that is humble before the Lord. The kind of worshiper who sings to their Father as an act of praise, understanding that we are nothing apart from Him and capable of nothing without His power.   No agenda.    No pride. When we move out of the way, He can move freely.  Then the enemy can be silenced...I long to be this kind of worshiper.  

Sweet Old Jack

So my husband and I have two dogs.   A 3 year old Boxer Lab mix,
(Boxadore...or boxadorable as I like to say) named Maggie, and a sweet, 10 year old Beagle named Jackson.    Jack has been with me for a long time.   Before I met my husband, he was the man in my life.    He kept me company on lonely nights, has been with me through many tears, and many triumphs and continues to be a sweet part of our family.   Over the last year or so, he has been having a series of health issues, The newest of which has been his hips.    Hip Dysplasia I believe is the term.    We switched his food and that helped for a short time but then during the cold months of winter he began to become less and less active.  Struggling to walk,  eating less, never wanting to play.  Disinterested in anything but sleep.  Over the course of just a few days, it got so bad that one evening he began to shake and pant heavily. Worried I began to plan for a trip to the vet....as awful as it sounds, dreading it because I knew what they would probably say.   That it was the end of the rope for my little buddy.   My husband did some research and read that sometimes aspirin can help dogs with arthritis and hip pain, so we gave him some in hopes that it would ease some of his discomfort.    To our surprise, it seemed to help.   We decided to give it a few days and see if he would recover at all, I bought some joint vitamins to try and I prayed.    I prayed for healing for Jack, and comfort for us.   I prayed that God would restore his little body somehow.     

Well I don't know if it's the weather, the vitamins, or a miracle, but just a few weeks later he is almost completely back to his old self.   He even played with me in ways he has not wanted to play in a few years.  Like his youth has been restored.    Running, barking, chewing on his toys....almost like a puppy.   He even played with our 3 year old dog....which he has never done before.       I was pondering this and thanking the Lord, and I heard the Lord very clearly say to me "I can breath new life back into old dreams, I can restore what you may think is lost."    I sat in my chair, looking at Jack, tears in my eyes thinking about those dreams I have had for so many years.    The ones spoken and the ones unspoken.   in awe that the Lord would use something so simple yet so tangible to me to remind me of this truth.    

I think of the story in the Bible, you may already know the one, where God promises Abraham, a 99 year old man, that He would make him extremely fruitful.  That his descendants would become many nations.   Sarah was 90.   90....let's just let that sink in for a minute.   If I were Sarah, I would have long assumed my dream of a giving birth was gone.   She was many years past the age of childbearing, and calls herself a "worn-out women".  The scripture even tells us that she laughs at the visitors who come in Genesis chapter 18, to tell them that the following year she will give birth to a boy.  
How many times have I done that?   Thought things like, "oh it's to late for that", "My time has come and gone for this to possible" "It's been so long I'm sure it's no longer God's plan for me"
There are instances when the dreams I have for my life change as I grow, mature, and become closer to the Lord.   And there are those dreams, the ones that I have already seen the Lord bring to fruition in my life.   But then there are those dreams...the ones so much a part of me that I know only the Lord could have put them there.   The ones I can remember feeling even as a child.   That I have yet to see come to light.   The ones that seem so far away that they are growing more and more impossible.    I believe God is speaking to those dreams.    They are not forgotten.   They are not forsaken.   They are there for a reason and He can breath new life into them.

We serve a God who is faithful.    A God who does not go back on His promises.  
Just like Abraham and Sarah, who were given a baby boy, a miraculous child that fulfilled His promise in His perfect timing.    He is our loving Father and He knows what we need before we even ask.    And He has shown us throughout scripture that He will not fail.   Maybe He is waiting on us to ask for a breath of new life.