**disclaimer: you may look at me completley different, hate me, feel judged, or just plain stop reading before you're even finished with this blog. trust me, none of this is my intention, and strictly written to a handful of people. but if i don't get this off my chest, i'm not going to get any sleep and if i don't get any sleep, then i will not be a happy girl tomorrow!**
i had to shut down facebook last night. the pictures of costumes and halloween good wishes filled my newsfeed, and i felt sick to my stomach. now before you get all defensive on me, hear me out. there are many i know that daily put on facebook how much they "love Jesus" and on an on about their Christianity. and then last night, i'm viewing pictures of them dressed up as witches, some covered with paint of death and blood, horrific masks, SOME EVEN DRESSING UP THEIR SMALL CHILDREN AS EVIL, DEAD ZOMBIES. it blew my mind! (and you're probably one i'm writing about and you're reading this thinking how "judgemental" i'm being) look, i don't run around town spouting off my "views" on this holiday or any other holiday. in fact, a co-worker i work with day in and day out didn't even know until yesterday afternoon that david, myself, nor my girls celebrate halloween. so please don't think i'm shoving anything down your throat.
you can call it harmless, do it all in the name of fun, but i refuse. and guess what people-who-have-looked-at-me-like-i-have-5-heads, there's nothing wrong with NOT CELEBRATING IT! my children get plenty of candy thank you very much!
we, as believers, are called to be HOLY AS HE IS HOLY!!! we are to be set apart as HE is set apart and unless you're 100% certain what you're doing is glorifying our Father's Name, then don't do it. trust me, i screw up! i'm not talking about daily sin, i'm talking about a certain parental decision to not celebrate halloween. my sis made a good point yesterday..we are in a daily spiritual battle between evil and light. what if, just what IF the ex-practicing witch and her occult stories are true about the sacrifices, the spells, the evil curses which are cast on halloween all true? (i've known someone who told me more than i wish to know about what occurs on this day) what IF this holiday isn't just harmless and fun and instead, we are opening a door to satan so wide that it would take spiritual warfare to close it? we are exposing our children to this potentially harmful day. we are shoving our families to frontline of battle! let it be about "family and fun" for you and don't think twice about what i'm saying...but i admonish and encourage you to please pray hard and seek the Scriptures about what Father expects of you as a Christian!!! especially if you're on the fence! don't just make excuses about His Word to do whatever pleases your flesh and makes everyone else happy.
two reasons we don't celebrate it: we do not glorify or celebrate or even acknowledge anything that uplifts the spirit of fear and the spirit of death. david and i have made the decision to protect our family and our children against such things. this for us, has been our family's decision.
but i'm starting to wonder:
-are we the only 30 year olds with children who don't celebrate halloween?
-am i the only one who HATES the idea of santa because it's a BIG FAT LIE and i'm expected to punish my child when she lies to me? and then, if a child finds out there's no santa, how will they know the "Jesus" and "God" you talk about is real too?
-am i the only one who has never pushed the idea of a tooth fairy or easter bunny because again, LIES!
-am i the only one who has done any research and knows per science, history, and good old Bible knowledge that December 25 is NOT Jesus' actual birthday and just a day picked out for His birthday by the Church?
-AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO AFTER READING THIS IS GOING TO LOVE ME? ..well, if so...so be it. i know in my heart (and if you know me even 1%) , i'm not being judgemental, i'm not a freak, my children in no way, shape, form, or fashion suffer because david and i don't celebrate certain days and teach them certain things.
my kids are whole, healthy, happy and have a joyous, content life! they are not sheltered, they are not naive, they have parents who love them and have to do what they feel is best to protect them and their little minds, bodies, and spirits while they are still under our roof. if you choose differently with your family, great. i'm sure you do not agree with everything i have said. or maybe you're the one person who does. either way, i have the 100% support of a loving husband and two wonderful girls, and my Savior has got my back, right or wrong, no matter what!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
FORGIVE ME
please let me start out by saying "I'M SORRY!!!" as i beg for forgiveness ...here's my confession: *my* family are some of *those* leaf lookers who threaten the sanity of everyone here in the blue ridge mountains with their slow driving, their lack of turn signal usage, and the sudden braking in the middle of the road. my dad, his wife, their friend flew in on thursday and rented a car for 10 days (oh God help us all) and my sis, her hubby, and their two sweet angels are just up here for the weekend. we all met up for dinner last night and tonight we'll gather here at my house for some much needed family time and well, really yummy food. :)
if you have never spent an extended time away from a parent or siblings, or have never lived in another state, then you have no idea the agonizing pain of longing for them, or the joy you feel when you finally get to reunite. unless you are not the biggest fan of your family. for me, it's my mother in law. she is not missed. and if she reads this, i'm pretty sure she agrees she doesn't miss me either. in that case, the distance is sheer bliss.
BUT, if you do have loved ones living miles and miles away, then you know just how much i don't care that my dad drove 20 miles an hour on the wrong side of the road last night while i followed patiently behind. you can understand how messes made by children don't matter a bit, and it makes sense that i would drive out of my way for the next several days and spend extra gas just to see those faces for a short time.
so, if you see a car driving slowly, maybe the driver is even trying to take pictures while steering the vehicle, be a bit more patient. they're someone's family, and family is most certainly a gift.
my family, a gift...i pray i never take these times for granted....
if you have never spent an extended time away from a parent or siblings, or have never lived in another state, then you have no idea the agonizing pain of longing for them, or the joy you feel when you finally get to reunite. unless you are not the biggest fan of your family. for me, it's my mother in law. she is not missed. and if she reads this, i'm pretty sure she agrees she doesn't miss me either. in that case, the distance is sheer bliss.
BUT, if you do have loved ones living miles and miles away, then you know just how much i don't care that my dad drove 20 miles an hour on the wrong side of the road last night while i followed patiently behind. you can understand how messes made by children don't matter a bit, and it makes sense that i would drive out of my way for the next several days and spend extra gas just to see those faces for a short time.
so, if you see a car driving slowly, maybe the driver is even trying to take pictures while steering the vehicle, be a bit more patient. they're someone's family, and family is most certainly a gift.
my family, a gift...i pray i never take these times for granted....
Thursday, October 20, 2011
communion--a "childish" affair?
i was scrolling back on old posts on facebook this morning, and found where about a month or two ago, i wrote that my daughter (now 6 years old) took her first communion. and while she has never "officially" accepted salvation, i was so proud of her for being willing to listen and pray regarding the bread and the "wine" (grape juice).
she was in the service that morning because our church no longer has classes for school age children. she asked me to take part in communion, and i said that it was only for people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior. she said she had (i don't think she has). i find this funny because deep down, she probably just wanted the juice and cracker. but i took this opportunity very seriously to share with my small child what a real communion was all about. when the crackers were passed out, i shared with her the breaking of Jesus' body. when the juice was distributed, i explained His blood. we prayed before and asked forgiveness of our sins, we prayed during and after, thanking our Messiah for His sacrifice. i was blessed because calli was very serious during the whole thing. in fact, i'm blessed every night when she asks for family prayer time and when she herself prays, when she reads her Bible to me, and every sunday morning when she raises her hands in worship during the music. that little girl, officially "saved" or not, blesses me!
anyway, i noticed on my facebook post about this communion that someone simply commented "1st Corinthians 11:26-30." (note: i erased this post so as to protect the identity of this person) i didn't recall ever reading that, so i looked it up. it states that no one unworthily or unholy can accept communion and that was why so many were "weak and sick" because they took communion, basically, without proper credentials. (without being saved, i.e. admitting you need a Savior, and belief that Jesus was who He said He was and is)
now, i'm not saying that this person meant harm whatsoever. i have great respect for this individual. but it did get me thinking. that morning when my little girl took communion, i wonder what God saw. was it mud i smeared on His Son's death and resurrection when i allowed an unsaved girl to "eat of His body" and "drink of His blood?" was He disappointed or disdained with me? or did He see the heart of a woman who desperatley seeks out to please Him despite her daily failures, and a mother who desires to teach her children His ways and precepts? what did the Father see that morning?
which got me thinking further..what IS salvation? when the original communion took place, there had been NO death on a cross yet! His disciples were merely "saved" because they followed Him, they learned His ways and left all behind to seek after Him. abraham, isaac, jacob, king david, and on and on were "saved" because THEY BELIEVED and had faith in Him. and, in the Bible, it states that unless we become "like little children," we shall not inhereit the Kingdom of Heaven. this was said in the context of having faith like a little child who trusts in his/her parent for their very life. it is not a prayer that saves, it is not a terrible sinful road one goes down and THEN they can be saved, it is about believing, following, forsaking all, and recognizing we are a mess without our Messiah!!!
so, i wonder... calli knows what sin is, she believes in our Savior, she asks for forgiveness of her sins, she has a desire to read the Word and pray...does this mean she's "saved" ?? i guess now, at age 6, all that matters is that i'm teaching her truth and pray that she walks in that truth her entire life...but let's go one step further than a potentially unsaved 6 year old taking communion....
what about the ADULTS that morning taking communion? out of ritual..out of habit...out of pressure from whomever was sitting next to them. were there some in there with unclean hearts? some who didn't ask for forgiveness of their sins, some who had unforgiveness themselves? what about them?
so i ask you..make your own doctrinal/emotional/spiritual/mental conclusion...what pleased the Father the most? the tender young child, praying while a mother teaches her about the sacrifice of a Savior? or the unclean heart of an adult, the judgemental eye of an elder who thought maybe calli was too young to participate? i don't personally know what He thought, but what i do know is that i have two little girls and my own heart who desires to please Him..and for now, today, that's all i need to know.
she was in the service that morning because our church no longer has classes for school age children. she asked me to take part in communion, and i said that it was only for people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior. she said she had (i don't think she has). i find this funny because deep down, she probably just wanted the juice and cracker. but i took this opportunity very seriously to share with my small child what a real communion was all about. when the crackers were passed out, i shared with her the breaking of Jesus' body. when the juice was distributed, i explained His blood. we prayed before and asked forgiveness of our sins, we prayed during and after, thanking our Messiah for His sacrifice. i was blessed because calli was very serious during the whole thing. in fact, i'm blessed every night when she asks for family prayer time and when she herself prays, when she reads her Bible to me, and every sunday morning when she raises her hands in worship during the music. that little girl, officially "saved" or not, blesses me!
anyway, i noticed on my facebook post about this communion that someone simply commented "1st Corinthians 11:26-30." (note: i erased this post so as to protect the identity of this person) i didn't recall ever reading that, so i looked it up. it states that no one unworthily or unholy can accept communion and that was why so many were "weak and sick" because they took communion, basically, without proper credentials. (without being saved, i.e. admitting you need a Savior, and belief that Jesus was who He said He was and is)
now, i'm not saying that this person meant harm whatsoever. i have great respect for this individual. but it did get me thinking. that morning when my little girl took communion, i wonder what God saw. was it mud i smeared on His Son's death and resurrection when i allowed an unsaved girl to "eat of His body" and "drink of His blood?" was He disappointed or disdained with me? or did He see the heart of a woman who desperatley seeks out to please Him despite her daily failures, and a mother who desires to teach her children His ways and precepts? what did the Father see that morning?
which got me thinking further..what IS salvation? when the original communion took place, there had been NO death on a cross yet! His disciples were merely "saved" because they followed Him, they learned His ways and left all behind to seek after Him. abraham, isaac, jacob, king david, and on and on were "saved" because THEY BELIEVED and had faith in Him. and, in the Bible, it states that unless we become "like little children," we shall not inhereit the Kingdom of Heaven. this was said in the context of having faith like a little child who trusts in his/her parent for their very life. it is not a prayer that saves, it is not a terrible sinful road one goes down and THEN they can be saved, it is about believing, following, forsaking all, and recognizing we are a mess without our Messiah!!!
so, i wonder... calli knows what sin is, she believes in our Savior, she asks for forgiveness of her sins, she has a desire to read the Word and pray...does this mean she's "saved" ?? i guess now, at age 6, all that matters is that i'm teaching her truth and pray that she walks in that truth her entire life...but let's go one step further than a potentially unsaved 6 year old taking communion....
what about the ADULTS that morning taking communion? out of ritual..out of habit...out of pressure from whomever was sitting next to them. were there some in there with unclean hearts? some who didn't ask for forgiveness of their sins, some who had unforgiveness themselves? what about them?
so i ask you..make your own doctrinal/emotional/spiritual/mental conclusion...what pleased the Father the most? the tender young child, praying while a mother teaches her about the sacrifice of a Savior? or the unclean heart of an adult, the judgemental eye of an elder who thought maybe calli was too young to participate? i don't personally know what He thought, but what i do know is that i have two little girls and my own heart who desires to please Him..and for now, today, that's all i need to know.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
toothless is beautiful!
calli's top right tooth has been loose for about a month. A MONTH! do you know what it's like to have a 6 year old with a very very loose tooth for about a month..too loose for it not to wiggle around and not loose enough for it to come out. it's a daily conversation of "mom, when can you pull my tooth out?" "not yet honey" "UGH, WHEN MOM, WHEN?????!!!!!!"...which is then followed by me yelling "I DON'T KNOWWWWWWWW" ....i mean seriously. 30 days of this and you'd be yelling too.
after looking at her sideways tooth all day, david decided it was time to pull. he yanked, and jerked and POP! out came the tooth, and a little 6 year old girl was very very happy. mind you, she does NOT want the tooth fairy to have it for money..... "it can't be sold, mommy!"... apparantley we'll be keeping this one.
and of course spoken like a true girl she says, "i want to go look in the mirror!" after several minutes of inspecting her toothlessness, she came out of the bathroom proclaiming, "I LOOK WEIRD!" i laughed and teased of course, because that's just the type of wonderful mother i am! but david, no david wouldn't have any of it. he was insistent on telling her, "no you don't look weird! you're beautiful! everyone loses teeth..you look just beautiful!"
fast forward 10 minutes as he tucks her in bed and still calli says she looks weird, and still her daddy says, "no baby, you're beautiful. you don't look weird."
ahhhh...what a sweet reminder of what my Savior says to me when i say, "i sinned! i'm dirty! i look weird!!" He does just what david did to his daughter..."no darlena, you don't look weird. you're beautiful. I have forgiven you, you are cleansed by My blood."
so a big thanks to an amazing father for reminding me of my amazing Father in Heaven.
after looking at her sideways tooth all day, david decided it was time to pull. he yanked, and jerked and POP! out came the tooth, and a little 6 year old girl was very very happy. mind you, she does NOT want the tooth fairy to have it for money..... "it can't be sold, mommy!"... apparantley we'll be keeping this one.
and of course spoken like a true girl she says, "i want to go look in the mirror!" after several minutes of inspecting her toothlessness, she came out of the bathroom proclaiming, "I LOOK WEIRD!" i laughed and teased of course, because that's just the type of wonderful mother i am! but david, no david wouldn't have any of it. he was insistent on telling her, "no you don't look weird! you're beautiful! everyone loses teeth..you look just beautiful!"
fast forward 10 minutes as he tucks her in bed and still calli says she looks weird, and still her daddy says, "no baby, you're beautiful. you don't look weird."
ahhhh...what a sweet reminder of what my Savior says to me when i say, "i sinned! i'm dirty! i look weird!!" He does just what david did to his daughter..."no darlena, you don't look weird. you're beautiful. I have forgiven you, you are cleansed by My blood."
so a big thanks to an amazing father for reminding me of my amazing Father in Heaven.
Monday, September 19, 2011
eatin' gravel
a year ago yesterday....the morning of my nephew's wedding, i went jogging. it was early morning, my husband was at work, and my girls, my mom, and my brother were all still sleeping when i slipped outside for some cardio. on the run back to the house, i was enjoying the sound of my tennis shoes on the pavement when the next thing i know, i'm tripping over my own foot, and i fall. on my face.
i remember being eye level with road and rocks and asphalt, staring at the yellow line that divided the lanes. adrenaline shot through my system, but not enough to keep the stinging pain of road burn at bay. i knew i was hurt badly but had to force myself to get up, i still had another mile and half to go before i got back home. i kept telling myself "you're okay, darlena. you're okay. you're okay....i'm okay, i'm okay, i'm okay...darlena, you're okay...."
the walk home was agonizing. thankfully, i caught my body with my hands, so my face and head were saved, but the left side of my body was not so lucky. road rash stung, and with the cool september wind, every breeze was killing me. through tears, shortness of breath, and a lot of "you're okay, darlena," i made it home. i was hoping someone would be awake and help me with cleaning the rock and gravel out of my wounds. it would have been a nice release to finally cry like a small child over a skinned knee, but unfortunatley, everyone was still sleeping when i got home. my palms were injured, my elbow was bleeding profusley, my hip and thigh were raw, and there i stood at the kitchen sink washing all of it, alone and in pain..."it's okay darlena, i'm okay, i'm okay, this is okay".....
.....that wasn't the only time i've fallen on my face in this life, had to force myself back up because i had to, no matter how painful, tell myself it's okay, and make the journey back to where i started. or maybe where i started wasn't where i was headed, but i had to keep going no matter what. it wasn't the first time i've had to nurse my own wounds because i felt alone and in pain with no one there to help.
but the truth is, i was never alone. not the day i fell on the road in north carolina, or any of the other times i've fallen on the road of life. the bandaids i apply to my soul are Scriptures from God's Word..only, unlike natural bandaids that only cover the hurt, the Bible has the power to cover AND heal. i'm so thankful for a Savior who says to me, "you're okay, darlena. you're okay, I'm here...you're okay, I am with you," who cleans my wounds when i don't have the strength to, who picks the rocks out of my heart after falling on the ground. i may fall, but it's not me that has the power to get back up, it's He who lives inside of me.
i remember being eye level with road and rocks and asphalt, staring at the yellow line that divided the lanes. adrenaline shot through my system, but not enough to keep the stinging pain of road burn at bay. i knew i was hurt badly but had to force myself to get up, i still had another mile and half to go before i got back home. i kept telling myself "you're okay, darlena. you're okay. you're okay....i'm okay, i'm okay, i'm okay...darlena, you're okay...."
the walk home was agonizing. thankfully, i caught my body with my hands, so my face and head were saved, but the left side of my body was not so lucky. road rash stung, and with the cool september wind, every breeze was killing me. through tears, shortness of breath, and a lot of "you're okay, darlena," i made it home. i was hoping someone would be awake and help me with cleaning the rock and gravel out of my wounds. it would have been a nice release to finally cry like a small child over a skinned knee, but unfortunatley, everyone was still sleeping when i got home. my palms were injured, my elbow was bleeding profusley, my hip and thigh were raw, and there i stood at the kitchen sink washing all of it, alone and in pain..."it's okay darlena, i'm okay, i'm okay, this is okay".....
.....that wasn't the only time i've fallen on my face in this life, had to force myself back up because i had to, no matter how painful, tell myself it's okay, and make the journey back to where i started. or maybe where i started wasn't where i was headed, but i had to keep going no matter what. it wasn't the first time i've had to nurse my own wounds because i felt alone and in pain with no one there to help.
but the truth is, i was never alone. not the day i fell on the road in north carolina, or any of the other times i've fallen on the road of life. the bandaids i apply to my soul are Scriptures from God's Word..only, unlike natural bandaids that only cover the hurt, the Bible has the power to cover AND heal. i'm so thankful for a Savior who says to me, "you're okay, darlena. you're okay, I'm here...you're okay, I am with you," who cleans my wounds when i don't have the strength to, who picks the rocks out of my heart after falling on the ground. i may fall, but it's not me that has the power to get back up, it's He who lives inside of me.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
what's the point in having faith????
a woman's mother passed away tragically this morning of cancer. in speaking with someone who knows the friend, we bounced back the "whys" and the "i don't understands." the point was made that if God is in control anyway, why should we even have faith at all? why hope for a positive outcome, when God's sovereign will is going to prevail anyway? i've been thinking about this all day since our conversation.
first off, let me say that i am not, in any shape, form, or fashion one of those people that says "you shouldn't ask God 'why?'" in fact, that statement infuriates me! if we are to abide by His Word, to live for His purpose and glory, then we are to have a relationship with Him. and if we are to have relationship with Him, then we converse with Him and nothing is hidden from Him anyway..so even if you're thinking 'why?' in your heart, He already knows. so why not ask why? we may not get the answer we want, heck, we may not ever get an answer this side of the Kingdom...but i think it's okay to ask your Creator, your Savior, 'why?' when bad things happen. i even ask 'why?' when good things happen! okay, so now that that's out of the way....
so i've been thinking all day...what's the purpose? what's the reason in hope, in faith that people will be healed, that broken hearts become mended, that something will go our way..when all along, God is going to decide what is best either way, whether we like it or not?? i think it's important to understand that God's outcomes are not always what we think is perfect. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and My ways are not your ways." Isaiah 55:8. we don't see the big picture. we don't know the beginning from the end as our Father in Heaven does. if we were to choose how everything went in our life, it would be a huge mess, simply because we can't understand how our situations today would effect our future. Only a Soverign God could know that.
so i have come up with this; having faith and hope and trust isn't and shouldn't be about having a belief in how we want things to turn out. yes, we want God to heal our loved ones, yes, we want and believe God to make things right when storms come in our lives...but wanting God to do something isn't about faith, it's about a sense of control. true faith is, "okay God, i want this, or i need this. but if what i want, and if what i need do not line up with Your plan and Your will for me, then i'm okay. and i accept it. and i pray that as Your will is carried out in my life, that You would give me the strength to handle whatever Your will entails. and i'm going to hope and trust and have faith for the best, but i believe in You, and what You're going to do with me and through me during my trials. so even if things don't go how i want them to, how i pray they would, then it's okay. have Your way with me."
easier said than done? yes. but at the risk of sounding extremely cliche, our Father never promised us an easy road, but He HAS PROMISED that He will never ever ever ever leave or forsake. and that "ALL things work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
let's not every forget Job...who told his wife that he should curse God because of his trials. and instead he tells her that we shouldn't just accept the good from God in life, we must accept the bad too. my conversation bud this morning wasn't mad at God, so please don't think i'm telling you she had a bad attitude. but, she is broken hearted at seeing her friend go through this. her friend, who is a believer, and comes from a spiritual home. i know so many who are broken hearted for others and don't understand why they have to go through what they go through, but i believe in His promises. and i pray that you do too.
first off, let me say that i am not, in any shape, form, or fashion one of those people that says "you shouldn't ask God 'why?'" in fact, that statement infuriates me! if we are to abide by His Word, to live for His purpose and glory, then we are to have a relationship with Him. and if we are to have relationship with Him, then we converse with Him and nothing is hidden from Him anyway..so even if you're thinking 'why?' in your heart, He already knows. so why not ask why? we may not get the answer we want, heck, we may not ever get an answer this side of the Kingdom...but i think it's okay to ask your Creator, your Savior, 'why?' when bad things happen. i even ask 'why?' when good things happen! okay, so now that that's out of the way....
so i've been thinking all day...what's the purpose? what's the reason in hope, in faith that people will be healed, that broken hearts become mended, that something will go our way..when all along, God is going to decide what is best either way, whether we like it or not?? i think it's important to understand that God's outcomes are not always what we think is perfect. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and My ways are not your ways." Isaiah 55:8. we don't see the big picture. we don't know the beginning from the end as our Father in Heaven does. if we were to choose how everything went in our life, it would be a huge mess, simply because we can't understand how our situations today would effect our future. Only a Soverign God could know that.
so i have come up with this; having faith and hope and trust isn't and shouldn't be about having a belief in how we want things to turn out. yes, we want God to heal our loved ones, yes, we want and believe God to make things right when storms come in our lives...but wanting God to do something isn't about faith, it's about a sense of control. true faith is, "okay God, i want this, or i need this. but if what i want, and if what i need do not line up with Your plan and Your will for me, then i'm okay. and i accept it. and i pray that as Your will is carried out in my life, that You would give me the strength to handle whatever Your will entails. and i'm going to hope and trust and have faith for the best, but i believe in You, and what You're going to do with me and through me during my trials. so even if things don't go how i want them to, how i pray they would, then it's okay. have Your way with me."
easier said than done? yes. but at the risk of sounding extremely cliche, our Father never promised us an easy road, but He HAS PROMISED that He will never ever ever ever leave or forsake. and that "ALL things work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
let's not every forget Job...who told his wife that he should curse God because of his trials. and instead he tells her that we shouldn't just accept the good from God in life, we must accept the bad too. my conversation bud this morning wasn't mad at God, so please don't think i'm telling you she had a bad attitude. but, she is broken hearted at seeing her friend go through this. her friend, who is a believer, and comes from a spiritual home. i know so many who are broken hearted for others and don't understand why they have to go through what they go through, but i believe in His promises. and i pray that you do too.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
"this is how we should pray for others, as if it was happening to us"
i am apart of a secret group created by my brother on facebook called "the hiding place." it is strictly for myself and my siblings to post prayer requests, silly memories, or something that is weighing heavily on our hearts. this morning, my sister posted a prayer request for a friend of her's who is dealing with an ailing mother. my brother derek, with wisdom and compassion far greater than most, made the comment, "this is how we should pray for others, as if it were happening to us."
i'm not sure why, but i sat and stared at that sentence for a long time. i was reminded of Romans 12:15, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." have you ever done that? i'm sure you have; shared joy with another, or cried when you saw someone crying. maybe because you truly felt their pain, or maybe because seeing them hurt broke your heart. joy and tears can be contagious...but can we really say that when we pray for them, when we pray about anything, that we pray as if that very thing in their lives, or in the world, is happening to us? frankly, i'm not sure i can.
when we pray for hungry mouths to be fed, are we fervent enough in our prayers to seek the face of the Father and cry out for justice and mercy? or do we say a simple prayer like, "oh God, help them." yes, He hears those prayers also..but it's the heart behind the prayers that matters the most. how about when we ask that someone be healed from something? do we dare take it upon ourselves to put our bodies in their shoes and pray earnestly for a touch from the healing hand of a Savior?
what about when a friend is infertile, someone has lost their home in a fire, best friends get a divorce, a family member has a broken relationship with their child, a close relative has cancer, a nation devastated by disaster, famine, genocide? do we stay on our knees, with hands lifted high, pleading on others' accounts for the Creator of all to hear our prayers? do we care that much about one another that we are willing to enter the throne room of Heaven in order for the longings of others hearts to be fulfilled? we should. it's Biblical. when we say we "i'll pray for you" ....never underestimate the power of those words. take it seriously, because if someone is asking for prayer, you might be the only one listening. it could be your very prayer that is lifted up that causes a change in a situation. it could be your heart, your earnesty, your ferverncy, that could change a life.
what about one of the most important prayers of all? praying for the lost? i know that we can't pray as *if* we were lost, but we can pray as if we're going to hell right along side our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers. to put our loved ones, nations, people-groups in the face of God on a daily basis, pleading for the work of His Spirit to penetrate their hearts, is an act of pure love. if no man comes to the Father except by belief in Jesus and that He and He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) , then why do we have such complacency when it comes to praying for others' salvation? there are so many unbelievers that pass our way every single day..and what are we doing about it? religions as a whole, going to hell because of their lack of faith, people dying daily thinking they were "good enough" in this life so Heaven is an obvious place for them. WAKE UP PEOPLE! WHY ARE WE NOT IN FERVENT, NEVER-CEASING PRAYER?????????
my plea today, to myself and to you, is that we start praying with more passion. more love, more mercy, more hunger to see God work in ways that only He can. i ask that we pray for other's spiritual, physical, and emotional lives as if they were our very own. "this is how we should pray for others, as if it was happening to us"
i'm not sure why, but i sat and stared at that sentence for a long time. i was reminded of Romans 12:15, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." have you ever done that? i'm sure you have; shared joy with another, or cried when you saw someone crying. maybe because you truly felt their pain, or maybe because seeing them hurt broke your heart. joy and tears can be contagious...but can we really say that when we pray for them, when we pray about anything, that we pray as if that very thing in their lives, or in the world, is happening to us? frankly, i'm not sure i can.
when we pray for hungry mouths to be fed, are we fervent enough in our prayers to seek the face of the Father and cry out for justice and mercy? or do we say a simple prayer like, "oh God, help them." yes, He hears those prayers also..but it's the heart behind the prayers that matters the most. how about when we ask that someone be healed from something? do we dare take it upon ourselves to put our bodies in their shoes and pray earnestly for a touch from the healing hand of a Savior?
what about when a friend is infertile, someone has lost their home in a fire, best friends get a divorce, a family member has a broken relationship with their child, a close relative has cancer, a nation devastated by disaster, famine, genocide? do we stay on our knees, with hands lifted high, pleading on others' accounts for the Creator of all to hear our prayers? do we care that much about one another that we are willing to enter the throne room of Heaven in order for the longings of others hearts to be fulfilled? we should. it's Biblical. when we say we "i'll pray for you" ....never underestimate the power of those words. take it seriously, because if someone is asking for prayer, you might be the only one listening. it could be your very prayer that is lifted up that causes a change in a situation. it could be your heart, your earnesty, your ferverncy, that could change a life.
what about one of the most important prayers of all? praying for the lost? i know that we can't pray as *if* we were lost, but we can pray as if we're going to hell right along side our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers. to put our loved ones, nations, people-groups in the face of God on a daily basis, pleading for the work of His Spirit to penetrate their hearts, is an act of pure love. if no man comes to the Father except by belief in Jesus and that He and He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) , then why do we have such complacency when it comes to praying for others' salvation? there are so many unbelievers that pass our way every single day..and what are we doing about it? religions as a whole, going to hell because of their lack of faith, people dying daily thinking they were "good enough" in this life so Heaven is an obvious place for them. WAKE UP PEOPLE! WHY ARE WE NOT IN FERVENT, NEVER-CEASING PRAYER?????????
my plea today, to myself and to you, is that we start praying with more passion. more love, more mercy, more hunger to see God work in ways that only He can. i ask that we pray for other's spiritual, physical, and emotional lives as if they were our very own. "this is how we should pray for others, as if it was happening to us"
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