Prayer for Sister

My sister is in Cape Town, South Africa to help pilot a child life program.  I am so proud of her.  She is so much more independent and brave than I am.  I have been praying for her and her travels.  I have been especially praying for her travel as she tries to navigate her way to South Africa all by herself.  Today I got a little teary while reading her blog. 

This is what she said “I never quite felt like James Bond or an international spy maneuvering my way through international airports (the way one friend said I would) but it is pretty empowering to travel around the world by yourself. I guess I shouldn’t say by myself, because I did feel His peaceful spirit with me the whole way. I never felt alone or afraid.”

It was so neat to read that, because that had pretty much been my exact prayer.  That she wouldn’t feel alone.  That she would be mindful of the Holy Spirit traveling with her.  It is so awesome to pray for someone and then see your prayer answered word for word.  As I read her blog, I knew that god had answered mine and I’m sure many other prayers.  God is so good!

 

True Love

My sister wrote this and I thought it was absolutely beautiful.  I am posting it here for safe keeping, so that I can be reminded of it often.

true love

Sunday, February 8, 2009

The women in my family have a quirky habit of speaking aloud their confessions of love for their husbands when no one is around. It is said in slightly more than a whisper and somewhat under their breath. My mom says, "Alan" when she thinks about my dad or how much she loves him. My sister says, "I love you" when she thinks of Peter or when she does something that embarasses her. Somehow reminding herself of his presence in her life brings her comfort. The funny thing is, they don't realize they've said it aloud. If I overhear my sister's quiet "I love you," I'll respond "I love you, too" just to draw her attention to it. We usually laugh because we both know she wasn't saying it to me, but somehow confessing it into the universe which delivers it to Peter. :)

 Tonight I was thinking back about my day as I was putting away my laundry. I had just come from an awesome church meeting where some tangeable plans for Zionic living were discussed and plans made to implement them. It got me thinking even further about how present God has been in my life lately. I'm feeling Him daily working in my life, molding and changing me into a new creature. I'm coming to know and understand him more in ways that are exciting for me. I even had a friend correct my actions today and rather than being hurt or defensive, I found myself thankful for his love in desiring for me to be a better person. Because of that love, I understood God's love in my life even more. While thinking about these things, I found myself saying aloud, "Love you Lord." I said it before I even realized what I was doing. After I said it, I laughed - realizing I had inherited that same quirky habit of speaking aloud my confession of love for the one I love. Then I cried...because I truely felt the true love for the one who created me and in return the deepness of His love for me.

 With Valentine's Day around the corner, I wanted to share my confession of love! I know that may sound odd to some, but I am more aware than ever of true love this year! :)

In Sync

Today I was listening to scriptures on my ipod.  I heard a passage that I wanted to highlight in my scriptures.  I knew what chapter it was in, but had no idea what verse.  I opened up my scriptures to the correct chapter, while I continued to listen on my ipod.  The first verse I laid my eyes on was word for word what I was hearing in my ipod.  It was so amazing to be reading and hearing the same words, so spontaneously.  I immediately said a prayer of thanksgiving for the Lord allowing me to feel in sync with him at that moment.  I love the little ways the Lord shows us that He is near!

A parent's love

I was reading an article out of a magazine recently.  I loved the correlation that it made between how we as parents deal with children and how are Father in Heaven deals with us.

Eli has been difficult lately and I have been feeling inadequate as mother and how I am dealing with my frustration.  I read this article and it made me cry, thinking about how awesome God’s love is.  It was just what I needed to hear.  Here is an excerpt. 

God knew every sleep-deprived thought I’d ever have, every burst of anger I’d ever display, every chink in my armor, every dark corner of my unloving heart.  He knew I’d be selfish and irrational, forgetful and unorganized, inadequate and completely incapable.

            And yet he still chose me.

            And he still chose you.

God still chooses neurotic, insecure women to be moms because he knows that parenthood provides one of the best pictures he could give us of his unconditional love.  He chose parenthood so that one day we could look into the eyes of our children, clearly see all their failures and shortcomings and, without hesitation from the very depths of our soul, say, “I love you no matter what.”

All with the hope that in this image, we’ll see the shadow of another; the reflection that is us – broken children standing before a loving father.  And in spite of us, God loves us with a love that transcends understanding.

MomSense Jan/Feb 2009 p25

 

I think about how much I love Eli, in the midst of him driving me crazy.  I just love the idea that God made us parents, so that we could have a glimpse of how much he loves us, despite how much I’m driving Him crazy.

Thank you Lord for your timing in letting me read this article and for a deeper understanding of your love.

 John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Summer 1995 Witness to Friends

This is one of my faavorite personal expriences I have ever had with the Lord and has helped guide my path.

            One summer in high school, I was at a senior high camp outside of Columbia, MO.  I decided that I would take considerable time out to fast over several days.  I spent a lot of time reading scripture and praying for several of my friends.  I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing or what I was praying about.  I didn’t even tell my sister, who was also at the camp with me.  In many ways I was kind of a hermit that week.  Instead of going to some of the activities I spent the time reading my scriptures, praying and fasting.  As the week went on, I began to wonder if God was hearing my prayers.  Did He even know who I was.  As insignificant as I am, was he interested?

            On the last day of camp we had a dedication service to finish the week off.  At that service another camper, whom I had not spoken much to, stood up and spoke.  She said, “Erin, Jesus wants you to know that if you will witness to your friends, he will make you strong.”  Wow!  The Spirit flooded over me strongly and I began to cry.  I had not told anyone what I had been praying about and here God was speaking directly to me, addressing my needs and desires.  More than that, he had called me by name.  He knew my name!  He knew my concerns and he cared enough about me to tell me so.  That was a life changing experience from my youth.  I remember I was on a spiritual high afterwards, even when I got home.  Even today I feel the Spirit when I think about this testimony.  How important it is for all of us to know that Jesus knows our name and loves us.

PRAISE HIM

I have been reading the book Disciple by Juan Ortiz.  Yesterday it talked about how we need to praise the Lord specifically and in all things.  Don’t just say praise the Lord, but tell the Lord why you are praising him.  He said instead of complaining about the weather, why don’t we find something in the weather to praise God about.  For instance, that the freeze has finally killed the pirate gnats that have been biting me.  J  I decided that I wanted to practice praising the Lord in all things.

Today I needed to clean the bathroom.  Usually I grumble the whole time about how I can’t stand to clean the bathroom.  Today I consciously thought of things that I was thankful for in the bathroom.  I was thankful that I could have running water and a toilet indoors.  I was thankful for proper cleaning supplies that would kill germs.  I was thankful for lenolium on my floor that is so easy to clean up.  I was even thankful that I had only one bathroom instead of two, because that meant less time cleaning bathrooms.  I even started singing a thank you song I made up.  It was amazing.  I honestly did not mind cleaning my bathroom this morning.  I actually kind of enjoyed it and I also enjoyed trying to think of different ways that I was thankful.   Men are that they might have joy.  When God tells us to do something, it is not because he enjoys ordering us around.  It is because he knows how to make us happy.  When we do what he says not only are we pleasing God, but it also makes us joyful.  Thank you Lord for helping me remember the joy that comes from praising you!

Fruits of the Spirit

Galatians 5: 22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.

At a prayer service before reunion Dad read this scripture several times.  We were asked to really think about a specific fruit of the Spirit that we would like to have in our lives and pray for it that week.  The two fruits that I chose were joy and faith.  I wanted a joy that people would be able to see and a stronger faith to help make a difference in people’s lives.

I could feel my joy becoming more full at reunion and I have continued to have the gift of joy for two months now.  I have a noticeably different appreciation for my life.  I find myself being so grateful for each day with my kids.  I feel like I am able to deal with them with so much more love and patience.  I am so appreciative of my husband also. 

I especially noticed more joy when Peter left for a few days several weeks ago to minister in Austin, TX.   Normally I would be worried about being alone with a new baby and toddler.  When Peter leaves I can tend to get overwhelmed and sometimes a little sullen.  I did not feel any of these things while he was gone.  I honestly loved every moment I had with the kids for those few days.  I was also able to be very productive.  I actually got more done than when Peter is home.  It’s hard to explain, but as I was going throughout my days while Peter was gone, I felt like I was reminded of my desire for joy and that the Lord was showing me that he was giving me this gift.

Now, recently with Kyle doing so well, how can that do anything but strengthen my faith.

I am so grateful for the gifts of the Spirit, joy and faith, that the Lord has given to me.  I encourage you to read over the fruits of the Spirit several times and ask God to give you the fruit that you need most in your life.