Jesus!

This past year I have been studying the words of Christ.  As I finished reading Luke and typing my notes the Spirit filled me strongly.  I was thinking of how the disciples praised God continually at the end of the book of Luke, because of the awesome things they had seen.  God had finally allowed them to see the purpose for Jesus coming.  That He had died that our sins might be remitted. Jesus expounded the scriptures to them and they finally understood.   What an amazing feeling that must have been for all of Jesus teachings to come together.  I then began to picture Jesus being carried into heaven.  I was overcome with what an awesome sight that must of been for his disciples to see him rise into heaven.  The Spirit came over me strong and I felt the need to pray.  I was trying to be led in prayer.  At first I felt led to praise Jesus and thank Him for the gift of salvation.  After that, I  felt led that as awesome as it was to see Jesus ascend into heaven, that if we were diligent and faithful, we might be able to see the awesome sight of Jesus descending from heaven.  The spirit continued with me as I prayed for Zion and had the awe-inspiring thought that this could happen in our lifetime.  I felt the desire that Jesus needs us to walk on a higher plane.  His work is commencing and there is so much expected of us if we would prepare like never before.  I felt strongly like we could see Jesus returning.  Thank you Lord for your ways are awesome.  My small mind cannot even begin to understand your ways and the joy and plan that you have prepared for those that will follow you.

I Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

(As an aside, after the retreat Eli picked up on the theme that Jesus is coming.  He kept asking when Jesus was coming.  When I told him I didn’t know, He responded, he’s coming in 40 days.)

Also, during a sermon at the retreat, it was mentioned that we do not know the day or the hour that Jesus returns.  Rob compared this to being pregnant.  We don't know the day or hour when we will deliver, but we do know the season.  I had never thought of it this way before, and it has really stuck with me.

God in Action

The other day I was chatting with Mom on the computer.  While we were talking she got a call from Uncle Ron on the phone.  He had called to tell her the blessing of Aunt Di getting her Visa in time for them to go adopt Ruth from Africa. Then we did a three way chat so I could hear too.  Ron then expressed how they still needed prayers for he and Di to be able to travel together.  For some crazy reason Ron's flight was leaving from KC and Di's from Chicago.  Then Mom said how she was driving to Champaign to visit me and she could just drive them both to Chicago so they wouldn't be separated.  The dates worked out perfectly for her to drop them off and pick them up. 

 Later that day I was reading an email that Jan Jordison sent out about Ron and Di.  It told of the different blessings they had received so far in their process to adopt Ruth.  It then said that they still needed prayers for the flight situation to work out, so they could travel together.  It was really neat, because before my very eyes, I had seen that prayer being answered through Ron’s phone call with Mom.  I was just impressed with getting to physically God work in action.  Today I was able to accompany Ron and Di to the airport.  It was a long day being in the car for six hours with the kids, but I was happy to be a tag along to an answer to prayer.

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.