What Do You Call Your Time With God?

One morning, a co-worker spotted me at the coffee shop. With books, journal, and Bible sprawled over the table, she asked, "Whatcha up to?" When I told her I was having a Quiet Time, she smiled. It had been a long time since she'd heard that term.

What do you call your time with God?

I think many, today, call their Bible reading time "devotions." Andrew Murray, in Daily Experience With God, shares other possibilities:

Quiet Hour
Still Hour
Quiet Time
Morning Watch

I love the last one. "Watch," to me, speaks of anticipation.

Do you come to your Quiet Time with anticipation?

I have to say, I struggle every single morning to rise before the rest of the family to have a "quiet" time. But once the coffee's hot and the Bible is open, I come with expectancy. What will God reveal of Himself? How will He speak to me of current circumstances?

I'm so looking forward to hearing from you. Share your struggles. Share your questions. Share your successes. Let's help each other.

Ever Growing,
Lonnie

Keep My Children Safe, Lord

My children's safety. I pray for it "daily." Mat rides bike every day -- rain, snow, ice, heat, and even on those occasional Minnesota-best-for-riding-bike-type days. April leaves home about 3:30 a.m. and let's just say, (and she would agree) we have different driving styles.

I still pray for their safety but my attitude is changing along with my prayers.

Jim Daly in "Stronger" writes about recording artist Danny Oertli. One night, Danny prayed for his adopted son Jack: "Lord, put a bubble around him and let nothing ever happen to this kid. Keep him safe emotionally and physically and spiritually."

One night, however, God caused Danny to remember struggles in his life -- times when Danny had nowhere else to turn but to God. In his memory, those are sacred times. "Danny realized," writes Jim Daly, "that he didn't want Jack to be safe. He wanted Jack to love Jesus."

If you had to choose, would you have your children safe or loving Jesus? That is SO tough!

God,
You know that, if it were possible, I'd spare my children every pain I could -- be it physical, emotional, financial, or relational. But God, like Danny Oertil, one of the times I felt You closest and one of the times Your voice seemed the clearest was when I was so broken I didn't know where to find the pieces. So God, I place the hearts and lives of my children in Your hands. There is no safer place for them to be. When they struggle and hurt and when confusion overwhelms, give them a heart to run to You. And let me, as a parent trust You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

How do "you" pray for your children? Marge shared that she prays for her chldren to forever walk with the Lord. Wow! That's a great place to start. Thanks Marge.

Forever Growing,
Lonnie

** Stronger by Jim Daly with James Lund (p. 99-100); David C. Cook Publishing 2010

Life Changing Gratitude

Did you know that a "Habit" of Gratitude . . .
1. Increases your natural antibodies
2. Is associated with healthier blood pressure and heart rate
3. Speeds healing for recipients of donated organs.
* Debbie Macomber (One Simple Act) quoting Stephan Post (Why Good Things Happen To Good People)

That's just a sampling of benefits and they're all physical. But they were enough to open my eyes and make my heart receptive to other possibilities.

"I just can't help but share," writes Ann Voscamp, "how life changing this gratitude experiment has been." (One Thousand Gifts p. 133)

Life Changing? That's what I needed. I determined to sweeten my spirit by beginning my own gratitude list. Voscamp began by listing 1000. I'm slightly past 500.

1. Working furnace . . .
30. Health . . .
45. Full Cupboards . . .
63. Faithful Husband . . .
64. Talented and Compassionate Children . . .
72. Wind. I Love the Wind! . . .
84. God's Word and Freedom to Read It . . .
92. Laughter . . .
101. Comfortable bed . . .
189. Cute (I mean Cute!) Grandchildren . . .
203. Friends . . .
225. Coffee Shops . . . and the neat people who work there . . .
300. Nature Trails . . .
350. Hugs . . .
375. Smiles . . .
538. (One of today's) Handwritten letters or notes, delivered by a mail person.

Life Changing?
I picture richer relationships,
deeper intimacy with God,
emotional healing,
melting bitterness and
changed environments at home and at work.
Can you think of other benefits? Have you witnessed some in your own life or in the lives of others?

I began seeing books on gratitude everywhere, and hearing radio programs with similar messages. One morning, I listened to an audio book about living a life of giving thanks. Besides sprinkling words like blessing and grace throughout the text, the author used research and scientific evidence to convince her audience that thanks-giving held great value. About three chapters in, she introduced chanting and meditation.

Like thanksgiving, meditation is a Biblical word and concept. But as this blog positions itself, discernment is needed.

To whom do we give thanks? James 1:17 tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God.

On what do we meditate? Biblical meditation is not “emptying” our minds -- Biblical meditation is “filling” our minds. Psalms encourages us to meditate on God’s unfailing love, His works, His law, His wonders and on His promises. Now there, my friend, is something to lower your blood pressure, compliment your health and increase your sense of well-being.


Longing for a Sweeter Spirit and More of God,
Lonnie

P.S.
First Thessalonians 5 encourages us to give thanks in all circumstances, because it is God’s will for us. (Hmm. Thanks-giving isn’t always a response to what we already have; apparently it’s also an expression of trust.)

I Can't Do This Alone!

"'I can't do this alone,'" Lori cried out to God. "'It's too hard. If You're really there, then show me, and I will trust You.'

"Lori sensed an answer in the stillness.

"'Trust Me first--then I will show you.'"

(Strong by Jim Daly, p. 30)

This anecdote, even without your knowing Lori's circumstances, can stand all by itself. No Lonnie-comments needed.

I'd love, however, to read of a time when "you" knew you couldn't do it alone. Did you see first, then trust? Or trust and then see?

Immanuel: God With Us,
Lonnie

Holding God's Hand

"One of the joys of being with kids is holding their hands. We do it to keep them safe while crossing the street, or to keep them from getting lost in a crowd. And whenever they stumble and lose their footing, we grab their little hands tighter to keep them from falling.

"That's what God does for us . . . " (Joe Stowell/Our Daily Bread Journal/November 25)

The picture is beautiful . . . but the premise of my blog prompts me to ask, "Is it Scriptural?"

Let's begin with the "qualifier." Are we children? Children of God? We certainly have the opportunity to be so. You'll find an invitation in John 1:12:

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God."

"Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." Romans 8:14

Are you a child of God?

You've been with people who answer a question with another question. Likewise, God's invitation asks us to respond with an invitation. We are to invite Him into our hearts and lives -- in doing so, we invite Him to call the shots. That can be scary, but we will never find a more loving Father, nor one who knows and acts upon what is the very best for us.

So, what about the hand-holding part? Does God keep us from falling? Can He really keep me from being consumed by covetousness, self-pity, or self-righteousness? When He sees me falling, will He grab my hand and hold tighter?

Scripture says, Yes, but . . . I have to let Him.

1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out . . . " (a way of escape NAS).

"To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy. . . " Jude 24

God, when you reach out to hold our hand. When it almost hurts because You are holding so tight, help us trust. Help us cooperate. Help us, Lord, to receive your Father-love.

Friend, if you need to see your Father smile, look up. He is.

Holding His Hand,
Lonnie

* All Scripture references NIV unless noted otherwise

Anchors or Rudders?

“You cannot change the past, but the past can change you; either for better or for worse . . . the past can be a rudder that guides you or an anchor that hinders you.”
Warren Wiersbe

Make a list of events and circumstances throughout your life. Then mark each one with A for anchor or R for rudder. You will see where God has already worked and where work still needs to be done.

My list might include: living on welfare, rejected articles, date rape, death of parents, spiritual abuse, not going to college or being able to send my children to college.

Your list will include different things: maybe child abuse or divorce; maybe alcoholism or a demotion; maybe job loss or foreclosure.

Allow me to highlight one of my experiences that has been both an anchor and a rudder. Welfare checks, low income housing and food stamps trashed my self-esteem, ended some relationships and prevented others. It certainly made self-pity the Lord of my life.

Once out of welfare, fear of that trial being repeated sat like a wrecking ball in my heart. I, at times, feared acknowledging a blessing or provision for fear that the very claiming of it would cause me to lose it.

On the other hand -- I've grown in compassion. I've come to enjoy gentle and intimate walks with God along man-made paths in the midst of God-made beauty. I've learned to "use" coupons, not let them use me to buy what I don't need. I'm relearning generosity, gratitude, and though slowly, I'm learning how to dream . . . to expect that God still has good (maybe even exciting) plans for my life.

Does Warren Wiersbe's quote from Chapter by Chapter (page 258) line up with God's Word? I think so. Joseph is an obvious example.

"And now don't be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life . . . to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance." (Genesis 45:4-7 CSB)

Sorry for taking the easy one, but can you cite any other examples? If so, please share.

God, the miracle worker and heart changer, can turn any anchor into a rudder.

Being Changed By Him,
Lonnie

One Sentence!

"The thing I loved about Nadine was that I never felt like she was selling anything. She would talk about God as if she knew Him, as if she had talked to Him on the phone that day. She was never ashamed, which is the thing with some Christians I encounted. They felt like they had to sell God, as if He were soap or a vacuum cleaner, and it's like they really weren't listening to me; they didn't care, they just wanted me to buy their product." Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz p. 52

This week a woman shared, with tears in her eyes, how God used her polio stricken husband. When a man entered their church one Sunday, her husband asked the man if he came because he was curious or because he wanted to learn about Jesus. Fifteen years later, they received a letter. Because of the question the man had been asked on that Sunday, a future day found him accepting Jesus as his Saviour.

One sentence!

On our first visit to a church, the worship leader addressed the congregation as "Beloved." We've attended that church, now, for several months. And several times since, he has again addressed us as "Beloved." Every time, it brings healing to my heart.

One Word!

Imagine what God might be doing with the sincere words you speak!

What, in God's Word, encourages you to share Jesus in your most natural and genuine way? And to trust Him with the results?


Beloved and Growing -- How about you?
Lonnie