"I'll Pray for You"

You've said it. You know you have. 

Someone is having a bad day or posts something terrible on Facebook that they are experiencing. You respond with, "I'll pray for you." because clicking the Like button doesn't seem right.

I once saw a cartoon of a gal quickly saying, "Lord, please be with Meredith." Next screen, the gal walks towards Meredith and says, "I've been praying for you!" 

Oh - I've never done THAT! Could we be any lower than to promise prayer that isn't delivered? Well.. sure we could! I think it's often 'the thought that counts! I also think, however, that we're better than that.

What does it mean to pray for someone? What should we say? What happens on God's side once we do?  

I once used a metaphor of a giant rope or tornado (from this Kansas gal) of prayer that swirls around and gains strength. The more prayers that are added on behalf of a person or situation - even country - the more significant of message it is able to send to God. God hears all of our prayers, but I think numbers help.
     "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according 
     to his will, he hears us." 1 John 5:14
I'm not over-confident about these things, but I feel God has led me to understand that praying for others gives strength and power to the situation as well. The tornado has an energy. Therefore, in an honest moment, I simply say, "Lord, I'm lifting up this person. Please take them into your care for your will." If I have specifics to add, I certainly do that -- even the little stuff like passing a test or buying a car. God wants us to be specific. I then imagine adding my energy to their tornado. I've even felt at times as I've I'm the one getting it going. For some friends, however, I know I'm just adding to the masses of prayers already lifted up... and that feels pretty great.

How it works from there? 'God only knows!' Does He consider our prayers in his decision-making? Has the path already been laid out and our prayers give the family the grace to survive the ordeal? I just don't know and can find some relief that I don't. I do know that I have prayed ardently, on my knees, for blessings and they have come. The wonder of God's grace is that my prayers were answered -- not in the way I thought they would be -- but always much, much better than I could have imagined.

And then it doesn't work as we expect. Make no mistake that those moments suck the breath right out of you. Understanding will not come... for now. I know who's holding on the tightest to me or my loved ones at that time. My prayer at that time is for the peace that passes understanding.

Lately I've been reading and considering "The Prayer of Jabez"; 
     "Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be 
     with me, and that You would keep evil from me, that I may not cause pain!" (1 Chronicles 4:9-10.)
No easy thing to ask for blessings for yourself and to enlarge your territory! My favorite line in the play "Lil' Abner" would remind me that "my horizons are wide enough!" And yet, isn't this God's plan? Doesn't He expect us to want more assignments as we get better at our job?

Stay with me here -- I'm getting to a point.

What if we combined the two? What power of grace would we be tapping into if we prayed genuinely for others with true grace and conviction while also praying the Prayer of Jabez for ourselves? God just whispered in my ear that we'd tap into "Just what I want you to." (I love it when He does this!) Dr. Wilkinson, the author of "The Prayer of Jabez; Breaking Through to the Blessed Life" reminds us again and again that there is a storehouse of grace just waiting to be broken into. We only need to ask. 

Wait just a second. My parents taught me not to be greedy. How about you? 

I think this 'asking' is on a different plane. It's an acknowledgement to God. It's a key to the door. It's telling Him, "I'm on your side and am wearing the jersey. I'd like to reap the benefits of being on the winning team." We are still asked to do more and more for his glory!! He must, however, equip us with the skills and, yes, perhaps even 'riches' in order to accomplish the task! Haven't you ever thought that you would be able to more mission work or give more to the poor and needy if only you had a bit more in your pocket-book at the end of the month? Perhaps I'm reaching here ... and, believe me, my pocket-book is pretty thin -- but I get the feeling that He's waiting to catch our attention. He's waiting for us to "get it". Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

Mind b l o w n.

Head back to Jabez. "Oh that you would bless me indeed." This from a guy who was a disappointment to his mother from the start. If Jabez knows to ask... why don't we?

Here's what I'm thinking. I'm going to make a list of my family, friends, co-workers, etc. For at least two weeks, if not much more, I'm going to text the next person on the list and let them know I'm praying for them. "No thanks required but if there's something special I can pray for you, just let me know." I'm also going to pray the Prayer of Jabez. I'm going to find that quiet place (usually in my car) and open my heart and mind to Jesus and PRAY. In Philip Yancey's book, "Prayer; Does It Make Any Difference?", he reminds us to keep it short and to the point. No need to flower it up. Just give it from the heart.

Let's see what happens. 

Keep in mind, I'm not expecting anything tangible to show up at my door. I am hoping for understanding and insight. These are the gifts I long for and pray to be given. I'm certainly not testing God -- that's definitely NOT a good idea. I'm just trying to follow the advice that keeps landing in my lap. Prayer is the access to the source. It is the tool. Use it.

How about you? Feeling brave? Want to join me?  Let me know if you do! 

In the meantime... I'll be praying for you!

You Can't Wipe Away the Sunshine

It's time.
It's time. It's time. It's time.

I've been on a writing hiatus. Jesus keeps hinting at me that it's time to get the keys to clackin'.

But you see... my mom died. My MOM died. And things will never be the same again. You can gain money you have lost, you can remarry, you can usually start over - different - but over; but you can't get another mom... especially one like mine, and this leaves me broken.

Is Jesus still across from me at our table? Oh yes! He's there.

I've got to tell you this one. The other day, I was driving and talking with our Savior. I was focused and really digging into some stuff with Him. I had a flash of "what if this really is my conscious talking?" Ugh! I CAN'T BELIEVE I still do this! I find myself asking (or some demon whispering), "What if I'm telling myself what I want to hear? If it's my voice, how do I know what I think are His responses aren't?" J u s t  l i k e  t h a t . . . the voice was gone... and so were my thoughts. I was focused on nothing. All I saw was light blue. (A bit nerve-wracking since I was driving.) It lasted for 30 seconds or so -- which can be quite a long time of nothingness. When I snapped out of it I heard, "It's me. I'm here."

Never were the words, "Be still and know I am God." so very, very true to me.

So how do we live this life of grief together? I've cried to Him, at Him, and with Him. I've prayed for those who have lost mothers and especially for those who don't know Jesus and think that death is final. I can't even begin to imagine loss without the comfort of my Lord.

Tonight I was at a wonderful meeting for Women of Worship (WOW). The message from our speaker was that no matter how many pieces you have shattered into, He will mend you back together. I feel the mending happening everyday. I've been through grief before and I know the feeling of looking behind me and discovering that I'm "so much better"... only to discover that I still had so far to go. I expected this feeling. I knew to stop and truly grieve. I knew to say NO to committees and commitments. I knew to cry in the open and let my daughters see it happen. Doesn't mean my heart was any less broken. I knew, however, what to look for and to let the wave crash and roll.

What I didn't know until now is how much He would hurt and grieve with me. This is the blessing of knowing our Lord. The closer He gets ... the closer He gets.

The tide of grief is beginning to ebb. I'm starting to feel... better. I will miss her every day. I will miss her intelligence and the look of delight she had EVERY time she saw me. I will miss her warmth -- the warmth that only a mother can give. I've been so very cold this year.

Jesus has been a guide of graciousness. I've learned a new view on compassion for others. I have reinforced the importance of turning to Him in time of need. We all talk about it, and my worse fears came true that only practice makes us more proficient at fully relying on Him. Jesus also reminded me again of the lesson of forgiveness. I was so hurt when friends didn't contact me after mom had died. I had to spend some serious time forgiving them. It is so true that there is an immediate release of pressure once you have forgiven. Forgiveness makes things ok - not great, but ok. You're able to let go of the anger.

I've also learned lessons of love from the One who is love. I have two favorite cousins in the world that came to be with me a total of three times during our weeks of losing my mother. I have no doubt - no doubt - He arranged their coming and going. I've learned that those who say they love you, like a group of Bible Study friends, will actually pick you up when you've fallen on your floor sobbing. I also know that true love never leaves you. It's like I tell my girls, "You can't wipe off mommy's kisses. It's like trying to wipe off the sunshine." I know now how true that is.

My words are meant to be a love letter to my Lord. This broken child is still here at His table, singing praises to the one who heals. Why don't I slam my fists down and scream a big 'ol, "Why me?" It's simple. His love and grace have been wrapped so tightly around me since her last breath that I can operate at 50%. There is only one set of footprints. He's praying for me. He's not letting me go. I think too many times I watch others running away from the love He gives.

He's got you too, by the way. Oh I pray you know that He's holding you. Are you running from Him or to Him?

My grief isn't over and in some ways I find an odd comfort that it never will be. I can start turning my eyes towards a warm glimmer on the horizon. I'm anxious to discover the new me I'll be. I'm anxious for the ideas He will send my way to write about. I'm ready to laugh really loudly again. But for now... instead of sitting at His table, I'm at His feet, and we remember... We remember her beautiful smile and the unique example of love she was. It's that love that I feel from them both now... and it's taking away the chill.