Arise, shine; for your light has come

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you." Isaiah 60:1 (NAS)

Happy December 1st, Prayer Warriors!

It is the wonderful season of Advent and my heart is exceedingly glad!

If you've been wandering around in the dark, feeling weary, perhaps thinking God has stopped listening to your cries, then rejoice! In actuality, even when we are unaware, he steers us to the light, carries the load for us, and tenderly hears every utterance from our mouths and hearts.

God does those things with love, because as a friend says, "That's just how He rolls."

He does those things even when we protest and are arrogant with Him. He's still actively at work in our lives. God proved His incredible love for us by sending His only begotten Son to live among the filth of humanity. No matter the dirt or pain in our lives, Jesus is the light.

My prayer for you today is for Jesus to light your way. Lean on Him, even when it appears you can't feel Him.

He's there.

Waiting.

With open arms.

Arise, shine; for your light has come!

Anticipation of the Unseen

I was recently at a funeral for a precious little 2 year old boy. Words cannot describe the pain and joy that were intermingled into his service. But they were both present as tears, smiles, sobs, and laughter were shared among the family and friends there.

One of the pastors shared a story of how this sweet little man's Mama was filled with utter excitement as she carried him, anticipating his birth, loving him before she'd seen him.

He compared that moment in her life to the anticipation we each carry inside of us.

The anticipation of the unseen.

The anticipation of Heaven, of looking at Jesus face to face, of seeing our loved ones who are already there waiting for us to make it home.

There was something about what he said that made it possible for me to wrap my head around the devastating loss for a brief moment. I don't understand why He chose to take this sweet boy with the never-ending grin back home to Him. I don't understand why a big, amazing miracle didn't take place. 

But I do understand what the anticipation of the unseen feels like.

It's enough to take the agony away for a brief moment, to be replaced by a feeling of hope.

Hope.

The pastor's word were healing words to my heart in the wake of the miscarriage I had recently. I never saw my baby. Never felt her breath on my neck. Never felt her tiny fingers wrap around mine. But I know what the expectant hope of seeing her again feels like. I carry it with me all the time.

My prayer for you is that in the midst of heartache, or loss, or feelings of insecurity, or whatever is happening in your life that is causing you to turn your eyes toward Heaven and sigh, that you'll feel expectancy in anticipating the unseen.

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I shall go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself; that where I am, you also may be. John 14:2,3

Who Do You Say He Is?

He (Jesus) said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:15-16

Do you ever get weary? Perhaps physically exhausted?

Are there days you feel like being disobedient or ungrateful even when you know you shouldn't give in to your own private pity party?

Maybe you've been so sad that you didn't want to try to find something good on which to re-focus your thoughts. 

Perhaps you've been angry.

Really angry.

What do you do at times like these? I've been known to throw my hands up in despair, or other times mutter under my breath. If there's a pebble in my path I'll sometimes kick it as hard as I can.

I'm sure Satan is cheering me on during these moments. "That's it! You pitch that fit! You can get angrier than that! COME ON! You know that person's a jerk and deserves your WRATH! You know your kids are just going to keep fighting. Just SCREAM AT THEM! LOUDER!"

I can just imagine God's pain when I'm forgetting who He really is. He wants to be the lifter of our heads. He wants to be our joy and strength to see us through the rough times. He wants to be the best friend we've ever had. He doesn't want to be the God we desperately turn to only in dire emergencies or dreaded painful moments.

He wants to be the main part of our lives all day.

Every day.

For an eternity.

As some of you know, I miscarried a baby just this past Tuesday. It was incredibly sad, somewhat physically painful, and emotionally trying. But for some reason, through the entire ordeal, all I could think of was how good God truly is. I was thankful for the life He'd given me, even though it wasn't long enough in my eyes. I praised Him for being with me through all the tears. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, prayers and heartfelt sentiments that God placed on people's hearts to share with me. It was a difficult yet beautiful time in my life. And it's only because I believed that Jesus was just who Simon Peter said He was.

Christ lives and He loves. He loved enough to shed His blood on the cross for you and me. With a Savior like that we can't go wrong. Choosing to be disobedient seems worthless, because it is.

So what about you? What's going on in your life this moment that seems bigger than you can handle. What would your answer be if Jesus was standing right in front of you and asked "Who do you say that I am?"

My prayer for you is that you'll recognize Him for who He really is and put your full trust in Him, not just in times of need but at all times.

Pray for Chile

Tonight as I was seeking God and asking Him what to write about on this blog, all I could think about was pain and suffering. Especially those who are suffering in Chile today after the massive earthquake hit there.

Do you have days when you feel wronged? How about hurt when a well-deserved apology isn't offered by the one who hurt you? Here's another one. How about when you feel overwhelmed and can't tell up from down? In the long run, God still holds us. When the end of our days arrive and we look back, it'll all be small stuff. It may not seem small today, but in reality it probably is minute in the scheme of things.

The people in Chile must feel so many things right now. They have questions. They wonder if their loved ones are alive. They are homeless. They are hungry. They are desperate for God.

This evening, let's let our prayer focus be on their needs, not our own. Our own hurts, pain and suffering are surely very minor compared to theirs. May God be very real and present in Chile tonight.

How Salty are You?

As I was reading my morning devotional today, the main theme was based on Matthew 5:13-16.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

I was considering my level of saltiness. I was quite far away from God at this time last year.

Unbelievably far away.

As far away as I'd always said I'd never get from Him.

However, the merciful and saving God I serve never let me get out of His sight. He knew I'd be back. And here I am, back with a heart filled with gladness and completely restored by his grace.

I will say that depression is a dark and dreadful place.

A place so horribly scary that you often can't seem to see the light at the end of the tunnel, even though the smallest flicker of hope catches your attention at various moments.

Arriving at the other end, where all the light surrounds and permeates every molecule of your being is the most glorious, rewarding, refreshing, and restoring moment.

And it's all wrapped up in a cloak of peace.

Utter peace.

In this moment, I'm very salty. How about you? Are you shining for God before his children?

Our prayer focus today will be that God will use us, as an army of His women, to be that city on a hill that cannot be hidden. I pray that whatever level of saltiness you contain, in this moment, will be enhanced by His grace. If you're feeling discouraged, I pray for encouragement in the little things you do today. If you're feeling depressed, I pray that God will be the lifter of your head today. If you're so salty that a fine layer of salt mineral is covering your skin, then I pray that God will dust some of it off onto His other children that you meet along the way.

Pray for this entire army of God's women. Ask Him to enable us, by His Holy Spirit, to continue to march onward.

The Meaning of Prayer and Calling Out to God

I was reading a Bible study book the other evening titled "The Life-Changing Power of Prayer" by T.W. Hunt. I was blessed by what I read when it came to a discussion on prayer. Mr. Hunt wrote that "prayer is a relationship." I guess I never looked at it that way. I always thought of prayer as, well, prayer. I knew I was talking to God, but never really considered it a relationship. But it really is! It's us talking to God, and Him speaking to us.

I've had difficulty in the past waiting long enough for Him to speak to me. I've heard Him a few times, but it was when I was very still and no other thoughts were filling my head. It was a very remarkable time for me! And I do believe that being still in His presence, and spending some uninterrupted time with Him is His desire ~ and needs to be ours, as well.

The other passage I read in T.W. Hunt's study guide talked about calling on the name of the Lord. I've read so many passages in the Bible that mentioned so-and-so "called out to God," or another so-and-so "cried out." I assumed they were sending a prayer request to God, but it wasn't that clearly written.

Mr. Hunt writes, "The Hebrew word call (qara) is a strong verb of action. It means to cry out, to call aloud. Rather than just a random outcry, qara is usually used to address a specific person in order to make a specific request. People used this word throughout the Old Testament to cry out to God for His help."

So as you pray tonight and each time from now on, feel free to cry out to God on behalf of the needs in which you have and/or are praying about. He always hears us. He never turns away from us. He may say, "No, I've got something better planned for you" or "Not now because I'm working out a detail or two that you're unaware of" or "Okay, here you go!"

He's a good God and He desires a relationship with us ~ daily. He can truly be your best friend!

Prayer for Haitian Orphanage

Prayer Warriors are you ready for your first prayer assignment?

A very dear lady that I've known for years has volunteered many hours working at an orphanage in Haiti. Her name is Anne Georges and she's an amazing woman who pours her love out to these precious children at the orphanage. She attends St. Clement's Church in El Paso and has spent countless hours gathering donated items, packing and shipping them to Haiti, and making trips there to help out with the missionaries.

As you read about the little girl getting stitches in her head for an open wound, without any numbing medication, and the President of Haiti who is now setting aside days for praying and fasting in his country, give thanks to the Lord that medical care is available and that the Holy Spirit is moving in Haiti.

Here is information from Anne on current events happening in Port au Prince. (Anything in bold are my own comments.)

The lady who directed all of the mission trips I participated in now lives in Haiti with her husband. They have been ministering as they see needs as they go into Port au Prince. (They live in Thomazeau, which is about 30 miles out of the town.) As yet, there are no known deaths among the sponsored children. Praise you, Lord God! They have been buying and taking supplies to the orphanage, including a new generator because the old one gave out. They had to have help installing it, I believe it was from American military personnel.

More drastic needs are found among the people whose homes have been destroyed and are just living out on the street. Can you imagine? Debbie wrote of stitching up a little girl's forehead that was just completely opened, and the little girl crying out in the name of Jesus. Precious little child! I'll talk more about "crying out" to God in my next blog post. Debbie is a nurse, and has supplies, but not anesthetic, even local. She and her husband have found another orphanage that needs help, and have traded supplies with that group. Thank you, Jesus, that there are enough supplies for trading! Many people have just walked out of Port au Prince to other towns and villages where they felt they would have a better chance for survival. Can you imagine the hardships faced for families with young children and babies? I am so spoiled by the use of my stroller. I can't fathom what it would be like to walk for miles, carrying a child. Food is being distributed but often there is rough competition for it. Jesus, you see their needs and I pray that you'll be very real and present in the midst of the crowds as they scramble for a meal. And though the climate of Haiti is pleasant, it has been very hard to sleep on the ground because of the wind.

One young man that I know from my trips has been writing to me occasionally on Yahoo chat. He writes from a cyber cafe, just as he used to, but he says that is now out on the street. His family actually had a decent home but it was completely destroyed, and he sent a picture of the tent he had put up. Lord, let us be ever mindful that the things we own are only temporary. Let us store up our treasure in Heaven, where You are. Debbie also said in her last communication that school has begun to meet once again, officially. The people were told for a long time not to go into enclosed buildings because of the tremors.

One really good development, the president of Haiti has actually set aside specific days for prayer and fasting! Praise you, Jesus! Hear their prayers, answer them, and may this country that is seeking your guidance be blessed with your mercy.

If any of you that are praying receive a vision, or a word of knowledge, have a dream, etc. about Haiti please forward them to me. I'm excited watching God move in the midst of disaster. He's a good God, eager to bless us.

A Ministry is Born

Isn't God just the best? I love how He lays something on our hearts, gets us excited about it, and then asks us to be His hands and feet in spreading His message.

Take yesterday, for example. All I was doing was putting on makeup and listening to Casting Crowns singing their song titled "Until the Whole World Hears." I was belting out the lyrics, making a joyful noise to God, (who is the only one within 100 ft. of me that thinks I'm the best singer in the world) when He spoke to my heart loud and clear.

I heard "There's an army of women out there that need to be my prayer warriors."

We are to pray and call out to Him on behalf of our families, husbands, parents, friends, neighbors, etc.

His other specific words were, "Intercede. Watch me at work!"

So far what I've received in direction from Him is that this will start as an online prayer ministry. My first goal was to ask people for their prayers as I start this new ministry. Then I knew I needed to start a blog. Next may be getting a group going on Facebook, then a website. After that I'm not sure where this will go, but I've already told God I'm all His.

Well here we are and I stand amazed at how God gets the ball rolling. He's given me many ideas, a few people who are already praying for this ministry, and an offer that came in this morning to help promote An Army of God's Women.

I'm sitting here smiling! I've worn this grin almost all day today. I turn around and He's making more plans for me. What an incredible God, and just to think that only last year at this time I was in reality quite far away from Him. That's another story, but one that I'll share over time.

I can't wait to begin this amazing prayer relationship with God and with you, my dear prayer warriors. Ready yourselves.