Sessions in the prayer closet

The lessons continue in the prayer closet. It's bitter sweet at times. To be honest there are days I don't want to go into the closet because God is faithful in answering my desire of learning and living a disciplined life.

Discipline is found in many commands from the Bible to believe, obey, walk, present, fight, reckon, hold fast, pursue, draw near, and love.

I continue to find the strength of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit at work to accomplish needed change in my life through sessions in the closet.

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." Galations 5:25 NASB

This is a choice I make daily towards spiritual maturity. To actively have my mind and emotions guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

Hope for Today

My journey involves putting God first daily in my life. Not only spending time in prayer but also renewing my mind through His Holy Word. Ministry requires a constant flowing of the life of Christ and that can only come through reading the Bible, prayer, submission and surrender of those areas in my life that are not pleasing to God. I can't do that if I don't spend time with Him and allow Him to search my heart and mind?

Sometimes it's very painful. I'm a broken person, a sinner.

Sometimes it's very rewarding. I'm a child of the King, Redeemed by Jesus & HIS victory over sin.

I'm reading through the Psalms, studying the Names of God and working on disciplines and spiritual breakthrough by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson. It's taking longer than 30 days to go through this 30 day book. Yep, I need these lessons

Here's my verse of hope and encouragment.

Psalm 30:5
For His anger is but for a moment His favor is for a liftime. Weeping may last for the night but a shout of joy comes in the morning.

God's Word is good. God is GOOD.
Peace be with you.

Skipping chores

For the past two hours I have been reading blogs. Oops, what about those chores...well, I'm blog addictive at times. It's probably about once a month. I like reading what other people are saying, feeling, thinking, sharing, holding onto, releasing, coming to grips with and hopefully giving up to the One who has provided the ultimate Hope to each one of us through Jesus Christ.

Well, I have a half-hour of daylight left...I can surely get something done.. maybe one thing done to finish the day before I sit down and watch a movie with my husband, Len. (I think he's been a busy worker bee...God Bless him, he's a good man.)

Word for the day...Peace

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Provision of Bread

In my devotion and prayer journey this week I'm reading and reflecting upon the legacy that Abraham left. He realized the simplest form of success was obedience to God not in somethings-but everything. He didn't need to work hard or count on the bull market for success. His success depended simply upon the blessing of God.

"Without obedience we will never experience the provision God intends for us." a quote by Ann Spangler. Consider these words by a nineteenth-century Scottish preacher, Alexander MacClaren from her book, Praying the Names of God. "If we wish to have our outward needs supplied, our outward weaknesses strengthened, power and energy sufficient for duty, wisdom for perplexity, a share in the Sacrifice which takes away the sins of the world, we receive them all on the condition that we are found in the place where all God's provision is treasured. If a man chooses to sit outside of the baker's shop, he may starve on its threshold...And if we will not ascend to the hill of the Lord and stand in his holy place by simple faith, and by true communion of heart and life. God's amplest provision is nought to us; and we are empty in the midst of affluence."

WOW-starving for the blessing of God...Sounds like small steps of obedience lead to larger ones and to a steady habit of obedience. This leads to deepened faith in God and will allow a person to experience God and his provision.

I really enjoy bread, let's journey inside the bakery and to receive the provision of The Provider..The Ultimate Baker so we too can leave

a "legacy of faith" like Abraham.

Finished the pizza sale..YEAH !!

The 2008 China team has finished their pizza sale tonight. It's really good to have that behind us. Now we trust God for the rest. He knows our need and we are truly blessed by those who have been kind to support us.

Last night the team met at Lynn's house and we began our book discussion from "The Language of Love" by Graham Cooke. It's an awesome book. Lynn and I went through it for Egypt. Loving it again. It was good to hear each team member share their story of why they want to go to China. We found we have common threads in our stories: want to go deeper with God, committing our lives to serve Him wherever & however, willing to go into the unknown, finding renewed love and passion in living for Christ, finding that God moves mountains of doubt and replaces it with assurance. I'd like to say that there are no fears or difficulties but that's not how it works: there's: travel issues, fear of flying, culture shock, weather (hot), real-life stuff...

Someone asked me how can you decide to go and know that it's God's will for your life. Well, I guess I step into it knowing that there are easy things many people will do here in our own country as first steps of serving but not everyone will go take the light of Christ into the Middle East or China. I've also found that something has been ignited inside of me...not a fear of going, but rather a fear of not going. I want to be obedient to hear and see Him work. Start walking into challenges, if your not supposed to go, God will close the door.

Philippians 2:12Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

Believing a lie

The objective of my quiet time has been to develop a personal relationship with God and to grow my devotion to Him.

I believe there was a time I thought I could really hide some of the things in my life from God. That was a lie. I think we all do it. We think we can hide those attitudes, thoughts...the real unattractive characteristics that aren't Christ-like. We try to pretend they don't exist or bury them beneath busyness.

Hey, what about this cool truth..He wants me to fully comprehend that He knows everything about me and that He still loves me unconditionally? He pursues me so I can know Him intimately and submit to how He is recreating my heart, renewing my mind and establishing me.

God always sees me as PresentFuture. It's a reality about God. He sees me now who I am but also can see me as who I will be. Will I be honest with myself and Him and allow Him to create in me His likeness?

Yes and yes.

Are you alright with that? God is pursuing YOU. To know God intimately, passionately, confronting Him personally everyday may be a struggle for you. It's been one for me. I encourage you to begin and not give up, press on.

Be known by the One who loves you with perfect love-God.

Peace be with you.

Pursuing God

I've been blogging about going deeper with God through my journey and my prayer life. This week it is striking me like a brick against my head as I study the Hebrew name of God "Yahweh Yireh" which means "the Lord will provide" that God is the one who is pursuing me.
Have you thought about it ? You think your seeking God but He's always the one seeking you out first. You have a choice everyday to make. Give back to Him what He's giving you or... not. The not is a dead-end, dried-up existence that is futile. Not a good choice but one, if I'm honest, that I find I make too often.
Could it be that my pride and selfishness gets the better of me? Most likely. I think I blame it on the busyness of life and other various reasons, but the bottom line rests within me. Sin...don't candy coat it...call it what it is. That way as the Holy Spirit brings it to your attention you can confess it and surrender it. Hey, for me, it feels like an ongoing project. How about you?

Reflect on: Genesis 22:9-12
Praise God: He is highly exalted, glorious beyond our understanding
Offer Thanks: That God is pursuing a relationship with you
Confess: Your tendency not to face the difficult things that God wants you to face.
Ask God: For the grace to make the necessary sacrifice

Great book: Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler

I'm so thankful God is pursuing me. I've heard....that He's after you too.

Persecution

We are so fortunate here in America to have freedoms that are protected. It is a great privilege to be able to worship God and not be verbally abused or threatened to be killed. I'm sure I don't always appreciate this freedom as I should.

One of my dear friends in Cairo, Egypt was telling me early this morning over the week-end (late morning for her) that it is very difficult there for Christians, especially since the recent conflict between Muslims and Coptic Christians. The recent clash has increased tensions in that country. Many persecutions are now taking place but since their government is Muslim they often can experience injustices because they do not possess equal rights with Muslims.

Could this be and indicator as to why Egypt recently was mentioned in an article in Christianity Today that about 35% of the country, the lowest percentage of concern in the world, regarding the tragedy of persecution and extermination of life that is taking place in a country that is their neighbor, Sudan.

May we all remember to be thankful for our freedoms and to pray for those who are being persecuted in the Middle East and around the world.

Pizza Night

On Friday night the Beijing, China team and 26 friends got together in the kitchen at NewPointe Community Church and made 500 pizzas. Whew, we did it in two hours too. Our team is selling pizzas to help offset the expense of this trip.

This is the 2nd year of the Bring Me Hope camp in China. The orphans there often know nothing else other than an institutional life during their childhood. For many it is the first time they will leave the institution and travel in a car or see outside the institution walls. They will play games, swim, have character studies, learn songs, become friends of the counselors who are spending time with them to show them the love and hope that is in us. Most of our opportunities to share Christ will come only through contact and relationships we develop with translators. Fruit is becoming known from last years trip.

How encouraging it is for last years team to come and give support and for some of the previous Egypt teams too. We had some people who just wanted to come and help to show their support.
Even if you don't make the 6,871 mile trip to Beijing (14 hours in the air) you have joined us as ministry partners in loving those orphans .


It's good to be with friends who are passionate about missions and who committed time to come alongside of those who are going. Thank you to all of you.

I hope you know how far and how much time God takes just to show His love for you.

Gracie puts color dots on boxes to distinguish what kind of pizza is in the box.

Life's joyous moments

Saturday night Len and I went to see our grand-daughter's first dance recital. How enjoyable, adorable, fascinating and exciting it is to watch her perform before a couple hundred people. It helped that her best friend Ally was there dancing beside her. The girls looked so adorable in their outfits...and of course my little Paige was ...pretty top of the line cute. Would you expect me to say anything else !

It was hot, it was sweaty and you know that feeling of sticking to those metal folding chairs...but it sure was great to be there to watch these kids.

It's good to enjoy family, see friends, and watch their children growing up before your eyes. Life goes so fast...I mean it's really really fast.

God is so good to us. The freedoms we enjoy...I want to be thankful for all of them. I want God to know I really appreciate the opportunities to love family and friends and to know and be known by Him too. How encouraging is this verse: Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn [a] of my salvation, my stronghold. ****God is Good.****

In the Know ?

Sometimes during my quiet time a verse stands out and strikes like a hammer so I wanted to share this with you.

Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

So what's your plan of action today ? Your actions will have an outcome.

Take time today to have a heart of gratitude today for all that God has done for us through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:3[ Praise to God for a Living Hope ] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Faith, Hope and Love

Yesterday, I had a great time in the prayer closet....is this the way most Saturday's are going to be from now on ? I doubt it but it sure is great while it's happening. Anyway, the gist of what took place is confirmation again of how God uses devotions, books or people to speak to me. Yesterday the message was calling me to Faith, Hope, and Love. (These were the lessons taught by the 2007 Egypt team in Cairo). OK, I'll learn more about it. Faith says, "I believe what God says about the invisible." Hope says "I believe what God says about the future." (Hebrews 11:1) I loved this quote by Pamela Reeve "Faith is...doing the right thing regardless of the consequences, knowing God will turn the ultimate effect to good." That's a short synopsis of the closet.

Then I leave the closet to finish a book I'm reading "Confessions of a Pastor" by Craig Groschell, his next to last chapter is "I'm Afraid of Failure"...specifically "Failure by Faith: You must take faith risks." He says, "You can't please God by giving in to complacency and comfort." At the end of the chapter he shared the story of the disciples in a boat on the water and a storm arises and it looks bad for them but then they see Jesus walking towards them (Matthew 14:27). Jesus attempts to give them a greeting of peace and then Peter decides to speak up and said "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water" (v. 28). Jesus gives Peter the "Come" and He heads over the gunwale and begins his water walking journey to go to Jesus. Had he lost his mind or did he "get it" for a brief moment?

I soaked that story in to my brain and spirit like it was new to me and it's definitely not, but...you see I believe I'm heading over the gunwale and out onto the water. I'm in that "seconds" response similar to Peter...I get it ...I'm over and I'm on the water...can't get distracted and look down at the water...gotta keep my focus on Jesus-I know he's there, just follow His voice calling "come".

Stay tuned to this Faith Channel for an update to Hope and Love.

Where My Heart IS...

Many people who know me know that I have a heart for missions. I think I always had an interest but something drastically changed last year when I came back for Cairo, Egypt.

David Bolt, Director of Bring Me Hope, stopped in at our Allstaff meeting to share his vision of the orphange camp program he runs in China. WOW - this young man is passionate and is going after a heart for God and so is his apprentice and friend Andrew.

Anyway, David was sharing how difficult ministry can be with Miriam and I. We both understood what he was saying because we personally experience it. It's the hardest job we've ever taken on. Often people have a different picture of what working for the church or a ministry organization looks like than it really is.

I wanted to encourage David and said perhaps someday I could come and work beside him in building bridges of friendships and care for orphans and translators. I asked him when his deadline for this year's trip was and he said April 15th. Too bad, he added something like if I wanted to come and join them they would extend the deadline to me. Well I told him I'd pray about it. So I did (closet) and a couple of days later I asked Lynn Allison to pray about going with me.

Then I told my husband, Len, what I was praying about. After a brief conversation about ...all money being God's money, he said "Have you left yet?" (He's a very funny man, ha, ha funny. A good hearted person - ask the people that traveled with us to Biloxi in October, 2005.)

So thus began my mission trip to China. It's on an accelerated pace of God bringing along just the right team together, as only He can do. So now a couple - weeks later, there's Carol Miller, Gaila Gartrell and Gwen Hamsher going. 100% committed to saying Yes to the journey God is taking us on.

Today I knew God was up to something when my friend and previous co-worker Lish Kandel came to say Hi to me and brought me up-to-speed on her life. As she was telling me about her new job it burned in my heart you need to ask Lish to go to China, my mind is having this conversation with my heart (this takes "seconds") "are you crazy, didn't you hear her, she just started a new job!" Just as my conversation, in my head, finishes- I hear her say "I'd really like to go to China." WHAT! That's awesome! I share with her what just went on in my spirit (heart/body/mind) and I respond enthusiastically Of Course! Ask your employer and see where this leads you....

I LOVE IT when people risk it and say YES to God.
We're now at possibly 6 women going to Beijing, China, July 19th - 29th or 30th This is big. Our God is bigger, we're pushing the borders of where He wants to take us.

This week-end the team of 7 who went last year to the camp are going to meet with us and we're doing a Nightwalk to sponsor and pray for this year's trip. Will you sponsor a child? It's $25.00 Contact me if your interested. You may not be able to go, but you can sponsor BMH orphans or the team.

You see, since last year, the boundaries are limitless for me, the risks are worth it all - whatever, job, comfort, cost...whatever!! Please, please, please allow God to take you out of your comfort zone and see what God has in store for you.
You might find your world rocked because of His LOVE for you and through you.
Caution: It's life-changing.

Happy Mother's Day - Week-end

What a great day...well really, a great week-end !! Had a beautiful day yesterday which began in the prayer closet - it's good, God's good. In fact late in the morning Len called up the stairs to me "Are you going to come out of your closet today?"...there's just something good about the sound of that to me. "Actually Honey I've been out of the closet for an hour, just working on financial stuff."
He really couldn't wait for me to see what he had been up to. He bought me a water fountain for the back deck "our little compound" as my sister referred to it today. It's our little oasis where our Yorkies and Golden have freedom to run without making me turn gray or harrassing the neighbors.
Then there's the awesome day today at church, great huddle, awesome get this "MISS OHIO" visited The ReignForest. What a day to be without my camera. I could've had my picture with her to post....wait a minute, a techie I am not, but I may be can.... yes, I can..heh, heh, heh, check this out:
Melanie Murphy Hometown: Brookpark, Ohio Age: 20
Education:Cleveland State University What a beautiful young lady !
Doesn't she improve the look of my blog ?
Ok, great day. Got a new member to the China team for July....see blog note regarding "Where My Heart IS"...
Then there was this great dinner Greg and Heather prepared for us moms. Wow - am I ever blessed with kids that can cook !! It was a great day with the grandkids too. I love being with family. George and Brigitte (Opa and Omi) are awesome in-laws, just enjoyable to be with. It sure makes life great when you love the in-laws...Have I said I sure am blessed ? I'll bet you are too - if you look closely.

Technology ?

Did you ever feel like technology is passing you by? You're going as fast as you can but it's not fast enough. How can things so easy be so difficult? Well sometimes that's the way it is in doing this blog.

Today I met with double D regarding serving my area for improved communication to volunteers. Anyway, afterwards he asks for me to log in to my blog so he can fix the header line, or whatever it's called, so you can't scroll to the next blog and possibly be somewhere that's inappropriate. I appreciate that kind of care.

Well, here's the gist of my technology "grrr.." I tried and tried to get my password entered in at his computer and I couldn't get it. How embarrassing ! I finally said let me go over to my computer...no problem I got logged on. OK, I remember my password. Go back - no go, finally I just say, you're going to have to come to my machine.

This is probably not technology afterall....just a failing memory. Where am I?

Kudos to Entertainment - MLL

Recently, a couple came in to NewPointe and the 14 year old said "Hey, this place is like a Jesus Mall."

Well, evidently some might think that...it is a place where people like to shop. Sure we have people who are shopping for entertainment, a welcome, a healing, a helping hand, perhaps even a life-changing experience.

My husband, Len, took the opportunity to invite the sales manager where he works to Married Life Live (MLL). Yeah- a night of entertainment. They really had a good time. We enjoyed showing them a place where we love to come on the week-ends. Where we get connected, get our serving fix and get spiritually fed.

They were so jacked about the night that Larry mentioned to Len they were planning on visiting some Sunday and that they would bring their family.

Guess what ? They showed up this past Sunday...all of them, their adult children, spouses, grandchildren - WOW, that's really cool isn't it. Len and I were both tied up with our Sunday morning roles so our friends Tom and Vernita came to the rescue and gave these guests personal assistance helping them find out where to go and how to get the kids registered. That's what people do who are connected and have that family sense of belonging...they step up and take care of one another, even to the point of caring for friends of friends.

We are blessed with a relevant and cool environment where our friends and neighbors can be invited to come and find a personal welcome. Also they will find the best eternal care plan presented and a life changing message.

OH Yes, Larry and Carla are bringing their children back to Married Life Live on August 18th. We have other plans, but cool beans, they want to come on their own.

You might want to start now to take the time to invest and invite someone to MLL. You might light up someone's world with more than entertainment.

A twist on prayer and laughter

Last week my friend who will remain nameless - NOT ...Lynn A. went into her prayer closet with her little dog Autumn. She and I had been talking the day before and I had shared with her how I have this routine in the morning for prayer "1. 2. Do It". I get up, go to the bathroom, brush my teeth and get in my prayer closet. I did this at the prompting of my prayer prophet (see earlier posting). She related easily to the distractions that kept me from prayer time. Lynn felt that she might try this routine also.

So Lynn is in the closet with Autumn and realizes, the dog is a distraction and turns the door knob to let her out and it just turns in her hand. She jumps up in the closet and says "Oh God NO!" (Did God really have anything to do with this ?)

Long story short, she finally gets free of the closet and I'm 3rd on her to-do list: 1) Let the dog out 2) Call her work and let them know and ... our conversation took place something like this (a condensed version):
L: Faye, I was in my prayer closet today.
F: Lynn, that's great !
L: Faye I was in there for 4 1/2 hours.
F: WOW Lynn, that is really great - you get the prize.
L: NO Faye, I was locked in my closet and couldn't get out.
F: Lynn, do you want me to come and let you out?
L: Faye, if I had my cell phone on me I would've called you to get me out of the closet sooner.

I'm telling you Lynn and I were laughing so hard we were crying. I was on my knees in my cubicle and I'm sure I was disturbing my neighbor Jessica but I couldn't help laughing so hard. Not only at Lynn as she told me detail by detail of her thoughts and the creative way she escaped. We also laughed at my "blonde" response ( duh !). We weren't sure what this lesson was but we were both sure there was a lesson in this.

Later the next day I thought...Mmmm..., perhaps Lynn would share this story in huddle on Sunday morning in The ReignForest. You see last Sunday I challenged the even months serving team to pray a minimum of 5 minutes each day and this months team was fresh on rotation duty. Well Lynn said yes, she would share. (GOD BLESS HER !!)

Anyone who knows Lynn knows that she can be very animated. Well she came and shared her story and what a "hoot" and a hit it was. Many volunteers laughed until they cried and some came to hear the story twice.

Thanks Lynn for coming out of the closet. Maybe your story will remind the of the laughter enjoyed on Sunday and they will remember to participate in the prayer challenge.

Hey could be that they will find 5 minutes turns into 10 minutes which turns into 20 minutes and before you know it - their prayer life is changed.

Remember God created both prayer and laughter... He's Good.

Powerful Stuff

This is a follow-up to yesterday's posting....click on this link

"The mind ... a fire to be kindled."

We have huddletime each Sunday in The ReignForest before letting families that we serve into our environment. Yesterday I shared a devotional about two men who were walking the Road to Emmaus. (Luke 24)

In Acts 17, Paul went to Mars Hill to declare the truth of the resurrection. The listeners gathered there were not spiritual seekers but spent their days simply wanting to discuss the latest ideas. They had little interest in acting on anything they learned (v.21).

Can too much information be that dangerous? Often an overwhelming amount of ideas can blur together and leave you more confused. There is even risk that information overload rather than helping you can leave you unchanged.

Living life purely on an informational level is dangerous. The historian Plutarch warned several centuries ago of the pitfalls of living on a purely informational level.
He said, “The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.”

As we read the story of two Christ-followers on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24, we find they are grieved at the death of their friend Jesus. Jesus joined them on the road but kept his identity hidden from them. As they walked along the road He began to instruct them on the ancient prophecies of events found throughout the Old Testament. As he prepared to journey on at the end of the day He revealed Himself to them through a blessing of the food and then left them. They realized suddenly that it had been Jesus Christ, their friend, who had been with them. The things He taught were not the latest topics of the day or facts that had no significance but were things that set a fire within them and kindled their hearts and filled them with devotion for Him.

Here's the challenge: today will you trust your hearts to be kindled through His Word...through 5 minutes of prayer time each day of the week ?
Why not start today - "Just Do It" - you'll be glad you did.

A - Adoration
C - Confession
T - Thanksgiving
S - Supplication

I Can't - God Can

I love volunteers. They make The ReignForest at NewPointe Community Church an awesome place for preschool children to come and worship on the week-end.

Today in our huddletime in The ReignForest it was good to have Jason & Katie back from last week-end to continue to share their story with us. Last year Jason was suffering from headaches and had to have some tests to find out what was going on. Not long after the tests they phoned him and said he'd have to come in for surgery...he had a brain tumor the size of a baseball.

He shared how he had not given his life to God at that point. When it came time to go into surgery he knew that it was serious and he decided to surrender everything to God to help him through this. After surgery he was told it was cancerous and there's still a small part of it left.

He shared how he hasn't worried about anything since his time of surrender, how he's hoping that he will be a light to his family so that they can see God working through his life.

A lovely slender woman stands by his side, his wife Katie and she says she knows that she could lose her husband but she's trusting God.

This past week J was in the hospital for several days with pneumonia. He wanted to be here for the week-end to share his story. I called him while he was in the hospital and he said he was taking the time to rest and look for opportunities where he could share his story of trusting God.

They are young...less than 30 years old. But they get it !

They can't handle life on their own but they are calling on a God who can.

This is just one of many recent stories being shared by volunteers in The ReignForest. It's a safe place to serve, a safe place to stretch your faith and a safe place to share your story of life change as a volunteer in our environment.

I openly share that I can't lead these volunteers, but God can.

So.. I surrender it to Him.

Thanks volunteers for challenging me in my journey into a deeper and even more transparent relationship with Jesus Christ.