Sunday, June 30, 2019

Faith over Feelings - Strong BOLD prayers - Day#1

The Lord reminded me today that I have a voice and that my prayers are heard, so why am I not blogging prayers a bit more?    

That indeed is a good question Lord, why not?  

I admit, I have been busy and the need to blog hasn't  been a driving force- praise the Lord!   And yet, I SO love it and it brings me great joy.  

Earlier this week, God gave me the privilege of showing a woman in crisis my prayers for Marriages and directed her to read and pray.  I asked her to take 40 days and really pray for her marriage and trust God.   She is doing exactly what she knows God wants her to do -- to pray for her man...to be his help mate,  and to encourage him.  Yet....there is SO much more she wants.   I could hear it in her voice.  Often, many women quiet their desires and true feelings.  They mask it -- I have been there.  It is just easier to be quiet and keep the peace. 

 But God...

She wants a leader in her home.  She wants that cherry on the top of her Sundae and doesn't want to have to manipulate to get it.   Been there as well.  There was a long season when I felt I was the spiritual leader of my home,  but it was also a time that the enemy was able to convince me of much because I wasn't where I needed to be -- in HIS Word.    So, I would try my best to manipulate stuff -- and it always ended up with tears or failure.  

But God's grace....

  When I think of  couples that have been married for many many years, I have an array of different ones to seek for examples, inspiration, and  advice.  Some great. Some not tainted by sin and others so full of grace and forgiveness that bleeds out.   Some just hanging on by a bare thread and others -- enjoying their time with God and yet, there is still this 'fantasy' of that PERFECT marriage.    I watch people -- don't we all?  Do you notice those couples in the restaurants on their phones and ignoring each other.  Or do you see a couple that draws you in? 

 Honestly - there is NO perfect marriage because we are NOT perfect.  Only Jesus was ....but goodness -- there are some that I have seen -- that come close.   Those draw me in.... I watch them and I can get lost in comparison at times...as "I want that".  

But  faith... 

On some days, my own marriage can come close,  to that image that will draw me in,  and on many other days -- it is a humble reality that we are just two broken, needly people -- but praise God, He heals.  Praise God His mercies are new every morning and we are set free and able to indeed show love like Jesus did.  

 As I write  this blog, this  evening -- these 40 days of prayers are for the one who has to trust faith over her feelings or maybe even for a man reading this that must trust faith over his feelings.   I had to trust my faith in a very hard season and it took OH so long - and yet, it was OH so worth it.... Our faith delights the Lord!  

Let's see how the Holy Spirit speaks -- 


Before I start -- the photo of of my precious mother in law/love who I have had the privilege of knowing for almost 40 years now!  Her kitchen is a safe haven where she has fed and entertained many.  It is a kitchen that has invited guests to her home over the years  so that God could be shared and people could be loved.    It is a place where her sweet tea is created and consumed in gallons by my children and it is a place that glows with the touches and antiques of many years of love.   It is a place where you can hear the Word of God.  


Faith over feelings -- these prayers are going to focus on this.   Faith to me ...illustrated - could be that warm kitchen - that glow ....  


Lord, today I believe you stirred something in me.  I have a few more questions and I am testing a few theories as well.  You KNOW I am about to embark on a wild vacation and sitting and writing prayers is going to be a hard task and yet I know that I know -- indeed -- you want my fingers typing and praying.  

So, I will start with this simple prayer --



Lord, I pray that the one reading this will continue with me for 40 days -- and as she or he reads the statement that we must seek faith over our feelings and 'faith' it until we feel it... goodness Lord ------ THAT can only happen if they SEEK YOU and humble their own hearts to believe that it is possible.  

There is a sister hurting because of a phone call - 
There is a mom hurting because of a loss - 
There is a mom worried her actions will cause repercussions upon her children - 
There is a mom full of pain because of choices - 
There is a wife that has made some hard choices in the belief that she can't save her husband - 
There is a wife handing onto the fact that YOU have promised her SO much more  - 
And there is a young momma ....just trying to be ready, as ready or not -- YOU are coming soon.  

There are more women - more mommas and more wives that could be mentioned -- BUT YOU know Lord.   You know HOW you created them for SUCH a time as this.  


You Lord can help them, cross over -- where FAITH is MORE than their feelings and for each of them I call upon this eve ...............................Lord, be with them -- IN the mighty name of Jesus, Thank you LORD, Amen.  

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

The Blue Room - Where do you meet Jesus?



This is the blue room. 
 It's the bedroom in the upstairs of some sweet friends. 

 Friends that the Lord brought to us, my husband and I, when we prayed for some 'peeps' to hang out with on a cruise.  

A work related cruise that had several events and we wanted to spend our time with some like minded people. 

God cares about our smallest desires as well as the ones we feel 'He can't answer'.  

But...HE does.  He literally brought them to us.  God orchestrated  the story, but basically, I was playing  " Reckless Love"  by Cory Asbury.   Well, I thought someone was telling me to turn down my music and it was God, prompting my potential  pal to speak to me and we struck up a conversation.   

My point, Bren and I had prayed before he took a walk.  And afterwards we were comparing what we prayed for once the other had left, and each of us had prayed to meet a couple we could hang with.       

We have stayed in the Blue Room a few times and we are trying to make sure we get to their home soon and repeat the process.  Everyone needs time to be refreshed.  I mean - God did create a day of Sabbath.  God didn't intend for us to WORK this hard.   Let's face it, Chick-f-lay is certainly blowing every restaurant out of the water with sales and I truly believe it is because its owners have honored the Sabbath and close each Sunday.  A day we are suppose to rest and honor our Lord.  

  Each time I look at this photo - it makes me smile.  As this Blue Room isn't blue as in sad.  It is gorgeous.      It is filled with beautiful antique  pieces  and memories from their daughters as they grew.  

But when my husband and I go to THIS Blue Room - it is to refresh.   It becomes our safe haven.

  We are intentional when we visit these dear friends -- we want to soak up what Jesus has been telling them and we want to sit and  soak in HOW  they love Jesus and each other after 40 years of marriage.  We admire HOW they communicate with Him, rely on Him,  and we want to partner with them in prayer for much of what God wants for us.  It really is an awesome thing.  

And yet, God wants us to be intentional with HIM - everyday.  Everyday, I should find and carve out time to renew and refresh with my Lord.  As when I do -- people can see HOW I love Jesus and people may want to SOAK me up more.  


I do believe that God wants YOU to have a Blue Room as well as the intentional time with Him.   He wants you to have a spot to refresh and renew.  So where can it be if you don't have a weekend get away?  

There is this little thing about a prayer closet.  It could be your bathtub.  It could be on the back porch -- it could even be in your car.  I have a daughter that retreats to her car in a parking lot at times -- just that is where she can find a few moments of quiet. It may means you set the alarm for an extra 40 minutes in the morning and begin to wean yourself off a certain TV show that takes up 40-200 minutes of time within the week.  

Believe me - I am writing and speaking to MYSELF.  
I have had to change some things - like DELETE a certain program that really WAS NOT making my life better or even enlightened.    

I realize this may be something unattainable at the very moment, but I do believe God wants to meet you.  In a Blue Room....in a Red Room.... anywhere.   He wants more of you.  I know HE wants more of me.  

A sweet friend made the comment yesterday, "I felt the Lord said, I want you spending less time working those fingers as you scroll and more time on those knees."

I have thought of that ALL day and asked God several times .... "that was for me - wasn't it?"   

 Routinely, I  usually am digging into a bible study -- that keeps me held accountable and it keeps me in the word.  My husband can just sit and read.  He usually goes from one of the book to the other.  

  I want a plan.   By the way, You Version Bible app is the best to help you with that.  It is FREE!  

But I can just sit and read too.  I will read Psalms a lot and turn them into prayers and when I begin to read in James or even in John,  I follow Priscilla Shirer's plan of action. 

When I was shown this about 5 years ago -  it was 'freeing' to me,  because as she teaches about it, she reminds you that you can stay on one chapter for 5 minutes or 5  months if you have too.... not to really 'set' a timeline, but just take it one day at a time.  


So, with that -- I will pray. 


Lord for the one who is reading this tonight - may she or he ask that same question..."am I spending too much time on social media or in other "non - eternal stuff"??

   Lord, I pray they can answer that with the assurance that they are aligned and in tune with you.  I pray that they will position themselves to hear from you and that as they do, You will make the rest fall into play.

  I pray a craving of Your Word over their heads and hearts, that the more they read, the MORE they want of You.  

Lord, Your Word is alive and active  - and Your Word brings life......

Lord, that the one reading this would have the courage to share it with another or even that they would make some changes to really SEEK You-- as then they will find you.  

May they also find this plan of studying-- Priscilla's WAY...helpful. 

 In Jesus Name, Amen.