Monday, January 20, 2014

Fervent in Prayer

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth  much." 
 

A superb desciption of "fervent prayer"
"...not any prayer of a righteous man is of avail, but that which is "effectual, fervent"; that has power, and energy, and life in it; which is with the Spirit, and with the understanding, with the heart, even with a true heart, and in faith; and which is put up with fervency, and not in a cold, lukewarm, lifeless, formal, and customary way: in the original text; and the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "daily"; that prayer which is constant and continual, and without ceasing..." (source)
  
It's interesting how God brings into our lives what we need to learn the most. My word for 2014 is fervent. As I have been reading up on this word and it's connection to my relationship with the Lord and in living out my life, I'm learning that, even though I tend to have a lot of positive energy and am emotional, by nature, being fervent in prayer has been a struggle for me.
I have a lot to learn about prayer...
I've always found it easier to go to the Lord throughout the course of the day, saying small prayers for myself and for others. Sometimes my prayers are requests, while other times they are prayers of thanksgiving and praise. There's nothing wrong with praying that way, (in fact, we are instructed to pray continually...1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
  But the thing about it, as I'm recognizing, is that my unplanned prayers are often less fervent, and somtimes even a bit hurried. When I put thought, time, and energy into praying to the Lord, there is definitely more invested from me. 
I'm praying that throughout this year, and my life, God guides me to be more fervent in prayer!!
It has been several weeks since I last posted from my gratitude list. I have no excuse, except that I have have recently taken a new position at work, gotten a new puppy, and had gotten involved in 2 new Bible studies. Needless to say, I have been blessed beyond measure, but also come home tired every evening!
 
Continuing to give thanks, listing the many gifts from the Lord!
Linking over at  "Multitude on Mondays". 
~Grateful for the small joys that have come into my days:
1,579 - Laughing so hard with my friend, that I cried tears of joy! 
1,580 - Enjoying my new puppy's playful antics. 
1,581 - Enjoying the taste of warm brownies, straight from the oven!

~Grateful for things that have strengthened my faith: 
1,582 - Learning that fervent prayer is much more than..."having or displaying a passionate intensity." (source)
1,583 - Meeting other believers and getting deeper into the Word, through attending the 2 Bible studies. 
1,584 - Seeking a closer relationship with the Lord, to give me a more fervent heart for Him alone!

~Grateful for my family:
1,585 - The heartache of not staying connected with some family members I love, yet I'm drawn to reconnect with them by phone/emails. 
1,586 - A positive opportunity to reconnect with a friend of my son's, who is reading a good book about having a Christian worldview and looking for someone to read it with...suggesting he get ahold of my son. 
1,587 - My hubby, who was willing to go out in -18 degree weather to snowblow the driveway!!
~The blessings that the Lord has provided at work:
1,588 - Fairly easy transition into the new responsibilities I have.
1,589 - A caring, forgiving, and understanding boss, who called out of concern, when I got my schedule mixed up the first full week at work and showed up late.
1,590 - Being able to discuss heart issues and pray with my co-workers.

~Thankful for the blessings seen in nature:
1,591 - The brightness of the sun, shining on fresh, glistening snow!
1,592 - A squirrel, scampering across the snow-covered ground, looking for even a morsel of food.
1,593 - Icicles, forming long, clear frozen beams in front of my window. 



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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

A "Steadfast" Year

In my last post, I said I would discuss how God had shown me how to be "steadfast" in 2013. In my first post of the year, I defined the word as...
 "Someone can be steadfast in a belief, an effort, a plan, or even a refusal. Whatever it is, it means that the person will calmly hold firm to the chosen position and follow through with determination."

When I look back over the past year, I realize how He has lead me to stand strong,  to be steadfast, in all that came into my life. I had several hardships, disappointments, and struggles with worry. Below, I've listed many of those that I experienced and listed in my gratitude list how God led me to calmly stand firm.

 1,185 - My brother, coming home the first week of 2013, after being hospitalized for 3 months.(This one was a blessing after nearly losing him in 2012)
 1,225 - Having emergency surgery, due to torn cartilage in my knee. Specially trained therapists helped me get back the full use of my knee, after having surgery.
 1,259 - Moving our son out on his own.(A difficult day for me, but I also know he is becoming a young, responsible man.)
 1,264 - After many weeks of therapy, a day without pain in my knee.
 1,268 -A hard eucharisteo: texting with my son, who now lives 4 hours away.(The ache of missing him.)
 1,292 - A loving God who understands me, when I feel misunderstood!(My husband and I were in disagreement and struggling.)
 1,293 - A special friend, who also showed her love and compassion! (A dear Christian woman who encouraged me when I was feeling at my lowest.)
 1,300 -  My brother(read his story here and here), who was near death, just 2-4 months ago, is able to hold his first grandchild today! Thank you, Lord, for healing him!!!
 1,328 - The opportunity to have some good conversation about some deeper issues with my son.(After much prayer for him to turn his life over to God.)
 1,333 - In the midst of some(unspoken) hurt and heartache here at home, God still works in my heart.
 1,340 - A phone call from my son, who couldn't be with me for the first time ever on Mother's Day.(Oh, how I miss him!) 
 1,349 - Life can often be an uphill struggle...knowing that God walks with us every step...even when our legs ache from the steep climb up.
 1,357 - My knee feeling good enough to walk some trails with my friend.
 1,364 - Even when I'm feeling frustrated by other's unkindness or untruthfulness, that God provides me with patience and a kind spirit to the other person.
 1,378 - My hubby, initiating prayer time together in the evenings!(This was truly a miracle from God, after 26 years of marriage.)
 1,394 - A few rough days, but the Lord got me through.
 1,410 - Working with some awesome, caring people at my job.
 1,413 - Knowing that even if the clouds return and life is hard, I know God is still faithful and standing beside me through it all.
 1,432 -  Being able to show God's love and comfort to our neighbors, who recently lost a son. Taking a meal and sympathy card to them.
 1,433 -  Texting with my son, who still misses us now and then(as we miss him)! 
 1,450 - Knowing this: As Christians, we must live our lives in a way that stands out from others, to be like a light in this dark world, so we show others God's light. 
 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
(This one gives me chills, as it goes so well with my word for 2014, fervent.)
 1,469 - Thinking about how far my hubby and I have come over the past several months in our relationship...
 1,470 - One of the best things that has happened - having a regular prayer time together, that has continued!!
 1,484 - Even though I'm feeling a bit confused right now, trusting that God has a plan with the job situation that was offered to me a few weeks ago. (I thought I had made a decision, but the final decision hasn't been made, yet.) 
1,485 - Finding things to be thankful for(joy) in the midst of pain.
1,493 - For emotional dryness, as it leads me back to God!
1,494 - A heart that aches for the unsaved.
1,500 - Maybe it's just that my soul is restless for the place where I belong!!
1,514 - The Lord has been showing me where I can find joy, even when everything else may be dark and dismal. 
1,522 - Praying and trusting God to provide for and bless our son, as he pursues trying to get into the prestigious music program, Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.(We recently were informed that they accepted his application and will be interviewed in February, the final step for admission.)
 1,527 - Praying on behalf of my son, who is the source of many of my worries.(God has been filling me with peace, when I start to worry.)
 1,535 - Feeling a love and closeness to my husband and son that can only be topped by a close relationship with Jesus!  1,536 - Knowing that God is in control, even though we may not understand why He allows certain things to happen.
 1,556 - Deep spiritual conversations with my son.(Still praying for a renewed commitment to the Lord in his life.)  
1,557 - His willingness to dig deeper to learn about God and truth.
 1,578 -the Lord, leading me in my current job and into the new year with a new position.

God has shown me so much, but mostly that I need Him in my life every day. He also has encouraged me to not be impatient, but to be steadfast in my beliefs and trust in Him to do all He has said He will do for His children. 

For 2014, my word is "fervent". Here is dictionary definition:
1. Having or showing great emotion or zeal; ardent:
2. Extremely hot; glowing.

I had a "Prayer For Steadfastness" that I shared in my post a year ago.  I want to share a "Prayer for Ferver" that was written many years ago by a well-known lawyer and philosopher:

 Prayer for Fervor
O Lord,
give us a mind
that is humble, quiet, peaceable,
patient and charitable,
and a taste of your Holy Spirit
in all our thoughts, words, and deeds.
O Lord,
give us a lively faith, a firm hope,
a fervant charity, a love of you.
Take from us all lukewarmness in meditation
and all dullness in prayer.
Give us fervor and delight in thinking of you,
your grace, and your tender compassion toward us.
Give us, good Lord,
the grace to work for
the things we pray for.  
--St Thomas More, 1478-1535
 
Maybe this is the year you need to be more "steadfast" in your faith. Or, maybe like me, you desire to have a more "fervent" heart for the Lord! On whatever path He is guiding you to walk, may you seek His will and find strength and determination to grow in your faith, to have a closer relationship with Him alone!!
 
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Saturday, January 4, 2014

"LiveLikeThat" - And My Verse/Word for 2014

It's strange, how I've had a word running through my mind for the past 2 months, thinking that it must be the word that God is leading me towards for 2014. That word was FERVENT. But, during the past couple of weeks, I've had other words strike me, as well. 

 I was a little perplexed, until I heard the song below...one I've heard before, but it hit me between the eyes this time. Yes, I have a word, but I have several words that also apply. Listen to this song and then let me share what the Lord has been working in my heart. 
I recently read a post written by Ann Voskamp on her blog (A Holy Experience) that really touched my heart, as well. Here is an excerpt. 
Steeped In Jesus:
"The most important skill to have in 2014 is paying attention to Jesus — nothing else is worth spending your one beautiful year on. Nothing will happen this year apart from Him. Nothing will be remade, nothing will be transformed, nothing will be satisfying apart from Him. Jesus is the only life I have. His shed blood is the only blood I have. His given heart is the only heart I have. His identity is the only real identity I have.

Just be with Jesus. Listen to Jesus. Rest in Jesus. Wait for Jesus. Be Loved by Jesus. Wonder over Jesus. Live through Jesus.

When who Jesus is overwhelms you — nothing that happens can overcome you.
Steep your soul in Jesus and nothing is too steep to overcome."

I love the idea of "steeping my soul in Jesus"! That truly describes a fervent heart!!

Then, finally I came across the verse below and couldn't believe that it had my "word for 2013" which was STEADFAST. By no circumstance, I believe the Lord led me to this verse, as it also had the word FERVENT in it.
http://thedailyverses.blogspot.com/2012/06/romans-1211.html

The Lord is giving me lots of words for this year, I think He may be teaching me a lot of things, which is exciting, but also a little scary. Most importantly, though, I think He wants me to seek to be more fervent for Him in all I do....in my prayers, in how I love others, and in my spirit. I will be talking about these in future posts. But for now, I have put together a word cloud that includes some of the words and phrases that the Lord also brought to my attention.



So, I guess you could say I have found my song, my verse, and my word(s) for 2014! Do you have a song, verse, or word for the new year? Let me know by posting it in the comments, along with your blog post URL, if you wrote about it.

(In the next post, I will be writing about how God has used the word I had for 2013...STEADFAST...in my life to grow in Him. Be sure to check and read it, too!!)
Linking over to these blog hops:
Faith Filled Friday (Missional Women)
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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

A Year of Blessings

Hours away from another year and all I can think of writing about is all the blessings the Lord has provided in the past year. 
(I'm a little frustrated, though. I wrote half of this post, lost it, and had to start from scratch again. So, I'm cutting the length of it back quite a bit, as I've spent a lot of time on it already.)

Since I havn't added to my gratitude list in quite awhile, I decided to write some things over the last couple of weeks that I'm grateful for, as well as some favorite pictures and what I'm thankful for in 2013. 

1,561 - Being with family for Christmas.
1,562 - Bingo game gift exchange...a family tradition.
1,563 -  Bringing in another year with my hubby.
1,564 -  Being able to enjoy everything that goes with living on the lake.
1,565 -  The last of the Coots on the lake, right before it froze completely over.
 1,566 - Watching the lake start to freeze, as leaves blow over the top of the ice.
 1,567 - A bird nest in the neighbor's tree...a lingering sign of life before winter officially hit.

1,568 - All the beautiful scenery I've enjoyed on the lake. 

 1,569 - Animal life on the lake, so versitile!
 
 1,570 - Having great times with family and friends on the lake.
 1,571 -  Seeing my best friend!
 1,572 - Becoming a "great aunt"(She's 8 months old already!)
 1,573 - Tyler moved out of the house and 4 hours away to go to college.  
1,574 - Being able to visit Tyler 3 times.  

1,575 - Lots of great memories with my two dogs, Jet and Sophie. 
 (Unfortunately, she passed away on December 6th)

1,576 - My son coming home for Thanksgiving and Christmas!    


1,577 - Got a new puppy on December 30th...a new family member for a new year ahead!

1,578 -the Lord, leading me in my current job and into the new year with a new position.
MY PRAYER FOR YOU THIS 2014http://www.pinterest.com/pin/266134659203629131/





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