One of my most treasured possessions is my prayer journal (pictured here). It appears that Liza loves it too! It’s probably as dear to me as my Bible. In it I list the things I want to pray for each day of the week. Below a family member’s name I’ll list the specific needs of their life. On the salvation page are lists of names that don’t yet know Christ. The missionary page holds the names and places of those serving the Lord on some foreign field who have written with requests detailed in their prayer letters. The church leader page lists the deacons serving at Boones Creek and their wives. It is my privilege to lift up each one of these and pray specifically for them. Proverbs 15:8b The prayer of the upright is his delight. Imagine that!
What a blessing it is to watch how God answers my prayers; not always exactly how I asked or when I thought it should happen, but He does answer. Then I go back to my journal and place a big check mark there next to the request as well as the date it was answered. Going back and looking at the check marks is like getting a booster shot of faith. It’s a reminder that God is on the throne and is listening to my feeble prayers. Wow!
Just this week I watched Him care for the needs of our daughter, Whitney, who was in need of housing by Thanksgiving. My specific prayer was that she might find a cozy apartment that some family had built over their garage. My thinking was that it would keep her from the sometimes noisy situations of regular apartment living, would probably be more reasonable rent-wise, and would also provide safety. She had looked all over and at many different situations, but none really panned out. THEN someone told her about a basement apartment they had heard of. It’s a ground level basement created for a family’s daughter a few years ago. “It’s beautiful!” were Whitney’s words when she described it to me. It’s bright, clean, homey, and very nice – perfect for her needs! We will be moving her in this weekend!
God is so good and I praise Him for answering my prayer. No it wasn’t up over the garage, but God knew my heart and provided for her in a way that only He could do. A huge “check mark” is there next to that request now, reminding me that God answered again! Another booster shot! There are many more requests on my list that I’m still praying about, but my faith is resting in my great God that delights in my prayers.
What recent requests has He answered for you? Tell me about it in the “comment” section of this blog!
Category: Uncategorized
Taxis and Terror
New York city and taxi cabs go together like peanut butter and jelly. Likewise, taxi cabs and terror are on equal terms in my book, based on my recent experience! Before we went to NYC a friend told us, “get in the taxi, close your eyes and hold on for dear life!” If a taxi wants to move over in front of a tour bus they simply blow their horn and move over! A car’s turning and is slowing the taxi down? No problem, he just squeezes himself between the cars and goes around! I’m not sure I understand what their hurry is…don’t they get paid more each minute you’re in their car? Perhaps it’s just the whole reputation they feel they need to keep up with.
On our last taxi ride we were on our way to the airport. The doorman hailed the cab driver, loaded our bags in the back of the taxi van and wished us a good trip. When we climbed in the back seat, we saw that an oriental man was driving our car. Most everyone in the city is from another country; no problem, however this man spoke very little English! We couldn’t understand him and he couldn’t understand us! Now that’s not a big problem if you’re saying hello on the street, but if this is the person that’s going to take you to the airport that has five different terminals, THAT’S A PROBLEM! We told him we needed to go to Laguardia Airport to the Delta terminal. “WHERE YOU GO? THERE FIVE TERMINALS! WHERE YOU GO? I NOT WANT TO GO AROUND COUNTRY” (or something like that)!
My sisters and I did what any married woman would do: we got on our cell phones and called our husbands! My “know-how-to-get-anywhere husband got on map quest and found the airport and described the airport and where each terminal was located. I leaned forward and spoke loudly to the driver (the language barrier somehow makes us think people are also hard of hearing!). “We need to go to terminal “D” for Delta. The poor man sighed heavily and leaned over the steering wheel. He’s probably home blogging about me right now!
My sweet husband told me to just stay on the phone with him and tell him where we were at each intersection to be sure the driver understood us. My hubby would say, “What’s the next street?” I’d tell him and he’d say, “You’re going the right way. You’re almost there.” He was such a comfort as we sped our way to the airport. What a wonderful sight it was when we saw the airport in front of us! We got off at Delta to boot! Another blessing we did not take for granted!
After the escapade was over we were able to chuckle about it and also reflect. I thought about the many times the Lord has let my life be taken to a place where I felt uncertain and afraid. Things were moving along too quickly by my estimation; I felt out of control. But all along the way He had it all mapped out and was watching over me and loving me even more than a husband who was worried about his wife. I cannot get lost or lose my way while guided by His hand, and I will never be alone. What a comfort to my frantic-filled heart!
One good thing about this taxi cab driving is that I think I’ll feel much safer riding with my 17 year-old now! God is good!
Worship the King
I just got back from a long weekend in NYC. What a blessing that the Lord afforded me this trip! My travelling companions were my two sisters…another blessing. We’ve never had the opportunity to take a trip together. Many fun and special memories were created during our time together in The Big Apple. What did we do?
- Took a carriage ride through Central Park
- Went to Columbus Circle
- Good Morning America
- FAO Schwartz
- The subway!
- Battery Park
- Staten Island Ferry
- Statue of Liberty
- Trinity Church
- Ground Zero
- New Amsterdam Theatre – Mary Poppins
- Broadway and Times Square
- Macy’s
- Calvary Baptist Church on 57th
- American Girl Store
- Rockefeller Center
- Top of the Rock
- Saw the Empire State Bldg.
- Radio City Music Hall
- NBC Station
- Plaza Hotel
One of the greatest blessings of our weekend was the opportunity to attend church on Sunday morning at Calvary Baptist. This church is right on the street and is ministering to the city in unbelievable ways. When we entered the doors we were greeted by members of the church. As the service started and the organ music swelled in that beautiful building we lifted our voices together and sang, O Worship the King. My heart overflowed. As we worshipped I thought to myself, “A huge city like New York City seems much smaller when you gather together with other believers to ‘worship the King.’
It is our privilege to travel and see the country, but it’s an even greater privilege to find a place of worship while we are away. What a God we serve!
Go Vote!
Go vote today, then remember your God that is sovereign and in control.
Our God is in the heavens,
and He hath done
whatsoever He hath pleased.
Always learning
Recently while in the home of a family with school-aged children, the subject of school was brought up. The eleven year-old son spoke up, “Why did you have to ruin the night and talk abut that? I HATE school.” His father was quick to remind him that one will always be learning while they’re alive. Of course, the young son was not especially encouraged by this thought, but my mind has gone back to that conversation as I’ve studied Titus 2 this weekend.
Titus 2:11, 12 says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” It is by the grace of God that salvation is revealed to ALL men. Not all accept it. They have a volition and they either choose God’s grace gift, or refuse it. However, ALL that are saved are discipled by God’s grace. It is His grace that teaches us that we must deny ungodliness. This verb (“denying) emphasizes the firm resolve of the believer who heartily refuses to participate in the world system. It is by His grace that we can refuse it!
How do we continue to be sanctified, trained, and taught? This first thing is to live soberly. This means to be sensible; mentally stable and disciplined. Is this possible in today’s busy lifestyle? Yes! This word indicates that the Word of God is so well incorporated in the soul that the Christian’s standards of life are God’s standards. As we read the Word the Holy Spirit teaches us what we should do and not do. Instead of being directed by our feelings, the opinions of others, or some worldly philosophy, our directives are guided by the sensible mind that is disciplined enough to study the Word of God and obey it. We will find ourselves moving on steadily, growing in our Christian lives rather than jumping around “helter-sketler.”
May we allow the God that saved us to teach us today; to help our minds to be stable. Class starts as soon as you put your feet on the floor. Be encouraged – our Instructor gives us what we do not deserve (and what my 11 year-old friend wants from his teacher) – grace!
