Turning Grumbling into Gratefulness

We just finished a small group study on the book of Exodus which has heightened my awareness about all we find to grumble about. Are we no different than the Israelites?

So I'm telling myself, "no more grumbling!" I'm listening to what's coming out of my mouth, and trying not to get snagged by negative conversations around me. Listen… there are many!

For example, I catch myself chiming in about the cold weather and shoveling snow. But really, I love living in Wisconsin and enjoying all four seasons! I might grumble about having too much to do. But I am so thankful for my full-time job, and for all those who ask for my time and attention. I might grumble about an ache or delay or a problem to solve. But truly I am thankful for my own problems, because there are always so many with much greater needs.

Challenge for the day: Listen to yourself and try to turn your grumbling into gratefulness.

Gracious God, forgive me for my grumbling. Open the eyes of my heart today to see all the reasons to praise You.

Share a comment on how you turned a grumble into a praise.

Inspiring Greater Devotion

Finally, I will break the long silence necessitated by a computer that eventually grinded to a halt. I'm back online now... for the moment... and I have missed you so much!

I have a quick thought to blog amidst the other demands of life right now.

I invite you to take a look at the November issue of Voice of the Martyrs online; if you watch the first video, you'll see four poignanat stories of people wholeheartedly devoted to God. I'm impressed to tears by their great love. I'm also remembering the 200,000 new believers in Haiti still living in horrid conditions – tent cities and rubble, with cholera spreading and now drying out from another storm. When will it end? But they keep their eyes on the Lord. What devotion! We need that kind of devotion. Oh Lord, our own distractions are many in the American culture. While others read a Bible with great hunger and memorize whole chapters, mine may lay for long hours with only my good intentions. The busier our lives become, the MORE we need your great Word to shape us! Help me. Help us. Draw us to a deeper love for You.

Abiding is One Year Old!

I am amazed as I reflect on this last year's journey with the Lord. Since the 4th grade, I have loved writing, but I had never found that "chunk of time" to sit down and write a book. But as every important journey begins with a single step, God began showing me how to take that first step.

Last September after attending the AACC (American Association of Christian Counselors) World Conference with my husband, I was so inspired that I launched this blog the day after my return. Blogging would enable me to share as I write, and to publish immediately! 

As God amazes us, we pass it on to others. He has given each of us gifts to be developed and used for His glory and He says we shouldn't hide our light under a bowl (Matt. 5:15). It was fun to realize I don't have to feel guilty when I can't get everything else done – because using His gifts is a higher priority than many of those things I thought were so important!

When I launched Abiding, I made a goal to write a post a week – and though I fell a little behind, I see that I have made much more progress than sitting back and waiting for that "chunk of time." He has stretched me and encouraged me and I'm having so much fun!

Blogging also appeals to me because it is interactive. As I listen to the Lord and share what I learn, I also want to hear from you in the comments section. Can you relate? Are you, too, striving to abide in Him daily? What does that mean to you? Let's encourage one another and take that walk together! 

When you read what I write, I hope you'll feel free to jump in the conversation. Share your thoughts, questions, wisdom and insights. I've been following some experienced bloggers – two of my favorites are Lysa TerKeurst (Proverbs 31 Women) and Jennie Allen (Untangling God and Ponytails); click on their names to check out their blogs and see how both have a wonderful way of seeing God's hand at work and engaging readers in conversation.

If you are reading this via e-mail (only a handful of you), I would encourage you to join in by taking the link directly to Abiding so you can comment and also read what others have written.

So... what is your next step to an important goal or dream?
 

Dear God, I pray your blessing over each one reading this blog. Thank you for the amazing way You lead us. Thank you for this wonderful way to connect with kindred souls all around.

Join in the conversation. How has God been amazing you and growing you this past year? How has He encouraged you?

Persistent in Prayer

The Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee in Spring

A long unanswered prayer gnaws at my heart again... "Why not now, Lord?" I wonder. But deep down, I know God wants me to press in and be persistent in prayer, knowing His timing is perfect.

All through the gospels, Jesus commends those who have faith. He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Like the friends of the paralytic (Mark 2:1-5) who lowered their buddy through the roof to get him close to Jesus. Like the centurion (Mark 8:5-13) who knew Jesus could just give a command and his servant would be well. Like the hemorrhaging woman (Mark 5:25-34) who reached to touch the hem of His garment to be healed.

Oh, how I want to be like these people! I want to trust God wholeheartedly.

I feel like the man who brought Jesus his son, possessed and made mute by an evil spirit. The man admitted some doubt..."I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)

After Jesus cast out the spirit the disciples were unable to dispel, they were again alone with Jesus and they asked Him why it did not work for them.

Jesus replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer."

What was Jesus was saying?

• That there are different kinds of spirits and that this really tough one will only listen to Me? No, because He expected (v. 19) the disciples could have driven out the spirit.

• That they should not only command the spirit to come out, but they should also pray? Yes, I believe Jesus meant the disciples should pray, which connects them to the Father -- upon whom they depend for answers. They should not for one minute forget Who was doing the work. It was not by their own power, but by the Lord's.

When Jesus said this can only happen by prayer, He was saying,  

"Stay connected, keep trusting, keep depending, keep looking to Me...persist in praying it through."

Many, many, many in the Bible had long unanswered prayers. We are not alone. If we did not have these great needs and prayer to draw us close, we'd start to think things happened by our own power.

But, by our simple act of obedience (prayer), we do draw closer to God, we become more connected, we increase our faith, our trust, our dependence. We see Him at work in us and around us, and we know that all will be well. Our prayer journey becomes sweet time with the Lord and the answer is worth the wait!

Dear Lord, You call us to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12) I pray You would strengthen our faith and keep our eyes on You. You are the God of the universe and we trust in Your perfect plan.

Write a comment. Do you have a long unanswered prayer? Let's be persistent together in prayer!

My Prayer of Surrender



Bowman Lake at Glacier National Park

Before my feet even hit the floor in the morning, I'm working on surrendering all to the Lord. Today my prayer went something like this:
Lord, I surrender to You...

• All the details of projects engaging me, of challenges perplexing me, of opportunities awaiting me...because I want You to set my priorities for today. (Exodus 9:16 NIV)
• All the words I speak too critically, all my words that flow too freely, all my words I guard too carefully...because I want you to guard my lips for today. (Ps. 141:3 NIV)
• All the doubts that discourage me, the distractions that crowd me, the temptations that derail me...because I want to live in faith and follow You and You alone today. (Is. 7:9 NIV)

Lord, I empty myself of...

• Needing to be strong, needing to be right, needing to be sharper, younger, thinner or better in some way... because You love me as I am and You are working in me and through me when I am submitted to you and abiding in You.

Lord, now fill me with Your Love, Your Hope, Your Grace, Your Peace, Your Power and may Your Will be done through me today. Amen.

Write a comment. Can you identify with any of these? What kinds of things are you working on surrendering these days?

All We Need For Today

We feel so blessed to have so many praying for us and helping us keep our focus. We can feel your support and it is wonderful! Ted's first round of cancer treatments were found to be very effective. His smile has returned and his energy will, too (as soon as he can grow some more red blood cells).

A journey like this helps us remember to rely on God for our every need...our daily bread. If we could, we would be tempted to do it on our own, but we can't. We need Him and He is there for us. We rely on Him for strength, wisdom and peace.

Sometimes on a significant journey, I find myself pondering the path of "what if." You know? It's the path that leads straight to worry, with anxiety around the bend. But that is the route of the evil one and it's not where God wants us to be! He tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything..."; we can have the peace of God that transcends all understanding. (Phil. 4:6-7) He longs to give us that peace when we let Him direct our paths. All we need to do is keep our eyes and hearts on Him.

Jesus taught His disciples to fully rely on God. He told them to pray: "Give us today our daily bread." (Matt. 6:11) That is, all we need for today. All we need... All we need... All we need for today! We needn't worry about tomorrow because God can do all kinds of things between now and then.

He will supply all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19) He knows our needs, even better than we know our own. Maybe we needed this bump in the road to help us rely on Him for our daily bread. He knows what necessary growth it will bring.

And when we feel overwhelmed, we can ask for wisdom, because God gives it generously to all, without finding fault. (James 1:5)

Can you think of anything that hasn't been covered? It sounds like we have all... we need... for today.

Thank you, God, for giving us our daily bread, for supplying all our needs. We surrender to You because You have everything under control. Give us the peace You so long to give.

Write a comment. What needs are we trusting Him to supply?

Our Journey Begins, Again

Three days ago, my husband began chemo treatments again. It came upon us quickly. I saw him wrestle three sleepless nights, trying to find comfort in any position -- bed, couch or recliner. He spent more time wandering than sleeping. And with no rest, he wasn't his jovial self. He barely had energy to talk or smile.

Thank God that the cancer (CLL) is a slow-growing type. Yet we were hoping not to be here again so soon, having just completed treatments in March of '09. This time, the doctor wants to approach it more aggressively to keep the cancer at bay a bit longer.

So our journey begins, again. We trust our doctor and his treatment plan, but more importantly, we trust God and all that He is doing in our lives. We press in to God, hold on tight and learn a new way of abiding in Him. He is all we need. We take things one day at a time and make the most of life every day. Isn't that the way we should always be living? Every day I have thanked God for this wonderful man, who is my best friend and the greatest blessing in my life. Now is my turn to be there for him.

Really, we're in no different place than many of you. We all have great needs to trust to Our Loving Father. We all have times we feel we are standing at the edge of a cliff, but lovingly invited to walk in faith. We don't know what's on the path ahead, but we can trust Him to walk it with us, direct us, guide our steps and provide what we need, in any situation. He must become greater, we must become less (John 3:30 NIV). We must trust more in His agenda than our own.

Whatever uncharted territory you are facing today, whether it be health-related, financial, relational or other...I pray that you would use this to allow God to become greater in your life.

Lord God, may Your strength be with each one calling out to You today. Thank you, Father, for You have blessed us with wonderful and supportive family and friends -- another sweet example of how You provide what we need. 

Give the doctors and health professionals wisdom and finesse tomorrow. May your peace and presence be with Ted. Give him a good tolerance for the surgical procedure and a brand new drug.

Thank you, dear ones, for your prayers. What can we pray about for you?