A Daily Prayer

God I arise today through a mighty strength,  the blessing of the trinity,

God’s strength to pilot me,

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s wisdom to guide me.

Christ within me,

Christ before me,

Christ beneath me,

 Christ above me.

God , I choose above all else to live this day with You.

I joyfully offer you my time, my attitudes, my energy, and my words.

With your help I will fill this day with obedience, gratitude, humility and a little pizzaz.

In Jesus’ Name

(adapted from St. Patrick’s Lorica prayer)

John Ortberg, Sept. 10 sermon to introduce sermon series...entering into the "with God" life

Priorities

Will you seek to make “life with God” 

the most important priority of your existence, 

and will you die to any thing or sin 

that would get in its way?

Will you seize it like a drowning man

seizes a life raft? 

Will you make it a greater priority 

than making money or being healthy 
or being beautiful or being liked?

John Ortberg, Sept. 10 sermon to introduce sermon series...entering into the "with God" life

REALLY Starting a Journey

Ah, the journey I want to begin, I wrote about it earlier here. And now, roughly half a year later, after spending 6 weeks going through 3 weeks in the journey, and continuing to seek about starting for real with a journey companion, the time has come!

Oh Thank You LORD! The one who was on my heart, the one I thought may be interested, she really was, was right in the process of seeking for something like this herself.  It will be demanding, and awkward, and ...well I don't know what all it will be, but it will be good. 

And maybe a couple of others are interested too....

So, October 1 we start. And now we're getting ready. The goal is transformation, in the presence of Jesus. And there is nothing I need more.

Nothing I need more.
Knowing God, seeing Him in all things, recognizing His presence throughout my days, and being changed by Him.
This is going to be hard.
I'm going to stumble and fall along the way.
But it just might ... change my life.
And change I DO want!

Joy = It’s good to be with you

He sits on my lap

happy and content

playing

chewing on the

colourful

beaded toy

looking around

but suddenly a look up 
and back

to check

to remember

that he is here with me

that he is not alone

And if we are here

together

then all is good

he doesn’t need
to be constantly entertained

some interaction

now and then is good

but he just needs to know

we are here

together

I am here

sitting on Your lap

surrounded by Your arms

Your care

I am safe

I forget sometimes

I know I am in Your presence

I don’t need the constant reminders

constant affirmation

I just need to know You are here

and when I do

it’s okay

I am here

safe in this life

as I rest on You

in You

I may feel like I’m falling

I may feel unsafe

it might hurt

it might be hard

but I am carried

I am safe

I’m okay

You are watching

holding

aware

You won’t let me fall

Now and again I look over my shoulder
and up at You

and am reassured of Your presence

here with me

and I am content


Written around August 26, 2012. Thanks Levi, for the chance to spend time with you, and for how much you teach me about life and God and so much that is good.

And where did the title of this post come from? In January this year I attended a seminar on The Immanuel Process (descriptions here and here). The process, though meant to lead us to healing, starts in the place of joy, and one description we learned of joy had to do with presence, that sense of being with someone else, especially with God, and "it's good to be with you".  When we are with someone we love, someone who loves us, that is joy. Finally "joy" and how we can get to and have joy in spite of trial and hardship made sense to me. That day sitting there with Levi...reminded me. It was joy, for him, for me, joy and contentment and peace...

Levi's Mom and Dad--yeah, this is joy too!

This streak

this streak

down the side of my cheek

it’s there

every time

I sit

and enter in

every time

I come and

sit here with You

sharing

what is really on my heart

the burdens

the heartache

it’s this season

it’s not depressing

or negative

or moping

it just hurts

and there are a lot of

unanswered questions

and unsure

resolutions

and so much yearning

and disappointments

hope

hurt

so much

and so the tears fall

when I’m with You

safe

here

sharing all that I am

all that You know

the me

that You know

and the You that I know

sees

hears

understands

holds

waits

and will be here tomorrow

whether the streak is here

or not


(written ~Aug. 28, 2012)

Crying out to You

Are You walking with me each day Lord?  Even though I'm in a bit of a fog, and feel disconnected (amazing how the body affects the mind and emotions).  But...was that You?

Sunday night or Monday morning I cried out for help--for energy and motivation, and Monday morning came that email from a friend, telling me she was praying for me, asking if there was anything else. And it gave a little bit of energy, and enthusiasm.

Tuesday night, after a tired and jet-lagged day, cried out for help again--need motivation to get into and back at work. Then in the night there was a dream. I woke remembering how, in the dream, I was explaining to a former teacher, someone distant from the work here, all that has happened, the students, etc...and it left me feeling that "yes, this is meaningful and worth doing".

Is that You, God? Are You here, gently, day by day, reminding and encouraging, in my weakness and confusion?

Oh I have seen You in past weeks, some very big ways, some very significant things (much 'drafted', but not yet posted here). And yet today, again, I need You, I need to know You near. Thank You for every little and big reminder.