The Discipline of Prayer

"When we go to prayer, the devil knows we go to fetch strength against him, therefore he opposes us all the more." ~ Richard Sibbs

As an avid reader for most of my life, the discipline of Bible study has come much more easily than the discipline of prayer, but both are necessary for fruitful life on the Vine, are they not? I've struggled with various prayer routines, but never felt truly disciplined in this very important matter.

Meeting with the girls on Thursday nights has helped that a lot. Exchanging notecards each week the specific desires of my sister's heart, helps me focus on praying consistently for her, but still, it seems there is a list a mile long of others in need. How do I pray fervently for each of them?

Recently, I discovered www.echoprayer.com , a place to help me keep track of the things for which I am praying. It's basically an online prayer journal. I go to the site, set up my prayer list, then choose specific days and times to be sent e-mail or text message reminders to pray for those things. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now, and I love it. It's a blessing to be reminded each time I go to my inbox that there are loved ones in need and I've been given the privilege of interceding for them.

So, if you're like me and struggle with the discipline of prayer, try out www.echoprayer.com!

What Do You Read?

Finishing graduate school has been an amazing boost for my love of reading. I've found that I can pick up something that interests me and read it without feeling guilty for all the other books I "should" be reading. I read a lot of fiction in the months right after graduation ... because I could. But, more recently, I've turned back to other reading, things that challenge or inspire. And, I've been asking my friends for suggestions. What do you read? What's subjects interest you most? Have you read any good biographies lately? Who's your favorite author? Please, share!

Jan's Gone Home

I just received word that Jan Moses went to be with the Lord late last night. While I ache for her family, I cannot find it in me to be sad for her. She was so ready to be with Jesus. According to her family, here's what she had to say when discussing the plans for her memorial service ...

"There will be people there who don’t understand… Why would God let ya’ll have cancer, let ya’ll suffer… I don’t think we could go through any of this without believing in and trusting in the sovereignty of God. We believe what God’s Word says about Him, that He is sovereign and He’s in control.

“And He’s got this big, worldwide, eternal focus that we, as finite human beings, don’t have. And He knows what He’s wanting to do, in the lives, not just in our family, but other people’s lives around the world. And if He can use any of this to bring one person into His kingdom, it’s worth it.

“I know where I’m going; I don’t mind dying… I have a place I’m going to… But it’s those people that don’t know Him, I don’t see how anyone gets thru something like this without knowing the Lord. And that’s what I would encourage people there at the service… to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. That’s the only thing worth living for in life, and that’s following Him.”

Might we all be so focused!

O Church, Arise

"O Church, Arise"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

O church, arise and put your armor on;
Hear the call of Christ our captain;
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given.
With shield of faith and belt of truth
We'll stand against the devil's lies;
An army bold whose battle cry is "Love!"
Reaching out to those in darkness.

Our call to war, to love the captive soul,
But to rage against the captor;
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole
We will fight with faith and valor.
When faced with trials on ev'ry side,
We know the outcome is secure,
And Christ will have the prize for which He died—
An inheritance of nations.

Come, see the cross where love and mercy meet,
As the Son of God is stricken;
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet,
For the Conqueror has risen!
And as the stone is rolled away,
And Christ emerges from the grave,
This vict'ry march continues till the day
Ev'ry eye and heart shall see Him.

So Spirit, come, put strength in ev'ry stride,
Give grace for ev'ry hurdle,
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful.
As saints of old still line the way,
Retelling triumphs of His grace,
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When, with Christ, we stand in glory.

Jan

A woman I have watched from across the aisle is living her final days on this earth. I am certain I have never grieved for one I knew so little personally the way that I am now. Jan has been such a testimony of God's faithfulness, and while I do not hope for my life's journey to lead through the physical pain she's suffered, I do pray I will be the testimony of grace that she has been no matter what the future holds. Read some of her words, previously recorded on video for her family.

“Let me tell you about the valedictorian of our High School class… This person was voted most likely to succeed. Best in science and math. …and had all these awards… 30 years later, that person doesn’t own a car, doesn’t own a house, no big salary, nobody probably knows much about this person. Is this person successful? Has this person accomplished anything? In the world’s eyes probably not. But that person is me.”

“Maybe in the world’s eyes I haven’t been successful. But, I thank God for the life we’ve had, because it’s been a good one. If we’re doing what God wants us to do, we don’t have to worry about being successful. We’re just being faithful. That’s what I want to hear when I go to heaven, is God saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” He doesn’t say, “My good and successful servant.” I may have not accomplished much in the world’s eyes, but the One I’m concerned about pleasing is Him, so that’s OK.”

To read more about her extraordinary story and family, go to www.caringbridge.org/texas.moses

In April, I will be speaking at a Women's Retreat for a church in Azle. Jan was their first choice, I'm just filling in since it seems she's got a greater appointment. Please pray for me that I would serve these women as unto the Lord with even half the grace and passion that Jan would have brought to them.

A First

I had my first near-death experience while driving home tonight. I'm not sure why I'm blogging about it except that it's late, and I should be in bed, but I haven't stopped shaking yet. I was headed headed home from a concert about 11:30 p.m. this evening, driving southbound on a mostly deserted Bryant Irvin Road, going about 40 mph when a truck to my right, coming out of a neighborhood, barrelled past a stop sign right in front of me and across my path. In shock, I hit my brakes hard and swerved to the left, thinking surely he'd stop before coming all the way across both lanes, but I don't think he ever even paused. I ended up headed south on the northbound side of the divided road, which was blessedly deserted. I was able to turn my car around, get back on the correct side of the road and proceed home without incident. I've had a few close calls as far as car wrecks, but never one that I am certain would have done major damage if not killed me had it not be avoided. For years, I've joked about funeral arrangements and even blogged about what you're to do in case of my passing, but tonight, I've had opportunity to truly think about life (and death) and all the implications of so narrowly avoiding disaster. Strangely enough, when I got home, my roommates were watching "An Unfinished Life." My thoughts are still a little cluttered, but a few things stick out to me. One) I realized that I wasn't afraid of dying. There is a natural instinct for self-preservation, and I am thankful to live another day and have another opportunity to glorify the Lord, but there was no fear of death or eternity in those uncertain moments. (There was, however, great fear of totaling a nearly paid for car, and catastrophic medical bills!) Two) My days are numbered by the "Star Breather" (to use a Louie Giglio phrase), and today was not my last. Lord willing, tomorrow I will rise and have a fresh set of mercies to carry me through another set of opportunities. Three) Nothing is certain. Tonight, I worshipped at an amazing concert, praised the Lord for his abundant goodness and infinite wisdom. I stopped off at a bowling alley to see some friends for about half an hour, then headed up, checking this day off my mental calendar and thinking about the next one. How strange it was to realize that all of my planning for tomorrow (and many days after that) may have been in vain. Four) There are things about my life that are "unfinished." There are people who still need to know that the Good News is for them, that they have a choice to make about Jesus. My laundry needs to be washed and put away. My sinks haven't been scrubbed this week. My journal is full of hopes for the future, but lacking in praises for today. And, there are a few people who might not know how much I love them. I'd better tell them one more time as soon as I can (though, it probably wouldn't feel like love if I called them at this hour!).
The psalmists words about life being but a vapor and passing so quickly have always facinated (and sometimes haunted) me. Even if you life a "full" seventy years, it's still short. I've still got a ways to go, I hope. I want to finish well.
I'll close this rambling with Psalm 4:8, "I both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, have caused me to dwell in safety."