He wants to find us!

” . . . note that regardless of why something (someone) is lost, Jesus’ relentless pursuit of us never changes.” (Jen Schmidt; Just Open The Door Bible Study, p. 41; Lifeway 2018)

“How diligently did the shepherd pursue the lost sheep?”

According to Luke 15, he left all the others to find her/him.

“What was his reaction when the sheep was found?”

With great joy he placed her/him on his shoulders and called the neighbors! This was too great of a blessing to celebrate alone.

You and I are the lost sheep. Whether lost and not even aware that we’re lost; or whether we’ve wandered away from the Shepherd for the umpteenth time, Jesus is looking for us.

AND . . . He never comes home empty handed.

And . . . He NEVER comes home empty handed.

lonnie

I am loving this book———–hating this book.

It tells me that I’m not crazy: I AM being used or, at best, treated like I’m too dumb to see past their gimmicks; like new jumbo rolls of T.P. with bigger holes in the center, or same size box but less cereal, candy, or whatever. Or how about, “Enjoy our new menu selections,” when they really mean, “Don’t notice our NEW prices.”

A Life Less Throwaway:The Lost of Buying For Life, by Tara Button;

Ten Speed Press, 2018

See if this doesn’t feel way too familiar:

“It’s easy to see where brands’ priorities lie when they spend $500 billion on marketing and advertsing compared to $9 billion on customer service. Many companies will charm you right up to the moment you‘ve bought their product, and then you’ll be invisible to them until they can sell you something that’s ‘even better.’ In the meantime, what is to be done with their product if it fails is ‘not their problem.’ p. 49

I hear this most about phone service and computer help, but it touches more of our lives than that. Yet, seriously, aren’t they, as Mom would say, ‘cutting their nose to spite their face?’ We will never buy any appliance from ________ after having several timers go out on our washing machine with little and s l o w customer service from the company.

On the other hand, I’m on my third Nook Reader, because I have received such excellent customer service; even with some of my dumbest questions.

Tara Button is encouraging us to do the research and vote with our dollars.

Are you ready?

lonnie

(Interview between Lee Strobel and Wm Lane Craig, PH.D.)

“We’ve been talking a lot about miracles today,” Craig said in conclusion. “It’s no exaggeration to say knowing God personally and seeing him change lives are the greatest miracles of all.”

“. . . Because of my own experience with God after years of living in the mire of immorality as an athiest, I knew he was right.” (The Case For Faith p.117)

Lee Strobel credits God with transforming (big word) his relationships, priorities, attitudes, motivations and marriage.

#MeToo

Sometimes I laugh when I catch myself trying to change someone’s behavior or values. Me? Change them? I can’t even change myself! Heart-change is a God-sized job. And He does it with wisdom, love, compassion and (sometimes) hardship.

Thank You God

lonnie

“Miss A. Wetherell Johnson commented that when our prayer time is at night, it’s like tuning our violin when the symphony is over.”

Anne Graham Lotz; The Daniel Prayer, p.33-34; Zondervan 2016

what do You think?

I tend to be a morning person, so morning suits me; but suppose your energy kicks in much later? I can imagine some praying for the coming day the night before; like someone who lays out clothes or packs their lunch before they go to bed.

Weigh in on this. I would love to know your thoughts.

I, typically, have my quiet time/devotions/Bible study between the quiet hours of 3:00 and 5:00 a.m. Then, I go back to bed before heading off to work. But establishing a consistent prayer time challenges me. I like to walk when I pray—which makes winters a terrible de-motivator.

What challenges do you face in having a prayer time? Have you discovered solutions that might help the rest of us?

May You See God’s Hand In Your Life Today–In Such Personal Ways That You Know It Is, Indeed, God Your Father,

lonnie

“It didn’t take long for Daniel, in the desperate situations he faced, to discover the power of God through prayer. Because God was all that Daniel had. Again and again he threw himself upon God with such complete faith and utter dependence that God came through for him. Powerfully. Personally. Dramatically. Repeatedly.” (Anne Graham Lotz, “The Daniel Prayer,” p.16; Zondervan 2016)

This blog truly is posted as a reminder to myself. Writing is my learning style.

Words and phrases stand out like fireworks against a dark country sky:

God was all Daniel had.

He threw himself upon God.

Utter dependence.

Powerfully ————Repeatedly.

I love God, but I hate needing Him. Rather, I hate waiting on Him. We operate in different time zones. He doesn’t see or feel the urgency that I do. Go figure, right? He’s Got This whatever this is. He has all the skill needed; all the love possible. He has the resources. Daniel found Him trustworthy. I have too.

Repeatedly.

I can——I will—–trust again.

lonnie

“Hundreds of accounts record the heavenly escort of angels at death.

“When my maternal grandmother died, for instance, the room seemed to fill with heavenly light. She sat up in bed and almost laughingly said, ‘I see Jesus. He has His arms outstretched toward me. I see Ben . . .I see the angels.’

“She slumped over, absent from the body but present with the Lord.”

Billy Graham, Unto The Hills p. 212; Word Publishing 1996

Wow! I needed that!

No, I’m not facing death or close to someone who is. But, God knew I needed a sense of His closeness—-that reaching out for me.

I don’t read my devotion books everyday. But this morning I felt led/drawn to do so.

God doesn’t always call us to big or difficult things.

I obeyed.

“I’m with you, Lonnie. Let’s do this week together.”

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul (Psalm 23).”

The LORD is my Shepherd–and He loves me,

lonnie

I guess the bottom line is, “I don’t want His will. I want mine!”

I’d heard the same teaching in two or three different places —- and this morning, yet another place.

When the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, He does so according to God’s will. When I pray in the Spirit, the Spirit translates —-according to God’s will. Groaning? Yup, the same.

“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans . . . for God’s people in accordance with the will of God (Romans 8:26b-27.)”

I confess that each time I encounter that teaching, I’m disappointed. I feel like I’m praying for chocolate covered peanuts, and God is offering carrot sticks. And, in a sense, He is.

God knows what’s best for me and for the loved ones I’m praying for. It doesn’t look like it or feel like it, but God sees the big picture. He sees beyond pain, broken hearts, delays, and disability. He sees way beyond my small plans and desires. He KNOWS what lies ahead and that it requires strength—-strength that comes from working those faith muscles.

God, you know I’m not going to like this—but help me love You enough, trust You enough to desire Your will, not mine —-like Jesus.

“Abba, Father,” he said,”everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will (Mark 14:36 NIV).

Me, too, God,

lonnie

“If you start to play the soundtrack of worry today in your thought closet, push the pause button and notice that the song isn’t played in the key of truth.” Jennifer Rothschild/Me, Myself, and Lies p.27/ Lifeway Press 2008

I strongly recommend this book. It helps me replace lies with truth. Or, in Paul’s words (Romans), it helps me to renew my mind.

In one exercise, I wrote my worries on one side of the page and God’s truths/promises on the other.

I don’t pick a promise and demand God to do something. That teaching has disappointed me more times than I can count.

But, rather I store God’s Word in my heart and/or in notebooks or notecards, as capsules of hope. Then, I remain alert. God doesn’t always answer in the way or time I expect. But He does prove Himself faithful.

I’ve prayed SO long for somethings and some people . . . without the slightest hint of an answer. I asked God for much needed encouragement, listened a couple days and then sort of gave up. I knew I was praying according to His will; I just had to keep trusting. Then, as a passing comment in conversation, there it was. “Did you know that Jill, Samuel, and Becky are going to church?”

I’d prayed for them several times that God would either bring them to a saving knowledge of Him. Or, if they knew Him, that they would grow in faithfulness and fruitfulness.

Thank You, God.

lonnie

I code my journals. One code is U.T. for ultra transparency. It’s not like I expect people to read my journals, but . . . there are just times I get painfully honest: nothing hidden. I opened an older journal today to a U.T. page I’d (maybe God) bookmarked. Shoot! It fits my week.

I would love to know if any of you have felt these daggers from Satan. He’s a liar you know—but he mixes truths in so that we swallow it.

Here’s my journal page/battle from August 28, 2018

My heart wants to ask for a longing heart–that loves and craves for God’s Word—-but Satan is quick to point out that many (most—all!?) prayer answers come down the path of pain.

And I hate pain!

But the father of lies does not remind me of God’s love–that God allows no more pain than is absolutely necessary. Satan continually tells me that God delights in pain—that He can’t wait for me to pray for something whose answer “requires” it. (You know, like patience, humility, love, trust) Satan would also tell me that God loves the element of surprise—oh, look! She didn’t know what she was asking for.

What does Satan accomplish with this game?

FEAR

Fear is paralyzing enough, but fear of prayer?!

My connection and intimacy with God? My weapon against Satan himself?

Note to self: Satan knows the power of prayer. You are scaring him. Keep on keeping on.

Know this: that apart from Christ I can do NOTHING.

But

With Him ALL things are possible.

When I begin freaking out, I tell God, “We can do this TOGETHER.

lonnie

“Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.” (C.S. Lewis/Narnia)

“What is true of Christ is also true of the Christian life. Safety is fine, but it is not—-cannot—-be our ultimate value if we follow Jesus.”

The authors of Seeking Refuge remind us that, if we are following the example of Jesus, that Jesus certainly did not play it safe. He laid down His life for us.

“Jesus tells us explicitly, ‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul (Matt. 10:28).’ We can take reasonable actions to protect ourselves and our families, but we must not allow safety to become an idol.” Bauman, Soerens,and Smeir; Seeking Refuge; Moody Pub. 2016

These authors remind me that we are to be prudent, to be wise—-but not fearful.

This morning I am facing a fear or two of my own. I’m taking words of this book with me: “‘Do not be afraid,’ not because there is nothing to fear but because, God says, ‘I am with you’ Gen 26:4).“

I like that. Encouragement without shame.

lonnie