Cries for Help and Questions

Sometimes life moves me down the hierarchy of needs to the most basic essentials and my prayers follow suit. 

On Tuesday night, my son kept me up until 4 am. Yes, he's a cutie. But boy, he can give me a run for my money. The next morning, I had to pack up the entire family’s belongings from a week-and-a-half-long stay in Dallas and get us ready for the airplane. 

My prayers sounded like this:

"Father, help my son sleep."

"Father, help me stay calm."

"Father, help me push through my exhaustion."

And he did. He heard me and he helped me and somehow I was able to overcome my #firstworldproblems. It took effort on my part. But he gave me the grace to walk it out with a good attitude.  

Speaking of problems, there’s big problems and small problems. 

Last night, I found myself thinking about bigger problems. The political atmosphere in America. It’s so bad right now. The rhetoric. The vitriol. I’m embarrassed to be an American.

But God has this amazing way of being able to turnaround even the most dire situations. He has this way of bringing good from bad, healing from pain, joy from hopelessness. 

I have experienced it first-hand in my own life time and time again. 

He is redeemer. 

My prayers turned into questions. 

“Father, how do you plan to redeem the political environment in the US?”

“Father, how can I pray into a future that I cannot yet imagine?”

Cries for help and questions were the theme this week. 

I’m hoping to do more listening in the week to come.

Seeds of Gratitude

Finishing well. How did you close out 2015?

We did absolutely nothing glamorous. But we did take a moment to say "thank you."

Gratitude has a way of redefining even the most difficult of circumstances. 2015 was by no means an easy year. Maybe it wasn't easy for you, either. 

This was the gist of my prayer last night: Father, thank you for bringing beauty and nourishment amidst the challenges.

As I prayed, I got a picture. Ever seen a fennel bulb out in the wild? They're ugly. 

In 2015, I learned to cook with fennel. Both the bulb and the seed. Probably my most favorite new recipe from 2015 calls for fennel seed. 

God uses those things we consider weeds to bring flavor and fullness to our lives. He has proven that to me in 2015 and I am so very grateful.

Prayer While Driving

I first prayed this prayer on June 30, 2014 while driving my daughter to her grandparents house. It was a stressful morning and I had lots of work ahead of me. The prayer became a song and I sing it regularly when I'm feeling overwhelmed.

A prayer. A song. 

"Jesus help me, lead the way.

Jesus help me keep the pace.

Jesus help me walk by faith. 

Jesus help me, every day."

 

Morning Prayer

I composed this simple prayer in October 2015 with the help of Holy Spirit. I had had several days of frustrating interactions with my children and others where I let my hot temper get the best of me. I needed a quick way to connect with my Source and start the day off right. I work from home and this prayer is posted right above my desk.

Good morning Holy Spirit. I welcome your abiding presence.

I invite you to lead me and guide me today.

Help me to think with heaven.

Act out of love.

And be present in my task. 

Make my joy complete and may my joy triumph over every hard thing.

Be the power present in my weakness and help me to be an overcomer. 

Every moment, every hour of this day.

In Jesus name, amen.