How Shall I Pray?

One of my favorite books is Guerrillas of Grace by Ted Loder.  His prayers in the book on so many days get right to the heart of what I'm feeling.  Today is no different.  Hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

How Shall I Pray?

How shall I pray?
Are tears prayers, Lord?
Are screams prayers,
or groans
or sighs
or curses?

Can trembling hands be lifted to you,
or clenched fists
or the cold sweat that trickles down my back
or the cramps that knot my stomach?

Will you accept my prayers, Lord,
my real prayers,
rooted in the muck and mud and rock of my life,
and not just my pretty, cut-flower, gracefully arranged
bouquet of words?
Will you accept me, Lord,
as I really am,
messed up mixture of glory and grime?

Lord, Help me!
Help me to trust that you do accept me as I am,
that I may be done with self-condemnation
and self-pity,
and accept myself.
Help me to accept you as you are, Lord:
mysterious,
hidden,
strange,
unknowable;

and yet to trust
that your madness is wiser
than my timid, self-seeking sanities,
and that nothing you've ever done
has really been possible
so I may dare to be a little mad, too.

Ted Loder

{A Run-of-the-mill Sinner}

Are you a run-of-the-mill sinner? Am I?

Reading from Luke 6:31-34 (The Message)...

"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawn-brokers does that."

I did ask myself what I want people to do for me. I came up with this...I want them to be my friend. Even if they don't think I'm worthy of their friendship...or not good enough...young enough....wealthy enough...driving the right kind of car...living in the right neighborhood...just enough.

When I turn it around I realize sometimes I'm not reaching out to people for much of the same reason that I feel that I'm not reached out to by others. Maybe they aren't who I would think of when I think of someone that I could be friends with. It doesn't seem like we would have anything in common. Yes, I'm real and not perfect...I'm laying it out here today. What happens then is that I miss out on friendships that would probably enrich my life. The same way I feel that I would probably enrich others lives when don't reach out to me.

Luke 6:35-36 (The Message)...
"I tell you, love your enemies (or people who act they are too good for you). Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never--I promise-- regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind, you be kind".

I hope you enjoy your Sunday and spend a little timing reaching out to others this week. I'll be working on this in my own life.

**photos taken today from my back deck and taken with my iPad.

Following The Star: A Daily Online Advent Devotional Guide...

Every year at this time I direct you to the Following the Star website.  This website provides a devotional experience each day during the Advent Season.  This year it begins on December 2nd.

I invite you to spend a few moments each day there.

The music and the message are both beautiful.

Each morning I sit in the darkness of my living room while everyone else is asleep with only my Christmas tree lights illuminating the room and take part in these devotions.  My mornings in December are some of the most special of the whole year.  Starting my mornings in December in this way helps to put the focus of the Season where it should be...on Jesus.

I hope you'll join me this year.

P.S.

Devotions are available throughout the year as well at d365.org.  They are in the same format as Following The Star if you would like to check it out and see what it's like.

As We Begin Our Work This Monday Morning...

This is something I needed to be reminded of this morning and maybe you did too.

I hope your Monday is productive and delightful!

Until Next Time,

Jackie

*Photo Credit - Prairie Flower Farm

Doing Small Things...

Today I'm thinking about all the small things I do everyday...or strive to do everyday.  Things like hugs, smiles, encouragement and love.   Lately, when I talk to God, I ask, "what can I do for You today"?  The feeling I've been getting (aka God's response to my prayer) is to Be Kind and Serve Others.  So, I'm listening, God!  I'm consciously working on it everyday.  

My encouragement for you today is to find something to laugh about!  We've had a lot more laughter in our house lately and I've taken notice.  It changes things.  Silly accents and crazy dancing are part of the evenings and it makes them memorable.  I hope you are finding something to laugh about too.

Proverbs 17:22 (NLT)

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

Until Next Time,

Jackie

Following The Star...A Daily Online Advent Devotional

A great morning for me is waking around 5:30am (at least an hour before my kids wake up), starting my coffee maker, throwing in a load of laundry and then heading downstairs to read, journal and pray.  This time by myself each morning is so important to me and gets my day off to a great start.  Sometimes it's hard to do this during the holidays though.  I'm tired and busy and sometimes even sitting for 15 minutes to write something in my journal is difficult.  A few years ago I discovered Following The Star...and I loved it from the first click.

I encourage you to visit the site.  The music is beautiful and helps me focus.  The readings are not long and are relevant to the Christmas season.  If you don't already have a daily devotional time to read scripture, talk to God and focus on your day...this site is a great way to start.  If you would like other devotional time ideas let me know and I would love to chat with you about it.

My Devotional Basket

Jackie

Finding Your Glass Half Full...or...Half Empty?

Are You A Glass Half Full Kind Of Person?

Or A Glass Half Empty Person?

What am I?  Well, I can fairly easily be a {glass half empty} type of person.  I recognize it and I work hard...strive...to be a {glass half full} type of person.  I work at it.  I seek out joy everyday.  I try to start my day on a positive note by ignoring the news and the internet for as long as possible.  I enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.  I read devotionals and positive affirmations before I start anything else for the day.  I pray.  I journal.  I take notes in this and carry it with me. All of these things help to start my day on the positive and if the day takes a left turn towards the negative I have tools to pull myself back. 

Here are some of my Tools...

>>Your Best Life Begins Each Morning: Devotions to Start Every New Day of the Year by Joel Osteen

>>The Message//REMIX Solo Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Edition 

>>My favorite journal...Ecosystem Author (lined version)

>>The Absolute Best Email I receive Everyday comes from Notes From The Universe.   I intentionally read it first each day when I open my email.  

 

 

 What are your tools?  Please share...

 

Thanks For Stopping By...

Jackie

**Blooper Photos from the Fathers Day 2010 Photo-shoot

Thoughts On A Cold, November Missouri Morning...

November.  The Month of Being Thankful.  This gratitude thing is what I try to do all year round.  When I Embrace My Blessings on a daily basis...my life changes. The month of November brings those blessings into the forefront of my thoughts.

This cold morning I saw a thin layer of ice on my deck chairs.  I'm thankful the changing seasons.  Each new season can be seen a new beginning.  As we're about to enter into a busy season of preparing our homes for the holidays and days filled with wrapping gifts and baking I want to take the next few days before Thanksgiving to reflect on my own gratitude.  To Slow Down and take note of my Blessings and to prepare my heart for the Spiritual Journey I will take in the next month with Following The Star: The Advent Devotional.  I invite you to take part in the devotional journey along with me. This year will mark the 3rd time that I have taken this journey during the Advent Season...you won't be disappointed...

A few of my Multitude of Blessings...

~~Knowing I Can Start Fresh This Morning and God's Mercies Are New Each Day~~

~~My Husband Dealing With a Long-Lived Issue and Working So Hard On It...will you pray for him?~~

~~Hearing Kyler, my 4-year Old, Say To His Brother, "Jesus Was On Earth and He Loves Us"~~

~~Celebrating 10 years Of Being a Mom In A Few Days.  One of The Two Best Gifts I've Ever Been Given...Being Kobe's Mom~~

~~Kyler hugging Kobe When We Pick Him Up From School and Hearing Him Say, "I Missed You Big Brother"~~

~~Candle-Light, Conversation with God and Steaming Coffee On A Cold, November Missouri Morning~~

Jackie

**photo - view from my deck on a very cold January morning in 2009.

Love One Another...Even in our Differences...

 

Recently I had a conversation with someone who had decided to not attend an event because there was going to be a family at this event who is...different.  Different from her family and different from mine.  I was taken aback that I was actually hearing this in the year 2010.  How is this possible?  It would have never occurred to me to NOT attend this event because there would be a family there who is different than mine.  I then realized how lucky my family is to live in a diverse community.

As I thought about it more I became Thankful.  

Thankful that I don't live my life like that.  

Thankful that we are surrounded by families who are different than we are.  

Thankful that I get to have conversations with my boys about the fact that not all families look like ours.  I get the opportunity to talk to the boys about kindness...tolerance...peace...and respect.

There are all different types of families...cultures...religions...lifestyles...ideas...

Love is what makes a Family.

Love One Another...Even in Our Differences.

1 John 4:7-10 (New Living Translation) 

Loving One Another

⁷ Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. ⁸ But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  ⁹ God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. ¹⁰ This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

 

Photo courtesy of flickr.com and remember the United Colors of Benetton commercials from the 1980's?  That's is what I kept picturing when I was writing this post.  I couldn't find any old shots of those but the one above is a good substitute.

The Lord's Prayer...a Personal Version...

I wrote this post two years ago in response to a devotional I had read.  The devotional challenged me to write a personal Lords Prayer.  It was one of the first things I wrote publicly...although I'm pretty sure crickets were chirping for almost a year before I ever got a comment on my blog (grin).  I've been revisiting the Lords Prayer so I thought I'd share my version again with you.

My Psalm of Gratitude to God

God You are in control of all we do and have.

You give us heat when we're cold
food when we're hungry
a place to sleep when we're tired.

You give us opportunities for knowledge when we're longing to learn more.

You listen when we cry and
You listen when we're full of joy.

You are here with us - full of unconditional love.

I am proud to be your daughter!

To those who don't know You-
You are there waiting for them to acknowledge You.
When they look up and see You, Your arms are open and ready to envelope them in your love and forgiveness.
You don't ask, "Why didn't you come sooner?"
You're just there waiting!

You are the Peacemaker.
Peace within my heart and soul.
Without You my soul is turbulent,
but with You my soul is calm.

Thank You God for being there when I need a steady hand to guide my way

Thank You for loving me when I'm unlovable.
Thank You for filling my heart with love for You.
In turn my heart is full of love for others as well.

Your love truly does envelope me and for that I am thankful!

In Need of Constant Repair and Maintenance...

We have three known water leaks in our house right now. The ice maker has a leak somewhere in the connection and the water is now turned off there. Two of our toilets have leaks...one bad enough that the water has to be turned off there too. No worries, a handyman is coming on Monday to fix them. Then, last night, I went into my office and opened up the closet door and guess what I found..a water stain on the ceiling of the closet. Another leak. This time the newly remodeled shower is the suspected culprit. This one won't be so easy to fix. Water is now off on that shower too.

This house I live in is in constant need of repair and maintenance. If we neglect the maintenance on the house it turns into a much bigger project and then usually needs repair. We've learned this...especially recently.

It's the same for me. I've been neglecting my spiritual life for the last couple of months. "Too busy or too tired", I say to myself almost subconsciously. When I don't spend time in prayer and devotion then I feel it in every part of my life. I'm feeling it now. I need to take the time and make it a priority again. It's really my favorite part of the day.

I'm a silent worrier. I don't talk about my anxieties much...but they are there. When I start my day with God then I'm able to give to him all my concerns (like all these home repairs, upcoming taxes and health issues) first thing in the morning and He gives me peace to go through my day.

In the book Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow, she says, "When we worry, we're saying, "God can't". "If we are walking in anxiety, we're not walking in faith". I think she's right. At times when I'm worried or anxious I'm definitely not walking in faith. God doesn't always make things perfect for me...but knowing He is beside me as I go through my life is what relieves my anxiety. I just needed to remember that.

I hope your weekend is a great one.

Jackie

P.S. Thank you all for your get well comments and emails. I ended up having pneumonia not a virus like I thought I had...I'm recovering. I'm starting to feel slightly better today and I'm hopeful I'll feel much better in a couple of days. I really appreciate all of you!

P.P.S. Pic source is here. This photo has really nothing to do with my post today except that it just makes me happy and it makes me think of God walking with me on my life path.

Fall Into Reading 2009...

I'm up for a challenge! I haven't spent much time reading this summer...what? Yes, that's right...not much at all. I miss it! I have a pile of books I want to read so I've decided to join the Fall Reading Challenge over at Callapidder Days. Will you join me?


Here is what I plan to read...what are you reading this Fall?


The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

Moo by Jane Smiley

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Healing Sands by Stephen Arterburn

Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch

Breaking Free from Emotional Eating by Geneen Roth

How Do I Love Thee? by Nancy Moser

and...I've added another one thanks to Jenners at Find Your Next Book Here...

Lies My Mother Never Told Me by Kaylie Jones


Like always, I'm working through a bible study every morning as well. I have just started a new bible study called:

Me, Myself and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild

I'm also currently reading her companion book:
Self Talk, Soul Talk

and I'm reading her devotional book:
Fresh Grounded Faith

I can't wait to hear what you're reading this Fall!

Praying With Simplicity...

It doesn't get much simpler than the Lords Prayer (Matthew 9:13). I'm still working on my Solo devotional and one of the exercises was to write my own version of the Lords prayer. You can read more of my work with this devotional here and here and here.


Here is my version of the Lords Prayer.


My Father in Heaven, I honor your presence in my life.
Show me who You are God.
I ask that You help me to do here on earth as You would have me do in Heaven.
Thank You for providing everything I need to survive.
Please forgive my sins as I have forgiven those who have sinned against me.
Keep me and mine safe from all temptation and evil.
You are the wondrous light in my life, God. I hope Your light shines through me to reach those who are mine (and Yours).


Amen.

Accepted Just As I Am...

I'm reminded today that God is on my side and loves me like a father loves a daughter. He accepts me where I am right now. God wants the best life for me but He accepts what I am today. I don't have to do anything special or be anyone except who I am.

I'm reminded of this from my devotional time today from The Message// Remix:Solo (an uncommon devotional).

My scripture today is Song of Songs 1:5-2:2 but my favorite part is this:

1: 5-6
I am weathered but still elegant,
Oh, dear sisters in Jerusalem,
Weather-darkened like Kedar desert tents,
time softened like Solomon's Temple hangings.
Don't look down on me because I'm dark,
darkened by the sun's harsh rays.
My brothers ridiculed me and sent me to work in the fields.
They made me care for the face of the earth,
but I had no time to care for my own face.

Do you feel feel weathered and time softened? I know I do. When I read this scripture it speaks to me about my insecurities regarding several things:

• How I look
• What kind of work I do
• And generally just how I "measure" up to other people

I think it also addresses that we are busy with our work and we don't have time to take care of ourselves sometimes. At least that's how I feel. It's good to know that God accepts me RIGHT NOW! I don't have to do anything special or be a certain kind of person.

He accepts me as I am!

Song of Songs (or Solomon) is such an interesting book of the bible. It has a lot to say about Love. Love between a Man and Woman. The Love God has for Me.

My reminder today is that God treasures me and He can't take his eyes off of me.

Following the Star...an Advent Devotional...

I found this really neat website that has a daily devotional each day through Advent. It has nice music, scripture and a devotional reading. Check it out.

http://www.followingthestar.org/

Having a conversation with God...

First, I have to say that I'm so enjoying my devotional called, The Message// Remix: Solo (The Uncommon Devotional) by Eugene Peterson. I've been doing daily devotions for years but this one encourages me to dig a little deeper inside myself than many of the others have. The devotional incorporates lectio divina, or "divine reading" into your daily time with God. This means that you pray, read a passage and then imagine yourself in the passage or scripture. It's really easy to identify with scripture when you do this. You then reflect on what you've read by doing different activities like journaling or reciting passages aloud.

Today's' reading was about having a conversation with God. What if He were sitting in the room with you and you were able to talk to him face-to-face? What would you say? I found that I had a LOT to say to Him. When I thought of Him sitting in a room with me, it was easy for me to imagine Him being a gentle, grandfatherly type person who had unconditional love for me and wisdom that I could learn from.

What would He look like to you? Is He that real to you?

My Psalm of Gratitude to God...

God You are in control of all we do and have.

You give us heat when we're cold
food when we're hungry
a place to sleep when we're tired.

You give us opportunities for knowledge when we're longing to learn more.

You listen when we cry and
You listen when we're full of joy.

You are here with us - full of unconditional love.

I am proud to be your daughter!

To those who don't know You-
You are there waiting for them to acknowledge You.
When they look up and see You, Your arms are open and ready to envelope them in your love and forgiveness.
You don't ask, "Why didn't you come sooner?"
You're just there waiting!

You are the Peacemaker.
Peace within my heart and soul.
Without You my soul is turbulent,
but with You my soul is calm.

Thank You God for being there when I need a steady hand to guide my way

Thank You for loving me when I'm unlovable.
Thank You for filling my heart with love for You.
In turn my heart is full of love for others as well.

Your love truly does envelope me and for that I am thankful!

-Jackie