Lazarus’ Prayer

God’s love for you is certain

His love cannot be measured by time

Your prayers will be answered

His blessings will be made visible

In a package well-disguised

In God’s perfect time

by Susan Wachtel

January 28, 2012

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.  It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.  Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.  Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”  John 11:1-7

Five Minute Friday - Tender Heart

What came to mind when I read today’s word “tender” was the scripture verse Ephesians 4:32, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”


I want to have a heart that is tender towards God.  He wants me to have a tender heart towards others.  


In my life God has used trying and difficult circumstances to make me more compassionate towards people.  He’s also used my failures and sin to help me be more understanding and compassionate towards others.  


When I’m prideful and think, “Why I would never do that!” you can be sure I’m going to have a major fall in very short order.  After that fall, the Lord in His mercy and compassion, forgives me of my sin and helps me to learn from experience, what I failed to pay attention to and learn from when reading the Bible.  


I want to have a heart that is tender to the Lord and to incline my ear to hear His voice through the pages of scripture and the Holy Spirit within.


This post is being linked to  5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it's right or not.  Head on over and give it a try!

Five Minute Friday – Vivid Memories

What do a couple of raggedy old oven mitts, stray pieces of silverware and an old pink mixing bowl have in common? 

Any one of these would be junk in anyone else’s eyes, but to me they are a treasure because they remind me of my mother.  When I see these objects I have vivid memories of her. 

The oven mitts may have been my grandmother’s, but somewhere along the line they ended up with my mom.  Even though they don’t guard against the heat too well these days, I still use them.  When I see them, I think of my mom.

Odds and ends, that’s all that’s left now, of the silverware set my mom gave me when I got my own apartment.  For a number of years I had shared a place with friends, but then I moved out on my own and my mom bought me a set of silverware.  If I had known what vivid memories the silverware would evoke one day, I would have taken better care and been careful to not lose any of it. 

The mixing bowl is so old, the color has faded and one would hardly even know it’s pink.  But I remember.  I remember the bowl holding Halloween candy for the trick-or-treaters…a tradition I carry on to this day.

It’s funny what brings back memories.  Ordinary days with everyday household items that bring back vivid memories of my mom. 

This post is being linked to 5-MinuteFriday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it's right or not.  Head on over and give it a try!

The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry

My husband Chris and I had the pleasure of watching "The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry" this evening.  We give it a big thumbs up.  It's a wonderful movie for the whole family and it has timeless lessons for everyone.

Listening to God

Do you ever go through those seasons where God seems distant?  


David Fisher at Pilgrim Scribblings recently had a post “Powerfully Present” in which I related to his quote:  “If God seems absent tonight...He's not!  Maybe hidden but NOT gone!”


I’m going through one of those seasons right now.  I continue to read God’s word, pray, attend church and participate in Bible studies.  But God seems distant from me.  


But there have been moments when God has quietly spoken.  Such as when I start my day and I’m tempted to dive right in because there is always so much to do.  But I feel God calling me, “Susan, don’t you want to hear what I have to say to you before you start your day?”  I feel His call to pick up my Bible and read from the scriptures and read from my devotionals.


In the past, I’ve tried to keep a journal, but it’s always been something I started only to stop within a few days.  A couple of weeks ago, I felt God leading me to jot down in a notebook when I’m reading through the Bible verses that stand out to me, or record what’s going on with me that day that I’m struggling with or rejoicing over.  


As I’m going through my day I’m on the lookout for Jesus.  When I have those encounters I’m writing them down in a small notebook.  It may be the Holy Spirit bringing to mind something I’ve studied, or it might be something I hear while listening to a radio program or an encouraging or convicting word that some speaks to me.  


During this time when God seems distant, I feel led to ask the Lord is there some area of sin in my life that is displeasing or dishonoring to You?  Is there something that I need to repent of?  Do I have a wrong attitude or is there an overt action that I need to repent of?  


May my heart be tender towards the Lord and may I be sensitive to His Holy Spirit.

Five Minute Friday…Awake!

Oh my goodness, here I am awake again.  It’s going to be morning before I know it.  I have to get up and go to work.  I have a meeting and I need to be able to focus.  What time is it?  12:15 am and I’ve been lying here for over two hours. 

Lord, please help me to sleep.  What time is it…1:00 am.  With each passing minute I feel more stressed.  

Okay Lord, whom do you want me to pray for?  Help me to focus so I can at least make this time productive.  

It seems like the sleepless nights are too frequent.  I’m awake and cannot go to sleep, no matter how tired I am.  I find when I fret, I just get more stressed and stay awake longer.  

However when I take the approach that perhaps it’s a divine appointment that the Lord may have me up so that I can be praying, it takes the stress out it.  At least the time is productive and I’m not keeping my husband awake too.  

The Lord will bring different people and situations to mind for me to pray about.  I also ask that the Lord will help me to make it through that day despite precious little sleep.  

This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it's right or not.  Go ahead...head on over and give it a try!

October Baby

Five Minute Friday – Roar

When I read the word roar, the first thing that comes to mind was the scripture in 1 Peter 5:8 that tells us that Satan goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.  


One day there will be a thunderous roar in heaven when Jesus stands up and says “Enough!” and comes to get His bride the church.  Oh how I look forward to that day.  I long for it.  There is not a day that goes by in which I don’t think of Jesus’ soon return.  With each passing day, it seems as though it’s eminent.  


There was day 2,000 years ago, when the crowd roared “Crucify Him!” and the roaring lion thought he had won the victory.  Little did he know that three days later, Jesus Christ would emerge from the tomb, not a vanquished foe, but a triumphant Victor.  A Victor over sin and death.


Now that ought to elicit a loud roar of praise from my lips…Thank You Jesus!


This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it's right or not.  Head on over and give it a try!

Cry Out to God

Today the Lord strengthened and encouraged me through His word, in His perfect timing.  

 16 As for me, I call to God, 

   and the LORD saves me. 

17 Evening, morning and noon 

   I cry out in distress, 

   and he hears my voice. 

18 He rescues me unharmed 

   from the battle waged against me, 

   even though many oppose me.

Psalm 55:16-18 

NIV

Courageous: What's Your Resolution For 2012?

Rock Harbor's India Team & Harvest India

Our friend Rachel has gone to India along with others from Rock Harbor Church on a missions trip.  Each day they are sharing a blog post about what they did that day.  I would encourage you to follow their missions trip and see what the Lord is doing in and through them.

Rock Harbor India Team

Please watch the video below to see the lives being touched through Harvest India.

  

Harvest India from David Trotter on Vimeo.