Not Alone

I couldn't believe it. It felt just like I was back in high school. The name was "Jesus Freck". Now, the teasing looked a little bit different, but the intent to hurt was still the same. "Her biggest problem is that she probably gets up each morning and prays to be a perfect mom." Ouch! Nothing like getting punched in the stomach for wanting to run after the Lord will all your might.

This I was praying a passage that was first prayed thousands of years ago by David. "Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:5-6 NLT)

"He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn..." Some days, when you are pursuing Jesus and your life reflects that, it is just flat out hard. Our lives, hopefully,are a sharp contrast to those around us.

Look at that sunrise. Isn't it magnificent? Your innocence, your heart to go after Him no matter what the cost, is that type of beauty. Unfortunately, we live around those who are still in the dark; the Son has not risen in their lives, so they don't even know what that kind of beauty looks like.

So what can help us to appreciate this innocent beauty? Being around others who value the Son rising in their own lives. Others who have purposed to get up, each and every day, out of the darkness to not only see the Son rise, but to be a part of that process taking place in their own lives.

Find another. Find another who not only pays the price to run hard after Him each and every day, but applauds it in your life as well.

Friend, I applaud the rising in you. We are not alone. Our King. Our Love - Jesus, is waiting each and every day before the dawn to see if you will come and anticipate the Son rising in your life; in your heart. Wake up and see! It is SO worth it!

Tuning Our Lives

If you are joining me here today because of my devo on RadRevolution, hi! Sometimes, our life gets out of tune and often it is because of decisions we make.

Have you had an experience in life where everything seemed to be going right, yet in the end it really wasn't? I have had too many to count: bad dating decisions, poor money decisions, spur-of-the-moment not-time-to pray decisions. They seemed right at the time...

This past weekend, I went shopping with my husband. My office is often a complete mess and it was time to get serious about organizing it. Now, this is not my best skill in life, to be sure, but I figured if I had the right furniture, cabinets, and gadgets I could definately make it better. So it was off to the stores...

Store #1: Had a desk that would definately work. It was more than I wanted to spend, but I had done a little (emphasis on little) investigating and knew that it was pretty in line with what I had already seen. I was ready to buy and be done. My husband on the other hand said, "Lynn, I think you can do better." Buzz kill. Not what I wanted to hear. But I did listen.

Store #2: Had everything I wanted! The desk, the cabinets, the chair...even the cool waste can! AND I could get all the pieces I wanted for about the same amount of money as the ONE desk at the other store. I was so excited (I know you would be for me if you saw it...it is rather cool, I must say. Maybe I'll post a pic when I finally get it all assembled!).

Lesson learned: waiting and taking wise advice from others can be a VERY good thing for me. Sometimes what sounds or seems best is not, in fact. The only way to find that out is by slowly down long enough to hear.

What decisions are you contemplating? Is there a certain someone you would like to date, but don't know enough about his character? Is there a school you are thinking about attending, but haven't really sensed the green light from the Lord? What plans are you making for the summer...and have you asked the Lord what His plans are for you this summer? Slow down, pray, seek and then make those decisions wise decisions! !

Jeremiah 29:12 - 13 "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." NIV

Pray, Pray, Pray

For those joining me today from the Proverbs 31 devo, welcome! I just remembered that this devotion was coming out today while I was swimming laps... and praying! The Word says to pray without ceasing, so I like to take it literary.

I would love to hear from you on what you do to remind yourself to pray through the day! Many of the ways I pray today I learned from others. Praying for the person whose laundry I am folding as I fold it. Pray for the hurting person as the fire truck or ambulance drives by. Pray for my children as I drive them to school. I also enjoy surrounding myself with sounds that remind me of Him: worship music, sermons that I downloaded or Christian talk radio shows. Sometimes, when all is quiet, I am reminded of Him; His incredible presence always with me.

One thing I have learned: praying has to be intentional. Our mind, through out the day, will naturally gravitate toward our busyness: kids to be taken care of, laundry to do, the next meal to prepare, or work that needs our attention. Martin Luther once said, "I have so much to do today, I need to spend the first three hours in prayer". What a perspective!
As you look at your to-do list today, purpose to steal away moments with Him. Moments of purposeful quiet and moments in the crazy chaos. "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. " James 5:16 (NIV)
Have a prayer-filled day...He can't wait to hear from you!

Lynn