Prayer for the Coming Year

As this year draws to a close and I reflect on the one that will soon open, with all of its seemingly insurmountable obstacles and questions that weigh heavy and answers

that haven't yet come, I am taught, as I read from my dear brother Spurgeon, what

my thoughts need to be.  And my heart amens with swift and sure assent because

of the grace work of the Holy Spirit, my Helper and Counselor, as He

continues to sanctify my soul.

 

No matter what this new year brings, no matter how many questions remain or how many broken prayers require more attention and work from me...  no matter

how many tears or anxious thoughts...  no matter how sure it seems

that the earth will give way and the mountains will indeed be moved

into the heart of the sea...

 

God is always, unceasingly good.

 

He is ONLY good, as He cannot act unjustly or unkindly at any point.

There is no disputing this.  And so I pray, with Spurgeon:

 

"O my God, however perplexed I may be, let me never think ill of Thee.  If I cannot understand Thee, let me never cease to believe in Thee.  It must be so,

it cannot be otherwise, Thou art good to those whom Thou has

made good; and where Thou hast renewed the heart

Thou wilt not leave it to its enemies."

Birthday Eve Musings

I thought of you again as I lay on my bed in the early evening, taking a quick breather before moving on to the next to-do pile.

I kissed our son awake this morning and was immediately hit with the thought: This is the last day you'll be 8!

Some sadness with that, as with the other kids.

And then I thought of you.  And you've been on my mind quite a bit ever since.  And in my prayers.

As I lay on my bed a few minutes ago, I realized that ~ for you ~ he's already 9 (with you on the other side of the world).  And I wondered how many times he flooded your thoughts today.  Because I know he must.

I wish I could tell you all about him, all about his days, fill you in on how he laughs a lot; makes up really dumb jokes; is reading pretty well but excelling at math; loves to work in the yard with Dad and in the kitchen with me; is a really, really good friend to the other boys; shares everything he has (except with Joe, who has his own issues); is sensitive to others (especially me) when they're sad; loves to hug, kiss, and be held; throws a mean spiral like nobody's business, catches way more than drops the ball, and has the makings of an excellent quarterback; creates the most fantastical things out of Legos; is an incredible artist...

Comes up with some of the most breath-takingly deep observations about God, who he has learned so much about...

Has a strong sense of right and wrong, and is led by a sensitive conscience that usually opts for the high road...

Is my first child to always say, "Thank you for making our food, Mom."  In fact, he's very quick to say "Thank you" for most things...

He's beautiful and healthy, has an astonishing sense of balance and little fear of most things...

I'm hoping I can sit across the table from you someday and fill you in on the rest that hasn't happened yet.  Sharing coffee and regrets and thankfulness.  I'm longing for the day when Jake can find you and get the answers to all he desires.  And I'm hoping that you'll find peace as you see that he is loved and valued and needed.  That the selflessness of your sacrifice opened up a whole other world for him.

And for me.

I'm thankful I can wake him up tomorrow as a 9-year-old, and I will be teary-eyed (as usual) that one of my babies has moved ahead on the Timeline, and I will pray for you again.  That God will be pleased to open your heart in Vietnam and draw you to Himself.  That He will give you hope and peace and a knowing that your Bao is loved and happy and safe.  That I will try with all I have to find you when it's time.  And that you will be pleased with the job we did here as his parents when we finally meet face-to-face.

Pretty-Much Healthy Sweet Potato "Fries"

I am so, so glad to have found this recipe (Taste of Home, Nov. 2011). I'm hoping it's not too terribly bad for you, because I'm finding all sorts of reasons why we need to have them yet again for dinner.

Peel & cut 3 or 4 sweet potatoes into wedges (or you can leave the peel on.) Toss them in a bowl with 2 Tbsp. olive oil, 1 Tbsp. sugar, and 1 tsp. chili powder. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray, pile the potatoes on in a single layer, and bake at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes. You're supposed to turn these once, but I find that way too much work for an indiscernible effect. They'll be fine.

FYI: I have to use 3 Tbsp. oil, 1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar, and 1 1/2 tsp. chili powder because I end up cutting up more sweet potatoes than the recipe calls for. Just adjust your ingredients to your preference.

Enjoy!

Encouragement in Prayer

We had the rich blessing of listening to Philip De Courcy recently. If you are ever given the opportunity to listen to his teaching, don't miss it.

The first hour brought instruction on praying. Actually, it was more of a healing session for me, a time of great encouragement from the Spirit to my weak and tried heart.

There is so much I need to be constantly in prayer about, especially in the season I am in. Under the weight of many things, I often find myself flailing in my prayers. One morning in particular found me in my yellow chair, unable to articulate, able only to sigh & groan.

How will I change, how will the circumstances bring glory to God, if I can't even pray about them?

But God... (!!)

And so, He encouraged me through Philip De Courcy. Pastor De Courcy taught through Romans 8:26-27, reminding us of some of the sweetest truths about how the Spirit helps us as we pray. Some of what he said:

Prayers as a new believer are often self-centered, asking for what we think we need, looking for a new "cushion" to make things better. As we mature, however, we begin to see prayer as a war-time walkie-talkie that we learn to use for the advancement of the Kingdom.

It is my weakness that qualifies me to pray! Prayers begin when I reach my end. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (to those who admit,
"I have no idea how or what to pray! I need Your help!").

"...the Spirit HELPS us in our weakness..." "Helps" here means to bear or carry with or over/against. The Spirit presents my case to God through Christ. As Christ is interceding outside of me (in Heaven), the Spirit is working INSIDE of me, interceding for me here on Earth.

My prayers get fixed "on the way Up." My mixed-up, feeble, chaotic prayers are taken by the Spirit, given Divine articulation, expressing perfectly what my needs are. What I cannot express on Earth is heard in Heaven loud & clear!

The Spirit takes my prayers, fixes them, then presents them according to
God's will. His intercession for me is 100% effective!

If God doesn't answer the prayer I made,
He answers the prayers I should have made.

Quoting John Bunyan: "Better your heart be without words
then your words be without heart."

All of my prayers (every last one of them!) are answered completely and perfectly. So I need to rest in that, even if I don't understand the answer.

Quoting Warren Wiersbe: "God gives His best
to those who leave the choice to Him."

I cannot tell you how precious that hour was. Tears poured as the Spirit gently, kindly reminded me: "I know your frame, that you are but dust. You are Mine; you are precious in My sight. I am your help. Persevere."