NOT GOOD ENOUGH?

"Anytime we feel not good enough we deny the

powerful truth

that we are a glorious work of God

in progress.

"We are imperfect because we are unfinished."

Lysa Terkeurst

It's Not Supposed To Be This Way    p.77

Nelson Books  2018

God's Word

". . . I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . ."

Psalm 139:14

Good enough.

"The Lord your God . . . will take great delight in you . . .

will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17 

Absolutely loved and enjoyed.

" . . . he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:6

You and me:

Good and getting better. 

Absolutely loved and 

A work in progress.

lonnie

TOO SOON TO QUIT

"But it's the prayers you pray when you

feel like 

you want to quit

praying

that bring the greatest breakthroughs."

Mark Batterson

Draw The Circle   p. 99

Zondervan  2012

I've just finished listening to a book, titled Unplanned, by Abby Johnson. How many prayers were prayed for Abby?

She'd had 2 abortions and had become Director of a Planned Parenthood Clinic.

How many prayers before her mind, heart, and life were changed?

YEARS' WORTH!

I've been praying for years, too.

It's too soon to quit.

lonnie

PS:  In listening to Abby's story, you can clearly see God working.

The people praying could not.

They kept praying.

CONFETTI

God, 

we can't expect confetti and balloons every time we obey,

But

I still wonder what we might be missing
when we don't take time to listen,
and obey.

God's Word

". . . we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.

But

because you say so,

I will let the nets down.

. . .

"They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break . . .

both boats so full they began to sink."

Luke 5: 6-7

Because You say so . . .

lonnie

I GET IT, BUT . . .

". . . beyond our ability to endure . . .

we despaired of life itself . . .

But

this happened

that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, 

who raises the dead." 

1 Corinthians 1: 8-9

I get it.

I just don't like it.

lonnie

JUST A CRUTCH

Some mock Christians saying that 

Jesus is just a crutch--to which I respond,

"So what?"

Praying God's Word

"To him who is able to keep you

from stumbling

AND

to present you before his glorious presence

without fault

AND

with great joy."

Jude v. 24

One word prayer: Thank You.

lonnie

PRODIGALS

Perusing past pages of my current journal; I'll likely post many entries today.

Remember, this blog is about eaves dropping on what God is teaching me. Repetition and writing help me remember.

I hope that, sometimes, this blog meets someone else's need. I hope, sometimes, my blog makes people smile; and sometimes makes readers sigh, "Yay. I'm not the only one with that struggle, or with that crazy answer."

Father,

Bring the prodigals home.

Amber Alerts notify us of missing children--likely in danger.

We have missing children--in danger, too.

God, bring them Home--to You.

When they come home, let unbelievers come with them.

Let their time away not be wasted.

Be with waiting parents--help them/us to love, pray, and trust.

In Jesus' Name.


Praying God's Word

"I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith
may not fail.
And when you turn back,
strengthen your brothers."

Luke 22: 31  New International Version

MUSTARD ANYONE?

Did you know this?

"the tiny mustard seed contains all the nutrients you need

to survive.

It's packed with

Vitamin B1, B6, C, E, and K.

It's a source of calcium,

iron,

magnesium,

phosphorus,

potassium,

selenium,

and zinc."

I know now, and I Still 

Could Not

Care Less!

Please don't buy me any for Christmas.

Or any other day.

Sincere thanks,

lonnie

Draw The Circle  p. 74

ABSOLUTELY FAITHFUL

"See how He's been faithful

in the past, 

and 

trust Him to be faithful in the future."

Jennifer Rothschild

Psalm 23: The Shepherd With Me  p. 152

Lifeway  2018

Reliable roof over my head.

Warm, dry bed.

Fresh and tasty food in cupboards, frig and stomach.

People who love me.

People I love. 

Freedom to read God's Word and to sing His praises.

Car with gas and heat.

Coat

Clothes and a closet to put them in.

Extras. Lots of extras.

Some days, I confess, I get scared. But what I can't even imagine, God can do.

And He has.

Because

God is Absolutely Faithful!

lonnie

WISH "I" HAD SAID THAT

Went to jail

For playing music?

"I wouldn't stop playing my guitar. Used to be I played it on the street and sometimes people would give me money.

I didn't do it for the money.

I did it because the music is better if someone is listening to it."

I love words! And these are great!

It's Christmas. Make the music better.

lonnie

Kate DiCamillo

Because Of Winn-Dixie  p.130

Candlewick Press   2000

NOT OUT, BUT THROUGH

"Sometimes the purpose of prayer is to get us out of circumstances, but more often than not, the purpose of prayer is to

get us through them."

Mark Batterson

Draw The Circle  p. 34

Zondervan  2012

When we come "through" we discover dimensions of God and of His love that we haven't known before.

He Is Faithful!

lonnie

SAY "CHRISTMAS."

"And by the way, Starbucks employees were never told

they could not say

Merry Christmas.

But that's not their job anyway--

that's our job.

"It's the Christian's job to tell people about 

Jesus,

not the barista who may be Jewish, secular, or whatever.

Don't get outraged at things that don't matter."

Ed Stetzer

Christians In The Age Of Outrage  p. xiv

Tyndale Momentum  2018

Sadly, in previous years I joined the grumbling crowd of self-righteous Christians. 

I DETERMINED to wish people--especially store clerks--
 a Blessed Christmas.

And that's a perfect response!

So long as it is said with a contagious smile and a heart of love,

rather than an attitude of 

'You are not the boss of me!'

Enjoy Jesus This Christmas.
I truly believe He enjoys you,
lonnie

INSIDE THE CIRCLE

" Go home.

Lock yourself in your room. 

Kneel down . . .

with a piece of chalk draw a circle

around yourself.

. . . Pray fervently and brokenly that God would start a revival 

within that chalk circle."

Help me God,

lonnie

AN EXAMPLE'S BEEN SET. HELP ME FOLLOW.

"Rodney 'Gypsy' Smith . . . never received a formal education,

yet he lectured at Harvard.

. . . He was invited by two sitting  United States presidents

to the White House."

Mark Batterson jump-starts my heart when he writes about this mighty man of prayer. Gypsy Smith never preached without someone coming to Jesus.

BUT . . .

Mark quickly points out that it wasn't sermons that brought revival. 

"Preaching may move the hearts of men, but praying

moves the heart of God.

"And that's where revival comes from."

Mark Batterson

Draw The Circle  p. 8-9

Zondervan 2012

I don't read books 2 times, let alone 5! I haven't made it cover to cover each time, but this has been the most impactful book on prayer I've ever read. While Batterson does not agree with "name-it-claim-it" praying, he by no means steals my faith or my spirit of expectancy. He DOES give me bricks and tools to build a tower of perseverance and trust.

Not Waiting To Make A New Year's Resolution.

Starting Now,

lonnie

CELEBRATE THE SUNRISE . . . . . . or not.

"When my wife, Donna, sees a sunrise,

 she sees it as a beautiful start

to a great day.

When I see one, I see 

that I am up too early.

Ugh.

Ed Stetzer

Christians In The Age Of Outrage   p. 153

Tyndale Momentum  2018

How about you?

Venetian blinds or light-blocking drapes?

I'll take the sun, anytime!
 However, you DO know you can have it both ways.
Enjoy your first cup of coffee with the sunrise.
Then take a little nap before work.

lonnie

NEVER LEAVES ME OR FORSAKES ME

"I want to assume that His promise to never leave me or forsake me means that He's operating like a supernatural shield

around me,

preventing horrific things from happening

to me and those I love."

Lysa Terkeurst

It's Not Supposed To Be This Way   p. 23

Nelson Books   2018

I have felt forsaken or forgotten at times.

How about you?

Yet, 

while reading Lysa's words, I remembered my reading in Luke this morning.

"A man going down from Jerusalem to Jericho . . .

attacked

stripped of his clothes 

beaten . . ." Luke 10:30

A priest crossed the road to avoid him.

Likewise, a Levite.

That's what forsaken looks like.

My God is like neither of those.

He doesn't pass to the other side of the road because I'm too much trouble.

He cares for me.

He provides others to care for me.

And, sometimes, He appoints me to help care for others.

Am I aware? Listening? Obeying?

Emmanuel: God With Us

Gratefully His,

lonnie

SHOOTING IN A GAY NIGHTCLUB

Mark Hausfeld found himself in a coffee shop in Colorado; a favorite coffee shop of  the LGBTQ community--and that, after the awful shooting in a gay nightclub of Orlando, Fla.

As led by the Holy Spirit, he braved asking several servers at the coffee shop about the shooting; their pain, anger, and their thoughts about how Christians were reacting.

Five Common Themes Immerged

"1. Do not single out homosexuality and ignore other sins.

2. Deal with your own sin before critisizing others.

3. Ask questions and listen.

4. Protect us from hate and violence.

5. Love by words and actions.

"I was struck by the fact that people in the LGBTQ community . . . were telling Christians to act more like Jesus."

Ed Stetzer

Christians In The Age Of Outrage   p. 105

Tyndale Momentum  2018

Perhaps the reason I have leaned, so often, toward "black and white" is that it leaves no room for awkward discussions. Perhaps it's time to change. 

Talk about an elephant in the room! Several people I love live in this experience; but I've never asked them how it feels. 

How about you? 

Scared Spitless  

But willing to be made willing,

lonnie