The Privilege of Prayer

People need prayer.

I'm just now beginning to understand this as a discipline. The bigness of it. The effects of it. The privilege of it.

There are so many awesome scriptures on prayer. So many quotes by really wonderful people on prayer. So many good pray-ers. No one really needs me to write a blog post on it.

But here lately, I have been finding so much joy in praying. Instead of it being a monotonous ritual or an anxiety filled plea - it's become more of a communing. It's something I crave. Something I need. Not something I dread. Not something I fear. It's also been more about intercession. That is, praying for other people - interceding for them. I have found so much satisfaction in this. Excitement, even! I've discovered that praying for another person's needs causes a fountain of love and contentment to well up inside - causing the tumult within my own heart to cease. Sounds cheesy but it's true.

Our whole family is experiencing the same thing. Right now, there is a light-up rotating globe sitting on my kitchen table - at the request of my husband. It has become our centerpiece, if you will. It serves as a reminder that there is a whole world of people who need the love and compassion of Jesus. And it reminds us to pray for them. It's powerful. It's even had an impact on our 4 year old. This week - he chose to pray for Portugal, Spain, France, and all of Africa. He gets it.

His Mommy is trying hard to get it, too. That's where you come in! What can I pray about for YOU? Please take me up on this. It would be my pleasure to lift you up in intercession. I'm setting aside some extra time just to pray for you. Take courage in that!

I'll leave you with some wisdom far richer than anything I could ever conjure up! Be blessed, friends - and know that you are loved....

Pray without ceasing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

"I am so grateful I did not wait until I was perfect or had everything straight before praying for others, otherwise I would never have begun." - Richard Foster

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. - Jeremiah 33:3

"Understand that praying is more than bowing your head and saying your prayers. Your whole life can be a prayer." - from Checklist for a Woman's Life

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He made abide with you forever. - John 14:16

 Lord, lead me in prayer. Meet me in prayer. Teach me how to pray. Let the Spirit pray through me. Bring people and things to my mind that you want prayed for. And let me heed the call. Please bless everyone who stops by my blog with a deep reassurance of Your goodness. We praise you. 

In Jesus, Amen.

Soup!

One of the things that gets me through winter... is food. When the weather is cold - I turn into a corny, June Cleaver-ish, cooking and baking freak.

I'm not a cold weather person. The chapped lips, cloudy skies, and freezing cold temperatures don't exactly do it for me. I need some sunshine. Some warmth. Some life, please.

While I'm cooped up inside with two antsy children all season - I turn to Jesus. And then I turn to my stove.

Throughout the winter months - I make my Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup at least once a week. It's a great way to get some veggies into our bellies. It's not loaded with junk. (Like bouillon cubes, for example. Those things might be totally safe - I have some sitting in my cupboard. But seriously, what's in those 'chicken flavored' little squares? Kinda scares me.) It's not super expensive. And I read somewhere that chicken soup really is good for your immune system. I'm up for anything that will fight off a virus or two. Sign me up, please!

You want to sign up, too? You got it. Here's the recipe:

Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup - from Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook - 14th Edition

1 3-4 pound chicken, cut up, or 2.5 pounds meaty chicken pieces
8 cups water
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 cup chopped carrot
1 cup chopped celery
1.5 cups dried egg noodles
2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley (I don't always add this.)


1) In a 6-8 quart Dutch oven combine chicken, water, onion, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, about 1.5 hours or until chicken is tender.


2) Remove chicken from broth. When cool enough to handle, remove meat from bones. Discard bones and skin. Cut meat into bite-size pieces; set aside. Discard bay leaf. Skim fat from broth. (I don't always skim the fat.)


3) Bring broth to boiling. Stir in carrot and celery. Simmer, covered, about 5 minutes. Stir in noodles. Simmer, covered, about 5 minutes more or until noodles are tender but still firm. Stir in chicken and parsley; heat through. (I let it simmer for a bit after I've added all the ingredients. Maybe 15-20 minutes.)

 It's so good. While it warms up our bellies - it warms up our hearts. I told you the cold makes me corny :)

They Bring Peace

I'm crazy about the book of Ephesians.

All of it - but particularly chapter 4. Will you dive into it with me for a moment? Just look at these nuggets of truth:

Verse 1 says: lead a life worthy of your calling
Verse 2 says: be humble and gentle...patient...making allowances for each other's faults
Verse 3 says: keep yourselves united in the Spirit...bind yourselves together with peace
Verses 5 and 6 say: there is one God who is over all and in all and living through all
Verse 14 says: we should no longer be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine
Verse 17 says: no longer walk in the futility of your mind
Verse 22 says: throw off your former way of life
Verse 23 says: be renewed in the Spirit of your mind
Verse 25 says: put away lying
Verse 26 says: do not let the sun go down on your wrath
Verse 28 says: use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to those in need
Verse 29 says: let everything you say be good and helpful...and an encouragement to those who hear them
Verse 30 says: do not grieve the Holy Spirit
Verse 31 says: get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander
Verse 32 says: be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another

And in between all of those words are more awesome words of truth. Go ahead and check them out. Dive in. Test the waters. It feels good.

When I first started getting serious about studying God's Word - I did a personal study of Ephesians. I didn't just read it - I relished it. Rolled around in it for a while. Chewed on it for a few days. Cross referenced it. Compared translations. And memorized a few verses, too. (Not because I'm super-duper righteous or anything.I'm not. - But because I couldn't help myself.) I also prayed that the Holy Spirit would speak to me through it. He did...still does....and He'll do the same for you.

The few phrases I listed above - and the other sweet words you'll find in this book - are not words of bondage. They are not regimented. Or haughty. Or even religious. They are life-giving. They bring freedom. They edify. They bring peace. To you - and to those in your sphere of influence.

Don't you just think that's beautiful?

Me too.

Let's Seek Him

Welcome to 2011! And welcome to JottinMama's new blog! It's high time I get my act together and do this blog thing the way it's meant to be done. Well. Weekly. Wonderfully. That's my intention... we will see how I do :)

2010 was life-changing. And awesome. The Lord was so up close and personal with us last year.... getting into our business and onto our cases like never before. I'm hoping and praying for more of the same in 2011.

And I think I'll get it because...

I had an interesting little exchange with the Lord one day a couple of month ago. I was driving down the road - praying. About my faith...about the doubts whirling around in my mind. And as I was praying and pondering - I had a tornado of quotes and thoughts filling my brain....from theologians, books, articles, and preachers that I had listened to recently.

"Well this pastor says....."

"But this theologian thinks that..."

"And this author believes....."

It was so noisy. And overwhelming. When all of the sudden I felt like the Lord said...


"But Kate, who do YOU say that I am?"

Immediate calm flooded my mind. And then I thought about the Bible passage where Jesus asked the disciples the very same thing. It's in Luke 9:18-20, if you're interested.

Ever since...I've been repeating the question over and over in my mind. Who do I say that Jesus is?

The only way to answer the question is to know Him personally. Through scripture. Through prayer. Through worship. Beth Moore can't do that for me. Ravi Zacharias can't do that for me. Max Lucado can't do that for me. My pastors can't do that for me. While they are all excellent Bible teachers and while I do learn from them and enjoy their teachings (and while I will probably quote them often this year here on my blog).... I have to find out who Jesus is my own self. I have to get my own nose into The Word. I have to get on my own knees and pray my own prayers. I have to lift my own hands in worship.  And friends, when I do those things, when I position myself at His feet (through serious Bible study, prayer, fasting, fellowship, quiet, stillness, service, obedience, etc...) I'm able to give Him an answer to the, "Who do YOU say that I am?" question that pierced my heart that day.

And that's important. For me. And for you.

So this year, please join me. In the Word. On your knees. In worship. Out in the world - serving and seeking. For I'm beginning to understand that in these things ...a person does a lot of finding. Revelation happens. Our eyes are opened. Our faith is strengthened. Our influence is lengthened. We are guided, girded, and hoisted up to catch His wind in our sails.

Oh friends. I'm thankful for you. And for this new year. And for a God who wants us to know Him. Really know Him. In 2011, may the Spirit break into our lives, homes, hearts, churches, and communities like never before.

Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. - Ephesians 1:15-19 NKJV

New Beginnings

Starting over :)

New year...new blog. See you in 2011!

God Happenings

Like I said in my last post.....I'm so full of stuff to tell you.

 Awesome stuff. And I don't really know how to articulate it all. A lot of the things that have been going on and showing up in our lives lately - have left me speechless.

And that's a rare feat.

For weeks now I've been asking: "How do I explain it all?" - "How do I put God and what He is doing into words? Into a sentence? Into a thought, even?" I can't. My words and my sentences and my thoughts aren't good enough. Not even close.

But please hear my heart, anyway. I pray that my measly little words will somehow give you just a glimpse of how real, how personal, how intimate, how awesome, and how awe-inspiring your Creator is. Because He is the I AM. It will take me numerous posts to get it all in - and by that time - I'm sure there will be more. However, as of this post - I am committed to posting at least once a week. There's too much going on not too.

Lord, help me here. As I'm typing this sentence I have no idea how I'm gonna explain all this. Just be in it, God. And that will be enough.

A lot of what I want to share will be written off by many as coincidence. Not long ago - I would have been one of them. My hope is that at the very least...one of you is strengthened in the faith through all these God-happenings....

*****************

Let's start with the corn. Remember the corn? I'll never forget it - and believe me - I will try. This was our second year of growing 4 acres of the stuff. Right in the middle of picking season this year (hand picking, mind you), things started to change. I mean reeeally change. For years now we (and by 'we' - I mean my husband) have been dead set on moving to my husband's hometown. Every thought, every spare moment, every thing was spent striving toward this goal. Getting our house ready to sell, figuring out where we would live once we got there, figuring out what land my husband would do his hobby farming on etc...etc...There was a sense of urgency and anxiety riddled throughout it all. It had become very burdensome and it was breaking us to the point of crumbling. But we didn't realize it - until it was gone. That's right....gone. Plucked. Taken. Door not just shut - but slammed. And it all happened right in the confines of my husband's heart.....

It was Memorial day weekend. My husband and I took the kids to a park. It was a beautiful day - full of warmth and sunshine.My husband and I were talking about moving. And he mentioned something a good (and wise) friend of ours said earlier in the week:

"God never moved me from anywhere - until I became content with where I was at the time."

Seems simple enough. But that day....in that moment....it was profound. A revelation. I'm serious when I say.... after that conversation - things were different. The sun and warmth at the park that day - transferred itself right into our hearts. All of the forcing, striving, yanking, and pulling - stopped. Just stopped. We were suddenly open - open to what He wanted...not what 'we' wanted. God didn't just leave us hanging there, though.

A few days later we visited my family in Texas. While we were there.... my husband and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary at a steak house. (All Texans celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, anything...at either a steak house or Mexican food place. It's a rule.) While we were sitting there, my husband leaned across the table and said...

"I need to ask for your forgiveness over something."

As I braced myself, he said something like....

"All these plans I've made about moving - were just that - MY plans. I never once stopped to consider what God wants for us. I never asked Him what His plans were. I've had tunnel vision. I'm so sorry. Forgive me?"

I almost fell out of the booth.

This man...my husband...who was relentless in moving our family.... who was totally - heart and soul... sold on living in his hometown.....just said WHAT?

As I picked my jaw up off the floor - he continued...."I want to commit to praying with you over this. I want to seek the Lord's will for our lives and obey it wholeheartedly."

After I composed my very shocked self - I felt so thankful that I married a man who would #1: Be open to something other than his plans, admit his wrong, and ask for forgiveness, and #2: Ask me to pray with him about it. I'm a blessed woman.

Two days later we visited a church near Dallas. My jaw dropped again when we heard the title of the message that day: God's Ways Work. The whole sermon was on doing things God's way - following His plans - not your own. Weeeeeird. Then, when we got back home and went to services at our own church - the sermon that day was entitled: When Your Plans Fail. It was all about seeking out God's plan for your life. Also on that Sunday, our pastor offered prayer for families at a crossroads - wondering what to do and where to go. Weeeird, again.

As if that wern't enough, my Beth Moore study that week was on decisions - and what to do in the 'gray' areas - when things aren't black and white. She specifically mentioned where to live and what to do when making decisions for your family.

And that is how it went for weeks. One thing right after another spoke right into our hearts. One might say that it was because we were more aware and looking for connections. I tend to be one of them. But even my own skepticism recognizes these seemingly divine happenings.

There's lots more where all this came from. I haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet. The stuff that just has the Lord written all over it. The stuff that makes the skeptic in me sit down and shut up. The stuff that makes me look up and say: "Oh my goodness, God. You are real."

And if I can say that........anyone can.

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"For I know that plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. - Jeremiah 29:13

Tonight

Sometimes, I just want to stay up late.

I know my four year old will come prancing into my bedroom in the wee hours of the morning tomorrow saying.... "Mommmy! It's morning!" I know my 1 year old will be waking up shortly after that looking for me. I know I will probably end up being groggy and tired all day. But I can't help myself. The house is so quiet late at night. Peaceful, even. I can eat a midnight snack without someone wanting a bite. I can type a blog post without having to stop mid-sentence about a thousand times. I can think. I can just sit. Nighttime is nice. And honestly...on the rare occasion that I do stay up late - it makes me feel young and carefree again. Did I really just type that? If that's all it takes I must be getting old :)

While I do love me some peace, quiet, and late-night r & r....I also love me some noise. Little kid noise.  You know the kind: the pitter patter of little feet just learning to walk. The sounds of a 4 year old imitating the roar of engines. The giggles. The songs. The banging of pots and pans. The constant asking of questions. The squeals and screeches. The hollers and whispers. It's good. It means I'm blessed. It means my days are filled with non-stop mommy chores, time-outs, and ibprofen....yes....but it means my days are filled with not only little kid noise...but little kid love. Little kid love....it's so real, so genuine, so honest. It's a privilage to do what I do. The gift isn't lost on me.  It's good and I'm thankful.

So tonight, as I wrap up my midnight meanderings - I'm gonna pray that I'm ready for those little feet and big noises that will awake me in the morn. And I'm gonna count myself as blessed. So blessed....early morning wake up call and all :)