Wednesday, February 28, 2018

In Crisis


Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses … (Hebrews 12:1)

Exactly two years ago today, I posted this picture of myself on Facebook as I prepared to have breast cancer surgery. I took every post, comment, email, and text and made this actual prayer chain to place around my neck and rest on my shoulders …

Certainly, that big “C” was a crisis time in my life. But it’s done and over. I survived. I tried to stay positive. I tried to trust in the Lord. And He carried me, on His shoulders, through it all.

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders. (Deuteronomy 33:12)

Several years prior to that, a crisis too. My beloved mom was dying, I was going through a divorce, and my son was heading off to Iraq.

Before that, I was in financial distress and my marriage was crumbling.

Then there was the time when I joined the Navy: far from home – the comforts, securities, the familiarity of home. All that change certainly created stress for me.

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. 
Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. (2 Timothy 3:10-11)

Are you in a place where you’re feeling like Paul did writing to Timothy? Look back. Go back decade by decade as I did. Was there a crisis – you didn’t think would ever end, much less survive.

Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
The Lord rescued me from all of them.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:13-14)



Monday, February 26, 2018

A Trip to the Zoo

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved
Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. (Ruth 1:16)

I saw one family rushing their children through from one exhibit to the next, so they could see every animal on this trip.  Pulling on little arms, they shouted words of excitement and encouragement regarding the next place - while hardly glancing at the current one.

My family strolled where the children wanted to stroll. We lingered or left as the children lingered or left.

Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. (Ruth 1:16)

My family sat, one minute on the bench, then leaping up to the guard rail of the monkey enclosure - before sitting down again. We pointed, we talked, and laughed. Ran to the guard rail yet again. The sun was bright and warm on our faces. The breeze cool and refreshing. Simple delights.

We didn't get to see everything. We didn't get to do everything. But we sure enjoyed the place we were.

There is a lot to see in this world. I'm not going to be able to see it all. There is a lot to do in this world. I'm not going to be able to do it all. So many choices ...

That's why I think it's important to connect with God, and listen to God's voice. That's why I think He created us, each of us, to each be a part of the whole and not the whole by ourselves. Some do this. Some do that. Take time to enjoy your "this". Take time to do it well. While someone else does their "that" well. And to enjoy. Enjoy whatever the Lord leads you into seeing, tasting, doing. Simple delights have been assigned to you. Abilities have been granted.

By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. (Exodus 13:20-22)

Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. (Ruth 1:16)
This passage is from Ruth. But I like to hear God saying it to me. And I feel pretty good when I am able to say it to Him...








Friday, February 23, 2018

Speechless


© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved
“Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

Who doesn’t love music? There are songs for every occasion. On happy, good mood days, do you find yourself belting out the lyrics in the shower, in the car? And on those bad, sad days – curled up under a blanket and whimpering days – do certain songs fill you with the exact words you couldn’t come up with on your own?

When I started taking walks several years ago, I stumbled across some classical music. Instrumental. Without words at all. And my eyes were opened to the sun and the sky. Leaves and flowers. My eyes wandered freely. My thoughts wandered too – without the direction of familiar song lyrics.

My thoughts were free to be … directed by God.

I wonder if my prayer life looks like this. Often my prayer time has an agenda (direction): some thanks and praise, some regrets and requests …

But how hard it can be to pray – without words.

One thing I ask from the Lord,
This only do I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To gaze on the beauty of the Lord
And to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)

Is it possible … to just sit … and gaze upon the beauty of the Lord? Mary thought so.

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. (Luke 10:39)

I pray to sit before the Lord. I pray to let His thoughts enter mine. To seek His face. His voice. If only for a moment or two.

To turn up the classical, instrumental background and walk humbly with my Lord.


Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The Real Worker

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved
Chosen snippets from Psalm 147:

THE LORD builds up ...
HE heals ...
HE binds up ...
THE LORD sustains ...
HE covers ...
HE supplies ...
and makes ...
HE provides ...
THE LORD delights ...
HE strengthens ...
and blesses ...
HE grants ...
and satisfies ...
HE sends ...
HE spreads ...

HE has revealed ...
HE has done this ...

“My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” (John 5:17)

The Lord is always at work. How often do we think we come up with a great idea on how we want to serve Him. When in reality, we are answering His call to join Him in His work.
How is the Lord working in (and through) your life today?

Thursday, February 15, 2018

That still, small voice

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)

Impulsive is not a word I would use to describe myself. No, I like things planned out in advance. I like to know and be prepared ahead of time. Visualize how things will go. Planned. Prepared. Organized. Okay ... "controlled".

But often, things don't go as planned. The unexpected happens. At a moment's notice. A shift. Sometimes, its for the benefit of another. Other times, a surprising blessing to your day.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)

I THINK I'm going to do this and that today. But a phone call perhaps - and a choice - and I drop my plans to do something totally different.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27)

Impulsive. (Latin - driven onward) Following Jesus at a moment's notice. Holding my plans loosely; grasping His plans firmly. Answering the call. His voice. Surrender - no control. Surrender. It may feel impulsive. An impulsive, quick responsive action to God's calling.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)

That thought that just raced through your mind - that still, small voice ... was that You, God?

Some days turn out way different. And that's okay. Because I know the Lord's hand is on my life. I know He has plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11)

Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

I think we get it mixed up. We think we need to get busy do-do-doing for God. When He is really calling us to listen first - then obey Him.

The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10)


Saturday, February 10, 2018

Thanks ... again!

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits -
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:2-5)

I prayed on and off all day yesterday. My son was driving back from Florida. Many of you know Michigan got quite a bit of snow then. So a lot of praying. A lot of hoping - and trusting in the Lord. Finally, at 10:30 p.m., I got the call that he was home. Safe. A quick "Thank You, Jesus!" and I was off to bed to sleep in perfect peace.

But this morning something was stirred up in me. Although sincerely heartfelt, I realized how short and quick my prayers of thanks can be.

So I'm wanting to re-think, re-pray, re-thank God:

  • the Lord carried me through months of cancer treatments in 2016 and I am now listed among the survivors (Thank You again, Jesus!)
  • a loved one, (actually two) thought their cancer had returned. Prayed day after day until the test results came back all clear (Thank You again, Jesus!)
  • endless prayer for a friend's son who needed to receive a life-giving liver organ donation (Thank You again, Jesus!)
  • even daily prayers over my cat, who was choking every day, is finally well (Thank You again, Jesus!)
  • unending prayer for someone in the hospital for so long, getting well enough to go home (Thank You again, Jesus!)
  • and my son, after hours of prayer, made it home though the snowy, stormy Michigan roads (Thank You again, Jesus!)


There just seemed to be an imbalance between the requests and the gratitudes. Do we scratch answered prayers off our list too quickly? What if we kept a running list of how God acted upon every single one? I bet our eyes would be opened to how great, how great is our God!

What are you re-thankful for today?

Thursday, February 8, 2018

What does my prayer DO?


© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved
He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:19)

Whether you pray for 10 or 15 minutes all in one shot, or pray one-liners throughout the day – do you sometimes wonder … what does it do?

Did it ever dawn on you that prayer, any prayer, delights the Lord your God? One little whisper of thanks, one little whimper for help – and the Lord smiles and delights that you have turned to Him. Think about that for a moment. EVERY prayer you breathe, brings pleasure to the Lord. Oh my …

It is in your humbled state, in your very weakness – in your turning to God … that brings Him joy. He is most happy to listen and hear whatever you have to say. And He wants you to be assured of His love and care. God hears. God will answer. And delights in doing so.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Ephesians 6:18) Any kind of prayer. Any and all requests are welcome.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6) It’s okay to take every kind of worry to the Lord.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18) Any time. Any place. God is waiting to hear from you.

 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. (James 5:13) In good times and bad, it is always alright to pray to the Lord.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,(1 Peter 3:12) He is watching. He is waiting. To hear from you.

The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. (Revelation 8:4) This verse reminds us that there is an active, alive spiritual realm at work. You are not alone in your concerns.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. (Romans 8:26) See how great our God is, providing for us even when we can’t find the words to pray!

Some closing thoughts on the Lord’s delight:

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;

 the Lord delights in those who fear him,
    who put their hope in his unfailing love. (Psalm 147:10-11)



God bless your day! As you bless Him with your prayers!








Friday, February 2, 2018

In God we trust

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. (Psalm 28:7)

We all know how prayers tend to go:
Lord, I pray for so-and-so ...
Lord, I pray about this and that ...
Lord, I pray over ...
Lord, I pray ...

Lifting up our burdens and concerns. And hearing ... nothing. "Knowing" God hears our prayers. But not sensing immediate relief. Sighing. Knowing we've done what is right.

But what if we worded our prayers differently. What if, instead of Lord, I pray - we said, Lord, I trust ...

Lord, I trust and believe You are holding my hand.
Lord, I trust and believe You will lift me up and settle me down.
I trust in my place in Your heart.
I trust You will help me live secure.
I trust You really love me - just as I am.
I trust You really have Your hand on all these circumstances, worries, and burdens on my heart.
I trust You really know.
I trust that I don't have to explain.
I trust You to smooth out my upset brow.
I trust You really calm my spirit.
I trust and believe You are my Peace.
I trust and believe in Your love and care over me and others. All others.

I put my trust, secure faith and trust, in the One true God.
And there it is. Peace that passes understanding. There it is. Peace and a place for a song in my heart. Praises. 
Amen.