A modern day Zacchaeus story

…  for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:8)

I had to have been crazy. Why would anyone go thrift store shopping on a rainy day? But out we went, my niece and I, looking for "treasures" and enjoying each others company.

Often times there is nothing much worth buying. But this day I found six skeins of yarn. For $2.50! A real bargain. I hesitated though. It was navy blue. Extremely difficult to work with. Dark colors just are. The wrapper was gone from all of them so I didn't know for sure the weight or how much was really there. And the yarn felt stiff as if kind of old. Maybe not such a bargain after all. Still, the price taunted me and I decided it would be worth the risk.

Once home, I rifled through all my old patterns I had saved for who knows how long. Without knowing the yardage, how would I know if I had enough? I finally decided on something. A pattern I'd never done before. And being unsure about the yarn, it would be a leap of faith as to what size it would end up being. Closing my eyes. Taking a chance.

Well, the pattern was fairly easy and progress was quick. Looked like something useable would come out of it after all.

I was three-quarters of the way through when someone posted on social media that hospice was in need of lap robes. Hmmm. I wonder what size a lap robe needs to be?

You guessed it. My little "spontaneous" project turned out to be the exact measurement for a lap robe that would accommodate someone in a wheelchair. 

Was all this coincidence?

• someone donated some old yarn
• we went shopping in the rain
• the yarn was at such a bargain price for the quantity
• an appealing pattern was saved months ago
• a post was made on social media
• the project came out just the right size

Or was all this of God? Aligning circumstances to meet someone's need before the individual even asked? 

What do you believe happened?

Long before Zaccheaus couldn’t see Jesus, 

the tree was already planted to meet his need.

Prayer… for you

 

Prayer. It’s for you, you know. Because God is already on the move. God is right in front of you…

You hem me in behind and before, You lay Your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5

God is already in motion. God already has a plan. And it is going to end in a good way.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him… Romans 8:28

Prayer is opening our eyes to all the opportunities that God will show Himself. I think we miss sensing God’s love, care, and devoted attention when we don’t pray about every kind of thing. So bring all your requests to God.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Number one He will give you peace of mind and number two we will see the living God in present time.

Prayer isn’t asking God to wake up and do something. What we’re really saying/asking/praying is: awaken me to Your presence, Lord. Because He is already taking care of business. And we don’t want to miss a thing.

Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17

So wait and watch…

The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. Blessed are all who wait for Him! Isaiah 30:18

My heart says of you, “Seek His face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. Psalm 27:8

Reading it; praying it

Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name  (1 Chronicles 16:8-10)... (pause)

Truly, God, with all my heart, thank You for every thing. Thank You for never leaving me; You never stop loving me, helping me, caring about me. Thank You for calling out my name. Yes, thank You. I'm thankful I can approach Your holy throne with confidence and acceptance. And am welcomed in great love.

Make known among the nations what He has done ... (pause)

I surely will, Lord God, as You lead and direct and guide my thoughts and words. May my testimony of You and Your greatness be heard, seen, felt in and through my thoughts, words and deeds. In my attitude, in my heart and mind and all that overflows from them, God. Be glorified. Be glorified.

Sing to Him. Sing praise to Him ... (pause)

Lord, You are above all and beyond all. Unfathomable greatness. Awesomeness, goodness beyond belief. Ultimate perfect love and acceptance, tenderness, compassionate too. Merciful. Great are You, Lord. Great in all You've done for me over the years. All the helps, all the rescues, all the joys. Your amazing grace through it all. Through unbelievable traumas. Through huge mistakes. Yet You do not harbor any anger or disappointment. You still send beautiful blessings into every day. Great is Your faithfulness. Great is Your unchanging, unfailing character of love and grace, Lord... unto me.

Tell of all His wonderful acts... (pause)

Thank You for seeing me through my rebellious times and desert times. Wandering off times, drifted away times both from long ago and even just yesterday. You love me still, care for me still - through the times I've been on fire for You, Lord and for the times I've run after worldly passions as well. You have loved me. Cared about me. Scooped me up after every fall, after... every... fall.

Glory in His holy name ... (pause)

Great are You, Lord. Great is Your love, Your profound love. All praise, honor, glory, thanks, blessing, reverence, awe due Your name. Worthy is the Lamb. Worthy is the Lamb. Worthy is the Lamb ... Amen.

Some encouragement

 

Okay, God, now what?

We have a weekly chalkboard calendar hanging on the wall. It gets updated every Sunday evening. Our week in review. But things get added during the week. And things get erased or moved - juggling other things to a different spot. But it is a good resource for my husband and I. This piece of organizing our life has a calming effect as we prepare for the week.

God views your life in a similar way. But it goes way beyond just one week. Your entire life is layed out before Him. He is not anxious. He is calm. He is prepared for all that is in view.

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace— 1 Corinthians 14:33

I often feel rushed to get things done, or through things, so I am ready and available for any unplanned surprises. But we have a God Who is ever present. And our first response should be:

“Okay, God, how are we going to do this? How are we going to handle this… respond to this unexpected event? Lord, talk me through it.”

Our good and loving and capable God holds all future moments already in His hands. He is never surprised or caught off guard. He sees how the future plays out - this day, this week and beyond.

So we can live reassured because God is living reassured - in all He sees and does and has planned. He, too, has it all written down. Because of this, we can have peace.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. - Psalm 139:16

Your days are written out. He sees your whole life. He is ever present and involved in good, loving, and caring ways. And always in wisdom, power, and grace.

So rest in the knowledge of His wisdom, power, love, care and grace today, this week, and forevermore.

God’s got you…

Princess Mandy

This is Mandy. I named her Mandy. She named herself Princess. As many cat owners know, they like to be treated well. Very well. In fact, they expect nothing less. She wants to be petted on her terms. And not necessarily when you want to or feel like it. Fed when she wants it. Fresh water often. Even to be followed to her food dish and water dish and patted on the back while she nourishes her body - and I guess her soul. Comfort on every level. She wants out onto the screened in porch when she wants out. And back in when she wants in. Yes, she practically demands things as she wants them. And we abide her wishes as often as possible - because we love her and want her to have a blessed life. A pleasing life. To know she is loved and cared about.

And I have to wonder if I am that receptive to the commands of God on my heart. Am I as willing to please and bless when He calls? Do I love Him like that? What does the Lord expect of me? Am I willing to meet Him, follow Him wherever He goes and to do what He is “crying” out for me to do? Or wait until I feel like it… Will I abide by His wishes? Because I love Him and want Him to be blessed by an obedient servant heart? Will I live to please the Lord? Are His calls interruptions to my life or opportunities to express love to Him?

 My Christian friends, God has been very kind to us. Because of that, I really want you to serve God with your whole life. Offer your bodies to him like a sacrifice that continues to live. Serve him with everything that you have and that will please him. That is the true way to worship God.  Do not become like the people who belong to this world. But let God completely change the way that you think, so that you live differently. Then you will understand what God wants you to do. You will know what is good. You will know what pleases God. You will know what is completely right. - Romans 12:2 EASY

Not as hard as I thought

 I had an idea for a blog post the other day. It came to mind as I was praying for people and using only their first name. We often do that. I’ve seen it in some churches as well. We just say the name and maybe a pause before moving on to the next name. And I wondered if that had the same power and effectiveness as a more lengthy and informative prayer. You know the ones - agonizing, heartbreaking pleas for God to act. Is a mere mention of their name - enough? Can my one word whispered into the ear of God move mountains too?

And then something happened that made me question it even more. While at the gym, an ambulance pulled up. Now I was praying and I didn’t even have a name! All I could think of was: Jesus!

Believe me: I am in My Father and My Father is in Me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see - these works. The person who trusts Me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on My way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of Who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for Who He is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do. (John 14:11-13 MSG)

Whatever you request. I’ll do it. I’ll do it. Looking at this passage, the real power, the real certain hope - is in God the Hearer and Responder. And not the number of words. Or their eloquence.

He Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

When you pray, don’t talk on and on as people do who don’t know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. (Matthew 6:7 CEV)

So, even one word from you or me in prayer, makes anything possible because Christ and His power lives in and through us. 

So let us pray in the name, that one word name, above all names -

In Jesus’ name. Amen.