In a fog?

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

There have been times in my life, some seemingly long stretches of time, when I was so bombarded with stresses, pressures, expectations, and decisions to make – I felt like I was in a fog so dense I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face …

o   Wandering so far from God time

o   Going through divorce time

o   Caring for my aging, ailing mother time

o   My cancer diagnosis time

But all these times eventually passed. I sit here this morning in peace. It’s quiet. My bible, my journal, my cup of coffee. My softly snoring kitties at my feet. All is well. The pressures I thought would never end – have passed by. At the time, I wondered, couldn’t imagine – a time of such peace.

Now I don’t know what today will bring. But I know Who stands with me. Like the fog hiding my hand, I know it is there even though I can’t see it. And it is the same with Jesus and your current situation. Know He is there! At some point the fog will be lifted – and you will see face to face. Perhaps in the morning. When it’s quiet. Over a cup of coffee.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Unplugged?

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

… and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. (James 5:16 MSG)

You know that feeling when you forget to plug in your phone to recharge it?

Or so busy and involved that you forget to eat and refuel your body – feeling drained?

Or praying all the way home because you forgot to refill the gas tank?

 Well, how about your spiritual energy?

I’m not talking today about strength in the Lord to get your own self through the day. But spiritual energy for others. The Bible calls it “spiritual fervor” (Romans 12:21).  Specifically, I want to talk about praying for others. The simple act of praying God’s scriptural truths into another’s life.

 Which means reading God’s Word and realizing there may well be a verse or phrase that needs to be prayed into someone’s life. Have you ever read the Bible and thought of that?

 Know someone who needs courage?

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

DEAR LORD, HELP THIS PERSON TO TRULY SENSE YOU GOING BEFORE THEM AND SENSE YOUR CONSTANT PRESENCE. MAY THEY NOT BE AFRAID OR DISCOURAGED BECAUSE YOU, LORD, ARE ALWAYS, ALWAYS NEAR.

 Know someone with a full plate?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

OH LORD, FOR THIS PERSON TRYING TO BEAR AND HANDLE SO VERY MUCH BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY MUST, MAY THEY ENTRUST THEIR BURDENS TO YOU. MAY THEY SIT AT YOUR FEET AND JUST REST FOR A WHILE. MAY THEIR SOUL, HEART AND MIND INDEED REST IN YOU.

 Know someone anxious / stressed?

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. (Psalm 23:1-2)

MAY THIS PERSON FULLY RECEIVE YOUR LOVE AND MERCY AT THIS TIME. MAY THEY GIVE THEMSELVES PERMISSION TO LET GO AND REST IN YOUR PERFECT CARE OF GREEN GRASS, BLUE SKIES, PUFFY CLOUDS AND THE GENTLE, SOOTHING SOUNDS OF THE WATER. MAY THEY BE COMFORTED BY YOU AND  KNOW YOU ARE CARING FOR THEIR EVERY NEED. MAY THEY FIND THE FREEDOM TO RELAX BECAUSE OF YOUR LOVING CARE AND PROVISION.

 When YOU plug in to God’s Word on a regular basis, your ability to pray effectively, personally, is filled up. Charged up. Refueled. Ready to go at a moment’s notice.

 Do you seriously WANT to pray for someone’s specific need – and CAN’T find the words?

Fling open your Bible.

For everyone who asks, receives; all who seek, find; and the door is opened to everyone who knocks. (Luke 11:10 TLB)

 So there you go!

Need a prayer?

Email me:

callingonjesus4u@gmail.com (copy and paste to send me an email)

Leave a confidential prayer request and I will respond with a confidential written prayer back to you (as soon as I can; as soon as I am able)

Why am I praying like this? Because I know You will answer me, O God! Yes, listen as I pray. (Psalm 17:6 TLB)

My family's Jesus

"Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)

There was a time when I had these photos of my grandma and my mom on my dresser. Grandma in a rocker. Mom in her rocker. Just plain, ordinary women of their day. Keeping house, raising babies. Making ends meet. I used to look at those photos and think, “I wonder if they ever thought that they were not worthy of God’s attention. Nothing special. Why would the Lord of all the earth care about a little, simple woman like me.” Perhaps I have the same thoughts myself. Is there any greatness in me and what I’m doing that warrants God’s favor?

Psalm 27. Psalm 121. John 3:16. Romans 8:38 … and more.

The same bible verses that comfort, strengthen, encourage me – those same words were read by my mom, my grandma, my great-grandma, my aunt who is 101, and future generations will also have these same words as their guiding light. And the same Jesus too.

My Jesus.

Mom’s Jesus.
Grandma’s Jesus.
My aunt’s Jesus.
Grandma’s mom’s Jesus.
My son’s Jesus.
My future grandchildren’s – Jesus.

One God. Now and forever (1 Timothy 6:16). And unchanging too (Hebrews 13:8). Truly a living Lord – loving, caring, helping us all from one generation to the next.

What's waiting in your queue?

 

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27)

Don’t you hate it when you hit the print button and nothing comes out? Then you have to backtrack to the printer information screen and see two or three other documents waiting in the queue.

On hold.

Stalling progress.

Keeping something else from happening, from being released.

What to do? What to do?

You immediately start deleting.

Get rid of.

Remove each one in the way of what you want.

What’s left? What you wanted in the first place. What you wanted has now been freed and in your hand.

Are you wanting the peace of Christ?

Is what the world offers keeping you from the real peace found in Christ?

Rid your mind of all that is standing in your way of having what you want in your hands (and your heart).

Immediately start deleting.

Get rid of.

Remove what’s in the way …

What are you waiting for?

May the peace of Christ be with you …

Wanted: a cup half full

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. (Psalm 18:29)

STRESSED? I was reading a magazine article (a reputable well-known magazine) that said our mind doesn’t know the difference between truths and lies. Seems like I ran across that same concept in a book about negative self-talk. It caught my eye and I sat and pondered. I can literally tell myself I’m a big, fat, helpless loser who can’t figure anything out or I can tell myself I’m very capable of solving complicated matters when they come up. Either way, my mind is going to store the information I feed it and respond to life accordingly.

What do you think about that?

Do you think your life would really change any if you told yourself:

o   I can figure hard things out

o   I can make improvements

o   I can face challenges successfully

o   I can learn new things

o   I believe I can do anything I truly desire

o   I can practice, try, learn, get better, accomplish, achieve, complete

o   I am smart enough to figure this out

o   I do know how to manage my money, my time, my career

o   I am beautiful inside and out

o   I am generous and kind

You get the picture. I’ve been trying this on myself for a couple weeks now. Telling myself these things, even when I don’t believe them myself – does my mind believe?

The result seems to be LESS ANXIETY. I tell myself every morning that I know how to handle a crisis when it arises. I can do difficult things. I know how to work things out. My anxieties seemed to stem from feeling helpless, not knowing the solution, not believing I had the power to work a solution out. But now my mind seems to think and respond differently. My new first thought is that – whatever it is – it is manageable and there is a solution and it will come to me.

With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. (Psalm 18:29)

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

C'mon, c'mon - let's get together

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. (Acts 4:32) 

I sure love it when my knitting group gets together. We all have a passion for knitting, but we don’t all do the same pattern. Talking, laughing, sharing, helping, encouraging, teaching … we rejoice in what the others are working on, lend a hand when need be, and just be good support for each other as we spend this time together united in heart and mind – for knitting! We don’t all like the same colors or patterns. But it sure is fun to see what the others are steadily working on!

Yes, I can knit alone and I enjoy that too. I can find a variety of patterns online; tips and helps too. I can do pretty good on my own. But it’s not the same as when a whole group of us gather, all of us interested in pursuing different levels of the same thing.

I’m thinking the same can be said of church-going, church attendance, church participation. You can read the bible on your own, pray on your own, sing Christian songs along with the radio, and find online bible studies to follow. And it’s certainly good to do so. But it’s not the same, is it?

When I’m excited, enthusiastic about something, how wonderful when friends join in – just as excited and happy. Full of celebration too!

So, gimme Sunday morning church with its lighting of the candles, tolling of the bells, God's Holy Word read aloud, and a roomful of people singing His praises. And oh my, Holy Communion all together – for EVERYONE who believes. Gimme those people who can rub me the wrong way – that also encourage me when I fail. Gimme those people who are restless for the sermon to end - but also share joys and fears during the coffee hour.  Those who grumble and also have great compassion for others going through a similar thing. What do you love about worship service in church?

As I so love the time with my knitting group, may it also be said of my time in church.

Let's come together.

Let’s build the church up.

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

I'm up ... again

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

I was so excited when I adopted my five-year-old son. I had waited and planned and planned some more. I was ready to be a mom! Or so I thought. But, as life teaches us, not everything goes as planned. Parenting can be tough. There were certainly days when being overstressed or overworked or overtired took its toll on my parenting skills. Then I was not the best mother. But I could not quit. I had to shake it off and just get back to being a good mom again. Get back on the horse, so to speak.

A similar thing happens to me when I diet and exercise. I can’t tell you how many diets I have tried and failed. You’d think after all these years, I would give up. But no. Every few months the urge to try yet again becomes strong. The need to fit in my clothes and be healthy just won’t let me quit.

The same goes for Christian living. Regular bible study, regular prayer time, even random acts of kindness … some days I can do it, other days it is such a struggle. Like parenting, it’s not the ideal I desire some days. Like dieting, I continually have the urge to try again.

So I will not quit. I will not become weary in doing what's good.

It’s a brand new day and -

I’m up … again.

Crisis diverted

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do. (John 6:5-6) (The feeding of 5,000)

Have you been there? In an impossible situation. Impossible odds.

Where am I going to get the money?

When am I going to find the time?

How am I going to have the strength?

Real questions to real problems. You only car gets totaled; you’re working 10 hour days and caring for an aging parent; your spouse is leaving you for someone else; how am I going to feed my family now that I’ve been let go …

It seems as though all is lost.

But wait.

Jesus. Your Jesus – already has in mind what He’s going to do.

Crisis diverted.

Crisis becomes a past event.

Crisis is a miracle from God to tell others about. Tell of God, His power, and His love.

Whether you are remembering a time of distress from long ago or in one right now, this story of the feeding of 5,000 (John 6) is for you.

Nothing, absolutely nothing is impossible for God. He already has in mind what He’s going to do.

What is your “feeding 5,000” story?

Who are You, Jesus?

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved.

... and a great crowd of people followed Him because they saw the miraculous signs He had performed on the sick. (John 6:2)

Would they have followed Him if He had nothing for them?

Would I follow?

Perform - carry out, accomplish, or fulfill (an action, task, or function)

Have there been times when I’ve thought He didn’t show up; He didn’t answer my prayer for healing?

Will I still follow Him, believe in Him? Or question Him?

Do I need miraculous signs every once in awhile to keep my faith up?

Faith - complete trust or confidence in someone or something

Do I need to experience answered prayer on a regular basis in order to keep believing?

Is God first and foremost to me – a miracle worker of my well-intended prayers for healings?

Does my opinion of Him lessen if He doesn’t perform?

We read about ALL the miraculous signs Jesus did during His short three-year ministry, and these 12 disciples saw it daily. So many people walking, talking, and in their right mind now. Do we see all that too?

Why not?

Are we missing something? Or did they?

Do I need a daily dose of the miraculous? Would that increase my faith in God … or somehow diminish it? Somehow desensitize me to …

The SON … OF … GOD – sovereign over all things seen and unseen.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

… give me only my daily bread.

 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ (Proverbs 30:8-9)

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” (Mark 8:29)

Who are You, Jesus … to me?

Assurance …