Losing control

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

I tend to overthink.
I tend to over analyze.
Which can quick turn into worry.
And I get that "losing control" feeling.

But we just celebrated a risen Lord. An alive Lord.
A Lord full of promise and power - and peace for the taking.

If we but trust Him...
to be risen.
To be alive.
To be Lord - of all. Of anything and everything.

I haven't lost control.
I've surrendered control.
I cast all my burdens onto the One Who can catch, carry and take control of every single one.

My Prince of Peace.
My Jesus.
My risen Lord - of all.

Nor anything else

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

I accepted Christ as a high schooler.  I went to some Campus Life meeting downtown. Anyway, I remember sitting in my bedroom afterwards, looking out the window and thinking/praying, (Lord, I want Your love.) Since then, I have traveled many a road. Some pretty horrible back roads too. I've walked away from Him and returned more times than I can count. Think Prodigal son - times five. Or six.

Worldly distractions.
Peer pressures.
Fears over acceptance.
Temptations.
Rebellions.
Arrogance.
Sickness.
Anger at God too.
Seasons of disbelief.

Can I please add these to the list?
Can these be included in the "nor anything else"?
I love You, Lord. But I've had seasons. I've had chapters - where it might have not been so apparent.

Thank You, Jesus for being better at this than I am. For loving us so completely that nothing can separate us. Nothing.

I know this. Death, life, angels, rulers, things happening now, things that will happen, high things, low things; nothing else in all the world can come between us and God's love in Christ Jesus our Lord. (WE translation)

I'm absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. (MSG translation)

I am... forever... Yours.

God and cancer

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

I have added yet another loved one to my prayer list under "cancer". I have lost count on how many people I have prayed over in regards to cancer. Some journeys short. Some journeys longer. Either way, I have to believe God's hand is on each one - or I'll go crazy.

Can God get exhausted by all my pleas? Will God ever run out of resources?

I have prayed daily. Over test results. Over white blood cell counts. For strength and courage. Seriously, I can go on and on about the pain and struggle of it all in prayer until I am having heart palpitations. Pleading with God to act.

But that kind of prayer is focused more on a problem that I can't see a quick solution to. That kind of prayer is focused on my limited vision, my limited abilities.

Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine... (Ephesians 3:20)

God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.

God can.

Because either God is greater - or the need is greater.

Lord, I believe in You.
Lord, I already know all kinds of situations You have resolved. Too numerous to count. In my prayers for others, I will remember Your goodness of the past. How many survivors of cancer I know. And how many more are out there. I will stand firm in my faith. The power of Your love overshadows any earthly concern I might have. Great are You, Lord! And greatly to be praised. That is what I am going to focus on. You have helped before. You will help again. Anything I see as a "delay" will not send me into a tailspin. You are Almighty God! All-wise. All-powerful. I will remember Your many works. In my life. In the lives of others. In the lives of the many bible characters of faith (Hebrews 11). Every blessing I can think of. I will stand in trust and faith in You. I will. 

Because I'm counting on you...

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

I have prayed ...
I have tried to pray...
I've prayed in every which way I can and I've prayed through tears...

I've bowed my head when no words would come.

And that's why I'm counting on you. Sometimes my emotions are so close to the situation, I can't settle down. Can't form words.

(Perhaps this sounds like you at one time or another.)

And yet I know the answer is found in prayer.

So you are important.
It's your little prayer added to my fumbling one and our prayers encapsulated by Jesus' completing one - that's where it all becomes powerful and effective.

I'm counting on you. To somehow pray where my prayer ends. Or your prayer weaving in with mine to make it stronger.

Yes, powerful. Yes, effective.

Someone is counting on you. 

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16 NIV)

...for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer! (TPT)

... 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. (MSG)