The Perfect Prayer

In the same way the Spirit [comes to us and] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what prayer to offer or how to offer it as we should, but the Spirit Himself [knows our need and at the right time] intercedes on our behalf with sighs and groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26 AMP)


Some of you may wonder about the irregularity of my posts. I certainly do. I see many a blogger out there writing something every day. How do they do it? Although I do like to wait and "feel" moved by the Spirit to share something, I am also guilty of wanting my post to be over the top inspirational - powerful - of greatest value. I mean, I don't want to waste your time. And I want you to come back! So every post needs to be extraordinary, right? Full of purpose. Every word packed with meaning. Every word chosen carefully. The perfect word. And my posts should be concise - not too short and not too long. Rules! Rules! Rules!

And I have to wonder if we sometimes approach our prayer time with the Lord in the same way. Not every day. But only when we have something really important and when our words are filled with, well - just the right words. We want our words to be powerful and meaningful. Especially when we are praying aloud. And we certainly don't want to waste God's time rambling either. Let's get it right, right? Because we want to be worthy in case we need to come back (to Him).

When the truth is - God just wants to hear from you about anything and everything. Spend time with you. Converse with you. No rules. Just come. Stay as long as you want. Or check in throughout the day. Whisper or shout. Groan if you can't find the words. Or just sit and smile with folded hands.

No rules when it comes to prayer.
Just come.
And make God's day!

Looking up

Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence. (Revelation 7:15)

Blessed be the Lord God Almighty. Great are You, Lord, in mercy and love; understanding and forgiveness; unending faithfulness and presence - supplying all my needs. Love and honor and praise to You, O Lord; awe and reverent I am before You. You are very great. Humbly I seek Your forgiveness and Your power to turn my offensive ways around. Forgive my selfishness, self-centeredness, pride, judgement, abusive thoughts, words, deeds. May I ask for nothing because of the true, solid faith I have in You. May I ask for everything because You hold the whole world in Your hands and heart. From the greatest to the smallest, You are there. With lifted hands, lifted face, lifted heart I praise You and glorify You, Almighty God. Lord of heaven and earth. Thanks and praise all the day long. You are holy. You are present. You are everything to me.

A heart of worship - the journey

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:10-12)

Going through the motions of another Sunday morning: showering, finding something decent to wear, grabbing breakfast, writing out tithe check ...

Double checking everything at the church prior to the service: is someone setting up coffee hour snacks, do they know how to make the coffee, is the Sunday School room readied with plenty of the supplies, greeting others cheerfully as they come in ...

Sit down in the pew. Running, scattered, busy thoughts about the day ...

Call to worship. (It's starting)
Opening Prayer. (Slow it down, Jules)
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
Opening hymn. (finding my voice of glorifying praises)
Choir Anthem. (finding my breath as I listen to the words)
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Prayer of Confession (ugh) and Assurance of Pardon. (ahhh)
Do not cast me from your presence
 or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Scripture readings. (Familiar passages)
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
Sermon. (snippets of Yes! and Yes!)
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Holy is the Lord God Almighty!

Helping you, helping me

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

... let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another ... (Hebrews 10:24-25)


I had coffee with a friend yesterday. She was mentioning how she was sticking to her diet. Tell me more! Tell me more! I'm ready to try anything! Her telling of her commitment inspired me to give it another try.

Another friend was talking to me about going to the gym. I have a membership but have failed numerous times in getting over there. But her talking about going - somehow made me want to go.

Someone I know recently started a new hobby. The excitement and passion over it keeps her hands and mind busy so she isn't doing any unhealthy snacking. Maybe I should find a new hobby too?

When I had cancer last year, the thing that spurred me on the most was the fact the others survived. So I could too.

People meet regularly to talk about addictions or weight loss - their sharing of hits and misses spurs one another along.

You ask my son and he will tell you he joined the army because "Mom, if you can do it, I can do it."

Bible reading and prayer can fall under this category of topics too. That's why there are so many small groups - made up of real, regular, ordinary people - sharing in their doubts and fears and struggles to understand.

Let's not be afraid to talk about our struggles. We might just help someone else along the way. And gain some fresh insight for ourselves.

Let's get together ...

A time to plant

© 2016 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Who am I, and who is Apollos, that we should be the cause of a quarrel? Why, we’re just God’s servants, each of us with certain special abilities, and with our help you believed.  My work was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos’ work was to water it, but it was God, not we, who made the garden grow in your hearts.  The person who does the planting or watering isn’t very important, but God is important because he is the one who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:5-7 TLB)


With all that's going on in the news lately, I am finding it hard to settle into some "God time". I've been waiting for some amazing message of inspiration and encouragement to write about in the midst of these hard times. I'm joining everyone in prayer for God to step in and do something. Why isn't He doing something? It's gonna take a miracle ...

Asking God for a miracle sometimes makes me think I see Him as a candy machine. Gimme what I want. Or like going to that fast food place where I can get it "my way". A miracle is when I don't have to do anything, right? Just do it, God!

But I think the real miracle is when God takes whatever little bit we offer - and brings about an amazing result.

Somebody donates water.
Somebody donates blood.
Somebody goes to hug and listen.
And real lives of real people receive real help in their time of dire need.

Everywhere you look, along with the bad news, is good news of people pitching in. People helping. Every little thing is turning into a miracle. A God miracle. Got your own set of troubles? Worried over loved ones?  Finances. Relationships. Health concerns. Feeling like God isn't making a miracle happen? Make an effort. Take a step forward in the right direction. Do your homework. Make the best choices you can. Do what you can. Above all, keep the faith. And watch for the miraculous hand of God. Because He is the One Who makes things grow.

Hey Siri

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:26-27)


My husband got a new smartphone just before we left on vacation. He sure had a lot of fun calling out, "Hey, Siri" to get directions. But one day we were out in the beautiful countryside of Virginia and after following her directions to turn right here and turn left there, we lost signal. And she said, "Proceed to the route." "Recalculating." And "Make a U-turn. Make a U-turn. Make a U-turn." We were totally off track. On unfamiliar roads. The farther we went just felt more lost and more frustrating. Every direction we turned felt right .. and wrong. By some miracle we got back on a main road and was able to find our way. Boy, did that feel good!

God also spends a lot of persistent time with us, directing and redirecting. Do you sometimes feel like you're hitting a brick wall in your pursuits? One door after another closed? Do you find yourself lost with no signal? Is God recalculating your path every time you go off track with your own choices - leading you back? There is a path He wants you on. You veer off course. Time and time again He turns you back. What's the lesson? Listen to God. Is He closing doors? Are you feeling more lost and more frustrated? Does that sound like God's way? Are you trying to force your way through with your own plans? Is it time to not turn to the left or the right but to give careful thought? Follow the Lord's guidance step by step. The path the Lord has provided and has blessed.

Wash Day

Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
    scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
    set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
    give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
    shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. (Psalm 51:7-8 MSG)

Yep. First thing on Monday mornings, I do the laundry. Well, first thing after my bible reading and prayer time. I try not to read just my favorite, most uplifting verses all the time. But sometimes, sometimes ... well,

this is how this morning's prayer time went:

Lord, seems like every time I read Your word I feel shame and guilt. I'm a sinner everyday and every morning I am reminded of that. Hard to regroup from the pile of sin I see in my nature and remembering Your gift of Jesus. Your cleansing power. I sense what a "wretched man" I am and forget the "but thanks be to God" part of that verse (Romans 7:23-25). Maybe its to keep me humble and not think too highly of myself. Although I often think I struggle with just thinking decently of myself. I'm good enough - only because of Jesus. Only because You put Your Spirit within me. And Your Spirit is indeed in me. Sin should grieve me. But the good news is that Jesus has washed it all away. Thank You, Jesus! It's not a permanent mark in God's eyes and because of Your Spirit, Lord, there is also some good being produced through me as well. And the day will come for me when sin will be no more. I'll join all in heaven singing praises before Your throne and love will abound. Your most gracious gift is Jesus and making this all happen. And granting us Your Spirit to accompany us on the way. So let Your love wash over me again this day. Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, a renew a right spirit within me. Grant me a willing spirit to sustain me (Psalm 51:10, 12).

It sure is wonderful stepping out the shower in the morning.
It sure is wonderful to have fresh, clean clothes to wear.
And it sure is wonderful to grasp the truth that Jesus has washed my sins away!

It's wash day! What a wonderful feeling!