Do Our Prayers Reflect Our Core Beliefs?

Posted on February 1, 2012 by jroesler728

I remember walking home with a cross culture worker in an Eastern country. The people who attended the prayer meeting were preparing for life work that would put their very lives at stake. As I reflected on the evening of praise and worship I asked, “You don’t pray very much about broken legs, do you?” The worship leader, not expecting this question said, “No, I guess we don’t.”

As I look at my own prayer patterns I am challenged to ask, “How many of the things I pray about have eternal impact?”

If a friend who is a follower of Jesus is struggling with physical pain, financial stress, and relational tension and another friend who does not have a God relationship is healthy, wealthy and relationally stabl,e which one rises to the top of my prayer list?

As senior adults’ aches and pains are uninvited guests who often overstay their welcome and sometimes move in to stay, I am NOT suggesting that we don’t ask our prayer groups to pray for our physical distress.  BUT, I am reminding myself that if I pray that my heart be broken for that which breaks God’s heart, I will be in passionate prayer for those who do not yet have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. AND, my prayers for my believing friends will include prayers for the transformation of their minds and heart in such a way that they reflect the image of Christ.

Who and what are you praying for today?

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Thinking of Jesus as a Fun Companion

Posted on January 30, 2012 by jroesler728

We think of Jesus, rightly so, as our King. We think of Jesus, rightly so, as our Savior, We think of Jesus, rightly so, as our Shepherd. This list of titles can go on and on.

Today, without risking irreverence, I am thinking of Jesus as fun.

I would have loved to have been with Him when He designed the animals. We have a sign in our garage that says, “If you want the most comfortable seat in the house, move the cat!” If there is a square foot of sunshine on the living room carpet the cat is on it. I have two pillows that are on top of each other on my office floor. I meant to take them upstairs and put them on the bed again but my cat is lying on top of them both. I don’t have the heart to move the cat. Was Jesus thinking of me when He decided that it would be of great comfort to put a purr in a contented cat?

What about a monkey? Actions so like a baby that you could watch a little monkey all day.  Since there are no vocal cords the sounds need to be interpreted. Hunger, contentment, excitement, fear, affection are all easily recognized if we take the time to discern.

A mother cat carries a kitten by the neck and the kitten just dangles. A baby monkey needs to cling to its mother as the mother runs, jumps and climbs doing nothing to secure the baby monkey. It is up to the monkey to hang on.

I pray today that I will let Jesus pick me up and carry me as I trust Him completely and that I also cling to Him with tenacity as He runs His course.

I don’t need to choose one or the other. I don’t need to dissect or explain. Traveling with Jesus is an adventure that is diminished by explanations or understanding.  Have fun with Him today.

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I Saw a Robin Today

Posted on January 27, 2012 by jroesler728

It is mid January.  The snow cover is about 6 inches and last night the temperature dropped to zero. I have enjoyed watching the cardinals, chickadees, dinches, nuthatches, and woodpeckers eagerly eating at our bird feeders.  I have learned that the finches don’t really leave; they just fade out in color for the winter and turn bright yellow again in the spring.

The first robin is always exciting because it means that spring is on its way. I usually call someone and tell him or her I have seen a robin. But what do I do with my experience today? I looked out the window and saw an orange-breasted robin (too perfectly marked to be mistaken) drinking water from our heated feeding bowl. I didn’t believe it so I looked harder and knew that, although I couldn’t explain it, I had seen a robin today.

We often remark that life brings sorrows that we do not expect and that do not fit in our paradigm of faith. Is it possible that this robin was sent to remind me that visitations of grace also penetrate the expected and bring a surge of joy into an otherwise wintery day?

I am going to resist the temptation to call Retzer Nature Center and ask if it is possible to have seen a robin today. I am not going to insist on some rational explanation. I am going to enjoy the mystery of my experience.

God, help me to be observant of your surprises. As I write of faith through aging eyes may I not limit my future to that which I am capable of expecting. Stun me with your surprises.

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Does This Warrant an ER?

Posted on January 25, 2012 by jroesler728

Because I have a nursing background I am sometimes summoned when there is a medical question.  It is like “any port will do” in a storm as what I remember isn’t even current practice. But there are some basic things that survive over time.

Today I was in the hallway when a friend came running out of a classroom saying they needed me. The story unfolded to reveal that an older man had helped set up tables for a potluck meal after which he sat down, became dizzy, pale and sweaty.

As I talked to him he seemed to become increasingly incoherent and started slumping in his chair. Using the argument that it is better to have a medical check up unnecessarily than to regret not having it, I recommended a trip to urgent care. When he became unresponsive I said I am making the decision. I am calling 911, which I then did.

The people who had planned to eat with this man gathered around him and prayed. Soon the abundant response to a 911 call came complete with sirens, fire truck, ambulance and several men carrying massive bags of equipment. Heart monitoring patches were applied, blood pressure taken, blood sugar measured and a health history attempted.

Suddenly, the man “woke up” and began answering the questions coherently, his color returned and he no longer looked to be in distress. The medical tests were coming up normal.

When asked why he had had a pacemaker put in he said, “So I can have sex!!!

There was no trip to the ER. The team looked at each other and agreed this man was OK.

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A Receipt for a Prayer

Posted on January 23, 2012 by jroesler728

I got an email this week telling me that a friend of mine and her ten year old daughter had chosen a personal scripture verse to use as a prayer for each of their family members and “others” who they knew needed prayer. I made the cut as one of the “others” and learned via this email that they were praying for me from Ephesians 3:14-21.

Here is my receipt acknowledging that I have received this prayer and am claiming it for myself.

Father, I am so thankful that you have led my friend and her precious daughter to kneel before you and pray for me. I acknowledge you as the Name that we claim; the name that makes us brothers and sisters.

Thank you that out of your glorious riches you are strengthening me with power in my inner being. I need strength today. Thank you that your resources are more than I can measure and your desire to give is driven by generous love.

Thank you for choosing to dwell in my heart. I want You to feel at home with me and for me to feel at home with You.

Thank you that through the prayers of my friends I am being rooted and established in love and really getting a grip on how wide and long and high and deep Your love is.

This is almost too good to be true but I am choosing to believe that I am coming to know this Love that is much more than knowledge and that I am being filled up with you, God. I am glad that this verse says it is more than I can understand because I don’t understand. I humbly receive and gratefully believe.

As I embrace this prayer I am reminded that you are able to do so much more than I can ask or imagine and this power is at work within me now. I am grabbing on to this promise because I have some things that I don’t even know how to talk to you about. Just do what I would ask you to do if I were smart enough to know your will for me and those I love

Take all the glory for Yourself, God and may generations praise you forever and ever.

This receipt acknowledges that I have received this prayer and claim the promises for myself.

Amen

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Fresh Footprints in Fresh Snow

Posted on January 20, 2012 by jroesler728

Everything outside is pure white. The ground is covered. The pine trees have their green needles wearing white shawls while a red cardinal positions himself for a stunning portrait. As a child in the country the snow stayed white. Here in the suburbs we know that this time of of purity is short so we cherish these moments.

Something ran across our entire yard during the night. I can follow the trail from my window. If I were to walk out I could tell if it is a deer, a rabbit, a raccoon or a fox by the footprints, the weight, and the pattern of movement.

I am reminded that I, too, am making footprints. Footprints can look one way from a distance. Closer examination will reveal more.

The eyes of the Lord do not miss a step. Others may be watching and weighing my movements against my words.

May God grant us grace to allow Him to direct our path in such a pattern that those who follow will be led to the heart of the One Who made us and gives us reason to run.

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One Is Enough for Me!

Posted on January 18, 2012 by jroesler728

I have been noticing that some of our aging men are coming for our large group teaching but leaving before the follow up small group discussion begins. I have wondered why, because these same men seem to do fine if they are sitting across from each other with a cup of coffee just one to one.

Here are some possibilities of why small groups do not work anymore for these guys:

It is easier to hear if you are face to face with minimal background noise.

It is easier to follow a conversation if there is time to process the comment.  When one comment follows another in rapid fire progression the original topic gets lost.

Early onset dementia can be hidden if the person can keep control of the discussion. This may mean making sure that you ask the questions rather than be expected to answer.

A group can feel overwhelming and lonely.  One person attending to you can feel like connection and community.

Do we need to think more creatively when we ask aging men to join a small group?

Maybe like one man said of a wife, “One is enough for me.”

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I Get That Way, Too

Posted on January 16, 2012 by jroesler728

Sometimes it is hard to know what to say to someone who has reached the edge of their emotional cliff.

Unsolicited advice is received as criticism.

An attempt to apply a random biblical promise puts our whole faith story at risk.

Taking the burden completely away erodes dignity and tempts dependence.

Maybe ground level honesty is the prescription we need.

I was helped last week when in the middle of a meltdown I heard the simple words, “I get that way, too.”

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Where to Start

Posted on January 13, 2012 by jroesler728

by Shirlee Vandegrift

Heavenly Father,

I come before You not knowing how to pray, or where to start. You are so big and I am so small. You are so powerful and am so weak. You are so truthful and I am such a fraud. You are so forgiving and I can hold a grudge too long. You love mightily, I love meekly. All that I long to be, You are.

As I start expressing my longings, I suddenly realize that my prayer started with “Heavenly Father.” I may not have a formula for prayer, but I do have a desire to be so close to you that we can talk as close family members do.

Thank You for giving me the gift of faith, for the gift of forgiveness, for answers to these humble prayers, joy, and most of all for Your Son Jesus. I ask for help to follow in His footsteps, and I thank You in advance for the example I can (will) be as I learn from You.

In the precious name of Jesus I pray,

Amen

 

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She Could Have Stayed in Bethlehem Parts One and Two

Posted on January 11, 2012 by jroesler728

Note: Due to some technical problems we had with originally posting this story, we are reposting both parts one and two here together

(Though the eyes of a child)

I was having dinner with my two adopted granddaughters. One is 5 and the other is 3. We were all sitting on the floor around a low table eating pizza and some sliced fruit. They call me Besta as that is the Norwegian word for a grandparent.

This day we had planned a sleep over so there was a lot of interest in who would be sleeping where. The upstairs bedroom has been occupied for a few months by a lady who needed a place to live. The arrangements had really not been planned but this lady, whose name is Mary, was suddenly without a home and now I have watched as what started out as a temporary solution seems to be settling in to something more permanent.

Here is the dinner conversation:

“Besta, Why is Mary living with you?”

“I really don’t know”

“Is it because she doesn’t have a home?”

“Yes.”

Then this from the 3 year old, “She could have stayed in Bethlehem with baby Jesus.”

I was silent. Captivated by how the nativity story and the Mary in our home were inseparable in the mind of this 3 year old. Amused that maybe there was another alternative.

My next post will talk about this idea through aging eyes.

(This idea through aging eyes)

As I woke up this morning I thought of my precious 3-year-old granddaughter struggling with the idea that Mary, a lady she had just learned was living in our house, was not in Bethlehem taking care of baby Jesus.

As my imagination engaged, I wondered if the thought of staying in Bethlehem ever crossed Mary’s mind. I explore this with care, as I am not addressing the mystery of God’s intervention in Mary’s life and her response, which provides rich teaching on obedience and trust.  I only want to think of what it might have felt like, emotionally, to walk in Mary’s shoes.

When she said yes to the Angel, did she know that she was agreeing to a lifetime that would bring both unspeakable joy and heartbreaking pain?

Did she know that keeping the religious rules would not exempt her from suffering?

Did she know that she would experience the terror of losing her 12-year-old son on a journey?

Did she know that her son would be rejected in their own hometown?

Did she know that He would give priority to a larger spiritual family over their nuclear family?

Did she know that his sanity would be questioned?

When Jesus asked His Father why He had forsaken Him, did she feel forsaken, too?

When she met with the believers in fervent prayer waiting for the Holy Spirit did she wonder if she should have just stayed in Bethlehem?

Let’s not stay in our Bethlehem. Let’s walk on. Mary would say, “Yes.”

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