Freedom

Its been a long time since January - the last time I blogged. Notice the name of the last posting, something about new starts, new years!


So today, we begin a 10 week Bible Study that will be filled with challenges, both physically and spiritually. It will be tough to always find the time to do the 45 minute study each day when there is laundry, dishes, homework, overtime, sickness, etc... It wil be tought to complete the days lesson when God reveals things to us that we don't want to deal with - no longer able to sweep them under the rug. It will be tough on Wednesday nights when God whispers in our ear to share our story and we would rather not. And it will be even tougher the morning after we share that story and the enemy of our soul tries to break us down.

But inspite of the challenges, we will begin. Arm in arm, one step at a time we will open up the Word of God and discover His truths for us.

Today is a great day. Today we begin a journey through scripture. Today we begin to see ourselves as Christ sees us. Today we begin to have true freedom in Christ.

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm..." Galatians 5:1

lets start over its a new year!

i love new start ups. there is always the promise of getting it right this time. when rob used to teach school, he would always tell the kids on the first day of the semester that they were all starting with an a and from that day it was up to them what that grade did from there.
this year my new year starts today! i know that doesn't seem quite right, but for my sake i had to start today. over the past 9 days someone in my house has been throwing up sick so there has been no routine, thus the starting over - i need routine!
so back to staring over, i started reading thru the bible today. i love doing this. every year i read so many new things about christ.

so far this year i am earning an a

"In the beginning..." Genesis 1:1

eyes of our hearts

This week the "Walk With A Purpose", prayer walk focus is for the eyes of our hearts to enlightened.
Ephesians 1:18-23 (Today's New International Version)

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
This morning as I was waiting for Kevin Crawford to pick me up for breakfast I was struck by the beauty of God's fall creations is. my eyes were opened to the splendor of His creation. My prayer this week is that I may see the wonder of His creation and its beauty in the people of Upland. It is so easy to focus on the bare trees and the dry ground and fail to let our eyes see the wonder all around us. Father will the eyes of our hearts with your kingdom vision for all those around! In the name of your precious son Jesus, AMEN!

The Little Children

Read this posting from Dana Alford on Facebook and thought it was worth sharing!

"I took Kritter on the Prayer Walk yesterday. It was a beautiful day just to walk, but I saw so much more! Even though he’s only six years old, he shows a lot of spiritual maturity!

I explained the reason for the walk was that we were going... to pray for our community. He seemed excited! As we walked, he would ask me to pray first and then he would pray over the houses and businesses and ask God to bless them.

When we got to Eastbrook South, Kritter asked me to pray over his school. When I finished, he turned towards the ball field across the street and started praying and asking God to “please be with the football players, the soccer players, and baseball players. And the coaches and the parents that come to watch. Keep them all safe!” Once we passed Ivanhoe’s, without being asked, he started a prayer for them! “God bless all the workers and those who come in to eat”.

I appreciate the opportunity to walk and pray for my community, but I am also excited for the chance to teach my son the need of prayer. We are looking forward to the results of our prayers….and the faith of a child."

Mark 10:14
... "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

New Perspective

Have you ever driven the same route so many times that you know every house, tree, barn, landmark, etc... by heart and could describe them in your sleep? But, change one dimension of that daily routine and my how things change! That is one of many things I love about prayer walking - my perspective about Upland changes. I have seen new things - people running & walking, new houses being built, old houses falling in, Ale 8 delivery trucks, beautiful flower gardens, ball diamonds, kids waiting to get picked up from school, men walking in to get their hair cut... I have also heard new things - childrens laughter, very loud music, extremely quiet houses, pool balls clanking, soccer balls being kicked, lawn movers, sprinklers, ice cream trucks, ...

Prayer walking changes not only the things I pray for, but it changes what I pray for.

Why not give it a try this week and see Upland from a new dimension - with new eyes and ears!


15For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Matthew 13:15-17

Day 3 Already!

This prayer walking thing hasn't quite turned out like I was expecting! It's day 3 and I haven't even had the chance to put on my tennis shoes yet - epic fail as my kids would say. I have been praying - just from my desk looking at Google map!

So for me the greatest part has been as a receiver of the prayers of others. I get to see the people walking past our house and the church who I know are praying. Thanks everyone - it sure helps to do ministry inside the church office when I know folks are praying!

Keep it up and I hope to see you on the street soon...

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:11

what's the good of prayer

"Be yourself before God and present your problems, the things you know you have come to your wits end over." -Oswald Chambers

i have been a follower of Christ my whole life. i knew the power and importance of prayer. i knew when to pray and i knew what to pray. that was the problem. i prayed what i was suppose to and not what i longed to pray, not what was the cry of my heart, not the issues that kept me awake at night. but on august 28th, when i read Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest i was gently reminded that God wanted me to tell him of the very things i had wanted to all along.

so on the eve of the community prayer walk - i will be praying what is in my heart and not what i am "suppose to." i will be praying that families would be a safe haven for their children, that people would make attending church a priority in their lives as much as they do sports or social clubs, that husbands and wives could be best friends that honor and bless each other, that the folks in Upland would think of others first - before themselves, and most importantly that those who have no hope, no peace, no community, no family, and no purpose find all of those things in a relationship with Christ.


Lord, teach us to pray . . . Luke 11:1