A Testimony to God's Grace

I have learned that Jesus always hears our prayers and he answers if we just listen. Usually my husband and I take turns saying grace, and many times he will ask me to do it because he says I pray more eloquently than he does. But, we should remember that Jesus hears what is in our hearts, not just the words we say aloud. It is what is inside that matters. Many people "speak" the words, but they do not carry the words within their hearts. Mere words are meaningless unless they are backed by a true belief, a true faith.

Joseph M. Scriven, in 1855, penned the following lyrics which are so very dear to my heart:

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

It is a privilege to carry our burdens to God in prayer.

Since December, my husband has had a serious illness. His bladder stopped functioning and he was admitted to the hospital with acute renal failure. I found myself in constant prayer. I wasn't ready to lose my husband, but I knew that God was in control. Worse, I had retired from my job and only then learned that my husband was not eligible to enter into Medicare Part B. What were we to do? I turned the burdens to God and He lifted us up. The VA accepted my husband under hardship due to the drastic change in our income since we would only have our social security to live on. It took months of getting through all the necessary steps with various doctors to finally get my husband scheduled for surgery. But, we waited patiently knowing God was the ultimate physician. On March 29, my husband has surgery. We learned on April 6, that the surgery was successful! Finally, after nearly four months of having to live with a catheter, my husband is healed. God is so gracious! He knew the outcome, and we just had to trust in Him, be faithful, and patient.

I don't know how we would have survived if we hadn't turned to God in prayer. Hallelujah!

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there.

Thank you, Mr. Scriven, for such a heartwarming reminder of the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer Log

I've decided to keep a prayer log. Throughout the day, I find myself praying for people and situations, but I've never logged them and gone back to see all the prayers that God has answered.

He does answer prayers, all the time. The answers may not be what we expected, but we don't know God's plan. However, He is among us and he cares.

Later, I'll share some of my answered prayers with you as I check back on my prayer log.

God bless.

The Man I'll Never Know

A couple of days ago, as I headed to pick up lunch, I got stuck behind a city bus. The bus stopped to pick up passengers and I just wanted the vehicle to move on so I could get my food and head back to work. The bus moved ahead a bit and stopped for a red light leaving me a clear view of the covered bus stop. On the sidewalk, in front of the bench, I saw a man sleeping. His knees were bent, just as mine are when I fall asleep. His head rested on his arm instead of a pillow. A plastic bag snuggled close to his stomach. He wore a blue ball cap with an insignia I couldn't read, light tan pants, a red shirt, and what appeared to be leather loafers. In his sleep, he didn't hear a thing. No passing traffic, no footsteps. He rested in the sun, his gray beard unkempt. I knew this man. I'd seen him walking along the busy four lane highway, staggering to the point that I worried one day he'd be struck by a car. As I watched, I prayed for him. I don't know his story, but I know once a mother gave birth and loved him. Someone held him as a baby, dressed and diapered him. Did he grow up and fall in love? Did he marry and have children of his own?

The sight of that man has stayed with me. I worry for him. He doesn't know this. He doesn't know a stranger cares, a stranger prays. But God knows, and God hears. With prayer, miracles occur. When was the last time you prayed for a stranger?

When God is Your Top Priority

He is always with you. I had a nice talk with my daughter last night about this very thing. Sometimes we find ourselves running in circles, working hard, trying to meet all our obligations, and pushing God to the outside. These are the things that make us stressed out and the more we do, the more there is facing us.

However, if you just take a step back and find God, then make Him a part of your daily life, FIRST AND FOREMOST, then you will find that there is time to do so much more than you ever did before.

God is a part of my daily life. I talk to Him all the time. And the most important thing is listening for His words. No, He doesn't talk to me in a loud booming voice that rocks the walls of my home, but He is a voice that speaks to me softly. I hear Him loud and clear. He directs my life, and He is so good. He is always with me.

No, He doesn't make everything a garden of roses, but He's always with me through all the storms of life. He loves me. How can I not love others?

Lord Jesus, I pray that everyone reading this blog today will open their hearts to let You in, to accept Your unconditional love, and that they in turn, will share that love with others. Amen.

Through the Storm

On Friday, we had a terrible storm. The sky was a strange yellowish green color as it rolled in with lightning and thunder just in time for rush hour. I am so frightened of lightning and the loud booms of thunder (which is why I avoid fireworks). The thought of having to drive to work in the storm had my muscles clenched in terror.

The rain pounded against the ground like the sound of horses galloping across an open plain. Before I made it out of our subdivision, a huge bolt of lightning complete with jagged forks of fire flashed in front of me. Hunching my shoulders, fingers tight on the steering wheel, I began to pray.

I prayed that God would not let me hurt anyone else on my journey, and that he would get me safely through the storm. I kept praying over and over those same words and then moved to repeating the 23rd Psalm. One mile down the road, the rain began to let up. The sky looked even more ominous, but no further lightning or thunder resounded across the sky. I only had three more miles to travel. I drove through deep puddles of water as the sky continued to whirl in deepening threat. I kept praying the 23rd Psalm, eyes on the road, and arrived at work. I walked into the building without having to put anything over my head to protect me from the rain.

As soon as I went through the double doors, the rain resumed with crashes of thunder and galloping horses.

I thanked God for sending Jesus to ride with me. Every day there are small miracles which occur. God is good, all the time.

How Do You Pray For Patience?

Lately, I've been praying for patience, compassion, and strength as I move into a new phase of being caretaker for my mother. My daughter has told me I am praying for the wrong things. It appears God has answered my prayers by presenting situations in which I must practice, "patience, compassion, and strength." Maybe that's not a bad thing. I'm learning. But, I'd like to have less opportunities to learn.

Laughter is Good for the Soul

Do you remember when you were a small child gathered together with your friends for a sleepover? Remember how you made each other laugh and the laughter became contagious and you couldn't stop? I do. We'd hide our heads under the covers trying to keep the noise from carrying and that just made us laugh harder. I still smile at those memories.

I believe laughter is good for our souls. It revives the spirit. But, there are many who don't know how to laugh and they don't understand those who do. These are the people who press oppression on the souls who lift their hearts with laughter.

Today, I pray for all those who do not know the joy of laughter.

A Prayer for Today

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today I ask You to place Your healing hands on all my friends and their families. Heal those who need Your touch. Enter the hearts of those who are seeking You. Bless their homes, their work, and their daily activities.

This prayer is being sent through Your precious son, Jesus Christ, whom You sent to save us all. Amen.