When I Pray...

This week has been one of those weeks that testifies that I am on the right track. You know the kind when you are making decisions, praying about direction, seeking to find God's will, and in the midst of that the sky begins to fall...not little rain droplets, not a summer drizzle, or a gentle refreshing kind of shower. Nope, not what I am talking about. I am talking about a full blown flash flood downpoor!

I left Dallas with new resolve. I have been doing these Bible correspondence courses that we are offering to the inmates we minister to. While in Dallas, I finished several including one on Prayer. One of the points the author makes during the study is that we should begin our prayers seeking God's plans and purposes for our life. My prayer life has been one of those areas I wrestle with. I tend to pray on the go alot, shooting up a praise or request in the midst of doing everyday tasks: grocery shopping, looking for a parking place, answering a question during a conversation, even as I lay down to sleep and rise in the morning. I don't however spend the time on my knees in intense one on one with God alone prayer. I covet that time. My heart yearns for that intense relationship with my Lord, but my world pulls at me drawing my attention else where.

Having that burden led me to discuss where my heart is with my husband. We discussed and began praying about a new direction for our life. My heart isn't completely in all that I am doing, but my heart is with the jail ministry. God has been doing an amazing work there through our Bible correspondence course. I have lost count as to how many women have completed at least one of those courses.

All of that brings me to my week. I was teaching two weeks on discipleship. Our pastor hit the topic this past Sunday giving me several more verses to consider and some additional points. I knew that today I would be teaching on what it costs to follow Christ and the difference between salvation and discipleship. I also knew where God was leading my heart in other areas of my life. The week started out fine with a girls' night out and shopping spree for wedding items. We had a great time and accomplished alot. Tuesday morning a conflict arose quite unexpectedly throwing me off balance Spiritually. That conflict continued through Wed. leaving me quite inattentive to Wed. night's sermon. I knew I had to get home and get my lesson ready to go, but I still had to wrap up some correspondence material. By the time church was over, I was so achey. My left hand was about useless, and oh...forgot to mention...we had an outbreak of ringworm, took the kitten to the vet, began treatment, and our a/c condensor unit froze up (all before Wed.). I get home, take a bath, take some meds, make coffee, and sit down to work on the materials. I hang till just after 10 and then I am just done. I head to bed.

I wake up early Thursday, not feeling any better. I laid in bed praying for God to multiply my time and get my heart and mind ready to teach. I get up, get coffee, sit down with my Bible and computer, and can't focus my eyes. It took me a minute, but then I was up. I spent the morning fighting my computer to get my lesson typed, pick up, did household chores, and got ready to go. By the grace of God I made it.

I was feeling a bit whiney after lunch and knew my attitude was not where it needed to be. I prayed. We got to the jail-went in-attendance was low and my attitude was still not in check. I dived in and realized I had forgotten to pray. I prayed, and as I did, my heart calmed and focused. The lesson went amazingly well in the first pod and off to second pod. That one took an interesting detour. Right at the beginning of the lesson, a question arose. I knew where it was going and again prayed. God gave me the answers, the attitude, the ability to recall verses to support what I was saying, and I knew God was there. It was very real.

I got home to find a houseful and my daughter in a not so good mood. She was struggling-teachable moment. I crawled in behind her, hugged her, talked to her, encouraged her, and prayed.

My sister had a conflict during the evening...one that is going to be trying for all of us, but we got busy, and now...gonna pray.

My, my....what God wants to do in our lives...if I will only pray....It is when I pray that I see God move heaven and earth...it is when we pray that the real work of God is being done. When we pray we see God change hearts, heal brokeness, bring restoration, and provide our every need of our hearts and lives. If prayer is the solution, prayerlessness might be the problem!

Lessons Learned

My mother-in-law had hip replacement surgery two weeks ago now. My husband and I had decided we definitely were going to be there for that and we were. We arrived very late on a Tuesday night for her surgery which was scheduled the following Wed. morning, very early might I add! We went to bed at midnightish and got up at fourish...ouch!

All went well with the surgery and the next day physical therapy started. She asked me to be her coach so I went along with her, listened, and followed instructions. We spent the next several days running back and forth to the hospital, hanging out in the hospital, visiting and encouraging her, and of course, going to therapy. I am so glad we were there. Her husband just couldn't handle being up at a hospital all day and without us, she would have spent much of her time by herself.

Steve left Sunday to return home, and I stayed for another week. My mother-in-law is very independent. I wasn't sure if I was going to be in her way more than a help to her, but I jumped in anyway hoping I could encourage her. It was such a sweet time to get to know her on a different level. She had to lay down most of the day which left her alone in her bedroom. I would crawl up in bed next to her. We did or should I say attempted to do some puzzles together, and we talked. (I did master my first sudoku!!!) She talked about her life, some her early experiences, and I talked about me, about my life. There were a few tense moments when the situation was suffocating to her-this strong independent woman who needed help dressing and taking a shower...but...despite the stress and tension between her and her husband....it was such a learning experience for me.

I not only had a great time with her, but had some funny moments with my father-in-law. He is sure a character...and that is putting it mildly! Not enough room here to to talk about all of that!

I had a lot of time to myself which I took advantage of reading two books and catching up on some Bible studies I was working on! I haven't finished two books in a week for as long as I can remember. One I was reading was Sheet Music. It is a Christian marriage intimacy book which my husband read earlier this year. (a little graphic and not sure I agreed with everything, but I would still recommend it for the points the author makes.) This was a good time for me to read and gain insight on how to better our relationship. After all, empty nest is right around the corner.

I came home with a renewed focus on my marriage, a new commitment for my life, a new resolve to achieving balance in my life, and last but not least....a new appreciation for the woman my mother-in-law is!