Answered Prayer

I spent some time this morning reading some old journal entries.  This was triggered by a gentle reminder on Sunday night of how much God has done in me over the years - gently healing, leading me, and showing me who I am as a beloved daughter of the King!  A prayer I've prayed through so many times (and am looking at more in-depth with the new Bible study) is from Ephesians 1:  ". . .that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe. . . ."  What an incredible prayer and what an incredible blessing to look at how the Lord has answered (and still answers) that prayer for me.  


If we spend time with these words, reflecting on their meaning and letting the truth of them sink deep in our hearts, Paul's prayer becomes our prayer; and I know that this is a prayer that God never seems to finish answering - it just goes on and on.  What a difference we, as the church, can make in this world if we take these words to heart and make them our prayer.  God calls us for his good purposes - to share his love, to be light in a dark world, to testify to the hope we have.  We're all called and chosen - sent out - and it can be as simple as reaching out to one person with love and compassion.  We don't have to think we're meant to do grand and glorious things on a global scale - although some might.  Our calling is as a follower of Christ - however he chooses to use us and wherever he chooses to send us (even in our own neighborhoods).


We can pray a prayer as simple as, "Here I am, Lord.  Send me."  The rest is up to God.  It's his business and job to figure out the rest and get us ready to do what he sends us to do.  That's the glory of walking with Jesus.  "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6)  The Lord sees us as we're created to be and will so gently and lovingly mold us into the beautiful creation he sees.  My gentle reminder of God's transforming love happened on Sunday night singing an old song and then hearing it sung again, so beautifully, by our worship leader as he blessed us with the gift of just listening as if God were singing the words to us:



I will change, will change your name
I will change, will change your name


I will change your name
You shall no longer be called
Wounded, outcast, lonely or afraid


I will change your name
Your new name shall be
Confidence, joyfulness, overcoming one
Faithfulness, friend of God
One who seeks My face

A New Adventure

After a crazy, busy start to my summer, I'm finally getting ready to start a new project.  I've cleaned off my desk, rearranged books and made room for new 'stuff' to clutter up my area.  I'm feeling some uncertainty at the same time that I feel direction.  What kind of sense does that make?!  So, I'm stepping out in faith and beginning to study Ephesians and prepare the study to share with my Bible study sisters.  I do know that this won't be the same approach as the John study but it feels like, as we ended our groups in May with the words "Follow me", that Ephesians is the next step.  


How do we live out our faith in a real, authentic, discipled lifestyle surrounded by the very real "idols" of our culture tugging at our time, our interest, our allegiance and our "obedience"?  There have been so many times when I have felt so out of touch with the Lord and yet, he's never out of touch with me.  In fact, he still allows me to be, as St. Teresa of Avila prayed, his hands and feet in this world.  After reading in the news lately of so much tragedy - fatal car accidents, murders, natural disasters, etc. - I know this world needs to know and see the love of Jesus. The apostle Paul exhorts us to walk out our faith as children of the light, to walk in love and in a manner worthy of our calling - to make a difference.  How do we live a life that attracts non-believers to the Jesus we love and serve? It's so exciting to be able to participate in someone's first-time encounter with the living Jesus as they experience his love, his healing, his forgiveness, his power to transform.  That's what we offer to the hurting people we meet.  The Lord can minister to others through us (in spite of us if need be), if we're willing to serve, willing to let the Lord use our time and talents, willing to go where he sends us.  


I love the book of Ephesians - its prayers, its message.  Paul's prayers in that book speak to me so powerfully!  I'm stepping carefully into this new project.  I can't attempt anything except to join with my friends and try to hear what the Lord is speaking through Paul's words to us as we make our way through this study together.  I'm so blessed and privileged to know women - young and not-so-young - who are passionate about their journey with Jesus; they're serious about answering the Lord's call to take up our cross and follow him.  What an incredible blessing that is!!  


So, here goes!!  And, in the words I pray so often from 1 Samuel:  Speak Lord, your servant is listening.