Overthinking…

Through the years I have been plagued with a bit of overthinking. For those of us who struggle with it, it can move to overwhelm — all the what-ifs and why-did-I-say-that and why-didn’t-I-say-this and what-not.

What if we slowly changed our overthinking tendencies to over PRAYing? Truly, is there any such thing as over praying for anything?

This change doesn’t happen overnight. I might catch myself in a cycle of overthinking. And as soon as I do, I try to hand it over to God.

I am not always good at handoffs. Sometimes I fumble.

And I would be lying if I said I didn’t take it back sometimes. But, the repeated act of handing over my concerns wears a new path of travel from my heart to God’s. The act of casting my burdens on Him is growing wisdom and trust on my part.

Not to say that I don’t have the trust in God, I do. But I also have a habit of doing my part first before giving it over. Sometimes it is simply the habit: that well worn rut in the road that I fall into without even thinking about it. And then there is the effort it takes to not be in that rut. Sometimes it sucks me in before I even know it!

If you are an over thinker I encourage you to interrupt that pattern by over praying. Give it up to God as many times as you need to to dismantle the habit. Sometimes it isn’t a lack of faith, it is simply a habit. And a habit can be changed, over time.

God’s blessings on your day!
Liz

My unusual prayer life

I will be the first to admit that I have a sporadic and unusual prayer life.

When I wake up in the middle of the night I start praying through my family circle. I start with me and Don and then go through all the kids and spouses and grandkids. Then I move to our siblings and their kids, etc. From there I either cover friends and/or cousins. It does depend on how long I am awake.

Throughout the day I also use little alarm reminders to pray about specific things that are out of my norm.

I try to think about praying first when I have time on my hands. If I am in a line, waiting or on a drive then I like to use that time to pray for people and situations as they come to my mind.

And, if I can see something that requires prayer — like an accident, bad weather, or I am at a crossroads for a task or situation — then I pray about that.

Some days are more full of prayer than others. I don’t have a physical prayer posture because it really just feels like a conversation. I might be interceding for someone, I might be giving thanks for the many things that God has blessed me with,

This just happens to be the season I am in. My prayer life has looked different through the years. And I will bet yours has, too.

How do you pray in this season?

Whether you use written out prayers from Scripture or your church body or you have embraced Martin Luther’s breath prayers, it all counts as communication with God.

He speaks, we listen, we respond — it’s a part of the cycle of relationship.

The most important thing I have learned over the years is that I can go to God directly. Of course, I can pray with others and for others and have other pray for me. But the core of my prayer relationship is that I go to God with what is on my heart.

And He hears me!

And He hears you, too!

Blessings on your day!
Liz

The flip side

Sometimes you are in a new place and you don’t want to be there.

Sometimes that change of scenery I mentioned yesterday is not because you have scheduled something fun and new but, rather, you are stuck in a new situation that you had not planned on.

I have been there, multiple times. And it can really be painful.

Job loss.
Friend loss.
Illness.
Death.
A move.

This list is endless, but God is there. He can handle your fears, frustrations, questions, anger, confusion, distress.

And there still is the opportunity to see new things — even good things — although, your frame of mind definitely can color how you are looking at the world.

This is when journaling and praying helps me. I can say it all. And then I can wait for God to show me what is next and how He will use the situation. Sometimes I have to wait a while until I am ready to see it.

Going to “new places” isn’t always fun. But God is with us, gently leading and always loving. And those are the places where we learn the most about ourselves and what God can do.

Blessings on your day!
Liz

A change of scenery

I don’t have a set routine in a day. I have general work tasks I need to get done during a week. I guess that is the benefit of being my own boss.

But, I suppose I miss the commute, “the office” vibe. You know, gathering at the water cooler to get drink and chat with people. Or the treats people share in the break room.

Yesterday, Don and I left town for a little get-a-way — a nice change of scenery for a few days. We have no hard plans for our time away except we met up with our youngest and a couple of her friends to walk around Nashville, Indiana a little yesterday. Over the next two days we’ll surely enjoy a little nature, a little Brown County fun, and just explore.

I think a change of surroundings helps me see new things or think of things in new ways. I notice more of everything when I am outside of my typical space.

If you get a chance this week, put yourself in a new space and be curious about it. Look around — take in the sights and sounds. You might be surprised at what you notice and where God leads your thoughts.

God’s blessings on your day!
Liz

As morning breaks…

“As morning breaks I look to you, O God, to be my strength this day.”

I woke up very early this morning with this phrase (and song) on my heart. I don’t remember that I was dreaming, but I do have have a number of things on my mind. You know, those situations you just aren’t sure how to handle. Those things you don’t want to give the energy to. The things that can drain your joy. Yep, I have a few weighing me down.

I can’t believe how quickly I get stuck in my head about things and don’t turn them over to God and lean into His strength and glory. I know He is working things out. I need to trust in Him. And He will give me what I need for today.

And I can give thanks and praise to the God who knows and loves me.

I am sure God sent this as a little reminder to me that I only need Him to be my strength today.

This is from Psalm 63 and is just a delightful song by John Michael Talbot.

The Beginning of Lent

Tomorrow starts the season of Lent.

I invite you to join me for daily PrayerPoints until Easter through this blog.

Each day I will post a PrayerPoint. You can take it as it is and pray through it. You can also let it be a jumping off point for your heart and prayers as you color it in with your particular circumstances.

For me, the goal is to add more prayer to my days. And this is the time of year where I publish those things that God lays on my heart.

Feel free to invite others on this journey. Or let it be between you and God.

See you tomorrow!
Liz

P.S. If you have something special you would like me to prayer for during this season, you are welcome to send me whatever it is you want me to pray about and I will keep your special need private as I pray during this season. If you don’t want to share and details, you don’t need to — God surely knows what you need.

Today’s news

Jesus Christ is Risen!

Read John 20 for the full account!

20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Jesus and Thomas

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of This Book

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

He is Risen, indeed!

Alleluia!

Breaking through

God created the way to enter into fellowship with Him.

God took the form of a man – Jesus – and took on all of sins of the world to pave the way, to make the path, to secure salvation for us.

He sees what we cannot see. He gives what we cannot give.

And He loves in ways we cannot comprehend.

This Jesus, our Jesus, took on the sin, pain, guilt, and shame. It is challenging enough for me to think about it in terms of my own sin.

But what about that one who hurt my loved one, did something vile to me or my family, has no remorse or regret, is blind to the consequences of their sin — and isn’t even convinced they have sinned?

Jesus died for all – even them.

Our sin is heavy, it can be debilitating, it can be suffocating. It is a burden.

Drag your burdens to the cross. Leave them there. Trust in God — He is working on your behalf. He has provided the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Jesus can carry it all.

Sacrifices

Some sacrifices hold more weight than others.

We might come close to imagining the weight of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. But it is heavy.

Jesus took on all of our

missteps
mistakes
selfishness
arrogance
rebellion
insistence
anger
hatred
violence
lies
deceit
cheating
unbelief
denial
sins

Our list alone is enough. And then multiply it by all of humanity. All that has and all that will happen.

All for us.

This is a gift from God. This is sacrifice. This is Jesus.