PrayerPoints ~ Monday, February 15th

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Today’s PrayerPoint ~ Psalm 138

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life” Psalm 138:7a

Trouble comes in so many different forms. I have found myself in troubled places all along my life because life is life and trouble is a part of this life.

Sometimes I put myself in the path of trouble in a moment of rebellion. Sometimes I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and trouble found me. Sometimes, well, sometimes life happened and there I was, troubled over what was going on around me. I may or may not have been powerless to change my circumstances, but they were troubling all the same.

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life”

I did not research all that went into Psalm 138 and the circumstances that preceded David writing it or what he was recalling as he penned these words. But I can relate in my own way. Even though there are times God actually preserves my life, there are also times He preserves my sanity by the words of a friend, an unexpected gift, a solution where none seemed to be found. All of these things contribute to the preservation of my life.

As I dig deep and explore who I am and how I am made, I am always amazed how God intricately weaves all of my past and uses it to impact who I am today. He continues to shape and mold me as only a loving Creator can. He will not abandon the work of His hands!

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever — do not abandon the works of your hands.” Psalm 138:8

PrayerPoints ~ Sunday, February 14th

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Today’s PrayerPoint ~ Psalm 136

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.“ Psalm 136:1

Love is in the air these days. I remember the parties in elementary school where we exchanged valentines. In our early years of homeschooling in Nebraska, we started out making little valentine notes for everyone in the family. And we often did something to give away (Don’s co-workers, special neighbors) because it was fun to do something for others on Valentine’s Day. When we moved to Evansville, we continued making little valentine notes for everyone in the family but we also met a homeschooling friend who coordinated some super cute Valentine Day parties–all the kids and the moms were invited and it really was a fun family afternoon.

There is a bit of rebel in me (in case you hadn’t already noticed) that doesn’t like the expectation and, sometimes, disappointment that often comes along with the hyped-up romanticism of February 14th. You are loved whether or not you receive anything for Valentine’s Day! And if you haven’t heard it from someone yet…

Happy Valentine’s Day!

So let’s get back to the verse for today:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.“

I think it is important to “give thanks” because He is good — even though everything happening in our life may not feel good. Giving thanks should not be dependent on our circumstances because God’s goodness is not dependent on our circumstances.

He is good.

His love endures forever.

So while these Hallmark holidays may come and go and our circumstances might be discouraging or downright devastating at any point in our lives, God’s love remains, steadfast and pure.

His love endures forever.

PrayerPoints ~ Saturday, February 13th

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Today’s PrayerPoint ~ Psalm 139

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” Psalm 139:23

It’s interesting, I don’t recall that I have had a lot of anxious feelings during my life but I have experienced them more often in the last five years or so. I am not entirely sure what is behind them but I have noticed an increase. I also know a growing number of people who struggle with debilitating anxiety. You know, the kind of anxiety where one cannot get out of bed and enter into the day. That is some tough stuff.

I am sure people struggled with that level of anxiety in my earlier years but I don’t ever recall hearing much about it. I am so thankful that we are in a time where this can be discussed and treated. There is nothing like a good psychologist and psychiatrist, supportive family and friends, and God’s healing touch to help a weary traveler get back on their feet.

Once I did have a meltdown of epic proportions. I remember saying something like this to Don, my husband, “I wish I had a broken arm or leg because then you could see there is something wrong.” It was during a season of very young children mixed with some chronic sleep deprivation. There was illness mixed in with other things and I was overwhelmed at the thought of him going on a particular business trip. It felt very strange to ask him not to leave but I had to. He actually had a really bad cold too so it was better that he stayed home. Even if he wasn’t able to help with the kids, I knew he would be nearby and accessible. It made all the difference in the world to me.

Sleep deprivation makes a huge impact on the psyche and I believe it was at the root of my situation. But there are also so many crazy things happening in our lives and in our world that sometimes, sweet peace seems very elusive.

As I read through Psalm 139, I love the reassurance that God knows my thoughts, that He hems me in, and He created my innermost being.

Are there particular phrases that bring comfort to you?

PrayerPoints ~ Friday, February 12th

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Today’s PrayerPoint ~ Psalm 52

“Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others.” Psalm 52:7

As I read through this Psalm, no one in particular came to mind. Until I got to the above line.

Then I came to my mind.

And I wondered, “how close am I getting to either of these two points?” Indeed, they are related but they stand alone just as powerfully. I can trust in my own wealth. And I can also grow strong by destroying others. Keeping both of those in check is a full-time job.

I have been studying for a business degree for about 16 months. I am on the home stretch with only 8 weeks left. Woohoo! It has been a lot of work. It’s been interesting to consider little businesses (like mine) and huge multinational corporations. In the business world, it is easy to see how people grow strong by destroying others. But in my little world, my words can do it too.

What am I chasing after and who am I crushing in the meantime? Sometimes I think of the rich and famous and powerful in this world and how they are being selfish little piggies. But more often I reflect on my own actions and my own heart and the struggles I have with stuff.

What about you? Have there been things you have pursued so intensely that you have crushed others in the process?

PrayerPoints ~ Thursday, February 11th

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Todays’s PrayerPoint ~ Psalm 140

“Rescue me” Psalm 140:1a

Have you ever surveyed your circumstances and mumbled this? Screamed this? Cried this?

Rescue me!

This year, I have heard of more situations that warrant this cry for help than ever before. I suspect it is because many of my “peers” are in a stage of parenting that is challenging. Small children, small problems but those big kids – oi! They find themselves in the midst of BIG problems and some they have run headfirst and boldly into because they have no clue what they are doing.

Your willingness to listen to a friend may be the lifeline they need as they move to the next step of seeking help for their situation. And if you are the one in need, seek out someone who can walk through this time with you. Being honest about your circumstances is very vulnerable place to be but it also provides the best way for someone to work with you to get you the help you need.

Sometimes we need to be rescued from the hands of others and sometimes we need to be rescued from ourselves. Quite often, I have found myself in the latter situation.

I like this Psalm because the situations David uses here are so easy for me to visualize. As I read through it, I am reminded of God’s provision and care and defense for those who are in need of rescue ~ which is, incidentally, each and every one of us!

PrayerPoints ~Wednesday, February 10

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Welcome to a New Season of PrayerPoints!

Today’s PrayerPoint ~ Psalm 51

For the 40 days leading up to Easter I will post what I am learning during my Lenten journey. You are welcome to join me and share your thoughts as well. If I only focus on things from my limited viewpoint, I miss out on the bigger picture. But when I intentionally focus on God’s Word, He alters my perspective on my circumstances and challenges. The insights I glean are PrayerPoints.

Each day I will post a Psalm and I will share the verse or verses that stood out for me that day as well as some related thoughts. I would love to know which verses stood out for you (and why) if you are inclined to share. To gain the most benefit from PrayerPoints, I encourage you to read through the Psalm of the day, either silently or aloud, with a pencil or highlighter in hand to make notes. We might be drawn to the very same verse within the Psalm or we might not be–it all depends on our circumstances and on what God is working on within each of us. That, my friends, is the beauty of God’s Word.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

A pure heart. Can you even imagine having a pure heart?

My selfish desires and my limited perspective always seems to get in the way of any purity. But the more I am connected to God and His Word, the more I sense Him bringing my impurities to the surface. If you know me, I am sure you have encountered my impurities. They seem to make an appearance every day in some form or fashion. And, sometimes I want to hold onto those impurities and not let God have His way with my heart.

Why do I resist His work on my heart?

I think because there are some attitudes I feel rather justified in having.

Been pushed around one time too many?
Been taken advantage of?
Trusted someone who you now know was untrustworthy?

Pure hearts are hard to come by. I know I don’t have one. But as I walk more closely with Jesus, the easier it is to see my impurities. As I allow Him to cleanse my heart and my mind, it does renew my spirit and gives me strength for the days ahead.

Weekly Verse

The focus verse for this week is above. If you already know it, great! If it is one you would like to “hide in your heart” then write it, seek it, ponder it, share it, look it up and read the verses around it. All these thing will help you commit it to memory!

PrayerPoints – Lent 2016

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I am so glad you are here!

And I am glad I am too!

Last year I took a little different twist on PrayerPoints. I offered the opportunity to pray for people who requested it and it was an incredible opportunity to quietly pray for the needs of those I care about. If you are so inclined (or want more information on what I did) please let me know and I will tell you all about it!

This year I am returning to the regular format of PrayerPoints. Each day of Lent (the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday) I will write a PrayerPoint post. This year there will be a focus verse for the week and I will also recommend a Psalm for every day.

I look forward to the structure of PrayerPoints and sharing what I am learning. I would love to know what you are learning too, so send me a message or post a comment to let me know.

I am looking forward to this journey and I pray for God’s insight and wisdom as we travel.

Liz

A special thanks to my friend, Kristin, who is always ahead of me with technology and is transforming the weekly verses into a cool doodad!

Why Don’t You GOOGLE It?

Today’s PrayerPoint ~ Connecting

I’ll admit it: when I get curious about something, I often have lots of questions and I have a tendency to ask real people for their insight or about their experience. Since we moved to New York I don’t see a lot of different people in a day and I don’t get an opportunity for a variety of face-to-face conversations. I am very thankful for technology as it has made it easier for me to keep connected with my friends and family.

Have you ever wondered what book to read next and wondered who to ask and in a moment of impulse asked your friends on Facebook-land? If you have a variety of friends, you will likely get some wonderful and diverse answers to that question.

Go ahead, try it. You might discover some great books to tackle this year!

I am a part of a few different groups on Facebook and they are, for the most part, interesting and helpful. And there are times when I see the same question show up time and time again in my newsfeed and I think, “Why don’t you Google it?” But I don’t. Why? Because I think that is an “I am too busy to talk with you” answer. Sometimes, a question is a way to connect with another human being. Maybe you have a friend in a far away place and, yes, they can Google all they want with their Internet connection. But, really now, they can’t Google a friend.

Sometimes, group members will ask if someone is willing to share a tried and true family recipe for Stuffed Peppers. Invariably, someone will answer: “Just Google it.” or “Check the files.” Really? There are a ton of recipes out there. And, yes, just because one family likes it doesn’t mean another one will, but do you know how easy it is to get distracted by the depth and breadth of searching online for a recipe? Oi! The distractions are incredible!

Maybe I am wondering about essential oils or Trim Healthy Mama or I need to engage in conversation about something. I really don’t want to just see what Google has to say. Sometimes it is important to engage in dialogue. Tell me what you think about the subject matter.

Let’s have a conversation.

Let’s exchange ideas.

It isn’t always about simply accessing information. Sometimes it is about connection.

And, for the record, I think Google is a great tool. It just isn’t a substitute for conversations between people.

Lenten PrayerPoint Project

The opportunity to pray for others is a huge privilege and it is easy to get so caught up in the details of my needs and my situation that I sometimes forget to think about and pray for others. For the 40 days of Lent I will be more intentional about lifting others in prayer so this year I am doing something a little different with PrayerPoints.

For each of the forty days I will pray for one person who requests prayer. If you want me to pray for you send me a message via email, text or through Facebook. In the message you can give me 3 topics to pray over for you but you don’t have to because there are many things that one can pray over a person without any idea about their specific needs. If you want to go into more detail about those prayer requests you can. You can also request prayer for someone other than yourself.

If you ask for prayer with no details, these will be the things I pray for you: a deeper walk with our Gracious and Loving Father; physical, emotional, spiritual, relational and financial health; a healthy church home; ease in learning new concepts at work and school; and healthy Christians to walk alongside you and encourage you.

The day I am praying for you I will send you a message just to let you know!

Blessings on your Lenten journey!

~ Liz

Keeping the Peace

Today’s Prayerpoint ~ Keeping the Peace

Do you have a peacemaker in your home, office, or life? Do they have a tendency to work hard to smooth things over so everyone appears “happy”? Is that what “peace” really looks like? Shouldn’t “peacemaking” be about hearing conflict and resolving conflict and not pretending conflict doesn’t exist?

Most people don’t like conflict but emotionally healthy people know how to deal with it. You can challenge me on this point but people who often work really hard to “keep the peace” don’t know how to deal with conflict and so they fear conflict. They appear to be peacemakers but their desperate need to avoid conflict creates conflict. Lots of conflict.

Stay with me here.

Conflict is inevitable. People are human and we have different goals, dreams, desires, and ways we see the world. I have never been in complete and total agreement with anyone in my life. And if you were honest, you would admit the same. Some differences do not create big problems – whether I like the blue car or the red car doesn’t usually really matter unless we are married and we are buying one car that we need share and you absolutely hate the color I absolutely love. What does the peacemaker do in that situation? They need to give in unless their passion is so strong they cannot or find an acceptable resolution that both parties can agree to.

If you have a tendency to be a “peacemaker” stop and consider how you respond in situations. In your rush to create peace are you creating more conflict? Lack of observable conflict and peace might look similar but they are very, very different. Please work to truly hear the issues of conflict because surrendering to keep the peace or always making others give in to “keep peace” doesn’t mean there is truly peace. You can say “The Emperor has new clothes!” but it doesn’t make it true! It is always better to get to the root of the conflict even though it often takes time and energy.

In Jeremiah, there is a verse that has always stuck with me and I think it fits these types of scenario well.

Jeremiah 6: 14
They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
when there is no peace.

May you seek true Peace from the Peacemaker!