Can I hear you now, God?

Earlier this year, a woman asked me what to do if God isn't answering our prayers.  Then followed a discussion about how God always answers prayer, but sometimes the answer is "no" or "not yet" or "I have something better in mind."  I found the following devotion from Guideposts an interesting sequel to that discussion, helpful in that it gives us "something to do" while we wait and listen for God's answers.

3 Questions to Deepen Devotion

By Julia Attaway, April 25, 2012

As I was teaching one of my kids the five Ws of writing the other day (who, what, when, where, why), it occurred to me there must be some parallel for prayer.
So I asked myself what questions I need to pose before I sit down to pray. I know God hears us no matter how we ask, but sometimes I hear Him better when I pay closer attention to what I'm saying. And when it comes to petition, there are three queries that definitely improve the quality of my conversations:
What Do I Want?
It’s surprising how vague my prayers can be if I don’t pinpoint exactly what I am asking God to do. Do I want Him to ...

• Make a difficulty go away?
• Make life more pleasant?
• Give me the grace to endure a trial?
• Show me how to accept a cross?
• Teach me to live with uncertainty?

What is it that I’m asking?
Why Do I Want It?
All too often my weaknesses drive my requests. Is my prayer driven by ...

• Fear?
• Worldly desire?
• Jealousy?
• Pride?
• Or is it for a good reason, like the sake of someone’s soul?

Why is this request so urgent?
What Will I Do If I Don’t Get It?
Thinking this through helps me realize how often I put my hope in a particular outcome instead of placing my hope in God. If He doesn’t answer my prayer in the way I want, will I ...

• Despair?
• Be hurt?
• Accept no as an answer?
• Wonder why He's not hearing me?

Or will I love Him anyway?
What questions do you ask yourself before you start to pray?

Permalink: /blogs/seeds-of-devotion/3-questions-to-deepen-devotion

Have a wonderful, blessed day--and may we hear you now, O God, our everything.

What is your definition of success?

Excerpted from Seven Choices for Success and Significance  by Nido Qubein

What is success? Only you can define it in your own life. In my own life, I have attempted to define both Success and Significance.   To me, Success is secular. Significance is spiritual.   It doesn't matter how you define your own spirituality. Spiritual matters are always finer, deeper, and longer lasting than secular matters.   Success focuses on three Fs: Fans Fame Fortune Success is focused on tasks, even goals.   Significance also focuses on three Fs: Faith Family Friends But, significance focuses on purpose. Why am I here? What do I do with the talents, experiences and skills that I have? How can I make the world a better place? How do I plant seeds of greatness in the lives of those around me? How do I make an impact in the circles of influence where I find or place myself?   To choose success and significance, you must be a strategic thinker who: Has a clear vision of what you want to accomplish Develops a solid strategy that answers three questions: - Who or what are we today? - Who do we want to become? - How do we get there? Employs practical systems to achieve your goals Commits to consistent execution because in consistency, success emerges. When implementing your strategic plan for success, it really comes down to three "Ds": Decide what you want most to achieve Determine the first step to getting what you want Do the first thing that will start you moving toward your goal. Using these seven keys, you can choose success and significance. But keep this in mind: success is not a matter of luck, not an accident of birth, not a reward for virtue. The most successful people I know are the ones who have something to do, somewhere to be and someone to love.   No one is responsible for your success or your joy. You must search for it and be in a continual state of earning it.   To merely succeed is not an end in itself. You must use your success to impact other people ... to impact the world ... to Live Life from the Inside Out.   It all starts with the choices you make — they determine the person you will become.

brought to you by:

What is YOUR definition of "separation of church and state?"

“I hate polemical politics and polemical divinity,” a politician once said. “My religion is founded on the love of God and my neighbor; on the hope of pardon for my offenses; upon contrition . . . in the duty of doing no wrong, but all the good I can, to the creation of which I am but an infinitesimal part.”

This country was founded with the principle of freedom of religion:  that is, to believe in any religion one chooses, or none.  This doesn't mean that we cannot practice our chosen religion, but that the government may not choose one for us. We may not agree with the religion or practice another chooses to follow, or we may be distressed that they have not the comfort of any, but the principle itself is gravely important.  Our government and our people have struggled long with the implementation of this principle, especially as the population of the country has become more diverse.  Some people feel that this country started off Christian and ought to remain Christian.  Well, frankly, further back than the white Christians were the Native Americans--and we won't even go into treating on THAT topic.  Not all of the "founding fathers" were...umm...mainline Christians, either (would that have been why some of the original settlers came here in the first place?)  And I wonder if in ridding the United States of the threat of diverse religions and cultures, folks would be pleased to rid their lives as well of all the inventions, advances, food (!) and other richness this plurality of cultures has brought to our country.   Here is the definition of bigotry: "stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own." http://dictionary.reference.com/

It is not a new thing that religious followers of varying types say and do things in the name of God that are horrific and damaging. Lately, I have been struck by the ever more appalling, ridiculous and detestable things that are being said during this Presidential campaign.  I read an op ed in the Akron Beacon Journal yesterday about why politicians use negative ads ( http://www.ohio.com/editorial/drew-westen-why-do-campaigns-use-attack-ads-they-work-1.266989 )--but I can still wish the system could function with the common sense and decent humanity that God and our forebears  (I believe) would hope for us to exhibit.

Two pieces about negative yak:

This op ed is from the Washington Post.  By Lisa Miller, Published: February 23 

"Last week, the Christianity police, in the persons of Rick Santorum and Franklin Graham, came forward to discredit the president’s religious beliefs. First, Santorum called President Obama’s theology “phony”; then, on “Morning Joe,” Graham refused to accept Obama into his Christian band of brothers: “He has said he’s a Christian, so I just have to assume that he is.”

With rhetoric like this, these Christian conservatives are playing an ancient game. They are using religion to separate the world into “us” and “them.” They are saying, “The president is not like us.”

...Religion has done much good in the world, but it becomes dangerous when the “us and them” worldview grows rigid — when “we” claim moral (or theological) superiority over others. No one should know this better than Santorum, for Roman Catholics have been among the most persecuted groups in America. Yet for Santorum, history has had no modulating effect. The “phony” remark seems, at worst, calculated to remind voters of Wright and the “liberation theology” he preached, and in so doing to incite racism and fear.

...America was founded by people who hoped that by allowing religious diversity to flourish, they might discourage extremism from growing. Counter to the claims of so many Christian conservatives, the intent of the First Amendment is not to protect any particular brand of Christianity from government encroachments, but to allow all kinds of believers to practice freely.

“I hate polemical politics and polemical divinity,” a politician once said. “My religion is founded on the love of God and my neighbor; on the hope of pardon for my offenses; upon contrition . . . in the duty of doing no wrong, but all the good I can, to the creation of which I am but an infinitesimal part.”
It is only unfortunate that these sentiments were those of John Adams — and that they are two centuries old."


and
http://www.davidmixner.com/2012/02/santorums-god-america-and-the-lgbt-community.html#more

Change is not easy, but it keeps life interesting!

I have noticed in myself a change in what draws my interest.  Some of the books I used to read seem rather boring; somehow--whodathunkit?--I have a longing to learn about God, of all beings.  I mean, I've gone to church since I was a babe, and done VBS and Bible studies and retreats and all that, but now it's a deeper, more compelling desire.  

We so often are distracted by any number of other things in this world; or we are afraid that in giving ourselves to God we will lose ourselves or be called to some purpose we will not be able (or aren't sure we want) to accomplish.  We hide from God and ignore the cord He ties around us, a cord to keep us safe, to draw us closer to Him, and the end of which He never lets go.  

(There's an old poem, The Hound of Heaven: http://www.umilta.net/hound.html)

"'Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee, 

Save Me, save only Me?

All which I took from thee I did but take, 

Not for thy harms,

But just that thou might'st seek it in My arms. 

All which thy child's mistake

Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home: 

Rise, clasp My hand, and come!'"

 

We can expend our lives trying to escape, or avoid, or reject, or ignore God...and we will always have an empty feeling within, in that space that only God can fill.  Or we can come earlier in our lives to His party, and reap the benefits of living with His comforting Presence.  May we live in joyous celebration!

Adrenalin! Panic! PEACE!

Bam!  The crisis hits!!  What is our reaction?  

Adrenalin begins pumping, the pit of our stomachs drops out, our hearts beat our minds race, running scenarios of how we will handle the situation, our lungs pant our minds race again running sample conversations in our heads (anyone else do that?) we somehow withdraw to analyze it all within yet our eyes dart around to search for escape without, more adrenalin we fret we pace restlessly...


Take a BREATH!  Whew!  And how many times a day do these situations arise, between work, and dealing with people, and children, and pets, frozen pipes, the economic worries of the times, and on and on?


In the past 16 months or so, I've had a lot of practice with panic.  Finding a lump in my breast 8 months after a clean mammogram was a shock.  But it's interesting to me to look back in my life and see some of the ways that God had prepared the way for me to grow in my ability to handle the crisis.


Small bits, like remembering a story about a 4 year old boy whose parents taught him a Bible verse to comfort him when he needed surgery ("When I am afraid, I will trust in You."  Ps 56:3).  Here's a verse so short and easy a child can memorize it--and so did I!  I can't tell you how very many times I repeated THAT one over and over.  


Do you ever play "what if" scenes through in your mind?  For instance, you are walking down a dark street, what would you do if...?  I can remember vaguely thinking, but recurringly, what I would do if I were in a bad accident.  When I had my icy encounter with the semi in 2005, I went spinning down into the median saying, "God, help me, God, help me!" (Romans 10:13 "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.")  Here I am--and I don't have that particular recurring thought anymore.  Was God preparing me, having me practice in a way, for what was to come?

God has placed teachers, family, and friends within my world, who were support to me when I couldn't support myself.  I have learned valuable lessons from people and situations, even the negative ones, and I am grateful for those lessons.  

One of the lessons is to trust God with my very life--indeed, Who gave life to me in the first place?

Philippians 4:6-7 Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁶Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.    ⁷And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

New blessings

I have some new blessings in my life these days.  For those of you who followed my caringbridge site ( http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/susankolarik ) I told the "it's not odd, it's God" story of how I came to be on the Dragon Dream Team.  I'm looking forward to the general membership retreat in March, where I expect I will learn more about the whole process.  I will post pictures when I get some!  I even got a dragon tattoo compression sleeve to wear in case of any lymphedema issues (which I have not yet had, thank God!)!!

I also have begun a program called Partners in Ministry (PIM).  I will be taking a series of classes (Spiritual Disciplines, Theology, Old/New Testament, Church History, Polity, etc.) that is offered by the United Church of Christ.  The first set of 10  classes ends in "certification;" then I will meet with a discernment committee to help me decide in what area I feel called to serve the church.  The rest of the classes will be geared toward that goal; upon finishing them and doing an internship, I would be "accredited."  If I were called through a church to serve, I would be "licensed" to serve.  Some graduates of the program do pulpit supply, some do hospice or nursing home work; the program is very flexible and accommodating.

I don't know where this is all leading, but it will be an interesting journey.  God isn't boring!  (Though I suppose lots of folks believe He is...)  The other new thing that I will be doing is coordinating the Family Promise program for our church.  This is a program where churches take in homeless families on a week-at-a-time rotating basis.  http://familypromisesc.org/  The last two times our church had the rotation, I stayed overnight at the church as the contact person.  Other shelters will take men, or women with male children up to 12 years old, or victims of domestic violence.  But this program keeps families together--whether it's a single father with children, multigenerational family, or a family with older children.

Keep your eyes open for the blessings and opportunities that God places in your life!  We often walk through life blind...

 Guillo Puig
 

Wall Photos

This is so awesome. Please take a moment to read:


A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Who can relate to Sisyphus?

The legend goes that Sisyphus was condemned to eternally struggle to roll a huge boulder uphill, only to have it roll back down, whereupon he had to begin his efforts again and again.  Anyone relate to that?  Feeling discouraged, and that all your efforts to progress are futile?  Though I am not in that position, I know of some friends who are, and yesterday I got so many messages along those lines that I felt impelled to share some thoughts.

My intention in sharing is not to sound pious or know-it-all.  I'm not.  I don't.  I am only a seeker, and in spite of the fact that I am 57, feel very much a beginner in that.  So in this and all future posts, please take that attitude into consideration.  As a new beginning, I pray Thomas Merton's Prayer:

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you and I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road although I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

One of the magazines that I regularly read is "Guideposts," which is a small publication of uplifting stories begun by Norman Vincent Peale.  I get a couple of their email newsletters, too.  Here is a link to some stories that may give hope:  http://www.guideposts.org/stories-hope .

One of my favorite devotion books is called, "Jesus Calling," by Sarah Young.  The daily readings are short and tender, and they may be as encouraging to you as they are to me.  Here are excerpts from a couple recent days.

"I am with you and for you.  You face nothing alone--nothing!  When you feel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world and leaving me out of the picture.   The remedy is simple:  fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  Verbalize your trust in me, the Living One who sees you always.  I will get you through this day and all your days.  But you can find Me only in the present.  Each day is a precious gift from My Father.  How ridiculous to grasp for future gifts when today's is set before you!  Receive today's gift gratefully, unwrapping it tenderly and delving into its depths.  As you savor this gift, you find Me."

God tells us that nothing--NO THING--can separate us from His love.  That can reassure us enough to take the next little step that we must.  And the tiniest steps, taken one after the other, can get us pretty far!

"Bring Me your weakness, and receive My peace.  Accept yourself and your circumstances just as they are, remembering that I am sovereign over everything.  Do not wear yourself out with analyzing and planning,  Instead, let thankfulness and trust be your guides through this day; they will keep you close to Me.  As you live in the radiance of My Presence, My Peace shines upon you. You will cease to notice how weak or strong you feel, because you will be focusing on Me.  The best way to get through this day is step by step with Me.  Continue this intimate journey, trusting that the path you are following is headed for heaven."

God loves you!  He has plans for you!  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 When you are afraid, practice trust.  And it does take practice!  And you WILL get better at it!  God bless you all!!