My friend Chrissy took this photo last summer.  I wish the door to change was always friendly looking and fun like this.  Often in my mind change, is the dark scary cave with spider webs and bone fragments on the floor, or a step off of a 1500 foot cliff.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of God stands forever.

Heavenly Father, I pray that you guide us through the changes that come each day.  Help us to accept that life is change, and yet you are the constant in our lives.  You get us through, help us embrace the changes and thrive.  You are the center point, our rock and our redeemer. 

I pray for our soldiers, especially those overseas and who find themselves in the path of danger.  Protect them and bring them all home safely.  Help them and comfort them.

I pray for children everywhere this summer.  Let this be a time of joy for children everywhere, with lives filled with love and your protection.  May they all have enough to eat and the care they need from all of us. 

I pray for churches.  Help the church to grow, to nurture and teach; to show the love of Christ to each other and to the world!  Amen

This blog site is also going to experience some change in the next couple of weeks.  It will have a new look and the blog will not be the front page.  But embrace the change and enjoy the journey.  Blessings,  Erin

It is that time of year when Youth Groups from churches all over the country hit the open road.  They do various things when they travel from singing in other churches across the country to painting projects at Boys and Girls clubs, and helping with a spirit of service.

A couple of years ago I got to go on a trip with the youth from our church on a bus for a week.  We went to Wilmore Kentucky and attended a musical event called Ichthus. The locals call it Mud Fest because it often rains or snows and the event is held in a large field containing fine Kentucky soil so famous for growing tobacco, or grazing light, fast Thoroughbred horses.

Wilmore is a lovely place and traveling with the youth of our church was a great experience.

Father God, I would like to pray for the Youth Groups who are traveling this summer.  I ask that you would be with them always.  Open the way for them to enjoy the fellowship they experience within their own group and the places they visit along the way.  Bless them and bless the work of their hands.  Keep them tenderly in your care and bring them all home safely.  Amen

“You never know who God is gonna use, a princess or a baby.  Maybe even me or you.” song lyric by Rich Mullens.

I have a couple of very dear friends who are atheists.  I don’t know why.  Perhaps my purpose is to pray for them, and of course to share my faith with them.   I have attempted on several occasions to discuss faith, God, Jesus, salvation and spiritual awareness with them.  They think I am completely wrong to have faith in something I cannot prove to them.  They don’t understand my faith.  I don’t understand their lack of faith.

One friend was over for dinner this weekend.  His son is dating a lovely young woman who has been raised in the Catholic church and a private parochial school.  She knows her church doctrine, and biblical teachings, as well as the theology she has been taught since she was four. 

My friend wants a wonderful relationship with his son and the girlfriend.  I find they frequently engage in spiritual discussions, and he is listening to her.  She is confident in her delivery when sharing her beliefs.  I love it.  She is able to share thoughts I have not been able to with him.  I believe she is getting through to him.  I am praying for her.  I want her to persuade my friend to give God a chance to transform his heart and his life.  It seems easier for her.  She is not worried that he will think she is simple or stupid.  Does that hold me back?  My friend cares very much about his son and this young woman, so he cares what she has to say.  I don’t know that she is fully aware of this, but she is using it to evangelize.  She is gentle, and loving about sharing her faith.  It is awesome.

I think evangelism has become a really bad word, synomomous with obnoxious, over zealous, “don’t confuse me with the facts”,  my way or the highway, fundamentalist and intollerant thinking.  I will beat you with my bible until you get it and morale improves, kind of thinking.  Terrible things have been done in God’s name or followed by the words, “God wills it!”  I personally want no part of that.

My own conversion was brought about with grace and love.  I am always hoping salvation comes to each of us in a gentle and grace filled way.  I am always believing there is room religion for progressive thought. (Spoken like a true protestant), Luther, Wesley, and Calvin all founded new churches with reform and new thought.

Let us pray today that God will utilize our gifts.  That we let people know we are children of the most high God by our actions, our love and our grace.  If we see someone God is using to do wonderful things for his kingdom, let us pray for them.  You never know who God is going to use, maybe you or me!

Photo by Chrissy Oldham

Sometimes we go along not expecting too much.  You even hear people say to not expect much so you won’t be disappointed.  I heard the most wonderful story on Friday and I must share it with you as it involves miracles and expecting a lot.

I worked with Joe for 10 years and have known him for 25 years.  His wife Takiko, in her early 70’s recently had some severe medical problems.  She was in ICU for nearly 2 weeks.  Hospice has been there the day before as everyone felt all hope was lost.

Joe’s neighbor asked him if her prayer circle could go to the hospital and pray.  He said OK.    Well the prayer circle of 7 people went into ICU and prayed, and this woman spoke for the first time in a week and  said “Thank You”. She has continued to get better and stronger each day since.

Thank you God, for answered prayers and miracles!

Presents for You

My father used to tell me a story about someone who was new in heaven.  This person was getting a tour and a door was opened to a room filled with beautifully wrapped gifts.  When the person asked their guide about the gifts, the answer was they were hopes and dreams that people had given up just before they were to receive them.  Hold onto your faith.

Most Holy God,  The answers to prayers come in your perfect time. Yet, time seems like a tricky thing for some of us.  We all have hopes, dreams, and desires.  We all want to know there is a reason we are here.  We all want to  believe that the gifts and abilities you have given us can be useful.  We pray for hopes and dreams to be fulfilled.  Amen 

Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

I had read that geese honk at each other as the group comes in to land on a lake.  The theory is that they are cheering each other on.  We may never know for sure, but the idea is great.

We become quick to criticize each other.  There are  jobs that pay to criticize, and I have heard people appoint themselves at the perfect person to critique a project.  So who wants to be the cheerleader.  Is it a harder job?  I derive much more satisfaction in encouragement than criticism. 

Let us pray for each other, encourage each other, bring out the best in each other.  Swim with a buddy.  The world will be a more friendly place.

Holy God, I lift up the men and women who are coming back to the United States after serving in a war with a vague enemy. 

 I would pray also for the souls of all those who perished.  Help those who return to assimilate back into a peace-time country.  Let them find the help they need to adjust to time with family and find peace in their spirits. Let them know they are appreciated and respected.  Amen

Fifty days after Easter is Pentecost.  We received a gift, and no small gift at that.  We got the Holy Spirit.  So what does that mean?  The second chapter of Acts describes the spirit coming like the wind of a storm and flames.  It is powerful.  In Romans chapter 8, Paul explains:

Romans 8:26 – 27  In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;  and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

We now have a way,  to plug into God with the Holy Spirit interceding for us.  We have champion, an interpreter, a very cool gift.   Let’s remember to use it.

Gracious God,  I invite the Holy Spirit to fill me this day.  To bring that whisper of wisdom from you so I may know your will.  I stand in awe of the power you unleash and the love you have for your children.  I am humbled by the Spirit interceding for me with prayers that are groans too deep for words. Thank you God.  Amen

Matthew 18:20  For where two or three have gathered together in My name I am there in their midst.

As I meet and talk with people of various denominational backgrounds, a common challenge is revealed.  Prayer teams can be difficult to build and maintain.  Things always change.  Jobs and hours worked change.  Care for children and older people become priorities.  Class schedules, appointments clutter things up. People move or pass away.

The face of the prayer team is changing.  But, the purpose of the prayer team remains the same.  It is intercessory prayer.  It is a valuable and unselfish act of doing the most and best you can by coming before God on behalf of someone else.

I believe praying together is extremely important.  I wonder what holds people back from joining with a prayer partner or team?  If you have thoughts on this, I would love to hear them.

Here, I will offer suggestions about prayer partnering.  

• *Don’t hold out for, or expect a large team.  Be satisfied and delighted in finding one or two other people to pray with.
• *Leave politics at home.  It is important to be in agreement, and that is tough enough for two people to do on any matter of the heart.  When you bring your political view in, you may bring disagreement which will diminish your efforts in prayer together.
• *Pray for what you agree the outcome should be.  Don’t get caught up in a person’s troubles or disease.  Agree on, and pray for the healing and comfort for the person, pray for wisdom for the doctor, or skill and guidance for the surgeon.
• *Have grace and tolerance with different people’s styles of prayer.  Some use many words, some use few, some pause between thoughts, some don’t.  Simply work together. It can be like dancing, and you will get better at praying together.  That is the purpose.
• *Keep prayer requests confidential!
• *You don’t need to know the whole story on anything to pray for someone.   It is better, in fact, not to know too much. 
• *You don’t have to like them to pray for them.
• *You didn’t have to vote for someone to pray for them.
• *Don’t worry you don’t pray well enough to partner with someone.
• *Come into it with a heart for service and you will do fine.

Holy God, we pray this day for people to be healed.  There are those who need to recover from surgery, some need to recover from flu and other illness. There are some who seek peace and wholeness in their spirits.  We thank you God, from whom all healing comes.  Watch over us all and keep us well and safe.  Amen