21 Days of Prayer

Church of the Highlands is in the middle of our semi-annual 21 Days of Prayer and I have attended every morning prayer service except one because I was sick and my leg was so achy. I am so thankful for my amazing accountability partner, Kelli! She is there with me every morning. I think if not for her, I would have snoozed that alarm a few more times and just kept on sleeping, like I have many times in the past, and justified it with "they'll have it playing later and I'll just catch up". But it really has made a huge difference in my attitude and prayer life!  I hope I can KEEP getting up and putting God first each and every day!

During my prayer time, I have looked back through past entries in my prayer journal--some from a few years ago and some just a few months ago.  I'm still in the process of getting everything put online just in case the house burns down or something or for when I pass away, maybe one day my kids or future grandkids might be interested. I LOVE looking back on how God has answered or NOT answered many of my prayers. It is so evident of His greatness, His love, His knowing what's best for His children!

Here is a link to one:  Prayer Journal

I laughed when I read it. I remember that relationship and I'm SO GLAD it did not work out. I'm not saying he was a bad guy. Just not for me and now that I'm on the other side of it, I can see it so clearly!  Sadly, that wasn't the last time I was blinded by attraction (I can't even call it love!). And even though it STILL hurts and sometimes I don't react like I should, I am now able to get through broken relationships a little easier because I know He watches out for me. I pray for Him to remove things from my life that aren't meant for me. And though sometimes it's devastatingly disappointing, He always answers.

I was also tremendously blessed by Pastor Chris' message this past Sunday about the Prayer of Jabez.  I've seen the little book and heard about it before. Many of our old, traditional churches seem to shun away from what they deem as the prayer of prosperity. But Pastor Chris put it in context--prosperity is not a bad thing. It's what we do with it. We don't need to pray for more just to have more. We pray for more so that through us, others are blessed!  I have often said if I ever won the lottery, I would share! lol  Well, I would. There is SO MUCH NEED that seems to just stay on my heart which brings me to the next part of my post...

I had stepped away from doing a few things that I loved to do--serving on the Events team and serving in the homeless ministry. Physically, I couldn't serve on the Events team anymore because of my knees. Hopefully, after the right one gets fixed I can eventually go back to that.  But I stepped away from the homeless ministry because 1) I felt like I was trying to do too much--a problem that has always plagued me. When I was in school I wanted to be involved in EVERYTHING and pretty much was. I still have so many things I want to learn to do.  My mom always told me to pick a few things and be good at them instead of trying to do everything.  I know she has a point. But I just can't seem to do that and never could. I kind of know why now and I'll get to it in a little bit.  2)  The need was constant and overwhelming. I felt like I had to meet every need myself even though I knew that was impossible.

But one of the parts of the Prayer of Jabez tells us to pray for influence. 1 Chronicles 4:10 "...enlarge my territory..." In other words, STRETCH ME. Stretch me. Lord, You have placed all this on my heart but I can't do it alone as I am. I need You to stretch me. Go with me. Bring me help.

So there isn't ONE thing I have to choose. With the help of the Lord, I CAN do it all things! Phil 4:13. Lord, show me Your purpose for my life so I can live a life bigger than my own.  I was so excited to learn that I am not limited nor do I have to limit myself!

So I'm making plans to return to homeless ministry as soon as the 21 Days of Prayer are over, Wellhouse still has my application, I am back on the Dream Team but in another capacity (A team, not Events), I STILL have plans to partner with an orphanage in Guatemala and go on mission trips there and other places and I am making plans to start a dog rescue/foster.

If God has done so much in just 10 days, I cannot wait to see what He will reveal in the next 11!

Be blessed!