At 6am I awoke startled wondering who had turned on the light. Sleep disturbed. Weeks later a repeat after a night of power outage. A Blackout fired the most beautifully decorated Christmas lights. But joy came in the morning as sunrise burst through.
Hmm cause to reflect….
Jesus is the light of the world. There’s no light that shines brighter than his. We too are encouraged to let our light (life) shine. Surprise someone with your light of love today. There’s no better time than during the most wonderful time of the year.
When we don’t know what to do, Father you do. When we don’t know what to Say, speak through us. If silence is all we have, help us not to fear it but receive it. Grant us comfort and strengthen hearts while we wait.
When we are far away from our ailing loved ones, you’re there. You’re near. When we feel helpless, grant wisdom When we are perplexed, grant clarity
Father, please intervene as only you can. Please Quiet all hearts right now. Grant comfort, quiet peace to the entire family’s anxious soul. Intervene now Lord as only you can. Please intervene.
Take care of the Ailing’s body and spirit Take care of the family. Take care of caregiver’s anxious mind. We pray these things in your name. Intervene Lord, intervene. Intervene as only you can.
Oh How I Long For Red Lights. Its funny as I embark on a new project, I am working at an opportunity that as I leave home takes me straight to the highway…non-stop. This goes on for approximately 60 miles. I found myself saying how I long for Red Lights. This has hit home as I am writing about RedLight When God says No.
In my previous book titled GreenLight: When God Says Go, I used to pray for non-stop green lights as I made it all the way East. When red lights caught me I was mad. Impatiently I’d declare how much I needed to go.
But now I long for a time to stop. To stop to change the audio-book to another. To stop to acknowledge something quickly. To stop to safely sip that delicious cup of tea to soothe the early morning’s drive. I just long to stop to breathe.
The Lord’s Patience
I don’t know how the Lord deals with us. We are never satisfied. He gives us Green Lights and we complain because we want to stop. He gives us Red lights and we want to go, go, go. He tells us to slow down to his Safe Place and we say we have no time to stop. Oh how does he patiently waits on us? Oh why does he never leave us.
It’s a mantra I teach my kids to Pray whenever the going gets rough. It might be a test. Fear. A challenge. An endeavor. Whatever it is, God is always here. He is always near. So just whisper whenever you feel like giving up or become afraid.
I can do all things I can do all things I can do all things
I can do all things through christ I can do all things Yes I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength
We conquer by faith. This is a common verse yet as I read it today it jumped out at me. Faith is all we need. When we pray, the Lord doesn’t always answer giving us the details of his quest. He may give us the Goal as when you feel led to do something but he doesn’t include in that calling a step by step guide.
The Righteous will live by Faith
Romans 1:17
The righteous will live by faith means we have to trust him when we don’t understand. Trust him when the way seems foggy. Trust him when our career goes asunder. Trust him when a loved one gets hurt, or even passes. An old hymn says we will understand it in the by and by. Understanding comes with:
Praying for Guidance
Reading the Word
Quiet Reflection
Listening for Directions
Looking back over your life and the evolution of its path
Connecting the dots to see where it’s leading
Sealing the time with Prayer
Trust God. Trust his leadership and guidance. Because his words says the righteous will live by faith not worry
Those were the words I saw on a list of things to do written by my little one. She was in Grad school and as most of us know, moving becomes a part of college life. As she packed to move she had a list of things to do. A trait taught by her mom to ensure everything or most things are captured as part of planning life’s journey. As I went to help clear an area in the kitchen, I pounced on a post-it list of things to do for the packing. On the list I read the words “ask the Lord’s guidance“. Wow! As a mom I was happy see her giving the lord the place she needs in her life. My goal was to discreetly capture a picture of the list but my phone was some place else. Later, I left and forgot to capture the treasured list.
Commit to Memory
I think of Sergio’s family who lived in the building that came crashing down in Miami. A building labeled as a catastrophe (unknown to residents). It claimed the lives of over one hundred people while they slept. Immediately people of faith prayed and prayed, pleading with God for the safe survival of those affected. Sadly it was too much and after 14 days searchers resorted to a rescue mission instead to retrieve the remains of fatalities. This was a national crisis acknowledged by community leaders up to the President. Such catastrophes we may not easily forget as we remain on our knees.
I reflect also on Hailey’s mom who had a degenerative condition. Similarly, Ken’s brother was admitted in the hospital for prolonged treatment while Laila felt discouraged as she couldn’t find a job.
Common to these scenarios is that all asked asked friends, colleagues and the church to pray. Many joined in prayer at the outset but as time progressed forgot to pray and only remember intermittently. Life’s daily priorities often overshadow even the most devastating catastrophes as they linger.
Prayer Checklist
That’s where a prayer checklist comes in. It serves as a basis for times when there’s too much to remember. Though we mean well, our fickle minds forget to pray for the sick, those in relationship turmoil, the jobless, the discouraged, and our daily needs. Let’s not forget to mention how often we forget to give thanks for answered prayers.
A prayer list is invaluable. To satisfy your curiosity, here are five reasons:
It helps us remember what and who to pray for.
It serves as a testament for Praise and Thanksgivingwhen prayers are answered.
It provides a medium for reflection when we look back at what the Lord has done.
It serves as a means for acknowledgement of our journey with God. Sometimes he had to carry us. Sometimes he comforted. At other times we look back unable to understand how we made it through. That’s when he strengthened us in our weakness.
Most importantly, it serves as a yearend dialogue with family and friends when we reflect.
Start capturing those prayer requests today. An e-notepad (smartphone) or a simple sheet of paper will do, but a prayer journal will help to keep them more organized. You can get them at most pharmacies, grocery or convenience stores. But here’s GreenLight Journal that will definitely help.
Now it’s your turn. What are your thoughts about a Prayer checklist? Do you use them? Please share. We would love to hear.
When God Says Go, obey Even when it doesn’t make sense. Often as he did with Abraham, he doesn’t tell us how, when and where. He just provides the GreenLight and the nudge. If we are in tune, we will recognize his leading.
Years ago I felt his quiet guidance to write what I see (Habakkuk). I obeyed and have been writing His words of encouragement to Quiet the hearts of those discouraged, sick, needing reassurance and just prayers for guidance.
Furthermore he has led aspiring authors who need help to me for my assistance to help them to do the same. Indeed I am humbled and will hold firmly onto him.
Today, I encourage you to follow his lead even when you’re afraid to step out as I was. But one thing I’ve always encouraged is for you to do it afraid. Don’t trust your fear… it will only hold you back.
I’ll wait for you as long as you want me to. I’ll wait until it’s your time. I’ll wait until you say yes. I’ll wait because I want nothing less than your will. I’ll wait on your direction, I’ll wait on your leading, I’ll wait on your guidance.
And when I get impatient Lord, hold my hand and make me stronger than I am.
Get up and Go. You can face any situation with him or without him. The choice is yours.
Charles Stanley
I Took some time to listen to my 𝒢𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃𝐿𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 while on a nature trek. Actually accidentally. I was listening to another audiobook about women of God, finished a few chapters and decided to move on to another book. That’s when I pounced upon my own GreenLight book and said, why not? Haven’t listened in a while.
“𝓖𝓮𝓽 𝓾𝓹 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓖𝓸” was the tugging reminder of God’s grace. Charles Stanley reminded that We can face any situation with him or without him.
It’s in track 4 …. if you already have the book. If not, snatch yours here. Paperback and Kindle are options too.
The book was Inspired by the word of God and his direction. My Safe place and the soon to be released RedLight will complete the series. Follow his lead.
Often it seems you take so long to come to our rescue but your timing is always right. So We’ll wait in you just as long as you want us to. We only ask this one question lord, that you’ll strengthen us while we wait expectantly because can’t do this alone.
But we know that you are our Safe Place and in you we trust all the day long.
GREENLiGHT 