Ephesians 6:18 Saturdays - Thanksgiving

Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people). Ephesians 6:18 Amplified

As I promised last week, I am devoting the next few months of Saturdays to the study of different types of prayer.

This week I begin where we should begin all of our prayer times - with prayers of thanksgiving.

We can't pray effectively if we are far from the One we are praying to. Thanksgiving is the key that brings us into the presence of the Lord.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! Psalm 95:2 Amplified

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! Psalm 100:4 Amplified

or as The Message Bible so clearly says: Enter with the password: "Thank you!"

When we begin to thank God for all that He Is and all He has done we begin to build a track record in our spirits, we see a history of His faithfullness. We are drawn closer to Him and need not worry about sharing our needs with Him.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 NLT

Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Colossians 4:2 The Message

Share your thoughts on the key of thankfullness. If someone was coming to visit you and ask for favours, would you be more inclined to allow them in if they showed gratitude for the invitiation? Doesn't our awesome and mighty God deserve that and more?

If you feel comfortable, please share a prayer of thanksgiving in the comments. And come back next week to explore prayers of adoration.

Father God, my heart is filled to overflowing with gratitude for all that You Are. Thank You, Lord God for allowing me, even calling me to come into Your presence. There is nothing in my life more precious than time spent with You. Help me, Lord, to hunger and thirst after the things of You and Your Kingdom, that the world around me would grow pale and lose flavour. Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit, Who convicts me to pray. I love You and cherish my time in fellowship with You. May my words be acceptable in Your sight, in Jesus name.

Saturday Evening Blog Post - January 2010

It's time again for Elizabeth Esther's Saturday Evening Blog Post where bloggers gather on the first Saturday of the month to share their latest and greatest blog posts.

This month I'm linking back to the haiku I wrote after being challenged by Robin at Pensieve and (In)Courage

I received more comments than usual on this post, so I share it with you again here.

Now it's your turn. Come link up to your favorite post from January 2010.

Fingerprint Friday - Blessed

Today I rejoice
celebrate
and shout songs of thanksgiving to my Lord
for those who walk beside me as friends
face to face or online.
The fingerprints of the Master
mark their prayers
their words of encouragement
and support.
As I step into difficult times
I know that I am not alone.

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:10 NIV

Join Beki at The Rusted Chain for today's Fingerprint Friday

Flashback Friday - Dad

Jo's suggested topic for today's Flashback Fridays is siblings and I was planning to write a story about my mother's 5 uncles who all told the same jokes... but I'll save that for another day.

Here's Dad about 25 years ago

Today my heart and my prayers are focused on my 84 year old father. For many years he has suffered with various degrees of dementia that have led to other physical issues, like lack of balance that left him unable to walk. For more than a year he has lived in a care home, steadily declining.

October 2008 at my nephew's wedding weekend

Last fall, when he was wasn't eating, he was given a feeding tube to ensure nutrition, but still allowed to have ice cream, pudding and any other soft foods he would accept. Eventually he began choking and aspirating even small spoonfuls, so all feeding by mouth was stopped.

My mother, while in the midst of her own health battles spends time at the care home each day, sitting with the man she's loved for more than 62 years. The pain of watching him slip through her hands over the years is beyond my imagination. The process of grieving for someone lost in dementia is ongoing.

Mom has discussed with doctors and nurses that his condition will not reverse. He will not become more aware, or grow stronger. He does not talk or interact with anyone. His face shows signs of nothing but despair. Throughout our lives, he always said that if he was ever in this type of condition, he would rather not live. So Mom has chosen, with great courage and sorrow, to release him. She is letting go.

As of mid day today, no nutrition will be provided, simply hydration through his feeding tube. He has strong vital signs and the dying process could take a week, or two, or longer. Only God knows, and now Dad is in His hands.

Rick and I had planned tavel south to visit in a little over a week, so I should be there to say goodbye. I pray for boldness, to whisper in his ear about the love of my Savior that he never met. I pray that Jesus breaks down the door to his heart and introduce Himself. I pray for peace to surround us all as the God of all comfort wraps His loving arms around us.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NIV

Stop by Mylestones and share your flashback today!

$10 Challenge - Completed

On December 4th I posted here about my decision to join the $10.00 Challenge that Billy Coffey wrote about for Christmas 2009.

In that post I said I was waiting for the Holy Spirit to lead me. Christmas came and went and I still didn't sense His direction. I thought about slipping $10.00 into the Salvation Army bucket, or donating to our local food bank, but I wasn't getting the green light from the Lord.

In January our church youth group hosted a team from Beautiful Unique Girl for a pyjama party for girls in grade 5 - 8 that included pizza, a chocolate fondue, nail painting, worship and special guest speakers. With all the pressures from the world to conform and fit certain models of beauty, their message to young women is vital in it's simplicity:

We want you to know that God made you special. He made you for a reason, and He loves you very much. You have your own set of unique gifts and qualities and your own set of challenges, too! When we open ourselves to God and His Truth in our lives, we discover our true beauty and our uniqueness. He's placed special things inside of you that you will be sure to discover along the way as you get to know Him and His thoughts towards you!

A girl who discovers her inner beauty and lives it out will fully experience what it means to live a beautiful unique life.

We wanted to reach as many girls in our church and community as possible so a request for people to sponser attendees was put forth. The cost was $30/girl.

I figured that the $10 I was holding on to had earned interest since December, so I slipped $30 into an envelope with prayers that whatever young woman was able to attend would be blessed by the truth of God's great love for her.

I don't know who she was, and she doesn't know me. But. He. Does.

Word Filled Wednesday - Mirror

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:23-24 NIV

This is a picture taken at Millenium Park in Chicago as people gather around the giant mirrored Bean sculpture.

is being hosted this week by Penny Raine

Tuesdays Unwrapped - Connected Hearts

There are many people in my life who still can't quite comprehend the way I connect to others online. They might have gotten a handle on how email works, but instant messengers, Facebook, Twitter and the rest are something from a foreign land. When I talk about my latest blog post I see a familiar "I'm totally lost and haven't a clue what you're talking about" look in their eyes. Trying to explain "Blog. Web Log. You know, like a journal you keep on the internet." doesn't seem to help. Indeed there are people who can only live "face-to-face".

God created us to be in relationship, with Himself first and then with others. I am thankful and blessed by the in-person, I can reach out and touch you people God has placed in my life. They help shape the world around me. But I also live in another dimension, the land of the internet, and as difficult as it is for some to understand, we forge real relationships here as well. At times it seems that hearts can even connect in a more profound way without the trappings and distractions of "face-to face". The fact that many of these connections are seasonal does not detract from their importance or ability to touch us.

When Lisa Lehmann, known by many of you as thebeadgirl on Twitter was in the middle of creating a piece of jewelry for an art competition, I felt led by the Lord to provide words of encouragement. In obedience, I attempted to stay connected and check in during her journey. I was excited to see photos of the finished work and read Lisa's story of what it meant to her and how God was glorified through it all.

We have continued to send tweets and messages to each other, pats on the back, pick me ups, words of wisdom, humour and truth. I often make cyber visits to her jewelry shop Studio Jewel at Etsy to drool over her work. One day a few weeks ago, I mentioned I had seen something I would love to buy, if only our finances would allow. She then sent me a link to a necklace she had named "God Looks on the Heart" that she thought was more like me. She describes it as follows:

This is a design that comes straight from my heart. The story behind this piece is: although the world may judge us based on our outward appearance, what really matters is what is on the inside. That is why the crystal hangs in the middle of the heart. I have 3 beautiful daughters and as we approach the tween years I know this will become more and more important!

I Twittered a message saying it was perfect, I have always loved hearts.

Almost instantly, she tweeted back "Send me a mailing address and it's yours." I surely did not feel worthy of such an extravagant gift, but yesterday I joyfully unwrapped the striking pink and brown packaging and received a heart that connects with my heart.

What's more, I've unwrapped a gift far more priceless, the gift of friendship. Lisa, my words fall short of being able to express what I feel. May the blessing you poured upon me return to you with great multiplication as the Word promises us:

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. Luke 6:38 NLT

Visit Studio Jewel and check out Lisa's work. Maybe you'll find a gift for yourself or someone special in your life, or leave a hint for your husband for Valentine's Day.

And while you're online, Join Emily at Chatting at the Sky and share what you're unwrapping today.