Walking with Jesus is so similar to walking for exercise. This morning I looked out my window while I drink my coffee and I was excited to take that first step outside for a walk. When you take that first step to get to know Jesus, you will start to become excited to spend time with him and walk with him. He will increase your faith and you will experience his power!
Tag: prayer
Search and Cleanse Your Heart
Welcome! I am Lisa, promoter of Jesus, sharing my faith through chronic disease and trial.
When you read the book of Proverbs does it feel like a list of impossible tasks or impossible to achieve behaviors?
Read Proverbs 20 and see the instruction given about our hearts. We first need cleansing and healing of our hearts in order for our actions to be what we truly desire them to be.
A New Song
Joseph was given reassurance in his fear in a dream. He awoke and followed God’s lead in obedience.
Herod had a choice in his fear and he chose to work against the Lord.
You have a choice. You can choose to sing a new song!
Nothing is Impossible
Sometimes the bathroom is the only quiet place to go when you are a mom trying to make short videos to encourage others.
Mary tried to understand what the angel was telling her. She tried to understand what God was doing through her. Eventually she just needed to trust the words, “Nothing is impossible.”
Humility = Power
For when I am weak, then I am strong! Jesus was needy as a baby. Why do we think we don’t have needs?
Tell What Great Things
God called me to begin sharing what He’s been doing in my life through a different outlet. It’s taking a lot of courage but here I go!
Help Me, God!
Help me, God!
I am listening, child
My simple cry
I am here with you
My hope-filled words
I keep my promises
Humble
I am your strength
Honest
I know your heart
Healing
I am your healer
What more can I say?
No lengthy prayer required
Not trying to impress
I am pleased with you, my creation
Just leaning in to the Savior
My ear is attuned to your prayer
With my heart’s cry
I know your heart
Help me, God!
I am your helper
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” Psalm 91:14-15
Go and Be With My People
My health status is in a day-to-day flux. Yesterday was good. I woke up with energy to make my family breakfast. I felt well enough to go out to lunch with my husband. Throw in a couple of loads of laundry, and it was a good day.
Today? Today is different. My alarm went off in time to get ready for church. “I am teaching Sunday school tomorrow morning,” I declared to my family the night before. “Let’s set our alarms so we make sure we are there early so I can get ready for my class.” Laying my plans out there without doubt of the day to come.
Sunday morning came, my alarm sounded. My energy low. Fatigue high. The battle in my mind began. Do I stay home? Do I go and not teach Sunday school? Do I go and try to teach? The kids are 4 and 5 years old and full of energy. The lesson will include games and projects requiring a fully engaged and healthy leader. God…is that me today? Can I really do this today?
I feel the pull….Go and be with my people.
But, God, I am so tired…
Go and be with my people.
But, God, they are preschoolers…
Go and be with my people.
But, God, I am having difficulty standing up today.
Go and be with my people.
But, God…
Go and be with my people.
Walking into church, I am greeted by a warm, familiar face who knows my physical and emotional battle. She knows because just days prior she was in the women’s group at church where each woman courageously shared a current struggle they are facing. Not the usual, “Hi, I am Lisa, I have gone to church here for 11 years. I have a husband, 2 kids and 2 cats…” No, none of that surface level stuff. No, more like, “I am Lisa. I have struggled with anxiety, am currently struggling with depression and am in the process of testing for a kidney transplant.” How’s that for real? Woman after woman shared hard things. Woman after woman cried. Woman after woman opened up their hearts. And, woman after woman loved on the one next to them. Go and be with my people.
After the hug and encouragement from the saint who greeted me, I headed up the stairs to my classroom. My 13-year-old daughter, also my teaching assistant, rushed up the stairs to see what she could do to help in the classroom. Scanning the lesson, she determined which parts of the lesson she would lead. Choosing the parts which require action and preparation, she relieved my concerns. Go and be with my people.
Then come the kids. One by one, they entered the classroom, each flashing me a smile, some offering a hug as well. The delightful energy and happy chatter spread to my soul. One by one they took off their shoes and became comfortable in our little classroom. I watched the kids build with blocks. I laughed at the funny greetings they gave each other. I marveled at how tall they were becoming. Go and be with my people.
Time to sit down in our circle for prayer and the Bible lesson. “First of all, I need to tell you guys, I am just not feeling well this morning,” I share with the 4 and 5 year olds. A couple sets of concerned eyes met mine.
One little one in particular looked up at me in a very solemn way, “Teacher, can I pray for you?” Others joined in, “Yes, I want to pray for my teacher, too.”
One by one, they offer their prayers of thanksgiving and their requests. I hear, “Thank you, God for my teacher. Please help her feel better today. Please heal her, God. Thank you for healing my teacher, God. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
My eyes are dripping now. My heart is bursting out of my chest. These humble, faith-filled prayers are the culmination of what my heart needed this morning. Go and be with my people.
I am aware that some of you reading this have not had this experience at church with God’s people. I share this to encourage you to keep searching. There are so many churches. But, also, you will not find this type of fellowship unless you take the risk yourself to open up and allow God’s people in…to know you, to encourage you, to love you. Go and be with God’s people.
From Pity to Gratitude
Groggy, quiet, and contemplative I enter my prayer closet this morning. Holding my hot coffee in one hand, I open the closet door with the other hand. Upon opening the door, I am filled with defeat from a night of tossing and turning with doubt and hopelessness. Yet at the same time, I remember Hopeful Expectation, the promise the Lord keeps whispering.
I enter the closet, overcome with envy, self-pity, and discouragement. Envy over the moms who have children that can get themselves ready in the morning. Envy over the children who got ideal starts in this world. Envy over kids who are able to hold two thoughts in their minds and complete those tasks. Pity for myself for the elaborate measures I take to help my kids follow simple routines. Discouragement over the lack of progress seen.
Stepping into the closet and then plopping down on my pillow, I begin my seeking. Matthew 7: 7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
I come filled with ugliness, but seek the Beautiful One. I come filled with doubt, but seek the One filled with answers. I come full of myself but leave filled with His Spirit.
As I begin my study and prayer time, I am reminded of how Jesus taught the disciples to pray in Matthew 6:
This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
I remember my Father in heaven who leans in to listen to me, who meets me there before I even awake. I remember my need for Him and His ability alone to meet my daily needs. I remember His heart to forgive me (even my stinking pity party) and my need to forgive all those around me. I remember to seek Him to deliver me away from the temptation of self-pity.
This morning, He changed my pity into gratitude. This morning, I entered my time with the Lord covered with stains. This morning, I left my time time with the Lord with one last whisper, “Lord, that I’d stay connected to you all day today, that this wouldn’t be the end. That it would just be the beginning of our day together.”
Thank you, Lord, for these children that keep me at Your feet…keep me coming back to You. Keep me seeking You for wisdom, peace, encouragement, and hope. Amen.
Lisa Louise 