January 19, 2012

On My Mind

I am tired today.  Not very motivated.  And stressing about things over which I have no control.  Yes, I know....NOT the correct way to handle things.  Trust me, I am working on the right way.  God and I had a long talk on the drive to work this morning.

What's eating at me?  Family relationships.  The idea of having to drive in the snow again this afternoon (the prediction is for the storm to hit about the time the kids are getting out of school and keep it up through the evening hours at least).  My kids' lives.  And the big elephant in the room....finances.  This worsening economy is really beginning to put a hurt on us as banks continue to be reluctant to release funds for construction and work slows.

Funny (not really) how God knows what we need when we need it.  

I have two little quick devotionals that I bounce back and forth between..."Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young and "The Confident Woman Devotional" by Joyce Meyer.  Today's devotion from Joyce is called "God Can Fix It."  The scripture is Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  And in "Jesus Calling" I found this, "Seek My face, and you will find more than you ever dreamed possible.  Let Me displace worry at the center of your being....My nature is to bless.  Your nature is to receive with thanksgiving.....My light shines on every situation you will ever face.  Live radiantly by expanding your focus to include Me in all your moments."

It's hard to let go of worries, but when we know that God is with us in every single moment that we are never, ever alone and don't have to face anything by ourselves it gets easier and the more we practice, the easier it gets to trust our heavenly Father to take care of us.

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I want to share a little something with you.  You all know that my children, though raised in the church, have walked away.  This is something I hope and pray will last only for a season.  God can and does work miracles and I trust that finding the way to turn their hearts will be one of those miracles.  A friend and pastor shared something with our Bible study.  A few years back her son had turned his back on God and was living with a woman.  It was a very bad situation, very unhealthy emotionally, from what I understand.  This friend fretted and nagged and pleaded and prayed as most mothers will do and nothing worked.  Finally, she realized she had to put it fully into God's hands.  That's when she prayed what she calls the "burr" prayer.  

Cockle Burr
You know what a burr is...a jaggy little seed pod that gets stuck to anything it comes in contact with.  Get one in the wrong place and it becomes an irritant and even painful.  In old Westerns you'd see them put a burr under the saddle when they wanted a horse to be ornery and buck the rider off.  Well, that's what my friend prayed for....a burr under her son's saddle.  She prayed for God to irritate him and make him completely miserable until he realized that God was the only way out.  I'm not sure how long it took.  Months, probably.  But her son did become miserable and unhappy and he eventually broke up with the woman and turned back to the Lord.  Another woman who heard the story a few months ago shared with us that her friend, who had also heard the story earlier, had been praying the burr prayer for her child and God was faithful in that situation as well.

I'm sharing this story because I want to let you know that I have begun praying the burr prayer over my children and their spouses and significant others.  I can't wait to see what God will do!

5 comments:

Beth Zimmerman said...

Whoa! Scary thing to pray when the irritated child is still living at home!

I can't say much on my blog right now because of snoopy coworkers but I have applied for another position on campus. In Payroll. Please pray that I get it unless it is not God's will. I'm just really miserable where I am but I can't afford to quit because our insurance is through me.

And I'm so sick of working at the computer that I just can't make myself get on and blog in the evening. Hopefully I can catch up a little this weekend. I have to work Saturday morning so I have tomorrow afternoon off.

Knees are getting better as I lose weight. Not great ... but better! And better is good!

Love you!

Beth Zimmerman said...

Writing comments on my iPad while watching TV.

Unknown said...

Sending prayers your way and I can sure use yours as well.

It's so tough not worrying about life in general. Money (finances) takes such a huge chunk of worry. J and I have been talking about tithing and I know that we are to be faithful in our giving but money has been real tight for us lately. I know that it's all about being obedient and stepping out on faith though.

I like the burr prayer. I need to pray that one over my kids and bonus kids.

Stacy said...

Beth...I don't figure the irritated child could get any more irritated than she already is. It'll just be a different kind of irritated. ;) I am keeping your whole work situation in prayer. I hope it all works out for you. It stinks to be miserable at work. Good news about the weight and knees. Keep up the good work!


Chocolate Covered Daydream...We are wrestling with the same thing. Everyone promises that if you tithe God will provide for everything else. That first step's a doozy, isn't it? :/ Plus, does it actually say somewhere in the Bible that I haven't seen (or don't remember) that tithing is absolutlely 10%? Or is that just something man has imposed? I get giving him "first fruits" or giving to him first, but not the 10%. There have been times in the past when 10% would have taken food off the table or turned out the lights.

My Captivating Life said...

Prayer is powerful, keep it up. God has answered some big prayers around my house recently.

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