Love Prays

amazing love how can it be?

2006-01-14T14:44:00.000-08:00

God loves me so much. He is giving me such a wonderful basket of blessings I do not know where to start.

I have a wonderful group of women who are coming to my home to share experiences, love, support, and learn about the Bible and how we look to God.
What a wonderful thing this is - an answer to my prayers for sure - that I would be able to have Bible Studies in my home. And now it's happening. Praise God!
Lord, guide the study so that we learn what You want us to learn.

My prayers now are to thank God in advance for healing me from head to toe.
In one day, three people prayed that I would be healed from head to toe. First, Pastor Chris. Then, Holly. and then, Sister Ann. So that is, I guess, my new year's resolution. To be healed. To believe I am healed. To believe that not only CAN God do it (which I never doubted) but that He WILL do it. This has been a big struggling point for me - with all the things wrong with my human earthly body (which I consider simply a shell for my spirit, which is eternal and beautiful)... I had come to feel that God COULD heal me but had decided not to do it for some reason. Perhaps I thought it was "my cross to bear". Perhaps I believed I was like Job, and the enemy was asking permission to add suffering after suffering to me to see if I would turn from God.

I have not turned from God. I have yelled at Him (I'm sorry Lord, please forgive me) and been angry at Him, (such arrogance, to be angry at the Almighty Creator of the Universe), but I have never turned from Him and have always felt Him by my side.

Praise His Glorious Name! I love God so much, sometimes it is hard for me to worship without bursting into tears. I love my church so much but I wish I could infuse the worship with more of the joy of knowing Christ, more of the energy of the Spirit of God, more time just glorifying God not just singing a song.

We have the blessing of babysitting our friend Ellie's dog, Lozen, and she has been such a blessing to me. She's part malamute and part wolf hybrid and she's so beautiful in looks and in spirit. She is so sweet! Very loving and kind of shy. The kitties are almost used to her. I expect them to be cuddling with her soon. She's very gentle with them... likes them a lot.

She's been a blessing to Thomas, too. His first experience living with a dog of any kind. So he has been doing a lot of learning and he's really enjoying her, despite his having trouble with her jumping up on him. She's very submissive and has trouble with piddling when she is excited to see Tom. She only does it with men - a man abused her before Ellie got her. She's a wonderful dog, very well behaved, and a joy to have around. What fun. She makes me want a doggie or hope that maybe Ellie will let us be her family.

I am rejoicing that the biopsy of the lump that was taken from my breast was benign - praise the Lord! That was kind of scary. Monday I get the stitches out and then soon I'll be able to get into the hot tub and pool again. Hooray! I can't wait to start my workouts. We go January 20 to get the assessment so we know what to do and where to start with our exercise program. I am praying that God will empower me to go as many times as He wants me to go so I can get strong enough to really take care of my gardens this year. How wonderful that would be! Not to have to stop in the middle and rest more than I work. To be able to run the sweeper and be strong enough to dig my own holes to plant things...

I am also rejoicing because I am going to have injections in my neck. I am asking God to make them work so that my neck doesn't drive me nuts with pain anymore. Please, God, guide the hand of the doctor so that the medicine goes where it is supposed to go. Please, Lord, help me to be healed through these injections.

I am in the midst of cutting out the mats on Molly cat. She has dreadlocks and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight for her. Poor little thing. She doesn't like me messing with her fur, but I know she will be more comfortable if I can get those mats off her back. The rest of her is so beautiful and then we can brush her each day... Hope that will help her never to have painful mats again.

I am praying for Tom's work. Nothing I can specify but I do want God to guide Tom's work as to where and when he should work and for how much. I know God has a plan.

I am praying for good health also so that we can go on a mission trip with our church in June. I am good at painting and love to do it - I would love to be able to help another church as we were helped by the Baptist Builders. WOW! What a blessing.

I wonder if Newman would benefit from a mission trip like that. Would it infuse the church with the kind of love and spirit it needs to stay alive?

I start Tuesday to take voice lessons. They've been postponed but I really want to do it so that I can offer up my voice in the very best way to God. I feel I may have some songs in my heart to give to the world and I need to have my voice the best it can be so there is a better chance that the messages will be heard.
I need to learn to play the piano better... I haven't practiced and we haven't gotten the piano tuned, so it's kind of difficult right now. I'd really like to have the piano tuned, maybe for my birthday.

I think for my 50th birthday, I should have an open house. But it will be cold on my birthday so we won't be able to use the patio room as much... so I wonder where we should have the happy celebration - maybe at church??? In the fellowship hall?? What fun. And what a wonderful place to have it.

Now, what to eat... ? Shall it be a covered dish or shall we just have cake and ice cream and punch and water and coffees and that stuff? I would love to invite the family and at least have B's family come and celebrate!! Maybe we could have a spaghetti dinner? I just don't know how to make it a truly wonderful celebration. God please show me what would most honor You.

I am so happy that I have been able to cultivate my relationship with Sister Ann Bates. She is such a wonderful mentor to me. Everyone needs a mentor. Everyone needs someone they can ask questions about stuff that matters. About God and how to cope with trials and tribulations.

I pray, dear Lord, in gratitude for Your Amazing Love. Thank you for giving Your live so I can spend eternity with You. Show me how to glorify You. Help me learn to enjoy You and be a person You entirely enjoy. Father, please show me what I need to do to bless those around me. Help me speak gentle words to everyone, but especially my precious husband, who you have given to me, as my partner in life and my best friend and my own heart. Help me, Lord, to support him, to respect him, to bless him in every way possible. Help me create a home where peace reigns, Lord. Grant us peace. Let my home be a place of solace and joy and enjoyment and love. Release Your spirit to infuse our lives with Your beauty.

Please, dear Lord, heal my body from head to toe. Please heal my painful headaches, that keep me from thinking straight and even seeing properly. Please heal my painful neck, allow the injections to work and fix the problem, and lay Your hand on my shoulders which are so painful. Heal them, Lord. Give me back my strength in my hands so that I can do things like peel potatoes and make dinner.
Please take away the pain in my middle back, Lord. Help me to find a way to release the tension in the muscles so that I am no longer in pain. Please heal my lower back so it is strong and I can stand at the sink to wash the dishes without taking a break. Heal me so I can garden without pain.

Heal the bursa in my operated knee, Lord, and please take away the pain in that knee. Thank you that it is a strong knee that I can count on to carry me to and from where I need to go, and help me to overcome the pain so I can go up and down the stairs. Take the pain away, Lord! Make the knee perfect. I ask that you would continue to take care of the other knee, that the supartz medication would do its job and keep me from hurting in that knee. Please heal the corrosion of the plate and six pins in my ankle.

Heal the high blood pressure, Lord. Take down my cholesterol to a healthy level. Help me to breath freely without having to inhale with albuterol. Help me get my diabetes under control and even that You would take it away, Lord, I would ask. Please heal the muscles that control my bladder that I might become normal in that area, too, Lord.

Remove from me the fibromyalgia, that I might be able to work at a normal job and make a good salary so that I can contribute to our household and get us out of debt so we can live better according to Your ways.

Help me take the time every day to spend time in Your word, Lord. Call me to Your side so that I will pray every day. Break me so that I can become the beautiful person You have meant me to be. Mold me, make me whole, Lord, I pray.

Empower me to help others, Lord. Empower me to spread the gospel to the lost, whether it's in the grocery store or the people I meet online or anywhere, Lord. Make me bold in witnessing, strong in my faith so that I can help others come to know You more.

Grant me the ability to present the good news so that others can understand and accept it.

Thank you Jesus, I believe with all my heart that because I have prayed these things in Your name, You will do it. I trust, in Your timing and Your will and Your way.

Thanks for Your amazing Love, Father.

Amazing love, how can it be that my King should die for me
Amazing love, I know it's true, it's my joy to honor You in all I do
I worship You
You are my King
You are my King
Jesus, You are my King.

I bless you Lord, with all my heart. May my love be a fragrant offering to You, O God, Heavenly Father, Price of Peace, Lord of Lords, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Alpha and Omega... my wonderful Savior, Lord of my heart.
Love,
Janie

previous blog

2005-12-06T21:40:00.000-08:00

The previous log was a study in Adult ADD. What a mindstream!

Easy Worship and catching up

2005-12-06T21:27:00.000-08:00

I am in the midst of learning how to create dynamic, video-enhanced worship experiences for my precious church. I can now integrate PowerPoint and video to create a background scene that will make worship, praise and music so much more exciting and engaging (especially for our youth, who are so vibrant and alive!).

Tomorrow begin the dress rehearsals for the Christmas Music Spectacular at the Civic Theatre. Full Makeup and attire. Including painful shoes - ouch! Don't know why I can't find comfortable shoes but I really can't seem to do it.

I am going to go early to help others do their makeup. And I need to get up early to get everything I need done, done.

I have frankincense and myrrh and a handout for the kids in my TEAM KID class because I won't be there for their pizza party and dress rehearsal for "Christmas in Reverse" -(so it will be a surprise for me when I see it, too!).

Gosh I am so proud of these students. Children, kids, I just love them so much. Knowing they are going to be counting on me keeps me walking carefully on the path and not doing things I should not be doing. Praise God! We all need someone to keep us accountable. Teaching sure does that for me.

I do miss being part of the prayer, though, on Wednesday nights. I long for more learning about Jesus, yet I have so much trouble making daily scripture study a part of my life.

Meanwhile, I am seriously considering going to school to become a Christian counselor. Emerge has a great program... and I hope to be able to be a part of it, Lord willing. If you are reading this and you have a spare prayer, please pray for wisdom and direction for me. . . so I know if I should go to school and be a counselor or not. I've always wanted to do it, all my life... so I think it is something God has been telling me to do for about 40 years... !! maybe 30... but that's a long time to ignore what God is telling you and pursue something else.

God is so patient with me.

I pray our concerts bless everyone and that people will come to the Lord as a result of hearing what we sing.

Please, God, fill the seats. Bless the place... and those who will attend the concerts... and those who work back stage and those who are in the concerts in any capacity.

Forgive me for my envy (covetousness) of the woman who has the solo this year. Help me reach out to her in love in some way so that I can release the troublesome feelings toward her. May it appear not to be kissing her butt but to be a genuine gesture - perhaps it needs to be anonymous? I don't know... show me, Lord.

Meanwhile, bless my precious Sisters in Christ at BBC. They are so precious to me. I need them in my life. Bless Cindy. Bless Melia. Bless Rebecca. Bless Sharon. Bless Sandra. Bless Holly. Bless Pastor Chris, and Shawnetta, and their children... and all my kids in Team KID... gosh, Lord I love them all so much. If they'd let me, I'd squeeeeeze them all!

Please bring Kaitlin and Dylan's dad to church for the Christmas play. Please bless their grandmother, who is helping them grow strong in their faith and helping them be awesome kids. Bless Sydney, Lord... and bless Logan. Bless Rebecca, whatever she wants to be called... Becky or Becca... bless Connor, Lord. These kids are special to me and I care so much about how they learn. Bless Carlo and bless Seneca. And Abrielle, who just accepted Christ. Please bring her to church so she can be baptized. Maybe on Christmas??

Bless them and keep them walking in the light, Lord. Bathe them in your love. Keep them on straight paths and help them with all their troubles - at home or in school or wherever they may go.

OK Lord, I'm going to bed. Please help me sleep. Help my body cope with the pain tonight so I can get up and go go go tomorrow.

Love,
Janie

Christmas Music Spectacular Surprise

2005-11-08T00:13:00.000-08:00

Imagine our delight and surprise to discover tonight at the rehearsal for the wonderful Christmas Music Spectacular conducted by Larry Wilgus - a beautiful man of God who focuses everything on how we can best glorify the Lord with our music and our 180 member choir...

Imagine our delight to see that 4 kids from Broadman Baptist Church are singing during one of the nights we perform at Civic Theatre. How fun! And great kids, too, wish I knew all their names better. I will! My goal is to know everyone in our church by the end of 2006.

Anyway... Heather and I were so thrilled to see these kids singing their hearts out for Maestro Wilgus. It's exciting when God puts folks together like this. I know there is a purpose for it all.

Thank you Lord!

Overwhelmed by work

2005-10-29T01:22:00.000-07:00

Just wanting to vent a little here. I have been dealing with a lot of physical issues since we returned from California and I can't do as I would like to do in taking care of my home... and my yard... and it is overwhelming. I have enough work to keep Merry Maids working all day - all three of the gals who would come. I have enough yard work to keep four big strong young men busy and tired all day long for two or three days and still it would not be "acceptable" or at least not by my standards of what things should be.

I know some people think I am being too hard but I look at other people's homes and their yards and none look as scruffy as mine.

I want to have order, not chaos. I want a kitchen table that is not covered with papers 24/7/365. I want to be able to cook without having to do a huge house cleaning beforehand. I want to have people over without having to run around like a chicken with no head trying to neaten up the piles of papers and messes everywhere. I want my laundry to be relatively done - not piled up in the basement like a dungeon.

But my body won't do it and we can't afford to pay people and my husband is working so hard for us outside our home that I hesitate to ask for his help. I really am at my wits' end here and don't know what to do about it.

If you are a praying person and reading this, please pray for peace and order in my home. And my yard. And my head.

Thanks.

Overwhelmed by Love

2005-10-29T01:18:00.000-07:00

God is so good. No, really, He is sooo good. Jesus Christ is calling people of all ages, from little kids to adults, to relationship with Him. And in so doing, He saves us from death and hell. We are never the same after we know Him. We will never walk again through any trial without Him by our sides. He is always with us and promises never to forsake us. Our salvation, once we believe and confess our sins and proclaim that He is our Lord, is permanent.

This doesn't mean that we won't make mistakes. What it does mean that God's grace is sufficient to cleanse me from everything I do wrong and place my feet on the solid rock so my life won't be washed away by the waves of doubt and the world's notions of what is right and wrong.

Two kids in my TEAM KID class on Wednesday night will be baptized Sunday. And another one that I prayed with accepted Christ... oh, Lord, what a privilege to be able to speak to people about who you are and what you have done for us.

For your love is overwhelming... you have laid down your life for us, your friends. You have come down from the beautiful heavens to this rough, painful, dirty earth and lived amongst us as one of us. You took all our sins on the cross, took our punishments for us (everyone's punishments, for everything they have ever done against God -- what an overwhelming number of sins, and punishments)... and you have allowed us to be reconciled to our Most Holy God who cannot tolerate the presence of sin.

"Your is amazing, steady and unchanging... " sings one of my favorite songs... "Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, Your love makes me sing!"

Lord please use me as You see fit to bring more souls into reconciliation and salvation for Your glory.

Becoming a Believer

2005-10-19T22:45:00.000-07:00

I just led someone to Christ tonight. She was waiting ... waiting for everything to be perfect. Waiting for things to be right. Waiting till everything was in place... but I was so burdened for her young heart, I asked her if she died tonight, would she go to heaven?

She didn't know. She hoped so. It broke my heart so badly I asked her to sit down and pray with me to make sure.

I prayed my version of the sinner's prayer and she repeated after me.

Now she is a part of the family of God. I am so happy!

Another girl in my class of grades 4-6 also I think may have accepted Him tonight. I had all the kids bow their heads and pray the sinner's prayer in their hearts... and those who already knew Him, I told to renew their love for Him, and those who did not yet know Him, I told them if they had prayed that prayer they were saved... forever belonging to Jesus.

I don't know if she did it or not, but the beautiful young girl in my class seemed to be ready to make that decision. Her brother did during Bible School this year.

I am now praying that she did accept Jesus, and that her dad will be able to put his anger at God aside and come to see both his beautiful, bright, and wonderful chilren baptized as believers. And praying that knowing his kids are saved will help draw him out of his sadness... grief is so difficult to overcome when we don't know we can ask God to heal us.

If you are reading this, rejoice! And pray with all your heart for the salvation of those who do not know Him as their Lord and Savior.

I believe we are approaching the end times and experiencing the birth pangs... don't be shy!
Be bold in your witnessing... and lead people to Christ.

I have been so remiss in not sharing Jesus with people I meet. Lord, make me bolder for You.

Thanks for your prayers.

travel

2005-09-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

We are preparing, no, almost prepared, to go to the Scientific Assembly of Family Practice Physicians in San Francisco.

Until I read an email from our pastor today, I was depressed and worried about going. I will be spending a great deal of time alone in a strange city while Tom is in classes the first days through Sunday October 2.

I will be deeply missing my beloved church family and hope to get to church on Oct 2 even though i don't know where the churches are...

I have begun to actually be excited now.

Pray for Molly as she has to go to a kennel for the first time and I know she probably will not be a happy kitty.

Dear friends Dawn & Steve and the girls are taking care of the other 4 fur kids each day, praise God for our new church family. What a wonder it is to have people willing to help.. to actually give me clothes to wear, to encourage and uplift us.

We leave at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday the 27th and return at 6:15 Sunday the 9th. Tom works a long 12 hour shift the next day so pray for his strength... he'll have lost 4 hours coming east on the way home.

We will miss you all! If I can I'll come to post here and try to get my email from the web but not sure if I will be able to. Being away from the computer is going to be interesting... and not my favorite choice... as you well know.

Blessings to all who have shown us so much love and care. Thanks to the McCoys who are cat sitting and to Leslie Chapman who generously shared her clothes with me. To Sharon who helped me overcome the terrible hair episode and to Holly who volunteered to come and help me decide what to pack for the trip and who is graciously rising at the crack of Dawn to get us to the airport and pick us up.

Bless you all. We are continually amazed at God's provision for us in every facet of our lives.

Love in Christ,
jjl

God's Economy

2005-09-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

As I was sitting in my garden today, picking up hundreds of little pear-shaped tomatoes that had dropped on the ground, I was again reminded of God's economy.

From two small Santa Grape Tomatoes dropped into the herb garden last year, came two monster vines that killed my rue, part of my thyme, and choked out the 3 year old Italian flat leaf parsley. The harvest, which is finally over only because I pulled out the plants by the roots, gave us 2 POUNDS of tiny pear shaped jewels.

From two small tomatoes that volunteered to grow in the pachysandra and amongst the parsley and cilantro beds.

He says of tithing,

Malachi 3:10 (New International Version)

¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

We didn't have room for all the tomatoes from those little volunteers. I always find God's abundance amazing beyond my ability to fathom. "Exceedingly, abundantly far above all we could ever ask or think"...

Whatever God plants for us, in us, through us, will prosper like those little tomato plants.
May God grow in us what He wants us to help nurture in others... and may we freely tithe our money, our time, and our lives to His glory.