For forty years Moses wandered in the
Wilderness trying to lead his Insolent, stiff necked people. And when they were finally ready to Enter the land of promise, the Weary prophet warned them: "When you have eaten and are full- Then beware lest you forget the Lord." * Moses knew the danger of Abundance. My heart is vulnerable too. My most precarious times in my Relationship with God are not when I'm experiencing tribulation, but When I am enjoying good fortune, Comfort, and Applause. * Deuteronomy 6:11.12 When I saw the lady walking toward
Me, she was bent over and Barely able to put one foot in front of The other. I sensed that she was weighed down with More than the chronic physical pain that Plagues her. I was right. Her mother's dementia is worse. Her dad is incapable of caring for her. The cost of the facility is prohibitive, and The entire family is in despair. The woman couldn't hold back Her tears. Standing there on the street I simply Hugged her and prayed with her. "I needed that," she said. I had no simple answers for the Daughter's dilemma, but I shared what I had. When I'm praying for my own family it is
Easy to pray fervently, for I am So connected to them. But I'll admit it. Praying for folks I've never met can be Challenging, a common occurrence when One is on a prayer chain. But I've found that if I try to picture the Strangers as MY grandkids, or MY brothers, or MY daughters, the mental Image helps me to pray in earnest. I may still lack intensity, but I'm being obedient. And when I do my best to lift the Request to my Father, His perfect care, and His perfect concern make up for The deficiencies in mine. When friends or strangers ask me,
"How are you?" I've begun to copy my Dear Christian sister's response: "I'm blessed and thankful." But, today, for the second time a lady thought I said, "LESS than thankful." I've decided to switch the two words. From now on I'm going to respond, "I'm thankful and blessed." I want to always be more and More thankful, but Never, ever less. Each day I begin my prayer time with
Praise. God desires my acclaim. He expects my adulation. Yes, He actually demands that I celebrate Him. Praise helps me recognize the One I'm Approaching, The Creator God, The high and lifted up Sovereign who Stooped to save me. Praise gets my focus off me and Onto Him. I praise God not only for His sake but for Mine. (Psalm 148 is just one of the amazing praise psalms.) My daily desire, my
Daily prayer is to be Enamored with God and not Myself, To put aside my Self importance and learn to Live and breathe God importance.
I had been waiting for the opportunity.
My friend had translated my tract into Spanish, and after lots of tweaks, the Pamphlet was finally completed. I prayed for the right person to receive my First one, and Jesus sent her. While my two friends and I were eating at Wendy's, like we normally do on Wednesday Nights before prayer meeting, one of the Hispanic employees was working nearby, and I asked her, "Would you read my tract and see whether It is written correctly?" She stood beside our table, Perused the words carefully and said, "Yes, it's perfect." Our conversation led to a spiritual one, and Finally, to her inquiring about our congregation. "I need to get my kids in church," she said, and We encouraged her to join us. As we left I told her I would pray for her. And I will. I hope she comes back to our table next week. Our conversation wasn't finished. |
Dorothy Kalb Hsu Seitzinger
Writing poetry has helped me process and express my sorrows and joys, my concerns and blessings. "Life is hard, but God is good!" Archives
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