New Phone

As far as phones go, cordless ones have had an eventful year at our house. We had an old Uniden forever. Until someone left it on the bumper of the car while out front with the kids. Then drove away. Kids in the car. Phone on the bumper. Dearly departed old phone must have been resurrected to phone heaven. We couldn’t find it anywhere retracing our route.

So a neighbor loaned us her unused phone. A new battery gave it new life. But only temporarily. The loaner phone died last week. We’ve yet to bury it.

But we have replaced it with the fancy new unit you see pictured herein: An AT&T CL82201 DECT Cordless Phone in stylish silver & black. No more older than we remember or plain white loaners for us, folks.

Our new phone has more features than we’ll ever use. And we've got two—count them two—handsets. Exciting indeed. Where we previously had only one handset, now we have the base station with answering machine upstairs and the second handset on the charging station downstairs.

We can even call each other via Push to Talk or Intercom. As the kids and I were learning that handy new through play last night, I had one of those “Aha Moments.”

I can pray anytime. I can talk to God even more easily than talking with my kids on this fancy new phone. No equipment required. Just a heart that connects.

God, I am concerned about...

God, will you help me with...

God, my heart is broken by...

God, I am angry because...

Whatever the need. Whatever the question. Whatever the request. Whatever the complaint. Whatever. God is always there. No phone required.

Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.

They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.

Lamentations 3:22-24 HCSB

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Post-Election Reminder: Be Prayerful

First of all: Pray.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 instructs us:

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Pastor Shaun Jones has it right in this post on our church's Thanksvember page.

"Whether or not your favorite candidate won, God maintains sovereign control and calls his people to complete dependence upon Him."

Storm Servers Prayers

Just received an email from my web host, Squarespace, informing me that their facility in Lower Manhattan has flooded & will go down any time. Not sure exactly what this means for my site, our church site, or the countless others hosted by Squarespace & other web hosts on the East Coast.

One thing I am sure of: We will continue to pray & support all those effected by this storm. We must pray & give today & in the weeks ahead. This one will cause damage of biblical proportions. This one reminds us that we are not as powerful as we think. This one reminds us of our need to prayerfully depend on the Creator & Sustainer.

The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;

the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

Your throne is established from of old;

you are from everlasting.

The floods have lifted up, O Lord,

the floods have lifted up their voice;

the floods lift up their roaring.

Mightier than the thunders of many waters,

mightier than the waves of the sea,

the Lord on high is mighty!

Your decrees are very trustworthy;

holiness befits your house,

O Lord, forevermore.

—Psalm 93—

I'm Good

Our church has a prayer chapel. An external, single room building that sits at the edge of our parking lot near some trees. 

This afternoon as I was returning from lunch, a car was parked in the shade next to the chapel. The driver had his window down.

I greeted him and asked, "Can I help you with anything?"

"Just taking my lunch," came his reply.

So I stated, "Didn't know if you wanted to use the prayer chapel. I can open it for you."

He responded, "No thanks. I'm good."

Really?

You sure?

I hope you are good.

I pray you are good.

He very well may not have wanted to inconvenience me. Or maybe my odd request caught him off guard. So he answered without thinking. But the irony—seemingly not wanting to pray—was not lost. 

How many times in my life can I be prayerful? Always.

How many times do I give God the "I'm good" when I'm far from it?

How many times have I left the throne of grace unattended because I was too busy bowing at some throne of sinful humanity? Even my own deceived, fallen humanity.

Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time. Hebrews 4:16 HCSB

Ask to Act

How often do we try too hard?

Seek to do too much our own?

Fall guilty of not fully trusting God with the big stuff?

Control versus surrender.

Fear versus faith.

Expedience versus patience.

Leading versus following.

When the need is bigger than our ability.  Larger than our resources. Grander than our imagination.  Then we must call on God.

If we are disciples, Jesus is our Master.

Our place is to follow.  To rely on him.

Stop trying.  Start praying.

Our job is to ask.  His is to act.