A Deliberate Pursuit

"A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. 'Who touched me?' Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, 'Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.' But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.'”--Luke 8:43-46, New Living Translation

There are many relevant lessons on prayer we can learn from this amazing woman. One is this:

When life is pressing in on every side with people, with things that must be done and invitations to do even more, with the non-stop noise of public opinion on just about everything, and with your heart and voice longing to march to the beat of a totally different and Perfect drummer, resist the current of despair by digging in and holding on. But don't stop there...

The way to fight just going with the flow because it seems to be the easiest way to survive another day is to purpose first thing (and repeat as often as necessary) to deliberately reach out and grab onto the only Hope worth staking your life to, all over again...
One Word.
One song.
One groan.
Just...one.
Whatever it takes and whatever you can muster. To do so knowing that it's not just some religious exercise or hope-for-the-best maneuver, but because of this:

"Lift up your eyes on high and see! Who has created these?
He Who brings out their host by number and calls them all by name; through the greatness of His might and because He is strong in power, not one is missing or lacks anything.

Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, My way and my lot are hidden from the Lord, and my right is passed over without regard from my God?

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength, causing it to multiply and making it to abound.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;

But those who wait for the Lord, who expect, look for, and hope in Him, shall change and renew their strength and power;

They shall lift their wings and mount up close to God as eagles mount up to the sun; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired."

"Don't mindlessly drift through life on the American narcotic of busyness. If you try to seize the day, the day will eventually break you. Seize the corner of His garment and don't let go until He blesses you. He will reshape the day." --Paul Miller, "A Praying Life" 


[Adapted from October 2016]

The AboutFace App

Just two older men quietly enjoying some exercise and the cool of the evening.

Except as I passed them, their conservation was animated, and something made my radar go up.

I also recognized one of them as the man who had struck up a friendly conversation with me in early spring, at the same location, with the same activity—he walking and me running…

“Won’t be long now,” he said, looking around the athletic complex that had shed its winter coat and was ready to be reawakened to track and lacrosse and baseball and softball.

We shook hands and introduced ourselves, and went our way.

And then I remembered: “No way, that was Mr. B! No wonder he kept looking toward the baseball field.”

Twenty minutes ago, Mr. B didn’t look or move like that at all.

Twenty minutes ago, or so it seemed, he was in the third base coach’s box helping and encouraging young men to play the game with excellence and enthusiasm, and shouting to never give up.

And just 20 minutes before that, Mr. B was a player. Man, was he a player!

He played baseball and several other sports during high school, and legend has it with the same endless enthusiasm and contagious perseverance…

Picking up my pace, I soon came upon the two friends again on their modern day Emmaus Road walk and was wondering, as Jesus did, “what are you guys talking about?”

I didn’t have to ask, because it was loud and clear why my radar went up as I ran by.

Mr. B and his buddy were not talking baseball, or politics, or the weather.

The words “God” and “prayer” kept peppering their conversation.

And with each passing lap, admittedly eavesdropping to hear what was next, Mr. B and his friend continued to talk God talk—practical, real-life God talk—as if, after all these years, and in the midst of so much worldly turmoil, and with maybe only another 20 minutes to go, that was all that really mattered.

“Won’t be long now….”

There were lots good belly laughs on social media this week as younger friends used an app that projected what their face would look like when they got old.

Until I realized I didn’t need the app because I already had the face, and that the younger me was just 20 minutes ago.

But instead of depressing, inspiring.

"In Christ, it's never too late, you're never too old... it's never 'too anything' for Him..."—Joyce Meyer 

Because while it would be great to have endless energy and wide-eyed optimism of youth right now and over the next 20 minutes, I think maybe God put Mr. B in my path again this week to speak a better word:

That even if you can’t keep up the pace you once had, keep moving forward nevertheless, one step at a time, with endless enthusiasm and contagious perseverance.

And choose good friends wisely and then listen to and Walk with them, and grab each other with a good grip whenever needed.

And to never hang it up and watch from the sidelines but to plug in your AboutFace app and pass along wisdom and encourage younger Race-runners to keep pursuing with excellence and enthusiasm and to never, ever give up.

Because you’ve found it all to be true and worth it all, and so will they—right now, and 20 minutes from now, too.

And most of all, to remember that amidst the cares and demands of life, only One conversation and meditation will be needed all the way to the Finish line…

"But as for me, I will always have hope and I will praise You more and more. My mouth will tell about how right and good You are and about Your saving acts all day long. For there are more than I can know. I will come in the strength of the Lord God. I will tell about how right and good You are, and You alone.

O God, You have taught me from when I was young. And I still tell about Your great works. Even when I am old and my hair is turning white, O God, do not leave me alone. Let me tell about Your strength to all the people living now, and about Your power to all who are to come."

—Psalm 71:14-8, New Life Version

First Thoughts Matter

"When I first open my eyes upon the morning meadows and look out upon the beautiful world, I thank God I am alive."—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Not everyone is a morning person, but everyone has first thoughts—or, sighs and groans that know no words. It’s where we send them—inward, or Upward—that can make all the difference in our attitudes and responses throughout the rest of the day...

“It is because of the LORD’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed,

because His tender compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness!”

—Lamentations 3:22-23, Amplified

[Adapted from 1-19-14]

The Roar of Small Waves

“I will keep coming with waves of My presence upon you until I make you in to all that I have destined you to be…”—from a prophetic prayer by Jim Goll

While walking the beach the other day, I was suddenly aware of the line from an old hymn: “This is my Father’s world…He speaks to me everywhere.”

But here? Right now? On vacation?

And what exactly should I be listening for?

There were no Bible verses in the sand.

No praying hand cloud formations.

No angelic chorus announcing the sun glistening off the water.

Nothing.

Except kids and family laughing and splashing, the sound of surf licking the shore, and an occasional hungry seagull.

And then my eyes, not my ears, caught something:

A lone surfer, patiently and joyfully riding the very small waves,

Paddling out into the deeper water and catching the next roll of surf

Over and over again.

At one point, a small boy approached and the two shared a brief and happily animated discussion before the surfing delight continued.

It was hard not to stop and stare, but then deep inside, I heard something:

"Keep riding with the waves of the Spirit, even when they seem small 

The key word is with: abide in the Vine—apart from Me you can do nothing. 

Keep going deeper still into My goodness and strength, 

And keep a childlike heart of wonder and joy in the journey 

Even when things and life and stuff seem small 

Even if most people are not paying attention 

Or would rather spectate from a safe distance. 

It is your faithfulness in riding the waves of My faithfulness,

Even when they seem small, that matters. 

Because I AM huge, but I AM mostly in your small stuff. 

The joy of the Lord is your strength 

And your great reward. 

And if you fall along the way (and you will),

Just get back on and keep riding. 

With me."

"I pray that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may comprehend the hope to which he has called you, what are the rich benefits of his glorious inheritance among the saints…”

—Ephesians 1:18, Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament

“This is my Father’s world…He speaks to me everywhere.”

Even on vacation.

Even when listening means opening your eyes

And simply asking.