PRAYER 911

When we get in trouble we pray. When we have an emergency we pray.  Sometimes people pray when they don’t even have a relationship with God at all.  My Dad was a great prayer warrior and man of God.  People in his work place would often ask him to pray for their situations because they knew he had a “direct line” to God and could put in a word for them.  But does God just hear the 911 prayers or can we talk to Him about all things?

I know in my head that God wants us to pray about all things but I often keep all of those “all things” prayers to myself.  I didn’t think people really wanted to know when I as a young mom was praying over my washing machine, or the car tires, or anxious about the kids’ colds.  After all, those were not really “important” prayers.  In my mind important prayers were deep and religious sounding, like far off missionaries, church vision, world peace, and hungry children in foreign lands.  Does God really want to hear about “all things?”  Does He really want to hear about “everything” that concerns me? Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6.  With a promise like that I can know in my heart and not just my head that He wants to hear from us. It sounds pretty clear to me, what do you think?

My parents were prayer warriors.  I remember as a teenager coming back from choir trips late at night and not wanting to wake them, I tiptoed up the stairs, stepping over the steps that squeaked only to hear them praying.  My name was mentioned a lot.  I think yours was too. I wanted to be able to pray like that.  God had a lot to teach me and He gave me a wonderful opportunity to learn.

I found myself face to face in my living room with the women of my bible study.  As we made relationships we began to feel safe.  As we felt safe we began to talk, and as we began to talk, we learned that many of the concerns we had as women were the same. One woman brought a notebook where we recorded our prayer requests and I was amazed to see how many answers to prayer we could see right before our eyes while others we waited on.  Prayer became an all day dialogue with God concerning every part of my day – “all things.”  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18.  I was glad God gave me a way to pray my “all things” prayers with others. The bible study notebook got scooped up and stashed away and a couple of years later it resurfaced.  I began to read about the promises we had claimed and with growing wonder and excitement I got out my pen and checked off some more answers to prayers that had happened while the book was stored away. Some I had forgotten we had prayed about.

God does not forget our prayers and God’s promises do not have an expiry date.
 
Life presented me with many a quandary and decisions weighed me down. All of my wisdom was not enough and many times I had no clue what to do.  Job decisions, child raising, future planning, and financial decisions perplexed me.  I have prayed for wisdom more times than I can count. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  James 1:5  Read it!  Note the words “gives generously” “to all”  “without finding fault” and it “will” be given.  Now that is a promise I am going to grab hold of!

We all have those times in our lives when we have 911 calls to God.  You know those times … when you are distraught and upset and unable to pray, those times when life is dark and you are unable to string a logical sentence together.  God understanding the limitations of our humanity gave us a verse to reassure us that He would understand those distressed prayers and that they would be crystal clear to Him.  I love this verse.  … the spirit helps us in our weakness.  We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26.
 
What is your “all things” prayer today?  Is it for yourself, your family, your friends, your church?  Are you in a season of 911 prayers?  Do you believe God hears you?  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. Hebrews 4:16.  Pray.  Trust.  Listen for His voice.  Expect to hear His voice.  Thank Him and praise Him and most of all, Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
 
 
By Cyndi den Otter (C)

Copyright 2013 April 12 Cyndi den Otter – All Rights Reserved May be used with author’s permission

IN THE TRENCHES

I was recently on a social media site and I was surprised to see a very well known Christian speaker publically complaining that the venue she was speaking at did not have a dressing room prepared for her.  She later posted to grump that they had finally come up with a room but that it was not very nice and somewhat untidy.  I was alternating between being annoyed and amused.  Did it not occur to her that the venue that she was speaking at may be following her rant?

Jeff and I speak together on occasion.  We are not famous and there is no glamour in it.  It often means dozens of hours of prep, missing fun gatherings to research, study, and memorize, and rewriting the same material over and over again because it has gone out of date.
Sometimes Kingdom building means you change out of our travel clothes in the church washroom or even the car.  Many times there is a little humble pie in the trenches, but it’s just what you do when it’s where God wants you to be. 

Our church sent a team to the Dominican to help build a church.  There are long flights, sleeping in airports, eating unique food, and a language barrier. Some go back year after year.  There is not much glamour in shovelling, pushing a wheel barrow, and hand mixing cement in the heat.
Sometimes Kingdom building is done in a sweaty T-Shirt with work boots on.  Often it doesn’t smell great in the trenches, but that’s okay when it’s where God wants you to be.

Have you ever worked in the church nursery – rocking babies, keeping anxious toddlers occupied when they want mama, encouraging two year olds to share, and reading the same story 287 times?  It’s a blessing to parents when they enjoy their only quiet hour of the week so they can participate in a worship service.
Sometimes Kingdom building is wiping noses and changing diapers. Occasionally there is a little poo in the trenches, but you never give it a second thought when it’s where God wants you to be.

All four of our children have worked in summer camp ministry for years.  It is loads of fun but it is also 24 hour responsibility, late night washroom trips, bad dream comforting, homesick moment diverting, sad story hearing, band aids for boo boos, living away from home, and very little sleep.
Sometimes Kingdom building means washing wet sleeping bags.  Yes, there are little “accidents” in the trenches, but it is the least of your worries when it is where God wants you to be.

Do you work in children’s ministry?  It is a very fast pace, high energy, bouncing off the walls ministry … when you just got home from work, and you are tired, and supper was a granola bar, and you are short handed that night.
Sometimes Kingdom building means you suck it up and depend on His strength when you have nothing to give.  Often there is fatigue in the trenches but you can be content in knowing it is where God wants you to be.

Philippians 4:13  I can do all this through him who gives me strength. NIV

God’s work is not always glamorous.  In fact, a great deal of God’s work is done in the trenches.  Often there is failure, moments of defeat, false starts,  rare thank yous, and repetitive duties.  Sometimes in those trenches dirt falls on us and occasionally there is a cave in.  Sweet are the moments when we  get to celebrate the joy of seeing the immediate results of our labour – church walls going up and participating in that first service, seeing someone turning their life over to God, salvation, lives changed!  However, when we don’t see these things right away, are we content in planting the seeds for future benefit that we many never see or know this side of heaven? Are we okay with being obedient to where He has called us to be?  Is being faithful enough?
Galatians 6:9  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  NIV

When dirt falls on you don’t give up!  When the walls cave in, hang on!  God is pleased with you.  He is in the trench with you matching you in every difficult task, holding you up in your fatigue, and loving you in it all.  1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.    NIV

By Cyndi den Otter (C)

Copyright 2013 March 29 Cyndi den Otter – All Rights Reserved May be used with author’s permission

TAKE YOUR CHANCES

My work is in a medical setting so I often see people in their worst situations; when they are ill, worried, and when they are in crisis.  What amazes me though are the ones who are cheerful, smiling, and full of joy in spite of some difficult life circumstances. They stand out. What makes them tick?  What hope do they hold on to in spite of their challenges that allows them this attitude?

We live in a world that demands quick fixes for everything.  When we are in pain we just want the pain to be gone whether it is physical or emotional.  I get that.  I often see commercials that advertise medications that fix whatever your medical problem is, except for the fact that they may also cause

That does not make me feel very confident.  Is the cure worth taking a chance on or should I just stick with the original illness?  Even though I poke fun, I want to clarify that I have much gratitude for all of the meds that help us with our medical issues but there is not a pill that will fix the plethora of awfuls that consume us in our everyday life.

When Jeff and I were dating, I gave him a silver anchor pendant which he has worn for the entire 32 years that I have known him.  We made the decision together that Jesus would be our anchor throughout our married life.  We were very young but old enough to know that trust in God would be a choice.   We tested it time after time, sometimes with shaking quavering faith, when life dealt us tough blows.  God has never let us down. Now when life gets rocky, we have proof of His faithfulness all through the years to fall back on.  At times of grief, illness, and fear He has held us up.  Last year when Jeff had a heart attack, a nurse in the ER unfastened the anchor pendant from his neck and handed it to me for safe keeping.  Never did I imagine that I would be holding it under these circumstances.  I am grateful for the life saving medications that were given to him at that time, but the confidence and peace that my anchor was in Jesus was even better.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33  NLT

God is in control of all things.  He has overcome the world.  Do I believe that?  Do you?  I can easily say yes now but when we have to surrender what is most dear to our hearts do we still trust?  Can God be trusted with what we treasure most?  Is it worth taking a chance? God says we will have many trials and sorrows but take heart.  I think He knows that we are anxious little beings and that is why the scriptures are full of reassurance over and over again.  I think He is saying that He knows we will be afraid at times but that He has our back.  Hang on.  It’s going to be okay.  God’s promises are solid, unlike some of the earthly guarantees which have a lot of clauses and loopholes and nasty side effects.  Take your chances with Jesus.  He is safe.  Claim His many promises.  His cure has the side effects of

This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.  Hebrews 6:19  NLT

By Cyndi den Otter (C)

Copyright 2012 November 11 Cyndi den Otter – All Rights Reserved May be used with author’s permission

UNCLE JASON

I have struggled with sharing this story.  It is not an easy story to share as it is about a death in our extended family.  Recording events like weddings and births and family gatherings that have sweet memories is easy.  The words flow off the end of my fingers into type effortlessly in those cases.  Recording the events of the tragic death of my brother-in-law is excruciating.  The media was all over the story and my sister-in-law had to go into hospital for the birth of her child under a false name so she could have privacy.  My children who were very small at the time were understandably anxious.  If their cousins could lose their dad could they?  Everything they knew to be safe and secure was no longer a sure thing.  Their questions were endless and we were helpless to answer them.  We finally decided to have them express their feelings and tell his story in pictures.  I gathered the pictures up and put them into a little book.  The book has remained in a brown envelope in the bottom of a drawer for many years.  It is time to share.  It may benefit someone else because I know from my work and speaking with many of you that it is your story too.   

One thing to think about is that there are at least two families shattered when this happens, the family of the ones who died and the family of the driver.  There are no easy answers here.  Only God can heal these impossible circumstances.  Do you have a similar story?  If you have lost a loved one or someone close to you, feel free to share it in the comments section below.

Copyright 2013 January 5 Cyndi den Otter – All Rights Reserved May be used with author’s permission

IT MUST BE LOVE

I think about love in human terms.  I love fiercely but my love has limits.  I don’t choose for it to be that way but it is.  I love my husband, my children, my family and friends.  I can love outside of this circle as God enables me, but my love can be swayed by circumstances.

My love is flawed.

We are celebrating Christmas, the birth of Jesus.  We remember how He left his Father in heaven and came to earth to die for all mankind.  He came quietly, no media, no paparazzi.  He is the King of Kings and chose to make His entrance from heaven to earth in a feeding trough in a stable.  Seriously!

It must be love.

His human world was small.  He often travelled by boat or by His own dusty sandal clad feet.  He had no internet or Facebook, yet He knows our faces and He knows us by name.  He lived as a human and felt hunger and fatigue and pain.   He knew that the outcome would be betrayal and death, yet He left streets of gold for this.  Why?

It’s gotta be love.

He knew what we were like – miserable, rotten, self centred, liars, adulterers, cheaters, thieves, and murderers.  Can you imagine a God who steps forward and says I’ll take the punishment for that if you will let me, and if we choose this gift, we get to have a relationship with Him and live in heaven with Him for eternity?  You can come as you are, with addictions, habits, or any other nasties that we have on our top ten seriously bad list, and His arms are wide open.   Figure that one out.  What other reason could there be?

It must be love.

Ask me to love a killer, one who storms into a school and kills kindergarten kids.  Can I?  Could I love the terrorists who flew planes into the World Trade Centre as people innocently began their work day?  Can you?  Did Jesus take the blame for all of that?  Did He take the punishment for the ugliest of sins?  He went to the cross for us all.  This defies all logic in my human mind.

It has to be love.

On my best days I can muster some kindness, some thoughtfulness, some tenderness and genuine love, but what about those “other” days, yet He loves me just the same on all days.  The God of the Universe claims me as His own because I believe in Him and asked Him to forgive my sins and accepted His gift of eternal life.  The King of Kings and Lord of Lords wants to have a relationship with you.  He wants to call you His child too.  His love is not like human love.

Can you fathom it? Understand it? Comprehend it?

There is only one explanation that I can understand.

It is love.

 

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.       1 John 4: 14-16  NIV

Copyright 2012 December 17 Cyndi den Otter – All Rights Reserved May be used with author’s permission

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Image

WHAT IF YOU NOTICED

So what if you noticed someone who did something really cool and they were not even famous or even slightly well known – would you say “that was really cool what you did. I liked that.”

And what if you saw someone who did a great job and they were someone from the sidelines who never gets to do anything, but they nailed it.  Would you say “hey, you did a great job.  You nailed it!”

And what if you noticed someone you don’t even like and do not admire one little bit do something really awesome and great, but you said it anyway– “I noticed that you did a really awesome and great job, yes you did.”

And what if you saw someone who was gifted and you really wished you had their gifts and it was everything you could muster to say it, but you did because it was the right thing to do – and you said “you are so gifted. God bless you.”

OR

would you just keep quiet because if you said anything it would go straight to their head and they may become conceited, and snobby, and holier than thou, and unbearable to live with, and snotty, and proud, and puffed up, and arrogant, and pompous, and boastful, and egotistical, and vain, and stuck-up, and smug, and become so full of themselves because of that one compliment that they might actually explode into instantaneous spontaneous combustion and that would be it -  BOOM!

It could be scary to give a compliment and encourage but what if you were brave and courageous and took a chance, and told them you noticed,

AND

it just so happened that it was the most important compliment in the world and maybe the only encouragement that they had this week, or this month, or this year, or this decade, or possibly the only sincere compliment they ever received, and they in turn might actually be encouraged to do more wonderful things again and again, and maybe even get the courage to encourage and build up someone else to do great and wonderful things, and thus forever positively impact the lives of people for generations …

all because you noticed

and said “good job.”

 

 

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 

1 Thessalonians 5:11  NLT

by Cyndi den Otter (C)

November 22, 2012

Copyright 2012 November 22 Cyndi den Otter – All Rights Reserved May be used with author’s permission

Wordless Wednesday

JUST ENOUGH OIL FOR TODAY

^10-11 So he got up and went to Zarephath. As he came to the entrance of the village he met a woman, a widow, gathering firewood. He asked her, “Please, would you bring me a little water in a jug? I need a drink.” As she went to get it, he called out, “And while you’re at it, would you bring me something to eat?”

¹² She said, “I swear, as surely as your God lives, I don’t have so much as a biscuit. I have a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a bottle; you found me scratching together just enough firewood to make a last meal for my son and me. After we eat it, we’ll die.”

^13-14 Elijah said to her, “Don’t worry about a thing. Go ahead and do what you’ve said. But first make a small biscuit for me and bring it back here. Then go ahead and make a meal from what’s left for you and your son. This is the word of the God of Israel: ‘The jar of flour will not run out and the bottle of oil will not become empty before God sends rain on the land and ends this drought.’” 1 Kings 17: 10-16.

Okay, what would you have done if you were starving and this stranger shows up at your door and wants to be fed?  I’m thinking I would have told him to get lost.  I am a mama and I think if I were just about out of food I would feed my child before I would give the last of my food to some complete stranger at the door saying very odd things.  But then again maybe she thought “what have I got to lose?  It’s over anyway.”  Thankfully she summoned up her last bit of courage and trusted.  What an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and joy she must have felt when she discovered the miracle of a never empty food supply provided by God himself in a time of famine and drought.

I have the blessings of a full pantry.  I forget many times how God provides.  However, in spite of that, I often experience famine and drought.  There have been so many times in my life when my faith lagged and I did not know how I was going to get through the next week or even the next day for that matter.  I am a planner.  I like to have all of my ducks in a row.  I like to know what is on the calendar way ahead of time and when I don’t have control over that, I can feel the anxiety creeping in.  I am slowly learning to rely on God one day at a time.  I have learned the most and experienced the greatest joy when I have totally relied on His provision in every area of my life.  He never lets me see too far ahead.  He knows that I am a control freak and would stock pile the oil if I had a chance … under my bed … and in my cupboards. However, when I give each day to Him and ask Him to provide for my needs for that day, I experience peace.   In times of extreme drought when my energy was depleted and my mind cluttered with everyday concerns God came through with just enough.

Is just enough good enough?

Do you trust Him to supply what you need for tomorrow?

Do you believe that God will come through for you?

It is a learning curve but I know it to be true.   I too have felt the joy of receiving just enough oil for one day from the One who has an inexhaustible supply.  God proves faithful.  He is good, all the time.  What do you need to trust God for today?

^15-16 And she went right off and did it, did just as Elijah asked. And it turned out as he said—daily food for her and her family. The jar of meal didn’t run out and the bottle of oil didn’t become empty: God’s promise fulfilled to the letter, exactly as Elijah had delivered it!

By Cyndi den Otter (C)

October 12, 2012

Copyright 2012 October 12 Cyndi den Otter – All Rights Reserved May be used with author’s permission

IN THE MORNING

Earlier this week my Mother celebrated her 80^th birthday.  Our family is throwing her a big party this Sunday to celebrate her 80 years.  My mother is quiet and sweet and thoughtful. However, her quick wit and dry humour has brought us to laughing hysterics when she comes out with an unexpected quip.
As her four children have grown and married and have children of our own, my mother saw to it that we all gathered for birthdays and celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter together.  In the summer we often gather on Sunday evenings at her cottage for pot luck.  I treasure those times.  They hold some of the sweetest and best memories of my life.  I cherish her life and love her so.  I want to share a poem that she wrote in the early 1970′s which has a lot of wisdom in it.  It tells us that it was very busy back then as well, and things have not changed.  My mother loves her Saviour and is a prayer warrior.  I bet she has prayed for you!  Listen to her words and answer the question she asks at the end.  How you answer is very important.

IN THE MORNING

The sun breaks through a pearly dawn

And children wake up with a yawn

A bright new day begins to spawn

In the morning

 

Mountains shimmer with peaks of snow

The valley dew kissed far below

With sleep dimmed eyes we miss the show

In the morning

 

The sun climbs high to warm the scene

But we’ve begun the day’s routine

The beauty here remains unseen

In the morning

 

Cities are filled with many feet

Scurrying through the bustling streets

No time to even stop and meet

In the morning

 

Your friends still waiting for a call

No time for friendship here at all

Far too busy to hear their call

In the morning

 

Somewhere along that busy street

There is the One we have to meet

What will we say to His entreat

In the morning

 

How will we spend our time – He knows

And as our days draw to a close

Will we on Heaven’s shore repose?

In the morning

 

By Avis Burpee (C)

Copyright 2012 September 27 Cyndi den Otter – All Rights Reserved May be used with author’s permission