There's an App for that...

Over the years I have told many people that I would pray for them. I really meant it at the time. I would pray as they came to my mind or I remembered our conversation. And there is nothing wrong with that. Even when I would forget until after the surgery or the day or the event, God knew my heart.

About 2 years ago, I started "alarming" myself on my phone. If I told you that I would pray for you, I set an alarm. I got to the point that I would just pull my phone out and put you right in the calendar. One sweet lady got very offended at me. She could not understand why I could not just remember to pray for her. I explained to her that, for me, when I told someone that I would pray for them I needed to know that I was being truthful. And then, I asked her if I could pray for her right then. In the grocery store. In front of everyone. She was grateful and I learned a big lesson.

Prayer is so powerful. Whenever possible, pray in the moment. Right where you are. But, when that is not possible or you need to remember to pray at a specific time, there is actually an App for that! I found it today as I was reading Ann Voskamp's blog, www.aholyexperience.com.  Because she recommended it, I checked out the website. You can record different prayer categories. You can send yourself reminders. Even several a day or one every day of the week. You can even add the contact info and send an email or tweet right from the prayer notebook. I love it!

In case any of you are wondering, I would love to add you to my prayer notebook. I love that you can have all of your prayer request right there with you wherever you are. Check it out and send me your prayer request... I would be blessed to pray for you!

I thank my God every time I remember you. 

In all my prayers for all of you, 

I always pray with joy. 

Philippians 1:3-4.

At first we see dimly...

The fog is thick this morning. The view I usually have out my front door and off my back porch is muted. In some directions you can't even see the rooftops that outline the top of my fence. As I sat outside and looked, I could almost see clumps of the fog just hanging in the air. Distorting my view and covering from my eyes what my mind knows is really there. The longer I stood there in the quiet the more I was aware of the crackling sound on the leaves. It was so subtle but constant. The drizzle of the rain drops falling gently on the leaves. It became louder the longer I tuned in to the sound.

The sound interrupted my thoughts. For a second I was annoyed that my ears kept hearing the rustling and the rain, and I lost track of what I was thinking. Then, I heard it. "Listen to Me."

Life is like a foggy morning sometimes, isn't it? Thick and ominous. Not a clear view into the future. Or even into the next hour. Sometimes our eyes can't see what our mind knows is there. That is where Faith comes in. As we walk deeper into our relationship with God, His promises become sure in our mind. But sometimes our eyes can't see them. We have to trust that those promises are there and that they are for us.

When those circumstances or situations or emotions become so thick, they tend to cover and hover around us like the fog. Sometimes we can actually see the clumps of our doubt or our consequences or our situation just hanging there. Distorting our view of our Promises.

But if we still long enough to listen, we will begin to hear that subtle sound in the background. That still small Voice. The one whispering to us to stop thinking and start listening. Reminding us of what our mind knows. That Voice wants to interrupt your thoughts and clarify your Truth. As you learn to recognize it, you will notice that it becomes louder and clearer.

I don't know what fog is covering your life right now. But I do know the One that does. Listen to that Voice. As the fog lifts, you will have your sight back. But for now, just be still and listen. He always has something to say...

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, 

peering through a mist. But it won’t be long 

before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! 

We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, 

knowing him directly just as he knows us! 

1 Corinthians 13:12 the message