Day 123 - My Final Post

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you." John 14:27

Prayer. 123 days of creating a daily prayer time.  Exploring different types of prayer. Learning to create a prayer closet.  Understanding that prayer is the intimate relationship between God and yourself.  Knowing what it means to truly be what the modern-ancients call a prayer warrior.  This is my final blog and post on this subject of prayer.  I don't pretend to understand all that there is to prayer during this journey, but I do understand more.  I understand enough that my breath in and out will be filled with the sweet aroma of prayer. Dialogue with my Father.  Day and night.

If you have been on this journey with me - thank you for bearing with my less than articulate words when expressing prayer.  I have not yet uncovered any human words that adequately express the intimacy of dialog with the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps the closest expression is in the clap of thunder, the whisper of the wind, the clouds as they move across the sky - all God is nature and all nature is God.

It is fitting that He chose this last scripture for me from John 14:27.

My 123 day journey has brought me to the place of perfect peace.  Perfect rest. I am a child of God and He has given me the peace that He will never leave me nor forsake me.  The peace that I am His and one day I will join the others who have gone before me.  The bruised, the battered, the used, the worn, the bloody and the pierced.  Wasted bodies, but not wasted lives.  Used up bodies giving back to the One who gave.  With joy, with love, for all You've done.

Thank you for following me on this journey of prayer.  Shalom.

Father,

Thank you for the lessons I have learned.  Thank you for Your breath in my ear. Thank you for the mirror which once reflected my own sin and now reflects You.  Thank you for my life.  I ask for nothing, knowing that You are guiding my path.  Your Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path.  The first song I ever sang in church for You.  It was not good, but the saints weren't looking for performance - they were looking for faith.  That has not changed today.  Thank you for this lesson to take into my future.

Love, your daughter,

Cathy

DAY-95 Your Prayer Closet

When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly —Matthew 6:6


Where is your prayer closet?  How have you cultivated that habit of daily prayer in your life?  How do you "get alone" with God and when does that start?  Does it start at the beginning of your day? The middle? The evening?  Ever?

The power of the prayer closet is that it allows for you to fully focus on Him.  It takes bringing your spirit to that quiet place where only He is.

You may think that you can close your eyes anywhere and be in commune with God. And to some extent that is true.  You can learn to quiet yourself in any situation and pray...but can you hear?  Praying is not a one way conversation.  Prayer is you and Him in dialogue.

Some of you may not be good communicators.  Some of you may have difficulty praying out loud.  I did too at first.  One of the greatest gifts that a pastor did for me was force me to pray out loud in front of others. I was on staff in an administrative role in a church and was allowed to come to the staff meetings.  We each had to take a turn praying out loud...and the group would wait until each had taken a turn.  I was so nervous to speak and pray out loud for fear that others would judge me.  And some have judged me.  But that is their sin, not mine.  You must not allow what others think about you to ever create tension in the life that God has for you.

The saint Mother Teresa shared this about prayer.

“Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” 
― Mother Teresa

Here is a beautiful prayer to meditate on today.

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” 
― St. Francis of Assisi



**Cathy is a writer, speaker and worship leader.  You may contact her at cwoolaway@yahoo.com or 217 521 2070

Day 93 - Blessed are the Poor in Spirit.....

The Ministry of the Unnoticed

Matthew 5:3 blessed are the poor in spirit

The true character of the loveliness that speaks for God is always unnoticed by the one possessing that quality. Conscious influence is prideful and unchristian. If I wonder if I am being of any use to God, I instantly lose the beauty and the freshness of the touch of the Lord. “He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). And if I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.

Who are the people who have influenced us most? Certainly not the ones who thought they did, but those who did not have even the slightest idea that they were influencing us. In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.

 ** Shared from Oswald Chambers

Our prayer today:

Father,  forgive me and thank you for continuing to speak to me about what it means to be a true Christ-like Disciple.  My past is gone and my future lies in your hands. I will no longer seek for significance - but rather God I will seek to serve others in whatever way that may manifest itself in my life.  Serving others out of my poverty brings me close to You Lord.  I pray for those who feel the need to serve out of duty, or serve to be recognized, or serve to have control, or serve out of anything that is not of love.  My understanding of being in Your Will has grown. I no longer count my days nor count my actions and compare to others.  But I long and live to serve You.  The Father of all.  I pray for a clear mind and a clear heart that I might understand who I am to serve and where.  May the many doors of need be opened to me as I seek to love others as You  have loved me.  At my worst moment and at my best You have loved me.  I pray for my circle of influence whoever and whatever that might be.  I pray that they would not see me, but they would see You in all Your fullness and grace and mercy and acts of servitude.  May I always turn beautiful eyes towards evil.  May I always extend beautiful hands to the rough.  My I always use beautiful feet to go and serve in the muck.  May my life be a total reflection of your beauty and light.  I love you Lord.  I lift my Voice.  To Worship You oh my soul rejoice.  Take joy my King in what You hear.  May it be a sweet sweet sound in Your ear.

Your daughter,

Cathy

**Cathy is a writer, speaker, worship leader.  You may contact her for engagements at 217 521 2070 or cwoolaway@yahoo.com

Day 93 -123 Days of Prayer

A prayer of a child.

Father,

This morning Lord I release to you any future thoughts I might have about Your Will for my life.  Instead Father I firmly place my hand in yours and vow not to let go to wander off a path that would pull away from You.  I know that You are my Abba, my Daddy, my Protector and my Guide.  I know that You want the best for my life and so I give you my all, my life, my soul, my heart, my thoughts, my moves, my actions, my desires, my future is all in Your strong hands.

I pray Lord for all those around me.  Those whom I love and know and those who I don't know.  I pray for those who would think evil of me and ask that Your Spirit would move on their hearts in forgiveness.  I release my past to You today and resolve not to look back not to look forward but to live in the moments of each day with You as you show me and teach me, guide me and love me.

You are my all in all.  Master, Savior, Creator, God.

I am your child.

Love,

Cathy



**Cathy is a writer, speaker, worship leader.  You may contact her at 217 521 2070 or at cwoolaway@yahoo.com

Prayer for Rest-Day 92

"Come all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28


Father,

Today I pray Lord for those who are burdened with the sins of the past.  The guilt or the unforgiveness of past actions laden on their backs bending their physical bodies and draining their spiritual souls.  I pray Lord that they would not focus on themselves or their circumstances but that they Lord would put all their focus on You and Your Word.  That they would meditate on it night and day and that You Lord would take them by the hand, remove the burdens from their hearts as they give themselves to you completely and cleanse them of their past.  Give them the rest of a pure heart - a heart that knows and believes in forgiveness of all sin.  A heart that no longer clings to what was - but rather to You in all Your fullness of life for them.

Help each one to understand what Rest in You means.  Not chaos, or confusion, not thrashing or self examination but trust and rest in the faith that is found in a resurrected body and life.  We are the resurrected body just as You were resurrected - we find our rest in our own resurrection and the belief and trust in that.

Thank you for your Word that is living and inspiring each of us to long for our best for You   Though we do not have an understanding of what that Best is...we know that in our rest you will supply that as well.

Help us each to remember that You did not come for one - but you came for ALL that we might find our rest and ultimately our eternal rest.

We love You today and give You all praise and honor and glory,

Amen.






Cathy is a speaker, writer, and worship leader.  You may contact her at 218 521 2070 or at cwoolaway@yahoo.com.

Day 87-Prayers of Affirmation

I have been reading Henri Nouwen's book on Discernment as I continue to pray my way through 123 days of intentional prayer for God's next assignment for me.  Perhaps you are in the same place as I am...seeking, longing, searching nature, people, and events that give us clues to the next ministry God is assigning to us.  There are so many opportunities to be involved with that we can become distracted by all the different paths.

Also, if, like me, you have just come through a major change in your life you may find yourself questioning your call.  Doors don't seem to be opening like we think they should.  A long drought period leaves you wondering if perhaps God has a completely different plan for your life.

This last weekend I had the opportunity to test my call.  I have been a worship pastor for over ten years when I found myself in a new transition.  Knocking on doors and seeking God's next move did not uncover much for me.  And I began to question my call.  Perhaps I was to do something different for the Lord.  Perhaps I am too old to be relevant anymore.  Perhaps my personality does not fit the new model of a modern day worship leader.  Questioning everything about myself.  I wondered when I walked through this newest door how God would move.

I was able to walk into a brand new church with all new musicians and a large choir I had never met and with minimal rehearsal lead a worship service for the church and share a choir special.  Not only was it the easiest assignment I had encountered but it was so brimming over with the Holy Spirit moving that I found myself in the middle of the service completely amazed and astounded at how God moved on the people in the congregation and the people who were leading with me.  A spontaneous movement to the altar occured by a young man with MS and was followed by others who freely wept and cried out to God.  It was one of those services that was completely taken over by God and we all stood and marveled and prayed until all those at the altar had prayed through.  I wanted to SHOUT with joy - and think I did ;-)

After the service I was visiting with some folks and realized that what God did in that service was affirm His call on my life as a worship pastor.  I felt renewed, revived and at peace knowing my path is once again clear to me.

I write all this to encourage anyone who may be questioning their call and needing an affirmation.  Step through the door God gives you whether you think it is right or not - step through.  It could be that God wants to re-affirm your call and give you clear direction.  It may be that He is giving you peace.

Here is the prayer that I have been praying.  I hope it helps you as you seek God's Will in your life.

"Father,
I pray Lord that you will guide me and direct my path in all ways.  I pray Lord for opportunities that you direct to show me if I am on the right path or if there is something else that you have for me.  I pray that I will open my eyes and heart to nature, people, places, things and events that will give me clues as to where my next ministry will be.  Thank you Father for your care and gentle spirit as you guide me along.  Open the doors and close the doors as needed.  Help me discern and affirm not just what is good for me - but what is best to your Kingdom."

Your daughter,

Cathy

++Cathy is a writer, speaker and worship leader.  You may contact her for information on engagements at cwoolaway@yahoo.com or at 217.521.2070

Prayer in the Father's Honor.-Day 81

Prayer in the Father’s Honor

08

08

2013

. . . that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God —Luke 1:35

If the Son of God has been born into my human flesh, then am I allowing His holy innocence, simplicity, and oneness with the Father the opportunity to exhibit itself in me? What was true of the Virgin Mary in the history of the Son of God’s birth on earth is true of every saint. God’s Son is born into me through the direct act of God; then I as His child must exercise the right of a child— the right of always being face to face with my Father through prayer. Do I find myself continually saying in amazement to the commonsense part of my life, “Why did you want me to turn here or to go over there? ’Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’ ” (Luke 2:49). Whatever our circumstances may be, that holy, innocent, and eternal Child must be in contact with His Father.

Am I simple enough to identify myself with my Lord in this way? Is He having His wonderful way with me? Is God’s will being fulfilled in that His Son has been formed in me (see Galatians 4:19), or have I carefully pushed Him to one side? Oh, the noisy outcry of today! Why does everyone seem to be crying out so loudly? People today are crying out for the Son of God to be put to death. There is no room here for God’s Son right now— no room for quiet, holy fellowship and oneness with the Father.

Is the Son of God praying in me, bringing honor to the Father, or am I dictating my demands to Him? Is He ministering in me as He did in the time of His manhood here on earth? Is God’s Son in me going through His passion, suffering so that His own purposes might be fulfilled? The more a person knows of the inner life of God’s most mature saints, the more he sees what God’s purpose really is: to “. . . fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . .” (Colossians 1:24). And when we think of what it takes to “fill up,” there is always something yet to be done.

**Shared from online My Utmost for His Highest Oswald Chambers 

http://utmost.org/

**Cathy is a writer, speaker and worship pastor. You may reach her for speaking engagements at 217 521 2070 or e mail cwoolaway@yahoo.com