iona's blog 9/18 - 9/24/2005

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Monday, September 19, 2005

Returning from Retreat
I slept through blogging on Sunday after getting home from camp - women's retreat. I won't try to encapsulate all that went on or even what we were taught... there is just too much! Suffice it to say, I was very blessed and pray that somehow I might have also been a blessing to someone.

Our Galt First Baptist bunch was the largest group there and also had the greatest number of first timers. Some of us had guests from other communities. Eva brought an out-of-town friend, Tiffany; Marie brought her daughter Linda from Elk Grove; and my niece Donna of Oakdale also came.

(Click on the thumbnails to open larger pictures.)

In addition to mega-pampering (manicures, spa treatments, massages) there were crafts to entertain. Many of us made decorative but useful planting pots in keeping with the theme The Potter's Hand. Fun and fellowship prevailed for the most part, but there were a couple of incidents where the Lord was dishonored by the actions of a VERY few... not in our group. It's sad, but not every believer always acts like one. The only reason I mention that is to point out that even in the Christian community, there is going to be some bad behavior.

We really do have a big responsibility. We bear the name of the Lord and if we are selfish, petty, crude or dishonest, we sully the name of Jesus! One of the primary reasons people list for not accepting Christ is that they have witnessed "believers" behaving badly... and we ALL have behaved badly at times, haven't we?!

When my friend Linda got a Harvest Church license plate for the front of her van (In Alabama, we only have state plates on the back) she said, "Now I'm going to have to be careful how I drive. I wouldn't want to give the church a bad name."

Here, Eva and Tiffany arrive at our Jenness Park cabin. We were blessed with the end cabin. If I counted right , it could have held 48 people, 12 to a room. Our quarters were cramped and many of us got less sleep than usual.

Eva noted I prayed a long time and asked how I could have that much to pray about. At the time, I was at a loss to explain (or got interrupted, or whatever...) and never really answered her question. The Lord is my dearest and best friend, my Father, my Savior... He is everything to me, and I could, and often do, talk with Him for hours.

How neat that Al Warren has a new entry. Also, Joe has added to his page. You will blessed by both of them.

Today, I have been really lazy and sleepy. Tomorrow, I take Donna to Stanford for her two-day series of treatments. I'll talk with you again when I get back.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Do You Notice?
Once again, I spent two days in Palo Alto with my niece Donna as I do every two weeks and will continue to do until her estimated two year course of treatments at Stanford are complete. It is my biweekly reality check.

During these two day treks I don't make a bed or clean a bathroom. All domestic chores are laid aside for a more meaningful purpose. Such duties will be tended to when I return home... and I look forward to them. My precious husband does not shun household chores, he just fails to notice they need doing.

I wonder how often I fail to notice what needs doing spiritually. I am having a dialog with God about that now. It has long been my custom to daily ask God to review the contents of my heart, mind, soul and life and reveal to me what needs uprooting, pruning or changing. Now, I will add to my daily prayer for evaluation a request that He help me notice what needs doing, what He has placed on my spiritual chore list.

I have a tendency to take on too much. I know this, so am not seeking more, but rather what. What would God have me do? What do my selfish eyes not notice. Perhaps the pain in the eyes of the man ahead of me in the grocery line, or the fact that my complaints about the poor management and response to Katrina's impact are adding to the problem without me noticing. I am tearing down rather than building up... what else am I not noticing?

Friday, September 23, 2005

Praying Through the Night
I will begin another prayer vigil tonight for those in the path of hurricane Rita. I KNOW that prayer changes things. God does want to hear from us and uses times like these to get our attention, to bring us to Himself.

Try to recall a time of trouble in your life... you or a loved one seriously hurt or ill, a time of financial need, severe circumstances of any kind. Did you pray more often and with increased fervor? Of course you did! Those prayers are precious to our Father in heaven. They reap results!

What if your faith is weak and you don't really believe God will answer your prayer. In Mark 9:24 we hear the father of a boy filled with an evil spirit say to Jesus, "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief." (NIV) Jesus responded by casting out the demon (answering the man's prayer) and no doubt his faith increased.

Faith is a funny thing. It only takes a tiny amount to start you on the most incredible journey you can imagine. One small step of faith leads to another, and another... Each time you exercise your faith, He adds to it! Paul tells us God is the author and finisher of our faith.

Remember this, God has set down prayer guidelines in His word. Visit http://biblegateway.com and do a "prayer" search. Be ready to spend some time!

Saturday, September 24, 2005

God IS Faithful!
As I said yesterday, I was on a Prayer Vigil last night for God's mercy to prevail and weaken the impact of Hurricane Rita, that He would extend Peace to all who would receive it.

Well, sometime in the wee hours, I fell asleep praying! I failed to complete my prayer vigil! But God knew the inner motives of my heart and credited my desire to pray as if I had prayed through to the morning. Along with my prayers (both spoken and intended) were the prayers of thousands of believers all over the world... and Rita's impact was a mere whimper compared to the roar of her threatened landfall strength. What a gracious God we serve!

Speaking of Stuff
Today Richard and some friends are helping a coworker move. She had things in her old house and things stored elsewhere and they've been at it all day. Lots and lots of stuff. I fixed lunch for the movers but stayed here because my niece Donna was coming for a visit today. She hasn't been at our home since we moved to Galt.

As I showed her around the house, I was amazed at how much stuff we had accumulated since coming here in February - I knew it was here, but was just hit again with the depth of the blessing. Other than clothes, computers, papers and keepsakes, we gave virtually everything we owned away when we left Alabama. I kept my mother's rocker, my Uncle Max's dresser and a dinette set a friend made for me, but little else. But now, at almost no expense, the house is fully furnished, including two spare bedrooms, the porch and the patio!

I had said to an amazed friend in Dothan (who couldn't believe we were giving away our furniture) "Don't worry, God's got stuff in California, too." But I truly underestimated His bounty. Yet, we must exercise caution. Pastor Rob mentions "stuff" in his blog for today, and he talks rightly about simplicity. Living a more simple life. A goal we are also seeking.

Jesus owned nothing save His sandals and clothing. How simple is that!

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