Dad dying... Pastoral search... Womens group... many thanksgivings...

July 18, 2006

Dear Heavenly Father,

Oh! Yesterday was wonderful! Praise Your Holy Name! Of course the surgeon verified Dad's prognosis of terminal cancer, with only 1 to 3 months to live, but that was expected. Stew, Dad and I had a nice lunch together at Beijing Restaurant. (Thank You so much for the time of prayer and fasting You granted me to share with You in the morning before the appointment! Oh, it is so wonderful, so awe-inspiring to be allowed to step into and dwell within Your presence, Lord! Thank You. Oh, Thank You!

Then there was the meeting of the Pastoral Search Team with ______. He affirmed that we must have prayer and fasting before we go any further. Thank You, Lord. Thank You that You keep sending along Your people who can see objectively what we are often blind to, wrapped up as we are in the midst of the circumstances, and sometimes blinded to the truth through our own desires, thoughts and ideas, preconceptions, emotional ties, and of course our own limited maturity! Thank You, Lord, for these men of God who have come to point us directly to You, Lord! To focus us upon You, the core and center and head of the church corporate and of each of us as individual members of Your body.

Oh Lord, help us to do that when they leave, to join together in mighty and true prayer and fasting, Lord, our spirits truly open to You. Cleanse our hearts, Lord, of all that is of ourselves, and of the world, and of the influence of the enemy and his forces, of all that is evil, of all that would in any way distract us from the glory that is Yours alone, from Your one and only eternal purposes for which You created and have redeemed us by Your great and awe-full mercy and love and judgment. Oh, dear God, cleanse our hearts, purify us, lift up our eyes and ears and hearts from the things of this world, which though we are in it, we are not of; bring our hearts and spirits into oneness and unity, together as believers, together united in You, in Your Holy Spirit, the only source of true unity, the only Way for Your church to fulfill the calling of You, our Lord and Saviour and King and Creator, our One God, holy and blessed and majestic and glorious, from eternity to eternity, forever and ever, Holy and righteous and loving and perfect.

Praise Your Holy Name! Amen! Hallelujah!
thank You, Lord! Mighty God! Abba Father!

..........

And oh Lord, thank You for our Womens group last night. Thank You for leading me in the study. Thank You that though my dad is dying, I do not end up distracted, but am focused on You, through whom I have hope of life eternal, and full confidence that all things are under Your control, and I know of a certainty that You are working all things for good to those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. thank You, Lord, that my mom and dad, and grandparents, and siblings, and my husband - and yes, my children, too - are all called! by You! Praise Your Holy Name!

Oh dear God, please use this time - of sorrow and pain in the eyes of the world, yet joy for those who know this is for my Dad only a stepping over from the shadowlands of this world - glorious as it is for those who have known You and walked with You in great joy and peace despite the sorrows that exist in this vale of tears, who have already experienced Your glory, and have had their eyes opened already to the uncounted and glorious manifold blessings that You provide every moment, and even to those who do not know and recognize You, the great beauty of Your creation, the daily provisions of life which we do not deserve in even the slightest degree, the love of family and friends, and above all, the great mercy and grace You have extended to all whom You would call, that whosoever believes on Your Son shall not perish but have everlasting life. Oh Father God, dear Lord Jesus, precious Holy Spirit - thank You, thank You, thank You for the cross!

Thank You, Lord, for bringing Me into this ministry serving women and pointing them to You. Thank You that there is this core group of women in our church who love You, and long to serve You and serve Your children and Your world, and to bring the great news of Your salvation to all people. What was it ___ said about the Greek wording of the great commission - that the "Go ye" is a "keep on going" - a daily, step-by-step walking, journeying, sharing our daily lives, presenting the gospel every day by our actions and attitudes and words and thoughts as we live lives filled and directed and fulfilled by Your Spirit! Oh thank You, Lord God!

Thank You for the time of sharing. thank You for the work You are doing in our sisters' lives. Oh Lord, help us to come to the true knowledge and understanding of Your Word, Your purposes for us, Your Godly principles. Help us, in love, to bring Your truth about Your design and plan and purpose and role for Godly women in Your body, in the home, church, community and world. Help us to go beyond even "being equal" as the world seeks for women, to understanding and being and fulfilling Your plan of obedient submission, and taking our place in the line of headship You have prepared for us, for our own blessing and good, out of Your love and care and Your eternal purposes for Your family. Thank You for making us Your children, Lord! Oh what a loving, Mighty God we serve! Praise Your Holy Name! Thank You, Jesus!

Thank You that we as women could be praying for the men in leadership in our church even as they meet with ____ to discern Your plans and purposes. Oh Lord, thank You for every one of our church leaders. thank You that You have given us men who love You and long to serve You and obey You, and in worship of their spirits to Your Spirit, step obediently into the roles, and yes, even positions, You have prepared for them. thank You, Lord!

(And thank You for softening my heart, too, and lifting my eyes up from my agendas, my thoughts and wishes and ideas, to cleansing my heart of "me" and of the thoughts of man which have seemed so "Godly" to me - and to help me to long only that Jesus Christ be all, and all-in-all and that God be totally obeyed, trusted, honoured and glorified. Oh dear God, please keep - and in keeping, making even more so - my heart and life obedient and submissive before You. Amen. Thank You, Lord).