August 2008

Yesterday had some discouraging moments for me, and it’s been a bit of a struggle to get my focus back on the Lord. Sometimes, life is like that. Feeling down, even shedding a few tears happens. Even Jesus wept in His grief.

As I was praying and pouring out my own sense of grief to the Lord, I was reminded of how David handled his discouragement and defeat. In the Psalms, he often began begging God to help him, wondering why he felt so depressed, needing God to come to his rescue. But then he did something I so often overlook. He remembered God’s mercies in times past, and he anticipated that same grace and mercy to help him in his present trial and distressing circumstances. As one of David’s peers wrote in Psalm 42, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? Hope in God, for you will yet praise Him.”

So as I wrote out my prayers, I began to do just that. As I took tentative steps toward hoping in God instead of wallowing in my self-pity, I found myself writing out the names and character of God on paper. Amazing what that does to one’s spirit. I thought I’d list them here – to share those I can remember. I’m sure there are more, but this is my list:

Thank you for your love, O Lord.
Your love is better than life.
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Your goodness is everlasting.
Your compassion never failing.
Your ways are unsearchable, your power unfathomable, your glory indescribable, your grace unmatchable.
You are holy and pure, righteous and just, gentle and peaceable, worthy of praise.
You are the Rose of Sharon,
The Pearl of Great Price,
The Bright and Morning Star,
The Root and Offspring and Seed of David
The Righteous Branch
The Alpha and Omega
The Beginning and End
Omnipotent
Omnipresent
Immutable
Unstoppable
Merciful.
Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The Good Shepherd
The Bread of Life
The Door
The Way
The Truth
The Life
Kinsman Redeemer
Savior
High Priest
King of kings and Lord of lords
I AM
Healer
Great Physician
The God Who Sees Me
Friend of sinners
Living Water
Bread of Heaven
Refuge
Strength
Rock
Deliverer
Ever present help in time of trouble
The Word
Light of the World
Cornerstone
JESUS
Emmanuel
God with us
Light for revelation to the Gentiles
Glory of your people Israel
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
The Son of Man
The Son of God
Abba Father
Creator
Messiah
Author and Finisher of our faith

Those were off the top of my head last night and this morning I added a few more. If you know of some I’ve missed, email me and let me know. In the meantime, I hope this list of God’s names and attributes encourages you as much as it did me.

Today is a new day and joy comes in the morning! It’s also a day of working on galleys, which is coming along well. The sun is shining, the Psalms are playing on my iTunes and God is good.

Have a blessed day in Him.
Shalom~

This has been quite a week in regards to my book Michal: A Novel. My publisher has it up on their website with links to Amazon, CBD, and Barnes & Noble. The book is available for pre-order, but it doesn’t release until March 1, 2009.

I also received pictures of Baker’s catalog (still waiting for my hard copy) where they’ve done an amazing spread highlighting the book! I am in awe of what God is doing!

A fellow author interviewed me here if you have time to take a peek. I think I need to learn to give shorter answers. :)

And lastly, my galleys for Michal: A Novel came yesterday. I have two weeks to read through them and make suggested changes. This is so fun! :) But, it’s also work, so I best get back to it. :)

When I get a chance, I have three books to tell you all about – a suspense, a mom-lit, and a historical. Until then…

Several weeks ago the young adult group at our church, headed by the young adult pastor, began an adventure. Forty days of prayer, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They turned one of the church classrooms into a prayer room, painted the walls, built in a sound system to play background music, put reams of paper on the walls where people could write their prayers or worship with art. Poetry, songs, paintings, and prayers coat the walls where young men and women have prayed and wept and read the Scriptures – reading through the entire Bible aloud, a chapter at a time, and praying for 40 days.

I’ve had the privilege of a bit of a ring-side seat during these days of 40 since my kids are among the young adults involved in the project. I’ve seen a hunger and thirst for God, a renewed heart for lost friends and loved ones, a greater desire for service and humility. It’s humbling to watch their passion.

One young man asked his mom, “What next? What do we when 40 is done?”

She replied, “You wait and see what God will do.”

I am in awe of what God is doing with my kids’ generation, these young men and women in their 20s with a heart that beats hard after God and longs to obey His Son Jesus Christ. The world seems less important to them, this earthly dwelling so temporary. Their dreams and goals burn deep in their hearts, alongside a passion “to do your will, O God.”

And when all this is over, where will they go from here? Where do we go when we’ve been on the mountain like Moses and communed so closely with the Almighty?

We carry that passion into the valley and do what He says to do, “working at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

There is no more room for complacency or mediocrity. But we must also remember that the prayer room is not an isolated place in time. It is a lifestyle of commitment for every believer.

Oh Lord, give us all, young and old alike, a hunger and thirst after You, an insatiable desire for Your Word, a humility to think of others as more important than ourselves, a willingness to serve others as though we were serving you, the ability to deny our own selfishness, grace to forgive those who sin against us, compassion to those less fortunate, kindness, meekness, gentleness, self-control, and a love for You like no other. Let us know the joy of your salvation anew each morning, and live each day as though it is our last on this earth. Until You come again.

Until the day of His return…whether at our church or anywhere around the world…that is the mission of a prayer room – that is the mission of 40.