90 degrees with snow flurries

Man, it's hot outside. I just saw a dog chasing a cat... and they were both walking! We've got record highs this week. I hate turning the air conditioning on this early, but it was just way, too muggy. In the midst of this scorching heat, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.

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Something outside caught my attention: for a second, it appeared that we had snow flurries. Big, fluffy snowflakes! I mean, it's so hot, that chickens are laying fried eggs, and it it's simultaneously snowing?! But that was just the petals from a Bradford Pear tree. Those beautiful trees seem to be all over the place now. The white petals make them very obvious. It's funny how I hadn't really noticed them before.

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Something else surprised me today. I received a call from a customer who talks slow and takes a lot of my time. I secretly wanted to hurry up and move him along. He said that his son, who is my age, is in the hospital with a brain tumor and has been given a 10% chance of surviving. Wow, that tore me up inside. I asked him if I could pray for him. That's all I could really do, but I was glad that I could do that much. He expressed his appreciation. Then I hung up the phone and cried. I'm not the weepy type, but this really got to me.

praying in secret

Hey, that's some stealthy camouflage, Mr. Mantis!

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I like to tell people that I'm praying for them. Not just thinking nice thoughts for someone, but when I say it, I mean that I seriously intend to exercise supplication to the Lord on their behalf. Often, I will stop right then and there to pray, so that I don't forget later.

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Didn't Jesus teach his followers to pray in secret? Why? Some people were using prayer as a means to show off. There is more to public prayer than pharisaic piety and warm fuzzies. The big reason I like to tell people how I'm interceding for them is so that God would be glorified. When God does a thing, He should get the credit for it. It's as simple as that.

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Oh, back to camouflage... have you ever seen pink camo? What's the deal with that?!

fervent and focused

I used a word this week that probably had more of an impact on me than on the intended recipient. "Breakthrough."

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Here is a truism. I first heard it applied to math problems. For most people who don't get it, it's because they give up too soon. They may be just moments away from reaching a solution, and the difference between some of the people who get it and some who don't may just be a matter of minutes or even seconds. This idea can be applied broadly to our shortcomings, don't you think?

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I have two pictures. They both represent prayer, but while the first one is focusing on the activity of prayer, the second one would be the act of praying, and our eyes are drawn up to the cross. The second shot is not focused on the act so much as the One to whom we are praying. The difference may be subtle, but it's there.

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[Theological clarification: We are not actually praying to a wooden cross, but to Christ, Himself. The wooden beams are not in any way infused with Deity or Sacred (with a capital S). Simply, they serve as a reminder of what He did, and therefore draw our minds to Him.]

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"Over a month ago, I was challenged that my prayer life could use a boost. I could not recall any recent incidents of God answering personal prayers. It did not take long to realize on which end the problem lay. If I could not point to God’s use of prayer in my life, either I’m not praying as I should, or have not taken the time to realize where He is at work...or both."

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This excerpt came from a friend's letter. (Sorry, but this friend shall remain nameless.) Can you identify with this? Could this excerpt have been written by you? Keep praying. You may be on the verge of a breakthrough.

somethin' to say

Occasionally someone has a lapse of judgment and lets me grab a microphone. Tonight I'll have a few minutes to share the gospel with the guests of our local food and clothing pantry.

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Admittedly, I'm a little nervous. I always am, even though I love to take the platform, even though I'm an extrovert. I have thought about what to say, scripted it, practiced it, but the results I'm hoping for are not a pat on the back, but converted souls.

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Having said that, the pressure should be off, because that's God's job. But I still think it's a big deal to be able to present this message. I know it's not up to me to convert anyone, and God can work past my flaws.

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Please pray for the audience, that God would bring some who need to hear the message, and that he would open their eyes and ears to hear His message. Pray for me also. Please pray.