Our Heart Reflected

In recent weeks I have been exposed to someone who has put such a mark on my heart that I shy away from all contact with her. I have an urge to use her as a character in one of my stories, but I feel a nudge to share it here at this time.

This woman became a Christian at an early age. She's always preaching about a God who loves us so much that He sent his own Son to take our sin so that we may be cleansed and ready to be accepted into heaven when our time comes.  

Yet I can’t see Christ reflected on her face.

She talks of God’s forgiveness and repeats the prayer from Matthew 6:9-13 when Jesus said to pray in this manner:

Some versions substitute trespasses for debts, but I believe it means that we should forgive others who do wrong against us in the same manner that God forgives us simply because he loves us.

This woman appears to say the Lord’s Prayer in reverence.

Yet I don’t see Christ reflected on her face when she’s loud, angry and animated while describing how one person wronged her 60 years ago.

My quiet suggestion that she forgive the offender and allow herself peace makes her cry out that she’ll never forgive or forget.

I pray for this woman whose transparency leaves me wishing she would stop preaching. How can people see Christ in us when we don’t act like He’s in our heart?

This woman has been holding that grudge for sixty years, allowing it to blacken her heart with each memory, like a cancer in her chest.  

Physically, this woman has cancer. Emotionally, she is scarred. Mentally, she takes out her frustrations on her caregiver first, then apologizes afterward, although sometimes there can be several days between the two events.

And so I pray for all the caregivers, those people whom God has gifted the spirit of giving. They give their time, their compassion, their selves. It takes a very special person to take abuse from someone they're trying to help and then give love in return. 

Obviously that’s not me, since I started this post by saying I shy away. But wait...how can people see Christ reflected on my face when I feel this way towards her?

I pray for tolerance, wisdom and empathy. That I would see these people and their needs as Christ sees them. That I would be a willing server showing God’s love for His people. That my face would shine like a beacon showing all that Christ lives in my heart. 

And to all caregivers, I'm sending out virtual boughs of flowers as a thank you because you are very much appreciated.

Anita Mae Draper's historical romances are written under the western skies of the Saskatchewan prairie where her love of research and genealogy yield fascinating truths that layer her stories with rich historical details.  Anita's short story, Here We Come A-Wassailing, was a finalist for the Word Guild's 2015 Word Awards. Her novellas are included in Austen in Austin Volume 1, The American Heiress Brides Collection, and The Secret Admirer Romance Collection. Readers can check out Anita's Pinterest boards for a visual idea of her stories to enrich their reading experience.  Discover more at: 

Website - www.anitamaedraper.com

Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/anitamaedraper/

Pray for America

It seems that, more and more, people in the public eye -- politicians (left, right and center), celebrities, even just average Joes with an internet connection -- seem to think that they somehow "win" a disagreement by being rude, uncivil and vulgar. The loudest, most savage voice wins, the more ad hominum attacks, the better. The self-proclaimed "tolerant" conveniently exempt those they disagree with from civil discourse or even the possibility of hearing because "they're [fill in the prejudice of choice], so they don't deserve a voice." They say it's wrong to mock someone or hurt someone's feelings, unless it's someone they don't like, in which case, it's okay because "that person deserves it." Those who claim the moral high ground excuse this behavior in themselves because "so-and-so acted that way first." The ability to exchange ideas and beliefs, to find comonality despite differences, to agree to disagree, seems to be rapidly vanishing. Acting like an adult seems to have fallen out of favor.

God loves us, every single one of us, more than we can possibly imagine. He so desires to heal us, to forgive us, to bind our wounds and use us to bind up the wounds of others, but until we humble ourselves before Him and cry out to Him for forgiveness and mercy, until we acknowledge our sin as sin and stop calling good evil and evil good, He will let us have our own way. He will let us sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. Even then, even then!, He will still be waiting for us, ready to run to us with open arms, ready to claim us as His sons and daughters, if we turn back to Him.

I am sorry if this offends anyone. It seems that taking offense has become our national pastime. This is not meant to be a political post. I am not a political person. I do love my country and I want her to continue to prosper, to be blessed, and to bless other nations as we have been blessed. All of that begins with 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Please pray for America.

It's A God Thing

by Anita Mae Draper

This morning I saw something on my local CTV channel that compelled me to share it with you. A quick search on the internet has shown it appearing on many stations, including this ABC Good Morning America (GMA) version, Wife’s Intuition Saves Husband Trapped Under Fallen SUV. You'll probably see it on Facebook and other social media as well.

It's the story of a wife who gets this feeling that something is wrong, so she rushes home to find her husband crushed beneath the car he's been repairing in their garage. The wife phones 911 and although her husband suffers internal injuries which include six broken ribs, his life is spared.

According to the media, the husband called for help for an hour and a half without anyone hearing him. 

On the GMA video, the husband says, "I just knew that if I  hung on long enough my prayers would be answered and she'd be able to come home."

But the coverage adds that the husband, "...says he's alive because of this wife's incredible sixth sense." Media reports also say the wife experienced a "gut instinct", "strong feeling", and "wife's intuition".

No one has called it a God thing, or that the woman felt God's nudge to go help her husband. 

However, the GMA video does show the wife as saying, "I think God was watching us that day, I'm so thankful for that."

I don't know the Utah family in this video, so I don't know their Faith walk. I also don't know what may have been left out of the video before it was broadcast. 

But it makes me wonder how many people are placed in similar situations without knowing that God hears their prayers. Or maybe they know it, but don't really believe it was Him answering their call for help. 

This morning I feel compelled to say that God hears your prayers. 1 John 5:14 (NIV) says, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

He may not always answer in the way you want, but he does hear you. Even if you don't believe in God, he knows you are there and he hears your most innermost thoughts. 

And I'll echo the wife in this story when I say, "...I'm so thankful for that."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anita Mae Draper is retired from the Canadian Armed Forces and lives on the prairie of southeast Saskatchewan, Canada with her hubby of 30 plus years and the youngest of their four kids. Anita is pleased to announce that her short story, Here We Come A-Wassailing, published in A Cup of Christmas Cheer, Volume 4, Heartwarming Tales of Christmas Present, Guideposts Books, October 2014, is a finalist for the Word Guild's 2015 Word Awards. Anita is represented by Mary Keeley of Books & Such Literary Management. You can find Anita Mae at  www.anitamaedraper.com

Practical Praying in a Prayer Request World

By Niki Turner

If your life is anything like mine, you are probably flooded with prayer requests and opportunities to pray all day long. Legitimate, horrible, heart-wrenching needs from folks you know and folks you don't: missing pets, missing children, cancer patients, sick friends, financially struggling friends, people whose kids are in trouble, friends with new career opportunities, friends trapped in any of the freaky weather patterns we've had lately, friends whose parents are sick or dying, friends whose kids are sick or dying, friends with kids in the military, friends with kids in jail... and then there are the "issues" that demand prayer... our government, global warming, the fate of honeybees, Christians suffering overseas, ISIS, etc. It's one of the blessings of social media and being connected to others... not only can we receive prayer in time of need, we can pray for needs we would otherwise never know about.

On any given day, my FB wall, Twitter feed, and email inbox are deluged with ginormous (and not so ginormous) opportunities to fall on my knees again and again.

If I was a "perfect" Christian, that's exactly what I'd do... I'd be giving myself to prayer for these needs and all the others I'm aware of, all day, every day.

But I'm NOT perfect, and I find myself tempted to flippantly type "praying" or "my prayers are with you" before I ever make any contact with God, before I ever put any actual FAITH into what I'm thinking/believing/speaking, but I can't do that without violating my heart.

My conscience is convicted any time I say I'm "praying" about a situation when I haven't actually stopped, turned away from the screen, and taken time to specifically seek God and His will in regard to that individual's particular need. Done properly, that's a time-consuming endeavor, and I don't always have the kind of time I need to pray the way I would like to pray.

I muddle through, most of the time, with those little half-prayers of "bless them, Lord" and "help them, Lord" and "Lord, have mercy," which I certainly don't discount, but which don't satisfy my soul. I was taught to "pray until you have the note of victory" or at least, a sense of peace, and "bless so-and-so" just doesn't always cut it for me. Praying in the spirit, if you're into that kind of thing, is handy... but it doesn't always get me to that place of peace or victory, either, especially if I'm just rattling along without intention. Interestingly, one of the most powerful prayers I've ever experienced involved lighting a candle at a Catholic church in a tangible gesture of prayer for the family of a friend who passed away. But, again, I don't have a rack of candles at my desk...

So what's the answer? Paul said we should "pray without ceasing" and I can see why! But how do you "pray without ceasing" and do your job, write a book, feed your family, clean your house, and get the grocery shopping done at the same time?

For myself, I'm going to try keeping a notebook by my computer, and when I'm prompted to pray for a person or a situation (every prayer request that comes through is not necessarily mine to pray about... I need to ask the Holy Spirit for guidance), if I don't have time to stop and pray for that specific need I'll write it down in my notebook, and then, before I end my computer session and leave my desk for the day, I'll pray about those items, giving each its due diligence.

On that same line, if I find myself in the place of asking for prayer, be assured that it's something I've considered carefully before I've put it out there. My new rule of thumb? If I haven't stopped to pray about it myself, I'm not going ask anyone else to pray about it! That means my own needs and prayer concerns may well end up on that notebook list, waiting for me to have a few minutes to stop and connect with God... Obviously, in cases of dire emergency, things are different.

How do you manage all those prayer needs that come to you? Do you have a system? Does it seem weird to organize your prayer life?

Niki Turner, ACFW Colorado Coordinator
colorado.coordinator@acfwcolorado.comniki716@gmail.com
In Truer Ink
Inkwell InspirationsSadie's Gift ~ A Christmas Traditions Novella

Santiago Sol ~ Passport to Romance
Pelican Book Ventures, LLC
Release Date TBA

Encouragement for the Journey. St. Brendan's Prayer

by Susanne Dietze  (resposted from 3/18/2010

One of my favorite saints, Thérèse of Lisieux, once said that if the saints in heaven came back to earth and read what had been written about them, they wouldn’t recognize themselves. I think St. Brendan would agree with her, as the legend surrounding his ministry has overshadowed his personal history.

Image via Wikipedia

I first heard of Brendan as a newlywed. My husband had been called into ministry, and we prepared for a cross-country move for three years of seminary. We were young, but not naive enough to think that we could succeed without God's help. As two kids fresh out of college, we did not feel spiritually equipped for the life to which we’d been called.

At least we were financially set, or so we thought. But right after our honeymoon, we both became ill from a rare respiratory ailment. Neither of us could work for almost a month. Though we were blessed that our parents could help us with our expenses during that time, the cost of our medical treatments and other needs ate away the savings we’d intended to pay for our moving van and ultilities once we arrived.

As we stood on the verge of an adventure we still felt called to undertake, we were completely humbled. Through prayer, we held confidence in God’s plan for us, but we wondered how He expected us to manage the move, emotionally, physically and financially. Would He really provide for us?

We had no other choice but to trust Him.

One afternoon, the Christian radio station broadcast a song I’d never heard before. It was by rock band Iona, and (in a gleeful, carefully-planned splurge) we bought the CD. It turns out that the majority of the songs on this particular disk were inspired by the ministry of a Celtic saint named Brendan. The last song on the CD struck me:

Beyond these shores, into the darkness
Beyond these shores this boat may sail
And if this is the way then there will be
A path across the sea*

I knew nothing about Brendan, but in Iona's interpretation, this guy was unsure what would happen when he climbed into his boat. Despite his fear, he believed there'd be a "path across the sea" if he was following the Lord. I needed the reminder that if God had called us to seminary, He’d get us there. And we’d never succeed without His provision, His knowledge, and His help every step of the way.

Image via Wikipedia

I know a bit more about Brendan now. Here are the basics: he was born around 484 in what is now County Kerry, Ireland, he became a priest, and he founded monasteries. In the course of his ministry, he discerned God's call to step into a currach – an open-air boat made of wood and animal hides – and set sail, preaching the Gospel beyond his native land.

Brendan obeyed, climbing into a currach more than once in the course of his ministry. His largest voyage lasted seven years and took him into unknown territory. He returned home and died peacefully after a long life of service to God, already revered for his legendary journeys.

Those facts say nothing of how he may have felt stepping into the boat. And that unknown land I mentioned? Well, it’s said that Brendan crossed the Atlantic Ocean and visited North America one thousand years before Christopher Columbus.

Amazing stuff, isn’t it? Many folks have dismissed the account of his great journey as religious allegory (and yes, just as the above icon shows, there are tales aplenty which describe Brendan celebrating Eucharist atop whales, or engaging in adventures which sound like other immram, or Irish voyage stories.) And the idea is ridiculous anyway: he couldn’t really have sailed across the Atlantic in a little leather boat, right?

In 1978, a writer and historian named Tim Severin proved the possibility of Brendan’s voyage when he successfully sailed a currach from Ireland to Newfoundland.

To me, however, Brendan's visit to North America isn't the point of his story. What humbled me to my core is that Brendan, a guy just like you and me, heard a call from God, and despite the huge and scary element of the unknown involved in that call, he obeyed.

Before his great voyage, Brendan offered a prayer, and it’s one that I love:

Shall I abandon, O King of mysteries, the soft comforts of home?
Shall I turn my back on my native land, and turn my face towards the sea?

Shall I put myself wholly at your mercy,
without silver, without a horse,
without fame, without honor?
Shall I throw myself wholly upon You,
without sword and shield, without food and drink,
without a bed to lie on?
Shall I say farewell to my beautiful land, placing myself under Your yoke?

Shall I pour out my heart to You, confessing my manifold sins and begging forgiveness,
tears streaming down my cheeks?
Shall I leave the prints of my knees on the sandy beach,
a record of my final prayer in my native land?

Shall I then suffer every kind of wound that the sea can inflict?
Shall I take my tiny boat across the wide sparkling ocean?
O King of the Glorious Heaven, shall I go of my own choice upon the sea?

O Christ, will You help me on the wild waves?

I have struggled with placing myself under God’s yoke, wondering if Christ is with me in the unknown. I have begged for His help as I sailed wild waves, and I've sat awake and afraid on nights far darker than those I spent fretting about God’s provision before and during seminary. (I should take this opportunity to praise Him, because of course, He did provide for us in every way, even financially. Someone whom I still have not met sent us a check to cover our rent for one month while we were sick. Our next-door neighbors suddenly moved away, leaving us the food in their freezer, and the sale of my husband's truck exactly covered the cost of a moving van.)

The Iona song concludes,

Wherever I may go Your love surrounds me,
For You have been before beyond these shores.*

Romans 8:39 tells us, “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

There is no unknown place to Him; He has been everywhere we can possibly go. He created the air beneath the wings our airplane, the watery depths below our ship, the crevice of every cave and the innermost parts of our bodies, and He is and has been and will be wherever we go or need Him. When we face the unknown, we would do well to follow Brendan’s example and throw ourselves wholly upon the God who made us and loves us. Like Brendan, as we leave the “prints of (our) knees on the sandy beach” before we shove off from shore, may we trust that God is with us in the boat, and trust that He waits at our destination, too.

Have you ever been asked by God to get into a boat, and you didn’t know where it would sail? How did it work out? I’d love to hear any testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

To hear Iona's "Beyond These Shores" just hit play.


*"Beyond These Shores," music and lyrics by Iona, 1993, copyright SGO Music.