#STOPANDPRAY

I have a friend who I mostly know through Facebook, but we originally met because our children went to the same neurosurgeon. We connected several months ago, and I've been following the latest trial by fire that her family had been going through. She writes beautifully, thoughtfully, inspiringly. Her heart is full of love for her daughter, her family and God.

A couple of weeks ago she wrote about how we scroll by on social media looking for the next thing that catches our interest. We "Like" or send hearts or emoticons in response. And we keep going. She asked that maybe we could stop and pray. She wrote about her daughter's suffering, and asked for prayer for her too. That request went around the world, and many, many people were responding and praying and sending photos of where they were when they stopped to pray for her daughter. It was wonderful to see how many people, how many places, how many loving and caring responses came to that post. I responded too.

When we like something that someone else has shared on Facebook, we often respond with, "I'm stealing this", which means we're going to put it on our own page. I've been thinking about Eileen's request, and I've decided that I'm not stealing it, but I'm sharing it and forwarding #stopandpray and hoping that others will catch the heart of it, stop and pray where they are, and share it on their social media, with photos. I'd love to see a blitz of prayer happening on my Facebook feed, instead of the negativity that I see so much of the time.

We are the people of God, heirs of His Kingdom, lovers of Jesus, and we are called to make a difference in the world. Some are not called to other countries, some are not called to street ministry, some are not called to be out there for everyone to hear and see. You may have a different opinion of this, but I, for one, rarely am able to do those things. Most of them, never. But I can make a difference for right where I live, right in my own home, right in my own neighborhood, town,  Facebook page, and blog. I can make a difference when I pray at home, in my yard, when I grocery shop, when I'm driving. You can make a difference that way too, or when you jog, or walk the dog, or go outside to get the mail, stop for coffee at 7-11 or Starbucks, or when you sit on the porch to watch the sun setting and praise God for the beauty of His creation.

God stopped by this morning while I was reading Eileen's latest article in a local paper, and inspired me to write this. I hope you will join me and #stopandpray. I think it will be fun and maybe, just maybe inspire more prayer that changes the world. Thanks Eileen. Thank you Father.

THE TRUTH OF BIRDS AND BUGS

One day last summer, two of my grandchildren were here. I was watching them while their parents were at work.
During lunch, Gavin was looking out the kitchen window and yelled excitedly, "Look at that bird! It's killing and eating something"
I went and looked; there was a bird, smashing something green. Then he said, " I think it's a praying mantis!"  I hoped it wasn't. We've been seeing lots of them the last few summers, and I hated to think there was going to be one less. I looked again, and he was right; there was a bird beating a bug to death and eating it at the same time. It was a mantis.
I felt a little bit bad about it, because we enjoy seeing the mantises on the house and around the yard. But, it's the way of nature; everybody eats. Some get eaten.

The LORD often speaks to me through His creation. Do you recognize the different ways He speaks to you?

Praying mantises are so named because of their posture when they're sitting and waiting for lunch to come by. They hold their front appendages together like a person holding their hands together in prayer. They also sit this way when you happen upon them and study them, and they quite often study you right back. I think their name should be spelled "preying"mantis, because that's what they really do.

I had been watching some videos by Jennifer Eivaz, a well known Christian speaker and author. She and her husband pastor a church in California, and she had just taught on the praying mantis, and how it represents a praying prophet. It's a strong reminder to pray when we see one of these insects on our front door or screens or plants, and that we can prophesy when we are praying instead of only petitioning Him for things. You can watch her on YouTube if you're interested.  She quoted Job12:7 which says, "Just ask the animals and they will teach you, ask the birds of the sky and they will tell you." I love this, because I actually do talk to the animals that show up in my yard, and I talk to the birds at the feeders and in the trees. So I asked the LORD what he had to say about what I had just seen. And He stopped by and said,

             "THE ENEMY CANNOT KILL YOUR PRAYERS,
                         BUT HE CAN KILL YOUR PRAYER LIFE"

WOW!!! That hit the mark perfectly. It spoke volumes to me about prayers that have been prayed and have yet to be answered. It also spoke volumes regarding whether I pray or not. If I agree with the voice of the enemy, and stop praying because he tells me my prayers are weak, or that I'm wasting my time, it's never gonna happen, I pray wrongly, everyone else prays better, etc. and so on, then he CAN kill my prayer life. And if you listen to that nonsense, he can kill yours too.

So today, if you're reading this, and you have listened and agreed with the father of lies, come OUT of agreement with the voice of the accuser, and get your prayer back on! You can do it, and God is on your side, just like He's on mine.

Blessings to you, and I hope your spirit is renewed today by the One who loves you best of all.