Summertime and some thoughts on Prayer...

Wow. So, I thought I'd have all sorts of time to blog and read blogs and basically lay around eating bon-bons all day once school got out, but it's been quite the opposite.
Well, I have discovered something that I really like for my sweet tooth, but it's not bon-bons. It's Chocolate Meringues from Trader Joe's. Oh.my.goodness. These aren't the mini ones either. These are white with a sprinkling of cocoa powder on the top. They are a smooth oval shape - oh! and they've got little mini chocolate chips in them. They've got this great snap to 'em and then they just melt in your mouth. Not too sweet and even better when you're having coffee...yum...
Oh, where was I?
Oh, yes. My blog.
Poor neglected friends.
I expected to come and find no followers left.
So, I've been deep in thought about a lot of things. I actually have been writing a lot. Here and there. Little snippets some times. Scribbled in a journal, on my pocket calendar, on 3x5 cards that I always have... Then there's the deeper writing that just comes out in a mumble jumble. Those are in my journals and in my prayer/devotion journals.

Speaking of prayer. I've thought a lot about what I believe about praying ever since I read a post written by someone who basically said that she did not believe in Intercessory Prayer. This is prayer where you are asking God to intercede or change a certain circumstances outcome or a prayer for others.
Hebrews 4:14-16~"14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
As I read this post I realized then, that she and I must not believe in the same God.
I believe in a God that is loving and forgiving that wants to intercede. I believe that our Heavenly Father sees the whole picture and will work His will. I believe, by faith, that it will be for the best.
Romans 8:28~And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
This verse does not mean that the outcome of every situation will be good, but it tells us that all things work TOGETHER for good. There's nothing good about losing a loved one, but it's especially hard to understand when it is something sudden or in the case of a friend, her 4 year old boy that was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma and died 55 days later. Doesn't seem fair, doesn't seem right. Hundreds of thousands prayed for that young boy - including myself. When we saw that he was fading, I'll be honest, my faith did falter. I am a mother of 4 children. I couldn't understand why this was happening. Then I learned of Suzanne's words ... after praying and crying and wishing and hoping... only several hours before Josiah's passing, she felt the Peace of Abba Father surround her and she knew her son was going to be gone that day.
Did it make it easier to understand? Absolutely not. Did it make it any easier to accept? Maybe just a little. Who can know why one person is healed and not another? Who can know what God is sparing that child in the future? We don't know. He does.
God does not always promise healing, but He does promise grace.
James 4:6a "But He giveth more grace..."
I find it funny that so many people are comfortable with wishing someone "good thoughts", or offering "peace", yet they can only do it if they leave God out of it. There are people that like to meditate, but they feel that prayer is a waste of time. I have known people that are okay with doing mantras or chants for meditation or yoga, but they don't understand my need to go in prayer to my God. The difference is they are speaking to themselves and I am speaking to the Holy Spirit. I don't believe in myself alone, I believe that I can do all things through Christ. (Philippians 4:13)
Our God created us all, but He created us with the ability to make our own choices. That right there shows me true love. True love is not about forcing someone to do something. He could have created us to be like robots, to do His every wish and command, but He did not. Just like a loving parent knows that in order for a child to grow and mature, they have to learn to make choices. Sometimes those choices lead us down the wrong path and we are faced with very hard consequences. Does this mean that the parent was wrong or does not care about their child? Absolutely not. However, at this point, a good parent should try to offer help and direction (once again) to that child. The parent should love and support that child, but ultimately, it is still up to that child to chose right. That is how it is with God.
Can a parent give the child everything he asks for? No. Would it be right? No. Why would a parent not give the child everything he asks for? The child may not need it, it may not be the right time for something, it may not be good for the child, he may need to learn patience. Does a parent sometimes change their mind because of the pleading child? Yes. Why would a parent change their mind? Because although it may not be "best", it may be okay. The parent may finally "give in" to teach the child a lesson.
So pray. Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) It gives us hope. It teaches us. It helps us to take our thoughts off of ourselves and to put our thoughts on others.
I believe that you can hope and pray. There are many Bible examples of how God did intervene and there are some examples of how He allowed things to happen as they were - and there was a reason for it all. You call it fate or destiny - I call it God's will.
I'll save some thoughts for another post! Have a great day!

“Prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.” —Mahatma Gandhi