Prayer Circle

I'm working on a spiritual memoir, of sorts. It's as close to that than anything, so that's what I'm calling it. I have to admit I've never been so lost when it came to writing a book. I KNOW how God has transformed my life but zooming in on those key moments in history, going DEEP into my soul, and sharing from the hard stuff ... is hard.

One amazing thing is that since August 1996, I've been part of an email prayer circle with fifteen other women. We've sent weekly reports and have lifted each other up in prayer for almost twelve years!

I have no idea why, but I've saved these prayer and praise reports since 1996. Now I know why because I'm using them to look back to me as a young mom when my kids were 7, 4, and 2. I'm amazed by how God was working then. I'm amazed by how much I longed for Him. It's very cool. Here is something I wrote to my friends:

From August 19, 1996

"Sing to the Lord, you saints of his;

praise his holy name.

For his anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may remain for a night,

by rejoicing comes in the morning." -- Psalm 30:1-5

What do you have to rejoice about this morning? Was your weekend difficult? Do there seem to be more storm clouds than sunshine in your life today? At times like this it may be hard to rejoice, but our true devotion to Christ is seen best when situations are the worst. It is easy to rejoice when all is going well, but do you have a difficult time when all is not well?

What do you have to rejoice about this morning? Though the challenges in your path may seem overwhelming, though your projects seem greater than your time, sing this song with me, "This is the day, this is the day. That the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. I will rejoice, I will rejoice. And be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made!"

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This note from 1996 really touched my heart because I've really felt stretched lately with the writing projects and the family issues. There are many needs all around me. As I type this my husband is laying in bed recovering from surgery he had this morning. My son is also scheduled for surgery on Friday. One sister-in-law is on bed rest, another sister-in-law is struggling with her husbands' addictions, my mom moved in with me last week, also my best friends' father-in-law died last week and they are traveling in snow storms today, my other friend's son was married and I helped with that all weekend, my other friend just moved into a new home. Did I mention the writing stuff?


Yet, these words spoke to me ... THIS is the day the Lord has made. God knew about this day too. This day didn't surprise Him. And I have a lot to rejoice about! THIS IS the day that the Lord has made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.


So as I look back, it's good to remember what God has already brought me through. The purpose of this new book may be to share how God worked in my life ... but it's a reminder to me that He's still working.


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