by Cathy Baker | Faith |
My prayer in all situations is “Lord, help me to follow well.” This has been especially so since we began the journey of selling our home a couple of months ago. I don’t want my trust to waver but sometimes it does.
Perhaps this is why yesterday’s reading from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young felt like a divine thump upon my spirit—and maybe I’m not alone as a new week unfolds before us all today. I pray you will be blessed.
“Take time to be still in my Presence. The more hassled you feel, the more you need this sacred space of communion with Me. Breathe slowly and deeply. Relax in My holy Presence while My Face shines upon you. This is how you receive My Peace, which I always proffer to you.
Imagine the pain I feel when My children tie themselves up in anxious thoughts, ignoring My gift of Peace. I died a criminal’s death to secure this blessing for you. Receive it gratefully; hide it in your heart. My peace is an inner treasure, growing within you as you trust in Me. Therefore, circumstances cannot touch it. Be still, enjoying Peace in My Presence.”
Psalm 46:10; Numbers 6:25-26
Is there some specific way I can pray for you today? Feel free to leave it here, FB message or email. I count it a privilege.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Last week we took Piper to the local Punkin’ Patch. She had no idea what it was but she knew she wanted to go — and then she wanted to stay. That is, until we told her we were going for ice cream afterwards.
It’s hard to believe our sweet P will be two in November. Time does fly but it’s moments like this that make the tick tock a little slower—if only for awhile.
Happy Harvest!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
What does God want me to know or learn through this situation?
When Carole, a godly woman in our life group, shared how she often asks herself this question, it was obvious why wisdom follows her wherever she goes. This one question befriended her through the untimely death of her husband a few years ago and a host of everyday situations since.
It’s a simple but profound question grounded in two truths:
- God wants us to know Him and His ways. (John 17:3) It’s proclaimed throughout scripture and most vividly seen through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Because of Him, we can enjoy a relationship with our heavenly Father.
- There is purpose in all things. (Romans 8:28) We won’t always understand situations but knowing that God allowed it to sift through His loving hands for our good and for His glory brings unspeakable comfort and peace.
When we ask God the question What would You have me to know or learn through this situation? we are revealing that our feet are firmly planted in truth, our heart is bent towards His, and that our arms are lifted high in praise, confident that our heavenly Father will not only answer but will do so generously.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5
Go ahead. Ask—and then wait and watch expectantly! (James 1:6)
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Blessings, indeed.
This weekend, I joined a couple friends in the mountains of NC for our annual writing getaway. We stay in the same cabin each year so when we all arrive, it feels like home in a very real sense. Real because our friendships plunge far below the surface of plots and proposals.
On Friday nights, we have our “round table discussion” in the cozy den while gas logs simmer nearby. It’s a time when we share what’s really going on in our lives and how we can pray for each other. It also sets the tone for unforgettable weekends.
This year, we met a month earlier than normal. The leaves were green, refusing to lose their grip, so while we didn’t enjoy a kaleidoscopic carpeting as usual—it didn’t matter. Like the weather, our lives transition into different seasons along the way. Yet, no matter if times are bare or flourishing, true friends remain and sustain like none other.
Friends love through all kinds of weather…Proverbs 17:17 (The Message)
On Sunday morning, my friends headed back down the narrow steep driveway. Before locking up one final time I stepped into the house-length screened porch, inhaled deeply, and whispered “thank You” to the One who allowed our paths to not only cross but meld together for an eternity.
As you and I begin our week, let’s encourage one another to do the necessary “work” required to be a good friend to someone God has brought into our lives. Who knows? You might find yourself making reservations for a mountain cabin atop a high hill, lovingly known as Buck Mountain.
Where the magic happens…
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Autumn Prayer
In autumn
may I pray, Lord.
Awaited till the leaves are fallen and may my
humble mother tongue be filled within me.
In autumn
may I love, Lord.
May I choose the only one.
To grow the most delightful fruits
may I plant this time of richness.
In autumn
may I be alone, Lord.
May my soul,
through the roaring sea
and the valley of lilies,
be reached atop a bough like a crow.
(May 25th 1934)
Translated, from Korean, by Daniel Yang
