Category Archives: Faith

Books That Changed Me

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When my friend Crystal interviewed me on LJ, she asked me the following question:

4. What are the top five books that have most influenced your life?

I decided to take my answers to that question in the interview and expand on it.

[+] The Bible: I’m Christian so this should be a natural answer. I’ve been asked before what my favorite book is (Psalms) and what book I hate most. My answer to the latter part of the question is that I don’t hate any of the books of the Bible. While that sounds all happy-clappy, it’s the truth — there are parts that mess me up inwardly and I would be worried if they didn’t. As I grow in my relationship with Christ, things that were difficult for me to understand become clearer and as I mold my will to be like that of Christ’s, those things that caused me conflict get reconciled and resolved. As one of my seminary professors said, “the Gospel is life-changing — the only problem is that it means that our lives have to change.”

[+] What’s So Amazing About Grace?: Another book that completely messes me up inside. I think that every Christian should be required to read this book. It is an amazing treatment of what grace_ is and what it would look like if the world showed grace_ to people in the same way that Jesus did. I read it yearly and I get something new out of it each time.

[+] The Jesus I Never Knew: This one didn’t move me as much as as What’s So Amazing About Grace? did; but it still has the capacity to cause me inner discomfort. I’ve read it twice now (it’s one of those “read yearly” books for me) and each time, I’ve been drawn to something new in the character of Jesus Christ.

[+] The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Prayer: This book is the BEST book on prayer that is on the market. It’s exclusively on Christian prayer but it does an amazing job of explaining what prayer is, why we pray, some ways of praying, dealing with problems in prayer, and even giving some sample prayers. I don’t think anyone is too advanced in the practice of prayer to read it.

[+] The Chronicles of Narnia: I constantly see examples from these books in my life. I’m starting to read them yearly as I get some pretty interesting insights about my faith from them. I also found that my professors used examples from them in my seminary classes.

Five-Finger Prayers

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This was in my devotion for today from Our Daily Bread. It’s really good, so I thought I’d share.

Prayer is a conversation with God, not a formula. Yet sometimes we might need to use a “method” to freshen up our prayer time. We can pray the Psalms or other Scriptures (such as The Lord’s Prayer), or use the ACTS method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication). I recently came across this “Five-Finger Prayer” to use as a guide when praying for others:

[+] When you fold your hands, the thumb is nearest you. So begin by praying for those closest to you: your loved ones (Philippians 1:3-5).

[+] The index finger is the pointer. Pray for those who teach: Bible teachers and preachers, and those who teach children (1 Thessalonians 5:25).

[+] The next finger is the tallest. It reminds you to pray for those in authority over you: national and local leaders, and your supervisor at work (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

[+] The fourth finger is usually the weakest. Pray for those who are in trouble or who are suffering (James 5:13-16).

[+] Then comes your little finger. It reminds you of your smallness in relation to God’s greatness. Ask Him to supply your needs (Philippians 4:6,19).

Whatever method you use, just talk with your Father. He wants to hear what’s on your heart.
-Anne Cetas

Inspiration and Illness

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As I’m pondering the gallbladder ultrasound I have to have tomorrow, I’m thinking about Cheryl who documented her gallbladder surgery and then the resulting pancreatitis earlier this year. I have to say that I really admire her because the whole time, she was posting really spiritual entries about how Christ was her light and how her faith was helping her get through it. They weren’t all happy-clappy — they were really genuine and very inspiring.

I’m wishing right now that I had that faith because my journey in this has been much frustration as I’ve fought the flu for the last week and have gone from stomaching almost anything a week ago to having to be on only clear liquids as of Friday night. Saturday morning was hellish as my stomach finally cleared in rather spectacular fashion. (Let’s just say that I’ve decided to keep Jon after he had to clean me up after the laxatives produced severe nausea and I covered the bathroom floor and myself with vomit.) I’m living on popsicles, chicken broth, jello, and ginger ale.

I woke up this morning feeling really dehydrated (as I’d completely forgotten to drink some water each time I woke up last night) and had to down about 48 oz. of liquid before I could be lucid enough to do devotions. My panther and my lion also decided that I should share my chicken broth with them so I had to guard my broth with my life. I planned on listening to some church service this morning on the radio but ended up falling asleep before the LCMS or ELCA ones (at least the ones I’d normally listen to) came on. The fact that I’ve missed church for the second week in a row has occurred on me and I’m honestly missing worship and fellowship and if nothing else, hearing the word preached in person. (I know I live with a pastor but it’s not the same.) I’m thankful for a couple parishioners who have called and sent cards to let me know that I’m being thought about in all of this.

I’m seeing all these food commercials on TV for Applebee’s and Pizza Hut and other places that are making me crave food that involves tons of grease and cheese and meat and fat. My ideal meal at the moment would be a double bacon cheeseburger with the works (onions, pickles, tomatoes), curly fries from Arby’s, and a bottle of Sundrop. I know that eating said meal would cause me to start vomiting and likely end up admitted to the hospital with more gallbladder problems. It would also constitute my calories and fat intake for the week and cause me to gain about 5 lbs by looking at it. However, it would also fill my stomach up and give me that full feeling that I’ve been missing for the last few days.

Prayers for my health would be appreciated as I’m getting really frustrated and am wanting my stomach to return to normal.

Prayer Shawls

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The WELCA at one of Jon’s churches is considering doing prayer shawls. Even if they don’t do them, I’ve started making one on my own which will likely go to Sheila’s Shawls. It might be good to also have one or two on hand for parishioners who lose family members…

(It’s a new-agey website but whatever prayers I’ll include will be from the LBW or LW.)

Forgiveness

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Last night, I was journalling and doing my study on Isaiah and at the end of the study, it was put on my heart that I have to forgive everyone involved with the church debacle. I’ve known I’ve had to do this for awhile but I’ve had too much anger and bitterness. I journalled for a good half hour on it in my paper journal, part of it being prayer about how I’m a broken person and I can’t do this on my own.

I will readily admit that I am a broken and sinful person and that I need God to be whole — what would be the point of the Cross if I could be whole on my own? I didn’t realize, however, how much anger and bitterness I was storing in my heart and praying about it, both in my journal and afterwards on my own, was humbling. It was like seeing the gaping chasms in my soul and realizing that the anger and bitterness were just making them larger. Praying and seeking forgiveness from God was a step toward filling those chasms in.

Forgiveness is going to be hard but it’s something I have to do. Pray for me. I have a rocky road ahead.

Getting Up On Sunday Mornings

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Rick has a really good audio post on his musings this morning while driving to church. Go listen to it!

What I liked about it is that he admits that he did not want to get up and go to church because he woke up feeling icky. He goes in to talk about how he wants to go to church more than he wants to be lazy. I so agree when he says…

I would rather be with God’s people on God’s day and give God more than my whining.

I’ve had a really rough couple months and I went to the BIG LUTHERAN CHURCH IN TOWN this morning because it was getting to the point where I was having to take massive doses of anxiety meds to deal with worship on Sunday due to my hurt and anger. I had taken some Seroquel last night to calm my nerves and it meant that I was really sleepy this morning but I got up anyway, showered, tossed down cereal and milk, got dressed, and trudged through the snow flurries (!!!!!!!) to church this morning. I really pushed myself to get up and do church and it was worth it. The sermon spoke to me (mostly because it was preached differently than Jon preaches) and the music was wonderful. I got to sing harmony on Love Divine All Love’s Excelling and it was set to correct tune, which made me even happier.

I think it’s good that I’m taking May off from Jon’s churches — I need some perspective right now and I feel like I’m getting it.