Standing in the need of prayer

We use them all the time. Those three words - "How are you?"

But rarely are we asking how are you really feeling? How is your soul today?

How often do we get asked "How are you?" in one day?
And how often do we give the generic "I'm good. And you?" response? Because, if people only knew what was going on behind our words, maybe they would stop asking "How are you?"

I want to be honest here. Because, I want those who read this blog not to see me as a person with it all together. Trust me, I do not have it all together. I have a lot to figure out. I am a person who is wounded and broken, and not willing to wait on God's will most of the time, and I put on the apathetic smile all the time, and I am impatient, and I get out of sorts when there is not order, I say words that cut and blame it on hormones when I have only myself to blame, I compare myself to others, and my sin-bio is desperately long. And, I need God like I need bread because His grace is sufficient to heal these ailments.

So, I've started to really listen to people when I ask them "How are you?" I listen not just for their voice, but for God's voice underneath their voice. Even if they respond with the generic "Good. And you?" I want to be a soul friend and know the condition of their heart. And, I want you to do the same for me. So, when I ask "How are you?" I am listening to you with an ear towards you and with the other ear towards Heaven. And, if you really are doing good, I will know. But, if you need prayer, the Spirit will intercede and tell me what it is that needs prayed for. And, I will do my best to pray for your brokenness too. And, if you do tell me your struggles and challenges, that's the Spirit telling you that I will listen, that I will not interrupt, and I will not judge. That's the Spirit telling you that your words are safe with me. You can open up.

I will
just
listen.

You see, God never asks us to be strong. Which I love - but this culture does not. In this culture you have to look strong and not show emotion.

Actually, God says the opposite often. He says it is better to be meek and mild and show weakness. For, He says His power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore we should boast our weaknesses and not our strengths (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. ~ Isaiah 40:28-31

When we feel like we don't have it together, when we are tired of waiting. When we feel downtrodden and broken, and know we are not perfect, God wants to see our real face, not our apathetic face. He would rather us not worship Him at all than be apathetic in our worship. He would rather us be angry with Him than put on a facade. And, I'm glad God understands when we are angry with Him, or whomever. I'm glad that anger and worship are not distinct and separate things. If you are pretending to enjoy God or even love Him, he knows. You can't fool Him, you can't even try. He is someone you can be real with. He knows your prayers before you say them, He knows your prayers even when you do not. I am thankful that He is someone you can be real with. So, I'm praying that God will use me to be a soul friend and show me what you stand in need of so that I may intercede in prayer for you. And, I'm asking God to make me fully present when you answer that question: "How are you?" And, I pray you'll do so too.

Questions for reflection:

Why is it sometimes difficult to be 'real' in each of our daily interactions? 

How will God meet you in some of the people you interact with? How might others meet God in their interactions with you?

As the old hymn says: "Not my brother or my sister, but it's me O Lord. Standing in the need of prayer." Reflect on what you stand in need of. How might you bring these needs up when asked "How are you?"?

The One Thousand Gifts Dare - What's been making me terribly happy lately:

23. Hot oatmeal to stick to your ribs and warm your core on a howling-wind morning.
24. Celebrating four incredible years as husband and wife.
25. Making baby food. Isaac is starting on solids. So far I've made and frozen some pureed sweet potato, butternut squash, acorn squash, pear, avocado, and chicken mixed with sweet potato. And, so far he's tried the squash and nibbled (gummed) on some al dente finger carrots and apple. Apparently he will eat whatever we put in front of him. It is too funny to watch him explore new tastes and textures.
26. Big belly laughs from Isaac when he hears me say "ha ha ha CHOO." or "peek peek peek HABOO."
27. Tiny fingers that have the strongest hold. I will never get tired of the automatic grip reflex that babies have. Can I somehow teach him not to let his clinging fingers fade away?
28. Women of faith and studying 12 Women of The Bible, plus partaking in coffee with these women. Each woman in our Bible study offers insights and perspectives that feed my mind and spirit. Plus there is always goodies to feed the body too.
29. PB and J. I shared a children's message at church recently about how you can't make the sandwich without the bread. Just like we can't live without Jesus in our lives. And Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life. Now, whenever I make a PB and J sandwich in this time of lent, it reminds me that Jesus is the bread of life. His love is enough.
30. This cute recipe for Chocolate Egg Nest Cookies.
31. My Heavenly Father and His Son, my Saviour. Praise His name forever!
32. Old camp tunes. Back in the good ole days when I worked at summer camp we sang songs like "Little is Much (When He Lives in Your Heart)" and "I Want to Walk Like Jesus." I've been looking for new songs to sing with Isaac as the grown up in me grows tired of some of the same old tunes all the time. And, I've been reacquainted with some great ones from my camp days.
33. Back rolls, knee rolls, elbow rolls. My little guy, Isaac, has rolls on his rolls. I love his baby chub.
34. This picture makes me smile every time.

Just a wee bit Irish! (His shirt says "Little Shamrocker" ~ How cute is that?)

Four Years and Counting

Heather Dietz Photography

'TGS' - That's what it says on the inside of our wedding bands (Tim - God - Sonya).

It was a beautiful day. We were sealed together, forever.

We promised that we'd love and serve each other and that we would put Christ at the center.

We have worked hard at making our marriage strong, happy, united, passionate, forgiving and the outcome has been better than I could have ever imagined.

Tim and I have grown closer together. In many ways, we are different. But, what we value most is the same.

Heather Dietz Photography

Heather Dietz Photography

Heather Dietz Photography

Heather Dietz Photography

Daniel Holm Photography

Lou Lou West Photography

Heather Dietz Photography

Looking back through our wedding album I came across some advice offered by our family and friends. Here are just a few of the inspirations we've applied to keep our marriage strong.

- Have fun just being together.
- Never get too old to hold hands.
- Don't expect to have everything right at the start.
- Marry a hard worker and a good provider.
- Learn to bend and not break.
- Make faith, hope, trust, and love the cornerstones of your marriage.
- Give each other plenty of space to grow.
- Dates don't have to be dinner and a movie - window shopping and ice cream, go to the park or zoo together, cuddle up by a fountain or a big tree
- First make a commitment to the Lord, then to each other.
- Curl up on the couch and look at wedding pictures together.
- Learn to love and appreciate the good in each other.
- Spend quality time together every day - even if it's just a few minutes.
- Keep your love, your health, and your faith in God strong.
- Love always take maintenance - kindness is a big part of that!
- You've got to have love, and you've got to know God.
- Life isn't always sunshine, learn to survive the storms.
- Share common goals
- Cook together, have PJ days together.

Heather Dietz Photography

Heather Dietz Photography

Heather Dietz Photography

The last four years have been the best of my life. And, Lord willing, we will make the next years even better.

I love you, Tim, and thank you for loving me back.

Come dear lover - let's tramp through the countryside. Let's sleep at some wayside inn, then rise early and listen to bird-song. Let's look for wildflowers in bloom, blackberry bushes blossoming white, fruit trees festooned with cascading flowers. 

~ Song of Songs 7:11-12 MSG

The Farmer's Hands and Morning Kisses

 The Farmer's Hands

Every hand tells a story
about our life and character.
Hands provide inward glimpses
and reveal who we really are.

Our hands cannot be hidden
they display the effects of time.
They show hard work and dedication
Through every wrinkle and line.








There are hands that hold
and hands that share,
Hands that break bread
and hands that fold in prayer.

God left his seal upon our hands
so we may come to know our purpose.
Our fingerprints are God's signet
as unique as our gifts and talents.

The artist creates beauty
with the work of their hands.
The farmer's hands tell a story
of working the land.










Though fingers are calloused
and rough they appear.
Those scars and soiled nails
are evidence of what's held dear.

Etched in the lifelines
the dirt and grime of every day.
With time scars heal
and grime is washed away.










My own hands are not as soft
as they once were.

The skin on the sides of my index fingers
never comes quite clean.
No matter how short I keep my nails
dirt still finds a way underneath.

While they are less outwardly beautiful
I am joyful.
They declare more effectively than I ever could
that they are useful. 








"I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land." ~ Psalm 143:6

"Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are in My view continuously." ~Isaiah 49:16

Father, use my hands to bless others and glorify You. Strengthen my hands to be used for Your good work.

My husbands hands are calloused and rough. But that doesn't mean that his spirit is. He has a gentle and tender presence. And, he never lets a morning go by without making sure to give me a kiss - 'good morning' before he leaves for work. I recently read this little tidbit in a Faith Alive Christian resource, A Woman and Her World, from 1987.

"There is more to that morning peck than meets the eye. According to a recent survey by an insurance company, a husband who kisses his wife each morning before going off to work in the field, factory, or office, or wherever gains several advantages over the non-kisser. The study found that the husband who gives the morning kiss will probably live five years longer than the one who doesn`t. And what`s more, a kissing husband will have fewer auto accidents, will lose up to 50 percent less time from work as a result of illness, and will earn 20 to 30 percent more than the non-kissing husband."

 
- ♥ - Sonya