Importunate Prayer

im⋅por⋅tu⋅nate 
–adjective
1. urgent or persistent in solicitation, sometimes annoyingly so.
2. pertinacious, as solicitations or demands.
3. troublesome; annoying: importunate demands from the children for attention.

I love that word! Most translations call it the parable of the persistent widow. But I think the word importunate packs a lot more punch in explaining the way Jesus meant for us to pray.

I've been pondering the tale of the importunate widow these days while reading from E.M. Bounds about prayer. Honesty, my prayer life has never been fueled by this level of feistiness. I guess I just give up after a while of praying about something. After all, God knows what's best so if it's meant to come about it will. And it seems almost like a vain repetition to make a point of praying the same thing over and over again. Then there's the uncomfortable feeling of being too "name it and claim it" as if I'm trying to order God around. But...... to be really honest...... I'm just too prideful to be a pest. To be that desperate.

Blessed are the poor in spirit. I think that can very well mean blessed be the desperate. I admit that I have just not been desperate and humble enough to stand importunately before God. In fact, I've been rather mamby pamby. But I've had enough now because I've been stuck for long enough!

The words of E.M Bounds are changing my attitude. "Energy, courage and perseverance must back the prayers that heaven respects and God hears......Persistence is made up of intensity, perseverance and patience.......Faith functions in connection with prayer and of course, has its inseparable association with persistence. But the latter quality drives the prayer to the believing point."

Bounds goes on to say "The absolute necessity of persistent prayer is plainly stated in the Word of God and needs to be stated and restated today.....Love of ease, spiritual laziness, and religious indifference all operate against this type of petitioning."

I feel like I'm at a standstill within myself. I'm on a merry-go-round, revisiting the same situations over and over again. I've come to the realization that God is the only one who can help me get off. It's time to lose the pride and the self efficiency. It's time to be like those desperate ones in the Bible whose faith healed them. People like the blind Bartimaeus or the Syrophenician woman.

Here I come God. I'm going to be a pest now. I'll be here everyday, pounding on the door. Just letting you know.

Stuck

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. - Ephesians 5: 1-2

I'm stuck in my spiritual life while haunted with this scripture. It dawned on me recently that the whole sacrifice thing has to do with living in love. When something gives it's life for another, the aroma is infinitely pleasing to God. The way that we lay our lives down for others is by putting them before us. To deny our ourselves for others.

That is just too dang hard for me! And that is why I'm stuck. Nothing else really matters about this Christian life if I can't at least do that. So why bother?

Oh I can be nice, loving, giving and self sacrificing in a myriad of ways. I look good on the outside, and it's honestly genuine. However, if someone makes me feel the least bit stepped on, unappreciated, taken for granted or devalued, then look out. I won't be laying my life down for them anymore! Then there's the people who just plain annoy and irritate me. I'm not so willing to put them first either.

Once I heard Beth Moore say that 90% of our sin is in our reactions. That is totally the case with me. I could be so holy and spiritual if I lived alone on a desert island. I don't go looking to sin, but other people get to me. I just can't stop taking offense, harbouring resentment and feeling self protective. I just want to be able to let it all go and live in love despite others. What is wrong with me??? I long to be.....unfettered.

I've been thinking of something I read a while back, that if you can't seem to stop a certain sin, then you just don't hate it enough. I think that's why I'm writing about this here. I really do hate this and it makes it more real when I write about it.

Father - I own this sin - I hate this sin - forgive me and deliver me from it. I put my trust in you working in me to accomplish the impossible. AMEN

More Podcasts

Another place I like to tune into for podcasts is The God Journey with Brad Cummings and Wayne Jacobson. These guys basically banter about their own journey of losing the religious spirit and engaging in an authentic relationship with God. They make us think about things differently. They are fun and refreshing and I always come away feeling just a little bit lighter.

I'd love to hear of other good sites to listen in on. Leave me a link if you know of any.

Drew Marshall

One of my favorite things to do while working at home is listening to pod casts. My current favorite is Drew Marshall. You can find a list of interviews to download here

Drew is a former pastor who was disillusioned by the religious institution and he has a few things to say about that. He's current, in touch with today and very entertaining. But mostly, he's a great interviewer and people person. Insightful and authentic, he gets places in interviews with people that are astounding.

The interviews are all spiritually based and he always zeros in on the heart of his subject. There are chats with numerous celebrities, actors and musicians whom you would never have know were authentic Jesus followers. Listening to their stories has really inspired hope in me that Jesus is not as unpopular as the media would make us think. Some of my favorites are Alice Cooper, Dyan Cannon, Kathy Ireland and Jane Russel.

Many of the interviews are with the big cheeses in the Christian world like Chuck Swindoll, David Jeremiah, David Wilkinson, Rick Warren and Brennen Manning. You see a side of these guys that never comes across when they are being Pastors and Authors. He's done a few interviews with William P. Young, author of The Shack that are really worth listening to. I especially enjoyed hearing from Chuck Swindoll. He's the real deal!

There's also interviews with people from opposing spiritual camps like Deepak Choprak, the president of the Church of Scientology, the high priest of the Church of Satan and a leader in the Mormon Church. Drew asks the good questions and draws out some very great dialogue.

Has anyone else heard of him? What do you think?

Life Happens

Oh my Gosh!!! I've been so neglectful of my blog.

Life has been busy........sick kids........sick husband.........15 year anniversary spent with hubby on the couch coughing up green stuff. Four family birthdays three days in a row. Couldn't have planed that one if we tried! A weekend trip to Whistler Mountain.

But I'm healthy! Somehow, I missed the sick boat. I think it's cause I wash my hands all the time and never take a sip of anyone else's drink.

Recently I spent an insane amount of money to join a new weight loss clinic that opened up near my house. I'm usually not one to go for something like that and it took a bit a convincing husband to agree but I knew I needed the support they could give me.

My motivations being:

1. 15 year anniversary this year
2. 25 high school reunion in August
3. Bridesmaid in June - do not want to be a 42 year old fat bridesmaid! Have you seen the dresses these day??? They are not the puffy taffeta numbers of my day. They are all strapless and slinky. I've never worn something like that in my life!

It's not rocket science. Eat less. Exercise.

Seems easy but it's not. I've tried to lose the 25lbs. that have crept up on me in my early 40's and it's just not budging.

This is week 3 and I've lost 8 pounds and 12 inches. I'm so happy and inspired. I am also, enjoying the support with meal making, exercise and one on coaching sessions. I guess I'm a go for the gold star kind of girl so if no one is checking up on me I cop ou. I've realize how disappointed in myself I was getting. It's very detoxifying to talk about it and to be doing something productive about it.

And I'm not caring about anyone but me right now. My family's getting crappy meals but I'm loving mine. It's sort of like the Zone diet where each meal is balanced so you don't have swings in blood sugar and cravings. I'm taking off to the gym regularly. I have so much more energy and NO MORE HEADACHES.

Husband is supportive which is great.

I am guaranteed to lose my 25lbs by MAY 15. When that day comes, I will post before and after pictures. I can hardly wait!

Ooglie Booglie

The other day, I posted the link to the YouTube video that made me laugh so hard. I even said to myself " I just need to laugh like that more."

Yesterday, I met with my morning group of ladies after the Christmas break. We call ourselves the Ooglie Booglie Girls. We picked up the name from one husband who teased his wife that what we do (hear from the Lord) is ooglie booglie!

As we start fresh in a new year, we asked the Lord what he wanted to give each one of us as we work through our book together in the next few months. He said he was going to give me joy and laughter.

It's like he's prepared my heart for it with that video. He gave me a taste of what I've been missing and created a desire for more. Then he told me he had that very gift in store for me!

I feel like I am starting out 2009 on a new plateau. The past 10 years have been a time of introspection and personal growth. A time of figuring out who I am and who God is. A time of finding my grove.

Although there have been times of joy and laughter, my spirit has been heavy and it shows in my countenance. My children sometimes call me on it. "Mom, are you mad?" or "Mom, you're in La La land." I've been a lot more serious than I need to be and not always present for the moment.

But something has changed in me. I feel that I can emerge, a little more sure of myself, a little more sure of God and a lot more light hearted.

I say Amen! to that. I'm ready for a little more laughter. That kind of belly laugh that's under girded by joy and gratitude. A certain lightness of being that's in touch with the things that really matter.

Time For A Good Laugh!

This YouTube clip from the Ellen show is the funniest thing I heard in a long time. Ellen is talking on the phone to an 87 year old lady named Gladys. If you have a couple of minutes to watch it will make your day.

I LOVE JESUS BUT I DRINK A LITTLE