Where is God – Creative Prayer Coach

Last October, God and I had some fun. Together we came up with a word to pray over each week of this year. I’m amazed at how God has met my needs through those words. For example, when my cancer surgery was postponed due to a blood clot in my leg, my word was JOY. I know, what a horrible word when I was stressed and in pain. However, it was perfect for that week. God infused incredible JOY into the mess by showing me that postponing the surgery meant thousands of dollars saved. God also made it clear that I could trust Him to take care of me in all situations, the most joyful thing of all.

So, my word for this week is COLOR. I admit that this is a weird word, and I wondered how God would pull off COLOR. (I don’t usually look at the words ahead of time because I want God to do it without me trying to make it happen.)

In setting my goals for this month, I wanted to learn some new things. I chose to learn how to use the Canva app. I’ve used other publishing/design programs in the past and wanted to upgrade my skillset with a new product. As it turns out, they have multiple courses to get a newbie up and running. I chose to watch the ones on design to see how they use their product. To my surprise, about half of the course was about COLOR. Yep, God snuck in COLOR through a computer app this time.

As I watched the course, I realized that I wanted to update my blog’s colors to reflect the changes in me. God showed me that the grey cloud hanging over my head is lifting, and I need to release that into my work, so I have intensified the colors. The change corresponds to God releasing more drive and purpose into my life – I have things to do, people to see, and hope for a bright future.

All the reflection on color also made me realize that the content of my blog is also shifting. It feels more personal, more about the ways God enhances my life every day, and what it can do in yours. The texture of my life has changed, as God reveals Himself daily in the little things. So, from now on, I plan to focus on how God is in the details of life.

I look forward to the crazy things God is going to do in, through, and for me this coming year. I’m already asking Him to give me a new set of words for my weeks (November 2020 – October 2021).

I hope you will join me in asking God for words over your weeks. It’s simple: sit down with a calendar, ask God what word He wants for each week, then write whatever comes to your mind. I understand that sounds weird — but trust me — and it’s fun. It’s even more exciting to see later how those words were important.

Praying that you enjoy words from God!

Andrea

P.S. By the time this blog is posted, my word will be TEXTURE. It just makes me laugh.

WHERE IS GOD IN THIS?

Iridescent soap bubbles floating above a lawn. — **What Happens When the Bubble Bursts?**

We picked up a young man at one of the local sober living facilities because he wanted to attend our Sunday Morning Breakfast and Bible Study. Choosing to sit with me while we were eating, he begins to tell me his story. He is intense as he tells me about all the wounding and abuse, he has suffered at the hands of Christians in the name of religious practices. He says, “I hate all things, Christian.”

I have to laugh a little since he asked us to pick him up so he could attend this Bible Study. At the same time, I’m sad because I’ve heard a similar story from many of the people who come to this group. It’s difficult because I know that I’ve been part of the system that has caused the perceived pain.

My heart is broken for him. I wonder how to draw him back to the central truth of Jesus’s love for him. The desperate need for love and understanding pours out of him; his eyes are darting from person to person, jumping up to hug the people he knows from other places, his voice getting louder, drawing attention to himself. He’s passed his thirty-days clean and sober, but still struggles. I’ve watched this process over and over the past few years. Some make it to the other side — others don’t. I’m praying that he will.

He continues with this story. He is adopted from a foreign country. He struggles with ADHD and Attachment Disorder. He is classically angry with his adoptive mom. I have a weird sense of connection with him. I suppose it’s because I’ve lived through the love/hate relationship with my adoptive son created by early childhood trauma. I find myself genuinely enjoying this young man.

All of a sudden, he says, “I like the people here because they are real and care about others.”

That was the promising start to this story. Unfortunately, this young man couldn’t stay clean and sober, which means he was kicked out of his sober living home. Generally, we lose touch with people when this happens, and he is no exception. We did get a few text messages and a couple of voicemails, but we only saw him one more time. This past week, one of the other members of our group called to tell us that this young man had died at a party.

I find myself grieving the loss of this funny but troubled guy. I wish I could have done more for him. I wish I could say that he resolved his issues with Christ and his family, but I honestly don’t know — and that is frustrating. I’m wondering why God brought him into our lives for him to die so young. It’s strange because I don’t normally ask God why, but right now I just can’t help myself.

As a group, we are trying to process what has happened. Several people comment that this could have been them, others are sensing a need to reach out to people that they know so maybe, just maybe, they won’t end up dead. It’s hard.

That’s when I begin to see God in this mess. There is a renewed sense of urgency to touch the lives of others who share much of this young man’s story – angry with Christians, but desperately searching for God’s unconditional love that we have to offer through Jesus. I don’t want another soul to be lost because I appear to be representing Jesus as judgmental and angry. I want to live a sacrificial life that is vulnerable, considerate, and loving – allowing others to see Jesus through me. How about you? What is one thing you could do differently today?