Tag: prayer

A Tangible Gift From The Lord

- dannalundstrom

This is one of those stories that must be told; a God story about His tender and personal faithfulness to me, His daughter, in the midst of great sorrow.

Yesterday morning, (last Saturday, 09/01), was the second worst morning of my life, and that same afternoon I had to get in a car and head to the airport to come home only hours after laying on my mom sobbing my eyes out. During the entire drive to Houston Hobby Airport I was praying, Lord, please let me sit next to someone kind on the airplane who will be empathetic and not bothered by my tears. I texted three friends and asked them to pray for that as well.

I made it to my gate and found a corner to sit in trying to go unnoticed as I was visibly grieving. After a few minutes I looked up and I could not believe my eyes. My precious friend, Monica, who is in my Wednesday morning Bible study was walking up to my gate. I got up and ran to her. She knew my situation, but she was equally shocked to see me as I was her. She thought I was in Dallas and I had no idea she would be in Houston. As it turned out she was in Houston for the night to see her daughter dance at the Ole Miss/Texas Tech football game that was being played in Houston. Our eyes met and I grabbed her, I am not sure who was more confused.

This was one of the most chilling, in a good way, God winks I have ever experienced.

A direct, personal and tangible gift from The Lord.

We were able to sit together on the plane and she kept me mostly distracted and calm. I will never forget how God not only honored my need but in such a sweet way by sending someone who was already praying for me and that I knew and loved. In the midst of my tears and heartache a gift I will never forget walking toward me and reminding me God is always going before me. He is working things out on my behalf and planting priceless pearls of peace to intersect my pain. And, I would also like to think my mama had a little something to do with it as well.

Welcome, Lord

- dannalundstrom

Weary, friend, I know the road you are traveling feels lonely, exhausting and at times unbearable. Sometimes you are so ready for peace, and it feels like God is not answering your plea for help.

This week The Lord has been reminding me that often I am more disillusioned by the failure of my arrangements than the fruition of His answers. He is answering, but probably not within the parameters of the controlled, tidy box where I frame MY plans. His purpose is much higher than we can imagine, and God’s seemingly silent ambivalence does not mean absence, but very often action.

It is within the realm of our trials that the resurrection is awakening.

Remember, not to put your outcome in a box; God does not fit there. Keep looking up. Take the next right step and remain faithful.  As pilgrims, we must not get so busy wishing ourselves out of situations that we forget to welcome God into them.

I love this quote and hope it encourages you:

“The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.”
Elisabeth Elliot, Keep a Quiet Heart

You are loved!♥️

Father, Who Do You Say I Am?

- dannalundstrom

I suppose if I was someone of notoriety and Joy Behar read this she would label me insane. I would be the content of jokes, cutting remarks and sadly, many laughs. Thankfully, I am not famous, not because I am afraid of being made fun of, but because earthly power is not a necessary precursor for an eternal purpose.

I am always a work in progress. Listening. Reading. Learning. Succeeding. Failing. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. I am at a point in my life where I am alright with this process as long as I keep moving forward. So much of my walk is remembering obedience precedes understanding, not vice versa. When Jesus would offer followers to come and see, He didn’t mean after you understand. My flesh wants to see and come, but that is not faith, that is futility. I am not called to figure anything out, that is contrary to my nature, however.

When God wants to teach me something new, He always layers the concept. By about the second or third time, He has my attention. Sometimes I get impatient waiting for the lesson to come, but it always does, just not on my timetable.

I am reading an excellent book that has been like a warm, affirming hug to my soul. A few nights ago, the chapter I read was about our identity. The world wants to name me. I want to identify myself, and often harshly. Shame, failure and the exhaustion of the performance treadmill many times define who I am. It is so easy to derive my identity from situational frailties rather than Savior actualities. The point of the chapter which was entitled, Becoming Who We Already Are, was to pay attention to who we believe we are and then ask the Father to show us who we are in His image, not ours, not the worlds.

I went to bed that night praying very expectantly and asking God, “Father, please show me who You say I am. I know all the well-churched answers, but my heart was desperate for a fresh word. Not a one size fits all declaration, but an individualized description.

The next morning I woke up fully expecting to be identified through something I read, heard or so on. Crickets. Waiting. Nothing. But I kept praying and asking like a needy child incessantly asking his mother the same thing over and over again. Are we there yet? Do you have an answer yet?

By yesterday morning, day two, I was feeling defeated but not utterly desperate, and I was still asking. “Father, I know I am your daughter.” Well-loved. Provided for. Secure. I fight to remember that I rest on your record, not mine. Your righteousness, not mine, but who do You say I am? Please show me.”

A short time later, I received a newsletter via email from one of my favorite ministries, Restore ministries, here in Birmingham. The title of the newsletter was, Renamed. To say my heart began beating fast is an understatement and I stopped everything I was doing to read it. I thought just maybe this was it! A letter from the Lord via a ministry. Perfect! The message did not rename or identify me, but this is what it did do. The author’s words encouraged me to keep seeking, praying and asking The Lord to show me my identity in Him. While it did not answer my question, it reinforced my resolve to continue asking and listening, so my questioning continued. I am so thankful God is a patient Father.

This leads me to last night. I was tired, emotionally and physically. The day had been challenging in different ways. Expensive repairs. Friends hurting. My own junk. I guess I do not wear my feelings very stealthy as one family member remarked, “you look emotionally exhausted.” I could not argue with that assessment.

I retired myself early, and as I was pulling my soft blanket up around me, I asked again, “Father who do you say I am.” Before I could take a breath, move or think, this is what I immediately heard in my head. Strong Warrior. Let me be clear; this was NOT an audible voice, it was a gentle whisper deep within.

I wish I could say I went to bed hearing the Hallelujah chorus, but I was a little skeptical. I sure did not feel that name coming. Also, because I was tired I fell right asleep and did not have much time to process, but I did thank God for the fresh, tailored name.

In His book, Follow The Cloud. John Stickl says whoever owns you gets to define you. This morning I have a renewed understanding of that truth. I feel strong. Much stronger than yesterday when I was letting an opportunistic enemy, my destructive thoughts and doubts define me. Once we claim an identity, it is all-encompassing. Our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and so much more are controlled by who we believe we are.

I would love to pass this exhortation along to you today, friend? Who or what are you allowing to define you? Who or what are they saying you are? May I make a suggestion? Ask The Father to show you who He says you are and wait expectantly for Him to answer. It may not be an expedient answer. Don’t lose your anticipation or faith. Be alert. It will come, but likely when you are not expecting it.

You are loved.

Doing Our Part

- dannalundstrom

The antidote to the cries of an aching world is found within me because it is only my contributions that I control.

It is incredibly easy to live a life void of self-examination, paying little attention to my behaviors and motives, all while hyper-focusing on what I deem right or wrong in those around me.

Judgement.

It is insidious.

My soul is much better served working on me rather than worrying about them.

Blame temporarily feels good. It is a false place to surrender our pain, but never solve it.

The most significant piece of doing our part is found looking inside not outside of ourselves.

Tears, Fears and Truth

- dannalundstrom 1 Comment

In the late afternoon on the day Carter was born, a nurse came into my room and told me she needed to take him for an echocardiogram. The doctor that examined him earlier detected a heart murmur and they needed to investigate further.

I was scared and immediately broke down in tears. I didn’t want them to take my baby anywhere, especially somewhere that might bring bad news.

It had been a difficult pregnancy. It was an arduous delivery. There were a few moments of silence when he entered the world and my heart stopped, only to stutter again a few hours later.

My nurse was on the latter end of her career. Advanced in age, not much appeared to faze her. “Don’t cry,” she quipped. “Save your tears. You will need them later.” At the time, I thought how insensitive she was. I was young and naive.

When I was pregnant with Macey, we thought we would lose her several times. Then there was a point early on that I ended up in the ICU with a collapsed lung and a chest tube. I wondered if we would both be lost?

My pregnancies were so complicated that I remember crying out to God so often to please let my children be born so I would know they were safe. As I said before, I was so naive. I never knew I would shed so many tears. I have good kids. It isn’t that.

It is that the “good” things have become the hard things.

Kindergarten graduation. The transition from elementary school to junior high school, then to high school. Letting them go off in a car. Driving. Camps. One and two week-long camps with no communication. Empty nest staring me in the face. And for Heaven’s sake, I never knew there would be tears and trepidation just over sending them to school.

I was so naive back then, but in more ways than one.

The most important difference now is that I know I am not their Savior.

I know now that God is sovereign and understanding that and standing under it look very different.

I know now that nothing takes God by surprise.

I know that He has already assigned all of our days, ALL OF THEM, mine and my children.

I know now that I have very little control and forgetting that is costly to me and those I love.

I know now that battles are better fought in prayer than panic.

I know now that as long as I am breathing, as long as anyone is breathing, evil will exist and I will not understand it, but I am not called to figure it out rather trust without doubt. Easier said than done, but worth fighting for.

I know now that this world is not my home, not my family’s home, and because of our eternal destination hope and gratitude trump fear.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:33

I am saying a few extra prayers for all you mamas tonight. You are loved.❤

The Rock Of Empathy and Understanding

- dannalundstrom

Have you been misunderstood, wronged, hurt, betrayed or falsely accused?  Everyone has at some point.

You know what is the most difficult thing for me to do, but the right and respectable thing, taking it to prayer rather than people? Bringing my hurt to The Father rather than Facebook, and to the Scriptures rather than my stories.

We all desire to be affirmed and understood, but when that desire becomes more about needing the validation of people than God,  I know I have a problem.

This is a great and convicting quote from Julie Sparkman’s book, Unhitching From The Crazy Train, co-written by Jennifer Phillips.  “When you are wronged, instead of pleading, “God, make this right!” you begin to pray, “Jesus,  You know what it feels like to be mocked, misunderstood, and falsely accused. I do long for You to make this right, but in the meantime, would You show me how to honor You as I bear up under injustice?  These Christlike prayers and attitudes come from the Scripture that is stored in your heart.”

I love this!

We have a Savior who suffered to know and identify with us in our affliction.  I am the first to forget to submit mine to Him, the Rock of empathy and understanding.  He is there for me and for you, friend.  Let’s not forget Him.

You are loved.

Unhitching From The Crazy Train is available at Lifeway and on Amazon 2/5/18. Also, you can order from newhopepublishers.com. 

www.restore-ministries.org

Fishers of Men Not Means

- dannalundstrom 1 Comment

Through earnest prayer, I have seen God change so many circumstances in my life and the lives of people I love. More importantly, I have seen him transform me so that I am not bound to begging for a different outcome but rather a divine income.
•
For many years I thought the purpose of prayer was to get something from God. Now I understand that the hope of prayer is to get God. Just God, more of Him and less of me. His desires become mine, not vice versa when I sincerely seek Him.
•
Praying does not require fancy language. God does not give credit for style. He is looking for surrender.
•
Prayer changes everything. The thing is, change just does not always mirror our desires.
•
I have heard a couple of renditions of this misconception the last week, “I don’t understand, He didn’t answer my prayers.” He did, friend. He just answered them His way, and we are not called to comprehend but to commit.
•
If you are a parent and you make decisions that are best for your children, you know sometimes they are hard, but they are also right. Our kids most often do not understand. Hard and holy go hand in hand, though, and it has been that way since the beginning.
•
God understands our difficulty because He, too, is a Father. He is a person to know not a commodity to control.
•
Prayer sometimes changes earthly directions, but most importantly it alters eternal destinations, and that is our primary commission.
•
We are fishers of men not means.
•
If I can pray for you today, please let me know. It is my privilege to petition the Prince of Peace on behalf of my friends.

Prayer

- dannalundstrom

It is prayer through things, not out of them that moves mountains. Sometimes my prayers are not answered the way I desire. When they are bound to my expectations, not my evolution the disappointment can lead to despair.

It is right and natural to pray for circumstances, especially difficult ones, to change. Jesus demonstrated that for us when He asked, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me.” But we cannot miss what He says next, “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Jesus was facing the most unimaginable circumstances, and He did ask for a different way, but ultimately His heart’s desire was the will of His Father not the way of His flesh.

It was not until I came to understand and trust the character of God and the location of my final destination that I could afford to pray with a boldness that says, Lord, here is my earnest plea, but it does not trump my longing for your eternal plan. My prayers shifted from being less about relief to more about refinement. If this cannot change, God, change me.

When I desire self-modification more than circumstantial transformation, my communion with The Father is lighter, and I am free to risk more because it is not about a particular outcome but a positive income. Praise seeps in when personal comfort steps out, and God is glorified. That is the objective of prayer. God’s glory. Not mine.

When we pray through the valley of suffering ourselves or with a friend, and we see God’s faithfulness and ever-present provisions in pain, it affords us patient perseverance because we know that He is good and His ways are sometimes hard, but always holy.

How can I pray for you today, friend?

A Pilar of Comfort

- dannalundstrom

When Carter was in the intensive care unit in Oregon after his traumatic brain injury, he was struggling with pain and double vision. In the early morning hours after an arduous night, he asked me to come and lay beside him because he saw two of me and he would feel better if the real one was close to him. As I laid there, my heart ached because I could not take the pain away. I wanted to be his substitute but had to settle as his soother instead.

Friend, God must see you, His child, like I saw mine in those wrenching moments. He looks down and knows you are struggling, in pain and hurting. For reasons you do not understand, He cannot take the pain away, but He does desire for you to invite him to come and lay down beside you so that He may be a pillar of comforter and peace.

The love of God does not negate our suffering, but it gives us what we need to get through and beyond it.

I pray you welcome Him into your circumstances tonight and that His peace is perceivable in your weary heart and pacifying to your worn out hands.

Be watchful. His steadfast faithfulness manifests in many ways.

You are loved.❤️