prayers continue.....

I was up early this morning for some reason. From sleep right into a prayer of thankfulness. I love days that start that way. It has a calming peace that hopefully lasts all day on me. I have a big lunch today with a few of "MyKids" - I know in my heart it could be a day for a change in direction and I am at peace with that if that is where God is taking this path.
Lets continue our conversation from yesterday on Prayer. Prayer is conversation with our Heavenly Father. For me, I pray almost all day long in little spurts. I try to find God in the details of my normal day - as I do life. As I come into the office. As I go to work. As I work with a student or a faculty member. As I talk with the lady at Lowes. As I invest in "MyKids" and have lunch in the schools. I am not one to pray for a long periods of time and have only been feeling more comfortable in praying in front of people - like my Rock Group families. I have always wanted to have power in my prayers and meaning for everyone when I do pray in front of folks. Pastors are great at this! My prayers need to be directed to God and Him alone and not to the folks I am praying with. It may be on their behalf, it may be for them but its not "to" them. So that has been a big break through for me in my prayers. One of the things we need to understand is our time in prayer is personal. Our conversations with God need to be personal and with complete honesty. When in prayer, we have to realize God knows our hearts and there is nothing that we are hiding from Him so we might as well pray and leave it all out on the table. Bring it, I think God can handle it. We also have to pray about the small things and not just the big things. I like to think about it this way - If my son is struggling with something, I want to know about it. If it matters to him, it matters to me. God is the same way. If it matters to you, it matter to Him. Tell God what you are feeling, what you're struggling with, and share with Him the victories in your life! IF something means that much to you, continue to lift that in prayer. Be fervent in your prayers - Sometimes God is looking to see how much you really care about what that is you are praying about. It may take some time to pass before God passes along that blessing - He may be working that out for you or he may be changing you for it. Pray Until Something Happens. PUSH - Listening for God seems to be the part where lots of prayers go what we think is unheard or unanswered. Often times we just miss it. I love what John shares with us in John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
The more we seek after Gods voice and direction, the easier it is to hear Him. The closer we walk with Him, the closer He is. Even in the darkest of struggles in life, God is often times as bright and clear in the softest of voices. Keep listening loved ones and looking for God in the details of your day. Pray as you go about life in your normal and every day experience.
My prayer for you and for me today is that we have a honest conversation with God. Sharing with Him how we feel about things and about Him. Prayers for a deeper walk and clearer understanding of the things of Him and apply them to our lives.
Love you all,
Lonnie~

Your Prayer life...

Carol, Kyle and I had a great but short visit at the cabin this weekend. Left after work on Friday and came home Saturday afternoon. Got to see so many deer just standing around eating grass near the cabin, stopping in at the deer lick I have placed out for them and even a real small deer alone but very comfortable hanging around the house for what seemed to be a LONG time. Its awesome and even the dogs loved sitting, being still and just watching them. Got to hang out and watch a movie with "MyGirls" Saturday evening as their mom had a date. It was a great time investing in them and love hanging out with them. Sundays church services were rockin and proved to be another incredible day. Pastor Jimmy is leading us for the next few weeks on prayer. Its awesome to know that back around Christmas, God was leading our Rock Group to study some things that He has called us to do. We wrapped up Kaleo, (to be called) and with it also being 2009 - I really wanted to see our rock group folks turn it up a notch in prayer. So for the next few weeks - our rock group will be getting the same topic message in a few different ways. See prayer is our lifeline to God. We are each called and we know we are supposed to pray but often times - we don't.
Why don't we pray more often?
1) Not sure you know how to pray.
2) Get bored or distracted while trying to pray.
3) Think your requests are too small for God.
4) Not sure your prayers will make a difference.
Plain and simple... I am sure there are more than just 4 but those are the biggies. One of the things that my son Kyle knows is that he can come and talk to me about anything. When I am in my chair - that is an open invitation to come and sit with me and talk. I want to know what is going on, his struggles, his hurts and friendships. If for some reason he thinks that I am too busy or if I am investing in another one of "MyKids" too much - then that really hurts. As a dad I am never too busy for my son. Our heavenly father is the same way. He wants to know what is going on in your life, what your hurts and fears are, what you are struggling with. He wants to be involved in your every day life. If we have a 1 way relationship - then that relationship is not that good. Examine the relationships in your life, are any of them 1 way communication? Would my wife love me as much as she does if I just handed her a list of things each day for to do for me and I never thanked her, told her I appreciated her, or told her how much I loved her?
Communication is vital in opening the blessings of heaven upon our lives.
Prayer is just communicating with God. Opening our hearts and our minds and just having a talk like you would with your best friend. About a month ago, it was clear to me that I was missing this part when my Rock Group met. I wanted so much to have meaning, power and something in my prayers for everyone but that is not how we are supposed to pray - we are not supposed to pray for the benefit of others but for the benefit of God. Its to Him we are praying and for Him we are praying. SO that has changed my prayer life the last month or so.
Psalm 5:1-3
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
We also have to be expectant on God to answer our prayers. We have to continue to talk with Him about what we are struggling with but also in thanking Him. Over the next few days, I think I will share some more but for now ... I am very thankful for the blessings in my life, the people I am doing life with, the kids that God has placed in my heart, my family, my church and church family, my job, my wife Carol and Kyle - and for a God of second chances and more if needed. Back in 1999 I almost left this place, not knowing Jesus then, God gave me my second chance. I plan on using it to the most of my abilities. If I tell you that I love you - I mean it. If I tell you, I am here for you and to walk with you - I mean it. If I reach out to you - I mean it.

Love you all,
Lonnie~

Friday ....

It was about Wednesday this week when I realized it felt like Friday. This has been a long week! Not sure why - nothing major happening or any particular thing that I am struggling with except a few things. But it has just felt like a long week.
Carol, Kyle and I are headed to the cabin tonight until tomorrow night. I am blessed to be married to a woman who thinks Valentines day is a day created by Hallmark. So I guess I am off the hook in many ways. But when you are married to such a wonderful woman - almost every day is like Valentines day and I am very blessed to be doing life with my soul mate. Life would be hard with out my sweet Carol.
I am really looking forward to Sunday. Excited about what God is doing through our church the last few weeks. It has been pretty exciting and being part of something so much bigger than ourselves. I have been praying for a family all week this week and I am praying they come Sunday. After church, Carol, Kyle and I are hoping to get to watch some of our Rock Group kids for the afternoon. It would be a great time together as well as giving this family some rest as far as the parents. I hope to get over to the barn and check out the horses together. Kyle was invited to a birthday party there from his friends so we may tag along for an hour or 2. It is very peaceful out there with the horses, the pastures and the company. Horses are pretty cool.......and they each have a personality. Rock Group Sunday night - looking forward to leading that lesson because I have packed a lot into it over the last few months and this week especially.
I am really excited about my cup of coffee tomorrow sitting out on the porch at the cabin. There have been 5 spotting's of Bobcats in the area...so I would love to hear or even see one. That would be awesome.......
Love to you all - Be encouraged today....
Lonnie~

"Why do I come to lunch and sit with the kids?"

That was the question that was asked of me today while having lunch with my son and a table full of his friends and classmates. I do this every Thursday at this school and it is the highlight of my week. I am at a different school on Tuesdays having lunch with another one of "MyKids" and have been doing that for 2 years now. You would expect that question to come from an adult, a teacher or a parent but it was asked by one of my sons friends. See the reason is, she has never had a visitor to come and have lunch with her. There has never been a time for her to feel special when someone comes and has lunch with her and getting to sit at the big table with other "special" kids. Never the focal point of questions of (who is that?) from the other kids. A few weeks back she had something on her mind and asked a BIG question that quieted the entire table. A parent thanked me for my answer and I was flippin pumped about that!

So back to the question. "Why do I come to lunch and sit with the kids?" I do that because I feel it on my heart to invest in these kids. Its simple and I dont bring lunch because I don't want my attention to be on food but on them. I do bring smiles and encouragement. I bring reminders to laugh and study hard. I bring words that encourage good decisions. I bring relationship values and fatherly figures to those who need it. I bring honesty and dedication by showing up each week. I bring that little something that these kids are missing. I bring friendship and someone if they need to talk to - they can. More importanlty, I bring Jesus with me. It is in His name that I pray every single time out in the parking lot before I walk into the school that the kids that I am in contact with are well today, their home life and family is well, things at home are good, their teachers are having a good day and that they see Jesus in me. The last few years I have got to know some great kids, made some great friendships, and have got to know some awesome families. It is still weird for me to be introduced sometimes as their Sunday School Teacher - but that is what I am for some and I sometimes can't believe that God is using me this way because I never knew it was in me. I never knew I had this desire to make a difference with these kids.

I come to have lunch and sit with the kids because I know in my heart God asked me to do this and it is for the kids. I can say this though, if ever I am in a bad mood or something has me down or I am not feeling good - I go to the school anyways and just being there with them, I forget all that was bothering me and many times I walk out feeling good. Its an honor to serve them in such a small way. But in the big picture.... it is not so small.

That is why I come to lunch and sit with my son and "MyKids". I thank the Lord every day for them and for God opening my eyes and my heart to something I never knew I had.

Psalm 37:4-5
4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

Humbled today and very blessed,
Lonnie~

I was thinking....

We recently changed upper hands with the Presidential leadership in this country. To kick things off and do the ceremony and all that fancy stuff - Americans spent 150 Million on that parade/party/show/celebration but I just wonder ... What a church could do to a community for lost people, hurting people, families and all in the name of Jesus with 150 Million? I am not talking sinking the money into a building, campus development, send our leaders to meet the pope or new equipment - but into people.
Meeting in a mobile church the last 4 years that my family and I have been serving at has had its struggles (mostly all good). Not long ago, I don't think this was even tried by churches with opening and holding services in local schools, college campus conference rooms, or in movie theatres. It is pretty exciting to be part of a team of folks all serving God and His local church. We are not all seminary folks - we come from all different backgrounds and have different talents but together we make it work. We all do have one thing in common - we love Jesus and our experience in life because of the transformation in us that has taken place by Jesus - we want others to know and share. 150 Million would go a long way in changing lives, building families, and restoring so much that has been lost. Church has been a place for the community to come together and have a place to worship God, help each other during hard times and be a community to family. Too many of us today drive home from work, pull in the garage and shut the door behind us and never come out to meet or even get to know our neighbors. We live basically solitary lives.
Sunday mornings there are a lot of things to distract us. TV has 1000 channels, ball games, vacation at the lake, family obligations, sleep, recovering from the party the night before and folks are working more than ever now to make it - some 7 days a week.
That is why at church - we should all be striving for the best. Giving God our best and when we are serving - every detail is in our job description. Someone that day may be headed in the wrong direction, ready to walk out on a marriage, ready to take their own life - who knows the struggle - but it is our job as followers of Jesus to get them the "Good News".
Our children's areas and student areas should rock out MTV or the Disney channel. Our music should be better than American Idol...... Gods word should be preached from the heart and on fire with truth and in such a way that everyone can understand it and apply it - otherwise we won't get it.
On Sunday mornings, my son never asks "Are we going to church this morning?" - it is always "What time are we leaving?". Church is a fun place to be~
Community church - a place for everyone to come together... A place for our children to get married, a place to plant a rose bush for a passing loved one, a place for community BBQ's and teens to have a safe and encouraging place to hang out in. A place for neighbors to get to know each other - I have that vision - do you?
I am humbled today with how the Lord is using me and the things He is teaching me and my family.
I was just thinking ..........

Love you all,
Lonnie

So much going on right now. Didn't sleep all that well and thus I am not feeling all that "Fresh" this morning. I have been in the book of Hebrews and reading through Job in my morning quiet time.
Hebrews 3:13 sticks out to me this morning.
13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Teenage years are hard. I think they are much harder today than say, when I was 15 or so. I guess the decisions being made today have a bigger impact on our lives than we were kids. Years ago 15 was a kid, kid decisions, kid thinking, kid actions, - still a kid. Today, kids are growing up faster and the 15 year old today might be a 17 or 18 year old back then. I take my gift of "Encouragement" seriously - it is something that I do and enjoy walking along side people and placing it out there for them. The only problem with that is when people don't accept it, use it, or want it. Not much I can do but life goes on and keep at it.

I wanted to share this morning something that was in my inbox long ago. I keep it and read it every so often when I am struggling with relationships that I hold close to me and the people that are dear to me.

It is from Jon Walker

Warning Each Other

We need people in our lives who will love us enough to warn us when necessary. Just as “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17 NIV), we’re to push each other toward Christ-like behavior and protect one another from failing in our faith.God calls us to “tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body” (Ephesians 4:25). The basis for warning each other in loving truth is that “we all belong to each other.”Our warnings are not to be mere rebukes; they should be positive and redemptive – calling us to a higher place and reminding each other of our godly purpose. They are exhortations for restoration, and are given as loving corrections with a humble heart and compassionate words. The apostle Paul said, “So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:31) Can you hear the passion and compassion in his voice? When our warnings are motivated by love and based on committed relationships, they rarely come across as harsh or mean. In fact, when we warn others, we tell them how much we love them. And as part of a Christian community, we also should be ready and willing to receive warnings from others. The fact is, we all have blind spots. Just like a driver sometimes needs help to see what’s in a car’s blind spot, we need friends to help us see things in us or near us that we don’t see ourselves. And in the same way we would warn a driver, the point is not to tear down the other person, but to keep him safely on the road. Paul also says the warning should be immediate – “as long as it is called ‘today.’” We should seize the moment because waiting to warn only leads to disaster. So what?·

Take a loving risk – You show your love for others by lovingly letting them know of blind spots. It takes a risk to show love in this way, but what will it cost if you don’t warn your friend? Who in your life needs to hear a word of warning?·

Loving restoration – When you point out a blind spot, it should not be done in anger. Your motive should be to restore your friend to a strong Christian walk and witness. Ask, “How can I make this warning tender?”·

Listen, don’t defend – Are you willing and prepared to receive a similar warning? When someone points out a blind spot in your life, listen – and don’t defend yourself. Take it to God and ask if it is true. If it is, ask him what you should do about it.

Having lunch today with one of "MyKids" - A little anxious about that and I will be praying extra this morning that everything is ok with her and at home. No matter what, my promise has been to be there - regardless how many pieces I have to pick up. It is sometimes a messy place to be but a place I know I am supposed to be.
I am thankful this morning that a good buddy of mine is going to be ok. Emergency surgery yesterday for his appendix. God was all over that yesterday! Praying for a quick recovery...

Have a great day loved ones, you will find God in amazing places if you look for Him.
Lonnie~

Monday ....

Wow how time skips on by us. Monday morning came quick this time around! With temps in the 70's Saturday and Sunday - my family and I did not sit around much and stay inside. The clan was busy. Saturday morning we got to hang out and watch one of Kyles friends in his basketball game. It was the first one we made this year and it was pretty exciting. They lost in OT but the kids had a great game and played very well together. Saturday afternoon we got to hang out at the barn with a close family of ours. They have a horse and Carol, Kyle and I enjoyed going around and getting to know all of them. We got to watch their daughter ride some - she is a jumper and looks really good up on that big horse! Here is a picture of me getting some inside information on the restrooms at the "Barn". Too funny - nice picture Carol!

Anyways - we had a great church day yesterday. We had enough folks in for setup that we were mostly done by 8:00AM and I headed home to get breakfast with my family. That is a rare treat on Sunday mornings and I fully enjoyed that 2nd cup of coffee. We had 2 healing services. I was asked to come down front and pray for folks who came down and wanted prayer. It was pretty amazing as SO many people came down front. It was pretty emotional at times as many, including myself, left with tears on our faces. I couldn't help but to think back when I was first coming to Rocky River Community Church and I was just starting my walk with Jesus. Pastor Jimmy called me down front at the end of the service and prayed over me for my mom. It was very powerful then and it was pretty powerful yesterday. For that prayer and asking God to "Heal" - but in many ways - moms sickness did bring healing. Healing for so many as we walked with mom during those hard and dark times. Healing spiritually for so many including myself. God uses everything in our lives for His purposes~even if it means the passing on. Death is not looked at by our Heavenly Father as we see it. For many - death is final but if you have put your faith and trust in Jesus - then it is just a stop along your journey. Eternity in heaven is your home and this 50-60-70 years that you live on earth is just a passing through. Loved ones, your healing may be in many different forms - it may be your heart being made right with a lost loved one you haven't spoken to in years, it may be that son who left home years ago after college and things just have not been right since then, it may we that dad who left you when you were little, it may be your faith shining for someone to know Jesus through your pain and struggles. God will use you in all circomstances, even in your darkest days.

God did "Heal" my mom and I am thankful that she is in her heavenly home waiting on us to be with her. Her faith and trust was in Jesus ... I was there when she accepted Him into her heart and life.

Hope yours is with Jesus as well today. We all are only 1 intersection and a red light away from that meeting. Are you ready right now? Life is short.... that is one thing I have learned....

Love you all,

Lonnie~