1131AFC080511 – Write that down.
[Chick sez: ] Read it online here, please.
Here is a collection of moments when the Holy Spirit whispered, “Write that down.”
1 Kings 19:13a
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
When Elijah did that, he heard God. Often we hear Him in ways we do not expect, see Him in places we cannot imagine He would be, and feel His presence in ways that give us goose-bumps. As I thought about that, I remembered times when that “tiny whispering sound” came to me in ways, places, feelings, and even whisperings I did not expect and strained to hear as I watched another Aloha Friday Message appear on the page. I decided to go back and look at some of those from this week – the first week in August – for a few years back. See if you recall any of these:
8/6/10 Proverbs 13:3 NIV: He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. An analysis of St. James’ treatise on controlling what we say and how that affects what we do; followed by The Story of the Wheat and the Tares
8/7/09 The little ways we know that God loves us came from the story about people who escaped death on 9/11 because little things prevented them from being there. Included was a suggestion to develop a personal Mission Statement. I included a copy of My Mission and the second goal was to be an Intercessor. That led to this prayer: (would you please pray this series of intercessions again? Thanks!)
I am inviting you to join me in that second role today, and every day until the next Aloha Friday. Please give this a try. If you can have friends and family join you, so much the better!
God calls His people to bless them so that they bless Him by blessing each other. We lift our hearts and minds to pray for one another:
Father, you call all of us to seek you in many ways. May each of us find that way that brings us closest to you. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.
We pray for those who help and guide us on the way to finding our Peace in You. Give them strength to share with us when we are weak. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.
We pray for who are overcome with struggling against their weaknesses. Show them mercy by infusing them with your Wisdom so they will see where strength is found. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.
We pray for those among us everywhere who are suffering because of illness in body, mind, or spirit. Let them find comfort in the loving prayers we offer on their behalf. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.
We pray for every person who lives in fear because of acts of terror, anger, war, or abuse and neglect. May we find ways to bless them with temporal and spiritual charity. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.
We pray for those who indulge unhealthy appetites for what the world offers. Deliver them from their desire to appease themselves in themselves, and let their appetite lead them to the banquet of your love. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.
We pray that in all things we will remember that you want us, just as we are, so that in us and through us the world will come to know there is no other god like our God and no better blessing than serving You. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.
We pray for those who have committed their live to you and gained your salvation. For those who are working to purify their souls through prayers and offerings of love to you and for us, we ask for pardon and peace. Let us pray to the Lord. Lord hear our prayer.
Gracious God, hear the prayers of your servants today and grant us the Peace that surpasses all understanding through Jesus, the Christ, who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord, may the blessing we long for be the strength of your faithful people, so that they will never be in conflict with your will. May your blessing always prompt them to give thanks for your unmerited favors. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Make it a wonderful day, Beloved, the beginning of a wonderful week of prayer.
August 1, 2008: Three stories about the Power of Love… The story of Billy who died in surgery, the story of a nameless child who died at age 7, and a story of the revitalizing power of going to church. It concluded with “’Work for justice with joyous compassion, dispense mercy with generous kindness, live righteously, and walk humbly before God and man.’
Jaspard to Fortitude Foundling in The Adventures of Fortitude Foundling
The best way to get through life is to live every single moment of it, because each of them is brand new.”
August 3, 2007: Part 6 of Poems to My Peace. This was the analysis of that poem:
Time spent with people we love doing things we enjoy together is time well spent. Even if that time is spent only reminiscing, it is still time spent together. We can spend time with loved ones even when they are absent from us because L♥ve binds all things, all places, and all persons into Unity, and Unity is the simplest expression of Peace. Unity is the integral expression of God. He is One, absolutely and eternally. Everything that comes together in Unity – “U-N-I together” – is part of that Ultimate Integrity, the most fundamental and essential aspect of Deity. When I do not need to hold my peace but am instead held in Peace, Unity transports us “everywhere and anywhere we want to go just as easily as saying it.”
August 11, 2006: The story of the Dart Test and the effect of taking out our hurt on others. Jesus ends up taking the hit for us. Check it out at this link.
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever — at your service, Beloved. Listen for Him constantly. “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”
Share-A-Prayer: CN, the trouble keeps multiplying. Pray for his conversion and for peace for his heart and his family. KD, facing more and more debilitating effects of chronic illness. Pray for strength to endure. FO, after complete remission for many months, going back for PET/CT to check on her cancer status. Pray for the good news that remission is continuing. SM, needs Jesus badly but cannot get past a hurtful past, the judgment of peers, and embarrassment about not knowing how to begin. Pray for a credible and empathetic witness to reach that heart.
Do you remember a teacher, a pastor, a friend or relative, or a book that blessed you by being a positive influence? Tell me about it. I want to put a collection of those in a future AFC!
Chick Todd
Age Quod Agis
America Bless God!
