Intentional Prayer

The effectual
fervent prayer
of a righteous [woman]
availeth much.
James 5:16








effectual [ih-fek-choo-uhl]: capable of producing an intended effect

fervent [fur-vuhnt]: showing great intensity of spirit

I'm amazed at the ways the Lord has used my friends to speak to me.
I could fill volumes just representing the last year alone.

But, this little volume is about a couple of dear friends who are turning 40 with me this year.
These girls are uncommonly good.
One of them suggested that we needed to do something really special.
She arranged for a conference call between the three of us.
I thought she was going to suggest a grand trip we could take together.
Or some "bucket list" item we could complete and cross off.

But, instead...

"I've been thinking a lot about this and I think we need to unite in intentional prayer for each other for the 40 days leading up to our birthdays."

And though the term "intentional prayer" is not really used in the Mormon faith, I'm smart enough to know what it must mean.
And my little heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
I knew this was something I needed to do.

Who does that?
Who thinks to suggest such a thing?

My good, Christian, Godly-devoted friends, that's who.
Oh, how I love them.

We each shared a bit of the things in our hearts and committed to each other to pray...really pray...with real intention.
Effectual.
Fervent.
Prayer.
For 40 days.

I could not be given a better gift for my birthday.
To pray for my friends.
And to know they are praying for me.

My "40 days" starts tomorrow (can you believe 'tis only 40 days?).
(And isn't that a great way to end one year and begin another?)
One of the girls "40 days" already began.
So, we've already been praying for her for a few days.

And what I'm learning about prayer...
...about the significance of the number "40"
...about the power of praying for others...
in just a few days...

Well, let's just say I've got some things to share.
Good things.

Stay tuned.

(image found here)

Wisdom from Candleford

"A man's role is to conquer the world."

"Oh, and what is a woman's role?"

"To love him for it."

-Lark Rise to Candleford, Season 2


I have spent an obscene amount of time this past week with this delightful little series, introduced to me long ago but not able to be truly devoured until this holiday season when I've taken some time off to regroup and refuel (yes, I know that's a really really long sentence).

Now, lest you are tempted to judge, I've also been terribly productive.

I've spent time with friends.
I've worked out.
I've cleaned.
I've planned.
I've spent my Christmas money.
I've done some writing.

But, how can a girl be too terribly productive when there are these bits of wisdom to be enjoyed:

“Tell Ms. Lane how you feel about her before you drive yourself insane with the containment of it.”

“Am I so visible?”

“Just a little.”

“I tell her all of the time. I tell her what an amazing spirit she is. I tell her she is beautiful. I tell her…"

“No, sir. That won’t do. A woman needs to be told how you feel—in clear, plain, unmistakable terms...And if you do, and you mean it, you have to realize that is only the start of it. So...you decide.”

"I am decided."

Were smarter words ever spoken?
Simply delightful.

a letter to my future

(this is a letter I wrote before Christmas, but never posted. Then I received this ohsoperfect gift and felt it was time to hit "publish")

Dear future life:

I caught a glimpse of you last weekend.
It was short.
But, you were running beside me in Snow Canyon (one of the prettiest spots of Southern Utah).
And I saw you...details of you I wasn't expecting to see.

And for all my talk that I'm doing this thing I'm doing just for me?
Well, seeing you made me realize that wasn't entirely true.
I'm doing it for you too.

You've never felt so close.
That probably seems odd to say.
I mean, you're the future.
And you're always the same distance away from today...that's your very definition.

But, right now, somehow, there seems to be less space between us.

When I run, I'm running towards you.
And I guess I'm just hoping I can run fast enough to somehow catch up.

Because what I saw...what I felt...during that run in Snow Canyon with you?

Well, it's everything I've been waiting for.
And now I feel like you're actually waiting too...for me.

So, I just wanted to say "thank you".
For waiting.

I'm coming.

xoxo,
me.

What I'm Giving this Christmas

I feel so behind.
How is it Christmas already?
Seriously.

I mean, I haven't really even gotten any shopping done.
But, last weekend, I made a decision about the most important gift I'll be giving.

Read about it here.


(image found here)

Merry Christmas!

(for the real thing click here). You're welcome!

inexpressible comfort

Oh, the comfort -

the inexpressible comfort
of feeling safe with a person -
having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words,
but pouring them all right out,
just as they are,
chaff and grain together;

certain that a faithful hand

will take and sift them,
keep what is worth keeping,
and then with the breath of kindness
blow the rest away.
(~Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859)


How much do you love that?
Love.
Life is simply better with those kind of people in it.
Simply better.
And I'm blessed to have some.
Truly. Blessed.
xoxo

(image found here)

Life's "Red Sea" Moments

I had one of my sweeter (and perhaps more important) "ah-ha" moments last weekend. I wish I had a way to really articulate what the Lord did for me...
what He taught me...
what He showed me.

I tried to articulate that in my latest blog post for TOFW.com.

You can read it here.

I think when all is said and done, I'm really really grateful for a patient Father who never tires of giving us just what we need.

And I'm also grateful for Elder Holland.

Sometimes I think the Lord had me live on the earth now because He needed Elder Holland to be on the earth now...and, well, He just knew how much I would need to be living on the earth at the same time as Elder Holland.



(image...and isn't it lovely?...found here)

The most important measure

I woke up this morning and my little spirit said, "Um, I think we're smaller today."

So, this morning, with the power out (holy mackanoly we had a wicked wind storm last night and this morning), I got up in the dark, found my flashlight, and went to take a shower.

But, before I did, I decided to step on the scale.

I'm not one of those chronic weighers.
I don't obsess about the number.
I don't check my weight every day.
I sometimes don't even do it every week.

But, bottomline, the number is part of the reflection of the journey and it's a measurer of progress. And this morning, I wanted a measure.

I stepped on the digital scale in the dark and stepped off to shine the light on the number (who needs the .7oz of the flashlight effecting the scale?)

NO. WAY.

I stepped back on to clear it and then try it again because I just couldn't believe it.
It was the same number the second time.

YES. WAY.

I saw a number I seriously have not seen since the mid-90s (right after I came home from my mission...a mission that was really good for my spirit but really bad for my body...and yet I was still smaller then than I've been the last 16 years).

I've never talked about my numbers here.
I've never wanted it to be about that.

But, I have lost 11 more pounds since I started boot camp.
Eleven.
Since November 14th.

Even with a back injury.
Even with some discouragement.
Even with not being able to do all that I wanted my body to do.

But, I want this and I'm food journaling and I'm making good choices.
I'm staying away from sugar and I'm drinking water and I'm getting sleep.
I'm believing and I'm trusting and I'm moving forward.
And. I'm. praying.

And I feel amazing.

And I love that I felt amazing before I even got on the scale this morning.
My body knew.
My spirit knew.

And what I knew is that I'm doing this.
I really really am.

The scale just kind of verified that fact.

If anyone ever says you can't pray your way to where you want to be, they are dead wrong. My prayers have changed the last few weeks and I'm telling you, prayer works.

The scale is one measurer.
The way I feel is the other one...the most important one.