Fresh Manna | Why Pray |

I'm 33 years old and I think I've probably had my entire prayer life wrong. God has been opening my eyes…yes, I have been blind but now I see. I've read this scripture what seems like a thousand times and I seem to always stop mid sentence "You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it…" [John 14:13] In all honesty, I stop there because I'm really not confident in that statement. I've been stuck on those words going "Really God? Are you sure about that? Was that a promise just for them or does it apply to me too?" Then I came across this story that made that scripture come alive for me…

Rick was born in 1962 to Dick and Judy Hoyt. As a result of oxygen deprivation to Rick's brain at the time of his birth, Rick was diagnosed as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Dick and Judy were advised to institutionalize Rick because there was no chance of him recovering, and little hope for Rick to live a "normal" life. In the spring of 1977, Rick told his father that he wanted to participate in a 5-mile benefit run for a Lacrosse player who had been paralyzed in an accident. Far from being a long-distance runner, Dick agreed to push Rick in his wheelchair and they finished all 5 miles, coming in next to last. That night, Rick told his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped." This realization was just the beginning of what would become over 1,000 races completed, including marathons, duathlons and triathlons (6 of them being Ironman competitions). Also adding to their list of achievements, Dick and Rick biked and ran across the U.S. in 1992, completing a full 3,735 miles in 45 days.

Before continuing to read, watch the video..

I know this is one of those "duh" moment but it hit me, I've been so focused on wrestling with the first part of the verse that I've missed the ENTIRE point "…so that the Son can bring glory to the Father." [John 14:13] I am like Rick, who can't do it without the Abba Father…My Daddy; I need his strength to get me through. Because I am His child, all I have to do is ask. There's no power in my request, in fact, it shows my perfect weakness. Yet, at that moment, I've asked My Daddy to step and and help me because I acknowledge that I'm insufficient. Because of my request, He will push, and run, and swim, and carry, and strain behind me to help me finish the race. And in the end, everyone who is standing there watching will see the love of the father being poured out for His child and that is what demands the focus and the glory. Isn't it humbling to know that God CHOOSES the weak and the frail to spread His glory so that He will receive all the honor and praise!!!!!!

Now when I pray, I'll be asking myself how will this request bring GLORY to my father's name. I'm at peace knowing that If another answer (different that my heart's desires) will bring more glory to God, I need to lay at Jesus feet and honestly say let your will be done. Although this is life changing way to evaluate my prayers I sit here and chuckle because of the simplicity. It's been right infront of me the entire time! :) "He who has ears, let him hear." [Matthew 11:15]

Note: Thank you Laureen for sharing this video on FB it was exactly what I needed today!

Oh Me of Little Faith...

My family goes to a church in the Nashville area where the members are writing blog post each day. First read the following blog, then I'll explain why I titled mine "Oh Me of Little Faith."

Here's the blog from the Community Church...

I AM is with Us

Key Passage: Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I AM with you; do not be dismayed, for I AM your God. I will strengthen you and help you and uphold you with my righteous right hand.

For the Community Art Show, I had an idea to look for the letters I AM in nature and photograph them. A friend suggested that I ask God himself to show me the letters. Why would God do that for me? Yet, the idea intrigued me. I wanted Him to reveal Himself to me. Just for me. So, I prayed and asked Him to show me the letters for I AM. I didn’t know what to look for or where to look. I kept my camera with me. One day, while driving, I saw a huge lower case “i,” clear as day in the clouds. I pulled over and snapped the photo. I was stunned. No way. In the sky? For me?

About a month later while driving, I saw a lower case “m” in the clouds! I was thrilled! So every day, I looked up at the sky. Where was my A? Nothing. Weeks passed and I began to doubt. Was it just a coincidence? One day something caught my eye; high in the sky, was my “A”! I had tears in my eyes because I knew God had done that for me! There was NO doubt. I had asked God for letters, but I think He knew what I was really asking was, “Are you there, God?” And he answered, “I AM!”

I pray that these photographs will remind you that the Great I AM is with you! He will strengthen you and help you and uphold you; all you have to do is look up!

Kelley Goodman
Kelley lives in Goodlettsville with her husband Ron and three children, enjoys being
an artist and is currently completing her Masters at Trevecca in Elementary Education.

Note from Casey: Because I know the person did not make up this story or edit the photos, I sat there thinking "Oh ME of little faith!" How much do I miss out on just because I don't BELIEVE that I'll see it? I mean seriously...have you ever seen an "m" in the sky? Have you ASKED to see an "m" or better yet...do you BELIEVE the God in heaven, who created the earth, who raises the dead, who says seek me and you will find me would be willing to put an "m" in the sky simply because you need proof the HE ALONE is the I AM.

How do you need God to show you He is the I AM? Are you willing to step out of faith and ask?

...this I love.

Today there was a memorial service for a man with Downs Syndrome who went to The Village Church. I had only met him once but I remembered him because of the pure joy that filled his heart as he worshiped in the row in front of me. The was the prayer he had written, "Through the years we may always be together...Jesus knows me, this I love." How simple. How powerful.

I'm thankful for his example and it reminded me of this scripture, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Ribbon Run!

| Summer, Cristina, Me|

My first 5K has been completed. It was a wonderful day to see so many happy faces and our team raised a ton of money to purchase a machine for early diagnosis of breast cancer! While I trained, my best time was 39 minutes. Of course, before the race, I had only run 3.1 miles four times in my life. My dear friend, Summer, stayed with me the entire time. She kept encouraging me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. At times, I wasn't sure that I would make it. There were some really big hills (considering that I run on totally flat roads.) Summer said, "Your going to hate me when this is over." I jokingly responded, "I already do." That of course as I was gasping for air. :) Thank you my dear friend for keeping me going, I met the goal that I had set for myself at 37 minutes.| Summer & Me. Mission Complete!|

| The Family: Ricky, Carrie, Morgan, Maddie, Owen, & Me (again)|

|Team Cristina. 144+ Members!!!!!|

Inspiring Words for the Class of '09 (and for everyone else too)

"The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity. Such knowledge is a true gift . . . it is painfully won, and it has been worth more to me than any qualification I ever earned."

~ from J.K. Rowling's 2008 Harvard commencement address

12 Lessons in 12 Years

Looking back over twelve years of marriage, I can see I've gotten a lot of things right and I could have improved in many ways too. Here are the top 12 lessons that I have learned or am still working on…

1. Accept Criticism: Everyone says "you just know" when it is the right person. Listen to yourself because it is so true. Even though I've changed over the years, I could not have found a better person that has inspired me to grow, encourage me to stand strong, and let me know when I should back down. Here is my lesson learned: The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism. Be open, be honest, be accepting and realize it is better to be "saved" rather than ruined.
2. Write It Down: We spend so much time & energy planning for our wedding day yet we leave out the planning of the rest of our lives together. If I got a "mulligan" (Yes, Owen will be proud of the terminology), we should have taken the time to write down goals for our future. Here are some of the things that would have been discussed: How many kids are we going to have? What are the top 5 things we want our kids to leave our home knowing? What will your chores be in the house? Who is cooking, how much can we eat out, who does the shopping? How much are we saving for retirement? How will we spend the holidays? What are your pet peeves? Where will we live in 10, 15 or 20 years? Do we agree on a budget? What would your plan be if you got cancer? Do you like the house to be hot or cold? I know that some of these are trivial questions yet other questions and/or answers have the potential to change the course of your life. Dave Ramey says in his book More Than Enough, "Only about 8 percent of Americans have clearly defined goals and only 3 percent write them down. It is no accident that only 3 percent of Americans retire wealthy." I would say the same philosophy applies to the success or failure of a marriage.
3. Define Instead of Simply Repeating: I would have changed my wedding vowels (and taken them more seriously). Here would be what I would have said: I, Casey, take you Owen to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our friendship and love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst, through the difficult and the easy. What may come I will always be there. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep. For where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. And where you die, I will die and there I will be buried.
4. Complete The Cycle: I've learned that love (like life) is a cycle. Sometimes you "love" each other then there are times when you just "like" each other. However, it always circles back to "love" so don't call it quits before the cycle is complete.
5. Work Hard: It is so true that nothing ever comes to one (that is worth having), except as a result of hard work.
6. Welcome Home: Your spouse should look forward to coming home rather than dreading the arrival. Even if it's a rotten day, I need to remember to greet Owen with a smile just so he knows I'm glad he ALWAYS COMES BACK. (I'll have to learn this lesson from Sophie our little dog. She is always so glad to see him!)
7. Don’t be a Chihuahua: A lesson for us ladies....your husband needs his armor shined and his sword sharpened, not a Chihuahua barking around his ankles reminding him of his past failure.
8. Laugh: It is better to learn to laugh through life rather than cry your way through.
9. Go To Bed: It's ok to go to be angry because sometimes you just wake up in a better mood!
10. Make Incompatibility Work: Remember that what counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with incompatibility.
11. Practice Makes Perfect: Marriage, ultimately, is the PRACTICE of becoming passionate friends.
12. Become Embers: Some start to complain when the spark is gone from their marriage. Remember that a spark lasts only a second. It lights a fire. When the flame burns down, you are left with the hottest part of the fire, the embers, which burn the longest and keep the fire alive.

(Happy Anniversary Chuppy Luv)

Note: Some of these lessons are my own thoughts some of these are reflections of good advice that I have heard over the years.

Pachelbel Bedtime

My Crazy Life Theme Song!

Words to live by...

As you can see, one of the books that I love is More Than Enough by Dave Ramsey. Here are some highlights of the book which has helped me build my character. I hope they bring you inspiration too.

"When one door close, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." Alexander Graham Bell

It is much better to look where you are going than to see where you have been.

A driver using only the rear view mirror on his car will get nowhere fast. Look forward with vision and set bite-size goals to accomplish your vision.

Only about 8 percent of Americans have clearly defined goals and only 3 percent write them down. It is no accident that only 3 percent of Americans retire wealthy.

One big hairy lie that we allow to steal our hope is: Failure is permanent. If we see failure in our past as an indicator of our future, our only possible future, that will rob our hope. Winston Churchill said "Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."

Failure is natural, normal, and is going to happen. Failure is caged when we realize it is not permanent.

"Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." Henry Ford

For us ladies of the house: Your husband needs his armor shined and his sword sharpened, not a Chihuahua barking around his ankles reminding him of his past failure.

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, today is a gift, that's why they call it the PRESENT."

"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produce perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3-4 Problems give us the ability to hang on and that ability changes who we are. When our character is permanently molded by the trial we are stronger and the end result is hope.

"There are no hopeless situations, only people who are hopeless about them." Dinah Shore

"The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism." Norman Vincent Peale

Find people who are being who you want to be and spend time with them. Your habits and values will be better because you become like those you are hanging around with.

"….and in a multitude of counselors there is safety." Proverbs 24:6

"One outstanding success can cover a multitude of blunders."

"Those who have never made a mistake usually work for those who have."

"I tell them if they are going to do something, do it right the first time and they won't have to go back and correct their mistakes." Sharon Ramsey

Work is doing it. Discipline is doing it every day. Diligence is doing it well every day. It all starts with work.

"Work like it all depends on you and pray like it all depends on God." St. Ambrose

Posturing is not work, and looking good is not work; you cannot confuse activity with accomplishments.

Edison said it best, life's greatest feats, the world's greatest discoveries, his own most fantastic inventions were "1% inspiration and 99% perspiration."

"Nature gave us two ends – one to sit on and one to think with. Ever since then the man's success or failure has been dependent on which one he used most." George Kirkpatrick

Discipline understands that the best way to get rich quick is to get rich slow. "A faithful man will abound with blessings: Be he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished." Proverbs 28:20

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11