Praying selfish prayers

I had the tv on in the background while I was surfing Pinterest this morning.  A commercial for Long Island Medium came on.  While I'm not into 'speaking with the dead', a comment that the 'customer' made got me thinking.

The medium asked her if she prayed with her kids every night.  To which the lady replied, "For what?  We used to, but we prayed for health and safety.  What do we have to pray for now?"

From what I could gather from the commercial, the lady's husband had died.  I don't know why or the circumstances surrounding it.  The medium also asked her if the lady's husband was a man of faith, to which she replied that he was.  That's where the commercial ended.

So, here's my question......do we only pray for what we want and discount God when it doesn't pan out the way WE want?

Jesus prayed "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42)

Jesus himself asked God for what he wanted, but also was willing to go through anything that God felt was necessary.  This should be how WE pray.  Present your requests to the Lord, but be willing and ready to accept that what YOU want many not necessarily be the BEST for YOU.

Our prayers cannot be rooted in selfishness.  We cannot see the bigger plan.  We do not know the future.  How can we possibly know what is best for us when we don't know what is coming in the future?

I know the very real pain of losing my husband.  I know what it is like to wake up everyday and have the realization that your best friend isn't coming home.  I get her pain, I really do.  However, I also feel that God is in control of my life.  I don't feel that I have the right to question the Lord's will.  He, for whatever reason, felt that it was time for my husband to leave this earth.....and I trust His judgement.

The absolute worst thing we, as Christians, can do in hard times is stop praying.

I get that it is hard to go through the death of a loved one, I'm here living it every day but to stop praying because your loved one is in the arms of Jesus is incredibly selfish.

If you truly want the best for your loved one, and they were a believer (as she stated he was), why would you cease talking to the One who took away their pain?  Why grieve their departure from a messed up, yucky world?

This is where a thankful heart comes in.  Your perspective and outlook on life is EVERYTHING when life sends you a curve ball.

I choose to be thankful that my husband is no longer suffering in this world.  Yes, we had an amazing life....but it was full of financial woes, physical pain for him, stress of providing for a family, etc.  He no longer has to deal with any of that.  I love him enough to be thankful for that, even though we miss him tremendously.

I am thankful for his life.  I am thankful for the almost 17 years I had with him.  I am thankful for the 4 beautiful girls he gave me.  I'm thankful for the husband he was and the amazing marriage we shared.  I'm thankful that he was an incredible daddy and that my girls have TONS of memories with him.  I'm thankful for all I learned from him and all the fun we had.

Prayers that ask for what we want but also realize that we may not know what we truly need are scary and hard to say.......but they are worth it.  They make you have faith (trust).  However, they also sustain you when your life gets really hard.

If you can pray that you are truly open to whatever the Lord has for you, you will be tremendously blessed for your faith.  I am living proof of that.  My life has not been easy for the past few months, but knowing that the Lord has my absolute best interest at heart is so comforting to me.

Complete trust takes away so much stress and frees you up to live your life.  Pray that the Lord guides your life and go the direction He is leading.

BELIEVE that when you pray he hears and will answer.  Have faith that He will either give you the desires of your heart or change your desires.  He will come through every time.

Most importantly, don't stop praying...........even a storm is created and calmed by His hand.

For some more of MY thoughts on prayer go here and here.
For an article on praying the will of God, go here 



Linked to: Raising Homemakers, Raising Arrows, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home,

A letter from Daddy's little girl

This is my oldest daughter and her Daddy when she was 8 years old.  She wasn't old enough to actually shoot this deer, but she was with him when he did.  As you can tell by the look on her face, she was as proud as she could be.  She can still tell you the story step by step about how this deer was taken and the story surrounding it.  She was, is, and always will be Daddy's Little Girl.

If you've read my blog over the past few months, you know that we lost her precious Daddy in December....a short 4 months ago.  The letter below is one that she just wrote to conclude a scrapbook that she put together in his honor.  She is now 13 and just 2 days after her Daddy passed away, she shot her first deer with his muzzleloader.  They planned for that day for months and he didn't make it to the hunt but her uncle did and we couldn't have been more proud.

By Lexi Searfoss

April 24, 2013

My dad and best friend passed away about 4 months ago.  I had 12 awesome years with him and I'm lucky I had that much because he got hurt when I was a couple months old and almost died then.  Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing.  My dad was basically my best friend, we did everything together.  Anywhere from teaching me how to train a dog to showing me how to skin a deer.  He showed me or taught me everything I know.  Most girls my age would have been going to the mall when I'm going out in 20 below weather to chase coyotes and dogs.  But that's because I love it.  I love being outside.  That was something I did with my dad.  Some people take their dads for granted, but me, I spent time with him whenever I possibly could.  Before they started the logging business, he was working for Marc.  I went out and helped him carry big cedar logs on my shoulders.  It didn't matter that it was hard work and tiring, we were spending time together, that was all that mattered.  My whole family is big into hunting, so I was kind of born into it, but I don't mind.  I've been going out hunting with my dad for as long as I can remember.  This past hunting season (about a month before he passed) we were at deer camp.  We hunted everyday while there was a sleety snowy mess.  We went and were on the side of a tree.  That was the hardest I've ever hunted, and that was the first time I got to go back and hunt with him.  Usually I'm stuck babysitting but this year I wasn't.  Just a little bit of a coincidence don't ya think?  I guess hunting just comes natural to me.  Other people have to try harder but not me - I live from one hunting season to the next.  Here's my year: spring-softball, summer-bear season, fall-deer season, winter-coyote season and that's my life every year.  Some people may think it's boring but I love it.

My friends are almost complete opposite of me, so they always ask me why all I talk about is hunting but as you can see, that is my life.  That's what I grew up doing and that's how I was raised.  I'm not into the drama with girls or going to the dances or having to have the next best pair of shoes.  I would rather be hanging off the side of a tree waiting for the big buck I've been waiting for to come into range than go to prom.  I'm glad I'm that way.  It doesn't take much to please me.  I'm pretty low maintenance and I'm glad to say I can thank my Dad for that.  Anyone who knows me and knew my dad knows that we did everything together.  We had a special relationship - one many dads and daughters don't have.  My aunt is always telling me how I need to be more girly because she is.  And I sort of was at one time when I was little but then my dad got a hold of me....and I'm not going back now!

The night before he passed I was supposed to have youth group but didn't, I was so bummed.  But now I'm glad I didn't have it because that was that much more time I had with him.  Instead my dad and I went outside to build a sled we were supposed to use for hunting two days later.  When we got done we had to try it out so we did.  We pulled each other all over the yard laughing.  I never knew the next day he'd be gone forever, but he was.  Instead of hunting two days later, we were making arrangements for his funeral...My last moments we were doing what we loved - building stuff and we were laughing.  It taught me that I need to live every day to it's fullest.  Don't waste a second.  So I'm not going to waste my time crying over boys or being in the pointless drama.  The day he passed away was the worst day of my life - no doubt I didn't think he could be gone like that with a flip of a switch.  But I'm starting to accept it, because I know there is a reason behind it and the best part is it's starting to unfold right before my eyes.  My mom keeps telling me that he really got the better end of the deal.  He's not hurting anymore either.  I guess cancer runs through my family so at least it wasn't that and he didn't have to go through the pain and treatments.  I couldn't even imagine having to choose life or death for my dad.  And it was instant - he didn't suffer, his last hours were where he loved to be in the woods doing what he loved - logging.  so really even though we don't like it, I couldn't think of a better way for him to go.  My mom said that she was glad that when she went over there he wasn't still alive and pinned and it was up to her to move it.  So now that I've thought about it, I'm thankful that it was quick.  He didn't feel a thing - one minute he was there, the next he was gone.  My mom also told me that they talked about it a lot, and he was ready, so I guess it was his time to go.  Of course, I wish he was here, but eventually I'll be with him.  As far as right now I'm going to do what I do best (thanks to him) that is HUNT, HUNT, HUNT!  And I don't ever see me forgetting him as much as I act like him (I can't help it.  They say that whoever you're around the most is who you'll act like.  I proved that right.)  Even though I will always miss him I'll NEVER FORGET!!!!!!! (Not that I could even if I wanted to :) 

I love you and miss you bunches, Daddy :) And don't worry, I'll finish the hunt for you!!!

Alexandra Faith......I love you and your sisters more than you can imagine.  I am so proud of you.  I can't believe what an amazing young woman you are.  I hate that you have to deal with this, but God is, indeed, in control.  He definitely has a plan for all of our lives and I am so grateful that you can see that.  Your Daddy loved you girls more than life itself and he would be beaming with pride at how well you are carrying on his legacy.  I know you will always be Daddy's girl and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Love, Mom :)

Linked to Women Living Well 

  

Playing catch up

"For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

It's been a while again, hasn't it?  I figured it was time to play a little catch up and let you know what is going on in my life.

I had the verse written above read at my husband's funeral.  It has become a very meaningful verse in my life in the past few years....and even more in the last 4 months.  It's funny, but if you take this verse to heart and truly believe it....life isn't so scary.  Hard times aren't so hard.  Grief isn't so hard to bear.  All hope isn't gone.

First off, let me say that my family and I are doing remarkably well.  My girls and I are adjusting very well to our new situation.  We have our days, but overall, we are adjusting well.  Better than I could have ever expected.

I am no longer homeschooling my middle two children.  In January, they were enrolled in a local Christian school and are loving it.  My little one is just waiting until kindergarten and my oldest is still homeschooling.  We needed a little structure in our lives and school was the first thing that came to mind.  It's working out remarkably well and I am thankful for the opportunity.

We are grateful that the days are becoming longer and the long, dreary winter is coming to an end.  Three of my four girls recently started softball, which is a BIG thing around here.  It's nice to have something to look forward to and be excited about.  My life is about to get busy....lol.

On another note.............

I have been blessed with another man in my life.  Yes, it is soon, but God is amazing.  I truly feel that he was brought to me and he is part of God's plan for my life.  Our families have been very supportive and for that I am grateful.

I have known him for years and our friendship quickly turned into more.  He is amazing and I can't even begin to say how much I appreciate him.  I never expected to be this happy again this soon, but feel that I am exactly where I should be.   I am totally trusting in God and His timing in this situation.

And we know that for those that love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ~Romans 8:28 (emphasis mine)

Sometimes it's hard to see how tough times can be used for our good, but if you trust that God has your best interest at heart, it makes the hard things a little easier.  Sure, I miss my husband.....but I know that God has a purpose for taking him.  It is not my place to question that.  I can confidently say that I will spend eternity with him, so I need to focus on what my purpose is in this life, for now.

I feel incredibly blessed and completely trust that the Lord is guiding and upholding me.  There is truly no other explanation as to why I am where I am.  It's amazing where trust can get you.  It took me a long time to get to this place, but I am so thankful to be here.

There is so many more ways that the Lord is working in my life and the lives of those around me, but for privacy sake, I will just leave it at that.  Thank you for your many prayers.  I can feel them and am grateful for them.

We are living and loving life....what more could I ask for?

These articles by Cherie Hill changed my outlook on what faith (trust) truly is, and it's had an unbelievable effect on my life in light of my circumstances....check them out.....
It's a new day!
Seeing light in the darkness, part 1
Seeing light in the darkness, part 2

Linked to: Time Warp Wife, Heavenly Homemakers,