I will seek You in the morning

Picture: Omie. One of the practices of the Catholic Church that I struggle to understand (and struggle even harder to practice) is the act of praying to Saints. (To clarify for the sake of all Protestants, Catholics don't pray to saints. They ask saints to pray for them to God. James 5:16 says the that "the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Not that the prayers of our own lips aren't effective...but Catholics believe that, because the Church has elevated saints to a higher level, that their faith has proven genuine and, since they have experienced the presence of God, they can have much more genuine, less distracted and less selfish prayers.) The act of praying for saints to pray for yourself is much the same as asking other believers to pray for you. I find myself from time to time thinking of my dear grandma, rejoicing in the presence of God. Oftentimes when I think of her, I find myself thinking to her to pray for me and Dan...to take our requests before the Lord on our behalf.

My work days have been too stressful and too busy to share thoughts during the day. Hence, I'm trying to update more on the weekends and in the wee, small hours of the morning. Since Dan's alarm will go off in ten minutes and I still have to dry my hair, I should get to the point...

Strems in the Desert from yesterday and today:

(This days' reading really hit close to home and brought a few tears of humility to my eyes)

"Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

Nor deem these days - these waiting days - as ill!

The One who loves thee best, who plans thy way,

Hath not forgotten they great need today!

And, if He waits, 'tis sure He waits to prove

To thee, His tender child, His heart's deep love.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

Thou longest much to know they dear Lord's will!

While anxious thoughts would almost steal their way

Corrodingly within, because of His delay -

Persuade thyself in simple faith to rest

That He, who knows and loves, will do the best.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

Nor move one step, not even one, until

His way hath opened. Then, ah then, how sweet!

How glad thy heart, and then how swift they feet

Thy inner being then, ah then, how strong!

And waiting days are counted then too long.

Sit still, my daughter! Just sit calmly still!

What higher service could'st thou for Him fill?

'Tis hard! Ah yes! But choicest things must cost!

For lack of losing all how much is lost!

'Tis hard, 'tis true! But then - He giveth grace

To count the hardest spot the sweetest place."

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"'Hope Thou in God.' Oh, remember this: There is never a time when we may not hope in God. Whatever our necessities, however great our difficulties, and though to all appearance help is impossible, yet our business is to hope in God, and it will be found that it is not in vain. In the Lord's own time help will come.

When it seems impossible that help will come, help will come; for God has His own resources. He is not confined. In ten thousand different ways, and at ten thousand different times God may help us.

Our business is to spread our cases before the Lord, in childlike simplicity to pour out all our heart before God, saying, 'I do not deserve that Thou shouldst hear me and answer my requests, but for the sake of my precious Lord Jesus; for His sake answer my prayer, and give me grace quietly to wait till it please Thee to answer my prayer. For I believe thou wilt do it in Thine own time and way.'

'For I shall yet praise Him.' More prayer, more exercise of faith, more patient waiting, and the result will be blessing, abudant blessing. Thus I have found it many hundreds of times, and therefore I continually say to myself, 'Hope thou in God.'"