Pray About EVERYTHING

Maybe you offered up a prayer this last week for the 12 Thai boys and their coach trapped in a cave in northern Thailand. The operation to extract them was expedited due to impending rainy weather moving in. With one former Thai Navy SEAL dying as he delivered supplies, it was sobering to see how technically difficult this operation really was.

We turn to prayer when things get bad. Like when 12 boys and a coach get trapped in a cave. Like when a school shooting occurs. Or we find out that a dear friend has cancer. This stuff is bad and we have no clue what to do, but to pray.

For me, prayer is a relationship. A relationship with God that can grow and grow. Prayer involves listening, talking, waiting, asking, thanking, praising and claiming God’s promises. I want to be a student of prayer. Why? Because prayer changes things. Prayer changes me.

Prayer is something I don’t fully understand, but something I can’t do without. Each morning, I spend time writing down in my prayer journal the things I want to pray about. I pray for people that I know that need prayer. I pray for my husband and family. I pray for missionaries. I pray for my work. I pray for our country and our governing officials. I pray for whatever God brings to my mind.

This last week, I had a HUGE answer to prayer! I had been praying for over a month about asking a certain person to speak for our upcoming Y conference. And God answered YES! I was so excited because I knew that only God could make this happen!

Did you know that you can pray about everything? The Bible tells us “Do not be anxious about anything, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) That word EVERYTHING means just that. Everything.

What makes me crazy is when I don’t pray. I instead choose to fear or get anxious or wonder what’s going to happen. I try to take control and royally botch things up. Why do I do this? God created us and knows our tendencies to worry and try to control things. So, He gave us a lifeline with Himself, the creator of the Universe! Why not take advantage of this amazing gift?

As you begin this day, realize that you can pray about EVERYTHING that is going on. You can talk to God and get to know God. God longs for a relationships with you! He is crazy about you! Let Him in on your life…your hopes, your dreams, your anxieties, your failures, your regrets, your sin. Seek Him. He will answer.

“Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” Dorothy Bernard

“Prayer is unmarketable. Prayer gives you no immediate pay off. You get no immediate feedback or sense of success. True prayer, in that sense, probably is the most courageous and counter cultural thing an American will ever do.” Boz Tchividjian

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Self Sufficiency

We are hard wired to trust in ourselves. Self-sufficiency and self-confidence are traits that are admired and even desired in our careers. It seems so natural to embrace these traits. Yet self-sufficiency causes us to think that we can do what needs to be done in our own strength and abilities. Can we? 

When we operate in our own abilities, we are basically saying with our actions that we don’t need God. Why don’t people pray more? How much of our work is characterized by “going it alone?”

I was studying about self-sufficiency and what God thought about it in the Bible this week. (Judges 6-7) God had enlisted Gideon to lead Israel’s army against their enemy. But God knew this human tendency of ours and sought to help Gideon learn a powerful lesson. He didn’t want Israel to think they were victorious on their own strength! So, He devised a massive lay off. He reduced Gideon’s army resources from 32,000 men to 300! With such a small force, who do you think won the battle? (Check out Judges 7:1-25)

Gideon got God’s drift. God can supernaturally make things happen with a massive reduction in men. Why? Because God is God! When we’re smooth sailing and have resources at our fingertips, it can actually keep us from placing our full dependence on God. Can you imagine what God could do in your life and work if you fully trusted Him?

I just had a big birthday. So, I’ve been around a while. I can honestly say that I need God more than ever!!!  I need His wisdom, His strength, His guidance, His love, and His leadership in the daily-ness of my life. Whatever you’re going through-relationship conflicts, unrealistic work goals, deep longings, family challenges, stressors or fears about the future- God is sufficient and able to help you and more! Will you trust Him?

Prayer for today: Dear Father in Heaven, How do I trust in my own abilities more than you? How have I lived like I don’t need you? I know that the Bible says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, but sometimes I forget that it’s YOU who strengthens me. Lord, be real to me today. Help me, like Gideon, to learn to place my full confidence in you. Give me a vision of what my life could be like as I fully trust in you. Amen.

“Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory- for all its strength, it cannot save you. But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.” Psalm 33:16-18 (NLT)

“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,” 2 Corinthians 3:5 (ESV)

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Daisy's New Adventure

So, Daisy just got moved to a new pasture yesterday. I believe in horsey terms she’s now in “Fat Camp.” My husband refers to our new horse as “Chow Hound.” Come to think of it, every time I go to ride her, she and her pasture mate are chowing down on the round bale in the exact same place.

Recently, my trainer, Veronica, began to notice that Daisy was putting on a few extra pounds
and it was affecting her training sessions. (Not very becoming for her 1050 pound body) Veronica made the call to move her to a different area she lovingly referred to as the “piglet pasture.” Daisy’s getting a major reduction in hay and less feed in the “piglet pasture.” So, I guess Daisy
is a now member of Horsey Weight Watchers. She’s in for a treat. Well, maybe not.

Veronica sent me a video of Daisy’s first few moments in her new pasture. She was bucking and running around and having a blast! In fact, she looked like she was having a lot more fun and socializing with the other new horses beside her. She didn’t even seem like she was missing her round bale!

I love how Veronica saw a problem and dealt with it. She didn’t want Daisy to become a fat, lazy horse that just ate hay all day long in the same exact place. She’s working with Daisy and I to make us successful in the show ring. Veronica had more in mind for Daisy!

We all need people in our life who push us further than we would normally be pushed. Those are the people who celebrate us and want the very BEST in us. They’re asking the question “Where do you want to go and how can I help you get there?” They’re our horse trainers, our exercise instructors, our bosses, our friends, our pastors, our teachers, our counselors and our mentors. Hopefully, we are modeling this for people in our life as well!

Face it. We’ve all been in ruts in our life. We can’t seem to get away from that round bale in the pasture. It could be a bad job, a challenging relationship, unhealthy eating, a challenging addiction or even a bad habit like impatience, anger or complaining that seems so natural. Sometimes, these ruts are so comfortable we can’t imagine changing, even though we know we should!

I think God delights in pulling us out of our boring pastures for something more. He loves to give us the very best, not settling for what we often settle for. Where are you stuck? Where do you need God more than you think you do? Maybe, this summer is the summer of change. Just ask Daisy.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” C. S. Lewis

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

The Country Club Near Disaster

My first real job was a dishwasher at the Shelby Country Club. I was never really good at  cleaning dishes, so I was ecstatic the day I moved up the country club ladder and became  a full-fledged waitress. I couldn’t wait to get my cute red ruffled uniform and white shoes  that went with the job. Soon, I was making milk shakes, serving ice cream bars and hot  dogs to wet pool kids needing sustenance. The day soon came that I would be working evening dinner shift. I would need to memorize  the menu, answer questions, get their drink orders, serve the meal and basically look like  I knew what I was doing. What could go wrong?  One night, on a busy evening, I was given a particular section of tables near the front of  the dining room.  I still remember the exact table where it happened. Mr. Lederer, the President of the Country Club at the time, came in with his family. He was in my section!  Not to look incompetent, I ran back to the kitchen and freaked out with my fellow staff.  After reassurance from the kitchen staff, I went back out into the dining room, with  confidence and a bright smile, took their order. All went well until it was time to deliver the  meals. I came out with this hefty tray filled with dangling dinner plates. Instead of setting my hefty  tray down on the tray stand, I tried to balance it while distributing the dishes to the family members.  Everything went downhill at that point if you know what I mean. Mr. Lederer’s  meal landed in his lap and not sure what else went where. Everything went  ever-which-aways. This is Texan for “scattered in all directions.” At this point, I lost all memory of what took place. I was horrified. The only thing I  remember was Mr. Lederer’s response. He was so kind, so gracious and so encouraging  as I tried to clean things up. His response went a long way for a young kid. We all need  more Mr. Lederer’s around. That near disaster didn’t destroy my waitress career at all. In fact, I waitressed all the way  through college and loved it. I could have just thrown in the towel (and the tray) that day  and called it quits. But I didn’t. Since those country club days, I’ve had a lot of jobs. I’ve  had some successes and some failures. I believe God intentionally allows us to fail at  times. My failures are a constant reminder of how much I need Him. God teaches me  in my failures…if I let Him. Bob Goff in his amazing book “Love Does” had a similar waiter experience. He writes  “Things that go wrong can shape us or scar us. I’ve had some things go well in my life  and some things not go so well, just like you. More have gone well than have gone  poorly, but I’m not trying to keep score because I have a different way I measure those  things now. God finds us in our failures and our successes, and He says that while we  used to think one way about things, now He wants us to think another way about those  same things. And for me I’ve realized that I used to be afraid of failing at the things that  really mattered to me, but now I’m more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”  Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Summer Refreshment

I know summer has been going on for quite some time in San Antonio, but it officially starts this week! We’re halfway through June and I feel a bit behind in setting some summer fun goals. 

I’m hoping for some great summer fun, whether it be riding my horse at the barn, swimming in our local pool and kayaking on the Guadelupe River. If I don’t watch out, summer can get away from me. I can get caught up with my to-do lists, chores, packing and unpacking for vacations and preparations for fall.

We are so valuable to God and our time is as well! What kinds of things do you want to make SURE you do this summer? Do you have certain goals you’d like to accomplish? Think about how you might incorporate some of these things you’re your summer:

Reading certain books
Doing some exercise competition (5K, Triathlon, Golf tournament, etc)
Going dancing
Starting a new eating plan
Learning a new language
Developing a prayer life
Visiting a state park
Volunteering for a non-profit
Taking a break and do nothing

Take a break and do NOTHING? Yes, do nothing! Most of us work extremely hard each day, giving and serving others. We don’t need to feel guilty for relaxing. It’s OK. I believe God loves when we take a rest and throw our schedule out the window.

If you operate non-stop seven days a week with little breaks, eventually it will catch up with you.  "When we burn the candle at both ends we….
- Lose sight of what we enjoy in our work
- Find even the things we enjoy doing become a chore
- Fail to give people the gift of our attention and presence
- Impair our abilty to hear God’s voice and discern his movement in our lives
- Become obsessive about the to-do list"
(Adele Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, pp. 64)

When was the last time you really rested and took a break? How hard is it for you to relax…really relax? What do you do for fun and play? What can you do to incorporate some refreshing activities (including rest) into your summer? Here’s an invitation to make it the best summer ever!

"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."Psalm 23:2-3

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of the Greater San Antonio.

Reckless Love

There was a bunch of tax collectors and sinners who drew close to Jesus to listen to Him. Right then, the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble saying “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So guess what Jesus did? He told a parable! 

“Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and lost one. Wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the lost one until you found it? When found, you can be sure you would put it across your shoulders, rejoicing, and when you got home call in your friends and neighbors, saying, “Celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ Count on it- there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.” (Luke 15:4-7, The Message)

This parable was not a real life situation, but a story with a meaning. Those around Jesus would be very familiar with sheep. The shepherd had an important role and often risked his life to protect the sheep from the dangers around. The sheep were very important and the shepherd’s goal was to keep every one of them safe and protected. 

This is the kind of love that God has for us. It’s real. Very real. And His love has no bounds. He receives all! Isn’t that what the world is longing for?

Yet, some find God and conversations about Him very uncomfortable. It’s hard to make sense of God. When we don’t know what to do with God, it’s easier to keep Him at a distance. We run to other pastures, thinking they bring life and happiness.

Why not make God a part of your summer? Get to know the One who loves you so much. Start by reading the Gospels and get to know this Jesus who left the Pharisees and scribes speechless. Model your life and work after His life. He did it right.

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me.
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ‘til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God…….. (Give a listen to this amazing song… Reckless love, by Cory Asbury)

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain of the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.

Costly Mistakes

Game One of the NBA Finals was full of drama, battles, bad calls and mistakes. BIG mistakes. The Cleveland Cavaliers were the biggest underdog in at least 16 years for this game. Yet, with 4.7 seconds left on the clock, George Hill (Former Spur-now-Cav) stood at the free throw line. Gets the first one; misses the second. Confusion begins. JR Smith rebounds the ball and instead of firing up a shot that could have given Cleveland the victory, he dribbled toward center court. Game over. Ugh. The pesky Gold State Warriors win in OT 124-114.

Mistakes can be costly. Just ask JR Smith. He seemed to be the talk-of-the-twitter-town on Friday morning. Smith’s folly seemed to overshadow the amazing 51 points scored by LeBron James. It even seemed to take center stage over the Warrior’s win! Everyone was talking about Smith’s mistake.

In this day and age where our mistakes can be seen, heard, felt and told to all, it might be helpful to pause and ask ourselves these questions: How does it feel to me personally when I make a mistake? How do I feel when others know I make a mistake? Do I feel shame, blame or less than as a person? Let’s flip things. How do I treat others when they make a mistake? For example: How are my interactions with the waiter/waitress when my dinner is overcooked? When the driver in front of me makes a mistake? When I’m talking to a customer service rep and dissatisfied with the service? Wow. From the looks of it, we all need to give everyone (including ourselves) a ton of grace! 

In the Bible, there were a lot of great people who made a lot of big mistakes. Let’s take Simon Peter. He’s a dude I look forward to meeting in heaven. I relate to Peter… a lot! Even with Jesus’ prediction that Peter would deny Jesus three times, Peter vehemently said there’d be no way he would do such a thing! Peter loved Jesus and was loyal to Jesus. How could he do such a thing?  Boom! Peter denied Jesus. The cool thing about this story is that Jesus forgave Peter. Peter repented and reaffirmed his faith and went on to share God’s good news even more passionately until his death.

Yes, the Bible is filled with stories of people that mess up, just like us. It’s sometimes in these moments when we feel so bad, that we turn to God. The Lord longs to teach us some of His greatest lessons as we humble ourselves and realize our need. When I’m in these weak moments of “mistake making” it is there that I can find God’s great mercy, hope and forgiveness. 

“May we rush to Jesus quicker than we rush to judgment today.” Scotty Smith

“One must never forget when misfortunes come that it is quite possible they are saving one from something much worse; or that when you make some great mistake, it may very easily serve you better than the best-advised decision.” Winston Churchill

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.