A Breath of Fresh.....Prayer

We have too many cats (one less as of last Sat. R.I.P. Mouse) and a horse. Usually, at least once a day, somebody tracks in something that shouldn't be tracked in or the litter box isn't as fresh as it should be. At least once a month, I load up on air fresheners. The plug in kind, candles, sprays, etc. I have noticed that when I first use the air fresheners, I can smell the scent a lot. Most say they last at least 30 days. After a few hours though, I don't notice the scent as much....if at all. If I've been gone for awhile, sometimes I smell them again when I walk in....but not always. I'm kind of liking the automated sprayers that can be set at certain intervals. I can tell when they recently sprayed as I walk in a room.

Now that Spring is on the way I will be able to walk outside and get a breath of fresh air. It will be nice to be able to open the windows and feel the breeze and get the air moving around and in and out of here.

While thinking of Spring and breathing fresh air, it led me to rhyme air with prayer. As much as I need a breath of fresh air....my life needs a refreshing by way of prayer.

Prayer has been on my mind a lot lately for many reasons.

Some for guilt because as our kids have been growing up, I wish I would have prayed more and better for them. We used to pray together at night before bed and on the way to school. When did we stop? Why did we stop?

Some for the needs of others as I am made aware of the issues on various online prayer boards or requests. On a good day, I'll stop for a moment and say a prayer right then as I read it. Even then though the prayer is usually a quick sentence prayer.

Some because I have a group that gets together to pray and sometimes it feels like a task instead of the joy it should be.

Even though I know prayer should be my first line of defense against the struggles and sometimes dark days, it is not always. Like the air fresheners.....sometimes my prayers seem a little stale and in need of refreshing.

So....the first paragraph again written as it applies to prayers:

We have too many needs and issues. Usually, at least once a day, somebody complains about something that I can't or shouldn't fix. Life doesn't seem as fun as it should be. At least once a day, I am reminded that I should load up on prayer and bring our thanks and needs before God. Oh, if only there were a way to plug in and remember to be God's light. I have noticed that when I first pray, I can feel God's presence a lot. I'd think the prayer would last until at least the end of the day. After a few hours though, I don't notice His presence as much and the issues of life can seem overwhelming. Even when I have not prayed for awhile, I feel I am welcomed right back into peace. I'd kind of like an automated reminder to pray at certain intervals. I can tell when I've prayed.....life seems more peaceful.....even when there is no reason it should be.

Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-24 
¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²² reject every kind of evil.
²³ May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

Philippians 4:5-7

⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Playing with words.... Evolve? Adapt?

“For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible.” Stuart Chase (Heard this on an episode of Criminal Minds...I rather like it)

One of the benefits(?) of a Yahoo homepage is that one can read all sorts of interesting "news" and stories. It is possible to become totally lost amongst clicks on different stories...and then realize an hour has passed. ugh.

One of the "headline" stories recently involved a "hybrid shark" (http://news.yahoo.com/world-first-hybrid-shark-found-off-australia-070347608.html) Not that I think it is worthy of reading, just listing my source and my thought process (always scary territory!)

This article used the words "adapt", "evolution in action", and "survival of the fittest". I have always struggled with the evolution theory. Mainly because it seems to contradict the Bible. When our son was younger, I was pleased that his teacher had evolution on her list of report topics. I was also pleased that he chose this topic to discuss. However, the further he dug into info, the more I could see how people might get confused when presented with all of these "facts".

I like to find out the meanings of words. I looked up "adaptation" and "evolution" at http://www.merriam-webster.com/ (A GREAT resource)  Here's what I found:

Adaptation : adjustment to environmental conditions: as a : adjustment of a sense organ to the intensity or quality of stimulation b : modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence under the conditions of its environment

Evolution: a theory that the various types of animals and plants have their origin in other preexisting types and that the distinguishable differences are due to modifications in successive generations

 a process in which the whole universe is a progression of interrelated phenomena

I find it interesting that even the definition of evolution includes the phrase "preexisting types" and "interrelated phenomena". This would seem to indicate that there needs to be SOMETHING there to make another something. It seems that more can be explained by adaptation of species rather than evolution.

It seems like we play with words. I don't have all the answers. I do have a few questions though that have been brought up along life's journey that have at least made me pause and go hmmmmm. Here are a couple.

If humans "evolved" from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?

Who took care of the first human?

What came first the chicken or the egg? 

If you can think of others, I would love to hear your thoughts/comments.

It seems that life started in motion. I do know that I can't explain many of the functions of the human body, but if we didn't have them, we wouldn't survive. I am amazed at the sheer number of species of many animals, insects, birds, fish, etc.  I am in awe of the variety of personalities of people in general, let alone those in my own family. I am touched by the compassion that people can show to complete strangers. I am moved to tears sometimes by hearing what others have gone through. 

I don't even pretend to have all the answers to the questions of life. So, in the meantime, I play with words and hopefully give you something to think about too.  ;)

Genesis 2:1 (NIV) Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.