iFly Away

November/2014

iPray eVotional iPray eVotionals exhorts those who pray.  It's the glass of water held out around each month's turn for the runners who can use a quick and easy quench in order to finish strong. iFly Away Approx. reading time: 5 minutes I have experienced living things fly away. BUTTERFLIES When I was in third grade I gathered some caterpillars from the church yard where my grandparents worked.  I created a habitat for them and invested hours into cleaning their cage, giving them fresh leaves to eat and making sure there were enough sticks and twigs for them to hang their cocoons from.   All of that work for the moment to let them go and watch them become free.  I enjoyed the journey, but I knew that ultimately I would be letting them go.   I felt exhilarated to watch them fly off.  One found a bush for a moment before taking off.  Another flew off into the wind quickly.  I tried to keep my eyes on them for as long as I could, before I couldn't see them any more.   I remember I was also left with a little bit of strange grieving.  A feeling of loss although I knew they were where they were ready to be. I didn't remove their habitat right away.   After a week or so I noticed that at least one of the butterflies had returned.  I didn't see the butterfly, but the butterfly had come back to its habitat and left eggs spread across one of the left over leaves.  I felt overjoyed to know that the butterfly was alive and well.  It was living just the way God intended. BIRDS When I was in my mid-twenties at a camp ground, a trailer arrived with a bird's nest full of baby birds.  Without realizing it, my dad's cousin had left a mommy bird wondering where her babies had disappeared to.  She had tended to them perfectly, all five of them.  They were healthy and waiting for her to give them food.   I remember my heart breaking at the thought of this mommy bird having to let go of her babies before they were able to fly away.  I wondered if she watched the trailer drive off, and how long she was able to follow it.  Could she have followed for the entire two and a half hour drive, all the way up the mountain where we were camping?   After a full day of no mama bird I made it my mission to keep those little birds alive.  With my niece's baby formula, bits of soggy bread and a straw, I answered their chirps for food.  I continued at home and after two weeks they started spreading their wings for flight.   One morning, one by one they took off, clumsily making it to a nearby tree.  I was sad that I couldn't help them like a mama bird could, and I prayed that God would take over.  I heard their chirping in that tree for a couple of days and soon they were gone.   Again, a feeling of loss, letting go and wondering if they would be okay.  The next spring I was astonished when a couple of birds came right back to my balcony and started making a nest near the place their box had been.  By then I had a cat and it chased them away from the balcony, but for that spring I heard the birds in the nearby tree.   Joy filled my heart knowing that they had lived!  Would their mom ever know the full life they were able to live when she was forced to let them go?  I thanked God for that glimpse of His sovereign design. LADYBUGS When my daughter was two we had a ladybug party for her.  I ordered thousands of ladybugs that came with containers for the children and directions on how to let them go in their gardens.  When I opened the ladybug boxes we watched thousands of ladybugs take flight.  Many of them crawled on the grass before flying away.  Some crawled all over our hands and arms.  Others took off right away.  It was a memorable experience and made for a great party. The children captured some to take to their own gardens.  When they had some in their containers, I read The Lazy Ladybug.  A storybook that told of a ladybug that found temporary homes that kept her from flying away.  Eventually, after one of her "homes" sneezed, she was forced to fly away.  I explained to the kids that their ladybugs needed to fly away to find their home. I could tell that many of the little ones would have a hard time letting them go when they got home.  It is hard to let things go, but it is easier when we know that they need to go. That park was not known for ladybugs before that day, but God gave us another wonderful glimpse into his design.  Every year since, that park has been full of ladybugs in the spring.  Hundred of thousands fill the trees and at the right time of year you can walk past any tree and find ladybugs crawling on it.  I know that none of the ladybugs we had let go that year are still alive, but I can see the beautiful result of their lives after they flew away. PEOPLE People?  I have talked about living things with wings, can a person fly away?   My parents put me and my siblings on a flight to California to visit our grandparents when I was seven.  I remember being told that I had earned my wings. Really? Where were they? I certainly couldn't fly away with them. People's bodies can catch a flight that brings them from point A to point B, but in order to fly away we need to earn spiritual wings. In the 1980's my grandfather had a heart attack and with it a near death experience.  He flew away for a brief moment, and came back proclaiming what many others have.  That God is real, and He has a design.   The experience was so powerful, he never again viewed this temporary habitat the same.  A few times I have had the privilege of hearing him talk about the change that happened in him after that experience.  He gained a deep realization of human imperfections coupled with the overpowering knowledge of grace, love and mercy as God's design.   God gave him 30 more years. For the past few days loved ones have been gathering to say good bye and let him go, to permanently fly away.  Today he earned his spiritual wings. Have you been by a loved ones side when it was time for their spirit to fly away?   It's a strange bittersweet moment when a loved one's spirit finds its flight into God's presence.  I wonder if any language on earth has the words to express it just the right way.   Today, I thank God for little glimpses.  These little glimpses into God's beautiful design reminds me of how our bodies house a real spirit that are meant to someday fly away.  A spirit that lives beyond this temporary habitat.  Our spirits are designed to someday leave the nest.   It makes me ask, "Am I prepared for this flight?"   Those on the ground grieve the loss and are left to trust God's design.  With each fly-away, marks can be left that fill hearts with joy.  Sometimes the mark can be seen "on a single leaf," other times it can be seen "filling the trees in a park." Alison Krauss - I'll fly away iPray... Dear Lord,  We praise You for Your sovereign design!  We praise You for the investment of time and work put into our lives, guiding us and pulling us back on Your path.  Give us just what we need to feel the weight of human imperfections and then the freedom found in Your grace, love and mercy.  May we understand what is dinky winky next to what is holy and made perfect.  Lord, when we face a fly-away may we be overwhelmed with your presence in the grieving process and increasingly trust your sovereign design.  May the fly-away be a memorable experience and make for a great party.  Fill our hearts with the joy of eternal life.  Gift us with reminders every spring, and may those marks be multiplied in the years to come.  iPray that when iFly Away, others will be exhilarated and will know that a living thing has just taken flight. In Jesus' Name, Amen! Michelle Fozounmayeh

In This Issue iFly Away Butterflies Birds Ladybugs People iPray Join iPray eMailing List Michelle Fozounmayeh Michelle Fozounmayeh A joy filled wife and mom that enjoys writing, praying, speaking at women events and being an Area Coordinator with the ministry Moms In Prayer International. Blog: 7tothirty7.blogspot.com Website: http://7tothirty7.com/ 4 Traditions 4 New Years 4 Traditions 4 Valentines 4 Traditions 4 St. Patricks 4 Traditions 4 Easter 4 Traditions 4 Mother's Day 4 Traditions 4 Father's Day 4 Traditions 4 Fourth of July 4 Traditions 4 Summer 4 Traditions 4 Back to School 4 Traditions 4 Halloween 4 Traditions 4 Thanksgiving 4 Traditions 4 Christmas iPray Links: Dec. 2011 iPray link: iTeeter-Totter   Jan. 2012 iPray link: iPray Newness Feb. 2012 iPray link: iLove DEEP and WIDE March 2012 iPray link: iPraise April 2012 iPray link: iEmbrace  May 2012 iPray link:   iSmell a Stain June 2012 iPray link: iPray 4 Purity July 2012 iPray link: iPray 4 Protection August 2012 iPray link: iReminisce September 2012 iPray: iWork Out   October 2012 iPray:  iFollow November 2012 iPray: iThank God for That December 2012 iPray: iFinish Strong   January 2013 iPray: iNeed a Reminder   February 2013 iPray iPray in One Accord March 2013 iPray: iRest April 2013 iPray: iListen May 2013 iPray: iHold On June 2013 iPray: iStretch July 2013 iPray: iDream August 2013 iPray: iGet Dressed September 2013 iPray: iSurrender October 2013 iPray: iSpill November 2013 iPray: iMad Pray December 2013 iPray: iMine January 2014 iPray: iColor February 2014 iPray: iClip Show March 2014 iPray iShelve Not April 2014 iPray iKnow in Part May 2014 iPray iRespond June 2014 iPray iHope July 2014 iPray iPray Head To Toe August 2014 iPray iPromote Up September 2014 iPray iWill Grow Up October 2014 iPray iTell the Story Poem links: Time to be Free Ms. Marry McMoo Only You I Delight in You A Bat's Perspective The Ins and Outs Green Things Treasures in the Darkness To My Mom No Longer Hidden 70 Years of Marriage Saint Sadie Discovering Little One Wide Long High and Deep My Son Knowledge Hoard Short Stories: Cream of Corn Battle of the Food Face Singing the Night Away See You Later, Alligator Don't Touch Fried Nuts Annoying Brother Missy's Puppies High Dive Something Big! Stretching First Rainbow Promise

Jesus is the Bread of Life

By far the best meal I eat all year is at Thanksgiving.  Gratitude fills the atmosphere.  Food prepared and presented beautifully at my in-law’s warm and welcoming home.  Family comes together, cousins laugh and the hi-light is taking in the meal together.

Whether it’s this meal or others meals like it I am reminded of that feeling of being filled-up.  It last as long as the body can digest it.  And then I’m hungry again.  

I love to eat up good things.  Good food, good news, good conversations, good ideas, good friends!  I love good things.  After digestion I’m hungry for it again.

I then think of Jesus’ words in John 6: Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty...”

This is quoted often and to those who believe Jesus’ words it fills their hearts with hope.  For those who have come to Him, this quote reminds them of the spiritual fulfillment that has been found.  It brings a profound purpose that penetrates the deepest parts of their hearts.  A claim like this can only be an eternal promise.  Eating this bread satisfies in a way that nothing else can.  For the Christians of this day and age, these words are prophetic and profound.

But at the time Jesus said it the conversation sounded more like this...

“Luke, I am your father.”  A blow that was so big and so hard to believe it crushed Luke to the core.

“Noooooooooooooooo!”

(Example from STARWARS)

Belief.  A simple word for a really big concept.  Even Jesus’ followers could not wrap their brains around it.  On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” (John 6:60)

Translation:  Noooooooooooooo!

And yet they had witnessed miracles taking place at his hands, the power at the simple sound of his name.  

It’s hard to trust something so big and so inconceivable as this claim to being the promised savior that holds the gift of eternal life in his hands.

Just take a peek at how big this claim was:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A25-40%2CJohn+8%3A12%2CJohn+10%3A10-15&version=NIV

(John 6:25-40)

I can’t blame Jesus’ followers for questioning the validity of His claim.  For the ones who trusted Him the most, it puzzled them.

Jesus continually spoke hope into their lives.  He called for their patience as the fulfillment of this amazing claim drew near.  It was only after His death and resurrection that the scriptures were opened up and this claim all of a sudden became the most profound and truthful statement ever made in history.  It all goes back again to one thing... belief.

After Jesus’ claim was fulfilled truths from scriptures were overwhelmingly revealed: 

http://www.ovrlnd.com/Teaching/messianicprophecy.html

In Starwars Luke had to come to terms with the truth that Vador was his father... which ultimately led to balance in the force.  This is a pretend story, but what happens in hearts when Jesus’ true identity as God’s own son is revealed is not pretend at all.  He is not a lying deceiver or the blasphemer he was accused to be which led to his crucifixion.  He is The One promised who sacrificially gave himself to bring eternal life to all who believe.  Belief in this big thing brings balance in our hearts.  

Saying I’m a Christian is not a blind following or a moral statement of lifestyle.  It is saying that I believe something so big that it seems inconceivable.  It is saying that I believe the prophecies, the miracles and the fulfillment of God’s plan for reconciliation to man kind on this earth.  It’s very gutsy to make that statement.  But like Jesus’ disciples who heard this claim and then saw, touched and talked with the risen Jesus... I have come to believe Jesus is the bread of life!

I’ve eaten many good things but after eating the bread of life my spirit never hungered in the same way.  We all crave, some consciously and some subconsciously, for food that satisfies our spirit’s hunger.  Jesus holds the gift.  And all it took for me to receive it was belief. 

As my family gathers this Thanksgiving I know that I will enjoy the goodness found there.  But it can only satisfy for a time.  And it is only a sliver of satisfaction compared to the satisfaction of eternal life in Christ Jesus.  A place where we will never hunger again for the things that are temporary.  To have that filled-up feeling that will never fade and never go away.

The Thanksgiving Game Show

We are here at the Thanksgiving Game Show where giving thanks breads JOY!

(Audience applause)

Today we have 4 contestants who are playing for the grand prize.  Who will leave here OVERjoyed?

(Cue music)

Let’s meet our contestants:

Contestant #1 is a restaurant manager.  He lives with his wife and daughter in a bungalow in Marina Del Rey, California.  Say hello to Bobby!

(Audience applause)

Contestant #2 is a housewife. Formally in real estate she spends her time picking up and dropping off kids as well as keeping up with house management.  Say hello to Mary!

(Audience applause)

Contestant #3 owns his own business.  He has a condo by the beach but spends most of his time at his 3 story home near the city.  He spends much of his free time on his boat.  Say hello to Tom!

(Audience applause)

Contestant # 4 has three kids in Jr. High School, her ailing mother-in-law lives in their home and she just found out that her husband got laid off.  Say hello to Jennifer!

(Audience applause)

Here at the Thanksgiving Game Show we know that the biggest Joy stealer is what?

(Everyone) DISCONTENTMENT!

Contestant #1, what does it feel like to live in Marina Del Rey?

Bobby: Well it sounds nice but we live in a bungalow not far from busy streets.  I know that I could be a very joyful person if we lived up on the hill away from the busy streets.  Or if we moved away from busy California all together, like to the country side.  The restaurant I work for has chains all over the United States; I could be transferred to any of them!

Well it sounds like a case of

(Everyone) DISCONTENTMENT!

Bobby, you have a bad case of, “The grass is always greener” syndrome.  Said another way, discontentment in where you are in life.  Contentment is not found “out there” Contentment is found “inside”.  People like you are always looking somewhere else for a joyful life when it is waiting for them right in there own homes and in their own neighborhoods.  If you lived up on that hill then you would see another location that you would perceive as better again missing the mark for a Joy filled life.  Bobby, how can you be grateful for where you are right here and right now?

(Audience applause)

Contestant #2, how is it being in house management?

Mary:  Well the only house I manage is my own.  I use to be helping others achieve their dreams in real estate.  Oh the things I could be doing if I wasn’t cooped up in the home looking after everyone and everything here.  Oh the places I could go if I was not running everyone around to school, activities and doctor visits!  I could be joyful if I was in real estate again.

Well it sounds like a case of

(Everyone) DISCONTENTMENT!

Mary, you have an identity crisis on your hands.  You are discontent in what you do.  You are a wife and a mom.  You are really good at it and yet you think that a certain title and job description will give you a satisfied life, a joy you so desperately need.  People like you miss the mark because they do not value where they are and what they are doing, thinking that in some way it is inferior to what they could be doing “out there”.  Living a satisfied life does not need a real estate title attached to it.  Mary, how can you be grateful for the esteemed titles you are living out right here and right now?

(Audience applause)

Contestant #3, what’s it like to have so much that can make you happy?

Tom: I’m not happy at all.  If I just had the bigger and better stuff then I could really be happy.  It would be easier to get to my appointments if I had my own driver and jet.  Now that would bring Joy.

Well it sounds like a case of

(Everyone) DISCONTENTMENT!

Tom, you will never live a joy filled life as long as you are discontent in what you have.  People have more and less, having is not wrong.  It’s when the having has got you wanting more and more.  People like you miss the mark because they are never satisfied with what they have.  They spend their whole life upgrading and feeling miserable with any step “back”.  Joy is never found in the things you own, if you place it there you will be miserably dissatisfied until you die.  Tom, how can you be grateful for what you have right now?  How little can you be satisfied with?

(Audience applause)

Contestant #4, how is it living with people who love you?

Jennifer:  My kids are teenagers who constantly test the limit, if they were just more like the kids down the street.  And my mother-in-law is always making suggestion on how to keep up with the house, if she could just be more like my mom.  My husband just lost his job last week and he is moving in slow motion, if only he was more motivated like my sister’s husband.

Well it sounds like a case of

(Everyone) DISCONTENTMENT!

Jennifer, you are discontent with who you are with.  “If only they were different.”  People like you have strained relationships because they think that their Joy comes from who they are around.  They allow other’s faults and imperfections determine how satisfied they are.  They spend time trying to change others; wishing that they were like someone else or even worse wishing they were someone else.  Jennifer, the people around you are not at fault for your life attitude.  Change starts with you.  How can you expect to have a better husband if you are not willing to be a better wife?  How can you be grateful for the people in your life today?

(Audience applause, commercial break in 20 sec)

When we come back we will talk about how our contestants can, in their day to day lives, be joyful always.  (1 Thessalonians 5:16)  Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)  Be glad and rejoice before God. (Psalm 68:3)  Receive with thanksgiving (1 Timothy 4:4) Sing joyfully to the Lord because it is fitting for the upright to praise him. (Psalm 33:1)  Have a happy heart that makes faces cheerful and not bring on heartache which crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:13)  How they can really allow the Joy of the Lord, His Joy and delight in them, His walking with them, his comfort, his support, his encouragement, his compassion, his Word be their strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) To stop complaining and grumbling (James 5:9) and to be anxious about nothing but in EVERYTHING be THANKFUL bringing their concerns to God and trusting Him with the results (Philippians 4:6) because giving thanks breads Joy!  Who will allow their life attitude to take a shift?  Who will turn off the voice of discontentment and turn on the Voice of gratitude?  Who wants the grand prize of an OVERjoyed life?  All of that, when we return to the Thanksgiving Game Show!