iListen

April/2013

iPray eVotionals Greetings! 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.   iListen (Approximate reading time: 9 Minutes)   The Most Important Thing The show was in one week.  All the kids were standing in the wings, in their positions ready for their first run through.  Even though it was dark backstage, almost all of them had their noses in their scripts trying to memorize their lines and their cues. The Director posed a question.  "What is the most important thing you can do as an actor in a show?" Kids started to shout out answers, "Know your lines... know your cues... improve if you don't know your line... stand open... don't forget your blocking... stay in character..." "Yes, yes and yes," said the director, "all of that is important, but the most important thing you can do as an actor is to LISTEN.  Not just for your cue, but to the content of what is going on.  If you listen you will know where you are in the play, what your next action should be and it will solve almost anything you are facing so that the story can be told from the beginning to the end." After rehearsal all I could hear running through my head was, "listen... listen... listen..." "That sure was a great lesson for those kiddos," I thought as I drove home, "listening solves almost anything." It's a great lesson for you too! iOverlap "It's a new game called Scramble!" my Aunt explained.  "Unlike Scrabble our words cannot be found in the dictionary.  They must be made-up words.  You have to present the word and the made-up definition to the other players.  After they have listened a vote will determine if you can make the play." A game that emphasized my family's strongest qualities... debate and persuasion.  I was only a teenager but the possibility of having a voice that could be heard over my aunts, uncles, and other family members gave me the butterflies.   Before the game started I knew that I had to get into character for this great show.  Not only did I have to be thoughtful and creative with my tiles, I had to be ready to jump in with my words at just the right time to be heard, considered and understood.  I had to excel in overlapping! Overlapping:  My personal made-up word that was unknowingly taught to me by my family before the game Scramble was even thought of. Definition:  Listening not to the content of what one is saying but rather to the cue of when to successfully interrupt and then doing it. Learning the skill:  As a student of overlapping, I studied family conversations for years.  When a family member spoke, I perceived that others would be forming opinions and holding onto what they wanted to say rather than really listening.  At just the right moment the cue would come and an attempt to intercede with a new thought or opinion would be made.  If one came in too early the speaker would not stop and would over power.  If one tried to come in too late then it was a missed cue and another family member would have stolen the stage.  If one hit the spot just right then they could deliver their line.  I knew I was getting better, I even figured out how to win an overlap with a stronger tone in my voice.  For me, a satisfying moment in any conversation was when I finished a sentence.  I thought that when I hit a period I had won a small victory no matter if I had lost the argument. As the Scramble game started I knew that it was time to perform a family game of overlapping.  Aunts, uncles, parents and cousins all sat around the dining room table getting their game face on.  Silence filled the air as tiles were moved and arranged and players started forming their arguments for persuasion.  At each turn a player presented their made-up word and definition.  When they were done and as the laughter subsided it was like a director called out... ACTION! "The word needs to have an E at the end to make the sound you..." "But then it would be a real word that means something diff..." "I think the definition does not match the sound of the..." "I think it's great, I would definitely use..." "The second F is silent, that is why it wor..." "There is no way a second F can be..." "You are just trying to get to the triple word sp..." "Listen to it in a sentence, 'Sometimes I muffel after I eat beans!'  See, it just sounds like a..." "Muffel does sound like what happens when you fart." A finished sentence, laughter and then a vote. CUT! The art of overlapping at its best.  I really didn't realize then that this skill had also taught me something else.  I learned the skill of interrupting in order to be heard.  Thank goodness I don't do that anymore! Listening solves almost anything. Laryngitis "If you have laryngitis for no good reason then God is trying to tell you something.  Shut up and listen." This is what my older sister Cher told me years ago. When I lost my voice after my daughter's last soccer game of the season this past fall, I remembered my sister's insight about laryngitis.  Was it time to listen?  It's always a good time to listen but I figured since I lost my voice for a good reason; screaming my full head off at the excitement of the nail biter ending to a close game, God was not trying to shut me up.  My voice came back a couple of days later. Three weeks ago I was spending many hours a day giving direction to children by helping with two separate stage productions as well as an acting class with multiple long rehearsals.  My voice was on the go!  I knew in advance that all of these events had some overlap time.  When I had prayed about my involvement I received a peace about it; I would be busy for a short season and He would provide me with what I needed.  In the middle of it all, God allowed some unexpected events to take place and additional responsibilities to land in my lap.   At first I questioned God, "Why would You give me the go-ahead if you knew these things would happen?  I have worked so hard at making sure I am not doing too much and work only where you are calling me to!"  I decided that I would figure it all out as I moved along.  Moving from appointments to rehearsals and back to appointments I posed questions that I hoped would help me find the lesson.  Questions like,  "Was it really God's voice that gave me the go ahead?"  He assured me it was.   "Who's strength was I relying on when I got the go ahead?" He assured me that I went into this season relying on Him and not myself.   "Had God allowed this all to happen to give me practice in leaning in on Him when things get tough?"  I was leaning without a struggle to do so.   "Am I not asking for help, support and prayer?  I am a part of a body of supporters."  No to that as well.  I have reached out and there are prayers covering me everyday as I move through this season.   As I prayed I asked question after question wondering when I would know the answer to why God allowed so much to be placed on my plate. Then it happened.  At first it was just a sore throat.  By the next day my voice vanished into thin air.  Laryngitis silenced me again.  Like before I thought I knew why I had lost my voice and didn't think I was being called out.  God allowed this busy season, of course I'm going to lose my voice with all the talking that this season requires! Explaining my laryngitis away did not silence my sister's advice running through my head.   "If you..." "It will come back," I cut her off with my thoughts.  It did, but when my voice returned it was not the same.  It was very hoarse which was almost worse than it being gone!  I could talk but I sounded horrible and every time I did it put stress on my vocal chords. "If you have laryngitis..." "It takes time." I interrupted.  One production ended and my voice was still hoarse.   "If you have laryngitis for no good reason..." "Yes yes I know!  It will come back by next week." I overlapped.  The next week it was still hoarse. "If you have laryngitis for no good reason then God is trying..." "Okay okay.  Are you talking to me Lord?"  And with only a slight moment of silence I came in with, "When this acting class is over it will return.  I mean I'm not seeing anything that I am doing wrong.  He led me into this season and I have followed."  The acting class ended and my voice was still hoarse. "If you have laryngitis for no good reason then God is trying to tell you something..." "If God is trying to tell me something then why can't I hear it?  Every question I ask seems to have a God-honoring answer.  What other question do I need to ask?"  I thought, as I walked out the door to volunteer in my son's class, meet a friend for lunch and then prepare for a rehearsal that night.  "My voice will return tomorrow!"  I woke up no better than the day before. "If you have laryngitis for no good reason then God is trying to tell you something, shut up and..." "I'm down to one production," I thought, "I have a retreat this weekend and spring break is coming which will give me time to do nothing.  I'll get better..." Your nose is in your script. A Discipline of Silence Sharon looked around at the ladies that had come to the retreat.  "Have you ever been given a discipline of silence?"   Over 80 women sat still while a small handful raised their hands. "Oh good!" She said, "This is new for most of you.  For the next half hour you are not to speak.  Not one word.  Do not text, answer your phone or start up any conversation at all.  Read these two sections of scripture in Isaiah and then listen." A good opportunity to rest my voice.  I started to read through the scriptures when all of a sudden something stood out to me. "...in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it..." I stopped.  Truth I couldn't deny silenced more than my voice.  I had never become quiet.  I was too busy trying to figure out the lesson on my own, filling all the space with questions, observations and duty.  I had not been quiet before the Lord and trusted the space between the words.  I realized that this discipline of silence was also silencing my thoughts.  The urge to fill the space with thoughts of guilt were pushed back; I didn't dare think a thing as I read on. Another passage caught my attention. "...the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefor he will rise up to show you compassion..." Being quiet ushered in God's grace and compassion before I could get in the way.  The discipline of silence was the lesson.  I couldn't listen until it was quiet, until I stopped overlapping.  Only then was I able to hear.  Overlapping events is one thing, but overlapping my God is another.   I remembered the direction given to the children a few weeks back as they waited in the darkness of the wings, "What is the most important thing you can do as an actor in a show?"  Answer: Listen. "If you have laryngitis for no good reason then God is trying to tell you something.  Shut up and listen."  No overlapping, no playing scramble, just hush! You are about to step into a new season.  You have been prepared, you know your lines.  What is the most important thing you can do as my daughter in your life? It's For You Too... Look at your iCalendar right now.  Carve out a half of an hour for today, tomorrow or for very soon that comes BEFORE you pick up your TV remote.  When the half hour arrives, click on the link below... and listen! Discipline of Silence  iPray 4 you... iPray that you can see how this lesson is for you too... iPray that as you wait in the wings that you are not just listening for your cue but that you are listening to the content of what God is saying... iPray that you will remember that listening solves almost anything... iPray that the strongholds in your life that keep you from hearing God's voice will be destroyed and you will be willing to receive God's Grace and Compassion... iPray that you will not play Scramble by making up your own way and your own words that are not found in God's Word and not spoken by His Spirit... iPray that you will not ignore sound advice but be willing to hear... iPray that as you face every season of your life, you will not fill the space between the lines with overlapping thoughts and opinions... iPray that you will submit to silence, that in quietness and trust you will find your strength... iPray that you may soar, as you step out of darkness and into the spotlight as a child of God. In Jesus' Name, amen All for HIM, Michelle Fozounmayeh

In This Issue The Most Important Thing iOverlap Laryngitis Discipline of Silence It's For You Too iPray 4 you... 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/ 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 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 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! Encouraging Words Afraid of What? Ring Chronicles, Lesson 1 Ring Chronicles, Lesson 2 Ring Chronicles, Lesson 3 Ring Chronicles, Lesson 4 Rainbow Promise Creative Point-Making The Thanksgiving Gameshow A Christmas Play Many Parts of Me

Discipline of Silence

I was given a gift at the Moms in Prayer 2013 Southern California State Getaway.  I had been given this sort of gift before and was happy to receive it again.  What made this time different was how USA National Director Sharon Gamble set the stage and gave us a theme: SOAR

I’m passing this gift onto you!  What is it?  It’s a Discipline of Silence.  

A Discipline of Silence is being still and quite before the Lord.  Listening to God and not any other voice including the one in your head.

Before you read on make sure that you have at least a half of an hour ahead of you that is responsibility free.  If you don’t then come back when you do.

For the next half hour you are not to speak.  Not one word.  Do not text, answer your phone, click on links or start up any conversation at all.  Check your surroundings to make sure you do not have any blaring distractions.  Keep a pencil and paper handy, just in case there is something you might want to jot down, but do not use it as a substitute for talking.  When you feel your mind drifting, planning out your next meal, stop.  Come back to listening.  Everything else can wait.  You are now on an intimate listening date with your Daddy...

Consider the acronym SOAR:

S - Surrender (Isaiah 30:16)

O - Obey (Isaiah 30:21)

A - Adore (Isaiah 30:18... 40:26)

R - Rest (Isaiah 30:15)

Understand the imagery of an Eagle soaring:

Like an Eagle

Isaiah must have watched eagles closely to see the way they soar.  As birds go, eagles’ wings are big, but the muscles that make them flap aren’t.  Pound for pound, an eagle’s strength is no match for the strength of a hummingbird.  The strength of eagles is not in their flapping but in their soaring.  An eagle will perch high atop a canyon wall and wait for the thermals - warm wind currents that rise up from the canyon below.  When the rising wind is just right, the eagle will fold its wings to its sides, literally cast itself into the chasm and plummet into the abyss.  Isaiah would not have known this in his day, but God has equipped eagles with tiny sensors in their beaks to let the birds know when they have reached the optimal speed.  When this happens, the bird will spread its wings, catch the thermals, rise up into the sky and soar.  Isaiah didn’t know the mechanism, but he could see the effect.

This is a great picture of hoping in God.  Through no strength of our own, we cast ourselves upon God, fall into His mercy and soar on His promises.  Our strength comes from trusting and soaring, not flapping and working.

~ Ben Patterson

Meditate on these Scriptures and Listen:

Isaiah 30:15-18

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it.

You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’
    Therefore you will flee!
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’
    Therefore your pursuers will be swift!

A thousand will flee
    at the threat of one;
at the threat of five
    you will all flee away,
till you are left
    like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
    like a banner on a hill.”

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for him!

Isaiah 40:31

But those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

Shush...

4 Traditions 4 Easter

4 Traditions... Issue: Easter In This Issue Easter Basket Rise Again 3 Parts can make a Whole Follow the Ribbon A Poem 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. Want a quick prayer encouragement on the first of every month? Click "Join our Mailing List" and start recieving Michelle's iPray eVotionals! iPray eVotionals... iRest iPray in one accord iNeed a Reminder iFinish Strong iThank God for That iFollow iWork Out iReminisce iPray 4 Protection iPray 4 Purity iSmell a Stain iEmbrace iPraise iLove Deep and Wide iPray 4 Newness iTeeter-Totter We live in a world where we wear many "hats".  Even though we all have many parts of ourselves trying to survive... Many Parts of Me (click link for "hats" script) Traditions do not have to make our world even more hectic!  It's not about doing more... it's about doing less!  It's about doing what matters! Greetings! Throughout the years I have come to have a deep respect for the role family rituals and traditions have on the healthy state of our family. For many years I worked as a Family Consultant with Once Upon A Family and picked up a few ideas.  Although traditions in our home have had seasons of success and seasons of rest or have had to be modified and/or changed to fit our family's needs, they still exist!   Each issue of 4 Traditions features ideas I have gathered and/or created that you can use or modify to fit your family's needs. Easter Basket From the Heart... One great way to celebrate Easter and to teach your children the virtues of giving, is to deliver Easter baskets to the elderly.  This is a family project that everyone can take part in.  You can make your own simple but beautiful baskets, by splattering pastel poster paint onto white construction paper.  Once the paint is dry, roll the paper into a cone shape and staple along the joined edges.  Attach a matching pastel ribbon as a handle, and fill your hand-made baskets with goodies.  Everyone will enjoy delivering these pieces of art to a local nursing home, when they see what pleasure it brings to the recipients.  Spending a little time with those who may not have anyone to share the holiday with will show your children how valuable family is.   Rise Again Planting Seeds... In celebration of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ some families may enjoy planting seeds either for a garden, or just for some pretty flowers. Jesus talked about a seed needing to be planted and die so that it can rise again with multiplied life (John 12:24). This is a good object lesson you can use to teach your children about Easter. Three Parts Can Make a Whole Dissecting. . . These days most egg hunts are with plastic eggs that open up to reveal little treasures like stickers and candy.  For this tradition you will need at last one real hard boiled egg per person.    Each person gets to dissect their own egg.  Before you start the process of disassembling and observing explain that Jesus would use examples to explain things and this activity helps explain that three parts can make a whole.  A man can be a son to his parents, a husband to his wife and a father to his children and yet he is the same person with three different functions.  An egg also helps us see that three parts can make a whole. Hold up your egg and ask what they are looking at.  "An egg"  Yes, it is a whole egg, let's figure out this egg's internal structure!  As everyone peals their eggs ask them what they are removing from the egg.  "The Shell"  Yes it is used as the covering for the other parts.  Next have them try to peal the white away from the yoke.  Ask them what they just took off.  "The Egg White"  Yes, the white part of the egg has it's own structure and is even used separate from the other parts of the egg in many recipes.  Ask what is left?  "The Yoke"  Yes, crumble it up and see how it feels and reacts differently from the other two parts of the egg.  The ONE egg can serve three different functions.     As they get to eat their mess and/or help mush it up to be made into an egg salad sandwich let them know that we worship ONE God.  This ONE God can be our heavenly Father, our savior Jesus Christ and can be spiritually active in our lives all at the same time.   End with quoting 2 Corinthians 13:14, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." Follow the Ribbon Bunny Bandits... This is a simple tradition that doesn't take much preparation.  All you need to do is buy some narrow inexpensive ribbon from a local craft store. Choose a different color for each member of the family (15 to 25 yards per person, depending on how crazy you want this to be).  You can personalize this tradition by attaching a charm to the end of each ribbon; a soccer ball for Kevin, ballet slippers for Suzie, and a sewing thimble for grandma.  Once the kids are in bed, tie a ribbon to each of their hidden Easter baskets and wind them in and out of the furniture and the other ribbons until you can't see where they began.  Bring the ends with the charms to one central location (perhaps the kitchen table) as a place where your family can begin the entangled maze to find their baskets.  On Easter morning exclaim,  "The Bunny Bandits were at it again, trying to keep you from your basket so you can't pick up the eggs!  But they left a trail of where they hid your basket." Before you know it, everyone will be tangled in ribbon and laughter.  A Poem about a little egg... In closing here is a link to a poem about a seeker that found a treasure... Discovering Little One   All 4 HIM,   MICHELLE FOZOUNMAYEH My Blog