Family
Dear Father, I didn’t realize until after I was up that I had slept clear through the night! Thank You! Its things like that that helps me to feel Your love for me. Some may say, “You were just really tired.” Or “Your body didn’t need to get up” but I don’t buy that for a moment it was a gift from my loving Father.
And that’s not all. My God has been so faithful to wake me each morning, and I have obediently risen now for 42 days in a row! He also gave me a little extra today – 30 minutes more to be exact. He loves me in the little things, too!
But that is still not all! When I woke it was from a beautiful dream. A little over 3 weeks ago I was able to write the names of newborn twin girls on my prayer list. I knew their mother when I served as Children’s Pastor several years ago, she was in middle school then. Lord, she has grown up to be a wonderful Christian woman. She and her husband serve as medical missionaries with their two young boys. But I digress…:)
Back to my dream…we were in a public setting and this young lady was there. We were talking along with some friends and family and I know Facebook has a multitude of goods and bad but we were sharing how it helps us pray for each other and before you knew it we were crying together and she sweetly gave me a hug. And that’s when I awoke. There are tears in my eyes just writing it down. Of course, before crawling out of bed, I prayed for her and the girls and her boys and husband as well.
I felt prompted to write all this simply for the reason that being a part of God’s family is such a wonderful thing! I literally haven’t seen this young lady in over 16 years. And even then we did not have any regular interactions – she was just a sweet teen that was a part of my church family. But she and I and so many others are a part of Your family, Lord, and we are so blessed that You have given us each other. We have innumerable brothers and sisters around the globe. Most I do not know, but many I do. Some I pray for each and every day.
Lord, I am so grateful that You love me. And one of the things You have taught me on our journey together is if someone asks me to pray for them, I don’t just say I will – I do! When someone out of the blue comes to mind, when others ask for prayer in person or on Facebook, or wherever! Say a prayer. When the Apostle Paul encourages us to “pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB this is what he meant. We all need to pray because we all surely need it. Thank You, Lord for prompting me to pray. Thank You for others who pray for me. And thank You for interceding for me as well…
“As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you.“ 1 Samuel 12:23a NLT
Mar 2nd, Wed, 5:44 am
Time Conscience
Looking back over my life, Father, I think of all the time that has been wasted. Over the last several years I recall 2 sermons that reference the number of seconds we have in a day – 86,400. We eat, we sleep, we work – there are lots of things that take up our time out of necessity. But even some of those things could be used more effectively. Being more productive is a noble goal but even then sometimes productivity is not necessarily beneficial.
For example, two times a day, five days a week I have a 35-40 minute (2100-2400 seconds) commute. Just getting to work is productive – and I am of course limited to what I can accomplish, but over the years I have driven in silence, listened to talk radio and music, at least one book on CD, Bible teachers on radio, CD and phone, listened through the Bible on CD a few times, talked to my mom (a lot!), my dad, sister, son, wife, some of these things are more profitable than others. I have prayed, too. And some I could have lived without. Many times I don’t even think about it – I just do it.
Lord, help me to redeem my time. I realize that we aren’t required to labor every single second of our waking hours. But help me to be conscience of what I do with the time I am given. Help me to keep in sight, so as not to wander from Your side. If I can do more to invest in our relationship, may I do so.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV
Mar 1st, Tues, 5:24 am
Rat Race
Father, hearing the “rushing mighty wind” this morning reminds me of the Holy Spirits presence in my life. He is with me every step of the way guiding, correcting, helping, encouraging, even praying for me when I don’t know what to say. I am so grateful that He is a constant in my life. “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.”
Hebrews 4:1-11 (<<click here)
Rest… Not many that I know would dislike the word, except toddlers who so desperately need a nap. 🙂 But Lord, this is way more than a little break. It is a way of life – a mindset – that we find only in You.
Much of our lives seem to be spent in frantic labor. We work so hard at school and work and family. We strive to maintain and prepare for the next step ahead. It is a constant effort to be “ready”- tests, and homes, meals and vacations, graduations and retirement, families and work…even death. For most of us the just never seems to be enough time. No wonder we call it a “rat race.”
Now, Lord, when You speak of rest You are not wanting us to stop everything and just stare into the heavens. Your rest is a realization that our labors are not in vain. Our future is secure. When we are obedient we don’t have to worry if our efforts are good enough and if we are doing the right things, in the right way, at the right time. You grant us the mindset that You cause “everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28
Thank You, Lord, for Your rest.
Feb 29th, Mon, 4:56 am
Hard Hearts
Thank You, Father, for a productive week! Even with it being very full, You enabled me to get everything together for worship this morning. Even with my personal ups and downs You patiently were able to use me. Today, as is my goal every day, I give myself over to You. Use me as You will. Amen.
And before I move on, I want to thank You for Your love and watch care over Karen as she recovers from her surgery. You continued to answer our prayers and all the credit for her well-being goes to You.
Hebrews 3:7-19 (<<click here)
“Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts…”
A lesson we learn from the Israelites is certainly applicable today as well. Just as heart disease is not something that develops in a day, or a week, or a month but is an accumulation of plaque in our arteries over a lengthy period of time, so is the hardening of our hearts to God.
Lord, I truly don’t believe that we set out to harden our hearts towards You. But as the passage alludes to, we must continue to strive to hear Your voice. Hearing Your voice of guidance in our lives is what prevents “things” from blocking our interaction with You. You direct us to avoid something and we choose to do it anyway – everyone else is doing it! – and a blockage occurs. I may only be small deposit of plaque in the cavity of our relationship with You but if we leave it unchecked they have this awful tendency to multiply. And before we know it, we have a problem. With proper spiritual exercise of heartfelt prayer and the consistent reading of Your Word, that “plaque” can be removed. But that takes discipline and that’s not easy.
The bad thing is if we don’t address it, little by little – disobedience on top of disobedience – our “artery” of connection with You becomes blocked and our hearts begin to harden. And when that happens our hearts begin to die because what sustains us for the long haul is the continual flow of love from You. And hard hearts cut off the flow and death is just around the corner.
But even at this stage, if we will but ask, You can intervene. Ezekiel 36:26 tells us,
“…I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
Lord, please help me to keep those “arteries” of love open and clear. Continue to enable me to maintain a heart that is tender and responsive to You. Amen
Feb 28th, Sun, 6:29 am
The Allure of the Trap
Father, beyond the last couple of days being outside the routine, they have also been trying. Fiery darts have flown and I have been less adept with my shield than I should have been. I have already asked for and received Your forgiveness and would ask that my resolve be strengthened from Your never ending reserves. My strength is found in You, Father, for I am weak. Thank You for Your love and patience. If I truly got what I deserve, I would have been a pile of dust and ashes long ago. But only because of You, I am stronger today that I once was and in You I will be stronger tomorrow, too.
One of the daunting things about country living is the fact that unwanted guests will occasionally let themselves in…mice! Every nook and cranny in our home has been filled and sealed with the exception of one and it is a space that I cannot get to. Almost all of the lower cabinetry in our kitchen will have to be removed for the entry point to be eliminated. So we use traps and they do a fine job.
Over the years we have discovered that peanut butter serves as very enticing bait and many an unwanted guest has succumbed to its allure. The scent of it draws them. The taste keeps them and drives them further in until a foot or a nose trips the lever and the penalty is paid for unwanted entry.
The devil knows our weaknesses and being unable to be everywhere at the same time, he sets traps for us – alluring things, enticing things, things that are very, very hard to say “no “ to once they have been tasted. And none of us are exempt. We can all be tempted. All of us have entered places where we have no business being, be it physical or mental. Many times we realize early on that we’ve entered a very dangerous place and exit immediately but even the strongest of warriors can be enticed in times of weariness or when our guard is let down even for a moment. And in that moment of hesitation the trap is sprung and we are caught.
But our Father, gratefully so, can be everywhere at the same time. And when we cry out He is there to save us, to set us free, once again from the trap. We lick our wounds and regret our actions and fall on the gracious mercy of our loving Lord and Savior who understands us, more than we could ever know. “For this High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all the same testings’ (temptation) we do, yet he did not sin” Hebrews 4:15
Thank You, Lord, for Your love, Your forgiveness and Your mercy and grace. Give us wisdom to avoid the places of temptation. And when we do end up there and sometimes it attacks when we didn’t even see it coming, gives us the strength to stand and fight or sometimes it is just best to turn and run.
May we continue to abide in Your presence and learn from Your Word so we may be ready, in Your wisdom and strength, for whatever comes our way. All praise, and honor and glory to You!
Feb 27th, Sat, 4:58 am