Trust

Have you ever considered just how trusting we really are?  I've heard people say and have even said myself, "I just can't trust him/her/them."  Yet, we drive to work, school or play each day trusting that the other people on the road know the rules, are following the rules, have good vehicles, and are paying attention to what's going on around them.  We trust that the person in the other car will keep that car in their lane.  We trust that the other person will not run into the back of our car.

Oh, I know that trust is sometimes broken.  But in reality, we trust in big ways.  Most of us trust that our co-workers won't bring a gun to the office and go on a rampage.  Most of us trust that our homes will still be pretty much in the same shape when we get home as when we left it. Most of us trust that a foreign country won't invade us.  Most of us trust that today will be.  

So, I am amazed with the amount of trust floating around out there that people don't trust God.  Even myself, I think I know so much more than I really do.  I think I've got this life thing all figured out.  I trust myself.  And, wow, that is the wrong thing to trust.  God is faithful.  He is just.  He is honest.  He is.  And, He is always those things.  Now, me, I'm not always those things.  I don't always play fair.  I've told lies.  I'm not always faithful in doing what I've committed to do.  I'm not always trustworthy.  God is.  If I can trust all those people driving around, surely I can trust God.

(Father God, help me to trust You in all things.  You alone are completely faithful and trustworthy.  Thank you for the examples of trust that are evident when I look.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Fallen in Love

I've fallen in love.  No, I was not planning on falling in love.  After being a single parent for 7 years, adding another person to the mix was just too complicated.  The logistics of blending a family has not and does not appeal to me.  The practical things that have to be addressed require way too much work on my part.  Yet, God is using this.

When in love, it's easy to want to spend time with the object of your affection.  I constantly think of and about this new person in my life.  I can't wait to see him at the end of a work day.  I look forward to the day we can wake up together.  I enjoy what ever the thing is that we do together.  I dislike and am impatient when we are apart.  

But then today, I got to wondering.  Do I seek Jesus as the object of my affection?  Is my relationship with God on the same level as (or higher than) the relationship with this other person? What can I learn about my relationship with God because of this relationship with him?   If this relationship is the answer to my prayer for a relationship that honors God, then I better be learning something from it.  

So, I'm learning that I don't worry about the logistics of my relationship with God.  I'm going to let it fill my senses the way a new romantic relationship does.  I am allowing God to create in me the desire to spend time with Him.  I'm allowing Him to distract me from the day to day activities for thoughts of joy and peace.  When I do, a loving smile settles on my face.  God is faithful.  He loves you  and I with a love beyond what any human does or can.  He has our best interest in mind even when He chastises us.  Isn't that amazing and desirable?

(Father God, thank you for the perfect relationship that You - and You alone - provide.  Thank you also for the human relationships that show me about Your love in a way that I can grasp and understand.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Mary Kept

"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."  Luke 2:19.

After the angels announced the birth of Peace on earth and the shepards came to see the Saviour, it was told far and wide about this event.  These shepards just had to tell everyone about Jesus.  It was an exciting time for them.  But, Mary didn't tell.

This is the way I feel right now.  God had blessed me in a way that I wasn't expecting.  And, I'm keeping so much of it and pondering it in my heart.  I know this is an exciting time that others want to be a part of.  Yet, I want to savor this time with God.  Thanking Him for His provision. Praising Him for His faithfulness even when I waivered.  Rejoicing in His timing and handiwork. Thanking Him for the exercise of waiting.  Letting His grace and mercy fill every fiber of my being and soul.

(Father God, thank You for loving me beyond measure.  I thank You for the gift of salvation and the joy of it.  Forgive me when I lose sight of You.  Thank You for the reminders of how You work in my life even when I'm not looking.  Thank You for this unexpected place.  I am overwhelmed at the demonstrated love.  Oh Father, place Your protection around it.  Show Your grace, honor and glory through it.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Chasing Dreams and Passions

How do I find a dream today?  How do I locate my passion?  Oooh!  Let's ask God.  Sounds so simple to ask.  What comes after asking is the difficult part for me.  The waiting.  Waiting on God to answer the way I want Him to.  Yeah, I'm being a spoiled child.  I want the answer the way I want it.

Yet, God calls me to wait for His answer.  He calls me to listen for His plans.  He gently asks that I seek what He desires for me.  As a flawed, human parent I sometimes think that God might actually answer the way I would.  Thankfully, He reminds me that He is the great I AM. 

I know that God is not limited by human thinking or desires.  I know that He knows the big picture and I know that I am only a little puzzle piece.  Sometimes, I want more.  Most times, I want more.  Today, I want Him.  That is all, that is enough, that is the best.

(Father God, I will never cease to be amazed at You.  I am giddy with anticipation of what it will be like to be in Your physical presence, to be totally engaged with You.  Oh, Father, how incredible and terrible at the same time.  I want a little bit of that today.  I want to be aware of Your goodness and Your justice.  Your goodness blesses me.  Your justice keeps me on the path You set.  Your justice keeps me mindful of just what sin does in our relationship.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Just another new year?

I don't make new year resolutions. What is the point? I am not guaranteed tomorrow. I have today with God, my family and friends. I should make the most of today.

God doesn't want me to worry about tomorrow or if I'll loose 60 pounds this year or if Mom's chemo will destroy the cancer in her body over the next 3 months. He wants me to focus on Him today. Not next week but right now even this very moment.

Sometimes, this is extremely difficult for me. I want what I want and I want it now. I have become ingrained in this "fast" food society of America. I sometimes forget that delayed satisfaction is most often much better than anything that "satisfies" my flesh instantly.

Having said that I also wonder what a new year will bring. Will it bring the return of my Lord? Will it bring a husband? Will it bring a new place to live? Will it bring the close of any personal relationships? Will it bring the close of mom's earthly life? Will it bring a drivers license for my daughter? What will this 2009 look like?

(Father God, I am so thankful that You care for me. You are the holy and true God. You alone are mighty and wonderfully just. Forgive me where I fall so short of Your Perfectness. Thank You for making a way for me to partake in Your Perfectness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, my Saviour. Keep me focused on You each day so that I may know You and love You. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Praying to God

While working on the previous post, I began to wonder what is the proper way to close a prayer. What is the proper punctuation? How do I pray in Jesus name?

I did a quick search on the Internet and pulled myself to the example provided by God through His Holy Word for instructions. It really is pretty simple. Prayer is directed to God the Father in the name of God the Son (Jesus) delivered by the groaning of God the Holy Spirit.

"Father God, I am clay in your hands, help me to stay that way through all life's demands cause they chip and they nag and they pull at me." (Lose My Soul, Toby Mac) This is the beginning of my current favorite song. It starts the prayer properly and is an awesome example . While the song does not directly follow the example provided in Matthew 6 and Luke 11, it is none the less a heartfelt prayer. And while the words were not originated with me, they are also my heartfelt prayer.

I've heard so many times that the words of the prayer are not what are important but that God hears the cry of the heart. I believe this to be true. Prayers can be offered in many ways and it is the position of the heart and the words of the heart that God hears and acknowledges. When my heart cries out to Father God, He hears. God is so great and awesome. I'm excited as I learn more about Him.

(Father God, I am clay in Your hands. I know that You fashion me to be what You desire. I also understand that while I am clay, I have a free will - unlike earthly clay. I can make decisions that cause Your perfect plan to be marred. Yet, You quickly and wonderfully fix, smooth, rework, and perfect the clay. You don't remove the consequences of my bad decisions You use them to Your glory. I stand amazed at all times at how You can continually do that without losing it. Thank You Father God for loving me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.)

Desires of the Heart

I've been pondering the desires of the heart a lot during the last few weeks. Why does God create desires in our hearts? How does He change those desires? How does He fan those desires? How do I know the desire is one that He placed there while He was shaping me before I was born? I know the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. But as I've blogged before, God gives us a new heart when we trust him. So, now my heart, the innermost part of me, the part that is truly me - wonders what is the desire from God and what is my own flesh being influenced by the media and society? I seek to know the very threads that God used to weave me together.

I want to know the desire and passion that He placed in me for my job, for my family, for my ministry. I'm am steadily tapping into that fundamental desire to know Him. Intimately. Deeply. Personally. Without fear. As I get to know Him, I want to know my purpose for Him.

(Father God, thank You for all that You do. I know You see the confusion and desires of my heart. I know that You have a plan to prosper me and that You direct my paths. Yet, Father, I feel so alone at times. Please help me to hear what You have for me. In the name of Jesus, Amen.)