Love them...

My prayer:

Mighty God. I am not sure what to talk with you about tonight. Not that I don't have anything on my mind. My mind is actually racing with a million different thoughts. Some are too difficult to put into words, others would take to long to explain, and others are so random, I am not sure they are worth your time. 

A lot of them are centered around trying to understand what to do when everything is falling apart. I have some wonderful people in my life who are doing everything they know to live for you and to live in your purpose for them and yet their lives are falling apart financially, in relationships, and in their health. 

I know that is not your will for their lives. They are earnestly seeking you for answers and a way out. And still, they are truly suffering.

Not only do I want to understand so I can provide them with hope, but also, for those people whose lives are going well but see these things happening to your children and get worried they are next, I need to know what to tell them. I need to know what to tell myself about it.

I ask God for wisdom and understanding.

What God Said Tonight:

No two life stories are the same. No two paths are the same. I cannot provide you with a blanket answer that will give you what you hope for. The blanket answer, you already know. You live in a world that still has sin in it. As long as sin is in the world, bad things will happen. Sometimes, for no apparent reason. Because I allow people to make their own decisions, I can't stop the bad things from happening but I can use them for your good. 

But, I think what you are wanting tonight is something more specific. You are wanting to know what to tell the people who are suffering. I have some answers for you and I will give you the words when you need them. 

Most of all, love them. Most of all, make sure they know that no matter what they face, you will face it with them. That is more important than any words of wisdom you might provide Love is the key to all healing and all restoration. Let them know your love in a real and tangible way and that will do more than you can imagine. 

I have not forgotten them. I have not stopped loving them. I have not forgotten the plans I have for them (which are good). I have a way out for each of them I will not leave them or forsake them. 

And, I will not leave you either. As you walk with them through this journey, I am right there with you. I am in your midst. I will comfort, heal, strengthen, guide, and teach them. I love you.

Asking for help...

My prayer:

Perfect night God. Just what I needed. Thanks for reminding me of the things that I forgot. Basic things like get out of your way and let you do your thing. I am sorry that I allowed my prideful self think it could do it all. I should know by now that any time I rely on my strength and my abilities, I end up crushed into the ground. 

I ask for help to let go of all of the things that are outside of my control. I ask for help for letting go of guilt when I feel like I have let someone down. I pray God for your grace and mercy on my life and help to receive it.

So, pretty much help with everything! LOVE YOU!

What God Said Tonight:

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Asking for help is a display of wisdom. 

To know what you need help with and what you don't is a difficult but important thing to learn. When you ask for help on things you already know, it is a waste of your time and the time of the person you are asking for help. 

But, when you ask for help with things that you are not capable of or don't know yet, you find help, understanding, and build new skills and strengths you did not have before.  

People who are helpless don't ask for help. People who ask for help are those who still have hope but need more of what they don't have to make it to where they want to go. 

I am your ever present help and I will honor your prayer. I send my helper to you. He will be by your side, guiding, directing, helping, and sharing this life with you. I love you so much. 

See you again soon...

My prayer:

Wonderful Father. Today was mostly about loss and I am left feeling a bit empty tonight. I think it is time to count blessings: 1. wonderful family who loves me 2. friends who are amazing and who love me 3. a roof over my head 4. food to eat 5. a great job 6. amazing opportunities to minister to people every day 7. beauty all around me 8. and most of all YOU!

Thank you for this life that you have given me. It is more than I could have hoped for and I can't wait to see what is next.

What God Said Tonight:

I have an eternity of joy for you. I have an eternity of joy for anyone who wants it. 

Today was not goodbye. Today was "See you again soon." My people don't have to say goodbye. My people have been given everlasting life My people have a home here in heaven with me. I have mansions that are built and ready to be occupied at the right time. 

I have not forgotten my covenant with you. I will never separate you from those you love longer than is absolutely necessary and when you are back together, it will seem as no time has passed. 

I love you and I will take care of your every need always.

Cloud of peace...

My prayer:

What a weird mix of good and bad stuff today God. I don't know if I did a good job today but at least I survived. On days like today, that seems like quite an achievement! 

I guess when I really look at today objectively, nothing horrible happened (except dropping my sunglasses in the dirty toilet...that was pretty horrible). But seriously, compared to the real problems in the world I shouldn't complain. I definitely let stress get the better of me at times today. 

I would love to get to that place where I live in the middle of your peace no matter what. I have met people like that. People who, no matter what is happening around them, they remain in your peace. I think that would be a pretty wonderful way to live. And the truth is, you ALWAYS work things out for me so I should be at peace. Help me to get there?

What God Said Tonight:

You have my peace, whenever you want it. It is always with you and in you because I am in you. You can choose to experience that peace or you can choose to stress and worry. But always remember that you are making a conscious choice to do so. 

You always have access to my peace. You may want to keep some reminders about that around handy that you can see when you run into stress. You know my promises around peace and how I have promised to take care of you. Keep those readily at hand to remind you in those tough times. 

Truth is, you are a lot more at peace today than you have been in the past so this is simply a continuation of that journey. It is the next level of peace in any storm. 

Feel my peace surround and cover you tonight. Like a cloud, let it surround you and block out the worry. Rest in my peace and know that I am God, your Father.

More Mary, less Martha...

My prayer:

Today was pretty crazy God. I was barely able to keep up most of the day. Thank you for being my peace in any storm. I always have you to lean on. I can always count on a place of peace and stability in you. 

How in the world do people survive without that? I wouldn't last a day if I couldn't lean on you!

Love you and can't wait to hear what you have to say tonight...

What God Said Tonight:

You can watch the people, people all around the world and you will see, money is not the key to happiness, even family is not the key to happiness. The key to happiness is being safe, with people you love, and having a challenge to accomplish. That is a sure tried recipe for happiness. 

I want you to be happy. I want you to enjoy life. So often you get too wrapped up in the problems and forget to enjoy. I need a little more Mary and a little less Martha from you right now. 

I love you more than anything and I want you to be happy.

Hands off...

My prayer:

Amazing Father. I need your help. You always say when I need help I just need to ask, so I am asking. 

This crazy project is not going very well. I just want to finish it; but, when it is done, me and everyone at the office has to live with the results so I want it to be done right. I have tried my best and it is not working. I have asked for help and it is not working. I am frustrated and want to say I quit, but it has to get done and there is no one else to do it. I need your help. 

You have done much bigger things than this. Even this week you have already performed mighty miracles. I just need a little miracle, in a very real and mundane situation.

Thank you God for being my Father and my help in every situation.

What God Said Tonight:

I wondered when you were going to get around to asking for my help. I have watched you struggle with this and I have wanted to help but until you took your hands off long enough for me to get my hands on it, my hands were tied so to speak. 

I am your ever present help. I am always here and always ready to help. But, for me to help, you have to let me in. 

I will take care of this. You will surprised at how easy it from this point forward. The things that you could not make sense of will seem so simple now. I will give you everything you need. I am here for you always in all things and I love you. 

Unique love...

My prayer:

Awesome God. I am so crazy in love with you. All I have to do is stop for five seconds and start to think of who you are and all that you do and I am overwhelmed with how wonderful you are and how much I love you!!

Thank you for "C's" praise report of healing from MS today! That blessed and encouraged so many people. You are wonderful!! Wait, I already said that. I just run out of words God. 

I always loved how Bishop L always use to start the year with the alphabet praise. Let see if I can come up with 26 words to describe how wonderful you are starting with each letter of the alphabet...I may need some help with "X"...

You are awesome, beautiful, caring, delightful, excellent, fabulous, GREAT, highest, incredible, Jesus, knowing, loving, marvelous, newsworthy, overwhelming, perfect, quality, regal, stupendous, terrific, unstoppable, victorious, xiphoid (as in your word is like a double edged sword), Yaweh, and zenith!

LOVE YOU!!

What God Said Tonight:

You make me smile my child. I love you too. I always will. 

Be confident in my love for you. Not just confident in my love for all humanity, but be confident in my love for you. 

My love for each of my children is somewhat different. My relationship with each of my children is different. My love for each child is not greater or less than others but it is different. 

I love you specially because you are you. I love you because I am love, but I love you because of who you are as well. I have a special and unique love for every single one of my children. I have numbered the hairs on your head and I save your tears because I am so in love with you. You are never out of my heart. 

Go and rest. Tomorrow is going to be good.