Roots and fruit...

My prayer:

Thank you God for a wonderful day. Thank you for getting me to work and home safely on the snowy roads. Thank you for a day at work where I got to do the stuff I love. Thank you for the good news about the future. Thank you for divine health. Thank you for a warm house to sleep in. Thank you for peace, joy, and grace. Thank you most of all for being you and for loving me!

What God Said Tonight:

The fruit of any life, of any situation, of any decision will show the root from where it came. That is true of trees and it is true of people. When I look at your life, I can see your root, your motivations from what you are producing. 

You know that when your life is full with blessings and joy, love and peace, you know that your root, your intention, is to bless, love, bring joy and peace. When your life is full of deceit and discouragement, you know that your root, your motivation, is to bring lies and discouragement. Change the root and you will change your fruit. 

Know that either way, I still love you. Know that out of that love, I will help you if you ask. 

Your fruit is not important in itself but it is very helpful to know the root. Root yourself in me and you will always have good fruit. I am the root of all good. satan is the root of all evil. Root yourself in good. 

Different lives...

My prayer:

Awesome God. You know that I love and appreciate the life you have given me. But sometimes, I wonder what if I made different choices. What if I took some different paths. Would I be happier if I had gone ahead and made some more traditional choices? 

I have always been proud of making my own way in life and making choices that seemed best at the time, not necessarily what people expected of me. But sometimes I wonder if I missed out on some things. 

Most of the time the knowledge that I only have one life to live is a relief. I mean this one is tough enough! I don't want to have to go through it more than once. But then sometimes I wonder what it would be like to live out different choices and different lives. I am sure that there are positives and negatives to everyone's life. I don't know, just wondering.

What God Said Tonight:

I have given you but one life to live and you should live it to the best of your ability, making the best choices you know how to make. What I also expect and plan for you to do is to be in relationship with other people to know and discover what other paths, other decisions might be like. 

Sometimes those relationships will help you to make different decisions and sometimes they will show you that you don't ever need to make a decision that results in that life. But they are always going to help you and show you different ways to live. 

Relationships allow you to experience life from many different viewpoints. Remember to learn what life looks like through your friends eyes and you will experience more of what life has to give you. Love you daughter. 

God's work...

My prayer:

Well, today didn't quite turn out the way I thought it was going to. Definitely had some bumps in the road (literally and figuratively). But, I feel like such a whiny wimp when I even think about complaining about anything in my life. 

Truth is, my life is pretty amazing and wonderful. Especially when I look at what other people are dealing with right now. So many people that I know are in really desperate situations. Situations that if you don't show up and change things, they likely will not survive. There are so many of those desperate situations right now, I am not even sure how to pray for all of them.

Fact is God, we need you, now, to show up and rescue your people. And that is really it.

What God Said Tonight:

I am here and I am working in each of the situations even right now. My work is not always obvious. I don't always part the Red Sea to make things right. 

Sometimes, I give people a new idea. Sometimes, I ask another one of my kids to help out. Sometimes I know it is only a matter of time for the situation to work itself out. And then sometimes, I do part the Red Sea and do a crazy miracle, just to show that I still can. 

I will work on your behalf, always, to make sure all things wok toward your good. I will guide you always. I will love you always. These are some of the promises from me to you, my children.

Pressure and peace...

My prayer:

Wonderful Father. We made it to another Friday night. Friday nights are one of my favorite nights of the week. The work of the week is done. I know I get to rest tomorrow. I get to go to church tomorrow night. 

The pressure is off for at least the next 24 hours. Whew! Just relaxing with you tonight God. Love you!

What God Said Tonight:

Peace I give to you my daughter. I am your peace. I am your comfort. I am the one who gives you rest. 

My peace can withstand any pressure. My peace can survive in the worst of storms. I have peace that dominates the atmosphere. Wrap yourself in my peace at all times and be comforted and confident. 

Love you too!

Insights...

My prayer:

Awesome God. I have been bothered by something lately and I am not sure what to think about it. So, as usual, I want to talk to you about it. 

I have begun to notice how we as Christians and even Christian Pastors spend so much time trying to encourage other Christians to have faith when they don't see your promises in their lives. There are so many messages to encourage people, "You may not have seen your healing yet, but have faith, it is on it's way! Just confess it, pray more, give a sacrifice/offering, etc."

On the one hand, I get it. We do need to encourage each other and help each other to hang on and have faith. But on the other hand, shouldn't we be spending just as much time celebrating your grace, mercy and miracles in our lives that we do see? And, when we don't see that happening in our lives, isn't that an indication that something is REALLY wrong?

It just does not seem right to me. But maybe I am not understanding? What do you think God?

What God Said Tonight:

I think that you are not seeing the whole picture but you are seeing the portion of it that stands out as inconsistent, which is good. I think that you are earnestly seeking a life with me that includes every promise I have for you which is very good. I think that if you, in the light of the insight that you see around you, find ways to celebrate my promises in your life and find ways to increase your experience of those promises, that is really, very good. 

I desire that you live under the open heaven, with blessings pouring out over your life. I desire a relationship of complete intimacy with you. I desire that you never want for a single thing. I will see you there, in that place of nothing missing and nothing lacking; but, it will take a series of paradigm shifts from what you have known. It will take paying attention to these insights, while understanding they are all pieces of the overall picture. 

I love you daughter. Keep seeking, keep thinking and keep learning.

Choose...

My prayer:

I don't need to talk except to say I love you God. What is on your mind tonight?

What God Said Tonight:

Each choice that you make has consequences. But "consequences" has taken on a negative connotation. I don't mean that each choice will result in reward or punishment. There is too much focus on reward and punishment these days. I mean that each choice will result in separate and unique reactions and events that will drive  the future, your future and those around you. 

Choices are important. But less important when you are living in me and me in you. When we are one, while your choices continue to have reactions, I can use the choice and the reaction to your good. 

I want you to know that it is ok to take a few more chances than you do. I will cover you. I want you to understand that I will not leave you. I want you to understand that we are in this life together as one and will remain that way through eternity. 

Choose me first and everything else will work out. Love you my daughter. I choose you.

Relationships...

My prayer:

Awesome God. You know that there are a million things that I appreciate about you. You are so loving I can't even wrap my head around it. You are so generous, in every way. You are so kind. You are so wise. You are so faithful...and so much more.

One of the things that I appreciate so much is how, when I am going through something, you always bring someone to me who is going through the same thing. That is such a HUGE comfort. 

Thank you for connecting me with just the right person to talk through stuff today. We did not solve anything but I feel a lot better knowing I am not the only one feeling this way. Your loving care for me is tremendous!

What God Said Tonight:

I am here for you always but I know sometimes it helps to talk it through with someone you can see. 

It is part of that relational thing. I have created you to be in relationship. Therefore, when you are going through something, you want to relate to someone who knows how you feel. 

The truth is, at any given moment, there are a lot of people around you going through the same things as you. My children who love me and seek me, face a lot of the same challenges living in a world that is not quite home yet. 

The more you reach out, the more you will find those people. Know that when you do, it helps them as much as it helps you. Do not shy away from relationships. They were made for you.