Keep moving...

My prayer:

A day full of unresolved tension has left me feeling on edge and off balance tonight God.

I pray and ask for your peace, wisdom, and guidance to lead me through this season (which is hopefully a short one). Help me to learn all that I need to learn. Help me to see every opportunity.

Thank you Jesus.

What God Said Tonight:

Hang on to me. Hang on to the cross. Walk with the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other. Don't stop. Don't stay and live in this place but keep walking and I will guide you out.

I have not designed you to live in this season but I have designed you to walk through it. I have things to teach you in this. I have purpose in this.

Put one foot in front of the other. Don't stop moving. Keep your eyes open and see what I will do.

Forgive...

My prayer:

God, I ask for your help to forgive those who have hurt me and, even harder, to forgive those who have hurt those that I have loved. I know that is what you want from me but I do not have what it takes to do it on my own. I pray for your help and healing to be able to let go and to forgive.

What God Said Tonight:

I have forgiven you. You already have in you what you need to forgive.

I gave it to you freely. I did not ask you to pay for it with your actions or with your words. I have given it to you through my own sacrifice.

Now, you can give it to others.

God's Kingdom...

My prayer:

I am pretty glad to be at the end of this week God and grateful for a day of rest with you tomorrow. I am worn out.

Most of my thoughts and questions tonight are related to wonderful people in my life who are facing weird challenges. There seem to be a lot of those. I pray God that your sovereign will be accomplished in each of the situations and that every one of them be turned for that person's good. God, you can use anything to bless us. Turn their stuggles into blessings. It is so cool when you do that!

What God Said Tonight:

I am building a great Kingdom. First was the foundation. It has taken many years to build a foundation that can house my presence. The foundation, your foundation is built and is strong.

Next step is the columns. They will be tall and strong and will hold many stories. The columns, for you, will also be ornate. They will be evidence that a child of God dwells here.

There are more steps after that but I don't want us to get to far ahead of ourselves...

God's presence and love...

My prayer:

Awesome God. I have renewed recognition of what a privilege it is to have you in my life and have you on my side.

While others are seeking a place of peace, I carry your peace with me. I bring it with me into every situation and every environment. I  bring you with me.

What a huge privilege! The God of all creation goes with me wherever I go! That is just crazy but it is true. So true that other people notice it. They don't always know what "it" is but they know something is different.

Thank you God for making me different with your presence!

What God Said Tonight:

Come close for a second. Let me wrap my arms around you. Let me kiss your forehead. Let me make sure you know how loved you are.

I have many great plans and many great things to do but none greater than letting my children know that I love them. 

Seed of faith...

My prayer:

Thank you for protection today God. I could feel your protection throughout the day and let me walk through dangerous situations with no anxiety. That was pretty awesome.

I got to see some people spreading peace instead of violence today and it gave me hope. Thank you for showing me that. It was pretty awesome too.

Thank you for a pretty awesome day!

What God Said Tonight:

Walking out this life takes so much faith and hope, I know that it does. But faith and hope are odd things. The littlest amount, when watched over and protected can provide the greatest result.

You know what I have said about mustard seed faith, it is still true. If you have even the smallest of faith, the smallest of hope it will grow to cover your whole life.

Don't let go of your seed. Don't let go of the hope and faith you have. You will need every last bit of it for the days ahead. Hold on to it and I will make it grow.

Generosity...

My prayer:

What a great day God! I love giving. Seeing someone's eyes light up and tear up as the result of unexpected generosity, no matter how big or small, is one of my favorite things in the world.

Thank you for making me a blessing today. Thank you for blessing me so I can bless other people. Thank you for teaching me the joy of giving.

What God Said Tonight:

It is one of the things that I continue to love about this season, it gives people an excuse to be generous.

Generosity becomes it's own reward and gives back even more than what is given.

I know many people worry about the commercialism that seems to overrun Christmas but if you don't focus on the amount of the gift and stay focused on having a generous heart, that is when there is true joy for all.

Look up...

My prayer:

God, my awesome God. I am uneasy tonight. The constant crazy violence of this world, the disappointments of life, they all just get to be too much some times.

I know I keep talking about this and I know that every time that I do, you reassure me that you are in charge and you will take care of me. I try to remember that. I try to remember that none of this is a surprise to you. But, living it out every day, seeing dreams crushed, seeing people destroying other people, and never knowing where the next bullet is coming from...I don't know how to live with all of that and still find peace all the time.

I try to shut it out but that only lasts for awhile. I try to remind myself of your power, your presence and your peace, but that only lasts for awhile.

Even though I have asked before and you have given it to me, I need to ask again for your help. Help me to know how to live in this crazy world without letting it make me crazy.

What God Said Tonight:

Secrets are being made public. More than ever, that which was hidden is being made known. Secrets are not usually pretty. They are usually dirty and grimy and there is a reason that people keep them secret. But, the time for secrets is over. The time for knowledge is here.

When Adam and Eve first ate from the tree of knowledge, it opened a door to this day when all will become public. All will be known.

It is a lot to handle and it is not pretty. But, in the end, after all is known, I will redeem my children. I will create  the new heaven and new earth. I will make a home for us that is bright, and beautiful and filled with joy and peace. I will build us a home where secrets do not live and where joy and kindness reign. I will build us a place where pain and sickness cannot stand.

I have promised you these things. Stay focused on our future together. When the secrets being revealed get to be too much, remember that we have a future together beyond the secrets and beyond he violence. We have a future together of love.

When it gets too hard to look around you, look up.