Look to God...

My prayer:

My awesome God. Two nights where I was too wiped out to spend this time with you so tonight, before it gets to late, I want to be sure to take the time. I have missed hanging out with you like this.

I am very grateful for all that you did for me this week. It was pretty amazing how you turned everything around. Early in the week, I was pretty discouraged and it seemed like everything was going wrong. But, then you did your thing and turned everything around. I love that about you!

Ok, enough about me. What is on your mind tonight?

What God Said Tonight:

Sometimes life can feel like wearing heavy robes in the ocean. It seems like everything is working against you and trying to drag you down. But, when you look to me, when you lean on me, when you trust me, I can free you from the weigh of the world and let you soar to the surface.

Look to me and let me free you. Let me heal you. Let me lift you up to where you can breath and see the sun again.

I love you and I am always here for you. Just look up.

Choices...

My prayer:

A pretty great end to a pretty crudy day. I don't know why I let the hassles of life get to me. I don't mean to. I don't want to. I tell myself that I won't let it bother me but then suddenly, I am ready to scream with frustration. 

God, I ask for help to keep life in perspective. Help me to remember that you and your Kingdom is what really matters. Help me to remember that to love you and love other people are the two things that I need to do. Everything else is filler. Not important. And, DEFINITELY not worth getting upset about. 

It is all very clear to me right now. Help me to remember it tomorrow and every tomorrow after that.

What God Said Tonight:

Waiting on your promise is a frustrating experience. Knowing there is more but not seeing it is a frustrating experience. 

You have good reasons for being frustrated. But, you are blaming the wrong things for your frustration. Recognize what is blocking you from what you truly want and focus on getting rid of that  obstacle, Or, you can relax and know I am in charge and will work it all out anyway. 

It just depends on how you ant to spend your time. 

I love you and you will fine wholeness either way. 

God's will...

My prayer:

I saw something that shook me out of my complacency tonight God. Sure, we all talk about the end times and the battle but to be faced with such a train with military tanks on it for as far as the eye could see, in the middle of my city...that is not something I expected. That is not something that happens in my protected life. Where were they going? Who were they going to kill? Why, after all of this time, have we not come up with a better way to deal with each other? What does this mean God? With politics so volatile and governments bombing and threatening to bomb each other, what are we supposed to do?

As I write this, it makes me think of all my friends around the world who deal with the actuality of war and the threat of war every minute of every day and night. What I saw today would have barely registered for them. They know the fear of immediate and unexpected violent death. They see the brutality of violence that we perpetrate on each other, every day. Maybe I should ask them what to do, how to respond?

Any way God, I pray for your peace and your return as soon as possible. I don't like it down here without you.

What God Said Tonight:

Wars and rumors of wars. You will hear of them, but that is not the end. 

You know not the day or the hour but you do know that my will reigns. You know that my will is designed for you to be blessed. 

You know my will and my ways and you love me for it.

He did it for love...

My prayer:

What a wonderful day of celebration with you! Nothing I could ever do could come close to being enough of a thank you for what you have done for me. But, "thank you" is what I have, so, Thank YOU Jesus! Your sacrifice and Resurrection made it possible for me to know you. It washed away my sin. It healed me. It gave me everlasting life. It is crazy and wonderful. I love you!

What God Said Tonight:

Come here. Lay your head on my side. Let me love you. Let me hold you close.

I did it all for love. I did it so that not only could I love you but you could love me back. I did it for moments like this where we can rest in the love between us.

It looks good on you. You are dressed in the glory and love of the Lord. You are surrounded by my love.

You are ready for anything.

Loss...

My prayer:

This was the night when everyone thought you were dead, that all hope was lost. I bet at least some felt foolish for believing you were the Son of God. But it seems like mostly, they were just deeply grieving. 

I have always known the end of the story. I never had to suffer with the thought that you were gone. I have the luxury of always knowing that Sunday is coming, that you came back, that we are saved because of it. 

I can't imagine what it must have felt like to all those who loved you on earth. This night must have been absolute, unbearable agony. 

God, I pray for all those who are suffering from unimaginable loss tonight. I pray for your comfort. I ask that you show them a hope and a future. I pray for your healing power to surround their hearts, minds and spirits and that you make them whole again.

What God Said Tonight:

Great loss is like wandering int he desert with no water. Not only are you depleted and weak but you don't even know where to go to get out. Every direction looks like more desert. 

I am your oasis in the desert. I can meet you at your loss and heal you. I can give you hope for a future. 

I love you and I will heal your loss.

The easiest choice...

My prayer:

Good Friday, what an odd name for the remembrance of the day that you suffered beyond imagining for us. It comes back to that definition of good and bad. The suffering was bad, horrible, unbelievable, however, it resulted in the salvation of human kind. It resulted in the ability for us to be reconciled to you and to have a relationship with you. That is beyond good. That is amazing, incredible, worth more than anything else, ever!

So much of this life is like that. We go through something and it seems horrible but you turn it into something good for us.

So, you were imprisoned, beaten, treated worse than dirt and then killed in the most painful and humiliating way they could think of at the time and we call it Good. I think the next time I am going through something difficult, I will try to remind myself of Good Friday. I think that will help me remember that you will turn everything and anything to my good.

Thank you for being so very GOOD God!

What God Said Tonight:

My gift to you was a reflection of the worth I see in you. My gift was all that I had to give and I did it for you, all that I have wanted. 

I had to make a way for us to be together in relationship. I did not want to live separated from you any longer. This sacrifice, while hard to carry out, was also the easiest choice to make. 

To avoid it, to not do it, meant eternal separation from my children. To do it meant reconciliation with these who were willing. 

I love you enough to give my life. That is the greatest love.

Hereditary love...

My prayer:

Well, it all turned out just like you said it would God. Writing that, I feel foolish. Of course it turned out like you said. You are God. What you say goes!

Thank you for giving me favor with "man" and blessing me with capabilities greater than my own. I got to swim with the big fish this week and because of you, I came out looking really good. Your favor is amazing God. 

Well, there is still a few more days to the week but this weekend, I get to celebrate what you did for us that allows me to know you! Now that should be pretty wonderful. 

What God Said Tonight:

Sit here a minute with me and look out on the world. When I look out, I see so much good. I see children who are loving and caring for each other. I see joy. I see people living for me and in peace. 

I see the other too. I see the evil that is yet to be abolished. I see the pain. I see the struggle. But, in the midst of all of that, there is still love, joy peace. 

That is part of what I love about my children. In the middle of he hardest situations, you find a way to love. If there was ever the need to prove that you are mine, that would be it. It is only my love that endures no matter what. It is my love in you that can shine through no matter the circumstance. 

I find that really beautiful. I love you now and forever my child.