Celebrate...

My prayer:
Awesome God. Precious Jesus. Savior of the world. Thank you for today. Thank you for the reconciliation that You seem to be making between me and my brother. We have been separate for too long and for no good reason. Thank you for being a God of reconciliation.

Tomorrow is Sunday service and Independence Day here in the US. I think it is fitting that I get to celebrate my country's freedom at the end of the week where you showed me and brought me to a new level of freedom in my own life.

Father God, I pray your will be accomplished throughout the world tomorrow as we get together to worship and celebrate you. I pray that it be a time of letting go and filling up. I pray that it be a time where we recognize all that you are and all that you do. I pray that it be a time where we learn even more about the awesome God that you are. I pray that your word and your will is in charge of every service and I pray that you prepare each of us to serve, worship and receive.

God I celebrate you and the freedom you bring. I celebrate the peace that you bring. I celebrate you!!!

What God said tonight:
Quiet your mind so you can hear me. You have so many thoughts racing through your mind tonight, it is hard for me to shout over them. I understand though. There is so much going on and so much of it is good.

Your are experiencing some really exciting things right now and I want you to be excited about them. I want you to experience each thing to its fullest. This life was given to you so you could live it. Truly live it. Remember I came to bring life and life more abundantly. I love celebrations! I love a good party. I want you to live life to its fullest. I want you to celebrate every moment. I want to celebrate with you. Ain't no party like a Holy Ghost party, as they say!

I love to laugh with you. Let's celebrate together tomorrow. Let's celebrate freedom. Let's celebrate your new freedom in the spirit and the joy that it brings.

I love you. You know that. But I also really like you. I like spending time with you. I like to celebrate the things that you like. I like to enjoy the things you enjoy with you. Your in my heart and engraved in my hand. No somber faces tomorrow, it is time to celebrate!

Be love...

My prayer:
What a great day God. Thank you for your favor today!

As I sit here tonight, I am content. This is a new feeling for me. It doesn't mean that I don't still want all of the things that I want for the future, I do. What it means that in this moment I am content with what I have and content in knowing that everything that you have intended for my life will happen in its own time.

This is truly a new way of living and it is GREAT! God, what I can I do to help others get to this place. What can I tell them or do?

You are so amazing and awesome. I am less than nothing in myself but with you I am a royal priesthood. What an amazing thing that is. I am destined to succeed because you are my daddy. You put within me the ability to make my way prosperous. Wow! God I just remain in awe of you. I remain in awe of your promises for our lives. I remain in awe of your power and your love.

What's on your mind tonight God?

What God said tonight:
Joy. Joy is on my mind. Peace is on my mind. Good things are what I am thinking on tonight my daughter. Most of all love.

I am love. Can you get that? I am love. Not just that I love, but I am love. I am made of love. I love because I can't help myself. It is in my nature. It is my nature.

You love when you want to. You make choices about love. Sometimes, you choose to love just because you know it is what I want, but usually you love because you have a "feeling" for someone, a connection and you choose to love them. My love isn't like that. My only expression comes from the root of love. I am love.

You are the object of my love. You are the reason I am love. You are the purpose behind my love. Let me be the purpose behind your love. Stop letting your feelings rule you and choose to love. Choose to be love. Choose to exude love everywhere you go. You won't believe how rich your life will be. You won't believe the effect it will have on other people's lives.

People don't understand when someone loves them for no reason but that is exactly the kind of love they need to see to understand and accept me. I need you to show them that crazy love because it easier for them to see it and believe from you first. Then, when I come along, it isn't so hard for them to understand. They already know what it is like to be loved for no reason other than they are, they exist. They already trust that this can be so. It makes their transition and decision so much easier!

Be love. Today, be love, tomorrow be love. Be consistent and be love. Thank you daughter for meeting with me again. As you become love you will receive as much as you give. And guess what, I LOVE YOU!!! :)

Peace...

My prayer:

Awesome ruler and lover of my soul. You truly are my everything God.

Today was different God. I am not sure how to explain it. There was this new level of peace that I cannot explain. Even in the face of things going wrong, there was a peace knowing that you are in control.

I guess that is what you meant in this new covenant. I didn't have to work at remembering you today, remembering to pray, remembering to thank you. You were just completely present all day. With you present like that, there was no need to worry. I knew, no matter what things looked like, that you were there and you would take care of it. It sounds so simple, but the reality of it is amazing.

I am not sure that I have ever had an entire day without worry before this. At some level, I think I have always worried about something. But you tell us to worry over nothing and pray over everything. All these years I've been praying over everything but I never knew how to worry over nothing until now. What an amazing freedom!

I love you Daddy!

What God said tonight:

Adversity, the enemy, satan has no real power. He can flash and lie and try to make you think that he does, but he doesn't. The peace you feel is recognition of my power. Your peace is a recognition of his weakness. Your peace is a recognition of my love, and your peace is a recognition of your place in this life.

I love you. I love that you trust me in a new way tonight. I love that you have found the truth and the freedom that comes from it. Remember this time. Remember what it feels like right now to be free. Free from worry. Remember because as it looses it's freshness, you may forget what it felt like to be bound, and those that forget the past are bound to repeat it.

You are my daughter and my prize. I love you and want you to be my lighthouse and my sunshine in this world. Don't let the darkness dim your light. Let your light vanquish the darkness.

You are in place for great things. Your future is right in front of you. Love and be loved every day. Spread this peace, this light all around you. People are drawn to the light. It promises safety and a way back home. Keep shining.

Covenant...

My prayer:

Great small group as always God. I love the women you have brought to the group. They are each so beautiful and so earnest in their desire to get closer to you. I am truly blessed to have them in my life.

I have spent a lot of time struggling over this idol question and the committment you are asking for. I know that the main thing that is in the way right now is not something that I can move or control on my own. If I could of I would have (as Bishop use to say). But, you have said that you can help me. You have said that you can help me stay focused, not get distracted and not get stale, forgetting the miracle you are in my life.

God, when I first made the decision to accept you as my Lord and savior and live for you, I didn't know how to do that either. I didn't know how to live for you. I didn't know how or even if I wanted to live a "Christian" life. But I knew I loved you and I didn't want to live another day without you in it. So, tonight I step out with that same kind of faith, not knowing how I will do it but trusting you to help me.

God I commit tonight that I will never try to leave you, I will never turn my back on you and I will not grow stale and forget the miracle you are in my life. God help me to never try to leave you, to never turn my back on you. Help me to not grow stale or forget the miracle that you are in my life. Help me to not get distracted and stay focused on you, your people and my love for you. I make this commitment to you tonight and ask for your help in keeping it.

Thank you for your patience with me. Thank you for what this covenant will mean. Thank for this next step. I love you. Three simple words but I mean them with my whole heart.

What God said tonight:

Thank you. You will not regret this decision. You will not regret choosing me. You will not regret trusting me to help you. You will not regret this.

What comes next? A peace to know that you are right where you are meant to be. A peace to know that my will is at work in your life. A peace to know that you have made a choice that will drive the remainder of your life, your everlasting life.

This step is essential but now that it has been made, you will be amazed how easy it is to keep the commitment. Your life is blessed because of your relationship with me. Your time is multiplied because of your dependence on me. Your needs are met because I am your daddy and I won't ever let you down. You and me forever girl!

I am so excited tonight!! Not only because of the decision you made but because of what I know this will mean for your life, for the lives of the people around you for the lives of the people reading this blog and for the Kingdom of God!!! If you could only see what I see, you would be dancing, seriously dancing like we are!!!!

I love you and I covet your attention. Be blessed and rest in peace. Your future is assured.

Commitment part 2...

My Prayer:

My God, this is the best part of my day so far, spending time with you. How do I tell you what you mean to me? I don't have the words. I don't think the words exist. I am glad you know my heart because my ability to express how much you mean to me is so lacking.

Sometimes I get it messed up. I get wrapped up in my own stuff, or someone else's stuff, or someone, or something and I lose my focus. We have a question from last week's small group Bible study and Pastor Joe talked about it on Sunday. What are my idols? What are those things that get in between me and you? What are those things I think about when my mind is idle. Why do I allow any idols in my life. Why do I allow anything to get between you and me? I don't have answers, but I know I do allow it. Then I end up feeling lost, alone and I get confused.

The good news is you always bring me back. You always find a way to get my attention again. I was ready to start tonight's prayer blog with the commitment you asked for last night, but maybe, until I can truly let go of anything that gets between you and me, I am not ready? God, I do not doubt that you will be in my life forever. I don't doubt that you will never leave me. But will I never try to leave you? The part that really got me was when you talked about never forgetting the miracle you are in my life. I want that to be true but I know that I haven't been able to accomplish that so far in my life. You know I can get complacent. You know that I sometimes forget the amazing privilege of being your daughter. Eventually, something happens, or someone says something, and I realize that I have allowed myself to get distracted again. That's when I turn back and do all I know to seek you again. So, I know that I can commit to that. I can commit to always coming back. I want to commit to never turning away...but I don't know if I can. Can I commit to something I have never been able to accomplish in the past?

God I need your help.

What God said tonight:

Sweet daughter of mine. Thank you for your honesty and thank you for truly thinking about the commitment.

It is true that you have never been able to do this before. If you were able to do it before, I wouldn't need you to commit to it now. It would already be in place. When you make a commitment for the first time, it is always a new thing.

I am glad that you asked for my help. I can help you keep the commitment if you want me to. I can help you have the strength and the focus to not get distracted. I can do all of it if you want me to. I want a true covenant with you. It is a binding contract. With it there is safety, protection and privilege. To be in covenant takes commitment from both of us.

Commitment is hard for you. There have not been a lot of positive constants in your life so far. But remember my promises. Remember your commitment to your mom and others in your life now that you are healed from the past pain. You can do this. It won't be as hard as you think. Leave your doubt and insecurity behind. It does not serve you well. It is hindering your progress. Lean on my strength.

Please don't ever be alone again. Don't try to it on your own. It doesn't work.

Keep seeking for your answer. When you decide, I will be here. Your love is so beautiful and is only barely a dim reflection of my love for you.

Commitment...

My Prayer:

Father God, I am beat tonight. Almost no sleep last night, long day but I get to end it here with you so all is good. Thanks for getting me through this one.

God, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. Who am I to expect you to talk to me every night? Who am I to think that I can translate your voice to all of the amazing people you are bringing to this blog?

I am really glad that you can use anyone. I am really thankful that it doesn't take someone who is perfect to serve you and to hear from you. I am so grateful for Jesus sacrifice that allows me to come directly to you, speak to you and hear from you. I can't imagine being born in a time where I didn't have that direct access to you but had to go through the priest. Thank you for letting me be born in a time when I get to know you personally. Not because I am anybody but because of what you did for me.

I cannot imagine life without your amazing presence. I wouldn't have a reason to get out of bed. God, continue to teach us how to seek you, find you and hear you. Continue to teach us how to know you. I love you!

What God said tonight:

Today I know was rough for you but you did not lose hope and that is good.

I want you to know that this is real. This is exactly what I have for you at this time. This is exactly what I had hoped for you. There are a lot of things you don't understand right now. You will someday.

Your trust in me needs to continue each day. It needs to be new and fresh each day just as my love and my mercy are new each day for you. This relationship, our relationship will never get stale as long as we continue to start each day with a newness and freshness. This relationship will remain alive, active and powerful as long as we both continue to pour into it every day.

I have already promised you I will never leave you nor forsake. I have promised you I will be with you always. I have promised you that I will guide you always. Have you, can you make the same commitment to me? Can you promise me you will never leave me, never turn your back on me, never get stale and forget the miracle that I am in your life? Please don't answer glibly. Please take your time.

That is the commitment I need from you to move into the next season. I need you to know that you will never leave me. I need you to know that you will never turn your back on me. I need you to know that your commitment to me is as strong as my commitment to you. Through any battle, through any trouble, you and me forever.

Please, take time to think this through and when you are ready to make that commitment, let me know. I love you first and always.

Stepping out...

My prayer:

What an amazing church service today God. Pastor Joe really had fresh word on worship today. Thank you for giving it to him. Thank you for giving him the ability to deliver it. Thank you for the technology to share it around the world! Who knew, beside you, that the internet would become one of the most amazing evangelistic tools to spread your word to more people in less time in the history of all time?!!

Lot's of things on my mind tonight God. We really have been talking all day today to each other. Thanks for the time at the river today. What a great new spot you showed me! No one there and I could sing (or yell) at the top of my lungs and it was covered by the sound of the rapids. I love those secret places that you show me. I plan to meet you there often.

Well, since I can't seem to focus my thoughts tonight God, how about we just let you talk and say whatever is on your mind? I love you God!

What God said tonight:

This is a time of new beginnings and stepping out. I told you recently that I needed you to step out and step up. The time to step out is here. You will recognize the opportunity when it comes. Do not be afraid of it. I have arranged it all and have arranged the timing of it as well.

Your trust in me will be really important over the next several weeks and months. You will need to know that I am working it all for your good. There will be times that it will seem like it is out of control and all about to fall apart. That is a lie. It is all ordained from the beginning of time.

I will continue to give you reassurances along the way. Don't expect anything to be "as usual." Don't expect me to do things like I did yesterday or even today. Be ready to move, to change direction and to follow me at a moment's notice. Trust your instincts. Don't trust your doubts but trust your instincts.

I have prepared you and you are ready for the next phase, the next season. You are ready.

Thank you for your continued faithfulness. It makes it easy to use you in service and makes me very proud of you as my daughter. I love you more than summertime.