Hockey equipment...

My prayer:

So I got to relearn another lesson again today God. When did I forget that you can make the impossible, possible? 

By noon today, it looked like there was no way possible I could get everything done that needed to get done, even if I had the rest of the week to do it. The mountain was too high. But, then I remembered that you are on my side, did each thing you put in front of me, and got it all done with time leftover for a work out!

Thank you awesome God! Everything I am that is good is only because of you!

What God Said Tonight:

I am like hockey pads. I don't do the work for you but I make it possible for you to do the work and I protect you while you do it. 

Could you play hockey without the padding, gloves and helmet. You could but you wouldn't be able to play very long because you would get hurt and have to stop. 

With me on your side, you can stay in the game longer and get more accomplished. I am a hedge of protection around you and I make it possible for you to do what you are called to do, each day. 

I love you sweet daughter and I am in this life with you to be your ever present help.

Introduce God...

My prayer:

Amazing Father God. You created it all. You spoke the universe into existence and you breathed life into man. You fashioned woman out of a rib. Then, you gave us one rule. We broke it. You provided a way out for us anyway by making yourself our sacrifice. And, because of all of that, I get to talk to you everyday and hear your voice. I get to have a relationship with you. 

If someone were to pitch that story to Hollywood, they would have turned it down. It is too unbelievable  But it all happened, and without it, I would not be here with you now. 

I think that is why we struggle so much to explain you to people who don't know you yet. The story is unbelievable, you are indescribable, and our relationship is unlike anything else on earth. But somehow, millions of people come to you everyday anyway. We are so hungry to be reunited with you Father. Even when we don't know what it is, we hunger for it. We hunger for you.

What God Said Tonight:

I don't need you to explain me. I just need you to introduce me. I will take care of the rest. It is no different than what you do at your job everyday. You connect people. That is all I really need from you. Connect me with all of the people in your life that don't know me yet. 

I will take care of the rest. I will help them to see what a life with me will be like. I will show them your life and other lives as examples. I will fill them with my Holy Spirit power. I will win them over, just like I did you. 

You just have that first part, but don't neglect it. I need it. You know how it is. Especially in this busy world. People are not going to pay attention unless they are introduced by someone they know and trust. So, introduce me and I will do the rest. I love you daughter.

Riptide...

My prayer:

What a wonderful day God. What a wonderful weekend. I feel blessed and at peace tonight. 

I am sorry I got so out of balance again last week. I do know better and I will try to do better. 

I ask God that you make me a blessing to everyone around me this week. Help me to stay balanced and focused on you. Help me to not get so caught up in the craziness of life. You are my ever present help and I am so very grateful. I need a lot of help! :)

What God Said Tonight:

Remember when you got caught in the rip tide? Life is like that sometimes. You can get caught in a cycle that can kill you if you stay in it long enough. 

Remember what I told you when you were in the rip tide? If you don't do something different you are going to die. You listened then I want you to listen now. You are out of the rip tide for now. But, when or if it happens again, I need you to recognize it sooner and do something different right away. 

Don't get drug down by the waves of complications in life. Swim sideways, swim under, whatever, but don't get stuck. I will warn you if you will listen. Next time, when I warn you, change something right away. 

You will see a grater freedom and strength in your life if you do.

Pity party cancelled...

My prayer:

What a wonderful and generally perfect day God! Slept in, great hike, time on the mountain with you, great church service, dinner with good friends, and now, quiet time with you. I REALLY NEEDED THIS DAY!! 

Sometimes I look at myself and wonder why you put up with me. It seems like I just continue to struggle with the same stuff year after year. It is boring! When will I find and maintain balance in my life? When will I remember that when I try to do stuff on my own power I fail and when I lean on you I succeed? When will I remember that if I don't keep the Sabbath holy, I get all out whack?!

I get so frustrated with myself. I know all of these things. You have taught me well. And yet, I continue to forget them over and over. I am just kind of sick of me tonight. 

How about I shut up and listen. That usually works a lot better.

What God Said Tonight:

If you treated others the way you are treating yourself tonight, you would not have anyone who loves you. You would scare them all away. When did you decide it was ok to treat yourself worse than you would treat a stranger? 

I am your Father and I will correct you as needed. You do not have to heap guilt on yourself. I will show you new ways of coping with life, as long as you are willing. I will help you change and grow and move into the future I have for you. 

To think that you have not grown is simply untrue. You have evidence to show your growth if you will look at it. Time to come out of feeling sorry for yourself and remember who you are and what your purpose is. It is time to treat yourself with at least as much grace and mercy as you show others. It is time to remember that I love you and I don't take kindly to people who talk badly about my kids. Even when they are talking badly about themselves.

Your life is a process, not a a destination. You will always be growing and changing. You will always be learning. The fact that you could so easily recall and state some of the major lessons you have learned over the last several years is a really good thing. 

Now, rest in my love for you. End this day with the joy and peace that we shared. Start tomorrow with a new sense of purpose and be ready to see great things happen. 

I love you now and forever.

Turning away from God...

My prayer:

WooHoo!!! You got me through this INSANE week God! That in itself is an absolute miracle!! I honestly don't know how anyone survives this life without you in it. If I did not have you to lean on, I would have been dead a long time ago. 

I am SO ready to spend a quiet day with you tomorrow. We are going to hit the trail and sit on top of the mountain. I will sing to you and bask in your amazing presence. It has been MUCH TOO LONG since we have done that. To spend a whole day resting and hanging out with you, that is heaven on earth. Thank you for the luxury to do so. Not everybody gets that chance.

God I pray and ask that tomorrow be a wonderful day of rejuvenation for all of us. Give us rest and fill us with you fire and energy to tackle the next amazing opportunity that you have for us.

LOVE YOU!

What God Said Tonight:

On a mountain top or in traffic, I don't care where we spend time together as long a we do. I miss you when you get tied up the business of life. 

I am God, so I can survive, but I miss you. I created you for relationship. I created you to be mine. When you let other things take you away from me, it is painful for me. I am not bothered by the people who speak badly about me. They don't understand, they don't know me. What hurts me is when people who know me, my children, turn away from me. Sometimes it is in sin, sometimes it is in anger, and sometimes, it is simply letting "life" get in the way. 

I love you and I long to be your only focus again. I am with you always. I have never left you and I never will. Turn to me and embrace me. I promise when you do, when you remember, everything else will get easy again.

Exhaustion...

My prayer:

Awesome God. I feel like I am coping out again but I can barely keep my eyes open. I am beyond grateful that you brought me through another day and for all of the wonderful favor you continue to pour out on me. I thank you for so many answered prayers for so many people. I love you God and am primed to hear what you have to say tonight. 

What God Said Tonight:

Everyday is a brand new opportunity to be the best you can be. But every day is also an opportunity to know me better, deeper, more than you have before. The more you know me, the more you know my promises. The more you know my promises the less hard you have to work. 

I never intended for you to run yourself to exhaustion. That is you and your drive that is doing that. I only want good things for you. I only want balance, joy, and peace. I have it all here for you but right now, there is too much getting in the way so you can't see it. 

Get you true Sabbath in this weekend, things will look better when you are back on schedule with me. 

What fathers do...

My prayer:

Some days, like today, it is just one gift after another from you God. THANK YOU!!! You are so wonderful to me and so much better than I deserve. You even gave me stuff today that I needed but never asked for! You are so wonderful!! I guess I said that already but it is TRUE!!! LOVE YOU!!

What God Said Tonight:

I love you. You are my child and I will take care of you all the days of your life. 

You don't always have to ask me for things. I know what you need. If you and I are in relationship and talking all the time, when you include me in your life, 

I know and provide for all of your needs. I have enough and I love you so much. I will make sure you have what you need when you need it forever. That's what fathers do.