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.

The blessing and the cursing...

My Prayer:

Awesome ruler, Mighty God. Thank you for this day. I felt pretty lazy today God. I didn't accomplish what I had planned to but enjoyed being able to relax and spend time with family.

I was just reading in Joshua tonight where you, he and the army of Israel come into the promised land and conquer and kill everyone they run into. Sometimes I fell like that, like I just can't lose. Sometimes I feel like you are so on my side that everything I touch just works. But, other times, it feels like everything I touch falls apart. Everything I try to do just fails.

Usually, I can't tell the difference, what I am doing differently during these two times. I could understand if I was living right and getting blessed or if I was sinning and I was getting cursed. That makes sense. But sometimes, when I know that I am doing things outside of your will, when I know I am sinning, I am still getting blessed. And sometimes, when I am doing everything I know to do to follow your will, it seems like I am cursed and nothing is going right. Not all of the time, but sometimes.

I see similar things in the lives around me and I don't know what to say or how to help. Sometimes, people are really doing all they know to do and their life just seems to be falling apart. I know you have said to just love them, and I do, I am. But, is there anything else. Anything that makes sense out of it all. I like it when things make sense.

I pray God that your magnificent presence be experienced in your church services throughout the world tomorrow. I pray your will be accomplished in each and every service. I pray God for our service at Zyxter. I pray that you show us even more aspects of you. I pray that you show us something new and amazing leaving us in awe. I thank you for surprise annointings and blessings. In Jesus name.

What God said tonight:

Hi my daughter. Your thoughts are somewhat muddled tonight but I think I hear your true question. No, life doesn't always make sense to your rational human brain. If it all made sense, you wouldn't have needed me. If it could all be done by following rules, you would never have needed my son. The law would have been enough.

But sometimes, you need undeserved grace. Sometimes you need blessings when you are messing up the worst to remind you that I am here and I love you. Sometimes you need to miss out on blessings even though you are getting things right to make sure you trust me and not your own obedience. Sometimes I have to hold back those blessings so you remember who the blessings are from. Sometimes I have to hold back the blessings so you strive for even greater levels of intimacy.

So you see, it does all make a certain kind of sense, not a legalistic, law abiding kind of sense, but a love abiding kind of truth. You are tired and should rest for tomorrow but thank you for meeting with me anyway. Your service will be blessed. I am doing a new thing tomorrow that will blow you mind. I love you I love you I love you!

Safety...

My prayer:

What a fantastic day God! Thank you for great times, great friends and great favor on my life. Thank you for your protection today. The micro-bursts that marched through the city today wreaking havoc were pretty crazy and even though I was all around those areas today, you kept me safe and protected.

I think I sometimes take your protection for granted God. I have lived under your protection for so long now, it kind of gives me a sense of invincibility. Sometimes I wonder if I have an unhealthy assurance of safety. Maybe that's part of why I'm not worried about jumping out of a plane for my birthday. I have always wanted to fly and I just don't feel like I'm in any danger even though I know it can be dangerous. I take it as a given that you will protect me and keep me safe. If I was going to die early from doing something stupid, I never would have made it through my teenage years. Everyone I talk to thinks I'm crazy for wanting to do it, but I am really not afraid. Maybe I should be?

So often at work, people will be talking about this disaster or that disaster. There are definitely enough to pick from these days. They are all worried about what will happen next. Will they be next. They want me to worry with them but I just can't. How can I worry with the Creator of the Universe on my side.

I know that bad things happen to everyone but I also know that I have the assurance that you will always bring me through. You will always take care of me. That probably makes me seem cocky to some people, but if they only understood it was not self assurance at all but assurance in you. I tell them, but do I tell them enough? Do I tell them in a way that they can really understand and know that they can live with the same assurance? I am not sure. I bet I could do better.

Well, anyway, thank you for a great day and for your continued protection on my life. Thank you for teaching me how to trust you for everything. Thank you God for being my safety net.

What God said tonight:

Safety is an interesting concept. It is good that you know that you can trust me to keep you "safe." But safety is not really an absence of harm. It's about being sheltered in the midst of the harm. You know the story about Daniel and the lions. Safety with me is like that. You may have lions ready to eat you, but I will keep them from devouring you. You may have micro-bursts all around you but they won't touch you. You may see the danger but you will be sheltered when you trust me.

Now don't get too crazy though. Don't start looking for danger to see if I will protect you. There is enough danger in the world already, you don't need to look for more. But stay assured of my protection in the midst of danger. Stay confident in my loving protection around you. Others may not always understand but they notice and eventually they want to know why. That becomes the great opening to show them me.

It's time to walk in confidence of my love, confidence of my power, confidence of your purpose. I don't need you to be shy or behind the scenes. I need you to step out and declare what you know to be true. I need you to step up and call out my name. I need you. Sleep in peace. I love you so much.

Open your eyes...

My prayer:
Compassionate God. Mighty father. How are you tonight? Was it a good day for you? Did anyone do anything that pleased you today. Did any of us do anything to make you smile?

Thank you for the "small" opprotunities today to be a blessing. Thank you for letting me be there when the older gentleman needed help with the computerized building directory. Thank you for letting me see and talk with the homeless man who is usually on the corner of Broadway and 8th. He always has the most amazing positive attitude. I hadn't seen him for a few weeks and was worried. He says he is doing good, but he always says he is doing good, and he didn't look good today. God, let me know what more I can do for him. What would be the most help to him?

I am betting there were many more opportunities today that I missed. Forgive me for missing opportunities and help me to see them better tomorrow. Sometimes I see these amazing people who have given their whole lives to you and serving you. They go into the poorest and most dangerous areas and love on the people with a pureness and without fear. I want to be more like that.

I want to be more aware of the needs around me and better able to meet them. Even this last Sunday, it took someone else to point out to me the woman who had been sitting alone with no one talking to her. I didn't even notice her until he pointed her out to me and asked me to get to know her. She was so surprised that someone actually came to talk to her. It made me feel really small that I hadn't noticed her on my own. Help me God to be more aware.

Thank you for today God. I love you!

What God said tonight:
This is a turning point tonight. You have asked the right things. You are beginning to understand the point of all of this. It isn't about you. Much as I love you, it isn't about you. It never was. It is about being the blessing that you want to see in your own life. It is about showing my love and compassion to everyone you run across.

That was the main point of my son's life. Not his death but of his life. He spent time with people that no other self respecting Jew would have spent time with. He spent time with the "despicable" people, the prostitutes, the tax collectors, the Samaritans. He spent his time with people that no one else noticed or cared about. It so easy to love the beautiful people. It takes effort to notice the invisible people. And yet, they are often the people in the most need of a kind word, a compliment, a meal or a hug. Keep your eyes open, your ears open and your heart open and I will help you to see those who are unseen. I will help you to show true compassion and meet the true underlying needs in each person.

You will be a blessing to all of those around you but it will take some work on your part. It will take some commitment on our part. I know you are up for it though. You were made for this stuff!!

You know my love for you. You know that I will help you every step of the way. I will never leave you or forsake you and I will guide you always, I promise. Sleep well my daughter.