Awkward Prayer

The other day in my prayer time I started talking to God and as I prayed I began thinking about how God might hear my prayer. Does He hear me the way I hear myself? Because I hear myself as someone who searches for the “right” words to say. I know God doesn’t care about what I sound like, just so long as I worship Him in prayer. We need to forget about what we say or how we say it, me especially.

Prayer is not for God's benefit - it's for yours! Where else can you go to bare your soul without fear, and walk away cleansed, comforted, and corrected?   
Psalm 91:15 says, He will call upon Me, and I will answer him... There it is in black and white - God's invitation to ask and His promise to answer. What more do you need?

It's better to pray awkwardly than not at all.

Always remember to look up!

The Pebbles of Life

The following excerpt was taken from Jesus Today written by Sarah Young.- Be Blessed!

Lay down your problems long enough to gaze at Me. Picture yourself standing at the edge of an ocean, on a beach covered with pebbles. The pebbles represent problems-yours, your family’s, your friends’, the world's. As you pick up these small stones and hold them close to your eyes-examining their details-they obscure your view of the grandeur all around you. Usually as soon as you put down one pebble-problem, you pick up another. Thus, you fail to enjoy the beauty of My Presence and to revive My help. 

The ocean represents Me– endlessly glorious and continually present with you. I am calling you to put down all your pebbles for a time so that you can experience My   Presence and receive My unfailing Love. Draw near me by praying, “I chose You,   Jesus. I choose to see You– to find You– in this moment.”  Practice doing this until it becomes a habit: a delightful habit that will keep you close to Me on the path of Life.

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore– Psalm 16:11 NKJV

Shout Halleluiah!!!

Just a couple of verses. It is so comforting to know that God’s mercies are new every morning and that He has clothed us in salvation and has covered us with a robe of  righteousness.

I delight greatly in the Lord;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.-Isaiah 61:10

 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
    his mercies never come to an end;
 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.- Lamentations 3:22-23

Makes you want to shout Halleluiah!

WHAT WE ACCUMULATE

As my husband, Mike and I begin to clear out our home for a move I chuckle to myself as I watch my grand-daughter through this move. Every time I set something in the garage to sell  or discard she’s right behind me bringing back in what I set out.

I started thinking about her doing this and wondering why she does it. She finally told me that she loves these things and wants to keep them. Then the Lord brought to my mind the things that He tries to take away from me and I bring them right back into my life.

What I find amazing is just how  much “stuff” can accumulate. And just like my granddaughter, we sometimes have a hard time throwing  “things” away, thinking that we may “need” them someday.

But you know what? That someday usually never comes! Not only do we let “stuff" accumulate in our homes, we let it accumulate in our hearts as well ~ un-forgiveness, resentment, anger, are among some of the “things” we hold in our hearts. These are the things that we must clean up and get rid of in order for us to become the men and women that God wants us to be! It’s not easy to let go of “stuff”, but if we are willing God is faithful, and He will help us clean out all of the unwanted “stuff” in our lives.

For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.                                           Psalm 33:4

Always remember to look up!

HOPE

Hope shines brightest when the hour is darkest.
Hope motivates when discouragement comes.
Hope energizes when the body is tired.
Hope sweetens while bitterness bites.
Hope sings when all melodies are gone.
Hope believes when evidence is eliminated.
Hope listens for answers when no one is talking.
Hope climbs over obstacles when no one is helping.
Hope endures hardship when no on is caring.
Hope smiles confidently when no one is laughing.
Hope reaches for answers when no one is asking.
Hope presses toward victory when no one is encouraging.
Hope dares to give when no one is sharing.
Hope brings the victory when no one is winning.

John Maxwell from Think on These Things –

⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  Romans 5:5

"Walking With God"

I did a long distance run in Kona yesterday.  During it I walked a little too frequently.  During one of those walking spells that I started drawing parallels between that expedition I was on and our walk with the Lord.

 We receive the Lord’s salvation for our life not because it’s necessarily fun, but because we know it’s for our good. ( I signed up for the run because I thought it would be good for my physical health, not because I thought it would be fun to pound my feet on the hot Kona pavement.)

We generally start out on our journey somewhat enthusiastic.  ( Brand new Christians are often so excited.)

Along the way different emotions arise. ( Hmm, living as a Christian isn’t as, easy as I thought it would be.)

Hey, this isn’t fun right now.  Gosh, it’s a little too hot today.  (Earthly struggles can be frequent in our spiritual journey.)

I wish I was in better shape, this would be easier.  (I wish I had spent more time at His feet and in His Word, this “struggle’ would be easier to handle.)

Oh no, a long up hill and no shade.  (Eek, I’m facing a disaster; where are you, Lord?)

Oh look, a stretch of shade for a while.  (He’s helped me through my crisis and He is so awesome and comforting.)

Okay, I’d kind of like to be done with this now. (Many, many times living the Christian life doesn’t  feel too “convenient’.)

If I stop, I’ll never get back home.  (I can’t stop living for Christ, I won’t get to my heavenly home.)

Okay, I can do this, I have a strong mind. I just need to keep putting one foot out in front of the other. (“He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 1:8 “If only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Act 20:24)

May we each walk strong in Him, moving closer to our heavenly home.

8,000 Promises

Did you know that the Bible is filled with over 8,000 promises from God? 

The following are just a few.

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1Peter 5:6-7

¹⁴ And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”  Exodus 33:14

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
    I wait for God my Savior;
    my God will hear me.  Micah 7:7

²⁰ Though you have made me see troubles,
    many and bitter,
    you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will again bring me up.
²¹ You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. Psalm 71:20-21