January 27,2008

I have been rather depressed the last couple of days. Thinking a lot about the personal tragedy that befell me this past year. I KNOW God is in charge and does not allow anything to happen that He does not allow/want. I also KNOW He cares for me and desires His best for me. I have been reading a book entitled A Shepherd's Look at Psalm 23. It is an outstanding book. Yesterday I was reading about the portion "He leads me beside quiet streams". What the author wrote was both accurate and exciting. But it reminded me again of the wrong rode my friend has chosen to travel, causing her to fall deeper and deeper into sin. I am very concerned for this friend. She is going down a very slippery hill and is knowingly and willing being disobedient to the Lord. I know she knows better. I love this person and I ache for her.

Lord, please hear the prayer of my heart. I know You love me and my friend. I know that You care about our lives and are desirous of our listening to You and our being obedient to You. I know my friend is Your child yet has chosen to walk in a way that is not pleasing to You. She will have to one day give an account to You of her behavior. How sad it is that she wants what she wants rather than trust You to do the work in her and in me that You want to do. Lord, please change her heart, change it from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh. Lord, I love my friend and my heart breaks for her as I see how she has chosen to go in the direction she wants rather than the direction You want. She is seeking happiness as she defines happiness. True happiness can ONLY be found in our obedience to You. Please, Lord, work in her, convict her, change her heart, draw her back to Yourself. I plead with You Lord. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

January 24, 2008

It has been a few days since I wrote. Just not taken the time...Bad on me!

This past Tuesday, during our Bible Study dealing with prayer, one friend quoted a portion of Ps. 116:1-2. It really caught my attention. It simply says: "I love the Lord because he hears my prayers and answers them. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I breathe." WOW! These verses are unbelievable. Think about them. Of the many thoughts one could draw from them, the one that sticks out to me the most is that an Infinite, Omnipotent, Creator is so interested in me, one of His created beings, that he hears, listens and answers my prayers. To picture Him, bending down as a parent does, to listen to His child, simply amazes me. I am struck by His sincere, unblemished and intense interest in me. Praise God for his awesome, wonderful goodness to us. I love you. Lord.

January 14, 2008

It has been several days since I wrote. It is not due to having learned anything or missed my days with the Lord. It was simply due to my forgetting to do so. I was very moved at church yesterday as we sang. The songs, at least for me, seemed to be centered on the awesomeness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I was moved to tears as I considered all He has done for me and I am certain will continue to do. I heard a radio program Friday night on the way back from counseling. I cannot recall the name of the speaker, but he as a black preacher preaching his wife's funeral service. What specifically struck me was a question he seemed to face when his wife lay dying: Can you trust me? This statement as been really running through my mind. I want to TRUST HIM. I have spent quite a bit of time talking to the Lord letting him know I WANT TO TRUST YOU. This is specifically when one considers the events of this past year with my wife leaving. I want her home and have found at times that I have inadvertently bargained or tried to manipulate God. I know that is wrong. I just want her to get her life together and obedient to the Lord as well as wanting her home. I understand and am trying to be certain that my motives are accurate and honest. I want her home, but not on my terms. God's terms. Therefore, all I can do is trust Him. There is no promise or guarentee that she will return if I trust Him. I just have the promise He loves me, wants the best for me and he can be trusted to satisfy my every need, with or without her. "Lord, what ever you want. I love You and want to trust You alone for my future, my joy / happiness / peace."

January 9, 2008

Not much going on today. From my time with the Lord, I read something I had never thought about before. I like using Utmost for His Highest as one tool for my private time. One thought that was presented I never considered before is that the Lord knows even the deepest thoughts of our minds, even thoughts we are conscience of. Knowing this, I can take comfort that, when I surrender everything to the Lord, even those unconscious thoughts become His. When I ask for forgiveness of the things I am aware of, He also cleanses me from the things I may not be aware of. How cool is that? Praise the Lord?

Tonight I had the privilege of sitting with my grandkids. What a great time together. After dinner we played a quiet game. But that was not enough. The wanted to play hide and seek. After some time of that game. we ventured into the realm of tag, which lead to a tickle fest. What a wonderful time with them. We have so much fun together. I love being with them.

With that thought, I will close tonight. God's blessing on all and any readers.

January 8, 2008

Tonight our small group began a new series on prayer. Our leader initiated the series reminding us that there is so much to prayer we rarely consider. One of our members suggested that how we pray and the things for which we pray are in large part based on our understanding of Who God is and what kind of relationship we have with Him. How true! As I spend my personal time with the Lord each day, I am becoming more and more aware of this fact. It causes me to request that He continue to show me more and more of Himself so that I can deepen my relationship with Him and see Him more each day for Who He really is. Additionally, I want to have a deeper appreciation of His power and authority. Lord, I love you, but I want to love you more. Please help me, Lord, as I seek Your face daily to know You better. Amen.

January 7, 2008

Another day, another nickel. Glad today is over. It was a long day, having returned from vacation and having to work in the field until 7:00p, something I had forgotten I needed to do until I returned to work this morning. Yesterday, at church, we began a new series dealing with the patriarchs. We will begin with Abraham next week. Our Bible teacher gave an overview of traditions and life in Mesopotamia in Old Testament times to help us understand why the behaviors of the patriarchs was not out of keeping with what we expect today. We were reminded that the philosophy then as it is now was, "it is all about me". Even though I am His child, I have to admit that there are times when I still think, "it is all about me". Obviously this is an area I will need to continue to work on and surrender to Him. I am eager to get going deeper into this study. It ought to be very exciting. Lord, as we study these men of God, please help me see more of You and allow me to draw closer to You as I understand how You worked in the lives of these men of God.

January 5, 2008

It is Saturday. Not much of a day today. I did read my devotions this morning, but have yet to pray. I went off and obtained by AAA membership, shopped at Wal-Mart and Sam's for a few things and returned home. Sorted through and repacked by Christmas decorations. Found I have gobs of green garland, much more than I need. Will take some to Goodwill. Otherwise, a lazy day. Had a good time with the dog and cat today. The dog really enjoyed being in the house for a while and chewing on his raw hide bone. Was actually inside with the bone about 2.5 hours, very unusual for him. He usually stays in between 30-60 minutes and is ready to get outside. Not today. Well, it is after 10:0p. I did speak to my sister-in-law earlier this evening and found she is doing well after her surgery last week. God is good, answering our prayers in her behalf. About time to go to bed. Lord, thanks for a restful day. Thanks for your presence in my life and the work You are doing, even when I may not see it all the time. Please continue to teach me Your ways and draw me closer to Yourself. I want You to be active in my life. I love You Lord.