Doing What You Do Best...

Lord....what can I say? I see You answering the prayers I have agonized over and I
don't even know how to give You the thanks You deserve. You have given and now You
are taking away. I find that so often, after the prayers have been answered, whether
"yes", "no", or "wait".....I am a bit anxious. "Okay, Lord...You've answered my re
quest and there is no lingering doubt that satan has stepped in and pulled a fast one...so, what are You going to do about this or that." You know, Lord. It's stuff
that always concerns us when we are worried about our general welfare. Lord, time
after time You have answered my prayers even before I knew I should pray....You supply the needs and even some wants. When You do this, it is almost like I have
waved a magic wand. I wish I wasn't so surprised when this happens. I wish that I
would depend on Your answer being "right on time" all the time...knowing it is not
just a coincidence or the power of positive thinking. Hmmm, Lord...I am not usually
a very positive person...it is a huge flaw in my psyche. I try incessantly to combat
it with the re-enforcements You have given me in Your Word....and most of the time, I
manage it with Your help. It is a wonder to me that You have been able to do any
thing positive with me. I do thank You Lord for giving me the powerful scriptures
that speak to me and give me hope. When I read the scripture a few days ago about
You "doing a new thing"....and making "rivers in the desert...roadways in the wilder
ness"...I knew You had been busy. Now that I have thanked You, I want You to know I
give You all the praise that is within me and will not worry anymore. Please, Lord.
You know how hard this is for me....help me to do it!! I just don't have the power
on my own. It is with a grateful heart I write my heart thoughts to You. I pray
only in the name of Jesus and the power of Your will. Amen.

Standing on Your Promises....

Lord, You know my heart. You know the feelings that abound. When You do what You
promise You will do......well, Lord.....I think You know that it just takes my breath
away. I am so thankful that You have my heart. I am so thankful that You give me
portions of scripture that speak to my heart's cry. "How can I say thanks....for the things You have done for me...things so undeserved....yet You do to prove Your love
for me...the voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude....all that I am or ever hope to be...I owe it all to You." Andre Crouch said it so perfectly in
that piece of music. I also believe that the times when we are waiting for Your
answers...are the times we need to draw closer to You. I often feel as if I am tugging on the hem of Your garment (because I see myself at Your feet, looking up)...and thinking " maybe if I just stay here and be quiet, You'll look down at
some point and say, "Child of mine, I haven't forgotten. Just believe I have my plan
in place...and when I am ready...". Lord, I am thankful too,
when I read a verse You've inspired, I'm sure it is something 'just for me'. The coincidence factor is not an option for me. I believe
in You, Lord....I believe You are the Son of God and that I, am a living, breathing
instrument for You. And, I thank You for that. For using me, an imperfect piece of
pottery, waiting to be molded finally into the perfection You had in mind. I give You
my heart, dear One... in You I place my trust. Thank You for my life and the heritage
that has brought me to this point. I pray and give thanks to You and You alone. Amen.

Creation of Your Plan.....

Father in heaven....it's me, again "O, Lord, standing in the need of prayer." "You've answered a million prayers before, that I forgot to thank you for.....so, I just came to talk to You, Lord." Sometimes when I talk to You, titles or lines from songs just say it best. And, as I always do, when I try especially to thank You....I end up asking that You "help" me as I pray, to pray for what I should. Anyway my thoughts are jumbled because I am thinking....should I wait to thank you.....and then, I wonder...wait? Why? Because, maybe what I am thinking You're going to do is not what I am hoping for....yet, I can see the egg cracking and if I don't touch it...and wait....the power of the cross will always suffice in the outcome. I read somewhere that if you disturb a shell as a little peep is trying to make it's way into the world, it will die. The little chick needs the "uncomfortableness" of stretching it's body and moving, heretofore unknown territory....to arrive in the world ready to breathe in the air, and live and see a new place. I have lived so much of my life that way, Lord. I almost wonder if I was not left in the womb long enough! Anyway, yesterday, You gave me a verse in my devotion time.....as it turned out, I don't even remember what the actual devotion was about....all I saw was the verse. I, am hanging my hope and trust in You on it. To say it outloud, makes me happy. I am waiting as an unborn peep to see what You
plan. I love my new favorite verse!! Thank You Lord. I realize You do not need any
reminders....that You will do what You aim to do, (when I keep my hands off and mouth
closed) but as I say it again, I bless You and I thank You for Your abundant patience
and love. Isaiah 43:18-19, says to all who pay attention that I must forget "all
that, because it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do
something new....see, I've already started! Do you see it? I will make a pathway in the wilderness...I will create rivers in the desert....." Lord, I am
overwhelmed by Your lovingkindness. I do not see anything yet, but a tiny fracture.
I am standing back to see the wonderfulness of the plan You have created. I love
You, Lord. I am trusting You, Lord. I mean it! I do trust You. In the name of
Jesus....and the divine will of God I pray.....Amen.

Moving Mountains....

You know, Lord....I was thinking that when things are relatively smooth, I hesitate
to sit down with you and write as I should. It irks me that my tendency to write out
my complaints and requests to you come easier than the praising part. I suppose it is
our nature to do just that but I would like to change that part of me. There may be a
day I cannot pick up a pen and scribble out some lines to you. I remember, Lord, when
Mom could no longer hold a pen and write down a recipe or a note to someone. I remember thinking that I would have to renavigate my way of praying if that would
happen to me. Could I do that? Well, of course, Lord....I believe I could and would
put every ounce of my energy into speaking outloud to you. I would have to, Lord. My
mind wanders too much....I forget what I'm talking about and what is important for me
to pray for.
Lord, I can see where you have done some work for me. I let a few of the
requests I've made to you recently out of my grasp and allowed you to do what You will. (Without my help). I can see where You have rearranged my "dire straits" plea's
and given me the peace I crave. I can see that You are doing what You do....the way
You want to do it. I really thought I had a couple good ideas Lord. I do not understand that "all things work together for good" part of the scripture. I wish I
could see more of what I want to happen, happen. But, thanks be to You God, I have
decided to put my hope and my trust in You and believe that since I am Your child,
You will answer my requests in Your time and in Your way. Over and over I write You,
praying that You will satisfy the cries of my heart. I wait and I wait believing You
are going to move mountains....sometimes though, Lord....I realize that I am the
mountain that is in Your way. When I say, "I ask all of this in the name of Jesus"
and/or suggest that it is "only in Your will that I pray"......well, I do mean it, Lord! Now, please HELP ME TO REALLY MEAN IT!
For the requests of our family, the cries of our hearts and the hope for tomorrow, I ask in the name of Jesus and the will of God.... For now though, I say, Amen.

Rise up and Walk on...

Sometimes there are days when I wonder why I even got up. Lord, this whole last week was one of those days. I find that when I am bothered...when I am alone in spirit, only you can give me peace. The pitfalls that plague me are what everyone in life has to deal with....even though they are minor issues, when they come one after the other I feel as if someone is out to get me. Lord, I know that when I am trying to understand the discomfort, and can't....You are the answer for me. I believe, at times, it's as simple as the chorus we sang as children ...."This Little Light of Mine". Part of it says "Don't let satan blow it out...I'm gonna' let it shine" . I'm afraid I am guilty of doing that too much....and I want You to help me stop it! I realize You are not trying to "get me to fall on my face" so I will follow You closer. I realize You loved me enough to die for me. (Well, not really....but I do accept it). I believe it is the stuff of life. The stupid picture on my driver's license that is supposed to be me. Falling, tripping and dropping the phone on my next-to-the little toe, wrecking havoc, forgetting important stuff and feeling stupid all seem to be on my list this time. Nothing earth-shaking. Just the things that happen in our lives all the time that make us feel like we are not in control of anything that matters and all the dignity that we have has been mutilated. Okay, okay. I know I get carried away. All I can say is You are my hope....and in You I find my rescue rope. Fumbling around for it in the past has driven me to distraction. All I need Jesus. is to reach out to You.....for this is where my help and my solace comes from. You alone are worthy. You are Holy. Only You can give me what I need...and Lord....I need You more than ever before. In the name of Jesus, I pray and ask for the blessing of Your approval....Amen. I love You, Lord!

"Thanking You...."

Father in Heaven.....I thank You for all You've done for me. I am so unbelievably
blessed by You I can hardly stand it. You always do for me what I cannot seemingly do
for myself. You answer my prayers when You're ready to and I thank You. Okay, so I
got a little carried away. HeeHee! Regrettably, (even though I know I should) I do not thank You when You answer my prayers "when You are ready to" or "the way You want to". I have, you know, specific ideas about how things should be done. I think, because I'm Your child, that I sort of have a basic idea of how You want things to be.....and that's how I expect You to answer.
Okay, so let me get back to the "thanking You" part. I love how You love me enough to look past the flaws in my life and think, " Maybe if I'm patient enough, she'll actually get it". Lord, I have so many blessings and gifts from Your hand. Left to my own devices, I know I would never have chosen a husband that would love me like John does. And, You and I both know.....You did the picking.....and I finally put the man out of his misery. I would never have been able to serve You as I have. I thank You for putting people in my life that pushed me to my absolute limit (I thought, then). Playing, speaking, teaching....just to name a few things that You blessed me in doing. You Lord, are my light. You Lord, give me peace in the midst of storms that come. (And I know this because I have experienced that peace). Often I have not thought the storm was praiseworthy....and have seen later that Your purpose could only be fulfilled in that storm. I regret giving You
grief throughout the process, Lord. And You, being the gentleman that You are, stood
there, while I complained and listened....and then smiled and walked away....just
waiting for me to SEE what You had in mind all along. I love You Lord. Thank You for
allowing me to be me and loving me through it. I praise You for Your power and omnicience. Since I know that You are God and have my best interest in Your heart, I
defer to all You plan....for all You will allow....for all I need. (So, please notice
that I'm not going to go cover my head and wait for the fall out!) I will trust in
You. In the name of Jesus I pray each word....and Your divine will to be done. Amen.