Computers are great, Lord.  EXCEPT......WHEN I POST A WHOLE PRAYER AND IT HAS GONE INTO OBLIVION.....Okay, I'm calm now.  But, it just took me a half hour to write this last prayer and it is gone.  Now, what do I do?  Try to copy it?  Start from scratch? 
Okay, now.....let me think.  I am trying to think.  I could wait till tomorrow.  I could.  But, then of course, our enemy has time to put his worthless plans into action.  I always try to offset his intrusions with calling on Your Name, Lord.....he does go away, for awhile.  I think I will, Lord.  I think I will just keep writing and let You lead the way.....whether I pray about the same things.....well, that is Your desire and call.  Once I get it on paper, I feel I have done the most important thing.  Help me to ask You what is the most important prayer I could pray this evening.

Lord, I love to write big like this, so my friend Ruby, can read it.  And, although sometimes the computer doesn't cooperate with me.....I like the italic font, too.  So......where were we, Lord.  Yes, I had just asked Your blessing on the prayer I just wrote and asked it all in the name of Jesus and said, "Amen".  And, an added "Thank You".  Now, Lord......that's just what I need in this one too.  I know I come pretty close to the line in being irreverent.
 
 I don't mean to....I just want You to know that I am who You created, long ago (like 69 years), but, hopefully not as mouthy.  I need You to hear me.  I need for You to understand what I want.  I want to be able to speak to You as I would my very dearest friend.  Wait!  YOU ARE my very dearest friend.  I am a handful.  I get anxious.  I am worrisome to the point of being a pain in the neck.  I borrow trouble.....all the time.  I invent scenario's of "what could happen"......and get myself all tied up in knots.....and the most amazing part of all of this.....is that YOU love me.  Still.  This abiding, unconditional love is what keeps me coming back, over and over and over.....for advice, and wisdom, and strength and just plain old talk.  You do listen to the desires of my heart and decide what will insure the plan You had for me all along.  I am grateful, Lord....for the times You allow me to help You.  I was so happy to be able to speak with a dear one this week.  Just a quick call, it was.  But, I obeyed Your nudge.  Even though I sort of hate the phone.....I obeyed.  It was good.....it was brief and I was able to help, I think.  I spoke of the armor of God that we have at our disposal.  Why would You have given us all of that information about wearing our armor, if You didn't mean it.  I suggested, because they told me they weren't sleeping, that they wear the "Helmet of Salvation" to bed.  I likened it to the old aluminum rollers I used to wear to bed when I wanted my hair a certain way for school the next day.  Those stupid things just about always gave me fits when I went to bed. " But", I said," just remember to wear it because it will not allow satan to insert more evil into your mind while you sleep".  He has no mercy.  He has no power but what we give him....so, if visualizing placing the "Helmet of Salvation" on our head......we will sleep in peace, I believe.

Lord, I don't know if all of my ideas work.  I don't know if my advice is too elementary.....I just know that, if a child does not understand what salvation is......then, we have made it too complicated for the average man or woman to "get it".  You love us. You want us to ask forgiveness for the sins we have committed.  You want us to obey You.  You have given us rules to follow in the "Ten Commandments".  You have taught us how to pray as You did with Your disciples in the "Lord's Prayer".  You expect us to live with You in Heaven one day when You come for us.  Lord.....how in the world do we make such a fuss over how all this is done. To push our way to the front of the line.....yelling when we get to the "gate"........"Come quick....Over here!  The best Christians are over here!"   The Bible is our road map for the journey.  It speaks to all of the issues we encounter in our lives....and You give us a portion of Your divine mind so we can discern the right from wrong. 

 Now, Lord Jesus, help me to live according to Your plan for my heart and life.  I thank You for the places You have allowed me to serve You.  I thank You for the ones You have allowed for me to minister to.  I thank You for those who seem to "get" what I mean when I speak to them.  In other words, I don't have to keep saying the same thing different ways so they "hear" me.  I love that.  And, I love how, when I ask, You allow me the pleasure of seeing just how much You love and care for me by making that known, just to me.  I get it.  I understand it.  And, it makes me feel closer to You.

My heart and mind desire to walk with You till the end, Lord.  Even though I may have a tendency to look longingly after a road You think I shouldn't travel.....I ask that.....and yes, I mean it, You would reign me in.  Stop me from wanting my way.....and lead me to the path of everlasting life.  I have no desire to try another route.  Thank You, Lord for the Eternal Life You have promised. 

All I pray and ask about.....I pray, once again, in the name of Jesus and His divine will.  Amen.















































































































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Post Script:  Here is the letter that disappeared.  Lord, I am not sure what to do with this.....so, I will post it.....and You can put it where You want it.  SCD

Lord.....I just erased a few sentences of my prayer......not to You, but to public consumption.  I know there are so many that don't get the "talking to you as if You were my friend" part of prayer.  If You were not my friend, Lord......I doubt that I would be infringing on Your time, asking Your advice, pouring out the intricacies of MY thought process (that very few would understand anyway), and asking for Your divine guidance in Your plan for my life.  No one could ever put up with the back and forth issues that swirl around in my head.  Should I?  Shouldn't I?  Can I?  Can't I?  What is Your will for me?  What is NOT Your will for me?  I cannot thank You enough for allowing me to work out whole scenario's with You in my mind.....trying to make the most sense out of what part I will play.  I am glad Lord, that, most of the time, the acting part that You have set up for me is just minimal.  Behavior aside, I do my part, and someone else fills in the speaking part.  As long as Your message gets through.....that is the perfect way to go.  A woman in class today gave me a "thought for the day".  She saw it or heard it somewhere and I like it.  I can huff and puff about how responsible "we are" to get everyone saved and keeping them saved.....but, I think that  really our job is to make sure WE are saved and remain saved.  The statement is "God called.  He'd like to have His job back!!"  Way too often, I worry over things I think I should have said.....or should have done.....to the point of being so distracted  and filled with anxiety over it that the concern about my own spiritual condition is pushed to the perimeter of my heart and mind...... I completely  miss what satan is trying to do.   He has no fear.  He has no mercy.  God has already given him his verdict.....his goal is to take all he can with him.  Yikes!  I have to be careful, Lord. I  have to remain vigilant and aware of the tricks he uses.

  I spoke to someone who is struggling to keep on track with Jesus this week.  Every day we have talked briefly.  They mentioned not being able to sleep the night through.  Lord, it is hard when one lays down to give their body rest.....and the mind is racing from one vignette to another....plans, dreams, hopes, broken promises, ruined lives and our failures are topping the lists.  Everything is worse in the dark it seems while sleep is so elusive.  I understood then, what it feels like to get up from such a night and head into a day unprepared. Years ago, Mom would do flannel graph lessons for the children in Sunday School.  I remember even helping her arrange some of these for the lessons.  One I recall in particular was the young man preparing for battle....and the armor he would wear as  told in the scripture lesson of Ephesians, Chapter 6.  The Helmet of Salvation.  The Breastplate of Righteousness.  So many pieces, each one suggested to keep us safe from the evil one.  Lord.....out of the blue, I suggested that they wear the "Helmet" to bed.  Not to take it off to rest.  I realize it's only a description of what we should do.....but, just as it would be uncomfortable to go to bed with a helmet on......we could somehow arrange ourselves appropriately and really rest, knowing that our brain and the precious contents in it will be protected from the devil's constant habit of bringing more chaos and confusion to us in our sleep.  Lord, not everyone understands my thinking.  But, thank you for giving me people to minister to, who do.  All I want is to "help someone today".  Not hoards.  Just who You place in my pathway.  Give me strength for today.....and a bright hope for tomorrow.  Your grace empowers me.  Your gentle way of dealing with me, makes me yearn to come to You more and more.  Thankfully, I have passed the place where I am embarrassed to "ask for help again".  I do not know why.....but, it delights me that it delights You, when I come to You.   I will remain dependent on the awesomeness of Your wisdom to direct me.  I ask all.....I tell all.....in the name of power of Jesus Christ.  Amen.  Thank YOU, dear ONE.