II Chronicles 20: II Timothy 1:7; James 1; I Peter 1:16 - "Slaves to Fear"

Repentance...Revival...Restoration of Prodigals...The Lost...These are the four groups Doc encouraged us to pray for as a community of believers. Last night as a few gathered to pray I was overwhelmed with sadness as I prayed over names. As the tears flowed, I cried out to the Lord asking Him to save them I was crushed as He said, "Many of these are headed to destruction when many of them know what it is to be headed to eternity with me." Oh how sad to think of people who are caught up in circumstances of life instead of allowing the Lord to be in control. I thought of my teen Sunday school lesson about how we need to realize "the battle belongs to the Lord" (II Chronicles 20). We do not have to be enslaved to the ways of the enemy. The song "No Longer Slaves" kept going through my mind as I prayed last night. I prayed for people to get to the point in their lives where they can say...

"I'm no longer a slave to fear...I am a child of God"

Yes! There is liberty and freedom in surrender! The song continues...

"We've been liberated 
From our bondage
We're the sons and the daughters
Let us sing our freedom"

Yes! those who have experienced the chains of bondage to be broken in their lives need to proclaim the victory the Lord gave them. It is our responsibility to share with others just how liberating it is to live a life of surrender. As I prayed over the list of names last night, the Lord had me praying for some who appear to be right with Him yet He says they are not. He revealed some things to me to pray for that I didn't know. I don't particularly like when that happens but I know He is using me as a tool and I accept His will. I am being obedient to Him. That is one of the things He revealed last night...some who are not being obedient to Him. That breaks my heart. He brought to my mind II Timothy 1:7 that says He doesn't give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and self-control. He said there are some who are allowing fear to stop them from sharing Him with others. He also said there are some who are misrepresenting Him by not allowing His love to show through them. There words are sharp which turn people away from Him instead of to Him. When I started lamenting on how hard it is to deal with such people, He quickly reminded me of James 1:2-3. He told me I needed to be joyful even in circumstances of hurtful words. I lamented to Him some more and He told me to read verse nine of this chapter. Ouch! It reads, "Don't grumble against one another, brothers and sisters or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door." Ouch again! I immediately repented of complaining and asked Him to not only forgive me but to enable me to live out I Peter 1:16 throughout my days. "Be holy, because I am holy" are the words of Christ that I focus upon.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the prayer time last night. There is just something special about gathering in the sanctuary with my church family to raise our petitions to You. Lord, as I prayed last night..empower us to do Your will...empower us to love as You love....empower us with boldness to stand up for Your will...but first Lord, forgive us as a church body for where we have been negligent in doing these things. Lord, today is a new day. It is a day where I have no plans of leaving this house but if Your will is that I do, so be it. I desire people to see/hear You in me. May Your words and Your actions be mine. Fill my cup to overflowing with more of You so people will know You are sitting on the throne room of my life. Thank You Jesus for being My Holiness. Amen.

Isaiah 40 - "Good, Good Father"

When I saw this picture yesterday, I was like 'YES!' This is exactly how I strive to live day in and day out. I remember the days of trying to figure things out, fretting over not only the big things but the little things that happened, second guessing myself, being mad at the world when things didn't go my way, etc. But then when the Lord became Who I totally focused on my life changed. When I allowed Him free reign of my checkbook and to a certain extent my calendar, life became so much easier. But then when I totally surrendered my days to Him life really changed. He speaks. I listen. I obey. I do as He says. Yesterday was a good example of listening to Him. The schedule had a few things on it but when I woke up yesterday morning in such pain I wasn't sure what I was to do. He closed some doors on His own and then a couple of them He spoke to me and told me to close. The day was spent resting not only in my physical body but also in my spiritual body. I prayed and even though He didn't speak directly to my prayers I knew He was listening. He heard the cries of my heart. He gave me Isaiah 40 to ponder upon. The last few verses are ones I cherish...

28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,    they will walk and not be faint.

He gives strength to the weary are words I cling to. I am so weary in my physical body and my emotional body but I have hope in My Heavenly Father. Woo hoo! He doesn't just take away the pain in my legs or the emotional pain of junk from this world and I really don't want Him to. I know these things are growing my faith. I know when I give Him the glory through all of the 'bad' things of life, my hope in eternal life with Him grows in abundance. That's exciting!

Once again He woke me to "Good, Good Father" and once again I was blessed. He is so good to me. There are days I do not think I will get through yet He encourages me. There are days when the tears flow yet He is there to dry them. There are days when people are not nice yet He gives me joy in my spirit to deal with them. These days on this earth are growing shorter and shorter. I pray I won't miss any opportunity for people to see Him in me. 

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being My Hope! Thank You for being My Strength! Thank You for being exactly what I need when I need it! Lord, today is a new day. I pray for strength in my physical body. I pray for strength in my emotional body. I pray You will come down upon me in such a way that no matter what happens today You will show through me. Fill me to overflowing with more of You. Lord, I pray for those who need You in a deeper way to find You. I pray for those who are hurting and hurt with their words to find Your Peace. I pray for those who need to feel Your touch to do so today. Thank You Jesus for being My "Good, Good Father"! Amen.

Psalm 107:23 - "Good, Good Father"

You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us

Fourth day to waking up to "Good, Good Father" and fourth day to be blessed with knowing My Heavenly Father is just that. "You are perfect in all of your ways" can be said about Him at all times. He is perfect...

• ...in times when we need to feel His arms wrapped around us as we watch a loved one dying.
• ...in times when words cut through us like a knife and we just don't know what to do or say.
• ...in times when it appears to everyone else that our situation is hopeless but we know He has things under control.
• ...in times when we have no words to give someone in need yet He fills our mouths with the perfect words.
• ...in times when we don't understand how we are going to pay the bills, put food on the table or gas in the car and He provides.
• ...in times when we feel so lonely and ask if continuing on with life is even worth it.
• ...in times when a loved one betrays us and the hurt is compounded over and over.

He is perfect...His timing is perfect. But this morning I realized the only way to know/see His perfectness is to be sanctified. One must be totally surrendered to the Lord in order to see His perfect work in their life. A relationship with Him will enable you to see glimpses of how He works in and through you but being surrendered to Him is where it will be seen each and every moment of your life. When surrendered to His will and His way, there will be no doubt of His love.

Love so undeniable I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable I can hardly think

As you call me deeper still
As you call me deeper still
As you call me deeper still
Into love love love

Dear Jesus,

Thank You once again for this song! I am so grateful for the way You called me into a deeper relationship last spring. I am grateful for the way You brought me into the Nazarene Church that stands on sanctification. Lord, thank You for my classes that are taking my understanding deeper. Father, fill me with more of You. I pray there will be no doubt in anyone's mind that You are center of my life. I pray Your words will be my words. May Your actions be my actions. Lord, I pray for more people to find Your peace through surrender. Father, I pray for the one You woke me up in the middle of the night to pray for. I pray You will meet her physical, mental and emotional needs. But most of all I pray for her spiritual needs to be met. Thank You Jesus for the day that is ahead and the opportunities You will give me to be You to others. Thank You for being My Perfect! Amen.

II Samuel 22:31 - "Good, Good Father"

Cause You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Third morning in a row the Lord has woke me up singing "Good, Good Father" and once again I am blessed in knowing He is that to me. But I have to wonder what I am missing with this song. Or maybe I am not missing anything but instead He is cementing it in my mind. I do know He is perfect in all that He does. Right now in my little world people would look at me and think my life is definitely not perfect. But just because I am using a cane doesn't mean it is not perfect. Just because I am not functioning 'normal' does not mean it is not perfect. What makes it perfect is the fact that I am being obedient to the Lord. I am listening to Him. I am being blessed by waiting on Him. I know He will give me exactly what I need, when I need it in my physical body, emotional body, mental body but most of all my spiritual body. Woo hoo! That is what makes my life perfect! I have faith in Him that He is with me and will do what is best in His eyes for me.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being the Perfect Father! Thank You for knowing exactly what I need in my life! Thank You for giving me a deeper faith in this time of waiting! Lord, You know the desires of my heart and I know You will give them to me because they are in Your will. Father, as I wait I pray for more of You...fill me to overflowing...ooze out of me! Father, I do not know why You woke me in the middle of the night to pray for the young girl who lost her mother a year or two ago. I have not seen her for so long. But I trust You know that prayer was needed. Father, thank You for speaking to me! Thank You for being My Perfect Father! Amen.

Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Good, Good Father"

Cause You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Once again this morning I woke up singing "Good, Good Father" and once again was blessed. The Lord is perfect in everything He does. Even this snow/ice outside is perfect. I'm not sure who it is perfect for or why it is perfect but God created it so it is perfect. It is perfect that I don't have to worry about walking on the slippery surfaces and instead can stay inside looking out the window at the beauty of it. It is perfect that children didn't have to go to school today so there were no safety issues for walkers, those riding the bus or taken by car. It is perfect that it is a season we go through in Ohio...perfect because this is the way it is suppose to be in January. Yes, He is perfect.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being perfect! Thank You for protection You give us! Thank You for creating seasons! You are so awesome in all the things You do to show your love for us. Father, You know the concerns of my heart...the hopes and dreams in my spirit. I pray Your will for not only my life but for those who are seeking Your will. I pray we will hear Your voice and follow Your direction. I pray for my friend who has something major happening in her life today. I pray she will bask in Your presence and know You are in control of the outcome. I pray for the wife who lost her husband so tragically yesterday. I pray she will have comfort in You. I pray for my teens who voiced concerns Sunday for prayer...oh how I pray they seek You in their lives. Lord, fill me to overflowing with more of You so people see and hear You in me. Thank You Father for being My Perfect. Amen.

Psalm 91:1 - "Good, Good Father"

I woke up this morning singing a song Chris Tomlin sings called "Good, Good Father" and immediately started praising the Lord for the way He is such a great part of my life. No, He is everything in my life. He is the One I turn to in times of distress. He is the One I praise no matter if going through a good time or a 'bad' time. He is the One. Plain and simple. I love the words to this song...

You're a good good father
It's who you are, It's who you are
Its who you are
And I'm love by you
It's who I am, It's who I am
It's who I am x 2

He is the best Father one can have. Some may ask why I say that and once again it is plain and simple. He loves me unconditionally, people only love unconditionally sometimes. He protects me from so much 'junk' yet He protects me through the 'junk' that comes my way. He does not allow people's words or actions to continue to hurt me over and over again. Instead He enables me to forgive and move on. "Bitterness" was something one of my teens asked for prayer about yesterday. When we allow the enemy to fester up bitterness in us over and over, we will soon be ate up with it. Doc's sermon yesterday about being infected was one that hopefully people took home with them and will ponder throughout the days ahead. When we are infected with something not of God, He cannot use us to our fullest potential in Him. This song goes on...

Oh it's love so undeniable
I,  I can hardly think as you call me
Deeper still,  as you call me
Deeper still,  as you call me
Deeper still,  into love love love

Woo hoo! The Lord has called me to go deeper in my relationship with Him. As I do, my love for Him and others goes deeper. I am so grateful for the "good, good Father" He is. I am grateful that I do not have to know what or where or how He wants me to do. All I have to do is be obedient and follow His direction. I am grateful for the 'shelter' He gives me as I live in His Presence. 

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for all the ways You used me yesterday to be You to others. Father, I don't know that I will leave this house today but I do know You can still use me to be You to others. Speak through me...love through me. Lord, fill me to overflowing with more of You. Thank You Jesus for loving me so deeply and enabling me to love others. Lord, be with the prayer requests from my teens yesterday. I hurt for them and the situations they are dealing with. Father, I pray they are where they need to be in order to hear from You today. Thank You for being My Good, Good Father. Amen.

Matthew 6:6; 7:7 - "Waiting Here For You"

These last few days have me praying for many who are going through deaths of loved ones. Some were this week while some were months or years ago. The pain is still real, no matter how long ago it was. As we received the call this morning of one whose Daddy left this earth the memories came flooding back of the morning I received the call from my Momma of my Daddy taking his final breath on earth. I also thought of the calls I received as we were traveling home from a few days away after dear friends lost their husband/father/grandfather in a tragic accident. I do not know how people without the Lord get through these things. Without the Lord there is no hope. When we have Him in our heart and live in relationship with Him, we do have hope of meeting our loved ones again. Of course, that is up for debate between people as to if we will recognize people in heaven or not but to me that is not something to worry about while on this earth. The thing to make sure of is that we are in right relationship with Him...at all times. We need to make sure we are 'prayed up' as the old timers use to say. There needs to not be anything between us and the Lord. To some that seems impossible but when you give your whole life to Him it is possible. When you surrender family, checkbook, calendar...everything to Him, life is different. There is no longer reason to fret over every little thing. Instead you know He is in control and you wait on His direction. 'Wait'...there's the word again....yes, I am in a 'waiting' stage. I am listening for what He has ahead for me. I am basking in His presence as I do...I sure do not want to miss anything He has for me.

In the song "Waiting Here For You" it goes...

If faith can move the mountains
Let the mountains move
We come with expectation
Waiting here for you, waiting here for you


Yes! I am expecting, as I wait, for the Lord to move the mountains before me. In my humanness, I can't see how but in His super natural power He will do it. All I have to do is wait. Easier said than done sometimes but I must admit I am deeper in my relationship with Him now because of this waiting time. I am living out Matthew 6:6 in order to have a Matthew 7:7 life.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for this waiting period...thank You for the things You are revealing to me but most of all thank You for Your peace. Lord, whatever lies ahead is in Your hands. I praise You for the way You are working in and through me. Fill me to overflowing with more of You so anyone who sees me or hears from me today will know You are in me. Lord, I pray for all of these ones who are dealing with the death of a loved one. Ease their pain...be very near to them... Thank You Lord for being Who I Wait On. Amen.