Your Conversation with God

Your Conversation with God

Me:  Oh God what is wrong with me? 

          I keep making mistakes. 

          I do things wrong. 

          I don't seek you often enough. 

          I sin. 

          I forget about you. 

          I become self-absorbed. 

          I let other people's needs slip my mind. 

          I let time go by without reading your Word. 

          My prayer life comes to a complete halt too much.

          I look at my unpleasant circumstances & then question your care for me. 

          I hurt & doubt your peace. 

          I find disappointment & blame you. 

          I give up on calling on you from lack of an answer. 

          I enjoy life & fail to remember your part in it.

          I get busy & shut you out.

         I go to sleep at night & don’t even acknowledge your presence with me.

         I wake up to a new day you created and do not say “thank you.”

         I look into my children’s faces & give you no credit for their existence. 

         I eat my delicious lunch & disregard you provided it.

         I drive safely to my destination & dismiss you protection.

         I walk through my day free from harm & overlook the angels.

        Giving you  thanksgiving is often something someone reminded me to do.

        My prayers of need outweigh my prayers of love for you.

        I make mistakes.

        I sin. 

Me:  So why God do you love me? 

Me:  Seriously God why do you love me?

God:  I just can’t stop!

God:  I just can’t stop even if I tried.

God:  I can’t stop loving you!

God: It is not a part of me to not love you.

God:  So why do I love you.  Simple, I just can’t stop!

I asked God one day "Why do you love me?" He answered, "I  just can't stop." by Truly, Author: God

 

 

Oh Glorious Day!

Although this is not a Borrowed Prayer from the Bible, the words in this song ring true to the words of the Bible.  I find it fitting to dedicate this song as our next prayer after last weeks post called I Yearn for the Presence of God.  If you did not have a chance to read it you might want to and then listen to this song.  I want to yearn for the presence of God and the return of Jesus.  I want to be so excited by Jesus returning to earth for us.  This song by Casting Crowns sang by these three siblings in the video below took me to a place to yearn for Jesus and to want desperately to see him face to face.  I think it will do the same for you.  So today let's take this song and use it as our prayer to God our Father as we yearn to see Jesus return.  In addition to the beautiful singing, I was touched to hear a partially deaf young man put his heart into singing about Jesus. 

 

Read the words or sing along as a prayer to heaven and everyone there! 

 

Glorious Day (Living He Loved Me)

 by Casting Crowns

One day when Heaven is filled with His praises
One day when sin was as black as could be
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
Dwelt among men, my example is He
Word became flesh and the light shined among us
His glory revealed

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain
One day they nailed Him to die on a tree
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He
Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree
And took the nails for me

'Cause Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day the grave could conceal Him no longer
One day the stone rolled away from the door
Then He arose, over death He had conquered
Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore
Death could not hold Him, the grave could not keep Him
From rising again
Rising again

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day the trumpet will sound for His coming (For Your coming)
One day the skies with His glories will shine (Glories will shine)
Wonderful day, my Beloved One, bringing
My Savior, Jesus, is mine

Living, He loved me
Dying, He saved me
Buried, He carried my sins far away
Rising, He justified freely forever
One day He's coming
Oh glorious day, oh glorious day
Oh, glorious day

Oh, glorious day

I Yearn for the Presence of God

Psalm 84:1-2

How lovely is Your dwelling place, LORD Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 

We return to Psalm 84 this week with a prayer from the sons of Korah.  For a review of information regarding the sons of Korah read my Bible study called How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place. The sons of Korah were the temple assistants, and spent much time in the temple of God. In the last study on Psalm 84 we considered the words of the sons of Korah used to describe the house of God. They describe it as lovely, and that took me to an entire study on church services and how lovely they are in the house of God. This week we will focus our attention on Psalm 84:2. 

The sons of Korah say in the second verse, “my soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Wow, did men say their souls yearn for the house of God to the point of fainting? I can’t necessarily see men yearning for something so strongly. Women, we yearn for things because we are emotional beings. We sometimes let our feelings overwhelm us. So I can see it for a woman. I can see us yearning to almost fainting. Maybe I just don’t know men like this or don’t truly understand them. How could these men fill such a yearning for the house of God? The courts of the Lord or the temple of God were the house of God and the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant held the 10 Commandments. 2 Chronicles chapters 5-7 tell of the events of the arrival of the Ark to the temple and the dedication of the temple. 

 2 Chronicles 5:7-14

⁷ The priests then brought the ark of the Lord’s covenant to its place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, the Most Holy Place, and put it beneath the wings of the cherubim. ⁸ The cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark and covered the ark and its carrying poles. ⁹ These poles were so long that their ends, extending from the ark, could be seen from in front of the inner sanctuary, but not from outside the Holy Place; and they are still there today. ¹⁰ There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt.

¹¹ The priests then withdrew from the Holy Place. All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. ¹² All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. ¹³ The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

“He is good;
    his love endures forever.”

The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.

 At the dedication of the temple by King Solomon, the priests, Levites and the Israelites saw the glory of the Lord fill the temple.  God’s presence arrived. 

2 Chronicles 7: 1-3

When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. ² The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. ³ When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying,

“He is good;
    his love endures forever.”

Again we are told the glory of the Lord filled the temple.  Even the Israelites saw it happen.  The sons of Korah (meaning the descendants of Korah or the Korahites) were Levites and worked in the temple throughout the history of Israel.  I believe they were there.  If not this event so powerful would not have escaped mention to them.  I am no scholar but I think they at least knew of the event based on the Psalms they wrote.

Psalm 84: 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 

Why did they yearn for the courts of the Lord and cry out for the living God?  Because they had either witnessed God’s presence or heard witness of it.  This was no small event.  The Israelites saw fire come down and the glory of God above the temple.  Then the glory of God filled the temple.  This was monumental.  God’s presence was there.  The exact place where these men worked daily once held the glory of God!  They knew that.  It was not a vision or a dream.  God’s presence actually filled the temple and there were many witnesses to the event.  The sons of Korah yearned for that filling of His glory that happened on the day of dedication.  Their souls were hungry to see God’s glory.  Their hearts and even flesh cried out for Him because He had been there.  They knew He was real and had revealed himself before.  So yes their souls yearned, even fainted for the courts of the Lord.  Would you? 

Would you?  Imagine if the actual visual glory of God had been in your church while you attended one day.  It may be difficult to visualize God’s glory, so just think of Jesus.  Try to imagine Jesus in church with you one day.  Everyone can see him.  Everyone is worshiping him.  Just like the Israelites on the day of dedication, everyone in the house of God has knelt on the floor with their faces to the ground in worship and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.”  Not one eye is distracted.  Not one word is spoken, only worship.  Every child is quiet and in reverence to Jesus.  Every man and woman has their face to the ground in complete love for Jesus.  Wow!  What a site that would be!  I love to imagine that.  So now do you understand why the sons of Korah yearned for that again and cried out for the living God to return? 

 Jesus has come.  Jesus has saved.  Jesus will return.  Why don’t we cry out for that?  Why don’t we yearn to fainting to see his face and his glory like the sons of Korah?  What are we afraid of today? The sons of Korah had no fears in crying out to see God.  They had not experienced a Savior like us.  We have been saved.  Our sins have been wiped away.  So why don’t our souls absolutely yearn for Jesus.  I will be honest with you; my soul has not been yearning to a point of fainting for Jesus to return.  Maybe we want more people saved or maybe our flesh does not want to leave earth.  I don’t know but I think we should all ask ourselves this question “Do we yearn for Jesus and do our hearts and flesh cry out to Jesus?”

Can you say?

“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”

I may love my God with my heart and soul.  I may seek Him daily.  I may love his Word.  I may love Jesus whole heartedly.  I may crave time with God.  I may worship God.  But does my soul yearn, even faints, for the courts of the Lord and his presence?  Do my heart and my flesh (wow) cry out for the living God?  Listen to those words carefully.  I ask myself these questions and without condemnation can truthfully tell you I do not yearn to a point of fainting.  As much as I love God and come to tears when I feel the presence of the Holy Spirit, I do not come close to fainting.  Maybe perhaps when we are filled with the Holy Spirit we can faint, but feeling faint when worshipping God is not common to most of us. 

So what now you ask.  Good news! Yes! Good news! Today we can change things.  We can take the words from the sons of Korah, who knew of the presence of God and may have experienced God’s glory fill the temple, and follow them.  Let’s follow the sons of Korah in worship.  Let’s imagine what they may have seen when the glory of God filled the temple and all people fell to their knees with faces on the ground for him.  Let’s follow their lead and cry out to God.  Let’s say to God, “Dear God my soul yearns, even faints, for your presence; my heart and my flesh cry out for you the living God.”  Let’s say to Jesus, “My soul yearns, even faints, for you Jesus; my heart and my flesh cry out to see you Jesus.”  Why would we not let our souls hunger and yearn for Jesus?  He is our savior.  Why would we not let our hearts and flesh cry out to the living God and for Jesus return?  He gave us everything.  Well we can.  We can right now.  As I write this and hear these words in my head I feel a change.  When I speak these words to our heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit my soul begins to year.  My heart and flesh begin to cry out for the living God and to see Jesus.  It is not a far stretch.  Say it.  Mean it.  Repeat it.  Let God know you yearn for the presence of him.  Make it clear by using the words from our friends the sons of Korah. 

 Psalm 84:2

My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 

This week begin to yearn for God by using these words often.  Begin to let your heart and flesh cry out for the living God.  Let your mouth speak it.  Let your soul hear it.  Let your heart and flesh testify to what you say.  Let God know your desire is to yearn for him.  So say it.  Give him this.  This week give your Father God and Savior Jesus this.  The Holy Spirit inside of you will surely assist you in your efforts.  The Holy Spirit can guide you on this path.  It is his pleasure.  Ask him for help and enjoy a whole new way to worship!

I love you all!

Truly

A Prayer Over Natural Disasters

Hello Dear Readers,

Hope you all are well.  Today I want to share a prayer of protection over natural disasters with you.  It will be a short Bible study this week but much needed considering the forecast of approaching storms in our area.  My two close friends and I, with 2 children, just prayed it in a group prayer and grew in strength from it.  I hope you may use it in a group prayer also. 

Psalm 91 is full of words of protection from anything that could cause you harm.  Take time to read the entire Psalm and receive comfort from the promises of God to keep you safe.  I used words from the Psalm to write this prayer.  God created us and made himself responsible for our care.  He has never left us alone to take care of ourselves, just sometimes we work it out that way.  Know your Creator has every intention to keep you safe, but you need to receive that promise and stand on it. 

Our prayer from Psalm 91.

Dear Father God Almighty,

In you alone we find refuge and safety.  We put our trust in you our Creator and in your Words of Psalm 91. Your faithfulness is a shield of protection over us, and we acknowledge that and receive it right this minute.  We speak words from Psalm 91, and say "We will not be afraid of the destruction that can come for we have made you Lord our refuge.  You have angels charge over us to guard us in all our ways." 

You Lord said, "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.  He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him. And let him behold My salvation." 

Father God we present you with your words and plead to you that we may stand on them today and forever more.  Thank you for your promises that are never broken and always true.

We receive protection from you God Almighty over any destruction by natural causes or man made that may come near us. 

We pray this in Jesus Name,

Amen. 



 

How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place!

Psalm 84:1

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
  

Today we follow our Borrowed Prayers from Great Men and Women of God Series, however this one may be a little unexpected but fantastic.  It will probably be one of the shortest prayers in the series or possibly in your prayer life.  I know you will find great benefit in this one because writing it gave me a new mind-set on a very important part of my life.  I needed a new way of thinking on this subject.  I knew I wanted it but never seem to totally arrive there.  But when God gives you His perspective on something it simply changes you without any real challenge.  So this study will come from a personal experience between me and God, your God.  I pray that it will impact you as significantly as it did me and give you the new dose of gratitude to God I am experiencing. 

Also God arranged the timing for this study perfectly, as usual.

Returning from a spring break vacation over a week ago, I began to write our Bible Study while my mother drove.  My daughter was content with her iphone in the back seat so things were relatively quiet.  God had given me Psalm 84 a while back for another Bible study about getting through difficult times. However, he brought me back to Psalm 84 on that day.  The funny thing is God stopped me on Psalm 84:1.  It appeared that he wanted me to only use this one sentence. So I determined that maybe this was not part of our Borrowed Prayers Series, but continued. 

Let me explain something about writing for me. I sincerely, humbly tell you I am merely the messenger. God is the author of everything I write. I take no credit whatsoever. I may be available to Him and open to hearing his voice and direction, but that is it. So with that in mind I want you to know that often I have no idea where my pen and paper are going. Sometimes I think I see the direction of the words, later to find out I was not on the right path. You see t is very exciting to write, especially when God is in control. I learn as I write it, just as you learn as you read it. We’re really in the same boat. I like that. I like that we learn together from God. Writing might not seem exciting to a lot of people, but when God is the author it thrills me to no end to serve Him in this way.

 Psalm 84:1

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!

Psalm 84:1 is our prayer for this week. Yes we have only an eight word prayer. However, your perspective will be far greater than eight words after you read this and begin to pray. Let me begin with just a little background on the authors of Psalm 84. The authors are the sons of Korah. They actually wrote several chapters in the book of Psalms. The sons of Korah were the temple assistants and choir leaders. They were Levites who performed daily functions in the temple. If you have ever read portions of Leviticus and the act of worship in those days you’ll find it has many components. I’m not here to describe that to you. My Life Application Bible described it this way, “Levites and priests put a great deal of time and care into worship. Everything relating to worship was carefully prepared and maintained so they and all the people could enter worship with their minds and hearts focused on God.”  The first words these men use in this Psalm is a description of God’s dwelling place. They describe it in one word, “lovely.”

Psalm 84: 1-2

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
² My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.

Reading Psalm 84: 1-2 you can really see how much these men desire to be in the house of God, in his presence. They yearned for God to the point of fainting. Why would they have such an emotional, passionate desire to be in the temple of God? It is hard as a woman for me to imagine a man yearning for something to the point of fainting. In our next Bible study we will dive into a full understanding of that and how it can relate to us today. I am eager to send that soon. But for now I just wanted you to see how very much these men wanted to be in the presence of God in his house. 

It is the description of these men and worship from my Life Application Bible that God used to inspire me to write this study. Let’s look at it again:

Levites and priests put a great deal of time and care into worship. Everything relating to worship was carefully prepared and maintained so they and all the people could enter worship with their minds and hearts focused of God.  Life Application Bible

Everything relating to worship was carefully prepared and maintained so they and all the people could enter worship with their minds and hearts focused on God.  At your church people are also carefully preparing and maintaining the place of worship, so that you and others can worship God with focus. People prepare an orderly arena for you to worship God without distraction. We probably have no idea how many people and tasks have been used to prepare for our one hour in church once a week.  Like the priests and Levites in the Old Testament who serve the people in worshiping God, your church has a group of people working to do nothing more than give you the experience of worship. It goes beyond your pastors, worship leaders, choir and greeters. 

Organization of children’s church and childcare represent a serious amount of preparation in finding volunteers, allotting work times, planning lessons, messages and music. That is but a few things involved. I can speak on the children’s ministry and probably write pages and pages on the work involved.  Children’s ministries are highly beneficial for our children’s own faith, but also allow adults freedom to truly worship freely without distraction.  Also, your church provides you with parking assistance.  Those people directing you to parking areas do not just show up and begin to help. They were found. They volunteered, planned a schedule and a format to best serve the attendees in finding parking and leaving the service.  There are a lot of people involved, especially in large churches. Church is an event every Sunday, and there are many people contributing to make it happen.

“Levites and priests put a great deal of time and care into worship. Everything relating to worship was carefully prepared and maintained so they and all the people could enter worship with their minds and hearts focused on God.”  Life Application Bible

Psalm 84:1
How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!

Keep Psalm 84:1 in mind as we continue to explore the preparation involved in your weekly church service to allow you to focus on God, with your mind and your heart while there. I’m not sure I’m qualified to even guess the planning and work involved in producing a choir of people, musicians, sound people, a leader and other jobs that I may not be aware of. Of course there is the assembling of people into a choir, choosing music and practice, but I’m certain I have only touched on a few things involved in the development of what we see Sunday morning. This is a true production!

Your experience in worship on Sunday morning with praise and teaching is an event planned, prepared and executed every week. Have you ever considered all the development and work involved for us to arrive Sunday morning to a place of focus on worship - a place where we can worship God with our hearts and minds free of distraction? I just announced to my mother, driving while I write, that I will try to never be late for church again. My respect for this event we call church service has just skyrocketed. How dare I run late for what has been so carefully planned out and executed so that I, Truly, can find ease in worshiping my God.  Forgive me God, and all those precious people that have worked, volunteered and given to prepare for this event that I have not always given its due reverence by making every serious effort to attend timely. 

Early will be my new goal! Yes, early!

Early to enjoy the beauty of it all!
 
Early to watch the parking attendants engineering me to the right spot! 

Early to watch the greeters greet me so cheerfully!

Early to examine the building built for us to worship our God in it!  This building was built for worship – for our worship to our God! Wow!

Early to look at the walls inside that contain this mass of people of all ages, races and walks of life gathered for the sole purpose of worshipping God! 

Early to watch yet another organized group of people work their positions so very well – those dedicated ushers who assist us to our seats with a warm smile and a program for this event! I know they assist in the collection, count the people in attendance, but there’s probably a lot more to their job than I know.

Early to watch the choir and musicians assemble on the stage ready to perform what they have tirelessly practiced for the benefit of our worship to God!

Early to see our ministers gather in the front ready to deliver God’s very message written for us!  We can’t even imagine what time spent with God was involved to create the message we will hear and use in our own life.

Early to sit and soak in all that is the dwelling place of God on this day and hour!

Early to ponder the presence of God engaged with people throughout this week to prepare for this time!

Early to imagine Jesus watching as his beloved arrive to worship!

Early to enjoy the very presence of God in these walls we call our church!

 

Never forget this event we call church is far more than a simple service.  This is a carefully prepared and maintained event created so that we can all enter worship with our minds and hearts focused on God. 

Today, repeat Psalm 84:1 as you consider your place of worship – your church. 

Psalm 84:1
How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!

It is truly lovely. Thank you God. Thank you for every hand, ear, mouth and foot that contributed to this most lovely event. 

Please continue reading so that you can truly receive the impact of this message that I did. When I went to church after receiving this message from God, I found the service to be the most beautiful service I think I’ve ever seen. It was not a special program that day. It was not a beautiful Easter or Christmas service. It was a typical Sunday service with music and a great message from the pastor. However, my eyes have been opened to see this service in a whole new light. My gratitude to the preparation gave me a new level of love for the people in this church. The presence of God was enlarged to a new scale for me. I felt joy in every single moment of that service. I desperately want you to have the same experience in your next church service, so please read on. Know that this message is to you from God.

Do you realize when you sit in church you are actually a witness to God’s gifts?  You sit as a witness to people using their God-given gifts to serve God, worship God and allow you to focus your heart and mind on God. You by personal presence see Godly gifts in action. You behold the things of God in other brothers and sisters of Christ. You are also a witness to the body of Christ in worship to their God of gods. You don’t get to see that at home, at work, on the street, at the grocery store, at the game, or throughout your normal day.  No! You see that at the house of God – church.

Psalm 84:1

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!

It is lovely. Look at that dedicated man of God on the stage that put his heart and soul into creating a message just for you. Look at your pastor; appreciate every God-given word that comes out of his mouth. God himself uses this man to speak to you. How lovely is that! Listen as your pastor prays words over you in love and care. It is not some Sunday tradition. He cares for you. Your pastor, a man of God, loves you. You are his family, his congregation, and his people. His prayers are not generic and simple. Your pastor prays over you with compassion. He prays out to God on your behalf so you will succeed and honor God. Witness his words. Look around at others and know he is speaking to God the creator of all for everyone in that place.

How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!
 

One last thing I want to share with you.  When I was in that service with a whole new mind-set on the event after God gave me this message, I experienced something extraordinary for the first time in my lifetime of attending church.  What I experienced was made possible by nothing more than my own effort produced after learning this message.  You see this new perspective on the experience of a church service can open your mind to new thoughts and pursuits.  So as I sat admiring all the many lovely aspects of the sanctuary, the choir, the people and even the walls, I began to think of Jesus being there in this building with us. With my imagination or maybe my spiritual eyes I saw Jesus walking slowly down the stairs from the balcony looking down at his people.  I saw his eyes of love for them.  I saw his joy to have them here in his house.  I could see Jesus slowly moving down the aisles among the congregation.  He did not talk to them.  He did not touch them.  But his every move and look was gushing with love for every single person in the building.  Without saying a word or touching anyone I could see love in a way I never saw before.  It was simply his presence alone that spoke love.  Now I may have a slight idea how people saw him when he was on earth.  Now I know the draw to him was far more than his teachings and healings, it was his presence that drew the people to him.  What an amazing thing to see! 

Whether it was my imagination or my spiritual eyes, I did see Jesus in my church service.  I saw him!  I looked for him and saw him!  You can do the same exact thing when you attend the event we call church.  Remember this is an event that we have the honor to attend.  It is an event of greater importance than anything in our week.  Go to this lovely dwelling place and experience it as I did!  Please!  I believe it will change you and bring you to a new level of peace and joy in the house of God.  I love you all! 

Truly

This week pray these simple eight words and look forward to your next time in church.  Next week is Easter.  I told you God’s timing is perfect.  I did not plan this.  He did. 

Psalm 84:1

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!

A Story Just for You!

This Story Is For You

This is the story of a father and child. The father loves his child so much that he sits with the child through the night. Read the words he speaks throughout the night and morning hours. Read it slowly to soak in what this father is feeling. Hear in his words his great love for the child.

My sweet child,

the moonlight covers your room now as I sit beside you and watch you sleep.

Your eyes are closed and your body is still. I hear only the soft sound of your breath.

As you lay curled to one side, there is only innocence in the room.

Your face appears so soft and restful. Your body is relaxed.

Everything about you is beautiful.

I just take in the creation of you.

I revel at the idea that I call you my own.

I cannot stop my urge to lean over you for a closer look.

I want to hug you with all my loving might but I will not disturb your sleep dear one.

So I hold back and step back only to look.

As the time passes, I begin to look forward to when you will open your eyes.

I think about the things you say and do.

I think about when you said "I love you" just before "goodnight."

Those words consume my thoughts now as I wait.

I love you with so much of me, to hear those words from you makes my heart swell.

You are mine and I am yours.

My love for you is unconditional.

I don't even remember the things you did earlier that required apology.

I can't think of you as anything but innocent and lovely when I watch you sleep.

As the daylight begins to trickle in the room, my anticipation grows.

I begin to look forward to being with you awake, to hear your voice and see your eyes of wonder.

I want to be with you as soon as you awake.

I want to hear you tell me your thoughts and dreams.

I want to make them come true for you.

I must say I long to hear you say "I love you father" and "Can we be together today?"

Oh yes, I would love to be with you all day, just the two of us.

I don't dare wake you up so that you will have the sleep you need for today.

But I have been tempted many times to crawl in beside you and love you.

Then the moment comes, you begin to move and make small noises.

You turn your head my way as if you can feel my presence here.

Your eyes open. Though not quite awake, I see a twinkle in them.

I am here in your room.

Then they open wider and look at me closer and your arms reach out to me with love.

You want me to come to you so quickly after you awake.

Then I hear "Father, come to me." I cannot hold back my enthusiasm.

I jump up and hold you in my arms in seconds.

I tell you first "I love you."

And you return the same words.

My heart is full and pleased.

You have given me just what I waited for, your love in return.

You are mine and I am yours.

You tell me what you are thinking, what you want to do today and how great it will be.

Listening carefully with only the two of us here, I hear your needs and desires.

I will help you receive them.

I only want you to be filled with peace and joy.

My morning is more than I expected.

My time with you is always adored. But to spend time with you before your day begins is lovely.

To start our day together in these early hours is my desire always.

I love you dear child of mine.

Today we begin it together, you and me, out to conquer the world.



This father filled with so much love that he will wait through the sleeping hours for his child to awake;

this father is your father.

The Father is God.

Please him, love him, and wake up to him.

Psalm 139:7-8 (New International Version)
7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

 

Here in Psalm 139, David speaks of God's omnipresence. God is omnipresent, everywhere at all times. But have you considered the enormity of it? Know that God is present with you at all times including the night.

 

Written by Truly Kernea in April 2008 

Author: God

These are God's words for his children. Enjoy them. Enjoy the great love he has for you. Read this often to remember how he feels about you. Share it with others if you like. I only want everyone to know how so very much our Fathers loves us.

I love you all.

Truly

We are all truly made for God.

 

 

Daniel's Prayer (Borrowed Prayers from Great Men and Women of God - Week 2)

Do you know that Daniel not only survived the den of lions and interpreted the king's dreams, but was also a man focused on prayer. Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (their Babylonian given names) were dedicated men of God despite their captivity in a foreign land surrounded by worship of other gods. They stood firm against any circumstance that would cause disloyalty to God. That is why their disobedience to the Babylonian king put the friends in the furnace and Daniel in the den of lions. If you have only followed their stories briefly you may be surprised to learn of their faith in prayer. Today the prayer we will borrow will be from the dream interpreter himself, Daniel!

Daniel and his friends were so full of knowledge and understood so much that these foreigners gained high positions among the Babylonians in the king's service. The king even placed Daniel ruler over the entire province of Babylon and in charge of all its wise men after he saw Daniel's ability to interpret dreams. So how did Daniel obtains this gift to interpret dreams when no other wise men could do it?

Daniel 1:17 NIV

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

God gave them knowledge and understanding. Daniel and his friends also prayed to God for help. Read on.

After King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had troubling dreams that kept him from further sleep, he called the Babylonian wise men. These were the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers. The king demanded that they not only interpret his dream but also tell him what he dreamed. They could not. So in his anger threatened to cut them all into pieces and turn their homes into rubble.

They replied.

Daniel 2:10-11

The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.”

With this response the king's anger ordered the execution of all the wise men including Daniel and his friends. When Daniel discovered this impending death sentence he ask the king for time, so he could interpret the dream. Why did Daniel assume he may be able to do this huge task above anyone else there?

He believed in calling on God. He believed in prayer.

Daniel 2:17-18

Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.) He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel did not assume anything. He and his friends called on his God and pleaded for help!

Daniel 2:19

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven

The mystery of the king's dream was revealed to Daniel in a vision from God.

Daniel talked to God, asked for help and received it. The Bible does not say Daniel simply approached the king, trusted God and told the king his dream along with the meaning. No! He asked his friends to plead for mercy from God of heaven concerning this mystery. Why? So that he and his friends would be spared execution. Daniel wanted to be saved from death! His cry to God was for a tool to stop this execution. The tool was a revelation of the king's dream – the only thing that could stop the approaching death sentence.

I don't think Daniel was asking God to reveal these things to him to show others his Godly knowledge and understanding. I personally feel that Daniel was seeking any thing or way to prevent the death of him and his friends.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego called on God (prayed) with an earnest cry for rescue regarding their very lives. They prayed. They prayed with seriousness. They prayed with hope. They prayed knowing their God could indeed save them.

And He did.  Now let's look at Daniel's prayer to God after receiving his answer.

Daniel 2: 19-23
During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:
 
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;

wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.

He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.

 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power,

you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

This is the prayer we will borrow from Daniel this week. This is Daniel's prayer response to God's answers to his danger. God came to his rescue. Now he praises God for it. Daniel lived before the coming of Jesus, his death and resurrection. Daniel and his friends did not yet have the saving power of Christ on the cross.

This week I want you to call on God with your greatest need and plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning it (just like Daniel and his friends did). No your need may not be a cry for deliverance from death, but it is still your sincere need. It will not offend God that your need is not as great as these men. He wants your earnest, heart felt cry for help concerning your particular need. 

 So plead for his mercy concerning your need, however don't wait until you receive the answer to borrow Daniel's praise and thanksgiving prayer. Because we dear brothers and sisters have been saved already. Jesus saved us on the cross. It has been done. Therefore make your plea and go straight to praise as if you have seen the answer with your eyes. 

 Yes plead for his mercy concerning your need and follow by saying “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.” Then say, “I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you.” You get the idea.  You can apply almost all of this prayer to your own unique praise to God. Let Daniel teach you to plead for your need and praise your God.

King David: Who Am I that You Brought Me this Far?

                                                                     By Truly Kernea, Author: God


 Dear Friends,

I recently discovered a prayer in the Bible that touched my heart and soul so much I want to share it with you. I saw the writer’s humble heart and his lovely gratitude to God, and became thirsty for the same. This prayer comes from David, King David. God seems to use David’s words and stories a lot in my writing. I’ve grown to absolutely adore King David with his steadfast love for God, despite his many struggles and even sin. In the book of 1 Chronicles, chapter 17 David has become king over all of Israel, defeated the Philistine’s attempts to capture him, and has now brought the Ark of God to Jerusalem. The Ark of God (also called the Ark of the Covenant) contained the Ten Commandments and the presence of God. After much celebration and rejoicing over the ark’s arrival to Jerusalem, the people have returned to their homes, including David.

After David settled into his palace, he began to think about the fact that he lived in a palace and the Ark of the Covenant (God’s presence) resided under a tent. He then considered building a house for the Ark and for God. That night God spoke to the prophet Nathan with words for David. God’s words to David expressed that he did not want David to build a house for Him. God also spoke to David about his past and his future.

A few things God spoke to David through the prophet Nathan (1 Chronicles 17:3 – 14):

·       I took you from the pastures from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel.

·       I have been with you wherever you have gone.

·       Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men of the earth.

·       I will also subdue all of your enemies.

·       I will raise up your offspring to succeed you.

·       One of your offspring is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever.

David has just received these words and more from God, reported by Nathan. Let me show you what happened next.

 1 Chronicles 17:16 NIV
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord.
 
King David heard this beautiful revelation from God. He heard it not directly from God but through a prophet. Remember that fact when I bring this lesson full circle. God used a prophet to speak revelation to David.  God used a tool instead of his own voice. After hearing the words, what did David do? He went and sat before the Lord. I love that visual. King David, ruler of all Israel, a powerful military leader with many victories under his belt, sat before the Lord. Do you ever sit before the Lord? Can you just imagine King David sitting before God? Isn’t it a glorious sight? When you sit before the Lord in your quiet time – it is a glorious sight to God and maybe even King David is watching.

King David sat before the Lord and said a prayer. I want you to read the entire 12 verses of David’s prayer (1 Chronicles 17:16 – 27) when you have time, but for now I will share with you only a few of his words for us to focus on in our study.

1 Chronicles 17:16 – 19 NIV
Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? ¹⁷ And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.

¹⁸ “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, ¹⁹ Lord. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.

 What does this king over Israel say first to his God? “Who am I?” he says. David asked God, “Who am I, that you have brought me this far?” David remembers his humble beginnings as a shepherd. He even remembers that his family was not royalty or special. David humbles himself before the Lord. He does not have great pride and self righteousness in his role of king here. “Who am I?” he asked. David thinks back to his beginnings before anointed by God. He ponders over his family’s former status and place in creation. Then he sees how far he has come. He knows God has brought him to his current place in life.

This type of humility can take you to another level of thanksgiving to God. To see how far you’ve come with God’s grace and love will make thanksgiving easy.  Ask God today, “Who am I?” Say, “Who am I, Oh Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? God has brought you this far dear friend. You were not always here. You did not always seek God’s Word. You do not always trust God. You did not always follow God. You did not always seek new ways to pray to your Father God. You have come this far because of your Heavenly Father! What a marvelous reason to celebrate and rejoice in thanksgiving – to know God has brought us this far! We can give God thanks when we sit before him, humble ourselves and look at how far God brought us. And if that was not reason enough to celebrate, read what wise King David says to God next.

1 Chronicles 17:17 NIV

And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant.

Not only has God Almighty brought you this far, he has also spoken to you of your future. God made promises to David when he spoke through Nathan. God told him of his future. God is spoken promises to you also. You have an entire book of them. You have God’s absolute words and writing at your fingertips. David had God’s words from a prophet, a tool. You have words and words and words – all written at your disposal, a tool. You have the Word of God available at any time – filled with spoken words from God in a format that could not be any easier to apprehend. God tells of your future with Him throughout your Bible. He gives his promises for you. So when David marvels at God’s goodness and giving him a view of the future, you should marvel also. Say the words of David for yourself. Go ahead. It feels good.

 “And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant- me.”
 
Say it. “And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant- me.”

 David received words from God about his future and he considered it a true honor. Read 1 Chronicles 17:17 – 18.

 1 Chronicles 17: 17 – 18
You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.
 “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant?

 These two verses truly humble me. Have I been taking my Bible for granted? Have I reserved it for only available time in the past? Have I not considered it a complete honor to have God’s words at my beckon call? David accepted God’s words to him through a prophet as God honoring him. “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant?” he says. David also says to God, “You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of man.” David does not say this in regards to his position as king and God’s placement of him there. David feels that God has looked on him as the most exalted of man because He shared words with David concerning his future and his family’s future.

 Do you ever see yourself as God’s most exalted because God so generously honored you in this place and time to receive his Word by means of Jesus, the written Word? If David is honored by God, then we are honored even greater. Jesus has come on our behalf. We have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Yes I want you to say it. You can do it. I don’t care if it feels uncomfortable. This is how to truly give God thanks.

 Say “You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.  “What more can (insert your name) say to you for honoring your servant?

 If you gave your child a very special gift with meaning and from your heart, would you like a response like this one? How would it feel if your child felt that you must look at them as the greatest of people (exalted) because of your gift to them? How would it feel if your child saw the gift was an honor for you to give it to them? It would feel good. So don’t feel in any way modest in these words to God. He wants such deep gratitude from the heart. This type of conversation with God draws you closer to him. This is his great desire. He loves you so much and desires your love in return. And thanksgiving is a tender, humble expression of your love. It carries the nature of your heart.
 
1 Chronicles 17: 19 NIV
For you know your servant,  Lord. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.

David is saying to God “You know me, yet you still brought me this far and now you give me your words of the future.” David knows God did these things for his sake, for David. David is so full of love and gratitude to his heavenly father in these words. Can you hear it? Can you hear his love through each verse as he prays to his Creator? My heart pounds and melts all in these verses. When I hear his love for the Father my heart pounds with a desire to be more like David. When I feel David’s humble nature to his God my heart softens and cries out to do the same. I just adore and respect this prayer of David so much. I hope and pray it is reaching your heart and soul as well.

David says to God “you have done this great thing and made known all these promises.” God did “this great thing.” God absolutely did a great thing. He spoke to David! Not only did God use Nathan to speak to David, God also told David his future and gave him promises. God gave David His promises. The Creator of the universe made promises to David! The Creator of man himself told David what would happen to his family in the future. God Almighty, who brought a flood to destroy everything on the earth except a few chosen ones, shared with David His promises. This is a great thing. When David tells the Lord God that he has done a great thing, David can see the magnitude of it.

God has done a great thing for you also. This week pray David’s prayer every day or more. Sit before the Lord like David did. Simply imitate this great example. David was described by God as “a man after my own heart.” (Acts 13:22). What a great person to follow. I strongly encourage you to write down the words to the prayer yourself. Simply use your name in place a David’s name in the prayer. This is your prayer now. I’m sure David, King David, would want it that way. Humble yourself with the words of love for God in this prayer and your thanksgiving to God will go to a deeper, more intimate place. You deserve it!

 David’s Prayer
 
1 Chronicles 17: 16-19 NIV
¹⁶ Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:
“Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? ¹⁷ And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.
¹⁸ “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, ¹⁹ Lord. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.