Do You?

Prayer Journal

I started sending my daughter Rose a daily Bible verse now that she is so far away attending college in  Malibu. This morning I sent her this picture with the verse from Isaiah 40:8. She has been busy studying for mid terms and says she has little time for too much else.

I reminded her of the importance of spending time with God, and how we actually become more focused and better prepared  in our daily activities if we make the time available for God.  I know 10 minutes with God is worth more than 30 minutes of extra sleep. He will energize us supernaturally.

God warns us of the danger of living spiritually lukewarm lives; the result is that the world will conform us and that is exactly where the enemy wants us. God desires transformation through prayer, and the study of His word.  This transformation is a lifelong process and cannot be taken in part and reap the benefits full time.

Here's the cool thing God showed me. Later today I was going through some storage boxes and opened up a Prayer Journal from March 2006.  The verse I had written down to meditate on was the same message, but written slightly different in 1Peter. It was the first thing I read on the page. The exact verse I sent Rose.
"The grass withers, the flower fades..."

 I know God planned and purposed for this to happen. I have been been concerned about not being too preachy with my daughter and allowing her to seek God as her heart desires. However I also know I am called to continue to spiritually mentor all those who God has placed in my care.

I have been praying to God with an earnest heart the last few months to show me where the balance is in my discipleship role with my daughter, and today was a joy to see once again that He cares and loves me so much that he answered that prayer.

Below is a copy of the page in my journal. I hope it blesses the reader that God also leads to this page.

Living Ripe

Worship God With A Childlike Heart

John 12:1

"I am the light of the world,

whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,

but will have the light of life."

God Calling Devotion Book

I found this devotion book many years ago when I was in a season of deception and oppression by the enemy. I had turned my back on the Lord and closed myself off from listening and receiving help from my Christian friends.

I was on the precipice of spiritual bankruptcy and was barely hanging on by my own sheer will to find myself again. I had lost the joy, and peace that comes from the vine connected life with little strength to turn back towards the healer of all diseases. But God was calling and He is our strength. (Philippans 4:13)

God however had not turned His back on me, as I later realized. I walked into that Barnes and Noble bookstore that night by divine design. I thought it was for a Starbucks coffee, but I found myself glancing over the bargain books displayed on a table. There it sat, "God Calling" on top of the stack, a paperback, with a jacket design of a nighttime starry skyline.

I picked it up and began to read- two words jumped out at me- love & laughter, and as I continued to read it was like a kaleidescope of joyfulness, peacefulness and happiness , jumping right off the pages onto me. I was mesmerized by the penetrating and personally direct messages; God was speaking to me...and I was listening.

I bought this little $4.99 bargain book, a value now worth more than silver or gold. It became my life line, my way back to God and His promises. I have seen miracles in the words and moments of clarity and direction that I could only say was truly the Holy Spirit's discerning call.

Unknown to me at the time, revealed much later, that of all the books I could've found for my recovery, (other than the Bible) this was the one that inspired another book, one that has helped thousands of lost souls find the divine connection to overcome the same disease I was fighting.

Truly I can testify to Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

The authors who choose to remain anonymous; only refer to themselves as the listener's. They know that God, through Jesus, is the author and perfecter of our faith. So fix your eyes upon Him and never turn away.

Hebrews 12:2

Click below to read their amazing story ..

http://www.twolisteners.org/TheStory

The Serenity Prayer

A Prayer of Acceptance

"Father, give us courage to change what must be altered,

serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight

to know the one from the other.

Living one day at a time; one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,

not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to

His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and

supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen"

Original version- author unknown

revised by Dr Dr. Reinhold Niebuhr

Pastor & Theologian