All posts filed under: FAITH

Serendipitous.

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If I could speak briefly about what life should be when I fathom, absolutely, having come into Union with you, I imagine my voice would shake, emitting resonance as follows: It wasn’t planned, how you and I met, not by me at least. I spent my whole life looking for you going in mistaken directions what felt like a million times. I even envisaged having met you when traveling said paths. I can recall how good they felt, too, but none would begin to compare to you. In hindsight, I knew they weren’t you; some felt like dead ends, early terminations… We aren’t even wholly acquainted as I still build upon all you’ve offered me, yet I finally feel complete. And beyond what I feel, I’ve never stopped stopping to think, since the day you were no more unbeknownst to me. The idea of you kept me going. The potential. The belief that there was more. For my development, you conceptualized major terms before we ever intersected. You encouraged me to pray more, that I might …

1.18.15

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Oh Lord, I come before you now thanking you for life. It is the most beautiful blessing to wake each day, to live, to learn, and to grow. As people are in abundance around us, laughing, speaking, crying, engaging, isolating, and [verb]ing, l believe we tend to take the gift of life for granted. We are grateful for it, but I for one sometimes overlook the simple blessings in life. I ask that you’d slow us down, Lord, that we might see the beauty in living, that we might actually experience the natural world and its inhabitants. Allow families to bond, to know and love one another unconditionally, allow friends to recognize not only that, but also why they have chosen one another… For those expecting children, please help them to rejoice in every step, allow them to love their children and to care for them sufficiently. We are not innately good, so please help us to be better people that we might extend our hands to help one another, and not attack. Help us …

1.11.15

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Heavenly father, I come humbly to you today to ask for nothing more for myself than your forgiveness. I am a sinner, Oh God, and though it is written as fact that I will never be perfect, I want, everyday, to please you. Though I cannot do all things right, though I was born and wake each day a sinner saved only by your grace, spared only by your mercy, and promised only your love, I want to do better. I have no desire to make casual mistakes, even those unintentional; for that only tells me that I am not intentional enough about my steps. I know that you will love me all of my days, oh God, and I am so grateful for a God like you, one so selfless even with the power to do all things. Lord, I thank you for allowing me new days to see, to live, to learn, to breathe… I pray that I learn to maximize these days with love that I may lift your name and magnify you, …

01.04.15

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Dear Lord, Thank you for bringing us through and into another year! As we continue to journey on, help us to live slowly enough to experience life. Give us longevity in this year, oh Lord. As we resolve to be better people, to learn more and to grow, give us the strength to endure challenges, confidence to work through them, and courage throughout the process. Help us to have wisdom and spirits of discernment that we may follow only the path that you have designed for us. Even as we pray, let us to be thankful. We don’t want only to ask for things, but to work toward them as well, so long as the work is pleasing unto you. It is so easy to become overwhelmed with goals and changes we desire to accomplish; give us peace; allow us to be mindful of our strides that we set attainable goals. Show us our supporters, too, Lord, that we may not always journey alone. Allow us to support those around us, to uplift and encourage, …

12.7.14

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Dear Lord, thank you for your strength, your sacrifice, and your selflessness. You reign over all of us, you are creator, you are mighty and worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. We cannot win a single victory alone, Oh Lord. We NEED YOU. There is not one single challenge we can overcome without you. Guide us, Lord, help us to be dependent on you alone. You deserve all that we have, for we are NOTHING without you. As this country faces so many challenges, I want to pray now that you help us al to act in love. Lord, even as race shows itself an issue in this century, help us to see past it. Help us to live as you do, and to recognize that we ALL matter. Help us to build strong relationships so that you may raise a nation of true believers. No one can do it but you. As we are sometimes fearful of our next days, help us to have faith in you. You are more than able to …

11.30.14

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Dear Heavenly Father, For we know that all seasons are yours, created by your hands alone. As December, and more specifically, CHRISTmas, approaches, we recognize that your season comes more to the forefront. As this occurs, may we remember to celebrate the birth of Jesus and acknowledge what that has meant for each of us. Traditional celebrations with trees and gifts are nice, fun, and engaging, but I ask that these do not overshadow JESUS who is ultimately the reason for this and all seasons. Lord, I ask that you would give each of us wisdom and discernment at this time. We often want so desperately to please those around us that we lose sight of you, and further place ourselves in unfavorable predicaments. Please allow love to flourish at this time, as it is the GREATEST gift of all. Fill our hearts with love and joy, allow us to share in laughter, and allow us to live with gratitude for all that you have given us already. Thank you for al that you have …

In The No: “Out”

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Besides the time everyone stood at the edge of “a bridge” and decided to jump while you opted to turn around and take the stairs down instead, how often are you in the no? It’s so tempting to be in the know, aware of all that’s happening, not missing anything… Like when you were a kid and didn’t want to fall asleep while others were up around you. Being involved in the cyclic conversation about The Little Rascals that you’d had 132x before seemed necessary at the time; your friends wouldn’t joke about you being a “sleepyhead”; you didn’t get toothpaste on your face; but you had to beg your mom to stay home instead of waking for church the next morning… and since she wasn’t going for it, you struggled to keep your eyes open until snack time at children’s church. How much different is it now, as an adult? I’ve struggled a million times with being on the scene or not, and what each symbolized and truly meant to me. I enjoy music, I love …

11.23.14

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Dear Lord, Thank you, again, for another day, awakened and alive in you. Thank you for opportunity, for love, for friendship, for all the gifts you bless us with each day, those noticed and overlooked. This week, Americans express thanks and spend increased time with family and loved ones; it’s beautiful. I want to pray, tonight, that we carry this spirit of thanksgiving throughout the year. Please allow us to be aware of all that is working in our lives. Allow us to acknowledge these things and use them to encourage those around us. Our stories are unique to us, but can also help others facing similar challenges. Please allow us to push beyond our fear of sharing the most vulnerable parts of ourselves; may we pay it forward! Most of us have had someone to share their story; whether we’ve taken heed immediately, or required extended time to understand the lessons taught, it helps. We don’t wish to be selfish beings. For what good is it to experience you in all of your goodness …

Ready or not, here I come!

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You remember being a kid, rushing through the count to 10 just to say these words… You didn’t want to be at a disadvantage; you never gave the “hiders” a chance to get ready before shouting “HERE I COME!” That’s how you got out of the “seekers” chair, by throwing someone else off their game, by beating them to the punch, by taking away their chance to prepare! Life has a funny way of working; it throws you challenges and cheat codes, God gives favor, life seems unfair, there is sometimes mercy in the most merciless(seeming) situations. In life, we dangle somewhere between failure or success, so society says. Besides God, there are no constants. Life may count to ten sometimes, it may even count to 100, but it may also stop at 1. Either way you look at it, for anyone reading this, no matter what it seemed, life has continued working, ready or not. I am always planning ahead for something – birthdays, vacations, graduation(s), occupation(s), events, a hopeful wedding… most of us are. As we …

11.16.14

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Dear Heavenly Father, As I come to you this evening, I want to remember in every prayer to thank you. I have lived another day! Even as the day had turbulence, there was productivity and love found in it. Thank you, for raising the sun on the same day that you poured rain on us. Thank you for your grace, that has allowed me to journey another week and begin a new venture doing something I love. You have given me an abundance of opportunities to use the gifts you’ve given me, but I haven’t always answered your call. I want to hear your voice when you speak, and know that it’s you. I want your relationship to be the only one I cannot live without. Thank you for second and third and fourth chances. Thank you for allowing me to love even those people who don’t love me back. Thank you for creativity, for laughter, for friendships… and thank you for you. I know that I am not perfect and recognize, also, that I …