Praying For God's Will

By Pat

I was talking to a friend of mine a few days ago, and he told me about an old friend of his who had recently fallen on hard times and serious health issues. It was to the point that his friend was not expected to pull through, but miraculously, he did and is now recovering. Many people had been praying for this man, and yet my friend told me that when his friend's health crisis took a turn for the better, he was shocked.

I admit I have often felt that my prayers have fallen on deaf ears. I have some serious issues that I am presently facing, and am praying for various friends and family and their problems as well. So often it seems to be in vain-but could it be because I pray for my will to be done rather than God's? I allow myself to forget that just because a prayer seems to go unanswered doesn't make it so. God is Sovereign...He is all-knowing, perfect. And if we give our cares to Him and ask that they be answered HIS way, be will never be disappointed. The only expectation we should have when we go to God in prayer is the expectation that our prayer will be heard and answered. Maybe not today, and maybe not the way we want, but it WILL be answered, God's way. Failing to approach prayer in this way minimizes our trust in God.

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God Is... Truth

By Jason S (Connecting to Impact)

Truth is such a sticky subject these days. We're not supposed to believe that there are absolutes, that there is no such thing as one truth, just your truth and my truth.

At points you feel like it's another verse to "Old McDonald's Farm" –here a truth, there a truth, everywhere a truth, truth.

E-I-E-I-Oh my (sorry, couldn't help myself).

If we believe the Bible and trust God, then we cannot buy into this relative truth and subjective morality phenomenon.  If we say we trust in Jesus as Savior, but in another breath say "all roads lead to God" then we aren't talking about the God revealed in scripture and we teeter on a shaky foundation.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Narrow-minded as that may sound, there is great comfort in knowing the truth (and sharing it). We cannot succumb to the whims of the world because while it's nice that we get to experience God's love and truth, there's a whole world that needs to experience the same.

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Better With Age

By Pat

I have recently re-established contact with a couple of friends I have known since childhood, both of whom are devout Christians. In the past several months we have been praying for one another about the various problems we are facing now, and it has been just wonderful to connect with these ladies. I am so thankful that God has orchestrated this reunion. We are so much the same in many ways as when we were young...and yet so different. And the big difference is...age.

Society places so much emphasis on youth that it has become almost an embarrassment to show signs of aging. We are encouraged to buy expensive wrinkle creams, have our gray hair colored, and exercise to the point that we exhaust ourselves in our attempts to have the bodies and faces of young people. There are some women who become almost unrecognizable due to the many surgeries they have had so that they can maintain the appearance of youth, and I think it's very sad.

The things that make me where I am today in my faith walk and enable me to be more effective to God, are the experiences I have had along the way, and the struggles I have faced, the fears I have conquered, and the reliance on God that has grown stronger and stronger. My friends are the same way. We can now reach out and help one another in a much different way than we could have when we were younger. Our age has taught us valuable lessons, and we can now share these with one another in a richer, deeper way. We have learned patience, and that God's timing and ours do not usually coincide...and that's okay. We have learned that prayer and faith are the keys to getting along in life, and that the bond of friendship is one of the most wonderful gifts God has given us.

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God Is... Approachable

By Jay Cookingham (Soulfari)

Approachable - easy to meet or converse or do business with; "a friendly approachable person"

That definition did not fit my father.

I grew up in an abusive home; my father’s cruelty was part of everyday life. His words and name-calling crushed my spirit, for years the verbal abuse continued, it stunted my emotional growth and I grew callous and hard. When I turned twelve, another darker form of abuse started, my dad began sexually assaulting me. It was all I could handle, I felt ashamed, hurt and betrayed. Somehow, I began to think it all had to be my fault. I turned to drinking and drugs, trying to dull the pain and the guilt I held inside.

This sick pattern continued until I was 17 and able physically to stand up to my father. The physical and sexual abuse stopped but not the verbal cruelty. However, because of the damage done, I was through with caring. One day I made a suicide tape recording, left it in my room, grabbed my hunting knife and went alone into the woods. I found a secluded spot where it would be difficult to find me. After getting high on pot, I put the knife to my wrist, paused and wondered if anyone would miss me. Then out of nowhere I heard a small still voice say “NO.” Quickly putting the knife down I looked around and found no one there, too shaken to continue, I went home and destroyed the tape.

Several months later, in the same woods, my friends and I were having a beer blast. Having already consumed too much alcohol, I raced one of my friends in a drinking contest. I downed 6 beers in a minute and won. Some victory, I then took two steps and fell flat on my face. My wasted friends, thinking I had passed out, picked me up and put me on a cot to sleep it off. However, I was awake, although unable to talk or move.

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Little Things

By Pat

Sunday was the first day of spring, my favorite season! To see the trees begin to bloom, watch the daffodils say goodbye to winter, hear the glorious song of the birds, and smell the delightful fragrance of flowers fills me with joy. It's those little things in life I live for.

The older I get, the more I appreciate the little things in life, the ones that cost nothing but the well-spent time it takes to stop for a moment, take a deep breath, appreciate them, and thank God for them. And not only them, but also for the gift of eyes to see, ears to hear, and nose to smell. They are precious things we often take for granted. Shame on us that we sometimes fail to fully take note of the beauty God has placed all around us. I truly feel sorry for people who pay little attention to the glory of nature and feel the true joy of a warm breeze or a mockingbird singing in the middle of the night.

My problems do not go away, but they certainly slip further into the corners of my mind as I realize that these wonderful treats are touches from God, reminding me that He is in everything, and He is everywhere. It has brought a smile to my troubled heart more times than I can count, and reminded me to keep things in perspective and to look for the little ways in which God can and does sooth.

Every season, every day, brings gift after gift of little blessings, all created by a loving God and given to us with joy, along, of course, with the most wonderful gift of all, our Savior Jesus! So from the little things to the great gift of salvation, I say...thank you, God! Thank you!

"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." (Genesis 1:31)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.