Questions

I saw an advertisement today for a forum where we could go and ask any questions we have about God. I wondered who the expert was that was going to answer the unanswerable! Who can tell me how God's love can be so overpowering and God's joy can be so encompassing that words cannot even describe them? Who can tell me why God cares about me? And who can tell me why God should care about the things that trouble me?

No one knows the answer to those questions, but I know the truth of them. The things we experience, the things we know - those are things no one has to prove to us. But the "hows" and the "whys"? That's the real puzzle about God.

I may never know the answers to those questions but I know this to be true: God loves me, God fills me with peace and joy, and God cares about everything in my life. And that knowledge is what matters.

Sweet peace

"Peace, peace, sweet peace" - I remember the words of that hymn from when I was younger. I haven't heard it in a very long time, but those words from the chorus come back to me so many times and I feel that exquisite peace roll right over me. It fills me, it covers me, it envelops me.

God thank you for that wonderful, comforting, glorious peace that you send when we need it. Thank you for assuring us, in our most trying hours, that you're with us - that you love us. And thank you for never leaving us without your presense. Your promises are forever and you never forget us.

Peace. Peace. Sweet, sweet peace.

Attention!

I realize that sometimes you allow hard things in our lives to get our attention, but Lord - enough for right now! This past two-and-a-half years have been really hard at my house and I don't need anymore at the moment. But you do have my attention! I am listening to you God. I want and need to know what you are saying to me. Teach me. Touch me. Hold me. I want to feel the "love that will not let me go" right now. I need you God. I know you are there for me and I know you will always be there for me. But just now, I'm feeling a little lost. Turning over control to anyone else is not easy for me.

But I am listening carefully God!

Optimism

Lord thank you for times of joy and optimism in a world of trials and stress! Here we are on the verge of inaugurating a new president, which is always a time of excitement and optimism in the country, no matter what your political affiliation. We all hope for the best - we are optimistic people by nature. We expect nothing but good things from our leaders until they disappoint us by being human and therefore flawed. And then of course we wail and carry on about their horrible failings and wonder how we ever trusted them in the first place.

We are complicated people Lord!

Please keep this new president in the palm of your hand and close to your heart. Prick his conscience with the knowledge that he needs you - must seek your wisdom, and desire your grace. Dear Lord, help us all! May our optimism be rewarded...this time...

Snow

Dear God the snow is beautiful today. What an incredible concept, snow! The flakes are just drifting to the ground, which is covered with a white blanket of cold, and the world looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Sometimes your world just amazes me Lord. Such a wonderful place you've created for us. There's beauty all around us and amazing things to see if only we are willing to open our eyes and look.

When life is hard - which it often is - and I'm feeling a little low, my God, thank you for sending a miracle like the snow.

A new year

Lord thank you for a new year. I love to open a new calendar and see all those lovely blank pages, ready to be filled with "life"! There is nothing but promise ahead. I feel blessed to have come to another year and I'm overhwelmed with the potential that it brings. Lord help me to make use of it wisely! Help me to prioritize. Help me to use my time carefully, treating it like the gift that it is. And help me to set goals for this year that are reachable and pleasing to you.

Lord thank you for this new year. And please - help me not to waste it!