Happiness -

My son had a very good day on Monday. He met with the father of his girlfriend and sought his permission and blessing on asking the young lady for her hand in marriage. Everything went great!

As his mother and I approach our thirtieth this year, we remember the joy that that moment brought. I know he is still walking on air! You feel like you can conquer the world. They'll come back to earth soon enough, however, Lord bless them both, and their families. Let them fully grasp Paul's words "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh."

Thank you for Your healing power in my grandsons and the rest of the family. Lord thank You for the safety You have provided those overseas. Lord, I beg You to care for the incredible pain that continuous to be perpetrated by Your creation. Father, I pray for mercy for me, and others, as we continue to treat each other outside of what Your will would be.

Lord, I ask Your direction on the future. You know my issues and I pray for relief, massive, life sustaining, Holy Spirit led relief.

Father, Your will be done in the Middle East. Oh Holy God, I ask for intervention for Your people. Move on the hearts of the leaders, and the followers, to only consider Your way. Protect those that are over there to share the Good News.

Thank You Father.

The Tongue -

Why is it that when I try to keep from saying something I know will cause I problem, I say it anyway? Stupidity? Lack of sensitivity? ...Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. That seems simple enough. Lord, help with me with the application. The people I love most, I hurt frequently.

My son's journey has begun. There is snow in New Mexico and Arizona. Lord, I ask for safety for he and JB, and continued health of the car.

Please continue to work with my Baby and her babies. She has a great family. I pray for her walk with you and that of her husband. Be with the boys! So many boys! God, You are great!

Guide me during this very busy time with regards to work. Help me accomplish what needs to be done...and to go beyond that. Work puts demands on me that I haven't experienced before. I think that when I'm supposed to do all I have to do...I should apply your word, If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give more. Pretty simple!

Help me to strengthen my relationships. All relationships. Help me dig into Your word with purpose and conviction.

I love You.

Help -

With my whole heart I agree with the Law of God. But in every part of me I discover something fighting against my mind, and it makes me a prisoner of sin that controls everything I do. What a miserable person I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is doomed to die?

My plea, for me, is to stop the sin! To stop the pain that my actions inflict on others. Our time here is so limited and I really do want to please the Lord and the friends and family I have. I start with Him, because He is all things! If pleasing God is first, all of the rest will take care of itself.

My son begins a journey today that will change his life. He is asking a young lady to marry him we he returns out West. My prayer for him, and the young woman, is that they only seek God's face in this decision. That they consider all of the costs, and know that their Savior is with them.

God is good! Really good! As my daughter is about to be blest with a fourth child, I pray for strength for her and her husband. She is a neat woman of God and leans on Him always.

God, watch over my nephew, and the others, that serve this country. He is currently in Iraq and I ask for his protection.

Be with my bride. I thank you for her patience and I pray that I would grow to be the man you want me to be...and for her to know that that's where you want me (and her).

Lord, I ask for strength and courage in dealing with those that are lost that are around me. Help me to be the man of God you want.

Lord, you know my failings. You know my needs. You know my heart.

Thank you.

Sensitivity -

I am surprised sometimes, and I don't know why, with the hurt that those closest to you can inflict. It may not be intentional, but it happens. Is it because of my past (and current) treatment of those that are doing the wounding? Probably.

My prayer today would be that I would find the courage to ask for forgiveness for my actions of the past, and to immediately work on changing my attitude. To love without expectation of being loved back, and to recognize that one day does not a changed person (me) make. This change has to go one forever to impact those I've wounded.

Father, please tame my tongue. Make me sensitive to the pain that people are experiencing. Allow me the wisdom to use Your word to confirm trues or falsehoods that people are claiming on Your behalf. Do not allow me to rationalize my thinking, rather, let me stand solely on Your word.

Forgiveness -

While reading Psalm 51 today, and considering the man that David became, I wondered why don't I rush to seek God's forgiveness on an immediate basis? Why don't I go to Him as soon as I sin, knowing that He wants to forgive me? Am I afraid that I'll just sin again, and He won't forgive me then? Why don't I seek His protection as I am tempted? I know He provides me with the ability to turn away from that which is wrong. Why don't I seek His counsel when struggling with a decision? I know He speaks, through His word, and the benefits are pure and satisfying.

We know what David did, and for most, our sins would pale by comparison. I am not noting that fact to relieve me of my responsibility to seek His forgiveness, but rather, to point out that God does forgive! He forgave David from the adultery, the deceit, and the murder. David's lineage, as imperfect as it was, brought us our Savior.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Dear God, You know me, You know my intentions, You know my fears. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Selah

New Year Coming -

A new year is just around the corner. At nearly 52, and with a fourth grandchild on the way, I want to approach the coming year with a sense of urgency. I do not want this year to be like so many others, lost as the end of the year comes to a close, having accomplished nothing for the Cause.

I hope and pray (mostly pray) that this years journey is unlike any in the past. I have lost a good friend this year (2008) to a battle with cancer. I have another friend from the past that is waging his own battle with this dreaded disease. As I get older, more friends (and myself) will fall into differing categories of illness.

I have a former student from my youth group that has claimed an alternative lifestyle, and I need to remember to love this person unconditionally and pray. I have other students from past youth groups that have clearly decided to walk apart from God. I'm guilty of that myself from time to time. I need to pray. God cares and wants to hear our pleas whether those pleas are for ourselves or for others.

I want to maintain relationships that are God ordained. I want to reach out to the lost, and to love those that others might view as unlovable (as unlovable as me). I am not looking for man's acceptance or approval, I just want to be obedient to God's word.

I do not want to be judgmental. God is fairly clear about that character flaw. I want to care first, and hopefully never think about counting the cost for doing what is right.

I want to do what Jesus would do. If I am not seeking His face in all I pursue, those pursuits will be wasted. The curtain is being drawn on this 'play' that is my life. I have no way of knowing how many more years of my 'show' are scheduled. Ten, twenty, thirty? I am not sure. What I am sure of is His love.

I am going to record my study time and my quiet time. As God answers my prayers, I'll share those victories with you. The answers may not be what I want, but I know that the answers will serve my heavenly Fathers purpose for my life.