Apr 30, 2009

Talking to my Friend...


I love to share, and I love to give. Sharing is the easiest, because it is giving something that you already have. One of the most meaningful gifts we can give to each other is to pray for them. A picture I have always kept in my mind comes from my childhood. It's one of my Dad & Mom, kneeling by their bed, praying together every night. My parents were always at home with us. I honestly can't remember many times that one of them wasn't home every day. Never had a babysitter, in fact, don't ever think we were even apart on Sundays at church except for separate sunday school classes as my brother and I grew up. We sat in church quietly with our parents, and grew up singing every verse of every hymn. Potluck dinners were just a part of our Sunday most times. Life was simple, secure, and we never felt unloved or in the way. My Mom was a stay at home mom, and my Dad was a hard working man who loved his family and made sure we knew we were special. We didn't have alot of material things, but we never felt we went without. The important things that were practiced in our home were lots of hugging and kissing, respect for one another, and living out a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Praying was looked at as both a gift and a priveledge. Each meal was started with one of us praying and thanking God. Never a written or recited prayer at our table, but a personal conversation with our personal God. I think it is because of this that I've never felt that God was impersonal, but only our loving and always present heavenly Father.
So, this is why I feel comfortable coming to Him everyday. It's why He is the first person I go to for anything and everything. Why I just naturally fall into prayer, into that conversation with my God. I feel at home and relaxed sharing my thoughts, desires, my needs, my burdens, my cares... because I believe that He cares about what I care about. He knows me better than anyone else. During my day many times, someone will come to mind. I've come to believe that when this happens I need to pray for them. I don't need to know specifically what is happening in their life at the time, but I know that God knows, and that's enough. The more time I spend with others, the more I see that praying is hard for some to do. It's just talking with God, that's all. The Bible tells me that when we speak His name, He turns His face towards us. Amazing! When we talk with Him there is nothing between us...just one friend to another. There are no wrong words, in fact, we're told that when we don't have the words to say, He knows our hearts and says them for us. It's like being with a best friend and sitting comfortably in silence. No judgement, only unconditional love. Does this make you feel as good as it does me? I love the gift of prayer and feel I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of what it can do in my life. It was a gift given to us to use during our lifetimes. After all, we won't need it in heaven since we will be in His presence. This reminds me to not waste it, rather to use it, and spend it on those I love and know. We all need to experience God's touch, His power in our lives, and be blessed by the miracle of practicing His presence. Have you talked with Him yet today? He's waiting...

Apr 28, 2009

Why?


Why is it that we ask God questions, when we already know His answer? My husband sometimes gets frustrated with my "question asking" at times, but I wouldn't ask if I already knew the answer!
However, with God most things are already answered for us...even in black and white. But we still push the envelope, don't we. I have to believe that God knew when He created us, that we would question Him. That our inability to just trust that He knows what is best would most times be our downfall. He doesn't mind that we ask why, but He will never deviate from His Word or His character. Neither logic or justification on our part will change Him...and we can be thankful for that. If He weren't dependable, we would have no security, no hope. See what
Jeremiah 4:22 tells us:

“My people are foolish and do not know me,” says the Lord. “They are stupid children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do right!”

So, now that we know this how can we be overcomer's, what is the secret? Read Romans 12: 2

"Don't live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect."

I am thanking Him for his consistency, His sacrifice, and especially His patience... even with all my questions.

Apr 23, 2009

How great is God's love for us...


A dear friend of mine told me today that she was going to go away and spend some time with God. I can only surmise that it was to the mountains not far from us. I wished her a time that would allow for God to meet her, then I was immediately taken in my minds' eye back to several different people whom God called to a place like this...usually a mountain, or at times a desert place. Something incredible always happened there when God met them. That meeting changed many things for them. It gave them focus; How could that not happen when you meet God Himself. It gave them direction. It gave them even an unmistakable aura that others could physically see. I have known other people in my life who have left me knowing that I had been in the presence of someone who knew Jesus. But most of all it seems that it gave them an assurance and a passion for the God they served. They saw life differently once they understood His directives in their lives. Adam & Eve met God each day in the cool of the garden, Noah built the ark according to God's plans, Moses met God three times - once at the burning bush, and another time on Mt. Sinai(x2). Many more are recorded and now we too, like my friend, are given the awesome privilege to meet God any where, any day, any time, He is willing to turn His face towards us, be our friend, embrace us as a Father, heal us, and restore us. See....even since the beginning of time this part of Him has never changed. He is the same yesterday, today, & forever. We mean everything to Him and He wants to mean everything to us. We were made to be vessels with cracks, not to weaken us, but so that the light of Jesus would shine through us. We are so blessed!

Apr 19, 2009

Absolutely Passionate


Well, the inhibitions have all but passed. My fears of the unknown have dimmed as these past three days have gone by. Not that I still don't have alot to learn, but on the other hand some things, as always, do come natural...so I concentrate on what I'm good at...people of all ages.
This morning while listening to our Pastor encourage us to
Passionately follow Jesus, the thought came to me that "even this, Bonnie, is MY doing,(says He.) I can use YOU Here! Of course you can, Father! Life is never what we make of it, is it? But it is all about what He wants to do with it, and to and through us. It occurs to me that the word PASSIONATE does not necessarily have anything to do with the human definition that we all know. Rather, it has everything to do with how God feels about us, and wants us to feel about Him...This is why He gave us emotions and feelings for others, because of His great passion for us, and so we could just begin to understand how He feels about His children. Everything is a "type-cast" of Him. Oh, I get it, (I say.) Every relationship, each personal challenge, all things are set up for us to see God and His character more clearly, and to become better because of our passion to be obedient to Him above everything else. Hope you have a blessed day, and if you need something to do, try watching "The Passion of Christ." In it you will see that God has gone completely out of His way to prove that His motivation has always and only been, to prove His love for each of us. As this picture shows...We can forget about any boundaries that stand between God and ourselves!

Apr 15, 2009

Oh Bother !!

"Today is the first day of the rest of your life" No doubt you've heard this quote, but as for me, well, you can have it...at least today, that is. I went to my newfound job and discovered very quickly that I've been out from under a boss for quite some time now. Needless to say, I now know why I haven't missed this little surplus in life. On a more serious note, I know this is a gift (of sorts) and much of what I don't like comes from not knowing what I'm doing at this point. I will look at it as a positive for now, something that I won't be doing for the rest of my life...the short or long of it. Can't say that I've ever been a fan of being told what to do, how to do it, or when to do it. Maybe these are areas that I need work on, huh? Enough of this randomness. If you think of me, you might pray for my brain and whatever else is hooked to it the rest of this week. That I will be able to retain all I need to know to do the job. I'm thinking tho...that I'm way too old for this !

Apr 3, 2009

Our God is an Awesome God.

What a Ride this week has been! You know all those things that can turn your world inside out and then some. As I sit here I really have yet to be able to put all my thoughts, dreams, and even fears into words...odd for Bonnie, you might say...but as I listen to the first three songs on my blogs "music box" I am reminded that 1.) Friends are friends forever when the Lords' the Lord of them 2.) That we unequivocally can Trust in Jesus & Just take Him at His Word, and 3.) we can Come to Him without any fear or reservation, anytime, anyplace, and about anything. I am so grateful that God can read my heart and my thoughts even when I can't find the words. As the Psalmist tells us in chapter 139
Lord, you have seen what is in my heart.

You know all about me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up.
You know what I'm thinking even though I think my thoughts are hidden from even you.
You know when I go out and when I come back home.
You know exactly how I'm choosing to live.
Lord, even before I speak a word,
you know all about it.
You are all around me. You are behind me and in front of me.
You hold me in your power, and still give me a "long leash."
I'm amazed at how well you know me.
It's more than I can understand.
How can I get away from your Spirit?
Where can I go to escape from you? God, see what is in my heart.
Know what is there. Put me to the test. Know what I'm thinking.
See if there's anything in my life you don't like.
Help me live in the way that is always right.