Thank You

Thanks, Daddy.  You make all things right.

You have been waiting for me to learn and practice new prayer.  I have now, and I will.
I have seen you answer the cries of my last couple of days.  I am very securely grateful, and alive to celebrate how you love me.  Thank you for asking me to change.  I want to be polished and clean so I can reflect your light.

Father, please continue to shower my life with mercy and grace, wisdom and strength, and rest in the very center of every storm.  I you can teach me how to rest in you in the middle of a storm, I can know how to do that in the future and, in repose, model that rest.

Help me, Father.  Bind my enemies and send them fleeing before You and your Majesty.  Bring them to Awe.

Kingdom Now

Kingdom now.
If I am praying and pray for God's Kingdom to come, and I know it is his will to hear, and respond, and to do that particular thing...then his Kingdom has come in response, and in measure.

There is a simplicity, though. Faisal was the Saudi king when he lived in a tent.
Take a look. The things that characterize the presence of the Kingdom are here in the lives of those who trust him and call for him. At the same time, there are no obstacles to the holy of holies.

There is Kingdom peace here. There is kingdom provision here. There is Kingdom wholeness here. There is Kingdom rest here. There is Kingdom community / fellowship here.

Just not as much as there will be. In that day.

I have to say that Our Father is flawless, unlike our Dads. and I have to say that Our Father is always available, never working late with his supper plate in the oven. and I have to say that Our Father can not imagine being near without finding out what we need. the acceptance of Our Father is perfect. The restoration of your soul may not be instantaneous, but it is acceptance of you is complete and an accomplished thing.

Help me to walk as an adopted and well loved son, Father.

State of the Union

The Union is Wonderful. The Union is Strong. The Union is unshakeable. The Union is full of Peace. The Union can weather any storm. The Union is the very reason for any real Hope.

The Union of the Bridegroom and His Bride is a done deal. The Price has been paid. The Union of Christ and His Church is in place.

I talked with the Bride today. She is at rest in the arms of Her Beloved. She is not worried or concerned. She is not distracted from her Holy Husband, by anything happening around Her. The Bride of Christ is very grateful.

I talked with the Bridegroom today. He can not keep his eyes off of Her. He is delighted with His Bride. He loves to here her voice in the morning when she speaks his Name and pauses to listen for His reply. He is delighted with the way she is willing to sit in His peace and quiet to hear him, and at the same time wants so much to be up in the middle of the music dancing for Him.

The Union is Good. When I see the Bride resting Her head on the breast of her Beloved, with no other need and no desire to go anywhere, the Union is good. When I see that and know that the Lamb has received the reward of His sufferings, the Union is Good. Very Good.

Father, thank You for The Union.

I was just talking with a friend. He asked me how my day was. I can not remember, but I told him that I got lots done and basically what I put my hand to prospered.

I knew that what I said was true. I just could not remember anything remarkable about the day. Maybe I have stopped looking back. What do you think?

Daddy, am I addicted to the remarkable? Or am I satiated with the sensations of listening for you in the fire and the wind and the storm?

Am I willing to be still and know You are God, without being able to talk about a sensation that validated my belief in you? How un-remarkable can I tolerate? Can I have a day full of your glory without having a glorious experience to write about? Even "plain vanilla" is still a serving of vanilla ice cream, an extraordinary treat that most humans never experience.

What is my testimony? I have heard so many say that they do not have one of those "saved from a life of..." stories. What does it break down to?

I knew I needed God with me, Emmanuel.
I learned that I could.
I did my part.
He did His.
I was with God.

Nope.

I know I need God with me. I know I need me with God.
I learned that I could be with God and God would be with me.
I do my part.
He does His part.
I am with God. I am lost in Him and have no interest in living apart from God.
All of that can be without a sensation to describe, a healing, a miracle.

So the remarkable becomes remarkable because it is extra-ordinary, outside of the ordinary.
So when being in the embrace of the God who loves you without reservation is NOT ORDINARY, it is remarkable. But when the embrace of the MOST HIGH is ORDINARY, it can still be appreciated and acknowledged, without being remarkable. "All" it calls for is a life of thanksgiving.

Thank You, Father, for loving me.

I am really having trouble writing tonight.

I am really having trouble writing tonight.

This is the first week of a new work year. Maybe I am running harder at it than I am aware of in the midst of it. Ready to sleep when I get home.

Noisy. Yup. Got noisy again. Help me, Daddy, with the noisy. Oh...You've got me.
I am okay. Sorry. I forgot. Thanks so much.

Kiss my brother tonight, Father. Hug my sister tonight, Father. Help me settle. I need to hear.

Yes

What a joyful day. A day full of Yes.

The really cool thing is the realization that it just keeps getting better. In the Kingdom, a member of the royal family, settled at home, with a place at the table, surrounded by glory, not alone, no longer Fatherless, no longer an orphan. Not going to be kicked out. Welcome to stay. Meeting new family members every day. Building for the future. Resting. Delivered. Free. With access to limitless hope.

Wow.

Worshipful Devotion

I heard a man say today that his cause had to become everything to him. He said that his cause had to become the reason he slept and the reason he rose from sleep. He said that for his cause to prevail, it must also become the center of the lives of his listeners. He was calling for devotion to the cause.

The world is unbalanced without the success of his cause, so it is reasonable to live an unbalanced life to help bring the world back into equilibrium. He said that he expects his resolve in this great enterprise to significantly increase the chance of his being jailed or assassinated, so great is the power of the of the evil which he opposes.

and this man's cause is not the cause of Christ.

I met a man many years ago who had been a citizen of a country fundamentally opposed to the Gospel of Christ. As this man was personally committed to the cause of Christ, and particularly the cause of Christ for that country, his country was fundamentally opposed to him. Indeed, his country considered him insane and treated him as such, by institutionalizing him.

What is important enough to sacrifice for? Moreso, how is life worth living without something to sacrifice for. The sacrifice makes us different. Sacrifice invites transforming power. Like nothing else is able to.

We so easily aim our selves at the wrong target. Father, help your church stay full of holy oil, staying very near, able to stay lit and illuminating the target for each other and all.

A life sacrificed for a good cause is such a tremendous waste.

Bushed

That's what my Dad called it. Tuckered. Tarred is what they say here, to mean tired.

So much grace today. Not the favor I could probably ask for every day, but so much grace. Just marveling and marveling at the ease of functioning here.

The holes in my soul still take the energy out of me. Work circumstances were hard today in a way that involves my soul, particularly my emotions, more than it involves my mind working. When I was done, I was really ready to leave. I was not sleepy tired, but I wanted comfort food and "easy." Now that I am home with a full tummy, I want to sleep. It is probably reasonable, but it is clear that there are big booboos that need to be left under the balm. I miss the mark so much, yet each day is clearly closer to being on track and on target.

Really nothing to do but trust and lean and cling and rest. and listen and talk. This life is working like no other ever has. Glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God.

Father, help the prayer wall people to know the truth of your love, the steadfastness of your love, the trustworthiness of your love, to be rooted and grounded in who You are, according to your word. Forgive my pride, some more.