More than we can ask for

I can relate to asking for too little. I always enjoyed being by water. And by water, I considered the lakes of central WI to be the definition of "Big Water". Then I met the pacific ocean and as important the cool boats that navigate on it. God, I think has surprises for us that our bigger than we can imagine.

responding w/ stillness

I very much enjoyed today's devotional. I have been thinking about how I want to be more mature in my reaction to God and my environment, especially in times of diress. I have concluded that I need to be more responsive and less reactionary. At the Promise Keepers breakfast , we marveled at how Jesus was interacting on the boat while the storm came up. He was "still" and not freaking out. Cool as a cucumber.

I see this quality of composure under-fire and want very much to become more apt at practicing when it counts.

Rock Flowers

What a beautiful illustration of finding strength through adversity. Just saw a neat biography on Dale Earnhardt. Great racer who grew up lean and mean. Some how the dirt track was just as important as the asphalt for Mr. Earnhardt. He almost gave up racing at first, I discovered. he had lost his dad to a heart attack. Success came later. he himself died in a crash in 91 I think it was. And now his son carries on the tradition. I know it is strange t compare Flowers with NASCAR. I guess it was the idea that unlikely terrain can give rise to heroes and beauty.

Pat

Well, it is nice to be back from a vacation. And did I enjoy the good Chicago food, which, if I am honest, is a temptation. I love bread at the expense of my temple. Sounds trite, but poor health and over eating can be a real trap. I know it is an offense to God when I have an Italian beef and a hot dog. Dear Lord, I hope and pray to be better with your help.

Pray, Then Pray

Prayer is our connection with the Lord. It is our lifeline and source of power.

When you are filled with joy, pray.

When you are afraid, pray.

When you have a need, pray.

When you take a breath, pray.

When We Can't Understand, Trust.

We often believe inside that we know better than God what we need and when. We don't voice that belief, we just hold it quietly.

Yet in our heart of hearts we know that God is all-knowing and all-loving; that He wants the very best for us, and He knows how to provide it.

We don't always understand the way God answers our prayers, and when we don't, it is time to trust in His goodness and power.

What We Fear

Fear of the unknown is one of the greatest fears. When Katie was five, she lost part of a foot in a terrible accident. When we asked a social worker in the hospital what to tell her, she answered, "The complete truth." The unknown was the real enemy bringing fear.

When it comes to this life and the next, God reveals to us the whole truth. Our lives here on the earth are brief and without promise of tomorrow, but our lives in Christ are eternal and centered in God's house where Jesus has prepared a place for us. We go from a rented tenement to a palace that is ours.

Read John 14: 1-7