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The journal of a person of prayer holds within it petitions offered up by someone who loves the Lord and her family. It was recently opened and within it was found prayers for her children and grandchildren, their needs and her desire for each one. A certain entry in March of 1998 requested a home for one of her children.

No answer sits on the journal side for one.

Two years later in March of 2000 the day arrives when no more entries will be written into this journal; this saint goes on to be with her Lord. Still no answer sits on the March 1998 entry requesting a home for her child; her prayer never answered.

Some ten years later in the spring of 2008 the daughter of this prayer warrior sleeps on a hide-away bed in the living room with her husband and two of her younger children. Her house sits in a form of disrepair needing heating, new plumbing and a new roof to name only a couple of the needed repairs. Few things work as they should. Nine people live in a house of less than a thousand square feet.

The home is a happy but small one; the warrior’s prayers for a home have not been answered.

In May of 2008 an event occurs that no one would have imagined. Unexpectedly and in unlikely form the daughter and her family receive an answer to prayer; a wonderful gift. A home and not just a home but one two times larger than the one she lives in. Not just a home but one with enough rooms for all to have a one, with space enough for an entire family including grandchildren to eat at the table. The heating works, the water flows and the roof doesn’t leak, a home filled with the finest of furnishings; a palace to her family. All a gift from heaven.

Ten years and two months after the prayer journal entry was written, eight years after the saint has been in the presence of God, the prayer is answered and in grand style.

This prayer warrior saint; my mother in law.

Scripturally I cannot find anywhere that tells me God has told her of His grand scheme. How he used Godly people to answer her prayer and did it in such a way as to make it unavoidably a God thing. But in my heart I am sure she knows.

Often in our prayer life we become frustrated with what we see as a failure to answer. But I have found in this journal friendly reminders that there are some aspects of prayer we should always keep in mind and they are as follows:

1. God has his own time table. We like results quickly; God knows when the time is right. As in the case of this gift God answered the prayer but years after the first prayer was lifted up, I might add knowing Muriel as I did the first prayer was lifted up long before 1998. In the spring of 2008 my father in law said, “It just does not pay giving up waiting on the Lord.” A better truth has never been spoken.
2. God has his own agenda. He is always at work in the lives of His people. He is busy about shaping relationships and setting things in place. Though we don’t see the big picture He does. Looking back we can see clearly how God set things in motion, how he used people and how he brought glory to Himself, giving hope to a multitude of others through His big plan.
3. It is not about the house but about our faith. While we focus on the perceived need, God has our spiritual development in mind. His desire is not to give us things but to give us Himself; He wants us to know Him more intimately and He uses each event in our life to build upon our faith and to lead us to trust Him more with each passing day. This takes time and a strategic plan, God has both. His plans never fail.

As I look at God’s blessings (not only the house but a thousand others) I am thankful for people who care enough to really pray and to a God who loves enough to really answer. Each day as I walk the house it is a reminder that God answers prayers; in His time, in His way and His ways are always best.

Thanks, Muriel you would love the place you prayed for!

Scripture: Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. NIV

Colossians 4:2, “Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude.” The Message

Prayer: Dear Lord, guide us in our faithfulness to pray and never give up. We thank you for those who love us and pray for us; may we follow their example of faith. We praise you for how you answer our prayers in both big and small ways. We thank you for your loving kindness and ask all these things in the name of Christ, Amen.

The other night her big brother and I were working in the nursery during an event at church, what a team. Anyway Gracie was in there with her nephew and niece. She was very busy getting in her nieces face and we were having to work hard to keep said niece from getting too upset about all the ‘in your face’ attention.

At that moment I said to my son, “Gracie means well; she just does not do well.”

It is here that many of us find ourselves spiritually is it not? We mean well, we want to do what God wants us to do but well, our actions don’t always match that desire.

We like Gracie go about our business and are trying to do the right thing but never take the quite moments to learn from the Lord, or learn from others reaction to us and instead of doing good; we end up finding ourselves in trouble.

It is not that we don’t try to get Gracie corrected it is just that at this stage in her life she is so focused that she does not hear what we are trying to say and so she just keeps on going. Once again this action is exactly how many of us are spiritually; we are so focused on what we want to do, what we think is right(without asking God) that we never listen to God trying to cool our jets or get us to move our attention elsewhere. God’s still small voice gets louder and louder but still we do not stop, we do not hear. With this attitude we simple run in place spiritually.

Here is another part of the action, the reason we try to move Gracie away from the little ones is we are afraid without intending to she might hurt one of them. Trust me, if you know Gracie that is the last thing she wants to do and the look on her face when that happens will tear even the most insensitive up emotionally.

Once again here we find ourselves; the last thing we would ever want to do is hurt someone else. The thought breaks our heart but when we refuse to listen to instruction, refuse to respond to the warning signs and stay the course inevitably that is exactly what we end up doing. This results in one of the worst emotions; regret. We regret the damage we have done to not only ourselves but others.

Gracie is young and just wants to help, she does not know better though we are working with her on it. She does what she does out of love. You might be the same, you might be young and surely you could easily be doing things out of love. It simply could be that God is working with you to improve your life and the relationships in them.

Take some simple steps; slow down and take a look at those around you, how are they responding to your actions. Stop long enough in your daily routine to hear God’s voice, often he can’t get through all the busyness in your life. Then even if it does not seem like something you want to do, if you determine God needs for you to make a change, do it.

When you do this you will move your life from ‘wanting to do well and just not doing it’ to ‘wanting to do well and completing the task!’

Scripture: Romans 7:17-20 “But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.” Seems as though Paul had the same problem as us! The Message by Eugene Peterson

Prayer: Dear Lord, simply help our actions to match our hearts desire to please you. We ask these things in the name of He who gives us the power to overcome, Christ. Amen.

If you are a pastors child there is one thing you can be assured of; you will spend too much time at church. Thus has been the case of all my children and fortunately they have all handled it well. At times when Kim or I are busy at church one of us will be left in charge of the children, the other night it was my turn. I am not as good at it as Kim is but I do try.

Basically my strategy was to allow Gracie our four year old to walk the church, I simply followed. At one moment she took me into a mostly dark sanctuary; while their I experienced worship like I had not in a good while.

At our church you start to attend worship at the age of four; this rule has not always made me the most popular guy and I understand why. At small churches you do what has to be done. Gracie has been battling it out with Kim for the last four months and has really been doing pretty well while keeping Kim and those around her busy.

There have been times when Kim has been a little frustrated about the progress she was making, feeling as though she was getting nothing out of church while wrestling with Gracie. Certainly there was the thought that Gracie wasn’t getting much out of it, that is until the other night.

Gracie took me to the dimly lit sanctuary and as is her habit began to boss me around. She had me sit down and she proceeded to go to the stage. From there she grabbed a microphone and commenced to singing at the top of her lungs. Gracie has special needs and cannot speak like most four year olds but this does not in any way stop her from communicating and was not stopping her at all from singing.

There she was blonde hair flowing, smile on her face, singing to the Lord, raising her hands and enjoying every second of it. I could understand her copying this from worship; she sees some of that every week though I am still trying to figure out the hand raising part being Baptist. J

After singing for a while she stopped, looked at me and then folded her hands into a prayer position. It was obvious she wanted to lead me in prayer. This caught me by surprise; it is not that we do not pray it is that we do not fold our hands as we pray. Perhaps that happens at home but not church. Somehow she knew the elements of worship and was leading me through it.

Though it may have appeared for the last four months she was getting nothing out of worship obviously God has been speaking to her heart. Let me give you some reasons why I think that is so:

1) Simple heart: There is nothing complicated about Gracie or any child for that matter. They come to God and worship with no sense of needing to pray big fancy prayers or sing songs with any kind of made up dramatics. She simply comes to God; we need to do the same.

2) Joyful heart: I have not seen anyone smile like that in years on the stage. She was almost laughing she was so happy. We should come to worship with such a heart.

3) Consistent Practice: Gracie attends church more than most; there is no getting out of the practice of worship it is a weekly event. It should be the same for all of us blessed with good health.

4) Can’t get enough: I would get up to try and bring things to a close and she would demand I sit back down. She never wanted it to end; the singing, the speaking, the praying it could have gone on for hours. Many of us put a time limit of an hour or hour and a half once week on our worship. We need not limit our worship of God to a schedule or program.

I often laugh at the term special needs when it comes to Gracie. What she did for me in a dimly lit church was shed light on my real need to worship with a simple, open and enthusiastic heart.

Scripture: Psalm 29:2 “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, lead us to worship you with willing, joyful hearts that come thankful in your presence. We ask these things in the name of Christ, Amen.

Cuando estamos paralizados nos acordamos que Dios no está paralizado. Es interesante como obra Dios. Al salir anoche, Kim y yo de una conferencia yendo a cenar, escuchamos lo que parecía el sonido de un servicio. Dios quería hablarnos, la cena tenía que esperar.

Al caminar por el pasillo, escuché una voz reconocida. Mirí, y pensé que reconocí la voz. Le dije a Kim, “Suena como la voz de Jaci Velazquez.” Y así era. Ella tiene una linda voz, y es una de mis cantantes favoritas, entonce nos quedamos para la próxima canción.

Ella compartió sus sentimientos antes de cantar “Sobre mis rodillas” y dijo, “Tuve 15 anos cuando empecé a grabar y no entendía completamente la profundidad de lo que cantaba.” Mientras que ella cantaba pensé en lo que había pasado en su vida durante los últimos años.

Ahora tiene 30 años con dos niños y casada con otro músico. Todo parecía bien. Pero se divorció y se mudó a Londres, lejos de su familia y amigos. Para muchos se desapareció. También se divorciaron sus padres, y hubo una mala relación con su padre. A pesar de todo allí estaba en Dallas cantando las mismas palabras, pero sintiendo la profundidad de las palabras.

Yo lo comprendo; y tal vez usted lo comprenda. Al pensar que sabemos todas las repuestas, hacemos malas decisiones, y la gente nos traiciona y a veces nosotros nos fallamos. Luchamos tratando de comprender todo lo que nos pasa.

Tenemos dos opciones en la vida. Podemos tirar la toalla, o podemos buscar lo que Dios nos ofrece. Muchos han desechado a Dios de sus vidas y las circunstancias. Por eso me alegra a mí ver a Jaci V. cantando la misma canción que cantó hace años. A pesar de todos los desafíos de la vida, ella estuvo firme en el mensaje que cantaba. No había tirado la toalla sino seguido y eso hizo más fuerte lo que cantaba.

Yo he leído por 30 años las palabras de la Biblia. Y a pesar que no se han cambiado, las experiencias mías han dado más significado a las palabras. Por medio de mis fallas, he llegado a comprender el perdón de Dios y su amor incondicional. Por medio de la pérdida personal he visto que la derrota no es el final.

En las victorias he aprendido que la verdadera alabanza es real y no superficial.

Le animo no tirar la toalla. Dios siempre está para ayudarle. No deje de cantar, y va a encontrar que las palabras de Dios y su amor van a ser mas profundas al pasar los años.

Las palabras de la canción son “Hay días cuando vuelo con el viento. Por que he aprendido en dolor o en risa, a sobrevivir. Me arrodillo. Allí estoy delante del amor que no cambia. No lo entiendo pero hay poder cuando estoy arrodillado.”

Oración:

“Señor, dénos la fuerza y el ánimo para seguir adelante, y superar nuestras derrotas y ver el amor que tienes para con nosotros. Ayúdanos a examinar Tu palabra. Ayúdanos a crecer en nuestro caminar contigo. Te lo pedimos en el nombre de Cristo. “ Amen

Durante los últimos dos meses he tenido el privilegio de llevar a mi hija, Gracie, de 14 meses, a las sesiones de logopedia y terapia ocupacional. Gracie esta progresando y apreciamos a la gente que la atiende.

No es demasiado difícil para Gracie hablar y ella hace lo que le piden cuando pueda quedarse enfocada en la tarea que hay que cumplir. Ella tiene la costumbre de querer saber lo que esta haciendo todo el mundo que esta alrededor de ella (como su padre).

Por otra parte la terapia ocupacional es otra cosa. Gracie no le gusta mucho las actividades que hay que hacer por treinta minutos. Ella juega y todo esta bien por un ratito. Pero hay una parte de la terapia que no le gusta por nada.

Gracie puede moverse muy bien en una manera que nunca he visto. Ella se sienta sobre su trasero y va adonde quiere ir. Le veo un minuto y de repente esta en otro lado. Es impresionante.

Esta bien para Gracie pero su terapeuta Cheri, quiere que se gatea. Gracie no le gusta la idea. Hay un conflicto entre las dos. Gracie no quiere gatear y la terapeuta quiere que lo haga.

Cheri es muy buena en su profesión y trata de atraer a Gracie a su mejoría. Mientras tanto Cheri toma sus piernas y las pone en una posición de gatear. Gracie le resiste y por solamente un momento se queda en esa posición. En seguida vuelve a estar sobre su sentadero.

Vez tras vez Cheri trata de ensenar a Gracie como gatear al ponerla sobre sus rodillas. Es lo mismo con nosotros y Dios.

Dios nos quiere arrodillados; nosotros pensamos que hay diferentes maneras de hacerlo.

Nosotros, como Gracie, encontramos como esquivar lo que es lo mejor para nosotros. Encontramos que nuestra manera es lo más fácil y lo probamos primero. Pensamos que podemos progresar según nuestra manera y por que Dios quiere que hagamos algo diferente. Anda bien, pensamos, y avanzamos a nuestra manera.

Puede ser que el Señor esta trabajando en su vida para que usted se encuentre en situaciones difíciles para que caiga de rodillas. El gatear no le interesa a Gracie y a nosotros tampoco. Nosotros queremos volar y no arrodillarnos delante de Dios y nos causa desastres.

Y ahora que hacemos? Si, nos arrodillamos delante de Dios para pedirle ayuda. Dios quiere lo apuesto. Que le pidamos socorro primero arrodillados.

Algún dia Gracie va a caminar, estoy seguro. Pero solamente después de que los que le aman y le ayudan hacen lo que es lo mejor para ella al ponerla en la posición correcta. Tenga confianza, Dios esta haciendo lo mismo con usted. A pesar que usted esta resistiéndole, Dios tiene lo mejor en mente para usted.

Quiere caminar o gatear? Deje de resistir a Dios, arrodíllese y va a caminar pronto.

“Hay dos maneras de vivir la vida. Una es como si nunca hubiera un milagro. La otra es como si todo fuera un milagro.” Albert Einstein.

Bueno, ahora usted sabe que la pregunta es si usted es una persona milagrosa, o una

persona no milagrosa.

Para mi no hay otra elección que ser una persona milagrosa y si no es así entonces la vida es limitada y aburrida. Es muy fácil cree en milagros si usted cree en Dios. Sus milagros están allí cada día, nuevos y vibrantes. No tanto en las cosas grandes sino en las pequeñas. Estoy convencido que allí es donde la gente que no cree en milagros se equivoca.

La gente está buscando lo espectacular cuando el espectacular está en las cosas pequeñas. Están buscando ver a los ciegos sanados y los cojos que caminen cada día. Gente que no cree en milagros espera que todo el mundo sea sanado y cuando eso no pasa pierden de vista el verdadero milagro como Dios ayuda a los enfermos al mandarles personas que les va a ayudar, aliviando el dolor por un día más.

L gente que cree en milagros tiene sus ojos abiertos y ven las obras de Dios cada día. Tal vez seamos gente muy simple pero creo que esa es la única manera de vivir. Déjeme presentarle algunos milagros que veo y después usted tiene que escribir algunos que usted ve.

· La sonrisa preciosa de un recién nacido, dulce, inocente y un regalo de Dios. Quién enseñó este bebe como sonreír, solamente Dios.

· El sol sigue saliendo cada día, seguido por la luna. Esto fue planeado por accidente, no creo.

· Como vuelan los pájaros sin esfuerzo alguno. ¿Quién podría inventar tal cosa? Solamente Dios.

· Ese sentimiento que hay en su estómago cuando está cerca de alguien que ama, quien lo puso allí. Que milagro precioso.

· No tengo que decir a mi corazón que debe latir. Lo hace continuamente. Es increíble. El cuerpo humano en general cada detalle es perfecto. Un milagro.

· Cuando usted empieza a tener lástima por si misma, llega un correo electrónico o un amigo le llama con una necesidad y de repente la vida tiene otro perspectivo. ¿Quién lo planeó? Solamente Dios.

· Que Dios nos ama y mandó a Su Hijo a morir para nosotros para que viviéramos en el cielo. ¿El hombre hubiera hecho tal cosa? ¿Eso tiene razón para mi, no realmente? El Hijo de Dios nació de una virgen, muere en una cruz, y se levanta de la muerte, todo para mi?!? La salvación es el milagro más grande que Dios ha hecho y solamente El pudiera tener un plan así.

Estos son pocos milagros. Podría seguir pero esto no es acerca de mí, sino acerca de usted. Le garantizo que hay milagros que usted pasó hoy y no los vió. Pare y cuéntelos y dé gracias a Dios por ellos.

¿Cómo sabe lo que es un milagro? Tengo una definición simple. Si solamente Dios puede hacerlo, es un milagro. Mire a su alrededor y creo que va a cambiar de un lado de no creer en milagros al lado de creer en milagros en seguido.

La Biblia: Salmo 77:13y14 “Oh Dios, santo es Tu camino; ¿Qué Dios es grande como nuestro Dios? Tu eres el Dios que hace maravillas; Hiciste notorio en los pueblos tu poder.”

Oración: “Señor, abre mis ojos que pueda ver tus obras maravillosas, tu gran poder, tu intervención y darle la gloria que merece. Ayúdanos ser gente de milagros y todo te lo pido en el nombre de Cristo, Amen”