Daily Prayer

I still struggle with knowing if my prayers are answered and how I would know if they were or not.  Yes I would know if suddenly I won $50 million dollars and I would think that a prayer was answered but...  I commit at least a part of my day to prayer and although we as human beings like to see tangible results I have to trust that prayer is answered whether we know it or not.

I think, no I'm fairly sure, that a prayer has been answered and because of that I thank the Lord for blessing me with the answer of daily prayer.  We all need to pray more and in fact I just listened to a young lady talk about how prayer over the loudspeaker at football games has been banned at her school.  Special "thanks" to the ACLU for suing for that ban (morons).  But that young lady said that at their last football game she began her own silent prayer and it expanded to the entire crowd praying at the same time.  Very cool.

I'll keep praying because I know that the blessings that I pray for are given.

A Glimmer of Light in a Long Tunnel

My daily prayers have changed.  I've been questioning myself and asking God for help in understanding the proper way to pray to Him.  I'm not trying to pray different because I expect it to help my prayers be answered, rather I am making the changes because I want to make sure my prayers aren't offensive.  My faith is strong and I know that prayer is my way to talk to the Father and much like a child I want to ensure that he is proud of me and that I am doing things in an approving way.

What Just Happened?

When my mother-in-law Doris was sent to the University of Iowa Hospital with brain cancer it was devastating.  While she was in surgery her children, her sisters, other family members and I went to the chapel to pray.  I found a little Gideon Bible and when I opened it I found Christ.  Its hard for me to describe but I had this warm feeling wash over me and a calm seemed to settle deep inside.

Since that time I pray daily but recently I asked for help, for a reminder of times when I should be praying as well as when I need help to make decisions or to straighten me course.  Earlier today as I was writing, I heard a song on my iPod and I thought I would find it on YouTube and share it with those friends I have on Facebook.  The name of the song was "Burn in Hell," it was a remake of a Twisted Sister song from the "Stay Hungry" album.  I listened to the song and then I had a wash of warm run over me once again, much like those I experienced in Iowa City.  These were different however, I felt uneasy and a little distorted.  I went back into my iPod and the first song that came up was a version of "Amazing Grace" by Carrie Underwood.  As that song played that uneasy feeling disappeared but the warmth remained and a calm engulfed me.

I haven't an explanation but I have a feeling I got a little bit of that help I asked for.

The Dark Side of People

It has been said that tolerance is a two way street unless it offends you.  I struggle daily with pain and I do tend to blow up when things don't go my way.  Blow up is not the right terminology but I'm keeping it in here.  Look we all dislike things if they don't go our way but if we acknowledge that and put faith in God to help us fix those problems He will.  It bothers me when people decide they need to talk about others in a "holier than thou" fashion.  Despite all of that the issue that is truly bothersome is the fact that people need to let their "holier than thou" selves take over when they are in a church setting.

I am not talking about problems with Scripture or the word of God, instead the real problem is with those that feel the need to talk about others following a sermon.  While it is true that we all have our spout off moments it is also true that we have to remind ourselves about people in glasshouses throwing the first stone.  It's incredulous to think that people are talking about others in such a fashion but then do in the party of children, the children of OTHERS is repulsive.

I am the first person to acknowledge that I am a sinner, I have asked God to help me, to forgive me and I believe I have been forgiven BUT I make mistakes and I know I do.  I try to live in his Spirit and overcome the sins I have perpetrated.  I do however take umbrage to those that feel it is necessary to run others down in the setting of a church proceeding.

I pray that God will forgive me for my own sin of feeling anger about the issue and I ask that the person doing the "spouting off" will ask God for forgiveness of his sins too and that he will rectify, resolve and understand how Unchristian they are being through their actions and comments. 

Faith

Today is yet another day in the life of me.  I have put my faith and trust in God and he will give me what I need when I need it.  That's a difficult concept but I know it's true.

September 11th

Anniversaries are a reminder of important events and today is no different.  Thirteen years ago the world was stunned by the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash of Flight 93.  On the day that those attacks occurred I, as well as the entire company I worked for watched in horror as the attacks happened and as the buildings fell.  I was devastated, I was angry, and I was full of hate.  On my way home that night I prayed.  I prayed for the men, women and children that were killed by the terrorists and then I prayed for justice.  My prayers for those lost in the attacks and justice for them and the Nation as a whole were angry, I knew that but then I asked God to forgive the attackers for their actions.  I prayed for them, I prayed that God would have mercy on their souls as well as those that helped perpetrate the actions and those that planned it.

I knew that my hate wasn't something to be proud of, nor was it something God would approve of.  I knew that God could forgive them of their terrible sins so as I thought about my actions and emotions I prayed that He would forgive me too.  I prayed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and I asked that he would forgive me and that he would remind me every time I would say something terrible about the terrorists, the murderers if you will, and that I would ask for his forgiveness.

Human beings are odd creatures because we know when we do something wrong and we have the ability to remember the event.  I do have those days where the anger about the attacks can become debilitating because of the pent up anger and still to this day I am reminded of my request I did in His name.  I've been watching all of the coverage and programs regarding the events on September 11th this entire week and my anger has been building. 

As I went onto Facebook today I saw all of the tributes I was reminded of those words I prayed thirteen years ago.  Although the words of that prayer have been forgotten, I remember what I prayed for.  I looked through my heart and I asked for forgiveness for my anger and hatred once again and I know that I have been forgiven once again.  I pray that justice has been achieved for all of those that were involved in making this event happen and I pray for mercy from God the Father for each and everyone of them.  I pray for the victims and their families that they can find peace in God and that they know him and seek him in their hour of need.

Thank you Lord for reminding me of this day and thank you for teaching me the truth, love and forgiveness through your son, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I Am So Confused

I really have struggles with the things I am learning as I read my "One Year Bible".  I've read it once before completely and I am probably a year into it again but my struggles are with the differences between the Old and New Testaments.