Prayer. Why do we not do it?

How many times do you pray?  That is a question  I need to ask myself everyday.  I do pray and miss many oppurtunities to pray daily.  My prayers are little tid bits here and there.  Usually at night and one in the morning.  But during the day it becomes more difficult to pray.  I am one to not let anybody see me pray.  I don't pray  aloud in restaurants like I see some Christians doing.  For some reason that bothers me, I guess it's because Jesus stated to pray in private and that is exactly what he did.  I don't ever recall Jesus praying in public, he usually prayed off in a quiet place.  So when I pray I try to keep it to myself and God.  We need to pray daily. We aren't forced too, because of the free will God has given us here on Earth.  He has given us the option to pray or not to. The choice to follow him or not, the choice is ours and if we don't follow we may suffer an eternal punishment. 

Prayer is needed for all, and many need our prayers.  My prayer list increased by five people in one week, people around me and in my life have become sick and I feel it is my duty to pray for their well being.  I do love to pray for others though, I don't know the outcome of my prayers, but I do know it is good to hope the best for others lives and they do deeply appreciate it.  My prayers in the past have been about my needs and how I needed an immediate answer from the Creator.  As I have matured I see prayer as giving thanks to God for all He has done for me and a time to pray for those who are hurting or are sick or in great financial need. 

Prayer for me has taken off many stresses I have had in life.  For many it's a religious necessity a ritual, they feel if they don't do it that they are going to be cast to hell or be on God's bad list.  I don't think that is true!  I used to feel that way also, but I now look at prayer as a time to converse with God, an intimate conversation between two friends or a father.   I try to converse in a way that feels comfortable, giving thanks because God has given me peace and has kept me safe in his grace.  I thank him for the good times and also for the bad times I go through.  A lesson can be learned from bad times in life, and I ususally tell him what I have learned from rough experiences and thank him for the lessons I have learned.  I always try to visualize God listening to my prayers.  I see him leaning with His hand on his chin and listening to me with great excitement.  I see him wanting to answer all my requests, wanting to show everything to me but he doesn't.  He is just like us as parents, he gives little by little.  He doesn't give in huge amounts, because that would spoil  us and we would become expecting massive amounts and never learn the lessons of humbleness.  Same with us as parents, we know if we constanly give into our childrens wishes and give them all they need they become spoliled and greedy.  They expect a new toy everyday, and never learn the lessons of earning the toy through good deeds or working for something.

For those who only pray in times of great need and never lift a word toward heaven any other time need to learn God is listening.  God is not not our magic 8 ball.  I believe God wants to hear form us but not just in certain situations though.  He is listening still to all prayers at all times.  He listens to all who pray in dire emergencies and to all who converse to him every day.   Not all prayers are answered though.   That's where people get discouraged, they expect an answer to their request then, not later.  So they give up on God and never return to him again.  God does answer, but usually in his own time and what he wishes.  So that makes him not a magic 8 ball God.  He wants constant communication.  He wants you to see what He has planned for you over a long period of time.  He is a mysterious being that has nothing but good intensions for us all.  So as I learn to communicate with him and you do to, realize God has answered most of our prayers we just need to sit back and see how he has answered them.  If you take time and look at all the great things he has given us, then you will realize how great he is and how wonderful it is to talk to him. Pray at all times, because he is waiting to hear from us!

Funny Email!

       I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, the wars, jobs, Savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc......

I called Lifeline.

Got a freakin' call center in Pakistan .

I told them I was suicidal.

They all got excited and asked if I could drive a truck.

Time For God

I knelt to pray but not for long,


I had too much to do..

I had to hurry and get to work

For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,

And jumped up off my knees.

My Christian duty was now done

My soul could rest at ease.....

All day long I had no time

To spread a word of cheer

No time to speak of Christ to friends,

They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,

That was my constant cry,

No time to give to souls in need

But at last the time, the time to die

I went before the Lord,

I came, I stood with downcast eyes.

For in his hands God! held a book;

It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said

'Your name I cannot find

I once was going! to write it down...

But never found the time'

Seeing God In A Different Way. Praising Him For What We have Been Givin.

My whole being, praise the Lord;
all my being, praise his holy name.
My whole being, praise the Lord
and do not forget all His kindnesses.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He saves my life from the grave
and loads me with love and mercy.
He satisfies me with good things
and makes me young again, like an eagle.  Psalm 103: 1-5

I believe this verse says it all for a Christian.  I believe we only love as much as we want to. We don't fully know how to love like the Lord.  His love sees nothing, but who the person is.  He doesn't judge or show favortism.  He is complete in all things. He gives us more than we can ever imagine.  Our cups overflow and yet we don't realize it and continue to ask for more.  Over the past couple of years I have learned a lot about true Christianity.  I have learned about how compassionate Christ really was and I know I will never be able to be as compassionate as he was.    He saw the sick and the hungry before anybody else did, he had their problems solved before he ever spoke to them.  He was and is something I strive to be everyday, but yet satan keeps holding me back.  Satan keeps us from being who we really are.  We try to escape his grasp, but he always has a hold.  His grasp is on our leg, but not around our neck.  Even though he has a hold , my eyes are always looking at Christ.  Even when I fall he lifts me up and tells me it alright just keep going. 

I've been a fool for so long, only because Satan made me feel that way.  I was blinded for so many years by legalism that it made me judge others and allowed me to puff myself up. I believe we all make mistakes all the time, and from now on I will not judge you I will look at you with eyes of Christ as I hope you will look at me the same way.  For he didn't judge anybody only those who judged people according to the law. 

Life is good no matter what comes our way. Heaven is ours, believe and it will be yours.  This year I am going to make real changes.  I'm not concerned to much with normal resolutions, they are not the one's Christ is concerned about.  Losing weight and quitting smoking are great, but how does that help your soul? I want to give my heart to God, I want to feed the hungry and clothe the poor.  The other day in Little Rock we passed by a homeless women holding a sign, needless to say we helped her and it made me feel good. Not to puff myself up, but we did it because we wanted to.  I'm not telling this to brag but things need to get done.  I want all to share in the gifts that God has lavished on me.  Everybody needs a chance and they deserve it no matter what.  We are all equal, we need to start seeing that through the eyes of Christ.

I want to change as a person. I want to be more giving and be less selfish.  I don't want to live in fear, but live by true faith.  I want to take the risks God wants me to take. I want others join me and feel what I am feeling.  We shall be guided by God through good times and bad. It's all part of life, good and evil.  Let's all be high strung and live in the goodness of God.  Share your wealth and knowledge and save the lost.  make your resolution toward Godly things and he will see you through. God bless and Happy New Year.

Happy 10th Birthday Brayden!

As  I look at this picture it really has become one of my favorite I have taken.  It really shows me how much Brayden has accomplished in his ten years of life.  He finally crossed the bridge of 10 years of life.

I cryed the moment he arrived to this life. For 9 months he relied upon God to develop him in his mothers womb.  To make him perfect and  enable him to go from complete darkness to a direct light he had never seen before.  I often wonder if God had one last word to him as he came to be.  Did he say,  "Go on, come and meet life and don't worry I will be there with you all the way."

 Having children truly amazes me all the time.  We really don't know what we're going to get until their arrival.  I was hoping Brayden had all his parts and that he was going to be healthy.  Birth is God's fantastic show in life, it is a process that truly is awesome.  I have enjoyed the ten years we have had with Brayden.  He's a funny kid who likes to laugh a lot, especially when I do stupid things to make him laugh.  We have had some good laughs so far in life, and hope we will always laugh together no matter what life brings us.   God has truly blessed us, and to Him I will be enernally grateful.  Thank you God for your precious gift of Brayden.

The Magical Feeling Of Christmas.

I remember when I was young and how exciting it was to be Christmas eve.  I remember my Papaw and Aunt Monna coming over and all of us just enjoying one anothers visit.   They would stay the night and they would both get my sister and I excited about Santa coming during the night. 

My mother would go all out and make a good Christmas eve meal and we would indulge ourselves and then eat all the cookies she had made until we were sick.  It would be cold outside (unlike here in Arkansas)  and we would be huddled up by the fireplace and try to get warm.  I have always enjoyed those many Christmas eve's and still enjoy the memories of them all.  Christmas Eve is a magical time of year.  I miss them!

For some reason I have lost that magical feeling and I don't know why.  I guess because Christmas here in Arkansas just doeosn't feel very Christmas like. 

As the evening progresses I can feel a little of the magic left, but it just doesn't feel like it once did.  Maybe it's because I have grown older and the magical feeling I once had is slowly disappearing somewhat.  I hope it comes back one day, but for now I will always have the precious memories of past Christmases in my mind and heart.  I'm thankful to God for memories like these.  Thankful for two hard working parents who went all out to give me the best Christmases ever.  I'm thankful for the memories of a loving Grandfather who made my life and Christmas very special.  With all the presents I have received through the years nothing is more important than these special memories. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.