God's third call to me (final in this series)

This is the third time I come to speak to you. I speak to you today in only short bits and short moments of conversation, for your time is so limited with me. Please do not consider that our prayer time as a chore to curry favor with "The Almighty." Think of it as what you often said: As time to spend with the creator of the universe. Do you not know that I created the heavens and the earth? Do you want to spend an hour with the creator begging and pleading, using the same words over and over when I already know your needs?

 Or do you want to stop and listen to me? I hope you care to hear from me. I will tell you to hold tight to what is good, shun what is evil and cling to that which shall endure. I am here for you. Do not seek the refuge of a vice or sin or distraction, but listen to me and see how your prayer time goes. Hearken your ears and attune them to the right frequency of prayer. Ask me questions and listen for my answers. Call to me and draw near and see what will come of our times together in prayer.

"Lord I listen to you and for you."

Don’t just listen then, but look for me too. Look around. Can you see me in the creation and in the stars? Don’t feel that prayer is limited to the prayer closet and that your eyes are meant to be closed tightly to "see" me. Hearing is not left solely for words of scripture, but of nature, of children, of wisdom of others, of cries of sorrow and laughter of old people. When you hear an ambulance siren, know that it is a sound of someone in pain and that I am answering. When you see a window shut on a house, know that while you cannot see in, I can and see the joy and sorrow therein.  Listen for music. Can you discern me in fragrances, of the yeast of rising bread, in the smell of flowers, in cinnamon, spice, and in the rain? The almighty comes in small things, quietly at times, in stillness and silence. Can you sense the almighty in rain as it falls on the ground and on your face. Can you see my joy as puddles of water splash upward and back down again and again. Dare I mention a sunrise? The wind as it blows across the grass and leaves. The thunder you hear, it is my voice calling to you and saying there is more than you know. Oh the prayer time is so much more than you speaking to a wall or reaching as far as the ceiling.

Prayer is feeling sadness and joy. I share those with you. Your anger, I understand. Your feelings of worry can be calmed when you rest in me. The friends of my son thought they were going to die in a storm due to their lack of faith and just as they should have recognized the utter ridiculousness of those fears. I likewise tenderly but with grave admonition say to you, "Where is your faith?" so that you too see, as the disciples saw, that your worries almost insults me. Look how a child goes on when a parent only goes to another room or to work or to church. The father or mother has not left that child forever. Nor have I nor would I nor will I leave you! Feel that my presence is greater than any emotion that you feel right now. "Why did you ever doubt?"

Listen. See. Feel. Smell. Do you know that your fragrance is lifted up to heaven to me when you pray. My son was touched by the alabaster offering and the aroma that filled the room. Your sweet savor is a blessing to me. Linger long in the presence of blossoms and flowers. Drink deeply the aroma of fires that warm the depths of winter air. The soothing aroma of prayer is a sacrificial acceptance to me, and I ask you to breath deeply the pleasure of life. Worship me in all your senses by enjoying things as simple as rain's sweet scent, of freshly squeezed lemons and oranges, of petals crushed together.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. You can enjoy my presence in food and enjoyment of life, but do you? Or do you merely rush to eat for your own pleasure and fail to discern my presence with you. There are spiritual senses that you do not know are portals of entry for good and evil. Use them for good. Arousal of the spiritual and physical senses is a portal for good and bad. Seek the joy that I created. Sorrow and laughter are gateways for the soul. Envy and pride can be turned into wholesome desire and glory in accomplishment.

I may not always speak to you in this way, but I will always speak to you in some way, in your heart if you take time to listen, see, feel, sense and taste for my presence, for I am all around you.

God's Prayer to Me (part 2)

Hello, again, my child. I have been watching over you since we last spoke. I have been waiting until you had time to come and I listened to your every word that you said to me. Now I come to you to remind you and to ask you to please know and understand that I am in charge. I know you are in need. Of course I see what your condition is. Do not think I am unaware. Yes I see and I care. There will be a victory soon as there has been all your life.

I have heard you say like Martha and Mary said to my Son, “Oh, Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” I hear you say that you don’t really see the difference in me allowing something to happen and me causing something to happen. My child, there is a difference. Do you not see that you also allow things to happen but do not cause them.

I am there with you, just as I am there in death and sickness and all sorts of evil in this world. Yes, things could always be different.  Could heal every time? Yes, but you have no idea of the consequences of that.  I could reconcile every time, but there are blessings unknown from the fact that I do not. I could manifest my presence by vanquishing all evil every time, but then this earth would be what heaven is like. Do you understand that as wonderful as what heaven is, there are things that happen on earth for good that can never happen in heaven; there are glories to be accomplished on earth that will have impact for all eternity.

No, I choose that in this short span of life to show myself in the midst of evil; to shine out like lights in the midst of darkness; to test you by faith. This seems cruel, I know, but so does child rearing at times, does it not? Does not a school teacher often seem heartless and cruel? Are there not times of trial in any sport or discipline? Playing the guitar or piano often seems grueling and cruel.  But look at the sounds of joy afterwards, the victory of accomplishment, the pleasure of success afterwards. Think of the breakthroughs in science which can only occur after months and years of research, which come on the heels of years of study and learning and trial and errors. Victories only come when there are obstacles to overcome . Look to your failures as necessary friends that bring you to a point of closeness to me.

Until next time, know that I am thinking of you...always.

God's prayer to me (part 1)

I want to speak to you during your time of prayer, because so often, you come to me and I listen and discern and even lead your words to help in changing your heart. That is what I enjoy most about your prayer times: not so much hearing  your requests and knowing what is important to you (for I already know those things but I do enjoy hearing you voice your prayers), but even more than than that, I enjoy it when your spirit and my spirit commune; how it changes your spirit. I am the lord and I change not, but you are like clay in my hands and through prayer, you receive the water of the word, the spirit and how it plows up your soul like fallow ground which had become hardened by days of drought and baking of the sun. We need drought and sun, but you also need the moisture of tears of prayers to soften your soul.

My child, listen as I speak to you. It is not uncommon to listen for the voice of God, nor is it sacrilegious. Look to the prophets of old and even of the new. I spoke and still do speak. In fact I speak all the time, but so often you, my children, run to hear from one another and not from me. Listen to my voice and grow.

I want to say that I do love you. You have been struggling with that thought of late and I want you to look into my eyes and feel my hands upon your face. Turn your eyes and ears and attention all to me when I say this: I love you. More than your mom or dad, more than your wife, or children, I love you and seek the very best for you and the best of me thorough you. When I say I want the best for you, I do not mean I want to give you the best house, or car, or income, but what I mean is that I want to be most glorified through you.  That can only come when I fully have your heart. If I choose to allow your pain or poverty or divorce or sickness or death for my glory, you shall receive a reward in heaven for what you go through in this life. As my servant said when I spoke to him, the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.

I have more to say to you, but I see you must go. Will you please come to me again tomorrow? And this time, bring a listening ear and time to stay.