Disappointed by God? Unanswered Prayers?

Have you ever felt disappointed by God? Have you ever felt He isn't listening when you pray? Have you ever felt angry and disheartened because you feel He has abandoned you?

What about Jesus? When he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, he asked God to take the cup of suffering away from him. But Jesus went one step further and prayed, "Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."

How often when you pray, do you add these all important words?

We Christians live in a world filled with temptations. If we turn on the television, we are bombarded with ads for things that promise to enrich our lives. Unfortunately, many of us turn to idolizing things which are meaningless. We pray for God to give us what we crave. And, when we don't receive, we feel disappointed or angry because God wasn't listening--He didn't answer the prayer.

God is always listening. We just have this one-sided belief. A belief that we can achieve what we want if we just ask God to provide. But, God asks us to walk in faith, not in sight.

If you are disappointed or feeling abandoned by God for unanswered prayers, look at what God has given you. He always answers prayers, but not always with the outcome we prayed for.

Romans 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Prayer for today: Lord, if it be Your will, I pray that You will bless each person who reads this and that You will help them see how You have answered their prayers. I thank You Lord for the gift of Your son, so that we can find our way to You through the cross. Amen.

Blessed are the Merciful...

...For they will be shown mercy. (Matthew 5:7, NIV)

So many times, it is easy for me to see both sides of a issue. And, when someone is accused, it is easy for me to say things like "innocent until proven guilty." This works as long as it doesn't directly affect my family or someone close to me.

How do we show mercy when we have been injured? It isn't easy. God knows. He sees. And if we realize our mistake in placing judgement and ask forgiveness, He shows us mercy.

Showing mercy to another person doesn't mean we absolve them from sin. It is not up to us to do that. It's God's job.

I don't like to hear others condemning another without really knowing a thing about the situation. The media abounds with stories where it is easy to be judgemental. String him up! They should put her behind bars for the rest of her life! What if the accused person would be someone we know or someone in our immediate family? Would we respond with such bitter judgement?

Daily I ask God to forgive me of my sins. He sees me when I don't show mercy to others. But, He forgives me when I ask. And, then I pray for those whom I have accused. If God can be mericiful to me, a sinner, then I must try to be merciful to others.

When God is Your Top Priority

He is always with you. I had a nice talk with my daughter last night about this very thing. Sometimes we find ourselves running in circles, working hard, trying to meet all our obligations, and pushing God to the outside. These are the things that make us stressed out and the more we do, the more there is facing us.

However, if you just take a step back and find God, then make Him a part of your daily life, FIRST AND FOREMOST, then you will find that there is time to do so much more than you ever did before.

God is a part of my daily life. I talk to Him all the time. And the most important thing is listening for His words. No, He doesn't talk to me in a loud booming voice that rocks the walls of my home, but He is a voice that speaks to me softly. I hear Him loud and clear. He directs my life, and He is so good. He is always with me.

No, He doesn't make everything a garden of roses, but He's always with me through all the storms of life. He loves me. How can I not love others?

Lord Jesus, I pray that everyone reading this blog today will open their hearts to let You in, to accept Your unconditional love, and that they in turn, will share that love with others. Amen.

Love is the Key--Forty Days of Love

As I began my journey through the 40 Days of Love, I had no idea how it would change my life...or rather how it would change me. Through the six week journey, I learned the one thing that had kept God outside the door of my heart. Though I had accepted Jesus as my Savior, I hadn't had a life-changing event like some people. I asked God to come in, I prayed, but something kept that door closed. That something was forgiveness. Thought I had asked God to forgive me and I thought I had forgiven myself, and my enemies--the truth remained that I hadn't.

How could I be forgiven? I knew Jesus died on that cross for all of us, so that we could be forgiven, if we believed and if we asked. That's where the faith must come in. I had to believe that I was worthy of being forgiven. God loves all his children and he trusts that we will come to him with open hearts and open arms to receive his forgiveness and mercy.

As I moved through the 40 Days of Love series, I found myself believing that I had been forgiven and I truly forgave all my enemies. All the old baggage that reared up from time to time to grab me and bring out the anger from old hurts has disappeared. I haven't forgotten, but these things no longer have any control over my emotions. I don't hurt any longer. I feel truly cleansed.

Subsequently, love has filled my heart. I feel joy and face each new day with excitement and anticipation. I want to share my joy with everyone.

Love is the key. Love. Once you can love your neighbor as yourself, then true happiness will flood your soul. That love can only come through Jesus. Through believing, through faith, through true forgiveness.

May God's mercy touch you today and always.

Happiness is...

Hearing from a friend who is far away.

Sometimes you make a soul connection with someone who becomes a great friend. I remember having wonderful mind-stirring conversations while we belabored the state of the world, the little idiosyncracies of humans, and some amusing and not so amusing health concerns with this friend. Though miles separate, the heart remembers.

God teaches us to cherish our relationships. What a blessing that he gives us friends.

May your life be blessed with the gift of friends.

When God Holds Your Hand...

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV) "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

Even in the darkest of times, God is with us, if we believe. God doesn't send the darkness, although He knows it is going to happen. He can't prevent the darkness, but He can help us through it.

When I reached a bottom and felt the despair of all being lost, God took my hand and led me out of the darkness into the light. Yes, there are those times when things go wrong, when I am uncertain what will come next, but through it all I have the comfort of knowing God is in control when I put my faith and trust in Him.

My book, JOSHUA'S HOPE, is about a woman who has to learn to trust. Only when she has lost the most important thing in her life does she let go and let God into her heart. And when she does, a miracle happens.

I hope God blesses you richly today. Thanks for stopping by.

Why God? Why?

I had a lunch conversation with a very dear friend not too long ago. We were discussing all the tragic things that happened over the past year in her oldest daughter's life. Truly, one thing after another had happened--a heart attack, followed by complications, a job loss, and a legal battle. My friend thanked me for all my prayers on their behalf. She stated her daughter couldn't understand why God had made all these things happen to her.

In these words, I saw myself a few years ago. When bad things happen, people are quick to blame God or to ask Him why. However, as I told my friend, God doesn't make bad things happen. He is with us always, helping us as we stumble along life's path. If we turn to Him and ask for His help, He will lift us up. How we deal with the potholes in the road says a lot about our faith.

When bad things happen we are quick to blame, but when good things happen, how often do we thank God?

True peace comes from having faith, believing in God's grace and mercy, asking for the things we need, and thanking Him for the blessings bestowed. God doesn't always answer our prayers in the way or even the timing we would like, but He is with us and He does listen. Trusting in God is the only way to reach true peace and tranquility.

May God be with you.

Whoa! You Want Me to Do What? Trust?

Trust is something we have been taught is an earned reward. When my children would lie to me and I would find out the truth (as most parents do), I told them they would have to earn my trust again. I'm sure my parents said the same thing to me. Is it any wonder we have trouble trusting in God?

The theme woven through most of my books is trust. We tend to be individuals who depend on ourselves rather than others, we trust ourselves, but trusting in another person is harder. Throughout our lives we run into issues of trust. How do you trust someone who has proven themselves to be untrustworthy? It's difficult. We need them to "earn" our trust.

I participated in a group leadership seminar once where we had to "trust" in our fellow members in various scenarios. What a humbling experience. It taught me a lot about having trust in others...not easy for me.

How about you? Do you trust easily or do you expect others to earn your trust?

I'm sure that's what God experienced when He sent His son to earth. He had to earn our trust by allowing His son to die on the cross for all us, so that those who believe in Him could have everlasting life.

Still, many times we question God in times of trouble.

Prayer for the Day: Dear Heavely Father, Help me to place my trust in You. Amen.

Whose Fault is It?

How many times have you turned to God and asked him why He let something awful happen in your life? I'm guilty.

We take credit for the things that go right in our lives. We pat ourselves on the back and puff out our chests and accept all the reassuring words that come from others. We've accomplished a great thing. And we forget all about God, who has given us the blessing. But, when the bottom falls out, we are quick to blame God.

So, how about you? Have You thanked God for your blessings lately? Or have you only turned to him in times of stress to place blame?

Prayer for today: Mericful Father, please forgive me for my sins. Thank You for all the blessings You have provided which I have taken for granted. Amen.