Prayers for Today

Hey, Dad?

I just wanna visit with You for a bit.

I was really glad that I got a whole day, today. I think it went okay. I got kinda mad a couple of times. I am not doing real well with this whole "control of my circumstances" deal. I'm tryin' really hard, but it is really gettin' tense here in my world.

I got mad on the phone today with this really cranky lady that felt like I really needed to spend money on what she was getting paid to sell. Now, Daddy, you know I've done that job in my life, so I think I have some understanding about what kind of pressure she, and all the other folks that are working there, are under. But, she just wasn't nice. I was on another call, and I really felt like I was being unnecessarily interrupted. I wasn't ugly with her or anything. In fact, I spoke to her just like I would have hoped someone would speak to me if I was in her shoes. I finally asked her to call me back later. By the time I got off with her, the other call was gone, and then I got mad.

I'm sorry, Daddy. I know that she didn't feel bad from me. I know she probably didn't give it a second thought. But, what if that was one of those Jabez appointments? I had the opportunity to show You to her, and I really don't think I did a real good job of it. It's only because my heart wasn't in Your hands, it was in mine. I was nice and stuff, but my head just wasn't in it. Actually, it was because I was in the middle of a verbal combat exercise with my friend, and I was already all agitated when she "beeped in" on the conversation. I spent about five minutes with her, but my heart was felin' pretty ugly, and I'm really sorry.

I felt like my friend was just using me, today. I kinda hoped he wanted to share some time in my world, and discovered he just didn't want to eat alone. I told him I had already eaten, and you know that isn't the truth. I was just mad at him because I felt like I was being used. Sometimes, I wish people would wonder about what I need, instead of always feeling like my purpose in the World is to deal with their needs. I told him to grab some food on the way over, and come spend some time. I was getting ready to bake some brownies. You KNOW how much I love those, Daddy. He goes into twenty questions about how I make my brownies, because he told me he "is really picky about eating other people's food". Do I put icing on 'em (he hates icing, and won't eat any brownie that has icing on it!) He wanted to know what brand of mix I use (mix?) and kept goin' on and on until I was really sorry I mentioned it. I just wanted to spend some time with my friend. He said he was going to get some food and go to bed, and didn't have time to come over. I told him he was gonna come over to get me, and he said that that was just because he didn't wanna eat alone. It made me feel really bad. I just don't think friends should do that to each other. It makes me feel cheap, and used.

I guess You know all about that, though, don't ya? All us kids down here sending up our lists of things we expect You to do while we go on with our own agendas. We think it is all about us. When things don't turn out like we dictate the list, we figure You are the one that failed. You know my heart, Daddy. I don't complain (much). I don't think I did too good today with these things, and I hope You will just let me be a good kid, with a couple of bad results.

Daddy, you know my friend Michael? Not the GCO one, my friend Michael at school. He is trying so hard to figure out stuff, and You have really been cool about being with him. Well, he wanted his friend to go to an Intervarsity church group meeting with him tonite, but the guy didn't want to--he wanted to get drunk instead. Michael got mad about it, and almost didn't go himself. I told him his part was in making the offer to his friend. That is how you, sometimes, first start getting into one of us kids' lives, just because someone puts someone else kinda close to You. I hope you will touch Michael, and his friend too. Let him know that, regardless of how he feels about things, You won't be too far away when he's ready. And, Daddy, give Michael a super duper dose of the kind of patience that you have. Let him know that a "no" just for today isn't a "no" forever. Give Michael the courage to be his friend, and not get all caught up in the judgement thing. Maybe next week, his friend won't feel so "ambushed" and will walk to the group with Michael, and won't feel like he's being "dragged" into one of those "Christian" wierdo thingeys.

Daddy, I am really gettin' in a jam with all the stuff on my plate. I need for You to help me know what to do. Am I doing what You want me to do? Am I being stubborn and hard hearted about this whole money/work/choices thing? Please, Daddy, help me to figure out how I am to be in Your will with all this stuff. Show me, clearly, how You will be glorified by puttin' my feet in the right direction. I know You will. If you can't calm the storm, please calm me in it.

I keep remembering Kathy. She's really got some stuff happening in her world that is big stuff. Love her good, Daddy. She is so cool. And she does so love you. You put Toni right beside her and that is just so nice. That was a really good thing You did there. And, Michael and Mel, too. Michael is really sooo one of Your kids. He's really doing a tough thing well. Goose him a little bit with a moment of just being with Him, and tell Him that You love him, and so do we.

Daddy? Brandon is in my heart today. Would you be with him, too? It seems like so many of us are finally getting the point, and things are just about to bust loose. Give us the patience to wait on Your plan, and to be fully committed to it as You show us what to do.

I hope You realize that, because of that talk we had the other day, I got some kids together for this little class thingey. In this moment, Dad, visit their hearts. Give them peace, and the loving grace and mercy that will let them hear what You would have to say to them. You do that so good. Bless them in a large way, Dad. Even now.

Sorry for the vent, Dad. But I do know that it doesn't scare You. Help me not to be scared, too. You are my Dad, and I love you more than anything this life has to offer. Until I get home, please measure my steps. Bless me, indeed with the security that I am Yours, and let me be a real witness to everyone that You are real. Enlarge my territory, to include this little course, and let those that do it are forever changed in a remarkable way. Expand my borders to include the words of the lessons, the thoughts of my heart, and my willingness to just be the deliverer of what You would have each of them know. It's not a big deal because it's mine--it's not. It's all about You, and it's yours! I give it to you, again. Even now. Fill it with Your Presence, and Your purpose, and Your Power. Let the course stand as an undeniable witness of the truth and power of Your Love, and Your Grace, and Your Mercy as we, together with You, take a little look at how we can best talk with You, and learn to jump up in Your lap just any old time, and share some time just being Your kid.

Thanks, Dad. I w.....Sir?

Aww, Dad. Yes Sir, I know You love me, too. It's really great to learn, every single day, just how much. I never get tired of Your hugs, and your smiles, Dad. I'm sorry I wasn't as good today as I should have been, or could have been. I did what I could, Dad. Please, oh please, oh please, do what I couldn't.

I love You Dad.

Your kid,

Bud

" Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!' So God granted him what he requested." (1 Chronicles 4:9-10) NJKV

I have agreed to teach an online course of study which is entitled "Towards More Effective Prayer". I will be serving as the facilitator for participants of the course for a total of ten weeks. The course will run for nine weeks, with a course wrap-up during the final week. If everything goes well, we may endeavor to create a second course that delves more into specifics of prayer--more in-depth stuff.

This Journal is my response to a request I made of the other participants in the course, in the first course material I sent to them. (Not only am I facilitating the course, but I am also a participant. )

During the beginning, or "Zero" Week of this little course, I asked all students to initiate a new Prayer Journal. I suggested to them that one way of doing that was by the creation of an on-line Journal. Paper Journals are fine--I just spend most of my waking hours sitting in front of a computer. My access to this format is much more immediate and useable for me. This, then, is a Journal of Prayer for me.

What may surprise my fellow participants in the course is that I will also use this site for additional purposes, as well. I may hide assignments here, or respond to written requests for help here, or provide useful course resources here. One of the secrets of effective prayer is digging down deep. Another is searching for understanding, meaning, and context. The participants already know that there will be writing in the course, via assignments that must be completed and returned to me via email. But, I will also reflect on my thoughts along this little journey here, too. Fellow students will be able to read my entries, and post comments here. I hope they do.

What is it that makes me feel qualified to teach anyone anything about effective prayer?

That is a great question. I'll see if I can come up with an equal answer.

Prayer has been a faithful friend to me for a very long time. This particular prayer ("The Prayer of Jabez") has been with me almost longer than any other. I have been praying along the guidelines this particular prayer offers for over thirty five years now. The only prayer I have been using longer, prayer-wise, is "The Lord's Prayer", which I have known and used personally for over forty-five years. I have, for many years now, found that prayer is the most effective tool I have to maintain my life. It illuminates my faith. It empowers my living. It is, daily, my conversation with the God of Creation. It is not the ONLY communication we share, but without prayer I am convinced there would be no other communication with God, whom I very generally refer to as "Dad", or "Daddy". Prayer keeps me focused on things that matter to God, as well as things that matter to me. Prayer answers those questions, large and small, that fill the confines of a life lived. Prayer allows me to live that life more fully, and completely. Prayer gets, and keeps, me centered in my Father's Will for my living today.

My attitude towards prayer is holy, yet as comfortable to me as the wearing of an old shirt. And, while this alone does not entitle me to be some kind of "grand master of prayer", I can tell you without fear of successful contradiction that I have seen prayer work in my life, directly. I have also seen prayer most-fervent fail. I think I have some understanding why, and that is what I wish to share. What the Instructor of the course (God) will share individually and with the entire group is not my business, but it is my concern. I wish to enable my fellow participants. I hope to increase their faith, and to give them hope. I hope to show them His love in a way that will, forever change their journey, at least as much as it has changed mine.

To a large degree, the love I know from Dad is through prayer. The course will walk through the book by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson entitled "The Prayer of Jabez" (Sub titled: Breaking Through To The Blessed Life). We will use Scripture, too. As you may know, there has recently been a raging controversy over the Jabez book, the Author, and anyone who ever bought it. Almost 10 million copies have been sold, and almost 1,000 of them are available for purchase (used) at Amazon.com this morning. That, to me, is a fair indication of the controversy. Why this book, in a course on more effective prayer? And why use Scripture from the Holy Bible?

I use the book because of its subtitle. I pray to Dad to be blessed, and to be a blessing. That is what my life has been, is now, and will always be about! In every endeavor, every journey, and every adventure of my life to date, those two items have been right at the top of my list. Those are the things that I pray for. I pray for God's Blessing on and in my life each and every day. I pray that God would use me, centered in His Will, to be a Blessing to the entire World, every day. I do this because the Bible tells me that is what God wants, needs, and commands me to do. I am a Christian. I am (I have recently been informed) a fundamental Christian in that I do know that I know the Bible IS the Word of God. The Book has been God-initiated, God-inspired, and God-breathed. I believe it fully to be the entire revelation of God, by God himself, to every one of his Children. I believe that it is literally "the Word of God". And that, they tell me, makes me a fundamentalist Christian. I happen to disagree, but it really is not of any significance. I believe that God Himself set out to find the persons, give them His Word, and cause them to write them down--simply because God knew I was gonna be coming along down the road of Eternity, and would very desperately need that Word. I really do believe that.

I also believe that man, through his own desire to be something greater than he should rightfully be, has spent many years mis-translating and mis-interpreting this same Holy Word to suit his own needs, purposes, and desires. I believe that there is sufficient evidence to categorically prove this beyond any reasonable doubt. But the proof is not readily found without digging, and the mis-interpretations will not show themselves without a practiced eye to see them. God has not hidden his words in a book! Man has hidden God's words for his own designs, purposes and desires. It may have been the need of one group to grow in numbers. It may have been one man's refusal to face his own sin. It may have been one nation holding itself superior to another. All these and even more reasons are valid proofs that man has taken this Holy Book and used it to batter, maim, and kill millions of his fellow men. So let us not look with scorn to other faiths that have done the same. We taught them how to do it. In America, there are more bibles than there are people! By more than three to one. There are countless (more than 120 the last time I checked) "versions" or "Translations" of the Bible. Is God so confusing that we need this? Is God so distant that we must be constantly re-interpreting the very Words He ordained? Well, maybe.

You see, I believe the Bible is NOT about giving answers to our questions. The Bible is about teaching us how to ask better questions. It is an open book, with lots and lots of white space. The white space is there to serve as a working space. God can say "I love you, (fill in your name here) and to everyone within 2,000 miles of you, simultaneously. And you will only hear your name. Think of it! Well, you wonder how He can do that? Yo! He's God!!

Another example, if you are willing. You go to Church on Sunday, right? When you "recite" the Lord's Prayer together (in unison), do you really believe that every single person there with you is saying the same thing? In the same way? At the same time? Do you? Really? I mean, of course you learn where that group likes the pauses, and the whole "debtor vs. trespass" thing, for sure. But, if every voice lifting those words up simultaneously were saying the exact same thing, it just wouldn't be a Prayer in the first place! It would be a Mantra with no consequence other than to your own satisfaction. Prayers are externally reaching petitions that leave us, going somewhere. Mantras are internal defining chants that stay within us. That's what they were designed for! When you recite, corporately, The Lord's Prayer, every voice is lifted at the same time, and the same words are heard--by humans. That is the first dimension to prayer, not the last one! When I say "Thy Will be done on Earth..." God knows precisely what I mean when I say it. It is necessarily different than what you mean when you say it. God does not pay any more attention to the words that you say than you understand the babbling of your very own two month old child! But He does hear what you mean. Every time, without exemption, exception, or dispensation.

For all eternity, God has given us the recipe for effective prayer. He has told us in His Word those prayers that he hears, those that He answers, those that He honors, those that He discounts, and those that He honors with the answers we request, just as we request them.

The purpse of this course is to discover what that paragraph just completed is all about. We, as believers and followers of Christ simply must understand these truths. And, we must agree to incorporate them in our daily living, moment by moment.

I believe, with all my heart, that if we look at some effective prayers, we may just come to understand a little better this whole prayer thing. How do we know? We must dig, deeply. The answers are not hidden, yet they are sometimes difficult to understand. The answers are not wrapped in deep theological nonsense, yet we miss them because they are simple. And, simple is always good to God. We are the ones that complicate things of God, not God. So, let's get to digging, and see the wonders of God, the Creator of the Universe in our lives, even today, shall we?

Hey, Dad? It's just me. I just wanted to thank You for allowing me to be with You today down here. Thanks for walking with me, and for showing me the really amazing things of Your World. I really love being with You, and talking with You, and learning more of You, and from You. Thanks for letting me hang out with some really nice people, and sharing with them the really neat stuff that You have shown me over the past little while. I hope that You will help me show them the right things--the things You would show them. And, Dad? Thanks for loving me that much. You are the very best! I love You Dad. Your kid, Bud