I was thinking (no, I was not hurt, yet)...

 Rick Warren, author of Purpose Driven Church  and Purpose Driven Life and pastor of Saddleback Church says if you can worry you can pray because worry is a focus on the problem and prayer is a focus on the solution.

 The solution is God, always has been and always will be. What is interesting to me is that most times what I am "praying" about God has already recorded a promise that takes care of it, finances, food, shelter, clothing, purpose, direction. He has it covered. So what is there to pray about? What has not already been provided for or taken care of, nothing. So, why pray at all?

Prayer is our opportunity to come to Dad for support, strength and encouragement when we are afraid, a moment to hang out with the one who loves us so that he sent his one and only son to die in my place. Prayer sets us apart from the problems of the day into a place of peace and security. It has no power God does. Prayer lines us up with the plans of God by spending time with him.

From last Sunday's message I have been thinking about relationship and particularly mine with God. Do you think about that? In the context of marriage, if you were married to God how good would your marriage be? Do you talk regularly, have a date night, hang out, listen to one another, and talk well about them to others? By those criteria what kind of relationship do you have with God?

I get caught up in all of the issues of this word and fail to look at the issue of relationship in my own world because honestly my relationship with God is all that really matters. Click here to watch a video of Francis Chan that I found helpful as he speaks about the importance of this relationship. I do hope you will watch it. 

Everything is about a relationship with our Father in heaven through his Son Jesus. Prayer is our “date.” The purpose of prayer is to fortify our relationship with God. In the process we grow closer (on our side), confident (on our side), and comfortable with Him. Prayer allows us to learn to think like him, to understand in a limited way God’s ways and plans. Prayer bonds our relationship by spending time together sharing our hearts. That has been God’s desire a relationship with each of us since sin entered his creation. God’s long range plan is to restore all of creation into a right relationship with him.

Relationship is important and is often replaced by a task, program or passion. All things Jesus are about relationship with the Father of Heaven and earth. It IS THAT important.

 I’m still thinking about…relationship.

Valentine’s Day is a good excuse to do something about my relationship!

 

In HIS Service and Yours,

The Rev

P.S. Happy Birthday Dad on your 88^th year the 11^th!