Taking Hebron

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If  I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. Psalm 139:17-18 There have been many points in my life where I struggled with the lie that the Lord had forgotten me. That somewhere along the way I'd slipped through the cracks on getting a life's plan. Now anyone on the outside would think that's a silly thing to believe. Even now, looking back on those moments I could think the same thing of myself. But I know that in the moment, that lie can seem almost true as the enemy gets you looking with your limited eyesight at the world around you. Recently I was reading Psalm 139. Slowly! I've read Psalm 139 lots of times, but this can almost make it too easy to breeze through. This time I came to verse 18 and actually stopped to think about the weight of his words. His thoughts toward me are more in number than the sand....

Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and to your Father, and to  My God and your God." John 20:17 The other day I was resting on the couch as my little brother ran off to the bathroom holding his pants. Anyone who knows toddlers knows the urgency of the situation and I hoped he'd make it. A few seconds later I heard him calling out to me in distress. I got up and went to find him sitting on the floor still holding his pants that were now soaked through. Upon seeing me he started to cry and I saw the flash of fear in his eyes over the discipline he believed was coming to him for having wet his pants and the bathroom rug beneath him.  I could have been upset at the mess, or have simply tattled to my dad what had happened, but in that moment I felt compassion for him.  I helped him to the potty chair and calmly told him to wait there while I got...

So today I was thinking about the many things we never pray for. I've asked the Lord for lots of things! It seems He should have PLENTY to do for the rest of my life answering all the things I've asked Him to do in me. But... I'm kind of a curious child and I don't want to miss out on anything the Lord has, so I keep looking around for more of Him. Have you ever asked the Lord for His strength? I sure have! LOTS of times! But... have you ever asked Him for His weakness? Have you ever asked the Lord for His wisdom? I sure have! Almost every day! But... have you ever asked Him for His foolishness? Now what about Balaam? You remember him, the prophet from Numbers 22 whose donkey talked to him. Well why don't we ever ask the Lord to make us like Balaam's donkey? Think about it. Donkey's are the image of stubbornness, (much like us!) yet that donkey was more obedient and reverent to the Lord than the man riding upon her. Her mouth was more available ...