Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

The following is a prayer by Max Lucado. Written for the National Prayer Vigil "America Prays" on September 15, 2001. Still very appropriate.

DEAR LORD,

We’re still hoping we’ll wake up. We’re still hoping we’ll open a sleepy eye and think, “What a horrible dream.”
But we won’t, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.
There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)
We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn’t.
And so we come to you. We don’t ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don’t request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We’ve read the accounts. We’ve pondered the stories and now we plead, “Do it again, Lord. Do it again.”
Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.

Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children too, Lord. Do it again.
And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
You changed Daniel from a captive into a king’s counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.
Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here last Tuesday, you saw there that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the smoke eclipsed our morning, so the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced.
And by dusk, heaven’s sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock.
But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.
We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Christians are praying with Jews. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity.
And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can do.
Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.
And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you’ve used her to heal a hurting world.
Do it again, Lord. Do it again.
Through Christ, Amen.

Feelings.....can you trust them? NOT!

When I started blogging, it was for the purpose of being able to visit and comment on other people's blogs. That's a ton of fun for me. Having permisson to peer into the lives of others satisfies my "inner snoop" and because I am choosy about who I visit, I am almost always edified and encouraged. Writing a blog has never been high on my priority list (as you can well see by the number of my post!). I always feel the self-imposed pressure of saying something "profound" (still don't think I've managed that one). But there are times when the Lord's work in my life is so intense, so personal....so REAL, that I feel the need to share and "strengthen the brethern". Thus, the reason for this post. I am going to allow you to "snoop" into a portion of my prayer journal with the hopes that you have "been there, felt that" and that you leave edified by TRUTH.

9-09-09  (yes...just today)
I don't "feel" like praying Lord. I don't "feel" like believing. I don't "feel" like having faith. I don't "feel" like being a pastor's wife. I don't "feel" like being a Sunday School teacher. I "feel" I am on the edge of a pit and my feet are slipping. And to be honest, a part of me just wants to fall in and be done with it-----BUT, here's the thing......I know the TRUTH......and truth is.....well.....TRUTH. Unchanging, rock solid, infalliable, completely trustworthy.....it's everything You are, Lord. In fact, it IS You. You said You are the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life (John 14:6),and because you are TRUTH, Your Word is TRUTH. Afterall, You are also the Word of God (John 1:2). Your Word says that my heart will deceive me and "feelings" can't be trusted (Jer. 17:9) unless they are based upon the TRUTH. Your Word says that my way is not in myself and it is not in me to direct my steps (Jer. 10:23). So as much as I "feel" like walking right off into that pit......I won't....because I know the TRUTH and I choose TRUTH. "If I say, 'My foot slips', Your mercy, O Lord will hold me up" (Psalm 94:18). "Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts" (Psalm 119:173). Thank you, Lord for the safety and security of the TRUTH.....Your precious Word. You are great and greatly to be praised!