The Answer

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8 NIV

How long does it usually take before you realize you've been given an answer to a prayer? This time for me it was thirteen hours. I wonder how many other answers I've missed?

God tells us to ask, all we have to do is ask. So a couple of weeks ago I asked. I finished a Christian fiction book awhile ago, and since then been trying to figure out to do with it.

I've joined a writer's group and have learned a lot. One of the things I learned was to get it professionally edited. Another thing is a publisher probably won't do anything with it unless I've made a name for myself. So after a lesson on how to make the story into an e-book, I believe this is the way to go.

So this has been in my mind for almost a year now, the thing holding me back is the professional editing. Now to be professionally edited cost money. There never seems to be any extra money for me to be able to do this.

Two weeks ago I finally surrendered to God, if this is his will for me then he's going to need to provide us with the extra money. Simple enough.

So one day last week, we get our mortgage yearly statement. The one where they tell you the new payment schedule. This usually comes with an increase to our payment. This time though something was different-a check was attached. We paid more into our escrow account then needed, so we got a refund.

I about passed out, I mean we never get money back from the mortgage company. Maybe one other time in our twenty-one plus years of having a mortgage. I excitedly showed my husband. We thought about the things to do with it-finish January's bills, put it back into savings.

Never once did I remember my prayer. That was until the Lord hit me over the head in the shower. He kindly reminded me of my prayer! I even checked back in my journal, and recalled the day I asked. This obviously why we received the money.

I wonder how many other times I've missed an answer to my prayers. God's blessings are around, and He does give them. I just need to pay attention.

To Each His Own

But are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NIV

Different houses, different cars, different needs...same God.

As we were driving to church I noticed different homes. A Spanish style, a Colonial style, country style, and even a simple style. Then I thought about the people who live in them-how different each one's life is and how really close one's life may be to mine.

This thought as occurred to me before when noticing the different cars sitting in traffic. We were all at the same traffic light, and yet headed in different directions. Some might have been thinking about arriving home, others about the meeting they may have been heading too. Different thoughts yet, so much alike.

Another time I've thought about other people's lives is while standing in line at the grocery store. It's amazing how different yet the same the food we by is. A loaf of bread, bananas, milk or TV dinners, noodles, soda...all of it making sense to the one buying it.

So how different are we really? Sure we each face our own set of problems: a death in the family, an illness, sickness, a raise, newlyweds, a new baby. Each going through life, each facing the days, each set of circumstances. Some are able to face it better than others, some hide from it.

I'm not sure how people can make it through the events in life without God. There are tough things I go through and without God's strength I know I couldn't make it. We each are chosen, He wants us all to come to Him, He wants to bring light into your life...let Him.

My Answered Prayer

Ask and it will be given unto you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened unto you." Matthew 7:7 NIV

Hard to believe it's been that long, but it has. Sixteen years ago I received an answer to my prayer. A prayer I had been praying for almost three years.

The asking was the easy part. The seeking and growing came later. Funny, as I look back at receiving this answer to prayer it was a blessing during one of the darkest times of my life.

I had stopped paying the mortgage, after robbing Peter to pay Paul, the money did indeed run out. My finances were in an utter mess. In fact, I really didn't know how much longer we would even have a place to live. Some days I didn't even know what we were going to eat.

This day though sixteen years ago, brought me hope. It was a time when I knew God loved me and he cared. He gave us a beautiful baby girl, quite a blessing after two boys. Deep down I knew God had given us a daughter, it was just nice to know it was confirmed.

He taught me things during my pregnancy that helped me to fall on my knees to him when the day came when we were served with papers. Papers that said our home was going to be foreclosed on.

One lesson I remember well was the day we were going to have an ultrasound. I never had one with my other pregnancies and thought it'd be nice to have one with this one. Maybe God answered my prayer. Instead at our ultrasound, our little baby didn't cooperate. She wouldn't let anyone see she was a girl. God said. "Diana, you know I answered your prayer trust in your instincts."

Soon after our daughter's birth, I surrendered all to God. He has answered many prayers since. Sometimes with a "yes' and sometimes with a "no." He saved our home, but mostly he saved me and has blessed me with even more than I could ask for.

To Keep My Cup Filled

Be very careful then, then how you live--not as unwise but as wise making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil...Instead be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5: 15 & 18b

Eleven days off, what would my days be filled with? Sure Christmas and New Year's were a couple of those days, but the rest were free. Over half of them would be spent at home without day care children. I didn't realize just how quiet my house could be.

Funny, how quickly I got out of my routine. My devotion time became filled with other things. Sure I prayed and a couple of times I opened my Bible, but nothing like I usually do. One Sunday I didn't even go to church. I thought about it and decided I can worship the Lord at the campground.

Instead I sat around the fire, reading a book or logging into Facebook from my phone. Lazying in a chair. Sure I got up once and took a long bike ride. Still I could feel the fat just adding to my body.

The thing is I began to miss something. I missed sitting down and reading the devotions that come through my e-mail. The reading of devotions, the book I'm reading to help me be a better parent, the taking notes from the chapters I read out of the Bible...all of things that help keep my cup full. I missed them.

I even missed my friends at church. I didn't see them on Sunday, so it'd been almost two weeks before I saw them again. I missed my day care kids and their parents who are part of my normal routine.

My cup began to fill empty. I needed the routine, so I could keep my cup full. For me to serve the Lord,  I need to take the time for me. I need to keep up with my devotions and a more intimate prayer time with my Lord. I need to make the most of every opportunity, so that my days may be filled with joy.

So even though it's good to take a break from the routine. I need to remember to keep connecting to the source of my strength.