new and different

Wednesday, March 16, 2011 (8:41 a.m.)

Ambassador Hotel #170

New Orleans, LA

Awesome God,

Good morning. And thank You. Coffee. Cuddles. A very nice way to wake up in a different city. Thank You for new experiences. New tastes [char-broiled oysters! J]. Different foods. New and different attitudes. Thank You Lord.

How I ask You to work in each of us on this very special birthday trip. Work in building and growing and making us into the people you would have us be. We are so used to doing things our own way. Attempting to bring about change

Monday, March 21, 2011 (5:54 a.m.)

Carnival Triumph Cabin #9-289

Channel of Progresso, Mexico

Forgive me Lord. I’m not sure if I’ve been more stubborn or smug. No. It’s casual! I’ve been very casual in my near non-existent approach to You these past few days.

My apple cart had been upset. There was no Internet readily available at my fingertips. A pocket was picked and along with many dollars, a wife’s wedding gift to her husband thirty-four years ago was taken.

These are MINOR incidents! Absolutely NO reasons for me to not bother opening the Bible I was so intent on bringing from home.

Again I ask that You would forgive me Lord. Every single time I’ve experienced something new and different I’ve known I wanted to come spend time alone with You. Instead, I purposefully did not.

When I had the choice between You and Your Word versus the second in a three part series of books I’m reading, we can see from the date stamps on here which I chose. I know from years of experience that it’s never wise for me to hold You at bay.

Thanks for continuing to tap my heart. You haven’t been far from my thoughts this whole trip. You were my First Response, my “go to Guy”, as the pickpocket was being questioned. You were the One who worked in my husband’s heart to decide that he wasn’t about to let that ruin his trip.

Remember how much I admired and appreciated his attitude? I never bothered to come here [alone with You J] to expand on my gratefulness to You. What our son and I witnessed that day on a crowded St. Charles street car in N’Orleans absolutely fell under the ‘new and different’ category!

The man was robbed! He knew it as it was taking place. He confronted the man he believed had taken something from him. And then he let it go. The man. The money. The personally-inscribed money clip. But most importantly, all traces of bitterness or thoughts of revenge.

YOU did that Lord! That new and different response was absolutely from You. Hmm… A new and different response… As much as I’ve been aware of new and different places, experiences and people so far on this trip, it IS new and different responses I’d most like to explore with You right now.

Lord, I invite You in to provide new and different responses for me. As I began this entry so many days ago, ‘we are so used to doing things our own way. Attempting to bring about change - on our own terms.’

“YOU do it!” Lord. YOU provide for us the responses You would have us have. Several times so far this trip I have responded quite unnaturally. I’ve weighed words and situations to determine what I think would be the best response. Work in and through me Lord. Be my first nature! Make it so that the new and different responses I experience are from You.

Keep me so connected to You that You ARE my new and different response! I love You so very much dearest Lord. Forgive my absence. I was being foolish. Selfish. Ridiculous. Stubborn. Naïve. Undisciplined. Childish. Spoiled. Rotten… Ah. The list could go on indefinitely.

But YOU, the One and ONLY God are so much better than I! You do not leave me alone in my self-imposed prison of negativity. No! YOU remind me, in the Truth of Your Word that I am to “Be earnest and repent” (Revelation 3:19)!

Much like the church of Laodicea, I become spiritually indifferent – lukewarm. As we prepare to go ashore to experience many things that are new and different to us, Lord I ask You to be in full charge and control of my responses. Make me aware of Your incredible presence. And worthy of the gift of Your Son’s precious life.

I love You so much. Thank You for Your willingness to meet with me this morning. Let me not take You for granted like this again. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(784 words ~ 7:33 a.m.)

See also: 1Kings 18:29; I Chronicles 29:9