family

Wednesday, September 18, 2013 (7:14 a.m.)

Glorious Awesome Righteous God,

Today we are taking a trip. A family trip. A family trip filled with variables and maybes and mights and coulds and I'm asking you to lead and guide us every step of the way.

There's been excitement and planning and fun purchases in preparation for this quick family getaway. Family. Now there's a word we could explore for days on end. And Your Word has MUCH to say about it. Guide me this morning Dearest Father, in the direction YOU would have me go with this.

You blessed me again yesterday by providing words with which to express a sadness deep within myself. And also to ask for something I was sure I wanted. Rearranging time commitments led to a sincere satisfaction at the end of the day. Thank You Father.

It often seems strange to bring to You what I prejudge as piddling little things. Yet it's when I do that I experience the greatest joys and freedoms. Here again is my reasoning for bringing this upcoming family trip before You at this time.

Truly Father, I am asking You to not only come along with us; but go before, beside, beneath and above us. Encircle, encompass, enclose us with Your love. Your love which “is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude” (1Corinthians 13:4).

Your love which “does not demand its own way... is not irritable or touchy... does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong” (v.5).

That perfect love of Yours that “is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out” (6). That love which causes us to 'be loyal to someone no matter the cost... always believing in him, always expecting the best of him and always standing our ground in defending him' (7).

Father, YOU know what You had in mind when You created that very first family. They fell very short of Your ideal. Work in and through, by and for us this trip. Refining and redefining us into everything You would have us be.

Let us come to love, accept, encourage and believe in one another to the point that we really, truly represent You well in not only our dealings with one another but with others along the way.

We love You Father. And we asking Your protective, nurturing and nourishing blessings be upon us as we go out and come back.

We love You Father. Thank You. Amen.

(429 words ~ 8:34 a.m.)