Today's Prayer

Thank You, Lord, for this day -- for Who You are and all You've done.

Help me to make the best of all my resources -- to put You first, and serve You diligently. 

My hope, my peace, my all rest in You, and I am completely confident that You are able and willing to deliver. 

Lead me to the work You would have me do and glorify Yourself in it. 

Let not my feet be stilled nor my tongue be silent until I have done all that You have called me to. Even this day, Lord, let me be of use to You. Pleasing You is the wind beneath my wings.

I fear and adore You with the same breath. My heart yearns to be ever nearer to You. Have mercy on me for You are my everything. 

I am but a speck of dust in a whirlwind, but You are the Ultimate Supreme -- holy and worthy beyond compare. I humble myself before You for You are too great for me. I wilt before You then You stand me up like a warrior -- as a mighty, fearful warrior and even great evil trembles. They do not see me as myself. No, they see You, backing me up -- a little girl with her Father behind her then they wilt and run screaming.

Today, Lord, while it is still today lead me as You will. I will go. Though the wind howls around me, and mine enemies are many; I will go. You are my Heavenly Father. How can I not?

Glorify Yourself this day, for You, O LORD, are worthy of all glory.

In Yeshua's name. Amen and amen.

How Great is My Fear of You, Heavenly Father!

Why, Lord, do the people not fear You? Why, Lord, do they not tremble at their own disobedience? Surely You are righteously angry, for You suffered and died that we might be forgiven -- not that we might live lives of sin.

Father, I see You. I fear You. I tremble and weep for Your wrath is very great. You look upon our lukewarm hearts with contempt and are reviled at our disregard. I see Your anger, Your disappointment, and I am broken by it.

Father, what  can I do? I am but a little one. The nation does not see that I know of Your heart. They do not comprehend that You have revealed Yourself to one so insignificant. Not even John, who came to prepare a way for the Lord, could reach those who were not given to Him:

To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is give him from heaven." -- Joh 3:27

What am I to do? I drown myself in sorrow and weep until I am weak. I rush to do Your bidding; pleading and begging, speaking and sharing what You have said. Yet, far too many turn a deaf ear and spurn Your rebuke.

You said I would be like Jeremiah, speaking to a people who would not hear. You said we would be judged for preferring our wealth to You. Surely, that judgment is upon us. How we have wearied You! Again and again, You point me to these Scriptures!

You have wearied the Lord with your words.

"How have we wearied Him?" you ask.

By saying, "All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and He is pleased with them" or "Where is the God of justice?"

"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant, who you desire, will come," says the Lord Almighty.

But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in the days gone by, as in former years.

"So, I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud the laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear ME," says the Lord Almighty. -- Mal 2:17-3:5

Because we call the slaughter of innocents a "necessary" evil, we are guilty before You. Because we ignore the truth of Your word, we are guilty. Because we love the liar more than those who tell us the truth, we are guilty. Because we prefer to be entertained more than to be rightly instructed or corrected, we are guilty.

How my heart aches for the children of a nation that is so willfully blind! How I mourn the man of God that has abandoned the pulpit for fame and fortune! How I weep for the mothers who have killed their precious babies! Like Jeremiah, there is no end to my anguish over this arrogant, undisciplined nation! Father, what can I do!

Will You give me some who turn back before it is too late? Will You heed my tears and profit Your word? Will You not have mercy because of Who You are? Have we gone too far? Is it just too late? Father, yet have mercy for there are others like me who seek Your will. I am not alone in pursuit of Your deliverance. I am not alone in the desire to return.

Turn us back, Father, but do not completely destroy us. Rebuke us, Father, but do not remove us completely. Have mercy, Father, not because we deserve -- for surely we do not; but rather, have mercy, dear Father, because we are but dust and You the whirlwind of our destruction. Have mercy for You are just too much for us and we are completely -- utterly at Your mercy. I plead with You, Father. I beg at Your feet. Hear my pleas. Respond to my requests. Do not turn aside. Do not abandon us to our guilt.

In Yeshuah's precious name, amen and amen.

From "The Air of Heaven", Section Titled "Seeds", Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your merciful patience.
Thank You for Your generous mercy and grace. Forgive our sin.
Father, help us to recognize the seeds that we have planted
and the weeds those seeds have birthed in our garden.
Help us to return to Your Holiness, away from our sin.
Help us to lay ourselves bare before You for Your pruning
that we might become the servants You called us to be.

Open our eyes, Father, and unstop our ears. Convict us
that we might recognize our sins and turn back to You.
Do not punish us as we deserve, but deliver us, Father,
Our only hope lies in You. Allow us to cling to You
like little children who have nowhere else to go.
In Your great mercy do not send us away.

You, Father, are the great I AM. We are Your creation.
You speak and everything listens. We tremble before You,
knowing we are totally dependent on You for everything.
You are worthy of all praise and glory. We submit to Your authority.
Have mercy on us, Father. Turn us back and lead us to revival.

Let our hearts praise You with great gusto once again.
Let our feet rush to serve You in all that You ask.

Let the earth ring with Your praises from the mountains to the shores.
Let the angels sing and all of Heaven rejoice before our Holy Lord.
Let Your name be exalted for all the world hear.
Let our hearts return. Do let us draw near.
We ask it, Heavenly Father, in Yeshua’s precious name
and thank You, dear Father, for answering our plea; amen and amen.

More on "The Air of Heaven"

I've been working the last few weeks to format the book for release on "Scribd" or another online book service. This would save me the expense of printing and allow access to those interested for a nominal fee. There is a lot of work involved in the reformatting process and I'm a novice at it. So, it may be a few more weeks before it is available.

I'm considering $1.59 as the fee for downloading, giving reasonable access to all the poetry/songs. I feel it a small enough amount as to not be a hindrance, but large enough to help me recoup some of my expenses. There are over 30 pieces of poetry, and another 30+ dedicated prayers. So, a bargain compared to the cost of a hard copy.

As with any ministry, the issue is continuing to serve. I want to be able to come back in a year or so and share more, perhaps next time a book of praises. (I've already starting singing pieces in my sleep.) Given that I hope to continue writing both as He leads and in praise of Him, I do have to consider the costs. For instance, my computer is old and starting to have problems, and I think I about wore out this cheap little printer. (I worked it pretty hard.) Don't get me started on the cost of ink. One would think it was gold. (lol)

At any rate, I'd be interested in suggestions or comments for those who have been checking on the book's progress. I'm not looking for validation. So, please don't worry about stroking my ego. I know that what I have written has value because it continues to bless those who read it. No, what I'm looking for is information from those who have ideas or experience in hopes of speeding up or simplifying the work of getting it out there. It has truly become a labor of love.

To start the week, I'd like to share the refrain from another of the pieces. It is called "Magnificent Grace":

Magnificent grace poured down from His side.

Undeniable love melted all of my pride,

Incredible sacrifice of an only Son.

Extr'ordinary peace purchased for man.

Unmitigated pardon from our deadly sin.

Astonishing mercy, bought by the Holy One.

It sets me to singing, I pray it does the same for all of you.