Who Can I Help Today?

The other day I was unpacking boxes and found a bunch of old journals. While there were delightful memories of cute things my children said; adventures we shared; and wonderful prayers I penned; there were also some dark passages. My journals served as a wilderness therapist on my mountain in Colorado. I brought to them my uncertainties, my griefs, and my dark thoughts, along with my ideas, dreams, and goals. 

The tapestries of our lives are made up of good and bad; light and dark; rough and smooth; aren't they? 

My journals exposed some new truths to me, and reminded me of prayers that were never answered, highlighted by many cries to my God: "Will you please help me?"

I have heard it said God doesn't hide His promises and gifts from us; but He hides them for us to search out and find. So this week God gently, through my imagination, told me that I had been asking the wrong question. Instead of the "help me" prayer, I should try asking "Who can we help today?" In so doing, he showed me, I would find the answer to my first prayer, because as He helps others through me - He opens up my own spirit and soul to receive so much more "help" from Him. The flow is like a living stream that brings color and light and refreshing to not only my own soul - but to that of the person He shows me to bless.

My book, "Tapestry, The Divine Design for Your Life," is available for print and Kindle: https://amzn.to/3tplkBN

Remind Your Friends Who They Are

I woke in the middle of the night with the vision of a little boy who had fallen. His mama lovingly picked him up, dusted him off, set him back on his feet, and with a kiss and a pat, sent him on his way.

I feel this is a picture of what everyone needs today. We need to encourage one another, pick each other up, dust each other off, and send each other forward. How? We can do this with the power of our words. Let's call out the gold in each other; remind our friends of their dreams; help them remember who they are and the One they belong to; and speak life into their weary bones and minds.

Our words and encouragement shine like diamonds. Sometimes we can't see for ourselves who we really are. We need someone to tell us.

Perhaps part of our own identity is to be that one that helps another see theirs.

Isaiah 60:1 - Rise up in splendor and be radiant, for your light has dawned and Yahweh's glory now streams from you!

The glory of God is man (and woman) fully alive. St. Irenaeus

Love to all. I'm praying for every one of my readers wherever you are in the world. Let peace reign. You are healed in the mighty Name of Jesus. You are loved by the Love that created this world - the mighty One that will overcome. Just wait and see!

My Prayer This Morning

Papa God...

I have trouble concentrating lately...trouble focusing on a prayer...so much happening...so much to think about.

But this morning, I lift up my beautiful world to you...my family...my friends...into your embrace and powerful hands.

You are sovereign. We will follow your lead in great anticipation of your goodness.

Today and this season are but a blip in your great plan for us. We will not fear. We will hunker down in a loving home and we will hope. Yes hope.

In 2020, the best is still yet to come. And it will. May your healing touch be with those who are fearful, sick, and hopeless. Let us be a light that shines in this present darkness.

Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1 (NKJV)

Prayer - Not Fear - Will Overcome!

When my brother and I were about ages three and five in the early 1950s, a polio epidemic struck terror in our mom, who would not let us go out in public. What really saddened me was our beloved Wisconsin beach was off limits to us due to the uncertainty and lack of knowledge of how the disease was spreading. People stayed home. In those days, there was no vaccine. We all knew people who became infected with the paralyzing disease. The fear in my mother's face and her strict actions to keep us safe are what I remember most about this enemy that was attacking mostly children. In later years, I would lose a good friend to polio in spite of the large strides in medicine that were made to treat and prevent it.

In this time, when we face a worldwide pandemic, we are wise to take precautions, wait it out, and be diligent as we learn more. We are also wise to not get caught up in frenzy and fear. Media is not the fear generator. It is our response to it that is causing unrest.

I would like to post portions of Psalm 91 that we can be praying over ourselves and our world right now. There is a light and power much greater than this present darkness. Prayer - not fear - will overcome.

When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai,

you are hidden in the strength of God Most High.

He's the hope that holds me and the stronghold to shelter me,

the only God for me, and my great confidence.

He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy,

and he will protect you from false accusation

and the deadly curse.

His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you.

You can run under his covering of majesty and hide.

His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.

Don't fear a thing!

When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High,

our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm.

How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us?

Psalm 91:1-4; 6; 9-10 (The Passion Translation)

Do You Have a Spot?

We move a lot. I mean A LOT! And every place we move, I can't feel settled until I find what I call "my spot."

In Old Park near Kremmling, Colorado, it was beside a pretty mountain stream called Pass Creek. In Redding, California, it was on a big boulder by the Sacramento River. In Parachute, Colorado, it was on a quiet, sparkly lake on the Grand Mesa a short drive away. In Denver, it was on a big rock by Harvey Park Lake. Now, in Brownwood, Texas, I have found my spot in a pretty park along the Pecan Bayou.

In my spots, the blur of life takes focus and I sit there as long as it takes to feel a quieting. I pray. I sing. I take photos. I listen. He speaks. I write. 

Psalm 34:8 - Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

Do You Already Have What You're Praying For?

An Exclamation Point Love! Photo by Chris

Dear Reader - 
As always, I want to write to you personally. 
Heart to heart.
Love to love.
So much is happening in my world, but there are some things I've learned just lately that I want to share with you because I think they pertain to you, too.
Today I write the first one.
Many of us pine away wishing we could be more of something. Smarter, wiser, more loving, more discerning, a better mom, a better dad, a better friend, more organized, on and on.
I was that way this year in three areas. I prayed and almost immediately God showed me I already had what I was praying for.
For example. I prayed I could be a more loving person; not judgmental; truly free to share love without worrying about the risk. I prayed about this and immediately I turned to this verse in Song of Songs 4:5: "Your pure faith and love rest over your heart...." As I read this, I was at a ranch, sitting on a log, enjoying the warm morning sun. I was surprised. Really surprised at such a quick answer and affirmation. What I truly desired I already possessed. But then the real shocker. I turned around, looked down, and saw what I posted a photo of here.
God is not worried about me. I shouldn't be worried either. I just need to step into who I am and rest in His exclamation-point-love for me. 
What are you asking Him about? Watch for the immediate answer and trust it is Him and it is true.
Love to you!
- Chris
Read my story in my book, Tapestry - The Divine Design For Your Life; available in Kindle and paperback at Amazon. Click here.

Feb. 22 - Your Prayers...

When you pray for someone, that someone feels the love of God whether you can see something happening or not. Your prayers are powerful to bring all kinds of healing Thank you for bringing such love to our world!

Dear Lord, Bless my reader friends - your Sons and Daughters - and prosper them that they might in turn bless others. May their hands bring life, love, hope, healing, and freedom. May pain go, relationships be restored, and lives changed and be made whole. Amen.

September 18 - Answered Prayer

God is shedding light on an area of your life that you have been praying about. You will know how to handle it and what to say. He will give you words.

Matthew 7:7 - Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

August 31 - What is Your Heart's Desire?

Remember that God has your picture on His refrigerator. You are His favorite. He loves you with an everlasting love. He thought of you before he created the world. He knows you – really knows you. What is the desire in your heart? What have you been praying for? He wants to give it to you. Keep hoping and praying!

Ephesians 3:20 - "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us." (The Message)

Psalm 37:4 – “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”