Saturday, October 31, 2015

Learn to Listen to Him Even When Listening to Other People

Exodus 3:5 - Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." 

John 7:37-39 - On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

I Corinthians 6:19-20 - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 

Dear God, help me as I listen to others to be able to respond appropriately through Your guidance and through my listening to You. I want to be able to help others so help me to always be aware of what You are saying to me while I listen to their needs because I definitely cannot help them very well if I am not effectively listening to You. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Friday, October 30, 2015

God Is With You

Jeremiah 29:12-14 - "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

John 10:14-15 - "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

John 10:27-28 - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." 

Dear God, help me to never forget, no matter how busy my day may get, that You are with me. You are with me every step of the way. You will move mountains for me if that is what it takes. God, how much more I need You now than ever before as we enter the time in which I am forced to find new insurance that could break the bank but which I will need as things move forward toward me getting IVIG infusions after all these years of waiting because my immune deficiency just wasn't deficient enough before now. Things will be happening pretty fast once we get things moving. There is still the possibility that I will need another surgery to put a port in so they can do the infusions and labs, but of course, there are limitations in who can do labs and where labs can be done if we have to go that route. Please help my veins come out from hiding and strengthen them so they will be receive what my body will need these next few months or years. I have a team of doctors that has finally gone to the mat to fight for me to get referred for infusions. Give them wisdom to choose the right person to send me to for them to be done. Give the facility grace to help with financial stuff as You see best. If only we could get an extra $100 per month to help with the cost of the jacked up premiums for insurance, even that would be great. God, You know my needs now and into the next year or so. You know my fears and my anxieties and those of my mother. Please help us advocate so that appropriate legislation can be done to help me and others like me in my state and in this country even. I always tell people who speak against safety net programs that I never asked to be disabled, but what I did ask was for help when I needed it most. And that alone takes so much more courage than anyone can possibly ever know because to ask for help means to peel away all pride and put on all humility and humbleness. I have been torn about doing a crowd fund site, but I need Your direction now as to whether it would be the wise thing to do. Guide me, lead me, give me wisdom, comfort me, hold me, never let me go. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Linger in His Presence a While

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Hebrews 12:3 - Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 

Dear God, I need You right now because I am having a hard time right now. I am in a funky situation because of a recall on a prescription and having to wait on the doctor's office to respond to the request to submit a new prescription in a timely fashion. Please rest my heart and soul. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Do Not Expect to Be Treated Fairly in This Life

Isaiah 61:10 - I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Romans 5:3-5 - More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not out us to shame, because God's live has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Ephesians 1:7-10 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Colossians 3:12-13 - Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 

Dear God, I find it impossible to rejoice in suffering. Some people are just so miserable in their own lives that they set out to intentionally make others miserable as well. The bullies in this life are almost unbearable and intolerable. And some of them claim to be Christians as well. Those are the ones that bother me the most. On the other hand, teach me to be quicker to forgive when someone sins against me. Teach me to show them the same love You have graciously shown me. Thank You for holding me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Becoming More Aware of His Presence Makes Discerning the Right Way Easier

Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Dear God, the closer I get in my walk with You, the more I am beginning to feel that perhaps I should try to run for leadership at some point. Not only to show that autistics can do almost anything they want when they set their minds to do it, but also because we need real Christians to go forth and help the least of these. What we have now are hurting us. I want to not get stuck in the rut. I am ready for an adventure. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, October 26, 2015

Go to God When You Are Hurting

John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

James 1:4 - And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

Dear God, help me to remain focused on You. Do I have needs? Absolutely. Do I need help? Absolutely. But I can do nothing on my own without You alongside of me. It is not bad to be in reliance on You. It is bad to think one is self-sufficient. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sunday, October 25, 2015

He Is God With You

Matthew 1:21 - "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Matthew 1:23 - "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a sin, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us). 

Acts 2:28 - "You have made known to me the paths of life; you make me full of gladness with your presence."

Dear God, Jesus. Immanuel. The Lord saves. God with us. How excellent and mighty are You, God. Even when I cannot feel You, You are there. You love me so much that You sent Your Sin to be born of a virgin. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Friday, October 23, 2015

Lie Down in Green Pastures of Peace

Genesis 2:2-3 - And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Psalm 23:1-3 - The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 

Luke 1:76-79 - "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Dear God, I need You. I need Your peace. I need Your comfort. I need Your guidance. I need Your downtime. I need Your presence. I need Your restoration. And there is nothing wrong with needing You. Forgive me when I stumble and fall. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Turn Your Attention to Him and Feel the Light of His Presence

Psalm 16:11 - You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

John 17:20-23 - "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."

Dear God, I may not fully comprehend it now, but You do make known to me the path of life and there is fullness of joy in Your presence and pleasures forevermore at Your right hand. Your Son prayed for me before I was ever even conceived. Your Son prayed that I would be able to be one with You and You one with me. That is amazing! Thank You for caring so much about me that You would want to be united with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Joy in Spite of Circumstances

Psalm 21:6 - For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

Proverbs 2:1-5 - My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Dear God, as I go to the doctor for labs and an infusion today, please help them find the vein or veins they need. It was hard for them to find a good vein for surgery. There is not a lot of joy in being stuck with a needle. But help me to not lose focus on You as I go through this day. Help me find the joy I might be looking for today. Thank You for always being there even when I do feel You as strongly. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

How to Live in His Presence Continually

Job 1:21 - And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Psalm 139:23-24 - Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

I Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Dear God, help me to not be resentful when something doesn't go exactly as planned. I would rather continue showing trust in You than to be resentful. Did surgery day go exactly as planned? No. But did I become resentful? No. I left it in Your hands where it belonged. It was out of my control. I had complications before we could go in and they needed a successful IV that wouldn't infiltrate like the third attempt did. Is recovery going well? Not entirely, but I knew it wouldn't be an easy one. But instead of being resentful, I am finding the positives. I am trusting You. Thank You for blessings and blessings in disguise. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

He Is Your Living God

Psalm 139:14 - I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

Colossians 1:29 - For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

I John 1:7 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

Dear God, as my body fails even at a younger age than most, I pray that You keep my spirit alive and well as it grows over time in closeness with You. The human body in all its intricacies that You wove together is not designed for an abundant life. The spirit within, however, is jumping for joy at the prospect of eternity with You boundless and not burdened by a human body. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, October 19, 2015

Come to God Defenses Down and Ready to Be Blessed

Exodus 33:14 - And he said to him, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

I John 1:5-7 - This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 

Dear God, may I be able to get well enough to find a new church that will be loving and accepting, fully accepting, of me and my autism. Church was fine for a while until I was diagnosed and then it was just unpleasant as can be. After the diagnosis, church felt fake because the heart of the matter was corruption present and no one being able to speak up with the truth without fear of being punished. Church should never be punishing. It should be a safe place where everyone from a variety of backgrounds can come together and be honest and truthful with one another and feel loved and accepted. But for so many like me, church is not that place. It does not mean that we have no relationship with You. It just means church has forgotten how to be a CHURCH. Autistics hate facades. We are brutally honest. May I never come to You trying to hide myself. May I always be open and honest with You, especially since You know the deepest parts of me that I do not even know myself. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen! 

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Keep Your Eyes on Him as You Go Gently Through This Day

Isaiah 26:7 - The path of the righteous is level; you make level the way of the righteous.

John 10:14-15 - "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Dear God, right now, I have an obstacle that is keeping me from volunteering and doing the things which I love to do: it is post op. I am advised to call the ENT Monday about options for mucus reduction since I am not allowed to blow my nose until the doctor follows up with me on my ears. Another obstacle that seems impassable is with regard to my immune deficiency with below range subclasses now. We are now in consideration for a trial run of infusions during the season in which I am most vulnerable, but the doctor does want me to see the newer immunologist to get her thoughts. So now I await that referral to be made and an appointment (which hopefully will not take as long to obtain as one with the other one does). I am looking to You right now because I really only have two choices: I can either balk at the obstacles set before me or I can trust You to get me through them. Thank You for hearing me and knowing me. Thank You for allowing me to know You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Anxiety Comes From Lack of Focus

Luke 12:22-26 - And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have. Neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?"

Ephesians 3:20-21 - Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Dear God, remind me when my thoughts wander and become anxious that You are still there. Can I add an hour to my life by being anxious? No. If anything, being anxious can actually take hours from my life. Oh, how much more do You care for me than the birds of the air or the flowers of the field, yet you have made it so they are never in need. Are there things to be anxious about? Yes. But how should I respond to those anxieties? By putting my trust in You and placing them in Your hands. Thank You for caring about me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Friday, October 16, 2015

Look to Him Continually

Psalm 34:4-6 - I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. 

Psalm 105:4 - Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

II Corinthians 1:3-4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 

Dear God, thank You for peace that is constant despite whatever tests and trials my life may face. Peace that was ever present when my last grandparent passed away finally. Peace that was there when I underwent surgery last week. Peace that will remain there even as I face a major testing of patience with frustration due to an insurance company that has decided to break the law and poo-poo the sickest of their customers effectively prioritizing business over healthcare. Peace that will remain as I continue to fight injustice that is often in my position of rising self-advocate and advocate for the least of these. Peace that will remain even as I fight slander and malice that will arise during the advocacy stage of my life. You hear my cry and You comfort me. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Try to Stay Conscious of Him

Matthew 28:19-20 - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Hebrews 12:1-2 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter o four faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Dear God, help me to remember to put blinders on when I am in the race that You put me in. I need to keep my eyes and my focus on You rather than on those around me who may be trying to distract me from You. Thank You for protecting me and being with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Be Prepared to Suffer for Him in His Name

Psalm 107:21-22 - Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of the deeds in songs of joy!

James 1:2-4 - Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

Dear God, thank You for testing my faith in You. Even in ways beyond belief, when You test my faith, it gives me the opportunity to either trust You wholeheartedly or to grow my trust as I look to You for guidance and support. I may never truly experience true suffering, but the tastings I have had have been opportunities for growth. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Take Time to Be Still in His Presence

Numbers 6:24-26 - "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nation's, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Dear God, thank You for peace that surpasses my understanding and my circumstances. Help me to relax in Your presence and just receive that blessed peace You so freely give to me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, October 12, 2015

Beware of Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of Others

John 4:23-24 - "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 

Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 

Dear God, help me to always remember that Your opinion of me is the only one that really matters. You say that I am bought with the blood of Christ, renewed and will be made whole again on the other side. You say that You love me and have forgiven me of all my sins. You say that You will provide for me and that You will take care of me. So what does it matter when someone does not like the way I talk or the way I write or the way I dress or the way I act? I am me, not them. I am me, not You. And I may think that they are the one who is weird or strange or wrong because of the way they do things. So in my mind, I may be exactly okay, but someone else might not be, and in their mind, I am the weirdest thing they have ever met. Who cares? Your opinion is the ultimate opinion and the only one I should care about. Therefore, I am the daughter of a King in Heaven and am loved and blessed beyond measure. Thank You for that. And God, can You touch me with Your healing hands as I recover from the surgery? My nose is now on the mend, but my ears are still in a lot of pain and pressure. Please heal the ears and restore some of the hearing if You will. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sunday, October 11, 2015

God Is the Culmination of All Your Hopes and Desires

Psalm 62:5-8 - For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is form him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

I Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into s marvelous light.

Revelation 1:8 - "I am the Aloha and Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Dear God, today I am glad for the good things You have blessed me with, but I am also clinging to You as I am in a state of post-op distress awaiting some relief from the discomfort and a slowing of the post-op nasal bleeding. I pray for Your healing hand to do the work that needs to be done to help me feel better. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Trust Him Enough to Allow Things to Happen

Psalm 37:3-6 - Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your what. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 

Dear God, without You, I can do nothing. I can do nothing on my own, but I can do everything You help me do. My dependency upon You is a good thing. And sometimes You allow others into my life to help me as well. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Your Long Uphill Journey

Jeremiah 31:25 - "For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish."

Philippians 2:14-16 - Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Dear God, I know the journey is long and hard. And I do trust You. I know my journey may end up shorter than it should be because of some of the challenges You have allowed me to have. But I ask You to help me press on without complaint. Thank You for holding my hand though the journey. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

God Loves You with an Everlasting Love

Exodus 15:13 - "You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode."

Jeremiah 31:2-3 - Thus says the Lord: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Dear God, I will always need You. I will always need Your everlasting love. I may not be able to count on people in this world who have a habit of betraying people and loyalties, but You are one who can be counted on always and forever. That being said, let Your love wash over me as I go into pre-op today and surgery tomorrow. Guide the doctor's hands and give him the wisdom he needs to help my body feel better physically. Let Your healing work be done. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Release Your Worries to Hear His Voice

Psalm 118:24 - This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

I Thessalonians 5:18 - ...give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I Peter 5:6-7 - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Dear God, one day at a time. One day at a time. Baby steps one day at a time. With surgery coming on Friday comes much anxiety, but if I want to hear Your voice, I need to release those anxieties into Your hand. So please take all my anxieties and what ifs and hold them captive. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Be Willing to Follow Wherever He Leads

Psalm 36:9 - For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

Psalm 96:6 - Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the flight of life."

II Corinthians 5:6-7 - So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in. The body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. 

Dear God, where You lead me, I will follow. I do not know where this path and this journey ends, but it should be a relatively good one as long as I am following You wholeheartedly. Thank You for being on the path with me. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Monday, October 5, 2015

Joy Is Not Dependent on Your Circumstances

I Chronicles 16:27 - Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place. 

Habakkuk 3:17-19 - Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. 

Dear God, finding joy in the midst of battling hate pages against autistics on Facebook seems impossible, but I would rather find joy than focus on the negativity of those hate pages. Ugh. They are sickening and disgusting and Facebook has yet to respond appropriately to them. We have several people and organizations on top of things now. God, thank You for joy that is not contingent upon circumstances. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Sunday, October 4, 2015

He Is the Creator of Heaven and Earth

Zechariah 4:6 - Then he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts."

John 14:16-17 - "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you."

John 16:7 - "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."

Dear God, thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit as a helper in this life. Right now I ask for guidance and direction as I contemplate what the next couple of weeks will hold for me due to surgery and recent events. I also ask You to help every autistic and their families as we go through turmoil with hatred again due to another mass killing that has set some people off. I ask for You to heal the families of the victims and the heroes. I ask for You to intervene with the he lawmakers who have the power to change things in a positive light but have refused to do anything so far. I ask You to show people the error of their logic. God, if someone is placing more faith in a gun than in You, they have created an idol in that gun. Would I say I am a Christian if I was in that situation? Yes. Wholeheartedly and unashamed, I would say I am a Christian. I would pray for Your will to be done. No matter what. Would I be scared? Sure. But I will not deny You. Thank You for comfort, for rest, for wisdom, for love, for grace, for mercy, for hope, for peace, and for justice. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Trust Him When Things Seem to Be Going Wrong

Psalm 13:5 - But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

Ephesians 5:15-21 - Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Dear God, it is so hard to trust You in the midst of troubles. Troubles compiled upon troubles the other day. I was assaulted left and right. But the true test is what I choose to do in the face of the troubles, and right now, all I can do is trust You. Are the troubles fair? No. Are they right? No. But are they there? Yes. And at some point I have to trust You to help me face them. Thank You for steadfast love and salvation. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Never Take His Intimate Nearness for Granted

Luke 12:7 - "Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows."

John 1:12-13 - But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Romans 10:13 - "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Dear God, thank You for knowing me, my innermost being, the real me, the essence of me. Why should I care whether I can meet someone who can get to know me the way I would like to be known when I have YOU? You know how many hairs are on my head. You value me. And that is the best value in the world. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!

Worship Him Only

Isaiah 55:8-9 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

Matthew 11:28 - "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

I Timothy 6:13-16 - I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time–he who is blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Revelation 2:4 - "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first."

Dear God, thank You for grace. Thank You for rest. Thank You for having higher ways and thoughts than I can even comprehend. I had a rough day all around yesterday. I found out someone tried to ruin my life over something they likely misinterpreted and that they had called one of many volunteer places to try to smear my reputation. The slander is indeed very hurtful and very sad. To stoop so low like that. The plus side is that they did not get away with it as they chose to be anonymous with their claim. I am highly doubtful that it was a friend of mine though as all of my friends who know me well enough know that I have autism and that I sometimes lack social graces and conventions. They know they can ignore what I have said, clarify what I have said, or distance themselves from me. If it was a stranger, it was probably one I already blocked for being a bully on another media page. Some people seem to think that they have the right to an opinion but that no one else does. In my rising advocacy, I am going to run into people who will hate me. I read Matthew 10 yesterday after I cooled off a little from that report about what happened. I learned that if I will endure this, what that mentally sick person did to try to harm me and my livelihood, that I will be saved from the persecution. They may drag me through hell, but they will not win. I am out there in my community trying to THRIVE and trying to give back to my community which has blessed me beyond words despite of my autism, and the haters are going to hate, but they are NOT going to win. You are the good and kind and perfect judge. And I will leave that enemy that did that malicious thing to Your hands. Vengeance is YOURS. Not mine. If it was a friend, though, help me figure out who it was so I can remove them from my life. I do not need friends who try to destroy me or bring me down. God, help my love for You to never grow lukewarm. I want my love to always be real and genuine just like it is for my mom and my true friends. God, on another note that I need to turn over to You, I had the crushing notice that my really good insurance plan will be cancelled at the end of the year, right when we are finally getting some things figured out at that. It is not just an inconvenience, it is not right. It is an injustice. The third thing I need to turn over to You is the fact my doctor made a promise and then retracted on his promise to help me get the treatment I actually need. So I will pray that you will give my allergist/immunologist the ears to really truly hear my concerns about my immune system crashing and that You will give him the wisdom to consider a trial run of infusions for me for just a short time so we can see if they would help. I want my quality of life back. What little bit of life I may left. If not, may we see what our first and last vacation might be and then may You allow me dignity in the time I have remaining on this earth. I am scared, God. I am tired. I am tired of being sick all the time. I am exhausted. And I am turning everything over to You and putting everything into Your hands. Thank You. In Jesus' Name, Amen!