My Epic Journey

What is your concept of prayer and if someone asked you what it is supposed to look like, how would you answer? 

I am wrestling with this myself.  I have grown up with the prayer concept that prayer consists of flowery words that are hard to understand and the more closely it resembles to the KJV language, the more accepted it is by God.

I have been studying this topic in depth as it is an item of interest with my Senior High students and what I have found is both exciting and scary as well.

The fact that prayer is just a simple conversation with God has been exciting.  I no longer have to use big words, words that I myself don’t understand.  I don’t have to go to great lenghths to sound ridiculous when talking to my Abba Father.

On the other hand, I have realized that a majority of my prayer life is nothing more than an extensive Christmas wish list.  I take little time to praise God which should make up a significant part of my communication with Him.  I have seen Him more as a spiritual santa claus than as my Great loving Father.

My challenge to you is, the next time you pray, evaluate your language and your subject.  If the prayer doesn’t make sense to you than maybe you should change the wording.  And if the subect deals mostly with you and not with God, the focus most definitely needs to be changed.

In our Sunday night, Senior High progam we are finishing up a series entitled, LINGUA:  Mastering the Art of Communication.  I have continuously tried to convey to our students the importance of words spoken.  In fact, there are two things you can never get back once spent, TIME and WORDS.  Once used they are gone forever.  That has never been more relevant than with the words of former Seinfeld star, Michael Richards (Kramer).  While at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, Michael went on a racial tirade.  The things he said—appalling.

Check out CNN’s story on the bit www.cnn.com and if you are really up to it you can check out the whole phone video of Michael’s language vomit at www.tmz.com. 

Matthew 12:36, I say to you that for every idle word men may speak they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 

My family and I are going to be away for the week celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday with extended family.  Since my mind will most be on Turkey and football I thought it best to write now about what I am thankful.  As I sat down yesterday afternoon with my student leaders in a meeting, we finished the meeting by sharing what we are thankful about.  I was overwhelmed in my heart with all that I AM thankful.  So here is a SHORT list of those things:

–A beatiful loving wife (I can not express my thanks to God for giving me such a wonderful completer)

–Three beautiful, funny, healthy children

–A church that not only talks about grace but lives grace

–A youth group that is diverse as they get and yet has accepted us and loved us for who we are

–Friends, here and a far.  To those in Michigan–thanks and I love you.  To the Beans in Indiana–Kim, thanks for killing my diet while we were there with helathy portions of your amazing  banana cake and to Jason for being a friend to such a dork.  Thanks for loving us and being instrumental in the healing process for us.  Hope to see you over Thanksgiving.  To the Carpenters–we can never express our love to you in words.  God has blessed us beyond reason by placing you in our lives.  If it wasn’t for Aric I would truly believe you were angels (sorry Aric!!!).

–For my family.  My parents who have supported us and have gone out of their way to take care of us.  To my brothers and their family–God has blessed you all but more importantly He has blessed me through you.  And to my sister–it has been a rough year for both of–but I truly do believe I would not be where I am at today if it wasn’t for your prayers and encouragement.  May you realize how much you really are loved–not only by us, but most importantly from God.

–And finally, my Father–my ABBA FATHER.  Thank you so much for your grace and love even though I have failed you countless times.  Thank for taking me through the trials of my life to teach me humility, love and mostly allegiance to you and not man.  You are my EVERYTHING and I love you!!!!!!

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone and don’t forget to take time to thank the ONE who has given it all to you!!