Sometimes I think there is confusion over Who God is and what prayer is. God is the Creator of the universe, the One in charge. God is not a Genie in a bottle, a fairy-godfather or mother, a wish granter or magician. God is God and there is no other.

So, when I pray, I am communicating with the Creator of the universe. I share my trials and joys with Him. He already knows them, but I share because I have relationship with Him and that's what you do in a relationship.

And, when I pray, yes I ask for things. Things like healing for self or others, safety, protection, hope, joy from sorrow, maybe even no sorrow, abundant life for self and everyone . . . etc. And when I ask, just as my children always knew, I may get one of three answers; yes, no, or wait. Because I trust God, because God is God, I will accept the answer, even if it is not the one I sought, even if it seems like it must be the wrong answer.

Faith, my faith, means accepting God's answers, no matter what, and knowing without a doubt that God, the Father, has nothing but abundant life in mind for me. And, while there are times-and there were several of them this year-that my trust trembles, my faith never falters. It's easier to trust and believe through my trials than to think some obscure universal nothing is in charge.

And, when I pray it is with total reliance upon the One who authored all of life, including mine.In Proverbs 3:5-6 He tells me to trust Him, lean not on my own understanding, and he will make my paths straight. The order is important. Trust comes first, because I am not going to understand everything and there will be things in my life that make my path go off course.

So, I choose to trust.

My Source

I think it comes down to what your 'source' is. My source is the Bible. I follow Jesus. Jesus said he did not come to abolish the law, but to complete it. Jesus said it is not what goes into a mouth that is unclean, it is what comes out. Jesus said all food is good. I believe all humans-adult, child, infant and unborn- should be treated with respect and love. I believe animals should be treated as animals, not humans. That means not abused, but also not revered. I love all of nature. And, I thank God for providing plants, animals, and water for our nourishment.If anything I ever do appears out of sync with what I believe, and with what Jesus would have me do, I would ask you remember that I am a sinner, living in a sinful world and I mess up. I am thankful I have a Savior I can run to when I mess up, Who always welcomes me back.I am NOT perfect and never will be in this earthly life. But I follow the One who is perfect. And that is a good place to be.

It's About Trust

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a common memory verse.

"Trust in the Lord with your whole heart, and lean not on your own understanding but in all ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight."

I learned this with a cutesy little song at Vacation Bible School when I was a child. But, as an adult this verse has challenged me again and again. My choice to trust or to not trust I what determines my destiny, not chance. And, while asking Jesus to be my Savior was a once and done thing, trusting Him and committing all my life and my will to Him is a constant, ongoing, moment-by-moment thing.

It's trusting Him even when it doesn't make sense. Because when I lean on my own understanding of things I see more ugly, anger, hate, injustice, and hurt than anything else. My understanding is partial, shallow, and selfish. I don't begin to understand the things our family has recently faced—much of which is heartbreaking and surely seems futile—and I  find myself, like Solomon, seeing life as a "chasing after the wind."

But I have chosen to commit my life and my will to Him, the One who does understand . . . ALL of it . . . He understands now and forever, behind and present and beyond the present. He's the One I choose to trust. I look forward to the day I understand. But, for now, I trust and follow the path that He makes straight for me—even when it feels quite crooked