Dear Daddy - May 31, 2005

Oh, Daddy,

Don't let my heart be poisoned by negativity, by cruelty.  Please, lift me above the ashes of relationships that others have burned down.  Help me to heal.  Help me to initiate reconciliation.

I see, Daddy, why you want us to love each other; you want us to extend grace to each other.  It does not look Christ-like to be excluding others or by being unkind.  I look to you, Daddy, to help me rise above, to not be dismayed or put down or have my spirit crushed.

I want to be kind and gracious.  I want to extend You to others.  

Daddy, what will it take for someone to give their brokenness up?  When will healing begin?  Please, help!  Only You can change and heal those who need it. (and don't we all need it!)

Love, 
Your devoted daughter,
Gina

Dear Daddy - May 31, 2005

Daddy, 

Your world is so soothing.  As I sit here in the shade of a tree with birds chirping around me, I consider how perfectly you made this world.  It perfectly protects and provides.  Here on an Ohio spring day it seems so calming.  That's how vacations should be!  Here it is the third day and I am completely at rest.  That was quick!

I had been contemplating why you allow for rest.  Daddy, you rested after creation and you created eternal rest for us, so I know you are committed to rest:  a place where strife is reduced and peace reigns.

I have to admit, I was feeling guilty about going on this vacation at first.  Almost like I "shouldn't" be leaving the demands of my workplace behind.  This speaks a warning to me:  I can easily get to thinking I am way too important!  You, Daddy, are the important one.  You can use anyone to do your work.  You just use me when I make myself available, but I am not critical to the accomplishment of your ways.  

Thanks for the relief!

Love, Gina
Hebrews 4:1

The Disciplines of Life

When God wants to drill a man,
And thrill a man, 
And skill a man
To play the noblest part;
When He yearns with all His heart
To create so great and bold a man
That all the world shall be amazed,
Watch His methods, watch His ways!
How He ruthlessly perfects
Whom He royally elects!
How He hammers him and hurts him,
And with mighty blows converts him
Into trial shapes of clay which 
only God understands;
While his tortured heart is crying
And he lifts beseeching hands!
How He bends but never breaks
When his good He undertakes;
How He uses whom He chooses,
And with every purpose fuses him,
By every act induces him
To try His splendor out - 
God knows what He's about!

      - V. Raymond Edman

Letters to Daddy - May 6, 2005

Oh, Daddy,

You always show yourself faithful.  Quickly, you turned around the circumstances that were causing me to feel unsure.  Often, I want guarantees from my circumstances that I have designed, that I find to be the best.  Then you come up with guarantees that show me the most about you!  You are my guarantee!

I am grateful you showed me quickly after my request.  I know it doesn't always happen that way, but your quickness demonstrated that I am in your hands and in the right place.

When I can feel assured, then I now how much to plan, what goals to establish.  You are so good to me all the time, Daddy.  Praise to you!

Love, Gina

Dear Daddy - February 28, 2005

Daddy,

I need your words today!  I will soon be in a confrontation where I want to have your words;  I want to teach.  I want to influence, even if facing an attack.  Please, Daddy, give me your words and your humble Spirit.

Oh, Daddy, but what I need most is more of you!  I am finding it difficult to set aside as much time to devotion and meditation.  Claim my time for you, Daddy.  Set me apart for your use.

Is that what you want, Daddy?  For me to keep working?  Even so, I need more of you.  How else can I survive attacks or influence others, but that I have you?

So, Lord.  So, Dad, I can do this.  I can face them; I can facing losing my job, which is a secret fear of mine, because you will be working through all situations.  

Thanks, Dad!
Love, Gina

Jeremiah 1:19

Dear Daddy - February 26, 2005

Daddy,

You want me to resolve this right now with you, not just with another person.  While I dealt fairly with that person, you want me to give it up to you, too!  The Message says, "Don't stay angry.  Don't go to bed angry.  Don't give the devil that kind of a foothold..."

That's why you won't let me go to sleep.  I need your peace on this.  Ban the devil from tormenting me:  keep me from demanding perfection/performance from myself.

It is true, Daddy.  I need you to take over this.  Please, give my attacker peace.  Let him know I have a heart-felt forgiveness for him.  I promise I will tell him!  Give me your grace to be gentle with him and sensitive.  I want my forgiveness to be thorough.  Forgive me for not giving it more quickly.  Please, protect my attacker - no, my brother - so he can have a good sleep, a cleared mind, and grace for tomorrow.

Thanks for showing me your way, Daddy.  

Your devoted daughter, 

Gina

Dear Daddy - February 26, 2005

Dear Daddy,

I want to live righteously.  A "right" life which measures up against your standards.  Right now I am measuring my strong emotions with yours.  Do any of us have the right to our feelings?  Did I have the right to be angry?  Did I do the right thing with my anger?  The answer has to be "yes" since my brother, Jesus, demonstrated so many emotions.

I admit my emotions got the best of me, though.  James 1:20 says, "A person's anger does not work the righteousness of God."  It doesn't bring about the righteousness you desire.  So, Daddy, was any of my reaction sinful?

I teach adults in a stressful situation and they often purposefully want to avoid their role in the change situation they are in.  One of my students was rude, tried to take over the class to suit his needs.  I stopped class; I took a pause. I ended class with prayer; I left.  I went back to face my attacker after I calmed down. 

As  teacher with the mantel of authority on me, I felt the need to put limits on his future behavior.  I did the right things but I question myself because of my strong emotional reaction, which I still feel in this moment, hours later.

Daddy, show me where I went wrong.  Lead me to provide teaching and leadership around this incident.  Tell me what to do.

Love, Gina