Monday, August 27, 2018

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

Friday, August 17, 2018

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

Monday, August 13, 2018

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

Tuesday, August 07, 2018

Dear Daddy - February 25, 2005

Psalm 91

Daddy!

Daddy, they're hurting him!  No matter how often people restate their position, it doesn't make them right nor convincing.  Protect your good name by protecting those who bear it! Let your Truth prevail!

If it be your will for your glory, let me give a good word about that Truth.  You open the door and I will step through, but only if you make it clear by opportunity and invitation.  I will refuse to extol sin nor will I malign a Christian person's character, especially in the presence of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Honor belongs to your children; you give it to them.

Daddy, what do you want me to do?  Help me to tell the truth in love.  Help me to respond to your promptings not to react to situations.  Help me to be the best witness to the honor of your people and your glory, which covers them.

Love, Gina

Wednesday, August 01, 2018

Letters to God - April 23, 2005

Genesis 1

Dear Creator,


"For purple mountains majesty,
above the fruited plain..."



I think of this phrase of America the Beautiful whenever we drive east from the central valley of California toward Tehachapi.  The Sierra Nevada arise up, deep blue above the desert floor, which at that end of the valley, is green with table grapevines, citrus and nut trees, cherry and peach trees.


Oh, Daddy, it is beautiful!  It is a wonder!  Your handicraft is beyond compare!  Thank you for making earth for us!  Thank you for giving me the eyes to see such grandeur! Last night there was lightning and thunder, fairly unusual in the desert.  
Daddy, what a reminder of your power and the complexity of your creation!  Really, Daddy, you are the greatest and I recognize that living on this earth means being blessed by the Best, blessed by you!


As I ponder your marvelous creation, I like to think how it says something about you, Father God:  that you are beautiful, a wonder, complex, powerful, life-sustaining, marvelous...There are not enough words to describe you!


Thanks for placing me in the midst of you!



Love, 
Gina