“God said No”
 
I asked God to take away my habit.

 God said, “No…
     It s not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.” 

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, “No.  His spirit IS whole, his body is only temporary.” 
 I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, “No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn’t
granted, it is learned.”
 
I asked God to give me happiness

 God said, “No.  I give you blessings; happiness is up to you.”

I asked God to spare me pain.
 God said, “No.  Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and
brings you closer to me.”

I asked God to make my spirit grow.

God said, “No.  You must grow on your own but I will prune you to make
you fruitful.”

 I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
           God said, “No I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.”

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
 God said, “Ahhhh, finally you have the idea!”
 

“Communication” has become a valued skill and buzz word in our society.  Parents want to develop better communication skills with their kids, husbands want better communication with their wives, co-workers want better communication between themselves, employers desire better communication with their employees.  Clearly the point can be made that communication is a key ingredient in personal and professional relationships.    

So the question we are posing to you is ….”How is the communication between you and your creator, God, going?”        

A friend of CCM shared her story….

Praying is my source of strength.  God is my confidant and my hope.  Most of all knowing God is always there gives me great comfort.  You might ask…”So how do you know God is there?”  My confirmation that God listens came through my deciding to keep a prayer journal.  In my journal I would write any prayer request I had for my needs or the needs of others.  I waited and when an answer came I would record it.  There were times I didn’t recognize that an answer had come until later.  In hindsight when I saw the answer I wrote it down.  What a faith building experience.  I learned that God doesn’t always answer the way I ask and usually it is in God’s time not mine….but there is no doubt that answers come.  I saw it in black and white.  As the pages of my prayer journal were filled my faith grew stronger and stronger.  Here is a glimpse into my prayer journal.  I was asked by a young girl to prayer for her as she had an eating disorder.  The entry was on June 19th.  I had encouraged her to tell her parents but she was sure they would not understand and so she was adamant about not saying anything to them.  My prayer entry included a request that God give her the strength to tell her parents and that her parents would be filled with compassion and understanding.  On July 30th the girl informed me that she had somehow found the courage to talk to her parents and that they were very supportive.  Her healing was able to move forward and my prayer was answered.  Another entry involved a friend who had lost his faith and made a conscious decision not to believe anymore. I prayed that my friend would find God in his life again.  Five years later my friend did reconnect with God and he was truly transformed.  I realize now that during that long time while I was thinking I had no answer that God was really giving me a gift.  The gift of learning to plant seeds of God’s love in my friend’s heart and with others.  This was a good lesson in never giving up on prayer.  Recording my prayers and God’s answers has been my way of communicating with God and living out these words…..

”Pray on every occasion.  Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit.  Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all.”    Ephesians 6:18

Prayer, meditation, and mindfulness all help to bring our minds, bodies, and spirits into balance.  There is no right way or wrong way to build on your Spiritual connection.  Truth is YOUR WAY, the way you choose is the most important way. 
Prayer Offers Wisdom Expression Release
POWER to inspire and heal.