23-Aug-14

O Lord, you alone are my hope.
I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
Yes, you have been with me from birth;
from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
No wonder I am always praising you! Psalm 61:5-6Did I realize that my Dad and Mom taught me from childhood about the love of Jesus?  How He cares about me?   I remember the childhood prayer that led to prayers that come from the heart.  Through these prayers Faith and Trust were born.Bowing our heads at the supper table when I was a child, I listened to our Dad pray, “Komm, Herr Jesu; sei du unser Gast;und segne, was du uns bescheret hast”.  A German prayer that was published in the year 1753 in a Moravian hymnal.  I remember listening to the prayer and wondering when Dad learned it, and wondered what it meant. Later I learned – “Come, Lord, Jesus, our Guest to be. And bless these gifts bestowed by Thee“.  Mother painted this prayer over the table in the kitchen in Watonga, OK.Praying, head bowed, eyes closed and hands clasped in complete adoration and thanksgiving – Dad prayed.  I learned that though I could not see God,  I, too, could love Him.  Through the years, I continue to pray, knowing full well that God hears and listens and answers prayer for our children and grandchildren, and generations beyond.  As the years continue, I have learned that Trust comes after faith.  Trust is  Joyous Heart-Faith.  The Knowing and Trusting brings confidence to the joy in my life, not just one day, but every moment.There is a reward for living joyously?  My cup runneth over…..You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1:8-9