We all have memories that stand out in our minds, good memories and bad.  If you are a parent, many of your most precious memories involve your kids.  The day I received this word in my journal was one of those memorable happenings.  Our twin boys were around seven.  I wasn’t guaranteed alone time with the Lord and often my kids were in the same room with me.  I remember sitting on my couch with my Bible and journal.  The boys were laying on their tummies, looking thru the vent hole of our fireplace insert.  Their vision was limited because the rule was “stay off the red” which was the flat hearth.  Their heads were close together so they could both see, and they were having this conversation in their quiet voices.  It was so sweet.  I would have taken a picture but that was before cell phones with handy cameras.  Wow!  It’s nice that I captured it in my journal!!  Thank You, Lord!!

From the journal . . . . November 1987

Lord, if you can’t get my cooperation, then feel free to manipulate me.  Lord God, I want to be a good influence on Valerie.  I have a love for her and her family, but I don’t know the most beneficial way to show it.  She doesn’t see You, but I know, and I told her, that You are there – all the time.

“Why should the nations say, ‘Where now is their God?’” *  Then the passage talks about the gods made by man.  Oh Lord – let Valerie see You.  * Psalm 115:2-8

Lord, Peter and Brian are looking through the hole in the fire barrel and they are talking about the things they see: “a battleship” “a seed”, “a battle cruiser” “a beach” “a duck” “a dog with a floppy ear” “a lion”.  Lord, these are things they see in the fire, while using their imaginations.  Of course, the things aren’t really there, but they can see the shapes and imagine the rest.  Please open Valerie’s eyes to see You.  You are truly there. 

Lord, I don’t understand the significance between Valerie, and my boys imagining things in the fire.

And I Believe God Said:

They see because they are looking – they want to see. Even things that aren’t there. I let them because they know the things aren’t there – they just see images.  How much more will I give eyes to those who want to see me! Valerie needs to desire to see Me and then she will.  The boys, looking in the fire, aren’t concerned with seeing the truth because they are playing. Valerie is playing with ideas. She doesn’t know what is truth.  She needs to want truth before I can show her.

Matt 7:8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Oh Lord, is that truly You?

Do you truly want to help her?

Yes Lord. You know I do.

Then believe Me.  Go for it.  You need to practice and you need to be willing to risk failure or you will never be free to be used by Me, as I want to use you.  You can trust Me.  Even if you misunderstand, I won’t allow that to hurt My causes. You will hurt, but I will mend and you will gain from it.

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life—
    for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Whoa.  That’s kind of scary but I love You and Your people.  I want to be used by You, but I don’t want to go off half-cocked.  Lord, can’t I have a guarantee?

YES.  I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU

Heb 13:5