I Really Love You

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

There are some people that "love" You, or rather, call themselves Christians because their parents make them, or they want to get someone's attention. If someone asked me why I call myself a Christian, I can confidently reply that it's because I love You. I am Yours, and You are mine. Thank You for choosing me. In everything, may I make it clear that I love You and am proud of You.

Thank You
In Jesus' Name

Amen!

No Spiders

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

There's so many ways that You remind us of Your faithful love; both in big ways and little ways. For me it's spiders (well, most big bugs, but especially spiders). I asked You not to let one fall in my hair or me put my foot in a shoe that has a spider in it, etc. Well, there seems to have been so many times it could have happened, like just now with that ugly thing on the wall, the one by the bathroom (my foot was really less than an inch from it. I didn't see it because it was dark) and the rain spiders (ugh!!!)

I just want to say thanks Father. It's easy to think You never do anything for me, when here You are keeping the spiders off of me! Thank You for all You do. Thank You.

Sharon

Service Attitude

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

Why do I serve with such a yucky, yucky attitude? Why do I have such a serious, introspective, introverted disposition? I was going to ask something else, I think, but I don't remember what. Anyway, please help me serve like You: gladly. Joyfully. If You show me how and help me, we both know I'll do it.

Thank You Father
In Jesus' Name

Amen

Friendship Takes Work

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

I'm reading Dark Blue by Melody Carlson and I just read where the youth pastor, Mike, talks about You being a friend. And I realized something: a friendship takes work on both sides.

In our friendship I KNOW that You work and have worked...and will work! You've done a lot more than me (obviously). But I realized that I have to put in more effort. I will, through You. By Your grace and help, I will. Please show me how. Please help me stop being lazy and actually come away with You. Hang. Enjoy. Yet learn.

I want to be comfortable in You and with You, instead of always worrying or being self-conscious. Truly my Lord, I want You as my Best, Best Friend. Please let it be so.

Thank You
In Jesus' Name

Amen!

Lord Jesus, my Best Friend

God's Unpredictable Trustworthiness

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

We were watching Moses, and a few thoughts struck me:

1) How . . . hard must it have been for Moses to go and do what You wanted him to do? He'd already told you that he couldn't speak properly. You made Him go anyway. I wonder if He expected pharaoh to let go after one, or at most, two tries. How shocked and embarrassed must he have felt when pharaoh said no so decidedly. And the Hebrews were probably not very helpful, perhaps calling him false and crazy.

2) What must he, an unnatural leader, have felt like trying to lead the Jews who complained more easily than saying thanks?

3) Biggest of all, what was it like for Him when Jannes and Jambres imitated the signs you performed through him?

4) Now this is the biggest biggest of all: They'd overcome all the obstacles of pharaoh and his hardness, but then they faced the Red Sea with nowhere else to go to. And to top it off, the Egyptian army was near behind them. What was Moses supposed to think? What piercing accusations must the Israelites have said to him?
And yet, at the right moment, in the nick off time, You opened the sea for Your people! Who could have foreseen that? Who could have imagined that You would do such a thing at what seemed like the end?

But You, oh God, are faithful. You will always keep Your word. You have always provided for Your people. You have always provided for me! Why then would I ever remove my trust from You?

Dear Lord, I ask You to help us keep believing You. You are not limited and You are not unwilling. In Luke 12:32, You said:

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

And if that is Your good pleasure, how much more will You provide us with all we need, spiritually, physically, mentally and every other way.

Thank You Lord King

In Jesus' Name

Amen!!

Missing Friends

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

I was thinking about old schoolmates yesterday. It's sad to see what some of them have become. Nevertheless, I will keep praying for them. Dave thinks it's highly unlikely that they'll become Christians. Well, there's nothing that's impossible for You. Please save them all. And please help me to keep believing for them. Thank You, in Jesus' name, amen.

But there's a good side to this! There are some of my old schoolmates who are Christians, and passionate ones at that! Keep them dear Father. Thank You so much for them and for letting us meet each other. I miss them so much! But we'll meet again - if not on earth, then with You, in Heaven! Thank You that that day is drawing ever closer.

Preserve us all until then.
Thanks

In Jesus' Name
Amen!

Happy Days

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

I had such a wonderful day . . . two days ago. And yesterday. And today! Thank You!

It was wonderful returning to the simple things I know (reading a good, Christian novel, singing to You). I trust You my King. Thank you for the sacrifice you made for me. Me (Luke 15:4-7). You're awesome. Teach me to be just like You. You've done wonders in me already. Continue Dear One. I love You.

Thank You that it's so.

In Jesus' Name
Amen!

Believing God

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy

There's something stuck in my teeth and it's really irritating. Please let it go away. Thanks, in Jesus' name, amen.

~*~*~

I feel bad. I feel not close to You, like I've done something wrong. I feel kind of like when I'm the new person. I haven't done anything wrong. I just feel partly worried, or something like that.

It's because of believing. Am I doing it right? I read today that I'm supposed to rest in You. You'd take care of all my desires.

I just thought something: Lately, having true faith has been hard. I wonder about the simplest things! I've described the other types of problems with believing before eg. something is far from me, so I can't see the outcome, so my faith is apathetic. And I just thought that with something like praying for my future family, I think I may not always be trusting in You for the answer, but just taking it for granted that it'll turn out alright

Help me to trust You PLEASE.

Thank You.
In Jesus' Name

Amen

Straying Away

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy

I feel horrible! Terrible! Dry and empty! Why? Because my times with you aren't right anymore. They're rushed, they seem like just a part (or rather, You seem like just a part, instead of the whole) and they feel empty, void of any substance at all. It's because they (You) aren't my main focus. Please forgive me. And please help me out. I keep seeing this problem come up, but I keep falling back into it anyway!

I'm so fed up with it, and I just want it over, destroyed, ended. It's just that things keep seeming to hold more appeal; more fun. They seem more interesting.

I don't want to hurt You. I really don't mean to. You know all this already. Please help me return to simplicity in You. Please help me keep every part of me focused on You - my mind that so often wanders in prayer or Bible reading, my heart which wants to hold other things in higher regard than they ought to be (than You).

Lord, if You don't help me, who will? You're my God, my Rock, my only Source of strength. So help me to stick to You and with You. Help me enjoy You and not hesitate when they say "let us go to the house of the Lord."

Thank You.
In Jesus' Name

Amen!

My Character

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

I took a character/personality test at Blogthings, and these were the results:

You Are An ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal. A good listener, you excel at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. In love, you express your emotions through actions. Taking care of someone is how you love them. And you do it well! At work, you do well in a structured environment. You complete tasks well and on time. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist. How you see yourself: Competent, dependable, and detail oriented When other people don't get you, they see you as: Boring, dominant, and stuck in a rut

What's Your Personality Type?

I was quite astounded by how true some of the things were! I wonder about things like seeing myself as "competent" and making a good child psychologist, but the first paragraph is 102% accurate! Well, may I keep being who you've made me, for Your glory.

Thanks!
In Jesus' Name

Amen!

The Grass is Greener

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

Thanks to mom, I got to thinking about "the grass is always greener" idea. It's so easy to get that way. Mom's example was the people in Old Testament times, who longed to see and know the things we do, and us who wish we could see You act like You did back then (not in every way, mind You, just in speaking with a human voice or doing something spectacular like parting the Red Sea. I for one wouldn't like the quick, strict dealing out of judgment You used back then, like with Akan).

I know what to do though. I have to be content. Count my blessings. I have sooo much, Father, including in the way of relating to You! You said in 1 Timothy 6:6 that godliness with contentment is great gain. It is :-D! So help me live that way. It pleases you Daddy, and that's all I want to do. Please help all Your saints live that way.

Thank You
In Jesus Name

Amen!

God's Leadership and Love

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

Right now I'm listing some of Your characteristics. I came across Jeremiah 2:6 while I was doing it:

Neither said they, Where is Jehovah that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that none passed through, and where no man dwelt?

I thought to myself, "What a horrible place they went through! But they came out. Why? Because of You." The verse said "Jehovah that brought us up out". So I thought, "When we go through hard times and come out of them, it is because of You. And though we may not easily remember that You're with us through the hard times, we do remember once we're out. I think that we really ought to hold on to that when we enter another hard time, so that we don't doubt Your loving care.

I love this line from Nicole Nordeman's song Sunrise:

But every shadow is evidence of sun

When we're in the valley of the shadow of death, Your there. You're there.

Lamentations 3:22-23

[It is of] Jehovah`s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Thank You for Your love, leadership and faithfulness.
I Love You

Sharon

Trusting in the Lord

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

I had an yoyo day yesterday; I was up, then I was down. The issue? Believing You whole-heartedly and settledly in everything, not just some things. This seems to crop up from time to time, but I must thank You, for this year You've really dealt with me on it.

So anyway, mom and I talked, which really helped. I grasped the help you gave me from her and so I was able to get better. I was on 77%. But then I came to You to have a heart-to-heart on the whole thing, and I just cried it out. I honestly didn't think I would feel happy after that. Nevertheless I asked You to help me and give me peace. You know what? You did. It's why I'm smiling now, dear Father.

For the rest of the day, and a bit of today, I've been working on this site, especially trying to create image links for people, if they want to link to the site. I just got it! I'm so happy about it! I'm grateful for Your help. I didn't start out asking for it (somehow, I think the belief thing was part of that), but I ended up doing so. Still, You helped me all the way. How great is Your faithfulness Daddy! I know for sure that You will help me in this regard. I Believe It :-D

Finally, I told dad how I got the links right. We rejoiced together, then He told me something interesting. He said

"So you see, sometimes we have to wait for some things to happen. If it doesn't happen immediately, we mustn't get frustrated. We should continue to wait on the Lord and trust Him."

Dear Father, I take that as a word from You. I do need Your help in doing it, especially when it's hard. But You're my strength! You're my ever-present help! Through You, I will overcome. By Your grace, I will conquer.

Be glorified in every area of my life, at all times my Father. Thank You.

In Jesus' Name
Amen!

Pride and Humility

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

I noticed something while I was singing to You with the guitar. When I keep my focus on You, I play the song properly, but if I start to imagine performing and what people will think (and so my aim is no longer to please You) then I start messing up. I think (actually, I know) that applies to all of life. When we keep our eyes on You and humbly do stuff solely to please You, You help us and we get it done right, but if our aim is to impress people or draw attention to how good we are at something or other, pride can easily step in and make the whole thing crash.

Proverbs 18:12

Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility.

Enjoying Being with God

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

There's something I really don't like: I don't always look forward to stuff like my time with You, my time with You and my family and stuff like that. Why is it that way? I don't like it that way and I don't want it to be that way. I want to look forward to being with You and doing spiritual stuff ALL THE TIME. I don't want to find it boring anymore, ever again. Please give me a desire and longing for Your presence as well as a total enjoyment of it. Thank You, in Jesus' name, Amen.

~*~*~

I want to live in peace with people. Like I said once, I don't like debating stuff. I'd rather just...I don't know. I wouldn't like to just pass an issue by though (at least, not always). You know what the strangest thing is? I'm inclined to argue - to the death of the matter! Then I get all wimpy when someone disagrees. Ha! Oh well.

Getting Out Issues

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

I finished Hebrews today. It's nice to read Your word and enjoy it (which I did). Thank You.

~*~*~

You know what? Sometimes I get jealous of the weirdest thing: other Christians expressing the fact that they have joy in You, that they're loved by you and that they're passionate about You. It's because I don't always feel that I have those same things. But what does it matter what I feel? Feelings alone are often such liars! It's a pity that I often want to follow them.

Sometimes, when I don't feel that I display a particular characteristic, even when everyone else around me says I do, I start to deny that I have that characteristic, and so I get all sad and jealous of others who are displaying it. I don't want to live with that kind of denial anymore. It often leads to me dissing myself, sometimes even in an attempt to display humility! But that's not true humility. I read somewhere that humility is seeing good character traits and being able to rejoice in them gladly whether they're in me or in someone else, seeing as it's You that gives them. And anyway, why should I try to "humble" myself by beating myself down? By Your death and resurrection I am "seated together with Christ in the heavenly places". Does that leave room for beating myself down and denying the qualities You gave me for Your glory? Certainly not!

So help me to be truly humble, not jealous and not in denial. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Thank You. I enjoyed this time with You.

Approval and Self

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

I don't take criticism well, whether it's constructive or not. Not only that, but I hate debate. I prefer to go unchallenged and have everyone like me and agree with me. If that's not the case I feel HORRID. I'm ready to throw up, I shake enough to be an inconvenience to myself, my chest constricts, my face feels flushed and I can think of nothing else but "that" for more than a day (sometimes)! I can hardly even take debate in, say, a classroom setting!

Please help me! People will definitely challenge me at one point or another, sometimes for my good and sometimes not. But I can't get like this every time they do. I'm tired of it. One of the biggest consequences of it is that I then try to get back into the person/people's good book/s in the pathetic way of smiling and laughing with them and trying to hang with them so in the hopes that they'll forget our disagreement. Please Lord, help me. It's Your opinion alone that counts forever. Help me remember Who You are and how much you cherish me.

~*~*~

In Isaiah 51:12 You said,

"I, even I, am He who comforts you.
Who are you that you should be afraid
Of a man who will die,
And of the son of a man who will be made like grass?"

I agree. I mean, I'm Your child. YOUR CHILD. In the case of a non-Christian disagreeing with me about You, I musn't let myself be so self-conscious that I water down what I'm supposed to say (which is exactly what I tend to do). When You were on earth, You were full of humility and grace, yet You told it like it was! I want to be just like that, just like You. Thank You. And thank You for listening to me and actually doing something about it Father. I feel better :-)

Matthew 5:11-12

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Thanks and the Future

by Sharon Chimere-Dan

Dear Daddy,

I really like the way this site looks, and I'm especially happy that I've got the pages! Thank You for helping me get it right. Thanks so much!

~*~*~

I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I know a lot of things I don't want to be, though. I don't want anything to do with science or hard maths (all the stuff about binomial theorems and such). I don't want to do engineering or cooking either. I don't want to teach...do I?...

You know what I think is fun? Design. Designing stuff (eg interior design, web design, fashion design, etc) is fun! Making things with my own hands (eg a scarf, a book, a blanket, a card something else useful) is fun! The only problem is that I'm not all that creative, and so I'm not sure I'd have the stamina or anything to be able to make a career out of that.

I already have one almost-definite thing I plan to go into. It's cool because if You're in it with me, I can strike one deal and sit tight for 10 years! But I want a fun career on the side, You know? I want to do more than answer phones all day. I want to interact with people and do projects with them.

Well, thank you that it's in Your hands! Help me do all the right subjects in preparation for whatever I do. Thank You!

In Jesus' name
Amen!