It's been a long time...but this is important

II Chronicles 5-6
...May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.... (5:20b)
...When the heaves are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel.  Teach them the right way to live... (5:26-27a)
...When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when enemies besiege them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come and when a prayer or plea is made by any of your people Israel -- each one aware of his afflictions and pains, and spreading out his hands toward this temple--then hear from heaven, your dwelling place.  Forgive and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men)...(5:28-30)

Me--So basically when life seems bad and hope is lost...or even when things look good....but I think we all know it is when life is hardest this applies the most....especially if you are reading this and you have never cried out to God...it will be easiest to understand or cry out when life seems hardest...so I digress, when all seems lost and life is hard, the Word of the Lord says that we can pray to Him, Solomon asks that the Lord hears us.  That He forgive and deal with each person who prays to Him.  See....it's important.  It's important to pray to Him, the Almighty, Holiest of Holy, and He WILL hear you....

...so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Istael, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name....(5:33b)
...When they sin against you--for there is no one who does not sin--and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captinve to a land far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and pleas with you in the land of their captivity and say, "We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity where they were taken, and pray toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and toward the temple I have built for your Name; then from heave, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their pleas, and uphold their cause.  And forgive your people, who have sinned against you.  (5:36-39)

Me--You see....so despite us...despite America...our chaos, our selfishness...our brattiness...our self-absorbing, sinful attitudes....HE STILL SAVES US!  HE IS STILL THERE FOR US!!!  HE STILL DIED FOR US; HE STILL SAVES US!!!

How can you read these words...these Holy words from God's Book of Life and not see.  Not see who we all really are, how we are ALL like this...no matter where we are in life.  If we are someone who is three to thrive at church Sunday AM, Sunday PM, and Wednesday...or someone who frequently hears them say...Lightning would strike if I walked into a church...it doesn't matter!  We are ALL sinners...and Praise God...we are all SAVED by grace.

Grace-something given freely when undeserved....

...O Lord God, do not reject your anointed one....(6:42)

Me--O Lord our Good, I beg you...please do not reject your anointed one...give me the heart for the lost that you desire me to have.  Give me the reserve of truth so that I have the words necessary to illustrate the love you have for me, for others...that persuades people what being a Christian really is all about.  It's about failing, but leaning on you to help us recover and learn from the failure.  It's about love, true love, for everyone we encounter...even when we don't feel like it.  Or loving them when they don't feel like it.  Oh, Lord, ignite this town, this city, this region, this state, this country!