My Dearest Pappa God, Lord and King, 

My heart feels as if it could explode with gratefulness. My eyes are filled with tears, not of sadness or despair but because of the miracle working power that I have seen You work in my life. When people ask me what I'm upset about, I just have to tell them that these are not tears of sadness but tears of joy, and wonder and amazement at what You have done for me, especially in the past 6 months. 

As we sang the lyrics this morning that say "Chains fall, fear bow, Here now, Jesus You change everything, Lives healed, hope found, Here now, Jesus You change everything" I could not contain the tears as the floodgates of my heart burst wide open at the thought of the miracle working power of Your Name. Truly, this was my statement of faith and now my anthem as I have watched you work in my life this past year. 

Where there was despair, You brought hope. Where there was incredible sadness that was trying to suck me down into the dark place of unbelief and hopelessness, You brought a joy deeper than the gravity of my circumstances and set my feet upon the firm foundation of Your unchanging, unaltered, ever powerful Word. Where there was anxiety that sat in my chest like a 2 ton boulder, You brought a peace that passes understanding and my heart lept with unfettered lightness as you filled me with the beautiful dream of what my future would be.  Where there was impossibililty, you proved that ALL things are possible with You, if I will only persevere in prayer, faith and belief. Where there were strongholds, you brought breakthrough, totally obliterating the walls that the enemy had built around what is my rightful possession. Where there was deception and darkness, You brought brilliant, purifying light. Where there was weakness, you brought the strength that is forever attached to Your Name that is greater than even the strongest strength on earth. Where there was blindess, you brought eye opening, truth revealing sight.

Each time that I thought I was at my very end, you did something so glorious that it got my full attention and filled my heart with hope and faith. When I was felt lost, your Word never failed to illuminate my path and showed me the next step. When I felt alone, You filled my heart with Your Word and Your presence, comforting me and letting me know that You will NEVER leave me nor forsake me. Where there was death, you brought resurrection and life because that is who You are and what You do. I can truly look to the future and smile because it is filled with the knowledge that You are the Alpha and Omege, the beginning and the end and everything in between. You are the one who makes everything new. Where there is death, you bring rebirth and a new creation. Where there is destruction, you rebuild with a new, stronger foundation. Everything You touch becomes new, fresh and beautiful. Hope saturates all that You do. Gratitude and thanksgiving have become the new air that I breathe and the song that my life sings everyday. 

When I cried to you in the night, and I said Pappa, I need you to take care of me, You wrapped Your loving arms around me and whispered Words of love and comfort and I feel asleep blanketed in the peaceful assurance of Your promise. When my mind was buffetted by the realities of my situation and despair was my constant companion, you filled my head with songs that illuminated Your providence and promise in my life and You led me to the place of hope, gratitude, and victory. I can say with the Psalmist, 2“Had it not been the LORD who was on our side
            When men rose up against us,
      3Then they would have swallowed us alive,
            When their anger was kindled against us;
      4Then the waters would have engulfed us,
            The stream would have swept over our soul;
      5Then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.”
      6Blessed be the LORD,
            Who has not given us to be torn by their teeth.
      7Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the trapper;
            The snare is broken and we have escaped.
      8Our help is in the name of the LORD,
            Who made heaven and earth.

YOU, my Lord, have rescued my life. YOU were my only solution and YOU came through for me faithfully, powerfully and completely. YOU have restored my joy and my hope. YOU are EVERYTHING to me. Once again, You have proved yourself to be true to Your Word that says "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..." Lord, You have completely supported me when I could not even stand. You carried me when I had no strength. And somehow, You took the dust of my pulvarized heart and used the glue of Your love to put it back together, leaving it greater in its capacity to love, to forgive, to have empathy for others, to have hope, and to believe all that You have said about Yourself. Only You could accomplish what you have done. 

There is no power on earth or in Hell that can defeat You. When You speak, it is done, decisively and completely. You still breathe life into things that are dead. You heal, restore and bring reconciliation. You are the only solution to every problem. And You guard your children. You know when even one hair falls from their heads. Truly I live what the Psalmist also knew.


​1 Lord, I have so many enemies, so many who are against me.
2 Listen to how they whisper their slander against me, saying:
“Look! He’s hopeless! Even God can’t save him from this!”
Pause in his presence

The Help of God3 But in the depths of my heart I truly know
that you, Yahweh, have become my Shield;
You take me and surround me with yourself.
Your glory covers me continually.
You lift high my head when I bow low in shame.
4 I have cried out to you, Yahweh, from your holy presence.
You send me a Father’s help.
Pause in his presence

The Song of Safety5 So now I’ll lie down and sleep like a baby--
then I’ll awake in safety, for you surround me with your glory.
6 Even though dark powers prowl around me,
I won’t be afraid.

The Secret of Strength7 I simply cry out to you:
“Rise up and help me, Lord! Come and save me!”
And you will slap them in the face,
breaking the power of their words to harm me.
8 My true hero comes to my rescue,
for the Lord alone is my Savior.
What a feast of favor and bliss he gives his peop