Letter Thirty-Five - From God

 Letter THIRTY-FIVE

From The Letters by P Michael Biggs

Dear Child:

I am all about simple things, and I want simple from you.

   Simple prayers. 

         Simple conversations. 

               Simple thoughts.

You don’t have to use big sounding words or holy sounding phrases. Just be you.

I’m not impressed with fluff. I don’t like a lot of high-minded blabber or lofty sounding words.

Just be yourself. Be true to the nature I have put within you already.

Even if you can’t utter the words, I still understand. I know your thoughts. I know everything about you. I love you, just as you are.

Your words are important, but your attitude is what I consider most. Just be you. Come to me just as you are.

Simple is beautiful. 

God,

From:

When the Heart is Heavy, Then What?

When the Heart Is Heavy, Then What? 

I’m going to talk specifically to those of us who currently have or have had what we might call “A Heavy Heart”. Heavy hearts ain’t no fun, as we used to say in the hills of Tennessee.

I’ve often not known what to do in the middle of my heavy heart moments. Have you? Perhaps you’re going through one of those times even now, in this moment of reading this.

Heavy Heart times are caused by those circumstances in life that just about crush us to death. The load is so heavy, the burden is so awesomely great, and the issue looms very large. We find ourselves scratching our head, wringing our hands, and wondering if God is anywhere nearby and does He hear and see you and me, and even care about what in the world is happening right now, this very minute.

And then some well-meaning spiritual super-power comes along and says, “well, Honey, you just need to pray more.”

Pray? I can’t even tie my shoes for the weight of this “thing” I’m carrying. “Pray” you say. 

Here’s the thing.

When the heart is so heavy, and the weight of the world seems to be resting on your shoulders in the awful times of life, maybe, perhaps, all you and I can utter is HELP! Now I used all caps and an explanation mark, but sometimes it comes out “help”. Or perhaps

H. E. L. P. !

And do you know what? God hears that kind of prayer too. Oh my. Yes indeed.

I’ve prayed that prayer before. Once someone near to me relapsed on a drug addiction that I thought was well behind her. I was so unprepared for that experience. I didn’t know what to do nor where to turn. All I could utter was “help”. (Lower case intended)

Maybe today is the day you pray the most acceptable prayer ever uttered. It’s nothing fancy. It’s not long. It’s not profound. It’s not eloquent. It’s a great cry for the God of the universe to come down and touch you in some unique way that only you need in that moment. It is a miracle prayer of one word, and this one-word-prayer gets attention.

Is your life a train wreck?
Have you made some really horrible decisions?
Is your past about to catch up with you?
Are you in a despicable and deplorably situation and you don’t know which way to turn?

This I know. A prayer like “Help” spoken in great moments of desperation and with a sincere heart gets attention from God himself.

He already knows what you did, or said, and what you are doing or have done. He wants so much for you to turn around and come to Him. He’s listening for your call.

I believe that with my whole heart.

Ann Lamott said this in here book, Help Thanks Wow:

“Prayer means that, in some unique way,

we believe we’re invited into a relationship

with someone who hears us when we speak in silence.”

So, step right up. You don’t have to get dressed up, put on your shoes, wear a necktie or a string of pearls, or even smell pretty. Just approach and say the words as you turn toward God: HELP! Help. help.

I don’t know in what form God will answer, but in time He will answer. It may be through another person, or it may be an idea that pops into your own mind, but God hears.

God hears.

P Michael Biggs

Internet Church Blogsite

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Letter Thirty ~ from God

LETTER THIRTY

Dear Child:

I can read your thoughts.  You fear that you’ve changed and that I may be mad at you.  Let me tell you about some others who have changed down through the ages.

David was one of my choice ones.  He was striking actually.  I destined him for a royal position.

He served me well for a time.  But then lust got in his way.  He looked at a beautiful woman and turned his heart from me.  He even had her husband killed so he could have her all to himself.  But he came back around.  He changed.

Seems he was in a constant state of changing; song writer, king, failure, murderer, and then back to my arms of love and forgiveness. 

Here’s another one for you:  Peter.  He was strong; a man’s man some might say.  Peter would fight at the drop of a hat.  He would proudly boast of what he intended to do and usually follow through.  On most days, he was proud to know me, but one day he turned on me.  He denied that he even knew me.  He said, “I never knew this man.”  He betrayed me.

And he changed.  He came back and became one of my strongest promoters. 

You see, people do change. 

Regardless of what you’ve done, do you see that my love and grace is reaching out to you?

I am your God, and I will love you through all the seasons of your life.

God

One-Hundred Letters from God,

Offering Hope~Encourgement~Inspiration

P Michael Biggs

From my book – The Letters

Letter Twenty-Nine from God

LETTER TWENTY-NINE ~ from GOD

Dear Child:

Let’s talk. 

Some people just can’t wrap their minds around the idea of having a personal relationship with God? 

Are you that way?

Give me a chance?  I’m not as fierce as others have made me out to be.  Oh, there have been times when I’ve demonstrated against some issues, but if you read carefully, a lot of those times have been against people who said they represented me, yet they were so far off base that I had to take a rather stern approach.

What I am is this …

I’m personal

I’m intimate

I’m all-present

I’m all-knowing

I am your God and I want a personal relationship with just you.  I want intimacy with you,

Come to me.

I am your God.

One-Hundred Letters from God,

Offering Hope~Encourgement~Inspiration

P Michael Biggs

From my book – The Letters

God and Life in These Days

God and Life in These Days

I don’t like much of what is happening in our world today. 

On my bad days, I am prone to flail my arms, curse, get mad or angry, and want to cut people off from my social media feeds.

And sometimes, on these bad days, I tend to forget where God stands in all of this.  Do you relate?

Well, this morning, here is what my spirit is sensing that God is say to all of us. Perhaps you, also, can gain a new footing and a good word of encouragement.

God is saying this …

Isaiah 41:10

Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not be dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you and help you,

I will hold you up with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:1-2
“Do not fear; I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you on fire.

Hebrews 13:5

I will never leave you … I will never forsake you.

Psalm 121:2-4

My help comes from the Lord,

The one who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

He who watches over you will never

Slumber. He who keeps Israel

never slumbers nor sleeps.

Isaiah 59:1

Be aware, the Lord’s reach is not short,

that he cannot save; nor is His ear

closed to your cries and concerns.

Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous;

Do not fear nor be dismayed,

For the Lord your God is with you

Wherever you go.

My friend, hold fast to the promises of God. 

A final word:  In 2 Corinthians 12:9 we read this … “God’s power shows up best in weak people.”  Max Lucado says “God might be looking more for empty vessels than for strong muscles.”

Internet Church Blog Site

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

The Way I See God

The Way I See God

As I think about God, I picture him exactly like this sign that was posted on St. Clements Church, Leigh-on-the-sea, in Essex, England. It captures the heart and the grace of God for all mankind.

“We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, gay, confused, filthy rich, comfortable, or dirt poor.

We extend a special welcome to those who are crying new-borns, skinny as a rake or could afford to lose a few pounds.

You’re welcome if you are Old Leigh, New Leigh, Not Leigh, or just passing by.

We welcome you if you can sing like Pavarotti or can’t carry a note in a bucket.

You’re welcome here if you’re ‘just browsing,’ just woke up or just got out of prison. We don’t care if you’re more Christian than the Archbishop of Canterbury, or haven’t been in church since little Jack’s christening.

We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome keep-fit mums, football dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters.

We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like ‘organized religion.’ We’ve been there too!

If you blew all your money on the horses, you’re welcome here. We offer a welcome to those who think the earth is flat, ‘work too hard,’ don’t work, can’t spell, or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.

We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost on the London Road and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts… and you!”

Did you read this as if from God? Go back and picture God saying these things to you. It might just blow your mind.

Internet Church Blog Site

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration

Letter Twenty~Five from God

Letter  TWENTY-FIVE

Dear Child:

You are now asleep.  Rest well, for I’m on guard duty.

I watched you today as you struggled against the world.  I saw your frustrations.  I heard the tension in your voice.  I saw you try to make sense of the stuff of life today. 

And now, you’ve finally drifted off to sleep. 

I’m hovering overhead.  If you opened your eyes, you might catch a glimpse of gossamer wings fluttering nearby.  That is my special angel just for you for tonight. 

Rest your troubles with me.  Wrestle not.  Cast them off just as if they were heavy sacks of potatoes that you might plop down on the kitchen counter. 

Lay down your burdens. 

Tomorrow is coming.  There is hope in tomorrow. 

I’ll be there tomorrow, as I was today.  Tomorrow you’ll have a fresh supply of energy, wisdom, and good sense.  And I’ll be by your side.

Sleep soundly, my child. 

Tomorrow you will have the strength and food you need.

I’m in charge tonight.  That is all you need to know.

God,

One-Hundred Letters from God,

Offering Hope~Encourgement~Inspiration

P Michael Biggs 

From my book – The Letters

Letter Seventeen ~ from God

Letter Seventeen

  

Dear Child:

There is one fear that some of you hold and it is a universal fear.  You fear I’ll run out of resources.

My dear loved one.  Come here, sit beside me.  Feel my hand on your shoulder. 

I have never run out of anything.  I have such unlimited resources that it is against my nature to run out of stuff. 

Your biggest fear of all is that you’ll exhaust my patience.  You fear that I’ll tire of your cries, your stumbles and your miss-steps.

Have no fear.  You can’t get beyond my patience.  You can’t run past my grace and love. 

I have enough.

Let me say that again.

I HAVE ENOUGH.

Enough love.

  Enough peace.

    Enough hope.

      Enough wisdom.

        Enough of everything. 

I’ll never run out of anything you may ever need. 

I’ll always have enough – for you.

God,

One-Hundred Letters from God,

Offering Hope~Encourgement~Inspiration

P Michael Biggs

From my book – The Letters

Letter Number Fourteen ~ a Letter from God

Letter Number FOURTEEN

Dear Child:

You’re disheartened.  And why?  Because you think nobody cares about you, even me. 

My child.  Listen to me with your heart. 

On the day you were born I said “YES!”  I said yes to you, to your life, to your future.  I have such grand plans for you.  If only you could see what I have in store for you. 

So, wallow around in your misery if you choose, but if you could take a walk with me and we could just talk, you would soon see what I mean.

Do you know that I notice the tiniest sparrow that falls to the ground?

Did you witness the sunset last evening?

Did you see the sun rise today?  Think of the millions of receptors that I have put within your eyes just to enjoy the beauty all around you.

Listen? 

Can you hear that seagull calling out to his friends?  Can you hear the airplane overhead?  I’ve put over twenty-thousand fibers in each of your ears simply so that you can distinguish sounds of multiple varieties. 

Listen to the children playing nearby.  You can hear them because of the amazing creation that you are.

You are my finest creation. 

I could go on, but you get the point.

I created you, you are mine and I love you more than your mind can take in. 

I am your creator.  You are my greatest miracle. 

Will you say “yes” to me?

Your God.

  

One-Hundred Letters from God,

Offering Hope~Encourgement~Inspiration

P Michael Biggs

From my book – The Letters

It's a Good Thing I'm Not God

It’s a Good Thing I’m Not God

I’m not God.  I can’t paint very well, I get some colors mixed up from time to time – like brown and green, purple and blue.  If I had created this universe, WoW!  You would really be amazed at the color scheme.

And If I were God, there are more than a few politicians with whom I’d deal a severe infliction of some type yet unknown.

No.  I’m not God. 

I’m not as loving as God.

I’m not as full of grace as I talk about how God is full of grace.

I don’t love all mankind equally, as God loves all mankind.

I don’t have the patience to be God.

I don’t have the wisdom to be God.

And I have too good a memory to be God.  I learned a long time ago that God removes our sins from us as far as the East is from the West, and He never remembers them against us again.  I can’t do that.  Once, in eighth grade, there was this kid – Larry.  And he …

Well, never mind. 

No, I’m not God. 

However, I’m glad God is not napping.

I’m glad He is not on vacation.

I’m glad He doesn’t show favoritism.

And I’m especially glad for His love and forgiveness for my own frailties. 

And you, too, benefit from that love and forgiveness.

Internet Church Blog Site

P Michael Biggs

Hope~Encouragement~Inspiration