"I Love a Tender Day"

Today, I am having a tender day. Do you know what I mean by that? A tender day for me is when I feel somewhat weepy inside -- tears seem right on the edge of my eyes. Often a tender day happens as I think of loved ones who are distant from me, combined with a awareness of the brokenness of this temporary world I live in.

Also, on a tender day, I seem to be leaning in very desperately for a deeper sense of Divine companionship and a desire for a keener focus from Heaven's perspective. A tender day finds me usually feeling overwhelmed by what's expected of me as a pastor, a husband, a daddy, a friend, and member of society, but finally surrendering all of those unrealistic expectations to the wonderful reality of knowing The Holy Presence of Jesus is mine and is so much more essential than my human performance.

All-in-all, you have probably gathered by now that I love a tender day. A tender day is proof that I am not numb, yes, a tender day is undeniable evidence that my soul is fully alive. And especially on tender days, I know that Jesus is wanting to reveal His mercy and grace and love and peace to me and within me in brand new ways.

Eddie Rabbit wrote an old country song in the 1970s titled, "I Love a Rainy Night." Well, maybe I should write a new Christian song and title it, "I Love a Tender Day." (Because I do.)

Grateful

But God Had Listened to Abraham's Request

(23) The sun was rising as Lot reached the village. (24) Then the LORD rained down fire and burning sulfur from the heavens on Sodom and Gomorrah. (25) He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, eliminating all life—people, plants, and animals alike. (26) But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following along behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (27) The next morning Abraham was up early and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the LORD’S presence. (28) He looked out across the plain to Sodom and Gomorrah and saw columns of smoke and fumes, as from a furnace, rising from the cities there. (29) But God had listened to Abraham’s request and (though God did not spare Sodom and Gomorrah, God) kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain. -- Genesis 19:23-29 (NLT)

...God remembered Abraham...
-- Genesis 19:29 (NKJV)

God, Who knows the heart...
--Acts 15:8a (NIV)

The earnest prayer of a righteous person (one person in right relationship with God) has great power and wonderful results.
-- James 5:16b (NLT)

Lord, let me be in right relationship with You, especially because my loved ones may be depending on my requests -- both spoken and unspoken -- for Your mercy in their lives. All in the Name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. And Amen.

Grateful