Barbra Streisand - Have I stayed too long at the fair

Conversing with the Lord. (Given to me by a friend)

Our Father Who Art In Heaven.
Yes?
Don't interrupt me. I'm praying.

But -- you called ME!

Called you?
No, I didn't call you.
I'm praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven.

There -- you did it again!

Did what?

Called ME.
You said,
"Our Father who art in Heaven"
Well, here I am..
What's on your mind?

But I didn't mean anything by it. 
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord's Prayer.
It makes me feel good,
kind of like fulfilling a duty.


Well, all right.
Go on.


Okay, Hallowed be thy name . 

Hold it right there.
What do you mean by that?

By what?
By "Hallowed be thy name"?

It means, it means . . good grief, 
I don't know what it means.
How in the world should I know?
It's just a part of the prayer.
By the way, what does it mean? 

It means honored, holy, wonderful. 

Hey, that makes sense.. 
I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. 

Thanks... 

Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven. 

Do you really mean that? 

Sure, why not? 

What are you doing about it? 

Doing? Why, nothing, I guess.
I just think it would be kind of neat if you got 
control,of everything down here like you have up 
there..We're kinda in a mess down here you know.

Yes, I know;
but, have I got control of you? 

Well, I go to church. 

That isn't what I asked you.
What about your bad temper?
You've really got a problem there, you know.
And then there's the way you spend your money -- all on yourself.
And what about the kind of books you read ? 

Now hold on just a minute!
Stop picking on me!
I'm just as good as some of the rest 
of those people at church! 

Excuse ME..
I thought you were praying
for my will to be done.
If that is to happen,
it will have to start with the ones
who are praying for it.
Like you -- for example .... 

Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention it,
I could probably name some others. 

So could I. 

I haven't thought about it very much until now,
but I really would like to cut out some of those things.
I would like to, you know, be really free. 

Good.
Now we're getting somewhere. 
We'll work together -- You and ME.
I'm proud of You. 

Look, Lord, if you don't mind,
I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does.
Give us this day, our daily bread. 

You need to cut out the bread..
You're overweight as it is. 

Hey, wait a minute! What is this?
Here I was doing my religious duty,
and all of a sudden you break in
and remind me of all my hang-ups. 

Praying is a dangerous thing...
You just might get what you ask for.
Remember, you called ME -- and here I am.
It's too late to stop now.
Keep praying. ( pause ... . )
Well, go on. 

I'm scared to. 

Scared? Of what? 

I know what you'll say. 

Try ME. 

Forgive us our sins, 
as we forgive those who sin against us. 

What about Ann? 

See? I knew it!
I knew you would bring her up!
Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories.
She never paid back the money she owes me.
I've sworn to get even with her! 

But -- your prayer --
What about your prayer? 

I didn't -- mean it... 

Well, at least you're honest.
But, it's quite a load carrying around all that 
bitterness and resentment isn't it? 

Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her.
Boy, have I got some plans for her.
She'll wish she had never been born. 

No, you won't feel any better.
You'll feel worse.
Revenge isn't sweet.
You know how unhappy you are -- 
Well, I can change that. 

You can? How? 

Forgive Ann.
Then, I'll forgive you;
And the hate and the sin,
will be Ann's problem -- not yours.
You will have settled the problem
as far as you are concerned. 

Oh, you know, you're right.
You always are.
And more than I want revenge,
I want to be right with You . . (sigh).
All right, all right . ...
I forgive her. 

There now!
Wonderful!
How do you feel? 

Hmmmm. Well, not bad.
Not bad at all!
In fact, I feel pretty great!
You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight.
I haven't been getting much rest, you know. 

Yeah, I know.
But, you're not through with your prayer, are you? 
Go on. 

Oh, all right.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. 

Good! Good! I'll do that.
Just don't put yourself in a place
where you can be tempted. 

What do you mean by that? 

You know what I mean. 

Yeah. I know. 

Okay.
Go ahead. Finish your prayer.. 

For Thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen. 

Do you know what would bring me glory --
What would really make me happy? 

No, but I'd like to know.
I want to please you now..
I've really made a mess of things.
I want to truly follow you..
I can see now how great that would be.
So, tell me . . .
How do I make you happy? 

YOU just did.

Today - Sung by John Denver

What Season is It In Your Life?

What Are YOU Wishing For?

It's late Friday, and my mind is reflecting on my first week out of treatment. Treatment has ended, but new things have begun. It makes me think of the Seasons - Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. What season is your life in? I think for me - I am in the season of "Spring." You know how that feels - when those of us who live in a snowy area are seeing the dirty piles of snow melt.  The bare ground starting to thaw.  Maybe even starting to see a shoot of a tulip nub appearing... That is what is happening with my life (although certainly not right yet with the weather here in Massachusetts! LOL).

For so long the ground has been bare as I went through treatment. Even grim at times. There were times were I just didn't know if I could go on another day. Another dose of chemotherapy, another day of gazing in the mirror at a face I didn't recognize.  Another day of just trying to make it through the day. I guess I would compare that to a grey bleak winters day. When you are wondering if it is every going to clear and if the warmth and sun are ever going to return again.  It would have been easy to sink into despair.  But you see - Spring was right around the corner.

When I was a little girl, my parents use to take my brother and I camping. We had this game mom had made up - but as a child we firmly believed in.  We would get into the car bags packed, tent packed ready to take off and we'd look at the sky which had suddenly gone cloudy.  Mom would look at us and say, "Okay kids, we gotta hold on to the sun so it doesn't rain." And she'd tell us to make a fist and hold on tight to the invisible string (like holding on to a balloon string) that was attached to the sun.  I can remember holding on tight all the way to the camp site which was sometimes hours away.  If it rained it meant I simply didn't hold on tight enough. ;)  We truly believed we were "holding on the sun."

What are you holding tightly to? What are you hoping for? What are you believing in? The Bible tells us that "All things are possible for those that believe." (Mark 9:23)  What are you believing?

It's Springtime in my life right now. The old is gone and the new has come. Things seem a bit more vibrant and well maybe a bit uncertain... I'm in a new place in my life. And everything is "new" even right up to the "new sprouting hair on my head!" (LOL)  I'm stepping out in faith in certain areas Even if it is just "baby steps." Unclear of what will happen, but certain that I need to go forward. So I'll keep walking. I may not always know where my steps will lead me, but He does. And I have to remind myself that we are not to "go by our feelings" - because they are so temperamental. They fluctuate just like the weather... "Well today in Kelly's emotions the day is rainy.. but the sun is slowly coming out.."  No - we have to know who we trust in - even when we don't "feel it." Even when we don't "see it." We have to remember that He said that "He is the same today as He was yesterday as He will be tomorrow." (Hebrews 13:8)  There is a comfort in that isn't there? A security in knowing that while EVERYTHING AROUND US MAY CHANGE - God never does. Maybe that is why He is our rock? I don't know about you - but I find comfort in that and you should too.