Comment from aryr

Excellent

What a beautiful idea, Tom. I loved the picture of the windy road, the trees and the distant mountains. Your words began with a prayer written by Dr. Charles Stanley of In Touch Ministries. I too believe every day should begin with a prayer of some sort. Very well done and greatly enjoyed. Blessings!!!

 Comment Written 28-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 28-Mar-2023

Thanks so much aryr,
The picture is of Alaska near Anchorage, about forty miles from where I live now. The gal who took goes by the name Alaska Pat on Fan Art. She's a fantastic photographer. We don't always see the impact our prayers have, but we're directed to pray nonetheless. Lord knows how much I've benefited from the intercessory prayer of others. I know I've certainly been blessed beyond anything that my natural abilities would have provided, so obviously someone has been thinking and praying for me. In my time on Fan Story, I've run across so many people who are dealing with issues that are scary or heartbreaking. It's always good to remember them in prayer. They are in one sense a family to me as well, and as such I want what is best for them, just like the Lord does.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom

reply by aryr on 28-Mar-2023

You are so very welcome, Tom, I agree that prayers are great.

Comment from Deniz22

Exceptional

If you broke any rules, you kept a greater command. Thanks for a timely reminder and your own thoughts and humility in no way conflict with Stanley's prayer. They only enhance it. God bless you brother, Dennis

 Comment Written 28-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 28-Mar-2023

Hello Dennis,
thanks so much for your kind words and the exceptional review. I don't want to plagiarize anyone's work, and I was afraid it might come across that way on the one hand, but Dr. Stanley's prayer is one that we can all relate to.
Have a blessed day my friend.
Tom

reply by Deniz22 on 29-Mar-2023

Well said, my brother. God bless you, Dennis

Comment from Wendy G

Excellent

That's an uplifting and meaningful prayer and it reflects my heart as well. Thank you so much for sharing it. I agree with you re writing what is meaningful, and that's my resolve as well. I appreciate your thoughtful post.
Wendy

 Comment Written 28-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 28-Mar-2023

Hello Wendy,
Thanks so much for the great review and thoughtful comments. I think as Christians we can all get behind such a great prayer and adopt it as our own. I love the gentle spirit and the wisdom that Dr. Stanley has. His many years as a pastor has refined his ability to communicate and I and many others have benefited from that.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom

Comment from karenina

Excellent

What a wonderful post. I'm sure I can't be the only one who needed to read such a thing today. Reaching out and sharing your faith with others is the best thing you could do. God is up there smiling~~I'm 100% sure He likes it when we take the time to acknowledge that without Him we are indeed lost souls.

"I'm grateful to know that regardless of where this day takes me, You will be right there with me. There is no shortage of good things in your presence."

Love this. I wrote it out on a notecard and taped it to my refrigerator.
Thanks, Tom!

Karenina

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Hello Karenina,
Thank you so much for the delightful review gal. I discovered In Touch Ministries some years back on the TBN channel. I took an immediate liking to Dr. Stanley, and have been supporting his ministry ever since. His ministry delivers a monthly devotional, I believe around the world, as well as what they call the Messenger Lab. It's an electronic bible of sorts that is in a number of languages that are usually not printed in bibles. That way the word can get out to people in places where there is almost no other way to hear the word of God.
I'm so glad that you wrote this prayer out. I find it encouraging.

On a different note, I love your name. Would you mind telling me it's origin? It sounds Ukrainian or Russian. In any event, it's lovely.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom

reply by karenina on 28-Mar-2023

Hi Tom! My dad wanted me to be named Karenina, after his favorite novel-Anna Karenina. My mom asserted she who endured 17 hours of labor got the final word. Hence, while my birth certificate says *"Karen"--(and what a name to have in this social media age!)--my dad called me Karenina. When he died, it seemed the ideal pen name ... A way to honor him. Thanks for asking!

reply by the author on 28-Mar-2023

Hello Karenina,
Well, I wouldn't place too much emphasis on what social media has to say, and I'm sure you don't. I love both names. I've always liked the name Karen, and I think honoring your father is a great idea. I've never read the novel, but I may have to check it out. There are so many things to read out there, and so little time. I just finished up a book titled The Ultimate Gift. I bought it Amazon after watching the movie. The book is good, but I think the movie was better. I also picked up a book from the library for $1.00 titled Garbage Nation. It's more of a documentary. I'm not sure if I'll finish it or not. It is somewhat informative about a subject that we all deal with and seldom think about. I may even do a post about it once I've read a little more. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know about your name. I think people are so interesting.
Blessings
Tom

reply by karenina on 28-Mar-2023

I think so too! I'm always looking for great things to read, so I may look into some of what you are reading...

Comment from Mary Vigasin

Excellent

Tom, This is a beautiful prayer and thank you for sharing it. Your gracious words on writing are heartfelt, however, I will disagree with you on one point in sharing this you do have an impact. You gave an excellent prayer to begin a day and/or a reminder that we must keep Him in our day.
Best wishes,
Mary

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Thank you so much for your kind words Mary. I wish that I could claim the message from that prayer, but I suppose in the long run, it doesn't matter. Dr. Stanley has the most wonderful messages and such a gentle spirit.
Have a blessed evening gal.
Tom

Comment from Pam Lonsdale

Excellent

You shared a beautiful prayer that obviously means a lot to you personally. After reading your opening, I first felt like you were doing exactly what you said you didn't want to do. And then I realized that you were moved to share something that is meaningful to you with us. That was special for you to do, Tom.

Have a blessed day (as you always end your messages to me).

Pam

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Hello Pam,
Thanks so much for your kind words. I appreciate what you have to say. I know that everyone has different views about God, and each person's relationship with Him is theirs alone. There are certain pastors/writers who I gravitate to because I so appreciate their message. One such person is Dr. Stanley. I've benefitted from his wisdom many times down through the years. Some folks you can read and it just doesn't resonate, but I love his gentle spirit.
Since we're four hours apart, I'll end with - have a blessed evening gal. I truly hope you do.
Tom

Comment from Bill Schott

Excellent

This article, A Morning Prayer, is a vehicle for these two revelations. One is that you would feel bad about shoving something out here that wasn't meaningful to you. When what you have done isn't gelling, what you've read is good too.

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Thanks so much for the fine review and comments Bill. I appreciate you taking the time to read and review this.
Have a blessed day.
Tom

Comment from jmdg1954

Excellent

I would like to thank you for your writing and the inclusion of the morning prayer. I've copied and pasted it onto a notepad from which I can read and print.
Thank you!
John

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Hello John,
Thanks so much for the great review and comments. I was hoping that it would be something that others would want to copy for their own devotional time. I really like Dr. Stanley. He's got a gentle spirit and his many years as a pastor has blessed him with a great bit of wisdom.
Have a blessed day.
Tom

Comment from Jannypan (Jan)

Excellent

You did a great job sharing, Tom. I liked your words
before the prayer from the bookmark. I believe as long
as you credit the original author, there's no problem
sharing their words. I liked the prayer--so much meaning
in its short verse. I liked what you wrote about the take
aways from writing shared on FS. The art choice was beautiful
and from what you've shared about your home, so appropriate.
Thanks for sharing, Jan

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Hello Jan,
thank you so much for your kind words. I appreciate them very much. I can't recall what the part of FS is - Fan Art I think, where the various artists display photos and drawings that we can use for our stories and poems. Alaska Pat lives in Anchorage, about forty miles south of me, and her talent is exceptional. She has quite a portfolio that is well worth checking out for those who would like to get a view of the south-central area of Alaska.
Have a blessed day gal.
Tom

Comment from Tom Horonzy

Excellent

You are a good man and your testimony has value. Thank you for sharing. All one needs to do to know God exists to travel the Alaskan coast, which I did thrice in '73-74 with the USCG

 Comment Written 27-Mar-2023

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reply by the author on 27-Mar-2023

Hello Tom,
thanks so much for the glowing comments. You're right, Alaska has so much to see. I'm sure you told me before, but where all did you travel when you were up here? Were you stationed in Kodiak or Southeast or elsewhere? We've been watching I think it's the Discovery channel about the coast guard in Alaska, specifically the air rescues. Those are some of the bravest men I've ever seen. They literally risk their lives to save others. My hat goes off to them and all of you who have served. Well done.
Have a blessed day.
Tom

reply by Tom Horonzy on 28-Mar-2023

USCG Jarvis:WHEC-725 was stationed out of Honolulu, Hawaii but shared SAR duties out of Kodiak. We ported in Adak, Ketchikan, Sitka and Seward. You may have read of her as she ran aground, before I was TAD to her, in November '72. A book, ?All Present and Accounted For? has been written by its Captain. It's an interesting but poorly written book. . She served on Ocean Station November and fisheries patrols and search and rescue missions in the Bering Sea. We also, captured a Japanese ship that was fined five million for illegal fishing, after a two day chase.

reply by the author on 28-Mar-2023

Hey Tom,
thanks for sharing that. I didn't know that they sent ships from Hawaii to Alaska. I wish there were more patrols of the Bering and elsewhere off Alaska. Those squid boats take a terrible toll on the salmon population. Of course the nets they discard or lose keep catching and killing too. I really wish our government would take a more aggressive stance against the criminals who steal from us. I'm sure you've seen much more of Alaska than I have. Adak would be desolate duty I would think. Southeast though would be nice. I love the area there, I just can't live there anymore- too hard to get to doctors ect. and the ferry system has failed the people.

reply by Tom Horonzy on 28-Mar-2023

Adak is no longer active Navy.