You know what I want?

• I want to own a business and work for myself.
• I want my kids to be the bravest most self-confident kids in the world.
• I want to get an RV and get lost with my family for a summer.
• I want to go back to Switzerland.
• I want to have a family that lives nearby when I’m old.
• I want a pool in our backyard.
• I want everyone in my family to accept and follow Christ.
• I want a successful blog.
• I want to make $80,000 a year in oil royalties, $80,000 a year from other family investments, and own a business that nets another $150,000 a year.
• And I want to spend more time at home with my children.

But the past few months I have been drawn over and over to the same prayer.

It’s not all the time.

But when I am alone late at night and tired, with my head on my pillow, I feel my heart sometimes yearning.

When I do, I reflect on the list above and then ask for what I really want.

God give me a heart like yours. Guide me to care about the things you care about.

I want everyone in my family to feel that same pull.

I love you.

-Dad

Title: Know Who You Are Talking To
Speaker: David Wilson
Location: Lubbock, TX
Date: 8 September 2019
Verse: Matthew 6:9

I. Pray with recognition
II. Pray from a relationship
A. Father by creation
B. Father by conversion
III. Pray with a realization
A. Community of faithful followers (Not alone)
B. Child of a forgiving father (Not unknown)
– 1. You are wanted
– 2. You are welcomed

On our trip to the beach this summer we stopped in San Antonio for the night.

In addition to nearly dying of heat stroke with an ill timed boat tour on arrival, we almost let the heat get us a second time by touring the Alamo in the heat of the following day.

The morning of the Alamo we walked to Shipley Donuts for a late breakfast.

Mom and K left after a bit in search of an egg-free breakfast across the street at Whataburger, while H and I finished our donuts and coffee and Shipley.

Before we left to meet up again at Whataburger, a haggard looking young woman quickly came in, asked for 2 donut holes, counted out a few coins, and briskly left.

You girls had asked a few questions about some of the homeless people you saw sleeping here and there on the sidewalks that weekend too.

And while I do think much of people’s problems (in first-world nations anyway) are self inflicted or cultural, in one way or the other, let’s never lose our sense of perspective and thankfulness about it all.

For God is close to the brokenhearted.

I love you.

-Dad