My Mommy is sad a lot since Daddy went away. We can’t find him. Can you?
Dear God:
My turtle died. We buried her in our yard. Is she there with your now? If so, she really likes lettuce.
Dear God:
I have scary dreams at night. Mommy says I can’t come in with them anymore ‘cuz I’m too big for that. Where do scary dreams come from, or should I ask the devil that?
Dear God:
Did you invent skateboards? Do you have them up in Heaven too? I love mine a lot and can do lots of tricks already. Do you like watching me?
Dear God:
I’m sorry I forgot the words to your songs yesterday in Sunday School. I don’t sing that good anyway so sometimes I just hum along. Is that o.k. with you?
Dear God:
Could you please make my legs be strong? I want to play like the other kids. They tease me so please make them stop.
Dear God:
Do you throw the lightening down at us? It scares me a lot when it goes BOOM. Please stop it.
Dear God:
I love Jesse a lot. When I told him, he pushed me down and made me cry. Mommy says he must like me too. What do you think?
Dear God:
Molly got new pink shoes, and I want them. Is that bad? I won’t steal them or anything, but would you send me some too?
Dear God:
I hate it when Daddy drinks his beer. He smells awful. Then he sleeps. He gets mean and yells at me a lot. Did you make up beer? Why?
Dear God:
When I get big I want to play basketball. Maybe you could make my skin black so I can play better. Also, make me really tall, too.
Dear God:
Do you like it when I pray to you? I do, too.
Dear God:
My Sunday School teacher says you always love me. Is that true? Even after what I did to Sara yesterday – or do you know about that? I really am sorry so I wish you would still love me.
Dear God:
My grandma is dying. She says you want her back with you, but I want her to stay here with me. You can have anyone you want. She’s all I have, so please let her get better and stay.
Dear God:
Did baby Jesus cry all the time? My new brother does, and I don’t like it. Mommy says all babies do, and I did when I was little. I’m six now. I don’t think baby Jesus ever cried. He’s your son, so you must know the answer. We have a bet on it, so please write back.
Dear God:
Why did you make snakes and spiders? I’m afraid of them.
Dear God:
Could you send me a horse? Caitlan has one, and she’s always bragging about how fun he is. I want a bigger and smarter horse than hers. My horses’ name will be Bullet so make him the fastest too, please.
Dear God:
My teacher is mean. She always yells at us. She’s old and ugly. Why did you make bad and mean people?
Dear God:
Help me to not wet my bed anymore. I keep getting whippings, but I still can’t stop.
Dear God:
Why do old people smell funny?
Dear God:
I saw a kangaroo and a buffalo today at the zoo. I like the lion best. What is your favorite? I think the ostrich is funny looking – did you do that on purpose?
Dear God:
I don’t like brussel sprouts. Do I still have to eat them? I don’t like milk, either. Mostly I like pizza.
Dear God:
I love you, God.
Dear God:
Would you make me a little brother? I want to have someone to boss around like my brother does me.
Dear God:
Why didn’t you make me special? Cloe is specially pretty and Janine is specially smart. Ryan can run faster than anyone and wins all the races. Tina has perfect teeth. And Carmen can speak two languages. Did you forget to give me something special to be?
Dear God:
My dog, Bowser is getting really old now. He gets up slowly and doesn’t keep up with me anymore when we run. Mommy says he’s going to die one day. Could you just make him a puppy again instead?
Dear God:
I have no best friend. Everyone at school seems to have a best friend but me. Could you send me one, please? And hurry.
Dear God:
I have a spelling test on Tuesday. I never get all the words right. Maybe you could help me this time. Or is that cheating?
Dear God:
I have a lizard named Ernie. He only has three feet ‘cuz one of them got caught in the door. I didn’t mean to do it though. Would you fix it back again?
Dear God:
In Sunday School we learned that You are everywhere. How big are You? As big as Shaq? He plays basketball and is the biggest I’ve ever seen.
Dear God:
Do you know when I’m bad or good? Or is that just Santa Claus?
Dear God:
I play worse than anyone on my soccer team. I’m the smallest one, too. That doesn’t seem very fair. Did you play a dirty trick on me?
Dear God:
Please make me pretty. Because I think I’m not very smart.
Dear God:
Do you listen to my prayers every night? Do you really know when I only pretend to brush my teeth? Don’t tell Mommy, O.K.?
Lord Jesus Christ; Let me seek you by desiring you,
and let me desire you by seeking you;
let me find you by loving you,
and love you in finding you.
I confess, Lord, with thanksgiving,
that you have made me in your image,
so that I can remember you, think of you, and love you.
But that image is so worn and blotted out by faults,
and darkened by the smoke of sin,
that it cannot do that for which it was made,
unless you renew and refashion it.
Lord, I am not trying to make my way to your height,
for my understanding is in no way equal to that,
but I do desire to understand a little of your truth
which my heart already believes and loves.
I do not seek to understand so that I can believe,
but I believe so that I may understand;
and what is more,
I believe that unless I do believe, I shall not understand.
Source: The Oxford Book of Prayer, George Appleton (gen. ed.), 1985, 2002.
Christianity Today interviews Steven Curtis Chapman as he opens up about losing his daughter, their family’s arduous journey, and a new album of songs chronicling the path of pain and hope.
Interview by Mark Moring | posted 11/02/2009
It’s been a year and a half since Steven Curtis Chapman lost his youngest daughter, 5-year-old Maria Sue, to a tragic accident at the family’s Tennessee home. Maria’s death rocked her father’s world, causing Steven and his wife, Mary Beth, to question God and their faith, while also clinging to the hope of things to come. The grieving process brought Steven, like King David, to his knees, simultaneously shouting at God while also desperately grasping for hope. Chapman journaled the journey, which he likens to penning his own Psalms—and not surprisingly, many of them turned into songs, and now his first album since Maria’s passing, “Beauty Will Rise.”
Chapman spoke with CT about losing his daughter, the “black hole” of pain and despair, and the glimmers of life they’ve clung to through the last 18 months—including the opening of Maria’s Big House of Hope, a healing home in China for special needs children. The Chapmans had already adopted two Chinese girls before Maria, so returning to China over the summer to open Maria’s Big House was a bittersweet time to both mourn Maria yet again, but to celebrate her life and legacy.
THE HEAVENS—In what is being described by advance marketing materials as “the first divine creation in more than 6,000 years,” God Almighty, Our Lord Most High, introduced a brand-new species of bird into existence Monday.
God rolls out a new model
“Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve, prepare thine eyes for the most exciting line of avian wildlife in millennia,” God announced as He released an estimated 14 million first-run models into the important bird markets of North America, Australia, and Eurasia. “This new bird has it all: slicker wings, a more streamlined beak, better-than-ever capacity for beautiful song. Plus, all of the grace and majesty you’ve come to expect from the Eternal Creator of Life Itself.”
“The bird is back,” God continued, His booming voice parting the very heavens. “And baby, it’s never looked better.”
According to the latest specs, etched in two tablets of stone and handed down from atop Mount Sinai, the new bird is anticipated by God to be His finest creation to date. Available in two colors-—male and female—the bird reportedly combines everything God has learned from His previous works into one “new twist on an old favorite.”
In keeping with tradition, the bird has not been given a name by God, who has left it to mankind to name all the animals.
The blueprints used to build the new bird
“This came out at the perfect time,” said Chet Clem, Chair of Biblical Science at Oral Roberts University. “God hadn’t come out with anything in a long while, and people, quite frankly, were beginning to lose faith in Him. But this bird is totally worth the wait.”
Added Clem, “It’s classic God.”
“Our Heavenly Father has really outdone Himself this time,” ornithologist Dr. Avram Wasserbaum agreed. “Birds don’t tend to be His strong suit—take the buzzard or the dodo, for instance. This latest bird, though, has all of God’s patented design touches: splendor, grace, and an ineffable sense of timelessness. Trust me, once folks get a load of the brilliant plumage, this thing is really going to put God back on top.”
“Plus, birds are hot right now,” he added.
For His part, God has even gone so far as to call the new bird His “masterpiece.”
“I’m telling you, I pulled out all the stops on this one,” He said. “It looks kind of like a hawk, but it’s more compact, and it has a smart, sexy flight pattern that has to be seen to be believed. And if that’s not enough, get this: This bird eats insects, like a bat.”
God’s faith in His newest creation remains so high, in fact, that if it turns out to be as popular as expected, He plans to discontinue one of His less beloved species, such as the pigeon.
Not all, however, are impressed.
“The wingspan is not really doing it for me,” said well-known creation critic Jean Krewson. “And does it always squawk like that? After six millennia, couldn’t God have come up with something a little edgier to breathe life into? I hate to say it, but maybe the One Who Made Man Flesh is losing His touch.”
“It’s no bald eagle, that’s for sure,” he added.
Despite such criticisms, most humans remained united in praise of the new species, which is already surpassing previous records for bird popularity in all major wildlife sectors.
“Get ’em while supplies last,” God said. “Or before they’re hunted to total extinction.”
It’s been a year and a half since Steven Curtis Chapman lost his youngest daughter, 5-year-old Maria Sue, to a tragic accident at the family’s Tennessee home. Maria’s death rocked her father’s world, causing Steven and his wife, Mary Beth, to question God and their faith, while also clinging to the hope of things to come. The grieving process brought Steven, like King David, to his knees, simultaneously shouting at God while also desperately grasping for hope. Chapman journaled the journey, which he likens to penning his own Psalms—and not surprisingly, many of them turned into songs, and now his first album since Maria’s passing, “Beauty Will Rise.”
Broken Believers 