The Lord's Prayer (How I Pray It)

“Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for Thou is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever! Amen!” (Matthew 6:9-16)

As a child I learned the “Lord’s Prayer” by rote memorization, and when with a group I love to recite together as I learned it in the “King James” language. But, as I have grown older I have loved to pray this prayer, when by myself, with more elaboration and more understanding. When I pray by myself it is not always the exact words, but the thoughts of elaboration that come to me. Praying this prayer with my elaborations has become much more full and meaningful to me. Jesus gave His disciples (and us) this form and is just as an example of how to pray.

Our Father, thank You for the privilege and honor to call You our Father, by virtue of becoming your child through the redemption of Your Son, Jesus, and You have adopted me into Your family – “The Family of God,” and You have given me a new name, “The Righteousness of Christ Jesus,” instead of “sinner.” Thank You, that as a loving earthly father would, you invite me to come boldly into Your presence to tell you what is on my heart. You take me in Your arms, and on Your lap (like the child that I am) and You are never too busy to listen to all my praises, heartaches, intercessions, confessions and cries for help. Thank You, that with the rest of “the Family” I can say “Our Father.”

You are high and lifted up above me in all Your attributes, and Your righteousness fills the temple of my heart, because Your Holy Spirit lives there.

Holy is Your name, and Your name is exalted above every name, and I choose to bow my knees to Your precious name, as every knee some day will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, Master, and Sovereign over all.

Your kingdom come, and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I invite You to reign in my heart as Lord and Master in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, and I relinquish my will to Your will, here and now. I pray for Your soon reign here on earth – “Lord Jesus, come quickly!”

Give us this day and our daily bread. Father, You know the needs of my life, spirit, soul, and body, and I thank You for supplying my every need according to Your riches in glory (which are unfathomable and readily available). Thank You, for forgiving me when I confess my sins and for molding me into the perfect image of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You, for giving me the mind of Christ and for renewing it as I absorb Your Word and appropriate it in my life. Thank You, for Your touch when I need physical healing. Thank You for daily providing my every need!

Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Father, I daily (sometimes momentarily) need your forgiveness of how I fail You. You know my heart, and You know I don’t want to fail You, but so often I fail to walk in the power of Your Spirit and sin against you and others, so I ask for your forgiveness and cleansing. As I ask forgiveness for my sins, please help me to forgive others who I feel has sinned against me, in the same way I expect You to forgive me. This isn’t possible without You enabling me to forgive, so I choose to forgive all who I feel have wronged me.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Father, don’t permit my heart to be inclined toward any evil thing, and make a way out of any overwhelming temptation, for You tempt no man. Deliver me from the evil one who wants to steal my joy, peace and witness.

For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever, Amen. Father, You are the sovereign God Who reigns over all, and You are Almighty and all the honor, glory and majesty belong only to You, and I bow at Your feet and worship You, Holy Father.

Change - The Sure Sign of Life

“We shall not fall asleep in death, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye.” (I Corinthians 15:51b-52a)

They say that one sign of “old age” is that you don’t like change. In some respects I think that is true. The older I get I have noticed some inevitable changes: grey hair, less strength and energy, set in my ways, new pains nearly every day, memory loss. I don’t like the grey and thinning hair, the fast enumeration of wrinkles and my memory loss. I don’t like running out of energy before I finish my task, etc. But changes in my old body is inevitable and go with the territory, so I try to grin and bear it.

But some changes we should embrace. There is a quote on the wall of Alcatraz Penitentiary that reads, “If you do not change your direction, you may end up where you are heading.” In Acts 22, Paul testified of how he experienced some very dramatic changes that turned his life and his future around 180º, for the good - I am so glad! His changes went from being a terrorist bent on destruction of believers and the Church of Jesus Christ, to becoming a teacher and co-laborer bent on heaven and loving and building up the Church and evangelizing the known world for Christ. He went from fighting the Church to fellowship with the Church. Physically he changed from having sight to being blind, but spiritually he went from blindness to having his eyes opened and seeing clearly the Truth of the Gospel. He changed from being full of pride and rebellion to being humble and obedient. He went from self-sufficiently to being completely God dependent. He was changed from being self-assured with all of his education and status to being desirous to “only know Jesus and Him crucified,” and knowing he could do all things only through Christ, Who strengthened him (Philippians 4:13). This is what I call, "change and awe." For Paul, all of these changes were growing him into the perfect image of Jesus Christ. He was changed from glory to glory, until one day in God’s time, He would take Paul to live with Him in a changed and glorified body to not have the scars anymore, his sight was perfect and his hope was changed to reality.

To get a smile, a church put a sign on their nursery door which said, “We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed.” Although some of us will still be alive when Christ returns all believers will then be changed and transformed into His perfect likeness – pure, holy and altogether righteous (II Cor. 15:51-52). As we now read, meditate and appropriate God’s Word we will see God’s glory and will be changed from one degree of glory to another(II Cor.3:18).

Here it is spring and there are changes in everything in nature. The trees have changed from their fall colors of red, yellow and gold to their winter attire of bare, naked branches to the beautiful green clothes of spring and summer. This change only comes because the trees are full of life. The same is true of the flowers and plants which have faded away during the harsh cold of winter, but as warm days have returned change is taking place in all the living plants. The stems first appear, then a bud, then the flower.

The resurrection of our Savior was so like the springtime. Just as the trees, grass and plants stand (or lie) dormant through the winter, then in the springtime they "resurrect" and grow and bloom because of the life within, just so is the resurrection of our Savior. His change from humanity back to divinity was “awesome.” Jesus was changed from death to life. Therefore, we also who believe are changed in this life from the curse of sin’s death to the hope of eternal life and from “glory to glory” to become more like Jesus, here and now.

That first Easter the whole world was full of change! The long awaited Savior of the world had finished the work of redemption for the hearts of all mankind. He was, is and will be the only One Who does not change,because He is God. He is the Creator of all things. The heavens and earth grow old like a garment but when they vanish away (and they will), God remains the same. He is the immutable God (Hebrews 1:10-12). None of His attributes will ever change!

Because God is love, His love never changes. Just as you can’t stop the waves from rolling into shore, you can never stop God from loving you. His love is constant and unconditional. There is no sin is so black that He cannot forgive, nor any pit so deep that God’s love cannot reach and save. And there are no chains so strong and binding that He cannot break and free. There is nothing so dark that the power of God’s love cannot change into light and joy! He is the CHANGER!

Look at the changes the Holy Spirit made in the lives of the disciples. Before Pentecost and them being “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:1-4), they were doubtful, fearful and weak. But because of the Holy Spirit’s filling they were changed into bold, faithful and strong witnesses, even in the face of death. What made the difference? They were changed by the power of the Holy Spirit filling them – they were “born again,” old ways of thinking and acting had passed away – all things had become new. They saw Jesus with new eyes and their relationship with Him was changed. Where Jesus had been their teacher and friend, after Pentecost Jesus became their Savior and Lord. They had new hearts, new resolve, new speech, new purpose and new hope of eternal life. They had been changed into new men by the power of the Holy Spirit within. They no longer ran away and denied Christ, but boldly ran to the defense and proclamation of Jesus, the risen Christ.

If we are not changing we are not growing and have never truly come alive in Jesus. Coming face to face with the claims of Jesus and accepting His love and sacrifice for us means an instantaneous change, and that changing to be like Him will continue until we see Him - then we shall be perfectly like He is!

CHANGE ME, LORD
(author unknown)

To come into the presence of the living God is to be changed.
We cannot come into His high and holy place and stay the same.
So change me Lord, Remake me Lord, Conform me to the image of Your Son!

So change me, Lord, Remake me, Lord, Conform me to the image of Your Son!

My 75th Birthday Prayer, March 3, 2012

“Search me, thoroughly, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)

Dear Heavenly Father,

You told me in Your Word that I am to come before Your presence with clean hands and a pure heart so I want to first confess my sins. Forgive me for my lack of unceasing prayer; for not taking every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ; for sometimes dwelling on the negative instead of praising You that You are able to take care of my care; and to thank You for being the answer to my care. Forgive me for sometimes holding onto old hurts, instead of praying in faith for the healing and to remember how much You have forgiven me when I have hurt You with my pride or indifference. Where I am blind to my own sins, open my eyes. When I am prideful with my own self-sufficiency, forgive me and humble me. Forgive me of any pre-judging without knowing all the facts, and then when I must make a judgment, help me to do it with mercy, grace and forgiveness. Help me to be quick to restore relationships and to go the second mile when someone has hurt me. Please, continue to teach me how to be more like You.

As I look out on the beauty of this new day I want to praise You for being El Elyon, our Creator – the Maker of heaven and earth (and me). You are the Strongest strong One and You hold this universe (and me) together with the Word of Your power. You cause the sun to “rise” and nourish the earth and all its inhabitants with its rays. You cause those clouds I see to pour forth Your rain to water Your creation and keep it all alive (including me). You feed, nourish and keep all your creation (including me and mine) with the good things from Your loving hand and wise heart. Thank You for eyes and health to be able to richly enjoy Your creation You have made for me and others. Thank You for the Flicker Woodpecker, the Robin, the Cardinal and the Titmouse I can see eating the berries off the pear tree in back of the house. I thank You for letting me see the turtles sunning on the bank, the fish jumping in the water, the Herons fishing from the bank and the herd of deer grazing on the winter grass. You have made them all for me to richly enjoy – thank You.

I want to praise You for being El Shaddai, the Almighty God, Who is my Sufficiency. I praise you for being El Roi, the God Who sees. You not only see my need but are the Source and Sufficiency (El Shadai) to fill up all of my needs, spirit, soul or body.

I want to praise You for being Adonai, the Lord of all, the King of Kings, the Sovereign God, the Master of my life. I choose to daily relinquishment my will, and what I think are my rights, to You Who has a plan for good and not for evil for my life; a plan to give me hope and a future and Who knows what is best for me.

I praise You for being YHWH, Jehovah, Elohim – “the faithful, covenant keeping God,” Who is good and Whose mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting and Your faithfulness and Truth are to all generations (including mine). You never grow weary with my self-centeredness and luke-warmness, to the point of giving up on me, because You are faithful to keep your covenant to forgive all my sins, when I confess them and turn from them.

I praise You because you are Jehovah – The self-existent One Who reveals Himself to me and to all who will “see” and “hear,” and You are the Redeemer Who bought me back from the pit of death and then beautifies, dignifies and crowns me with Your loving-kindness and tender mercies. You forgive me of all my sins and heal all my diseases. You satisfy my necessities with Your good so, although I am 75 years old, you renew my strength like the eagles (strong, overcoming and soaring).

I praise You for being Jehovah-Rohi, my Shepherd, and have made me one of the sheep of Your pasture; and because of that relationship I can hear Your voice when you speak to me. And because of that relationship when my life is sometimes filled with turmoil and chaos, You cause me to rest beside You where it is quiet and peaceful. I praise You that Your Holy Spirit will comfort me through all the “times” of life. When life seems to leech all the joy, hope and strength from me Your sweet Holy Spirit comes to restore all those things my enemy, Satan, has stolen. Your Holy Spirit is the Comforter and Restorer, and I praise You!

I praise You because You are Jehovah-Tsidkenu (“God is Righteous”). Not only are You Righteous (right), but You chose to make me righteous by the Great Exchange that took place on the cross where You exchanged my old dirty coat of self-righteousness for Your pure white robe of righteousness, all for my just accepting it. I didn’t have to work for it or be good enough to receive it, but I could own my Robe just by putting it on, because possession is the right to ownership. Jesus, I thank You for Your salvation by paying for it by your death on the cross, and Your death was sufficient payment for me to receive my Robe of Righteous! And it will forever be mine!

Father, I praise You that although I have to walk through anguish, heartaches and testings while I am in this life, I know that You (Jehovah-Shammah, “The God Who is there”) will always be with me and will never forsake me. You are the Omniscient God Who knows what I am going through, how to solve all my problems and when. I thank You that I cannot go into the deepest sea, the highest heaven or anywhere that I will be out of Your presence. Thank You for seeing and understanding my deepest needs and that You have the sufficiency to fill all those needs abundantly. Thank You for being here in the place where I am now, and at this time when I need You, and I know that in Your time You will make all things beautiful.

I praise You for being the One and Only God Who is my All-in-All, the Great I Am – whatever I need You are Sufficient! I praise You for being the all-knowing, the Almighty, all merciful, the ever-present God; my God Who is Love and that loves me with an unconditional and everlasting love; the only true and faithful God.

I praise You for being Jehovah-Ropha – “My Healer.” You are the One Who has healed me spirit, soul and body, by Your stripes you took. I thank You because You will supply all my needs in Christ Jesus, according to Your riches in glory. I praise You for being Jehovah-Nissi – “My banner of victory.” You cause me to triumph in all things in Christ Jesus. You made me to be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath. You cause me to run through a troop and jump over a wall. I thank You for the victory I have in Christ Jesus.

I thank You that You have consecrated me to fulfill Your purpose and plan for my life; and You have enabled me, by Christ Jesus, to be steadfast and unmovable in this walk to which You have called me; and I know I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. I thank You that You are working in my life to do abundantly, above all I could even imagine, through Christ Jesus. I thank You that all of your blessings of mercy and goodness will follow me all the days of my life; and then when my life is over I will live in Your presence forever!

Father, I want to lift each member of my family to You. You know their needs, the desires of their hearts, so help them to “delight” in You so they may have those needs and desires met. When they are searching for something to satisfy their longing and fulfill their dreams, help them to realize that You are the “End” of man’s desires. Help them to know early that all true answers and fulfillment are in You and You alone. Help each of them to relinquish all their hopes, plans, dreams and desires to You, and to seek what Your plans and desires are for them.

Father, help each of my family members to walk in humility before you. May they realize that without You they are zero, but with You (Who is everything), they can be Everything. May they desire to grow into the perfect image of Jesus. You were meek and lowly in heart when You walked on this earth, and all the while You were the King of the universe. May each one realize without You they can do nothing; but with You they can do anything! May they live their lives doing justly, loving mercy and walking humbly before You. May they realize that if they will humble themselves, You will lift them up.

Father, help each of my family members to keep short accounts with You and others. Help them to not let petty grievances build a wall between them and others. Help them to be quick to say, “I’m sorry, Forgive Me,” and then to move on in that relationship. Help them to realize that if they don’t forgive, You can’t forgive them. Help them to walk in love in the same way that You love us.

Father, help each member of my family to love You with all their heart, mind and soul and then to love their neighbor as themselves. Only You can fill their hearts with this kind of love, give them a desire for You to fill them with Your very Self (which is love). Help them to think loving thoughts, speak loving words and act in loving ways. As they relinquish themselves to You, make them into new creations in Christ as You promised.

Father, I thank You for the privilege of the invitation to come to You in prayer; to climb up on Your lap, like Your child that I am, and be able to face to face praise Your wonderful attributes, to thank You for all You have done for me and are going to do, to confess all my known sins and to intercede for all my family members that You will rise up big in them and be paramount in their lives. On this my birthday I pray each one will receive these prayers with all the love with which I send them.

I pray all these things in Your precious and powerful name, that name that is above all names and at that name every knee will bow and every tongue must confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Amen (so be it).

He Is Able

Eph.3:20, 21 – “Now to Him who, in consequence of the action of His power that is at work within us, is ABLE to carry out His purpose and do super-abundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or thing, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams – To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever.” (Amp)

To those of us who call God, “Father,” these verses bring great comfort, peace and hope while living in this world with all of its questions, problems, pain and turmoil, and because it is God’s Word we know it is true and we can trust him to be El Shadai, God Almighty.

El Shadai is our Almighty, all sufficient, all wise, all loving, all merciful, all faithful God (our All in All) – He is ABLE to do for us infinitely beyond our finite imaginations and wildest dreams to carry out His purpose for us. He is everlasting; He never grows weary; He never sleeps nor goes on vacation. He is never distracted from our smallest problem by the great earth-shaking problems going on in the world or in someone else’s life. He is not “careless” with our needs and cries, but keeps every tear.

Our Almighty God is never without provision or weak or sick. He is never late nor is He unconcerned. He is never confused, but is a God of order and plan. He is never afraid of any formidable foe, for He is the Almighty, omniscient and omnipresent God, against Whom nothing nor anyone can stand – after all, He created that foe, can’t He subdue it? That foe is only formidable to us who are helpless without El Shadai being our defense. So, even for us, who or what is there to fear with our Almighty God being our rear guard; He winnows the path before us; He covers us with His presence and He is the Rock under our feet? He is the only One who can dispel all our fears. He cannot fear but is to be feared.

HE IS ABLE (Greg Ferguson)
He is able - more than able – to accomplish what concerns me today.
He is able - more than able to handle anything that comes my way.
He is able - more than able to do much more than I could ever dream.
He is able – more than able to make me what He wants me to be.

We have no other in heaven or on earth besides our Almighty God – and we want no other. He is the irreplaceable and one essential in life. We can live without everything and everyone else, but we can’t live without Him. He is filled up with power, ability and desire to meet our needs, spirit, soul and body. His almighty power is Who He is. His power is part of His DNA – part of His essence. It is never depleted for its much use and He is not dependent on anyone or anything else.

When Jesus was on this earth He manifested this almighty power not only when He stilled the stormy seas, raised the dead, cast out demon spirits, and healed the sick, but the power of God was manifested best when He changed men’s hearts (many of the disciples, Zacchaeus , the demoniac, Mary Magdalene, and more). If He can change our hearts from being rebellious, selfish and idolatrous to being submitted, loving, giving and focused only on Jesus, He certainly is ABLE to change, restore, renew, provide and to do abundantly more in any of our “situations.” As God was Able to take the Children of Israel out of Egypt’s bondage and to take them into their promised land, where there was plenty, freedom, He is Able, through His provision of salvation, bring us out of the dark bondage of sin into the light and liberty of “knowing” Jesus. What a mighty God we serve!

After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, He sent the Holy Spirit to live within all believers. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead, and since the Holy Spirit lives within all of us believers, we have the “fullness of the Godhead” living within us, with all of Its innate power is at work within us (Colossians 2:9-10). So by His power at work in us we can resist temptations, be fearless, shrink from that which might offend God, and creating in us the power and desire to will and work for His good pleasure, satisfaction and delight (Philippians 2:12-13). This is dynamite (dunamis (Gr.) power – explosive! Therefore, we should not be reluctant to ask the Holy Spirit to help us accomplish those things God is calling us to that are far beyond what we can even imagine. Because of His wisdom and power the Holy Spirit will guide us into all Truth; He will teach us the will and ways of the Father; He will lead us in the right paths; He will comfort us in our sorrows and losses and He will lift us up when we are depressed or oppressed.

If we have all this power within us why do most Christians live far below all the benefits God has for them?” I suspect it is because they “believe” God can do anything but have never come to the place of “trusting” Him to do it for them. There is a difference between “belief” and “trust.” It is like a story I heard once about a crowd of people who were watching a man push a wheel-barrel across Niagra Falls on a tight-rope. After he had walked across and returned safely he asked a young man in the crowd if he thought he could push the wheel-barrel with someone in it across the Falls. The young man quickly said, “Yes.” The tight-rope walker then invited the young man to get in the wheel-barrel, but the young man declined because, although he believed the tight-rope walker could push the wheel-barrel (because he had seen him do it), he didn’t trust and put his confidence in the ability of the tight-rope walker to get him safely across. To believe is to have head knowledge, but we must believe to the point that our “knowing” drops into our hearts and we can “trust” our very lives to the One in which we “believe.”

Many believe Jesus is the divine Son of God (even Satan believes that), and maybe even believe His death on the cross was for the sins of mankind, but they have never “trusted” (to put their confidence in, rested in, and hoped in Him) for their salvation. Many believe God will do mighty things for others (because they have seen it), but that He is too busy, or their problem is too insignificant or personal for Him to care enough to answer their prayer. “Trusting” is crawling up into the wheel-barrel of God’s promises and character without seeing and experiencing the end result – this is “faith.” Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews ll:6). If we want to come near to God we must believe that God exists (most believe this, but the “kicker” comes next), and that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out. The reward for our earnestly “seeking” Him with all our heart, is to find Him in all His glory and with all His answers, power, love and willingness “to do abundantly all we could ask or imagine” (Jeremiah 29:13).

So how do we get faith? Romans 10:7 tells us that “Faith comes by hearing what is told of the Word of God; the message that came from the lips of Christ the Messiah Himself” (Amp). We may hear it by preaching, by hearing others read God’s Words or by reading the Word ourselves, but we must “hear” not just with our ears but with our hearts and accept Its Truth and adhere to It and cling to It. Faith then becomes our conviction of the reality – the perceiving as a real fact what is not revealed to the senses. Faith moves God and He will bless us who have not “seen” yet believe in Him (just because He said so in His Word). Faith confesses, “My Almighty God said it, I believe it and that settles it.”

Did you know El Shadai is unmanageable? He is sovereign. Our Almighty God’s thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways (or He would not be God) (Isaiah 55:8). Our thoughts and ways are skewed because we are finite but God’s ways are perfect. Therefore, when we come to God with our problems and needs, we must not only come in faith that He hears us and is ABLE and willing to provide our needs, but that we are asking in His will. Some scriptures tell us plainly what is God’s will, others just allude to His will. If we are praying within all the guidelines of God’s will, why are we not experiencing the answers to our prayers?

1) One reason is that we are asking in a “evil” way. We are asking with selfish motives (James 4:3). 2) Another reason is that we are not “delighting” in the Lord. The Hebrew meaning for the word “delight” is, “to be soft and pliable.” Is your spirit submitted and yielded to whatever God’s will is for you (Psalm 37:4). If you are “delighting” in Him, “He will give you the desires of your heart.”

3)Another reason is that it may not be God’s time to bring about the answer. Ecclesiastes 3 tells us how God has a time for everything in this life. Verse eleven says, “In His time He makes all things beautiful.” By demanding an answer in our way and at our time is not submitting to His will, or “delighting” in Him. 4) We must always be led by the Holy Spirit in our asking and believing. We cannot see God’s almighty power exerted on our problem to do abundantly above all we could ask or think or expect Him to “make all things beautiful” when we are “stuck on ourselves” and our ways and ignoring the Holy Spirit. When we remain “filled” with Him, He can work in our lives to bring about “beautiful” answers.
So take all things to the Lord in prayer.

IN HIS TIME (Steven L. Foster)

In His time, In His time, He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Lord please show me every day as you’re teaching me your way,
That you do just what you say in Your time.

In Your time, in Your time, You make all things beautiful in Your time.
Lord my life to you I bring, may each song I have to sing,
Be to You a lovely thing in Your time.

El Shadai is God of the “big and little stuff.” Philippians 4:19 says, “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory.” What is it about “all” that you don’t understand? All means “all.” Here are some synonyms from my thesaurus: completely, totally, wholly, every, any, each and every, everybody or anybody, anyone, anything, everything, sum total, aggregate, whole kit and caboodle, lock, stock and barrel, the works, the whole schmear. I think that means ALL! So take all things to the Lord in prayer – small and large. Know that He is ABLE to do abundantly above all you could ask or imagine, according to the power of the Holy Spirit working in you. Are you filled with Him or have you put Him in a box or closet and only let Him be God when you have tried all your homemade remedies? He is the only One Who is ABLE !

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS (Joseph Scrive

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged – take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness – take it to the Lord in prayer.

From My Wonderings

"He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good.”(Psalm 107:9)

I am a very inquisitive person. I like to know the details about most things that are going on – politics; Bible questions that at first glance seem to be unanswered; family, friends and world happenings, etc. – everything - (maybe this is the “woman” in me). I like to be informed so I will know how to pray with specificity, or just to be able to discern situations in making decisions when those circumstances concern me. In this campaign year I try to be “up” on all the correct information regarding the political candidates. But sometimes some details are best left unknown or unanswered, and certainly best left unrepeated (Lord, give me wisdom when to leave all the details to You, since you know all things anyway). Since we have now entered the Lent/Easter season, and since I have always wondered about Ash Wednesday, my curiosity has piqued my interest in Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of the Lent season (46 days leading up to Easter, the Resurrection day, this includes the Sundays). Although I have always heard of it I have never been connected to a denomination which celebrated Ash Wednesday. But I now have a dear friend who is a Methodist minister and she was preparing for the Ash Wednesday service at her church. So being curious about this special day I asked her for details of this service. She sent me a copy of their Ash Wednesday service program, since I couldn’t attend. To my joy I was most touched with the meaning and purpose of this time and whether I attend a special service, or not, I plan to make it a part of my time of worship during the time of Lent.

After looking over her bulletin, and in my further study, I was reminded of how Jesus went apart for forty days into the wilderness to prepare for His ministry. This was a time of fasting, reflection, contemplation and preparing His heart for the time of ministry and testing which lay ahead of Him. Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days (plus Sundays) which lead up to the most holy Christian day – Easter – which is the celebration day of Jesus’ Resurrection. We celebrate because Christ rose from the dead (as He said He would), after taking our sins to the cross, which paid the price of the forgiveness of our sins, and reconciling us to the Father, and giving us the privilege of becoming children of God Almighty. Many Christians join Jesus in a period of fasting (abasing the flesh so the Spirit within will be exalted), in contemplation on the cost of following Jesus, and in addition, a time of humbling ourselves, confessing and repenting (changing our minds and turning from our sins), and seeking His face.

Lent consists of the forty days before Easter. In the western Church, we skip over the Sundays when we count the days of Lent, because Sunday should always be the joyful celebration of the Resurrection. Therefore, the first day of Lent in the western Church is always a Wednesday.

In the Old Testament times to wear sackcloth and ashes was to be contrite, penitent over our sins. It was an ancient Hebrew custom to wear sackcloth dusted with or accompanied by ashes as a sign of humility in religious ceremonies. So ashes became a sign of remorse, repentance, and mourning. Back then people put ashes on their foreheads.

In Germany, in the days of Hitler, the Jews had to wear around their necks or on their clothing the six pointed star, the “Star of David,” to signify, and plainly show they were Jews. This sign was to Hitler and his followers a sign of shame, to be ridiculed, to be persecuted, ostracized and hated. To a Christian the sign of the cross is a sign of suffering, forgiveness, freedom, peace, joy, hope and love for who-so-ever-will receive its message.

If you have read the book, The Scarlet Letter, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, you will remember how the young, Hester Prynn, fell into sin and had to wear a letter the rest of her life on the outside of her clothes in plain sight. This letter was a patch of fabric in the shape of an “A,” signifying “Adulterer,” a letter to signify shame and guilt. Conversely, the sign of the ashen cross on the forehead of Christians isn’t a sign of shame but it is a sign of repentance, humility and forgiveness, restoration and love.

To some, regrettably, the sign of the ashen cross on their forehead in public, becomes “fashionable” and prideful thing to show that “I have religion.” It is sad how some may use a smudged, ashen cross to hide their true prideful heart (only God knows our heart). Man may look on the outside, but God sees and knows our hearts.
Although the Bibles does not mention the customs of Ash Wednesday and Lent, those Christians, who now are observing Ash Wednesday, will have the sign of the cross marked in ash on their forehead. This is to show to all their willingness to humble themselves and be contrite over their sins. This ashen cross on their foreheads should signify their changing their minds about their sins, to recognize they are sinners in need of the Savior. It is to signify their acceptance of Jesus’ payment for those sins and cling to Him as the only One Who can forgive them of all their sins.

Some people only celebrate the happy times in Jesus’ life: Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday, and Christmas. But I think as true followers, although our church may not celebrate Ash Wednesday or Lent, we can on our own humble ourselves, confess our sins and seek His face. We should retreat with Him into a solitary place not just during Lent but every day. We should also watch and pray on Maundy Thursday, as Christ asked His aplostles to do. We should stand by Him, symbolically, at the cross on Good Friday and every day and look into His face and see the suffering because of His love for us. Then we can rejoice that Christ is risen and has given us new life, and now sits on the right hand of the Father interceding for us. Rejoice that He is preparing a place for us that where He is, we someday will be with Him!!!


Prayer: “Thank You, Jesus, for Your willingness to pay such a magnanimous price for me for my salvation. Thank You for the cross, that terrible weapon of death, on which You were willing to die. Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit Who convinced me of my sinfulness, Who showed me, Yourself, my only Savior, Who wooed me with love and then baptized me into Your Body. Thank You for that same Holy Spirit Who satisfies my inquiries for more to know about You.”

More About Jesus
(John R. Sweney)

More about Jesus let me know, more of His grace to others show, More of His saving fullness see, More of His love Who died for me.

More, more about Jesus, More, more about Jesus; More of his saving fullness see, More of His love Who died for me.

Don't Waste A Good Test

February 15, 2012 “Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange were befalling you.” (I Peter 4:12 Amp.) A new military recruit is tested to see if he meets the criteria already set forth, and an applicant for a new job is tested to see if he is qualified to carry out the responsibilities of that job. When we are tested in school we must have the knowledge required to pass the exam and/or the grade. When we are medically tested we go through a rigor of exams to determine the level of our health. What is any test for? To find out our true quality of knowledge in any particular area; to find out the quality of our ability; in a spiritual test – it is to find out the quality of our faith; and to find out the quality of our integrity. Christians are also tested, but these are spiritual tests used by our Father God to prove to us the quality of our faith (He already knows), and to give us spiritual exercise to strengthen our “faith” muscles. Actually, our tests are to prove to us that God will be faithful to keep His promises in whatever testing through which we are going, and thus our faith will be strengthened. If we fail to trust God in our first test it will be administered again in a different situation until we pass the test of faith for that particular area of difficulty. “So don’t be perplexed at your ‘fiery’ situation which is taking place, just remember this is to test your faith and is not as though something strange were befalling you.” Testings prove the strength of our faith. Remember how Abraham’s faith was tested and proved, in Genesis 22:1- 18, when he was told by God to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham obeyed, but God intervened and they both returned to their family. Abraham’s faith was tested and proven strong. In Habakkuk 3:17-19, Habakkuk was proclaiming that although everything in his life was bad, yet he would rejoice in the Lord and exult in his victorious God of his salvation. He confessed that God was his strength, his personal bravery, and his invincible army. God made his feet like hind’s feet and made him to walk and not stand still in terror but make spiritual progress upon his high places of trouble, suffering or responsibility (Amp). Because of his continued faith in God He was able to rejoice in the midst of his tests. Testings come to humble us. Paul was sorely tested with pride because of his special spiritual experiences God had allowed him. But Saul was given a “thorn in the flesh” – a messenger of Satan to harass him, (whether in his spirit or a physical pain). Whatever this “thorn” was, it kept him humble. Our testings come to turn us away from worldly things. Look at how Moses was tempted with the things of this world in Hebrews 11:23-29. As a baby Moses was adopted by the king’s daughter and was heir to everything. Although he could have had anything of the world, yet, when he was grown to maturity and was great, he was aroused by faith and refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He preferred to share the hardships and shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life and all the treasures of Egypt. He passed the tests because he was focused on the future reward – freedom from the world and hope for the coming world and to be one with Christ, the Messiah. Also, Moses was tested in order to speak, through his faith, to the unsaved who were watching (Pharaoh and all the Egyptians in Exodus 14:4). “Happy is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive the victor’s crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). Testings teach us to value the blessings of God. When we are in the thick of trouble we need only to look around and we will find someone much worse off. I have heard an old saying, “I grumbled because I didn’t have any shoes until I met a man who didn’t have any feet.” James 1:9-10 says, “Let the brother in humble circumstances glory in his elevation as a Christian, called to the true riches and to be an heir of God, and the rich person ought to glory in being humbled by being shown his human frailty, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away” (Amp). What a testing it is when wealth or health or love is removed from our life. It is then that we will realize what true wealth is – it is to know and be loved by God. II Corinthians 1:6-8 and Luke 22:31-32 tells us that when we go through testings and sufferings it is so our faith will be strengthened as we trust in Jesus, and then we in turn can help and be an encouragement to others who are going through those same tests and sufferings. Christ is not only our most glorious Example but Helper we see in Hebrews 2:18, “For because He Himself in His humanity has suffered in being tempted, tested and tried, He is able immediately to run to the cry to assist and relieve those who are being tempted and tested and tried and who therefore are being exposed to suffering.” And like our example, Jesus, we learn obedience through our suffering and testing (Hebrews 5:7-9). Christ has promised that “there is no testing nor temptation that comes to us is beyond human resistance, but God is faithful to His Word and can be trusted not to let us be tested beyond our ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the testing He will always provide the way out that we may be strong enough to bear up under it patiently” (I Corinthians 10:13 (Amp). To remember Whose we are when we are being tested will give us courage and faith to endure with patience until we come through the testing victoriously (Romans 8:31-39). Think on:Ephesians 1:4; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:13; James 2:5; Jude 24; Revelation 21:3; II Corinthians 5:17,21; I Peter 2:9-10; Deuteronomy 28:13; II Samuel 22:30; Isaiah 54:15-17; I John 5:4, 5, 20, 21. “Christ by nature, Son of God, became son of man so we by nature, son of man, might become a son of God” (Galatians 4:4-7). Don’t waste a good test and grow weary in doing what is right, for in due time we shall reap if we don’t lose our courage, but stand, leaning on Jesus (Gal.6:9; Eph.6:13, 14). Where Could I Go? James B. Coats Living below in this old sinful world, hardly a comfort can afford; Striving alone to face temptations sore, where could I go but to the Lord?

Happy Valentine's Day

February 14, 2012

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Valentine’s Day is a day to express our love to others. Over the years this expression has evolved from just our sweetheart to anyone and everyone we care about. The post office and the flower shops say this is the busiest holiday of the year. It is good to know there is still a lot of love going around. God created us to love and desire to be loved. Love is "giving."

Our love is manifested to man by “sacrifice” – to give. Just as God the Father gave His Son for us (and it was a Great Sacrifice). And Jesus gave Himself for us (the ultimate sacrifice) - “But God proves His love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This kind of love (Agape) is inconceivable. Jesus is the personification of love in that He made the ultimate sacrifice for man – His life. But when we truly love someone we are willing to “sacrifice” ourselves (time, energies, resources and even our life) for them.

Our love is manifested to God by our “obedience” to Him. We give all we have, all we are and all we ever hope to be, (I John 5:3) “For the true love of God is this: that we do His commands. And these orders of His are not burdensome nor repressive.” Only when the love of God lives within us can we love Him back, then it is a joy to obey Him because we know He knows what is best for us, and not only to love Him and live in His presence, but only then can we truly love another. To love God is to have a deep desire to please Him; and to please Him is to obey Him.


There are five different kinds of love:
1) Epithumia, this is a love that is a strong desire to have or own - controlling.
2) Eros, this is love most associated with romance. It is a sexual love. Eros love is wholly emotional and cannot be summoned at will.
3) Storge love is described as a comfortable old shoe relationship comprised of natural affection and a sense of belonging to each other.
4) Phileo, This love cherishes and has tender affection for the beloved but it expects a response. It is a love of relationship, comradeship, sharing, communication and friendship.
5) Agape, this is a love that loves completely and unconditionally, but expects nothing in return, at the time. Agape love is usually associated with God’s love – unconditional and everlasting.

I read an article a long time ago about a study done on the orphanages in some of the Soviet block countries where the child-care people were not allowed to hold or caress the babies. Even when the babies were being fed the bottles were just propped up. The only time babies were touched was when they were diapered, bathed and dressed. These studies showed these babies who were never touched or showed love of any kind of love were sickly and many died. A follow-up study showed the survivors of these orphanages were emotionally maladjusted and never knew how to accept or give love, even after they were adopted and cared for.

God created us to love and be loved and although we may never know the love of a person, but our Heavenly Father wants to manifests His Agape love to all of us. Four of these loves come and go but Agape love, God’s love for us, is unconditional and forever. The following writing is by Charles Stanley, and is a meditation on:
____________

“Our Heavenly Father’s Unconditional Love.”

“Scripture tells us that love is the very essence of who God is. God is love (I John 4:16). So if you don’t believe that He loves you unconditionally, you’ll never really know Him or have genuine peace about your relationship with Him.

How do you define “love”? It is Jesus unselfishly reaching out to mankind, giving Himself to us and bring good into our life regardless of whether or not we accept Him - “God shows and clearly proves His love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). His care and concern are so immeasurable that He laid down His life for us while we were still His enemies. In fact, the Bible says that He first began to express His love toward us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-5) That means your actions had absolutely nothing to do with His love for you!
God’s commitment to us has absolutely no conditions or restrictions and isn’t based on whether we love Him back. Nor does He have more love for “good” people who may strike us as more worthy. He loves us even in our sin, even when we don’t repent. Does that give us license to disobey? No, It gives us power to follow Him is to receive the love He has been offering all along.

Every single moment, whether awake or asleep, we all live under the canopy of the Lord’s wondrous, absolute love for us. But to fully experience that love, you must receive it. Say yes to this amazing gift that God wants to pour out on you. Bask in it, and let it overflow to those around you.”
______________

O Love That Will Not Let Me Go
George Matheson

O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in You;
I give You back the life I owe, that in Your ocean depths its flow
may richer, fuller be.

O Joy that seeks me through pain, I cannot close my heart to You;
I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain
That morn will tearless be.
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We send our love to you and pray you will experience God’s Agape love that will not let you go!