Starting the Day in Prayer

Colossians 1:9 New King James Version (NKJV)
Preeminence of Christ
   
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

When I first open my eyes in the morning my first conscious thought is “Dear God, thank You for the gift of another day. Please be in every thought, word and deed throughout the day.”

I am so aware of the danger of getting out in the world without the blessed presence of the Comforter. I have spent too much time cleaning up the messes I've made when I rush out and do things with only my own counsel.

Scripture encourages us to pray, not only for ourselves and our own salvation but for all of the Saints. I think on the caution presented on airlines to “put your own oxygen mask on first in case of emergency, then assist those needing help”. It is true with prayer. We must be in His will. We must pray for discernment and guidance so that we can effectively carry out His commandment to take the Word out to others.

James 5:16 New King James Version (NKJV)
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

I strive every day to be all that God would have me to be. I know without a doubt that I must first seek His will then venture into the world. I know that of myself I will never be righteous, but I am confident that I can be “right living” within the safety of His grace and mercy.

I pray that each of you has the support of a loving ministry wherein you can receive guidance, encouragement and support as you face the daily challenges in the world. I ask God's gracious touch on every eye that sees this work.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

On Being Good Ground

Romans 12:16 New International Version (NIV)16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Many years ago I was scrubbing down one of the floors where children played at a community center in which I worked. My partner in this work was a retired physician who worked almost full time as a volunteer in three different community based programs.

While we worked I told her about another volunteer, a retired superintendent, for whom I was trying to find meaningful work at the center.

She asked what he wanted to do and I told her that had been my question. His answer had been “I'm a volunteer, I'm here to do what ever it is that you need.”

Even as a worldly person I was impressed with the genuine humility of these two people and their willingness to serve as needed children who were truly considered by society as “the least of these”.

Mark 10:45 New International Version (NIV)45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

I thanked God, even then, that he had given me also a willingness to serve; and smiled as we worked together mopping floors.

Today, I look at our Spiritual Leader and role model, Minister Johnson, and acknowledge that much of my admiration for her comes from the fact that she lives this Word she teaches. We almost have to put crazy glue in her seat to stop her from serving at every function.

Whenever her hands find work to do, including mopping, she is quick to go to work. There is a genuineness about her in all of this. There is no attempt to impress in her actions. She just is so willing to work for God.

Our topic this week was “The Sower” and our scripture was Mark 4:3-9

The Sower
Mark 4:14-20 New King James Version (NKJV)14 The sower sows the word.
15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

As I reflected on this beautiful Word during the week I wondered how one becomes that “good ground”.

How do we avoid being vulnerable to the wiles of Satan who is always on his job and ready to pollute every good thing?

How do we clear out the stones which quickly rip away our joy and make us stumble away from the Word?

What do we do when the thorns and cares of the world threaten to overwhelm us and take our focus off the things of God?

As I prayerfully reviewed the lesson it became so clear!!!

When the focus is on serving in whatever way we are called, when the focus is on Him and His work and not on our own “stuff”, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, tills and prepares us to receive Him and be fruitful. The Holy Spirit converts us into "Good Ground".

I am always grateful for wonderful spiritual leadership and the joy of being in His service. I pray you find just the right work for you in the Kingdom. I pray that we all become "Good Ground".

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Being in His Service

Romans 5:8-11Contemporary English Version (CEV)
8But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.
9But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life's blood, we will also be kept safe from God's anger. 10Even when we were God's enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son's life. 11And in addition to everything else, we are happy because God sent our Lord Jesus Christ to make peace with us.

Back in August I flew out to Nevada to see a friend whom the physicians said had only days to live. I wanted to see my friend and make sure she knew I loved her. I also hoped that we could talk about her eternal life and make sure she had accepted Christ as her savior.

I prayed early morning to night for my friend. I attended her church and we prayed for my friend. I gave my favorite travel bible to her husband and saw him reading the Word every morning. I praised God when I saw her reading a bible I had given her more than 30 years ago. I attended her son's church and praised God as I witnessed him give his first sermon.

Through it all I felt such a sense of failure and inadequacy because I didn't feel I had just the right words to make sure she had accepted Christ as her savior.
I thought about the people at church who testified about “leading someone to Christ” and I prayed for the right words. But I never felt I had it just right.

Last night (5 months later) here in January, my friend called and said she had a set-back and needed more tests.
First, I praised God that my friend, who was declared to have only days to live five months ago, had called me. Then I prayed that she had indeed given her life to Christ. I then sent out a prayer request on our Prayer Line.

I sat here at the computer and was led to the following prayer:

"Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe in you and that your word is true. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he died on the cross so that I may now have forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. I know that without you in my heart my life is meaningless.
I believe in my heart that you, Lord God, raised Him from the dead. Please Jesus forgive me, for every sin I have ever committed or done in my heart, please Lord Jesus forgive me and come into my heart as my personal Lord and Savior today. I need you to be my Father and my friend.
I give you my life and ask you to take full control from this moment on; I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ."
Amen. http://www.intothelight.org/answers/sinners-prayer.asp

which I forwarded to her son (now a minister).
Then I prayed again for my ministry.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11New International Version (NIV)
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Just as He determines.
I realize that I may never have the joy of personally knowing that someone was led to Christ through something I said or did but that doesn't mean that God has not used me to do just that.

It is perhaps time that I stop whining, even silently, about what I can't do for our Lord and be about doing what He has given me to do to the best of my ability.

I ask prayer for my service to God.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

The Wonder of God

Ephesians 5:18-20 New King James Version (NKJV)18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Every morning is an opportunity to praise God anew. Sometimes it is a scripture that inspires, this morning it was a song.

How Great Thou Art
Lyrics ~ Carl Boberg, 1859 - 1940
English Translation ~ Stuart K. Hine, 1899 - 1989
Verse 1:
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made.
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Refrain:
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

When a song touches my heart so profoundly I try to find out as much as I can about it's origins and history. This search often leads to a story of wondourous conversions and ministry experiences.

This was true for this song.
The original poem was written by a Swedish preacher by the name of Carl Boberg in 1885. One historian notes that at age 26 he was returning from a church service and was inspired by the awesome wonder of a sudden storm. He wrote the words of a poem entitled, “O Store Gud”, which translated into English is “O Great God”. Boberg’s poem was published in 1886. This poem was put to music without his knowledge and inspired the song we now know as How Great Thou Art.

Verse 2:
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
(Repeat Refrain.)

This song has inspired people as diverse as Russian mountain villagers and Naga Tribespeople from Assam and American suburbanites. It is one of those songs that lends itself to humming when alone just enjoying the goodness that is God.

Verse 3:

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:
(Repeat Refrain.)

The song, as we know it was published in 1959 by Manna Music from whom much of this information comes.
2 Peter 3:8-9New King James Version (NKJV)8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance

Verse 4:
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
(Repeat Refrain.)

One of the wonderful gifts of God is the ability to write words that have the ability to touch the heart of so many different people over such a long span of time.

I thank God for the privilege of speaking in psalms hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in myheart to the Lord. I thank God for making available to us so many songs of praise!

It is my prayer that when you hear the beauty of this and other songs of praise you will be able to see the glory that is God.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

The Joy of Praise

Asking me to study the Psalms is like asking a kid to check the dessert tray, so the assignment to study Psalms 111- 113, given by our Pastor, is just pure joy.

Her subject this week is “Reason for Praise” and these three Psalms form the text.

Psalm 111, a Psalm of Praise for what God has already done.
1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

This Psalm gives praise for deliverance and honors God for things to which the Nation of Israel can testify. This is a nation saying thanks to a protective Father who is a God of Provision.
This is a wonderful model for Praise of Thanksgiving!!! This is a model for the testimony of the many blessings rained down on us as Children of the Most High God.

(Psalm 112)1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Psalm 112 gives praise for the gift of wisdom. God has provided us with guidelines for living and this Psalm says “Thank You for showing me the way”. Just as Psalm 111 glorifies God for His honor and righteousness, Psalm 112 reminds His Chosen that we have obligations to be upright and full of compassion and righteousness.

Hosea 4:6 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

When we are privileged to be placed in a fellowship which encourages and supports study of God's Word and application to our daily lives, we truly have reason for praise.

Psalm 113)1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 113 gives us the formula for Praise! “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.” This Psalm speaks of some of the rewards of keeping God at the forefront of our lives. It speaks of the power of the Most High, a God worthy to be praised!
There are many things we say over and over, either in formal services or general conversation, that we have forgotten, if we ever knew, the meaning of or origin. At the end of our Communion Service we note:

"And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." (Mark 14:26)

How much more meaningful is this statement when we note that Jesus, following the practices of his Hebrew heritage, was singing one of these Psalms, 113-118, and that I can offer these same Songs of Praise to God. What a privilege. What an honor.
Father, God, I thank You, again, for placing me in a Church where the study of Your Word is the primary focus. I thank You for being a part of a fellowship of study, worship and service. I pray all of the Prayer of Jabez for this upcoming year, looking forward to being of greater service in the Kingdom of God.
I give special thanks for our Pastor who provides such a wonderful example for us all. I ask Your richest blessings in her life. Amen.

May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!