Friday, November 14, 2014

Eucharisteo: God’s Provision


Burning Bush 


“He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.”
Psalm 111:5 (NIV)
               God gives us words to say when he needs us to speak to someone on His behalf. We have a neighbor who feared her son’s departure for basic training for the U. S. Army. She and I had several conversations about what she was feeling. Often times, I reminded her that all she felt went with being a mother. Just before his departure, she received baptism. At one point, early in his training, he was very down-in-spirit. She told him, “Go to church tomorrow.” As she and her family prepared to go to his graduation from basic training, she found out he was planned on also receiving baptism while they were all together just prior to his graduation.
               One of my Spiritual Gifts is encouragement. Sometimes, thoughts for encouraging others come easy and sometimes I really have to pray in order to find them. Either way, I know the LORD gives me the words.
               I follow a gluten-free diet due to intolerance to grains that contain a certain protein (gluten), namely wheat, barley, rye and some oats. When we have had scrambled eggs for a meal, Hubby couldn’t understand why I couldn’t make toast in our toaster the same way he did. I started using our microwave to basically warm the gluten-free bread. Our anniversary is this month. He recently took me out to a store and bought me a toaster oven, for our anniversary. This is something I did not ask for.
               I sometimes have sleepless nights. When I have a good night’s sleep, I know it comes as a gift from God. Even if I can’t fall right to sleep, when I do, I awaken feeling refreshed.
               If each of us were to examine our lives, we would see how God provides for us. He is ready to fulfill any need we have according to His will for our lives. Occasionally, God even takes care of a want we might have. As we go into this season of giving thanks, let’s remember that we can do that all year long. Doesn’t God provide for us every day?

               God lavishes each of us with all we need. 

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Eucharisteo: God’s Word



               As I sit here on a dreary rainy November afternoon, I think of God’s Word and how timely it is even for us in the 21st Century.

               The words of Jesus speak to us each day. “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28, NIV) “Pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44, NIV)

               David tells us his help comes from the LORD. (Psalm 121:2, NIV) He also tells us God calms him and gives him rest. (Psalm 23, NIV)

               The Apostle Paul tells us to “Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NIV) Kathy, a lady at our church is very seriously ill. We are all praying for her and her family. She is married and they have two children, a daughter who is 15 and a son who is about 12. This circumstance came about suddenly this past Friday evening.   
               The Apostle John reminds us “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9, NIV) A book I just finished reading spoke of the need for each of us to repent of our sins, even if we believe we are right with God. (The Harbinger, by Jonathan Cahn.)
               God speaks through the prophet Isaiah and tells us we are not to be afraid because He will help us. He goes further and tells us not to be dismayed because He is our God He makes the commitment to make us strong, help us, and uphold us. (Isaiah 41:10)

               I find it wonderful that God continues to speak to us in our times of need. Praise God for his continued caring for us, his children.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Book Review: Breakthrough Faith By Larry Sparks


                 



               Larry Sparks delves into the topic of our faith and how we need it to grow.  He spent time in research, recommending, at the end of each chapter, books that deal with energizing our faith.   

               He begins with the story of the four men who carried their friend to Jesus and lowered that friend through the roof in order that Jesus heal him. Then, I notice the author brings in a lot of other issues in regard to faith and healing. And then, he'd briefly come back to the story of the four friends and their faith. He seemed to do  this repeatedly.

               I had a difficult reading this book. It seemed, at times, I had to reach a considerable distance above my head in order to understand what he wrote. Then, suddenly he would be writing on my level.

I can only recommend this book to clergymen. The majority of the people I worship with would find this a difficult book to digest.


I received this book through The Book Club Network. All they asked me to do was read it and then write an honest review.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...