Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks

 

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Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you,

                                                                                                  1 Thessalonians 5;16-18 (NKJV)

Words of Paul

Rejoice always, 

I received a phone call last evening. This was not a call one wants to receive. A friend let me know that her middle son had passed away. We had talked earlier that afternoon. All I could do was listen to her and pray. I was truly awake into the early morning hours over this news.

When I opened my daily planner this morning, there was the above scripture printed out for today (January 10).

How can I rejoice when my friend mourns her loss? I believe I can be thankful that she had him almost 53 years. I can be thankful that, when he was a young adult, he played baseball.

pray without ceasing, 

Whenever a friend or a family member of a friend passes away, I find myself very saddened and prayerful. Even if a friend receives a very serious diagnosis, I find myself going to God in prayer whenever I think of him or her.

in everything give thanks;

Paul tells the Thessalonians to give thanks IN EVERYTHING. Sometimes, that is difficult. In this instance, I give thanks for that son’s receiving good medical treatment for his condition. I thank Him for his mother who loved him unconditionally. I thank Him for his adult daughter who, I believe was there with her dad when he passed on. I thank Him for a cousin who was flying from Florida to see his cousin, hopefully, before he passed.

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Sometimes, I have wondered if I am doing what God wants me to in certain aspects of my Christian walk. This scripture tells me whatever situation that He gives me knowledge of, I am to rejoice, pray, and give thanks.

Our Focus on Prayer

                   

One of my favorite devotion writers is Oswald Chambers. I recently read a short quote of his in another devotional type of book.

The last two sentences of the short quote have opened a new prayer path for me.

“We look upon prayer as a means of getting things for ourselves. The Bible idea of prayer is that we may get to know God better.” (1)

What does prayer that asks nothing for the pray or look like? Strictly as I see this, prayer is an avenue of giving praise to Him, of confessing or shortcomings to our Lord.

I wondered, is intercessory prayer, prayers said on behalf of others, considered asking to receive things for us?

I concluded that praying for another person was the Christian thing to do. When I share with another person that I am praying for him or her, that person seems to respond most appreciatively.

*(1) My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers, edited by James Reimann, Our Daily Bread Publishing. August 28 entry, first paragraph.

Our Joy May Be Full

 

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These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. It is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:11-13 (NKJV)

 

Jesus has just told His disciples that He loved them as God loved Him. He also told them that if they ‘keep’ His commandments, they will have His love in their hearts.

 

Jesus told these disciples for them to remember His joy and rely upon it. He then commands them to love one another as He has loved them.

 

Have you ever wondered what our world would be like if each of us would love those around us as Jesus has loved us?  

 

As I think on this, I see a world where there are no broken homes, no divisions in extended families, no fights that lead to killings, each holiday would be truly a time of joy.

The Newness of Life

 

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 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. Romans 6:3-4 (NKJV)

 

As I understand what Paul writes here is that when a person is baptized, the sinful part of him or her dies. We were not only baptized into our death but into Jesus’ death as well.

 

We should walk in a new life because when God raised His Son, He raised Jesus into a new life by resurrecting Him and taking Jesus to live with Him. Because God did this for His Son, the Son will do it for us.

I wonder, do those who submit to baptism realize what it means to go through this ordinance. It was a long time before I did.  When I returned to the LORD, I started attending a church near our home. This church was of the same denomination of the one in which I was baptized but they spoke of people being saved.

 

I now believe that present day churches need to return to the scriptures and their meaning rather than allow the world to shape their theology.

 

Jesus’ Mission

               

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The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)

 

As we honor God in our world today, we may receive a special urge from Him to perform a task that will give someone the opportunity to know Him or even to know Him better.

 

I recently heard of a church that has a soup kitchen every Tuesday. I need to add that church to my prayer list. They are trying to reach and provide help for the poor in their area of town.

 

Another church in our city has a bereavement ministry that hold public meetings once a month.

 

In our downtown area are four ministry organizations. One serves men who have been incarcerated. Their ministry is to teach these men skills that will make them employable.

 

Another is a center that ministers to homeless men. They also have a store that re-sells items donated by the public. Recently, this center opened an auxiliary center that gives the homeless a place to do laundry and take showers. The main center made arrangements with the United States Post Office to allow those that use this site to have an address to pick up mail.

 

 A new ministry in that area is a shelter for homeless women. The women’s circle at my church collects items for this women’s shelter.

 

 I believe that all these ministry agencies in our town are fulfilling the mission of Jesus as they assist those who are in need.

There is a building that provides retirement housing to senior citizens that have weekly Bible studies for their residents. Before COVID they had people from the community volunteer to lead these studies. This building and an assisted living are locally owned by the local faith communities of our area.

God Sees Me-Paul

 

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As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from

heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him,

“Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?” Acts 9:3-4 (NIV)                

Saul was on his way to Damascus. His mission was to round up those who belonged to The Way, the sect of Christians, and carry them back to Jerusalem. They would be his prisoners.

 

Something happened that changed his life forever. He met the LORD. God asked him a very pertinent question, “Why are you persecuting me?” Jesus identifies himself. Paul is told to go into Damascus, and he will be told what to do.

 

            The LORD instructed Saul in a one-on-one conversation. Those traveling with Saul did not see anything. How often do we hear a message from God that no one else hears?

 

God watched as Saul wreaked havoc among those who belonged to The Way, those who believed in Christ. God knew all the evil and nastiness in Saul’s heart. Yet, God chose to forgive Saul and direct him to work for Him.

 

For God to know Saul’s attributes, He had to watch as Saul went through his murderous ways. He saw Saul, forgave him, and used him for His glory.

 

As God sees us go through our lives, He takes note of our attributes and our weaknesses. Personally, I know He has taught me so much about myself. I now understand why I react the way I do when I have issues with my computer. It is due to my frustration. I know God can take care of that shortcoming if I allow Him to.

What Do We Do Pray; How Do We Pray?

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This, then, is how you should pray

 Matthew 6:9 (NIV)

When we are asked to pray about a request for a friend and that request causes us great concern. How do we pray? Do we pray as that person asks?

Several years ago, I was asked to pray for a family who had lost their son because of domestic violence. A friend knew this family. The perpetrator was caught and faced trial. During the trial, another friend asked me to pray for the perpetrator, the wife of the deceased man. My second friend was acquainted with some of the wife’s family through where she worked.

I was confused about how to pray for this situation. I muddled about it for a couple of days. Then, I somehow heard the words, “Why aren’t you praying for My Will?”

Do we sometimes forget to pray for that request? I practice praying for a request at the time I receive it, be it in person or over the phone and even online.

Presently, several of my requests I place before the LORD are simply that His presence be felt by a friend who is in stage 4 cancer. Another request is that God allows His Will to guide someone who is considering relocating back to our area.

We pray for God’s Will for any request. When we pray, we pray for the Lord to intervene and allow Him to work out the perceived need according to what He wants for that person.

Tomorrow Belongs to God

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Do not boast about tomorrow, for you don’t know what tomorrow may bring. Proverbs 27:1 (ESV)

King Solomon gives us sage advice in these 13 words. I believe he gives us sage advice here.

When we plan our days, we should consider that God could take our lives in a different direction. He may have completely different plans for us.

A friend of mine has a major change of any plans she may have had when her daughter was taken to the hospital on Christmas night. The daughter was transferred to another hospital and then to another one.

The daughter had major surgery and spent most of a month in the trauma hospital. My friend came home for a few days and caught a cold. She could not go down to see her daughter because of her symptoms.

I know this friend had to change any plans she had in mind for this month. She also had to change her plans for early December when that daughter had been admitted to a hospital and transferred to another facility.    

God hears our plans. Sometimes, He has different things in mind for us. We must remember that He controls all things, even those plans for a vacation, for a shopping trip, a time out with friends, and even how we spend our free time.

                               

Saved Through Faith

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For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And it is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no man may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)

Paul tells the believers at Ephesus that God saved them by His love, the love they didn’t deserve. He also explains that God’s grace comes to them as a response to their faith in Him.

They couldn’t do any work or deed to make God save them. If salvation had come to them because of some action they had done, it would lead to their boasting.  Likewise, we can't do any work or deed to make ourselves look more acceptable to God. Sometimes, as humans, we call attention to something we have done when God had performed a glorious deed. When we do this, we rob Him from getting the praise He deserves.

All Paul writes to the Ephesian believers applies to us today. We must come to God in faith, trusting in Him. Each of us must give Him whatever is on our hearts and let Him work out the details.

Jesus Prayed in Earnest

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And going a little farther he fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as you will.” . . . Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed,” My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done. . .. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for a third time, saying the same words again. Matthew 26:39, 42, 44 (ESV)

The time Jesus spent in Gethsemane seems to be a turning point for Him. A close look at the times He spent in prayer that night tells us that He was not certain that He was ready to face the plan that the Father had for Him. (if it be possible, let this cup pass from me) We must remember that Jesus was both man and God.

He pleaded with God to change the path God had laid out for Him (Again, for the second time,),( leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time,) However, God didn’t change His plan. All three times, Jesus beseeched the Father to not take His life.

Here Jesus surrendered to the Father’s will. He gave up any claim he had to extend His life on earth to complete the plan God had for Him.

Have you ever prayed in earnest for a perceived need and not received the answer you sought?

Did the answer you wanted eventually come?

March Reflections

 

March has been a slow month for me. I have been trying to recuperate from respiratory issues. Due to complications from antibiotics, I had to start over with part of my meds. Hubby dealt with the same stuff only he had them a week before I caught them. I have been housebound this month. Going to the doctor and the pharmacy was one day’s excursions. My other day out was to go to the grocery because I had to, I was out of almost all my gluten-free supplies. I had a birthday this month and hubby and I went out to eat.

When I could, I have spent my time reading three different books, two of which I will review here on my blog. I spent a quantity of time watching the tube, not necessarily a good thing. Sometimes, I couldn’t sleep, so I watched things way up into the wee hours of the morning.  Other times, all I could do was sleep.

A year ago, Christmas, Hubby gave me a vaporizer. I have given it a workout this past month.

When our son came home to help us celebrate my birthday, on Sunday morning as I went out the door to get to his car, I noticed a penny lying in the dirt. As I reached down to get it, I noticed another coin laying near it. I picked them both up and dropped them into the pocket of my coat. After church, I noticed a dime on the floor. I picked it up as well.

At our church, we have a custom. Each Lenten season, we receive these small bags we call Lenten bags. Throughout the season, each person with a bag places coins for an offering. I decided to put that penny, that quarter, and that dime in my Lenten bag. What I didn’t realize until later was I had some dollar bills in my coat pockets. I felt I should place them in my Lenten bag along with the change I had found.

I have had a tussle with our grocery store. That store cannot carry the gluten-free crackers I have been purchasing for several years. I talked to the woman who works in the Deli, the area where we always found them. The product is no longer on their order forms.  She knows I must have gluten-free products. She told me she would check at Gordon Food Service to see if they have them. I told her I was awaiting a response to my email to the store and I would consider going higher if I had to. She is such a dear.

 My email response came. It was a bunch of business language. I have almost concluded that those crackers are a product I have to do without.

One bright spot this month was that a long-standing prayer request received God’s honor. A dear writing friend’s daughter will be moving closer to her family.  I praise the LORD for that.

An Interview with Pontius Pilate, part 1

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Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. This year, we will be receiving visits from Biblical people who were involved in the story of Christ's last days on our earth. A few of these will be shared with you in two parts. 

Quiet Spirit: Hello! We have with us today Pontius Pilate. governor of Judea from 26 to 36 A. D. One year during the Jewish Passover, he had the task of presiding over the decision-making process dealing with Jesus Christ. Welcome, Pontius Pilate to Following My King.

Pontius Pilate: Thank you for inviting me to share my story.

Q.S.: This must have been a stressful time for you. What was the first thing you saw that told you this would be a difficult time?

Pontius Pilate: I looked out onto the street, I saw a mob of people heading to my palace. I thought, “Oh, no. Here comes a crowd of soldiers with that man Jesus. A lot of the Jews follow Him.” They could not enter my palace; if they did the Jewish Law would say they were unclean. Then they would not be able to partake of their Passover Feast. I had to go out to them. If I didn’t take care of this properly, my superiors in Rome would send someone to replace me and I would have to go back to Rome or worse.

Q.S.: How did the people of Jerusalem respond to you?

Pilate: Now keep in mind, the Jewish people did not like me. The city of Jerusalem needed a way to transport water from its source into their city. Their funds were low. I made what you would call an executive decision and ordered the priest to give me the funds in their treasury to cover the cost of this project. The people had the notion that I stole that money from them. I lived with the possibility that these Jews could go to Rome with their story and cause me to be recalled to Rome and placed in a lesser post or worse.

Q.S.: What was the reaction of the people to Jesus? How did you find Jesus? Did anything about what He said puzzle you?

Pilate: These people did not care about this man Jesus. In my conversation with him, he said this was the reason he was born. He said he was a king and he was here to testify to the truth. This stunned me, I found myself asking, “WHAT IS TRUTH?” I found no reason to charge him. I did not find him guilty of anything of which the crowds accused him.

Q. S.: Why did they have to consult you about Jesus and the charges they brought?

When the Roman government overcame the people of Judea and took over their land, Rome relieved them of their power to inflict capital punishment on those they took to trial.  I tried three times to turn this Jesus over to them so they could do what they wanted with him. 

Pray Continually (Believing.)

Quiet Spirit 

1 Thessalonians 5:17

The Apostle Paul wrote these words of guidance to the believers at Thessalonica and to us. What does He mean?

He encourages us to be in an attitude of prayer. To listen to those who share their concerns and offer to pray with them at that time.

I recently read a novel, River to Redemption, ⁽¹⁾ in which one of the main characters expressed this verse as “Pray believing.” This character loved the LORD and used it as his life’s verse, guiding him through many trials of his life, accepting each thing as God’s Will and always told those around him to “pray believing.” How can we pray believing? We believe that

         ● God hears our prayers,

     ● God will answer those prayers, according to His Will,

   ● God will be with us as we go through difficult times.

         ● God will bring about His Will, however it affects us.

Since I read this novel and thought about the way I have prayed in the past, I have begun praying in a slightly different, a more energized, way.

Have you ever received an idea that changed the way you pray?

(1.) River of Redemption- Redemption, by Ann H. Gabhart, Revell, Grand Rapids, © 2018                        

The Choice We Have

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul pens these words to the believers at Rome. What he says to them, he also says to us.

We have a choice as to how we align our lives. We can choose to be obedient to our sinful nature and have a life of constant upheaval or we can decide to follow God and gain righteousness.

God gives us free will to decide what we want to do. When we choose to live our lives without Him, we open ourselves up to many difficulties-health issues, relationship problems, and financial concerns.

We can live for the world or we can live for the LORD. While living for the LORD may not always seem easy, if we obey God and His word, He works out those difficult circumstances as He intends.

Sometimes, we have to abide what He tells us and seek new ways to serve Him. As age and infirmity can change our activities and our work for Him. He leads us down different paths that He chooses for us.

As I initially typed these words, the hymn, “Trust and Obey” came into my mind.  These words are especially comforting:

“When we do his good will, he abides with us still. And with all who trust and obey.”

Lord Jesus: Thank You for Your guidance. Thank You for abiding with us. Help us. Your children to always be obedient and to follow your direction as we live for You.
____________________________
Trust and Obey, James H. Samiss, Daniel B. Towner found in Hymns for the Family of God number 454.

God Creates New

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For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. Isaiah 65:17 (ESV)

God tells us that we need to realize that He has made something new for His children. Could He be speaking of when we arrive in heaven? Can He be speaking of the new heaven and new earth that we read about in Revelation?

I recently had a friend enter heaven. One of the thoughts I had about her being there was “She won’t remember the terrible things that happened to her when she was a child.”

While we live on earth we might have a memory or memories of which we cannot let go. We read where we can give them to God, but we take them back. However, When we enter His domain, heaven, he takes all our anxiety-causing moments and tosses them away. Those who enter heaven truly do not have a care in the world.

As a senior citizen, I find I have times when I remember and envision a circumstance from my childhood and, sometimes, even my young adult years. I believe God is trying to show me something about these memories. None of these things I have remembered were necessarily bad things. I have felt God was teaching me through them. 

More of Pilate’s Thoughts

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 John 19:7-16

            Those Jews were hard to deal with; they wanted this Jesus dead. They claimed they have a law saying he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God. I went inside again and questioned this Jesus. He chose not to answer. His not speaking frustrated me.  He seemed unconcerned even though I had the power to either let him go free or crucify him.

            Then, he told me any power I had, came from above. And those who had handed him over were guilty of a greater sin.

            I tried very hard to give him back to the Jews but they didn’t want him. They wanted him crucified. I had no recourse. I had to do as they insisted. I believed he was speaking the truth- he was the Son of God.

            During these proceedings, my wife sent a messenger to me. She had experienced a sleepless night. Her message to me was not to bring harm to this Jesus.

            Three times I told the Jews of Jesus’ innocence. I couldn’t understand why these people wanted to kill him. But, they could make trouble for me with my superiors in Rome. I was desperate, I HAD to do as the crowd wanted.

_________________________________________________

On My Father's Side one of my favorite gospel hymns.

Rest for the Land

 thethomasicecollection.com 

January- Rest, Refresh

“The Lord said to Moses on Mount Sinai, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am giving you, the land itself must observe a Sabbath to the LORD. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year, the land is to have a year of rest.” Leviticus 25:1-5 (NIV)

            God established Sabbath years for the land He gave to His people. In this instance, the Hebrew people did not follow God’s direction. God told them to do as He said forever. It took them going into exile for 70 years before they got the message and instituted the practice. I found it interesting God told the Israelites this early on in their time in the land He promised them.

            In Leviticus 26:32-38 God tells the people, in detail, what they will go through if they fail to observe the Sabbath years for the land. God outlines what He has to do in order to teach them the lessons He has for them.

•           He will lay waste to their land.

•           He will scatter His children among other nations.

•           He will draw His sword and pursue them.

•           Their cities will lie in ruins.

•           THEN the land will enjoy its Sabbath years all the time the people are in exile.

•           Those who are left in the land will be extremely fearful.

•           The Israelites will not be able to stand before their enemies.

•           The Israelites will perish in the foreign lands.

•           The land of the enemies will devour the Israelites.

•           Those who survive will waste away because of their sins or those of their fathers.

This is not a pretty picture. But God felt it was necessary to do in order to teach His children obedience to His instructions.

We as His children need to learn to obey God, even when it comes to finding time to rest and refresh our bodies, minds, and hearts.

Servants of the Lord

“Live as free men, but do not use you freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” 1 Peter 2:16 (NIV)

            Peter writes to believers who have been scattered throughout the known world at that time. In this verse, he tells them not to make their freedom anything less that genuine. I am certain we have all seen persons who talked a good Christian talk but, later, we found out they harbored some devastating secrets. Some of the well-known persons who had those secrets went so far as to deny they did anything wrong

      As the time for Christ to return to earth to set up His new kingdom draws closer, I find myself monitoring my words and my behavior to magnify God. We all should be careful of what we say, what we hear, what we do, and where we go.

O be careful little eyes

            

I thought of this song, a kid's song, as I composed this entry. I hope you enjoy it, After all, aren't we all God's Kids?

Learning to be Content

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“I have learned, in whatsoever state I am. Therewith to be content.”

Philippians 4:11(KJV)

               The Apostle Paul shares a very important thought here. Because he learned contentment in any state he found himself, he could endure house arrest and imprisonment.

               In my past, events and conditions dictated how I responded to others. When I had both physical and emotional pain, I could not control how I felt. Once, I had a supervisor tell me she decided I was not angry at her. At that time, I did not know how to counteract my resultant moods. It has taken me a long time to realize that Jesus can, take care of the negative things that beset me, if I allow him to.

               In my reading for pleasure, I am reading a book called Letters from Le Anne. In this book the authors, Jill Beran and Le Anne Anderson begin a friendship when Jill coaches Le Anne’s daughter in basketball. The friendship grows from a mentor/mentee relationship. Le Anne, the mentor, tells Jill that Everything God allows and does happens for a reason. Ergo,a believer learns to accept the state he or she is in.

               I only wish I had learned this way of thinking in my younger years.

When We Face Prolonged Seasons of ‘Issues’

               I have some friends who are going through lengthy ordeals involving family members. These friends are concerned for those close to them. One emailed me an update; she closed it by saying she was living Luke 18.

               In my devotional reading, I came across the following excerpt. I marvel at what this write says. I am caught by God’s timing. Receiving my one friend’s email, hearing my other friend’s anxiety, and finding this passage all came this week. 

               “According to Jesus, by far the most important thing about praying is to keep at it. The images he uses to explain this are all rather comic, as though it was rather comic to have to explain it all. He says God is like a friend you go to borrow bread at midnight. The friend tells you in effect to drop dead, but you go on knocking anyway until he finally gives you what you want so he can go back to bed again (Luke 11:5-8)Or God is like a crooked judge who refuses to hear the case of a certain poor widow, presumably because there’s nothing much in it for him. But she keeps on hounding him until he hears her case just to get her out of his hair (Luke 18:1-8). Even a stinker, Jesus says won’t give his own child a black eye  when he asks for peanut butter and jelly, so how all the more will God when his child ask—(Matthew 7:9-11).

                “Be importunate¹, Jesus says—no one assumes, because you have to beat a path to God’s door before he will open it, but because you beat a path there’s no way of getting to your door. ‘Ravish my heart,’ John Donne wrote. But God will not usually ravish. He will only court.”

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1 adjective, 1.) urgent or persistent in solicitation, sometimes annoyingly so. 2) pertinacious, as solicitations or demands. 3) troublesome; annoying.

From Wistful Thinking by Frederick Buechner.

          Found in disciplines for the inner life by Bob Benson and Michael Benson