Something different to pray for...

I'm on a prayer chain. The book of James in the Bible tells me that The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Requests for prayers are usually for successful surgeries, healing, emotional well-being. The Lord's Prayer asks for forgiveness of sins, leading us away from temptations, and daily sustenance. Individually, we pray for children, grandchildren, friends for whatever is heavy on our hearts at the time.

But when have you ever asked for LOVE? I'm not writing of human love. I'm writing of God's LOVE. We usually discover this divine love when we are alone with God. It comes unexpectedly--a sunrise, the wind gently lifting the ends of your hair, the smile of a child, a special hug. God meant for us to have it. Once we've experienced it, we want more.

Ask for it.
He wants to give it.
And, he wants to give more.

 

 

Your heart was created for the Love of God.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are..... 1 John 3:1

Balm of Gilead

Gilead is a region of Palestine known for its balm.

A balm is a healing, restorative ointment. There is actually a plant named Balm of Gilead. It has aromatic leaves; it soothes, relieves and heals.

*****

"Balm of Gilead" is a well-known Black-American spiritual.... The words tell of hope mingled with despair....

There is a Balm in Gilead

Refrain:

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead

To heal the sin sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,

And think my work's in vain,

But then the Holy Spirit

Revives my soul again.  Refrain

If you can't preach like Peter,

If you can't pray like Paul,

Just tell the love of Jesus,

And say he died for all.  Refrain

These words are a reminder of a God who is bigger than any of our problems; it is a reminder of a love so great that Someone died for each of us that we might live eternally.

*******

Balm and Gilead are not common words. Holy is. But, do you know what holy means? It means set apart for the service of God, or, spiritually pure.

 

Think about what holy means.

Think about what Jesus, God's son, did for you and me.
Knowing this, we should live Easter each day.

 

 If you have time,
go to utube
and bring up
Balm of Gilead
and listen..

Storm Advisory?

I took a bike ride yesterday. The temperature was in the 50s.... (spring had officially arrived). What a treat! The tennis team practiced on the outside courts, the girls' and boys' track members worked out on the football field, several boys played basketball on a city park court. ...dog walkers, friends walking together, a neighbor boy on his scooter.

Within 12 hours, if the weatherman is correct, we will have freezing rain, dropping temperatures, and the beginning layer of a 5-7 inch snow job.

It's kind of like life. Things are going well and the bottom drops out. The weather can be predicted because of various satellites placed in our skies. And, we each make choices which make our lives somewhat predictable. ... If I stick to my diet and exercise regimen, it should improve my quality of life. Or, if my husband and I don't fix the brick wall bordering our neighbor's yard, it will continue to fall.

However, the "surprises" or "nightmares" still occur in spite of our carefully thought-out plans. It is at these times that our character is developed. It is at these times, when desperation brings us to our knees that we come to know God. You can be faithful to your diet and exercise; however, you may still be diagnosed with a serious illness. You can diligently repair your wall, but the forces of nature or your own grandchildren may knock it down.

Check out Robin Mark's song on u-tube, "When It's All Been Said and Done," ...there's just one thing that matters--did I live my life for you?

Embrace the storm; get out a good book; be still and know that He is God.

 



LOST? .... get out your road map.

... just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.-- 2 Corinthians 11:3

As a child, I went to church every Sunday. My father also lead our family devotions each night after supper, except for Sunday nights when we pulled out the metal trays and fixed cold meat sandwiches on white Wonder bread and a cup of hot tea.

I was encouraged to read the Bible and so I tried. It was hard. Much later, as a young mother, I would arise early in the morning, and read a devotional along with a scripture verse or two.

Now, as a retired person who has discovered a yearning to write, I find that I need and love scripture. If I am gone for a period of time and don't take my Bible study stack of materials with me, there is an empty spot in my existence.

Having said all this-- even the purely devoted (you, me, or ___) are Satan's material. My chosen confirmation verse was 1 Peter 5:8-- Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Looking back, I don't honestly think I really understood what this meant. As a 14 year old, living on a farm miles away from everything and everyone, what could I know of adversaries, vigilance, etc.? However, life happens and as we age, we are aware of adversaries, vigilance and more.

He, the adversary, is out there, and without a roadmap, I would be lost. How can the Bible prevent one from being lost? The Bible is about you, the Bible is about me... It is about God's plan for ALL people. It tells people who God is and what He has done for them/us. It also tells what God wishes for people to do for Him,

Ram Dass stated simply, We're all just walking each other home.

Although our life journeys vary, we're each headed to an eternity of some kind. I don't want to get LOST along the way.There's an ap on my phone that says "home." If I get lost, I can simply tap "home" and directions will be given. We have a heavenly home. Getting there is not as easy as pressing my phone ap; however...

 the Bible is my road map

and I need to check it often.

Grumbling or Wearing My Mad Face

Lately, I feel like I have lots of good reasons to grumble. Our laptops and printer do not connect to the internet. My Swiffer dies as I watch the ladybugs multiply and wonder where they've been hiding out. My bike is buried under various wood projects in the garage and it's bike-riding weather. ... need I go on?

No one likes to hear anyone grumble, complain, quibble, whine, mutter--about anything. So, why does a person do it? It certainly doesn't help resolve any problems. It sometimes makes me feel worse when I verbalize my complaints to another. Gathering sympathy? Realizing others have gripes, too?

Philippians 2:14 tells me, "Do everything without complaining or arguing," and verse 15, "so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe..."

Blameless?
 Pure?
Children of God?
...a place where you shine like a star in the universe?

I think I'll try harder. Plus, I think I more than likely look unsightly wearing my mad face.
I haven't given up anything for Lent yet....I'm going to do my best to give up grumbling. :)

You Don't Own Me

In 1963, Lesley Gore recorded a best-seller hit, "You Don't Own Me."

You don't own me
I'm not just one of your many toys
You don't own me
Don't say I can't go with other boys

And don't tell me what to do

And don't tell me what to say

And, please, when I go out with you

Don't put me on display...

After studying Beth Moore's Bible study on "My Inheritance," I'd like to share a few of her thoughts on ownership:

*The more possessive a person becomes, the more the other person wants to run for her ever-livin' life.

*Possessiveness stems from insecurity.

*When someone takes ownership over us, we become reluctant to draw close. (Intimacy is destroyed.)

*You will never become fully who God set apart in your life to be if you feel "possessed" by someone.

*Only God owns you and there is no dark side.

*We were created to be free.

Gore's song ends with "I'm free and I love to be free, to live my life the way I want, to say and do whatever I please."

Hopefully, we will "please" to live our life "free" in Christ.

Because, in all actuality, that is the only real freedom anyone can attain.

So whether you are the one feeling "possessed," the one who is possessive, or somewhere in between, think about the fact that our only true feeling of freedom comes from Christ. Amen.

 Now the Lord is the Spirit,

and where the Spirit of the Lord is,

there is freedom.

1 Corinthians 3:17