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Saturday, December 13, 2014

Prayer Time

 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Luke 11:9

Prayer can be done any time and any place. We can pray out loud or silently to ourselves. We can pray when we are driving, walking or running. There are many opportunities to pray!

When we pray it is just our talking to God verbally or in thought. I talk to God the same way I talk to a good friend. Some days I am just sharing my day, other days I may be complaining. He is always there to listen to us. I have talked to God while driving in my car when I begin to think of someone who is heavy on my heart. I have talked to God when someone is talking to me and telling me something difficult so I will know how to respond. I have prayed in the middle of a crowd to myself and I have prayed many times alone. Any time is a perfect time to pray to God!

Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
 This is a picture my dad took when we lived in Northern Africa in the 1950's.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Wonderful Gifts from God

God gives us the gift of forgivenessIf we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9

God gives us the gift of salvation if we will trust in Him. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 

Another one of God's gifts to us is the Holy Spirit the moment we become a believer. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, self-control and faith. These are the qualities that God says, I put into your life when you let me live through you. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

God also gives us the gift of special abilities which are called Spiritual Gifts. They are the abilities you need to get the job done that God wants you to do. “Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in serving of others. So use your gift well.” 1 Peter 4:10 

Spiritual gifts produce spiritual results! 

This picture was taken January 2014 when I was teaching the kids a few 
weeks ago at church and we made these bracelets to help in memorizing John 3:16.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Wait!

I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry. 

 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps. 
 He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
 

And will trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3

David is praising God for the time he waited for his prayers to be answered. How many of us are waiting on God for the healing of a loved one, for a prodigal child to return, for a family member to change, for our hearts to no longer grieve. Waiting is hard! As David looks back on his wait on God, he praises God for a hymn of praise in his heart. 
 
When God keeps me waiting I find that my prayer may not be answered but my heart changes and He does give me joyful endurance. God is able to help us to love and trust Him enough to wait with joy and to see it as an opportunity to praise Him anyways. 


Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay;
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still. 
 This picture was taken in my backyard of one of our 
little kittens napping in my coal bucket flower pot, October 2012