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Thursday, December 12, 2024

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.

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

The Unseen Path of Life

Written 12/11/2016:
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path - Psalm 119:105

Every experience God gives us, every person He puts into our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see. ~ Corrie ten Boom

The story of Corrie ten Boom who survived a Nazi death camp is a great example of courage and strength in the midst of the most horrific circumstances. Most of her family died in those death camps but yet she realized that her life spared was a gift from God. She stated that "there is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still" and "God will give us the love to be able to forgive our enemies." At age 53, Corrie ten Boom began a world-wide ministry which took her into more that 60 countries in the next 33 years! She testified to God's love and encouraged all she met with the message that "Jesus is Victor." Take time to read her website: http://www.corrietenboom.com

When life seems hard take time to remember those like Corrie ten Boom who took their sacrifices of life and shared God's love, mercy and grace. We don't always see what God is doing in our own life to make us a better reflection of Him.

Traveling with the Lord is not about being able to see where our journey leads but trusting in the one who leads! 

This is a picture I took of my grandkids that I had sitting on top of my desk at home, September 2013.
  

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.