Prayer One Day at A Time

It's so difficult not knowing the future, sometimes. It's so difficult to let go and trust God. I sit here and I contemplate this truth, and I wonder, "Why?" Why is it so hard to trust in Him to provide that which is good for us? I realize that it's not hard to trust in this, but hard to trust that we will be happy with what is good for us. Because frankly, not all that is good for us, makes us happy (at least not initially.) So why is it that some things have to painful, or at the least- unpleasant, to be good for us? I shall be contemplating this today, but more importantly, I shall be praying. Praying for comfort, praying for health, and praying for strength and serenity. Please pray with me. Not just for myself, but for all those that need my prayers and yours as well. I am sharing a devotional with you today, that was sent to me by a friend. I hope you don't mind. Blessings to you and yours today.

AN EXTRA DAY

by Marilyn Ehle


"You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed" (Luke 10:41, 42).

What do you do with an extra day? A medical procedure I had scheduled for the morning was unexpectedly cancelled. The procedure, though minor, necessitated detailed and somewhat time-consuming preparation, so when informed of the change, I realized I had several hours free. My calendar is normally tightly scheduled but now?totally unplanned?there was SPACE.

Like a character from "Alice in Wonderland," tumbling thoughts immediately surfaced in my mind: "What to do? What to do?" Finally get busy on those minor housekeeping chores too frequently ignored? Write those long-postponed letters? Shop at the just-announced department store sale? Clean and sort the desperately muddled computer files?

Or what if...? What if I just took this time to sit with Jesus? He once said that a woman who sat at his feet "listening to what he said" had chosen what was better.

I decided to sit and listen and what an amazing conversation ensued! Actually, it wasn't really a conversation: I didn't say much, but God spoke volumes. Tears flowed. God reached deep into my heart with firm but loving words, words that I had not realized were even on his mind. I walked away from our time together humbled and healed, wounded yet strong, empty but filled.

An extra day just may turn into a regularly scheduled event.

~ Father, You know me inside and out. You know exactly when I need to hear Your voice speaking to the core of my being. Help me focus on what is truly important: listening to You.

There is no "MORE" to this post.

Simply Talking to God by Shalene

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

In my experience as a Christ follower, I have had to learn what it means to pray continuously. This seems like such an impossible feat, when you first contemplate the thought. I mean, how can you really pray continuously? Well, I've learned that praying continuously is exactly what it seems.

To pray continuously is to have an ongoing conversation with God. For me this ended up being a lot easier than I thought it would be. You see, I'm a talk to myself type of person. Only now, instead of talking to myself, I talk to God. When something is making me happy, I automatically thank God for it. When something is making me sad or upset, I tell God about it. I thank Him for everything, good or bad, because I know He has a divine plan for it all. I think of those around me that are unbelievers, and instead of day dreaming about what I could do to witness to them, I ask God to show me. When I see a homeless person, on the corner, I ask God for protection over them, and ask if there is some way that I can help.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8 NKJV

I am not for one moment suggesting that I am perfect in my prayer life. But, I did want to share my methods for praying continuously. Perhaps you have a better way. There are also other ways to communicate with the Lord. I also like to memorize scripture that is particularly relevant to my life at the moment. (It's all relevant, all the time, but some Scripture speaks to me especially "loudly".) How do I do this? Well for me, I use the concordance in the back of my bible, find the scripture verses that correspond to that particular topic, and write in on my bathroom mirror in dry erase marker (it comes off much easier than lipstick or eyeliner, trust me, I've tried both.) In that way, I have to see it every time I'm in there. As an added benefit, so does everyone else that visits that room. Surprisingly enough, I've had the chance to witness to others because of the writings on my mirror. :) My husband and I also use this method to minister to our children on occasion. Speaking aloud scripture is a wonderful way to speak to God in prayer.

Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life
Proverbs 4:23 NKJV

I am also a strong proponent of guarding your heart by what you see, watch, and listen to. Some would not agree with me, but I truly feel that watching or listening to things that are not of God is not "guarding your heart." That leads me to my next method for praying: I pray through the songs that I sing. This is also one way in which I worship Him. When I am singing a song, it's usually one that is stuck in my head, and I only listen to Christian music. Therefore, the only thing stuck in my head is words to my Lord. You may not like this method, or it may not work for you. Of course, you may find that none of these methods work for you and you must find your own. There is no wrong way to pray to the Lord, so long as your heart is earnest, and your prayers are too. I pray that these ideas will help you in your daily endeavors to pray continuously, and that your life will be blessed by this practice.

--Lord, today I thank you for the opportunity to share the ways that I talk to you. I thank You that You want to be in constant contact with me and with all of Your creation. I pray that I and the others that read these words will find joy in their daily communion with You. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

Defining Sin After All by Shalene

Ok, so I changed my mind about posting today- AGAIN. But as they say, it's my prerogative as a woman. I must say though, that I am sorry dear readers, to disappoint you, but I'm not gonna do it. (Yes, I said it that way on purpose.) I am not going to attempt to define sin for many reasons:

1. It would be too difficult- Defining sin would be like trying to define God in mortal terms. It can't be done. All believers know that no matter how many words we come up with to label Him, He is still undefinable.
2. It would be too easy- Too easy to take the "Ten Commandments" or "The Seven Deadly Sins" or anything else that can be found in the bible to define sin, but I'd never get to my point. (I do usually have one.)
3. Defining sin would mean defining who is a sinner, and that is unnecessary, because we all are. All that would accomplish would be for me to start judging others and I try really hard not to do that.
4. God really doesn't care as much about the sin, as He does about the sinner. Yes, He cares that we sin, but once we repent, the sin is wiped clean.

The ONLY sin that I feel comfortable defining and the only one that makes a difference in your eternal salvation is unbelief. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. The ONLY unpardonable sin is unbelief. Unbelief in God as the One true God, the Alpha and the Omega; and unbelief in His Son- Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And I'll say this again: the only reason this sin is unpardonable, is because those that don't believe, don't believe that God can pardon any of their sins, because they don't believe in Him. If you don't believe in God, then he can't pardon your sin- your unbelief won't let Him. It's that easy.

Ok, now I feel better. I don't know if this post has been edifying to you at all, but I feel better. :) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul, and you can't go wrong. You will still sin. We all will, but we have faith knowing that he does not judge the sin, only the sinner. Remember the adulterous woman. He did not condemn her, and He does not condemn us either, so long as we believe in Him.

--Lord thank You for the clarity needed to revise my post today. I thank You in Your divine wisdom that I was moved to not post my original thoughts. I pray that this post will be edifying to those that wish to know You better. And most of all, I pray that this message glorifies You alone. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

A Study of the Rapture Part 1 by Shalene

What does "Rapture" mean?

The teaching of the rapture is most clearly presented by Paul in the first books and Thessalonians and Corinthians:

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thes. 4:16-18).

Rapture critics like to claim that the word "rapture" is not located in the Bible. It may not be in the King James, but the word "rapture" is found in the Bible, if you have the Latin Vulgate produced by Jerome in the early 400s. The Vulgate was the main Bible of the medieval Western Church until the Reformation. It continues to this day as the primary Latin translation of the Roman Catholic Church. It was Protestants who introduced the word "rapture" into the English language from the Latin raeptius. It was Jerome's Vulgate that translated the original Greek verb harpazo used by Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in 1 Thes. 4:17, which is usually translated into English with the phrase "caught up." The leading Greek Lexicon says that harpazo means "snatch, seize, i.e., take suddenly and vehemently." This is the same meaning of the Latin word rapio "to seize, snatch, tear away." It should not be surprising to anyone, that an English word was developed from the Latin which we use today known as "rapture." (1)


To Summarize:

Ok, well that means that my understanding was correct (and explains why I couldn't seem to find "rapture" in my bible.) The Rapture is the time when Jesus will come like a thief in the night, and all the Christian dead will rise and be caught up, along with all the Christian living in a blink of any eye. This does not mean zombies, for all of you with weird imaginations. The corrupt bodies of the dead will become incorruptible, and ours as well. All will become immortal. When you think of Jesus, having been resurrected from the dead, do you see Him as a zombie- No, you don't. Same concept here.

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:51-53).

That leads me to my next question though: If the dead will be caught up with the living, what does that mean? Does that mean that the dead were just "waiting somewhere?" and where was that "somewhere," if they were? If they weren't waiting somewhere, why do they need their bodies? Even if they are to become incorruptible bodies, as Jesus' is? Is it because of the 1000 years that Jesus will reign on Earth, before we all spend Eternity in Heaven? And what is the reason for the 1000 years on Earth? Is there one- I'm sure that there is, because God has a reason for everything He does. So.....Answers to come in my next post, if the answers are to be found. Blessings to you all.

--Lord, I thank you for your providence in giving me the anwswers I sought to my questions. I ask that you give me wisdom and discernment to find the answers that You have provided, if we will but seek them with a pure and willing heart. I pray blessings upon those that read my words, and that You will be glorified in all. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

Sources:
(1) www.raptureready.com ABC's of Prophecy

Well I Am One Truly Blessed Woman!

I just had to update everyone. In case you didn't read the comments to my last post, I just wanted to let everyone know: I'M GOING TO SPIRIT WEST COAST!!! Yeah!!! The Lord answered my prayer. (I say this because I don't believe anything happens by chance or luck.) Anyway, I had to share that because I am so blessed!! :) :) :) :) Also, because of this, from Aug 1-4, I may or may not be able to post. It depends on whether I can get a wireless access signal while I'm there. Who knows, I may just decide to leave my laptop behind and spend time exclusively with my kids, worshipping the Lord. Somehow, I think He'd be ok with that, and hopefully you are too. :) Gotta go now. Got plans to make, and camping gear to air out. Only 9 days to go!!