The Sweet Hour of Prayer

2. August 2010 by Starr.

                         

“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers”

(Ephesians 1:16).

The other day I was speaking with a lady who was a dinner guest at my home. After dinner, she informed me that when we prayed, saying grace, before dinner, that was the first time that she had ever prayed in her lifetime. She wasn’t sure how to pray, why we were praying, or what happens when we pray.

It reminded me of many children and teens who do not grow up in a Christian household. They are amazed to discover what the act of prayer actually is. When we pray for someone, it provides the Holy Spirit access to those hearts.

Psalm 145 tells us that the Lord is faithful to His promises. God promises to answer prayer and work all things together for good in Romans 8:28. We can lift up others, by name, to God in prayer with confidence in faith that He will answer those prayers. It may not be the answer we expect, but it will be answered by a loving, living, just and eternally passionate God. There is power in prayer. There is power in praying for others.

As Aletha Hinthorn states, “Could it be that someday we’ll say, “But, Lord, if I had known You were going to answer all those prayers, I would have prayed more; I would have put more people on my prayer list”? By that time we will have said farewell to the “sweet hour of prayer.” How wonderful that we still have time to touch others with our love and prayer.”

Who is in your life today that you can lift up by name, to the Lord in prayer while you still have time? Who needs your prayers? Prayers are not your last resort, they are your first action to take for them. “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23).

“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers”

 (1 Thessalonians 1:2).

                      

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The One Who Bears Our Burdens

7. July 2010 by Starr.

 

Many readers who follow many of my published articles which depict some of my life experiences with my mother, know that my relationship with her isn’t completely rosey. In fact, my relationship with her has been difficult and a very burden-filled situation for me in my life over the years growing up, and it still is, today. In fact, it is hard for me to even write about it. I think sometimes she makes it her weekly task to be negative towards me or to spout negative remarks. She hasn’t been one of my encouragers in my life, at all, and as a matter of fact, basically has no clue as to most of what goes on in my life, yet she chooses to make spiteful comments about choices that she thinks I have made. Sound familiar?

I have had many experiences with women, teenage girls and young girls, who have faced the same or similar difficulties with their mothers. I have grieved with them over their broken hearts, and have been able to honestly say to them, “Oh, honey, I know how you feel.” Sometimes it does take empathy to better be able to know how to pray for someone in specific painful situations.

However, before I go any further, let me ask you something. When you read the first paragraph, did you feel like raising your hand and yelling, “That’s me! I have the same relationship with a parent, also.” If so, then I have some news for you.

Yes, it is good to go to others for prayer support and for encouragement and help in bearing one anothers burdens. But, never forget that, just as Aletha Hinthorn said, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever so He weeps with us just as He wept with Mary and Martha. He shares instantly every burden we bear. He invites us to cast all our anxiety on him because he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7).

Let me simply remind you of this scripture in Romans:

“The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me” (Romans 15:3).

We don’t have to bear our own burdens. We can give them over to God. The best part is that He actually invites us to. He hears everything that happens to us. He cares about every tear. He wants to take the burden upon Himself. Set yourself free from feeling the burdens and that pain yourself, if you are facing any turmoil  from emotional or verbal pain from a parent. Just give it over and let it go to God.

 

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Lion of the Tribe of Judah: Part 2

16. May 2010 by Starr.

(Aslan:  A messianic figure in C.S. Lewis’s “Cronicles of Narnia.”)

 

The Chronicles of Narnia and the meanings of it, have been argued for years.  Many similarities to the Bible, however, cannot be argued.  As a writer, the importance of every character, every word, every action by every character, and even every single scene, is vital to the one writing it.  In other words, NOTHING IS BY ACCIDENT.  Let me propose this thought:  C.S. Lewis was an expert in mythology having studied it from an early age. It is utterly impossible that he did not know what he was writing.

Many believe that the lion, Aslan, depicts Christ and represents how Christ would appear if He were to appear in a fantasy world where animals could talk.  Many other references, also, are within the novels.  I won’t list them all here, but will leave them for the writer, C.S. Lewis to reveal to you, on his own.

If you have never read “The Chronicles of Narnia,”  I highly suggest you do so.  You will be blessed, not only when looking at it from a perspective of Biblical similarities, but also just for the pleasure of a wonderful work of fiction.

 

(Peter in battle, wearing the armor, holding the shield with the Lion crest.)

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The Lion of the Tribe of Judah Battles Beside You

16. May 2010 by Starr.

(The Lion of Judah on the coat of arms of Jerusalem.)

(The Lion of Judah is a deliberate direct reference to a worthy Prince “Of the Blood of Christ.”)

 

“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” (Revelation 5:5)

Many have noticed that my blog site has been quiet this last week.  In all honesty, since the day before Mother’s Day, I have been in several spiritual battles and felt defeated, victorious, exhausted, energized, ready for battle, and like I was on death’s door from the battle, at one time or another, this past week.  I have felt like I have been on a roller coaster. 

Allow me to propose this scenario.  A man was standing on the street corner.  Jesus was discussing with that man the importance of giving his life to the Father.  The man says to him, “Well give me an example of how my life will be.  Show me one week in the life of some random Christian person.  If it’s good, I’ll give my heart to the Lord.”

If Jesus was to show my last week to that man, the man would surely run wildly away screaming ”No!  I don’t want all the stresses of a life like that!”

But here’s the thing…being a Christian, doesn’t mean having a life without stress, pain, or problems.  Jesus never promised it would be perfect or we would be perfect.  After all, if we were perfect or our lives would be perfect, would we need God?

God has promised us victory in the midst of trials, not immunity from pain.  “Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you, but rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ.”  (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Remember that you have the Lion of the Tribe of Judah battling beside you.  When you put on the armor of God, you have the very best armor possible! Sometimes it does get exhausting, and we want to just relax for a moment, feeling battle-worn, and we want to put our shields down a moment and rest.  Friends, the moment we do that- the moment we put down our “shields of faith” we open ourselves up to the arrows from the enemy.  (Keep in mind that this can mean that you can be the one attacked, OR the one doing the attacking!  Being hit by the enemy sometimes does cause us to think we are so very right in our actions, and sometimes causes us to harm others in the process of our words or deeds.  If we take an action not out of love, that’s still a hit against us, if we allowed it.  It’s a hit against the other person, also.  Basically, it’s a double-whammy!)  Even when we rest, we have to keep the shield of faith up.  Your shield depicts the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  Have you ever considered that you fight for that tribe, also?  Being a man or woman of Faith, means holding that shield of fiath up always.  You are part of God’s army.

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints….”  Ephesians 6:10-18

We must remember to live in the safety of the armor of God.  This gives us a oneness with Jesus, so we can expect to share his struggles, as well as His peace.  “Put on Christ.”  (Galatians 3:27)  He is your victory.

“Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  (1 Corinthians 15:56)

Author’s Note :

In ancient times there were 12 tribes of Jewish people. Out of those 12 there was a tribe that the Jewish priests had to come from and a tribe where the Kings came from. Jesus was descendant of the tribe of the Kings, which was called Judah, thus the Lion of Judah. The Lion being the King of the Jungle.

 

(My special thanks to God who provided me with an inspiring writing jacket.  I needed this jacket, and this jacket needed a home.  This is the first blog that the jacket has experienced.     My Prayer:  God, You are my Ultimate Muse, may you bless the feet that brought this jacket to me, with your warmth, comfort and love.  May you bless all that read these blogs…may they glorify You and may all who see this blog hold up their shields of faith strongly with courage and love for their Lord.  Help me, to follow Your will =my writing and my life is Yours…I publically confess now that I do not have a perfect life, I am not a perfect person…and praise be to You, God that You are not looking for perfect people to be warriors in Your war, You are seeking willing warriors.  You use ordinary people who simply want to see what’s right be right, but who understand that without You, they can do nothing.  Thank You, for battling beside me.  Thank You for battling beside all of Your children.  I love You, Lord………and I lift my shield…my sword….my pen.   CS)

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The Heart of Tears Doesn’t Always Have to Begin With a Four Letter F-Word

7. May 2010 by Starr.

 

I can remember hearing this statement:   “Don’t do that or you’ll be in a ‘heap of trouble.’ 

Okay, well, that didn’t really scare me.  I pictured a ‘heap’ in my mind as being small…maybe about the size of a lump of dough. I’m not sure I really understood the entire “heap” thing.  However, the statement is still true, if we do something incorrect- against ourselves or against God, we will, indeed be in a heap of trouble. 

The statement about the heap may have been correct, I however was incorrect.  If you look up ‘heap’ in the dictionary, the definition of it is :  many things together as a mass.  Have you ever been in a situation or situations where there are just so many issues going on that it just feels like everything is just piling up, one thing on top of another, higher and higher and higher…and soon, it begins to feel like a mountain, doesn’t it? 

After years of that, it does become a mountain, in a sense.  Things begin to grow on it, or out of it.  That “heap” takes on a life of it’s own.  It sprouts “trees” or vines ….regains hard spots or “rocky places”…places you begin to hide or think you hide from people become “caves” and you begin to build that mountain higher and higher and higher and it begins to feel very scary.  We wonder what monsters lurk within that mountain.  We wonder how they got there in the first place!  Bigfoot and Sasquatch have nothing on these kind of creatures, for these creatures are shape shifters and can change from person to person and they know each person’s worse fear.

Ah…there’s that four letter little f-word. FEAR- or I’d rather think of it as, False Evidence Appearing Real. 

Take a look at what God has to say about Fear.

“God is our refuge and our strength, and ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging. Be still and know that I am God.”  (Psalm 46)

Friends, I have read that passage for years.  For years every single time I read that, in my mind I pictured an image exactly like the image I have posted at the top of this blog.  A beautiful mountain and a lovely sea.  I pictured God, being able to literally toss the mountains into the sea, so…knowing that if He could do that action, certainly He could handle my problems, too!  Folks, that’s true!  But, there is a deeper meaning here for us, as well.  Let me share with you something I saw in this passage last night. 

Hebrews 12:2 states that “Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith.”  I know that with God, He is the ultimate Author and he did not just toss words willy=nilly into our Bible, but every -single-word was put in there for a reason, specifically for a purpose.  The Bible tells us that every single thing about us was created on purpose for a reason, so definitely He would do the same with His words.  As a writer as well, I know the value of words.  Every word has meaning!  Lets take a closer look at the above passage.

I looked each of the words in Psalm 46 up in the dictionary.  Here is what I found.

Mountains:  a large pile or heap      

Fall:  to descend, tumble, collapse, to be wounded or killed in battle, to sin

Heart:  Hollow muscular organ that circulates the blood by alternate dilation and contraction.  human heart- center of emotions.  the central or vital part- the core.         

Sea:  any of various smaller bodies of salt water

Lets talk about these definitions a moment.  So a heap and a mountain are the same thing in the dictionary by definition.  As far as falling….in the scripture when it mentions the mountain falling into the sea….can you see God seeing your problems (mountain or heap of troubles) literally descending, tumbling, collapsing…into the sea?  No?

I didn’t see that, either.  For some reason…that seemed far reaching into my human mind.  The problems were too big…the sea was too far away…the sea was too beautiful for God to throw my heap o’troubles into!

Ah…but then here comes the next part of the scripture…

 “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

Remember fall also means, to be wounded, or killed in battle.  Ever felt wounded or killed in battle?  Fall also means to sin.  Ever sinned?  I’ve done and felt all of those.  Have your mountains (heap of troubles) ever left you wounded…ever left you sinful?  ever left you feeling like a part of you died in the battle?….

The heart… I find it wonderful that God uses the organ in our bodies that circulates the BLOOD.  Blood is such a powerful thing…He uses it in sacrifice in the Old Testament…He uses it for His Blood Covenants…He used it for protection in the Passover.  But the heart circulates the blood by alternate dilation and contration.  What does that remind us of?  The rising and the swelling of the SEA.

Remember the sea is….any of various SMALLER BODIES OF SALT WATER.  Can you think of any small bodies of salt water?     

What are tears?   The dictionary says:  Drops of the salty fluids which fall from the eye.

What is the eye?  The dictionary says:  The organ of sight-judgement-vision-observation-opinion

Don’t we roar and just sob sometimes when we cry?  We sometimes just feel like we are foaming…our heart is just sobbing so hard, our chest is literally pounding…it is like the tide of the sea pounding on the beach, and the seafoam is washing harder and harder on the beach.  It hurts, because our heap of troubles just crumbled into the heart of our judgement…and we see that we were wrong about something…or were wronged…we were wounded…or we saw something wrongly….or we sinned and we made problems for ourselves or a hundred other scenarios that it could be based on these definitions of these words…everyone’s situation is different…but we are all human and no matter the situation, God knows each one, personally.

My friends, lets take a look at the scripture in whole, again so I can show you in fullness, my point this morning that God laid on my “hollow muscular organ…my center of my emotions.”

“God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way  and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though the waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging.  Be still and know that I am God.”

It’s not easy to not fear.  After all, God warns us here.  He says…”though the waters roar and foam (basically, I see this as…though you’ll cry alot, sob tears of pain…) and the mountains quake with their surging…(your heap of troubles will try their hardest to scare you and try to get your attention).   God guides us with what to do when all of this happens. 

One thing that I love…is that last night…I was thinking how wonderful that the definition for sea is “any of various smaller bodies of salt water” and God created us that our tears are salt water.   Friends….isn’t it awesome that to God….ONE…1…tiny tear is as important to Him as the sea?  One tear?  He doesn’t say seassss.  He says….the mountain falls into the SEA. 

Friends, God sees your heart in one tear.  One tear is all it takes.  Do not fear.  That is a four letter word.  Make that a word just as bad as the “other words” that you’d rather not say. 

Just be still…know that He is God.  He’s got you.  Go to Him with faith and trust.  He will move that mountain out of your way so that it isn’t fearful, anymore.  He will keep your heart safe, and guide your tears into tears of joy.

If you’ve never read all of Psalm 46, I suggest you do so.  You’ll thoroughly enjoy it and gain understanding. 

May God bless you and keep you today.

 

 A special hello and welcome to all the new friends who have registered on my blog site.  I hope you enjoy reading them and please feel free to email prayer requests anytime. 

 

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Looking for Strength?

30. April 2010 by Starr.

“The Lord gives strength to his people” (Ps. 29:11).

We work out, jog, drink health shakes, increase our intake of protein, work out some more, jog another lap, drink another protein shake, and push our limit to walk another mile or try to add to how many pounds we can bench press.  Why?  We try to add to our strength so that we can add to our health so that we can ultimately add to our quality of life and our lifespan.  Some, even go so far as to try hot stone therapy, crystals, chakras, and the list goes on and on.  I’m not saying any of the above items listed are bad or unproductive or unhealthy…I’m just suggesting one thing…why tap into something small, when you have access to the Ultimate source of strength possible in the universe…the One who created it all, in the first place?

Have you ever considered that you have direct access to that strength and power?  God’s word tells us that He gives strength to His people.  The key words there being…”His people.”  If God knocked on your door today, would you answer?  Do you feel that you are one of “His people?”  If you are not, that is something that I suggest you rectify right away, for this world is no place for weakness.  This world is honestly a place where courage, strength, heart and being focused on a mission for the eternal outcome is definitely required.  Basically…we are just passing through this planet, into our eternity.  This is no place for sissies.  (I say that with love, friends. )

I wish that you could be sitting beside me right now, on my big comfy sofa in my bedroom as we talked.  With a glass of milk in our hands and a warm chocolate chip cookie, and we could sit face to face, and I would tell you this….. God is who He says He is.  God can do what He says He can do.  God is Huge, and He has huge strength.  You, have access to that strength.  What is it today that you need strength to do?  What is it that you wish that you had the strength to accomplish, but feel you cannot?

The enemy will suggest to you, that you have never accomplished before, so you will not in the future.  That is a lie.  What was the past - it is gone, that means nothing now.  Basically…as S.E. Hinton said, “The difference is, that was then, this is now!”

God can heal, He resurrected His son from the dead, He can certainly handle anything that is worrying you, today.  We have access to the power and strength of God.  Strength comes through the remission of our sins.  Strength in response to prayer we offer to God through Him.  ”I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me.”  Phillipians 4:13

Also, remember, you cannot add a minute to your life, God already controls that.  Your days were numbered when He created you in your mother’s womb.  He is your strength.  He’s in control.

“Commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be achieved.”  Proverbs 16:3

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Earthquakes and Voices and Bees, Oh, My!!

18. April 2010 by Starr.

“Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. Isaiah 41: 10“

Here is the scenario I found myself in the other day:  I was in a doctor’s office.  There were 9 people besides me.  7 women.  2 men.  (I think I was the youngest one.  I don’t think that matters.)

On a big flat screen t.v. the news continued to stream live from all over the world.

The first story:

An earthquake had hit China.   People were actually trying to dig survivors out of the rubble with their bare hands.  I looked around the waiting room.  No one responded to this as if it was just another earthquake.  Just another earthquake?  Hm.  I wonder, when do we get to the point where we don’t fear earthquakes?

Check this out:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMMfFdjQGOo

 

Story 2:

 

A man hears voices and shoots his family in Chicago.  Again, no one in the waiting room responded.  They kept flipping magazine pages, adjusting eyeglasses, watching the clock, checking cell phones, or just staring into space.  So…the voices that prompted someone into a violent murder didn’t evoke a response either.

 

Voices that cause violent action, aren’t new.  Those that suffer with voices live in a hellish life that is a very real situation that needs the healing and cleansing of the Holy Spirit.  It is a confusing and a very hurtful and hard place.  Ever considered life from their perspective?  Doesn’t scare you to think of hearing voices that makes you “crazy” enough to kill or lose control?

 

Check out this youtube video.  It may give you some idea of what it is like to Fear the Voices.   (bear with this one- give it some time)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-YARjv1kes

 

Story 3:

 

A swarm of bees was buzzing in Houston.  NOW I saw responses!  Some of the people in the waiting room actually responded to this story.  I couldn’t find the actually Houston bee swarm story on Youtube, but I found a smiliar one….take a look.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D80JLjKV-yU

 

Story 4:

 

Man saves missing little girl in Swamp.  He claims that God gave him the guidance of her whereabouts.  No one responds to this.  They are back to flipping magazine pages, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBBV5Dpu13Y

 

So…we have four things here.  Three fears.  Earthquakes, Voices that led to violence, and Bees.   Only the Bees got a response.  One awesome praise.  Girl gets rescued.  No response.

 

It could be that they simply didn’t HEAR the broadcasts.  Maybe they just happened to hear the bees story and didn’t hear the others.  That’s entirely possible, of course.  But, lets assume just for the sake of argument, that they did hear them all, and simply the bees are the only ones that they felt compelled to respond to.  Why was that?  Here’s my theory as to why.

 

Lets begin with fears.  After all, what are we afraid of?  In the Wizard of Oz, they were afraid of lions and tigers and bears.  The white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland was afraid of being late.  Little Red Riding Hood was afraid of the Big Bad Wolf.  When we were young, my sister was afraid of indians, because my father watched alot of old black and white westerns where indians ran wild scalping people and burning towns.  That was not, in modern days, how they react at all, but in my sister’s eyes, that’s how they were.  We all have something we are afraid of, but as a society, these fears change, don’t they?

 

My grandfather remembered being afraid of bears. Something I’ve never had to be afraid of before.   Where we live, how we live, and how we think definitely determines our fears, and how we respond to our fears…and what we hear.

 

Consider this :

 

Top 10 Fears

While the exact rankings change slightly from year to year, the following is a list of America’s most common fears.*  See if one or more of your fears are on the list.

1.  Snakes 51%

2. Speaking in public - 40%

3. Heights - 36%

4. Being closed in a small space - 34%

5. Spiders and insects - 27%

6. Needles and getting shots - 21%

7. Mice - 20%

8. Flying on a plane - 18%

9. Dogs (sorry, Lassie) - 11%

9. Thunder and lightning - 11%

9. Crowds - 11%

10. Going to the doctor - 9%

* Gallup Poll, February 18-21, 2001 (1,016 respondents; + or - 3%)

When we consider the above fears, it gives a different outlook on how and why the people in the waiting room didn’t respond, doens’t it?  Earthquakes doesn’t rate in the top 10 fears.  Voices..or…hearing voices to the point of hurting others doesn’t rank.  Bees ranks….it ranks in the insects section.  There’s where the response fell in.

Another thing…the people were probably distracted and concentrating on their fears of the needles, visiting the doctor…and probably the confined space of the room, and so their fear wasn’t showing if they were responding in an introverted way to try to cover up those fears.  All of those fears were in the top 10.  So, my theory is…fears of earthquakes and voices don’t rank high enough to get a response.

God helping someone to find a missing girl…was overshadowed by the fears that were going on as well, either that, or they simply didn’t hear it, didn’t believe it….or tuned it out.

I think in today’s world, we are desensitized by fears and things all around us that are going on in today’s world.  We get this attitude:

“Oh, another man shot his family.”

“Oh, another earthquake.”

“Oh, another missing girl.”

What is going to make us wake up and take notice that God is a living God?  Things are shaking up?  Things are happening?  People ARE hearing voices and ARE taking action to do violent OR MIRACULOUS things!!  Why do we let our fears control how we react or even what we pay attention to?

Why do we have the attitude that states…”If it doesn’t effect me personally, or if I’m not afraid of it personally….why care?”

God doesn’t want us to look around in terror and be afraid of everything.  But I believe He does want us to care and be aware and have compassionate spirits and at least respond…and at least take notice when He’s doing something in the world.  When He shakes up the world with an earthquake…pray for that area.  When someone’s hearing voices and it leads them to voilence…pray for that family.  There are many that suffer with voices today that need deliverance from that.

Friends, we need to wake up.  We need to not be afraid…but be aware of the dangers that are out there and face them with courage and strength of the Living God.

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Praying for Others

6. April 2010 by Starr.

“We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).

Jesus set the example when He said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:31, 32). Jesus’ intercession was necessary for Peter’s faith to become established.

In his book Life Together, Deitrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses.”

I have said this before and I find myself saying it over and over again….we can’t be perfect people….but we can be Praying people.  Wherever or whatever you find yourself today and whatever the circumstance, whoever is on your heart as you read this, intercede for them in prayer.  They need you.  We all need each other in intercession.  It is vital.  Prayer is where we find our destiny.  It is where others find their destiny with God.  It is how we fight the battle of spritual warfare.  Prayer is our very best defense. 

I just love it that Jesus said, “I have prayed for you, so that your faith may not fail.”  He did not say, “I guess I’ll pray because that’s my last resort.”  or  ”Because nothing else has worked.” 

 Prayer is the first and the foremost thing we should do.  It is our greatest weapon.  It is our greatest priveledge. 

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Help When It Hurts

31. March 2010 by Starr.

 

Ever had someone say something so hurtful to you that you just want to turn your back on them, walk out of the room and slam the door?  Have you ever had someone say or do something so hurtful to you that you are so tempted to just say hurtful things in return, throw away everything they ever gave you, etc.?  The list of temptations after being hurt is endless, isn’t it?  We all have done at least one of them, or probably all, at one time or another, but there is good news for us!

We can learn to resist the urges to walk out of rooms, slam doors, yell, throw cell phones, toss momentos into the trash cans, write hurtful emails or letters just to get the last word ,  or  ______________ (put your own action here that you personally have done)  by simply remembering that nothing, not even a cross look, should come to us unless it passed before God, our Master and is approved by Him.

 Keep in mind this, also, that sometimes, our hurt, is actually part of His plan.  Sometimes we are in a situation that He does not want us to be, and our pain is part of His process of teaching us that we are not where He wants us to be and we must learn to be aware of His guidance.  Only following closely to His will and in a relationship with Him can we learn this.   Our pain is sometimes part of His purpose for us.

We can learn to choose to focus on God and His purpose for us and not the pain, and as we do that, we learn to change our behavior and that is when we receive our help when it hurts and respond more positively to others.  We can learn to see how others fit into His plan for us, and are more open to growing, to healing and to seeing how things fit together for us in our lives. 

The secret here is to be content in every situation, in knowing that God has it all in control.  This, however, I know is not an easy task and sometimes it is with much prayer, tears, hurt, and hard lessons.  Sometimes like removing a thorn from our hand, it hurts…Jesus knows exactly how that feels, too.  But God is our soothing healing salve, that will help us there, too, and later we can look back and say, “Wow!  I feel so much stronger and better and I just love the new progress I have made!”  

Give thanks to God for what He will do as you practice contentment and trusting Him, by letting things pass before Him for approval before taking action in these hurtful situations.

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12, 13).

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Ruler of All Things

10. February 2010 by Starr.

When the people in Nazareth drove Jesus out of their town to a hill intending to push him off a cliff, Jesus allowed them to drive him to the edge. Then He simply slipped through the crowd and left. Jesus never lost control of the situation. He was always the One who chose the final outcome.

What a good word for us! It may seem that Satan has gained control of situations in our lives, but “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood” (Ps. 29:10).

The Psalmist said, “All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me” (Ps. 42:7 KJV), but he acknowledged that they were God’s waves and billows! He acknowledged God, and so was not overcome by the circumstances.

To acknowledge God in all our ways is to believe that He is there, not in a passive way but actively controlling every situation. We see Him as allowing our disappointments because He has a higher purpose. We call all the waves and billows His!

Because God is sovereign, we can trust Him no matter what happens.

Jesus, I acknowledge that You are actively controlling every situation in my life.

“You are the ruler of all things” (1 Chronicles 29:12).

(Thank you, Aletha Hinthorn)

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