Spend 5 Minutes in Thanksgiving

Week 52

A number of years ago, the leadership of our church held a retreat in January. Each year we do this to get our focus on what we are doing as a body of believers. It gives us a chance to examine our motives and be reminded of what we are about as disciples of Christ. In January 2005, our retreat focused on getting to know God through prayer. At the beginning of the retreat, the leader, Reverend Aaron Brown, asked each of us to spend five minutes in a prayer of thanksgiving to God. We were told to speak our prayers out loud and to focus on all that we are thankful for. 

It was amazing to hear the things that we take for granted voiced and the prayers of thanksgiving filled the room. I’m sure that we have no idea how much that meant to God. To hear his people thanking him for jobs, cars, the blood of Jesus, for our homes, families, our education, for the beauty in the world. It had to be a pleasing aroma to him.

Five minutes, that was all that we spent in thanksgiving, and yet it was so powerful. There are many days that I praise God for long periods of time. It is easy to get started on the attributes of God and continue praising him, but I guess I just don’t usually thank him for specifics and intentionally spend five minutes doing it. The concept is really Biblical. In Psalm 100 we are told to enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Our hearts are instructed to be thankful to God in all circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. We read in Philippians that we are to lift our prayers and petitions to God with thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a natural way to communicate with God, but five minutes? That seems like such a long time to spend speaking nothing but thanks. 

As I write these words, we are on the eve of the National Day of Prayer, it is followed by 10 days of preparation for the Global Day of Prayer. The Global Day of Prayer falls on the day of Pentecost, one of the most revered days in the church calendar. I have made a commitment to God to spend one hour in prayer each day for the next 11 days. That means getting up earlier or staying up later to make this happen. 

Not only will I spend an hour in prayer each day, but I am making the commitment to spend five minutes of those hours in thanksgiving. I want God to know how much I appreciate all that he has done for me. I want him to know that I don’t take his gifts for granted. I want him to know that he has a child who has gratitude in her heart for the blessings in my life. 

I don’t make this commitment to boast or brag, I am not expecting anyone to think any better of me for doing this, but I do say it to make myself accountable for carrying out what I said I would do. If I think that even one person may ask me how the prayer vigil went, then it will make me stick with it. 

One thing that I am hoping will come out of this, is maybe I will form a habit in those 11 days and will continue thanking God every time I come to him in prayer. 

I remember when I first began a devotional time. I would sit down with my little devotional book and my Bible and spend five minutes with God. That included the time it took for me to find the scripture and the prayer at the end.

If I could make the first five minutes of my time with God purely a time of thanksgiving, that would be truly awesome. One thing I noticed when we had that prayer time, the focus was completely on God and not me. When we thank him for all he has given us, we are acknowledging him as our provider. I’m sure that he smiles at us when we thank him for his provision.

If you have trouble thinking of things to thank God for, use this simple exercise. Go to these scriptures: Psalm 13:5-6; Psalm 100; Colossians 3:17 and James 1:17 and pray them back to God. 

Colossians 3:17 - Father, I am so thankful that whatever I do, whether in word or deed, I do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and I thank you God through him.

It’s also easy to just look around you and begin to thank him for all of it. Be specific. Father, I thank you for my bookshelves and all the books that I have to fill it. Thank you for the clothing on my back, etc.

I used to wonder how someone could pray for an hour. It seemed that we couldn’t possibly have that much to talk to God about. He was busy after all and probably didn’t want to hear us babble on and on about all our problems. But the more I spend time in his presence, the more I’m convinced that he loves to hear our voices. He enjoys the fact that we come to him on our own to spend time with him.

It’s good to sometimes just sit in his presence and not say anything. It is those times that he can speak to us. I have noticed that when my mind is uncluttered, that is when he speaks. Usually when I am doing mindless tasks like washing the dishes, making the bed, folding laundry. Keep your ears attuned to him, it’s easy when you spend time with him on a regular basis. His voice becomes more familiar and it is a beautiful voice.

I’m going to time myself and write out a five minute prayer of thanksgiving. You may quit reading now and write your own prayer. After all, he wants to hear from you!

Father, I just want to thank you for the beauty in this day, the sun is shining and the trees are breaking out in leaf. I thank you for the birds and their songs. I thank you that I have new hearing aids and can hear those songs. I thank you that I have a home and a job and reliable transportation. I thank you for my husband and my childern and grandchildren. I thank you that I have Godly parents and that my sisters are all born again believers. I thank you for the food in my refrigerator and cupboards. I thank you that we can go to the store and find food on the shelves. I thank you that our country has dedicated a day of prayer to you. I thank you that the people in Africa have pushed for a global day of prayer. I thank you that your spirit lives in me and directs my prayers. I thank you that I have a computer and that you have given me wisdom and knowledge to use it. I thank you that you have given me strength to finish this devotional book. Amen.

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas Eve and Christians around the world are celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The God of the universe chose to save mankind from sin by coming to earth in the form of a little baby. God entrusted the care and nurturing of Jesus to Joseph and Mary, ordinary people. Jesus could have been born to nobility, he could have been raised in a palace, but God wanted him to experience life as most of us experience it. He wanted Jesus to be fully man and reveal His righteousness and holiness to common folk. How amazing is that?

As you celebrate the birth of Christ this year, offer praise to God for His amazing gift. We have done nothing to deserve the gift of salvation and yet, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Jesus came to earth for the purpose of dying for our sins. He is worthy of our praise! We are indeed a blessed people because of Christ's coming!

Merry Christmas!

The Ripple Affect

Week 51

“Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13

Has anyone encouraged you today? What sort of affect did it have on you? Did you, in turn, want to encourage someone else? It can have that affect on us. Just as someone complaining can have the same affect on us. What we live with, what we hear becomes the way we live and the way we speak.

Most of us, as Christians, will not make a difference in the world like evangelist Billy Graham. At best, we can make a difference in our homes, our places of employment and our neighborhoods, but when it comes to reaching the masses, we just don’t have the opportunity to do so.

On any given day, we can wake up and offer ourselves to God. Read Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.” 

If we offer ourselves to God on a daily basis, we are inviting his Holy Spirit to control our lives. If you stop and think about it, whatever you do, wherever you go, whoever you meet in the course of the day is a God-ordained meeting. 

A few years ago when I started working for a newspaper, I was sent on assignments all around the county. As a Christian, it occurred to me one day that since I am an ambassador for Christ, he was directing my steps and would use me in my work. I began to picture myself claiming land for God wherever I went. I claimed the promise that God had given Abraham that wherever he set his foot, the land would become his. I started claiming the land where I walked for the kingdom of God.

I took it a step further by asking God to work in the lives of all the people who read our paper, or whose names were in the paper, those who received the free Sunday paper, even if they didn’t read it but instead tossed it in the trash. It is easy to pray for people when you have a God vision of them. I’m not claiming them for myself or asking for anything from any of them, but I am asking God to intervene.

I can’t honestly say that I have seen a difference in the county where I work, but I don’t have to see it, only believe it. If God could use me in my job, he can use everyone in their jobs as well. It is up to us to let the Holy Spirit direct our thoughts and prayers for those in our pathway. It is just a matter of yielding.

God is a God who can use the smallest things to accomplish his will. His kingdom will be expanded by the tiny things we do each day. 

A good illustration is Rahab. She was a prostitute who lived in Jericho. When she hid two spies sent from Joshua, she was promised that her family would be spared when the Israelites came back to destroy Jericho. Her family was spared, but that isn’t the end of the story.

Rahab lived among the Israelites when they destroyed Jericho. She is mentioned again and again in the Bible. In Matthew we find out that she married Salmon from the tribe of Judah. She was the mother of Boaz who married Ruth and Rahab was the great grandmother of King David. Hebrews says, “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” 

The little things we do can make a difference in the kingdom of God. A kindness, a smile, a word of encouragement is never wasted in God’s eyes. The entire kingdom can be affected by the things we say and do. The key is faith. When we act out of faith, God responds in ways that we may never see or know. It is believing that God will act that prompts us to act. 

In James we read once again about Rahab. “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” James 2:18b. “In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:25-26.

Paul tells us that we live by faith not by sight. That is a wonderful way to live when we can trust God to lead us. We can also trust him to accomplish his plans through us as long as we are following him and living lives in step with his Spirit. How do we do that?

Romans 10:17 says, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” We cannot hear God’s voice instructing us on a day to day basis if we don’t open up his word and read it. Each morning I begin my day with a Bible reading and a short devotional. Sometimes I make time to sit and meditate on the word and other days, I have to go with very little time spent in the word. But the word is a daily part of my life. We can’t just hear the pastor read scripture on Sunday morning and expect God to speak to us the rest of the week.

The more of God that we search for, the more time we spend with him the more likely we are to walk in the spirit daily. God really wants us to desire to do his will, he expects Christians to desire to be like Jesus. He wants to use us to make a difference right where we live and work. 

Father, We want to make a difference for your kingdom, we want to be used by you to minister to all those around us. We know that you can take even the smallest gifts we have and do mighty things with them. When we enter your heavenly kingdom we want to hear you say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ Direct our feet where you would have us walk and speak to us through your precious Holy Spirit. In Jesus name. Amen.

I Have Engraved You

Week 50

One of the most moving scriptures I have ever read is Isaiah 49:16. God is speaking through Isaiah, he is speaking about a time that will come and what he will have to do for us. “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” Centuries before he would walk on the earth and die for us, he had our names engraved on his palms. He knew that he would one day have his hands pierced for us and he still went through with it. That to me is amazing love.

If we knew what the future held, if we could see that we would have to give our lives to save someone would we willingly and lovingly choose to be born for that purpose? I doubt that I would. It seems so painful and hard. Yet Jesus did that for us. Over and over again in the old testament we read about his first coming.

We know that he would be born of a virgin, that he would be the son of God, a descendent of Abraham, from the tribe of Judah, the family of Jesse, the house of David. Scripture tells us that he would be born in Bethlehem, that he would be called Lord, Immanuel, that he would be a prophet like Moses, a priest, a judge, a king. 

I read once that we can find Jesus in every chapter in the Bible. I haven’t actually tried to do this, but when I consciously think about it, it is entirely possible.

Whenever the Word of the Lord is spoken in scripture, it is Jesus. Whenever a rock is mentioned in the Bible, it is Jesus. Whenever creation is brought up in scripture, there is Jesus. He is in each breath, each heartbeat and every time we awake it is because he has given us life and created a new day for us.

I guess if we mean that much to him, it wasn’t hard for him to die for us. Hebrews 12:2 puts it this way. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” He knew what was coming and considered it joy. That is a loving, merciful, gracious God who would do that for us.

In Philippians 2:5 we are told that our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Listen to this:

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

He didn’t die on the cross to be elevated or exalted, but to save human kind. But God chose to exalt him for taking on the servant nature. One day everyone will bow to him – everyone.

I guess we have the option of bowing the knee to him now or later. It is awesome to think that those who do not serve him on earth, those who choose to serve Satan will also bow the knee to Jesus at the end of the age. Everyone will see him in all his splendor when he comes back to the earth the second time. 

He will not return as a servant, no one will spit on him, ridicule him or nail him to a cross when he comes back as the sovereign ruler of the universe. He will come back as a conquering king!

I am so anxious to see him return. The earth is anxious for this also. “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole of creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Romans 8:19-22

If your name has been engraved on the palm of his hand, you will be spending eternity with him, Jesus the king of the universe. We cannot even begin to fathom what that will be like. I don’t think that we will ever have boring days with nothing to do, I don’t envision a lazy afterlife, but one that is full of new things to see, do and experience.

With God, a thousand years are but a day and we will get an opportunity to experience that first hand when Jesus comes back to the earth a second time. That is if our names are written in the lambs book of life. 

Revelation 20:11-15 describes the day of judgement. Listen carefully to these words. 

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of  life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

How can we be guaranteed that our name will be written in the book of life? 

When Jesus was nailed to the cross, it was for everyone who had ever been born or would be born, no one is exempt from the grace and love he showed. Each and every name of every person in the world was engraved on his palms. But there is a stipulation. We have to accept the gift, it is up to each one of us to believe that he was who he said he was and have faith that the blood he shed was for our sins. God has made it very clear that it is by faith in the blood of Jesus that we are saved.

Jesus told us that he is the way, the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through him. It may sound harsh that those who reject Jesus will not be written in the book, but we hear this from Jesus himself in Matthew 7:13-14. “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.”

Is your name engraved on the palm of Jesus hand? It is if you accept his gift. He died for you, for me, for everyone. Our sin debt has been paid in full. But we have to acknowledge that gift, we have to embrace it and be thankful for it. We have to give our allegiance to Jesus for what he has done for us. There is a song that I have been singing a lot lately. It kind of sums up this devotion. Hear the words to “Amazing Love.”

I’m forgiven because you were forsaken. I’m accepted you were condemned. I’m alive and well, your spirit is within me, because you died and rose again. 

Amazing love how can it be, that you my king should die for me? Amazing love I know it’s true, and it’s my joy to honor you, in all I do, to honor you. 

You are my king. You are my king. You are my king, Jesus you are my king.

Amazing love how can it be, that you my king should die for me? Amazing love I know it’s true, and it’s my joy to honor you, in all I do, let me honor you. 

Christmas Eve Service

New Harmony United Methodist Church is located in Williamsburg, Ohio 

New Harmony United Methodist Church plans Christmas Eve service

The tradition of a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service will continue at New Harmony United Methodist Church. The service will be held 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 24 and the public is invited to attend.

The hour-long service will include the singing of traditional Christmas carols, a short message from Pastor Don Mundy and the lighting of the Christ candle. All those in attendance will hold lighted candles as they sing "Silent Night."

A birthday cake for Jesus will be shared at the conclusion of the service.

The church is located 1445 New Harmony Shiloh Road in Williamsburg. Call Pastor Don for more information, 1-513- 734-4334.

Moving Mountains

Week 49

Do you have any mountains in your pathway today? Maybe your finances are out of control, maybe you are dealing with a health issue that seems like more than you can handle. Maybe your son or daughter is in trouble with the law or maybe they have a drug problem which is causing other problems. Whatever the mountain, God is bigger!

Jesus had just come down from the mountain of transfiguration, he had just met with Moses and Elijah and been encouraged by them. He knew that his time on earth was getting short and that it was going to be up to his disciples to carry on the work of building the kingdom when he was gone. And then he had to deal with their limited faith.

Jesus’ disciples had been unable to remove a demon from a boy. They didn’t understand why they couldn’t remove it. Matthew 17:17-21 “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of the boy and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

He replied, “Because you have so little faith, I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

In Matthew 21:21-22 we hear Jesus say, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

That is powerful preaching. Did he really mean it? Over and over again Jesus kept telling his disciples that they could ask for things and they would receive them if they asked believing. What are we missing? 

Hear some more of Jesus words:

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

John 14:13-14 - And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the son may bring glory to the father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

John 15:7 - If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you.

John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

John 16:23-24 - In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.

Have you noticed a pattern in what Jesus tells us? It seems to me that we are still wrapped up in ourselves and our needs. It’s not about us. Jesus knew that. He knew that everything he did on earth, every word he spoke, every action was always only to bring glory to his Father. None of the things he did was about him. He was a representative on earth, an ambassador from God. 

As born again believers, we are the same as Jesus. Our lives are no longer about us, they are about God. All of our actions, all of our words, everything we do should be a reflection of our Father. This is a concept that I have in my head, but it hasn’t quite gotten to my heart completely. I know it, I’m sure of it, but there is still so much of the flesh in me that I doubt what I am hearing.

If we could ever really grasp what he was saying to us, this world would be a different place. Why can’t we ‘get it’?

How do we keep our focus on God and not ourselves or the problems in our lives? Is there a trick? Even as I write this book, there is a mountain that looms before me. I have never written a book before. God placed the desire to write this book in my spirit more than two years ago. I have stopped for a time and then started again. At times I just wanted to quit, but he would always draw me back. He is expecting me to finish it. 

Now that most of the writing is finished, the task before me is to find a publisher and get the book into print. That, my friend, is a mountain or at least it seems like one. I am an unpublished writer. God has backed me all the way in the writing of this devotional book, but how do I explain that to a publisher? They want books written by well-known writers, not by someone they have never heard of.

My prayer right now is “I do believe, help thou my unbelief.”

Am I going to continue looking at the mountain (getting published), or am I going to look at God. What would Jesus do in this situation? Well, I’m just thinking out loud right now - God asked me to write this book, he has enabled me to persevere and not give up. His spirit has been the one guiding me each step of the way. Every time I sat down to write, I would ask the holy spirit to speak through me. God has been in the drivers seat with this project every mile of the way. 

When I think back I remember thinking that I was not an artist and couldn’t do the drawings, I even asked my talented sister to consider drawing the pictures, but God wanted me to do that part also. His hand has been in this book from the very moment I started. No wait, I have to back up a little. Some of these drawings date back more than 10 years. He knew even then, that I would one day write this book and include pictures. 

If God knew all that about me and this book, why would I now think that I won’t find a publisher? God has a plan for this project, he will continue to lead me where I need to go to get it published. Why am I doubting?

Did you see how that worked? I did, and I am amazed myself. I took the focus off myself and the problem and put it on God. We can do the same thing no matter what the mountain may be. 

Let’s try the same process with an imaginary issue. Let’s say that your company has been downsized and you are among those that have to be let go. That’s a mountain, right? Your family depends on you as a the primary bread-winner to make enough money to pay the mortgage, utility bills, buy food and clothing, etc. How do you handle the situation? What would Jesus do?

Think about it and verbally talk about the situation with God. Father, you gave me the job that I had, it has met all the needs of my family for years. Now I am without an income, I will have unemployment benefits for a few months, but they will eventually run out and unless I have another job, we will have to sell the house, and could even end up homeless. (There is the focus on self.)

Father, you are the one who gave me the job that I had, it has met all the needs of my family for years. I know that if you gave me that job, you are able to give me another job. You know that we need to eat, we need a roof over our heads and that we need a decent income. You are the God who has provided for me all my life and I am sure that you will provide for me now. I am trusting you to lead me to the new job. I look to you to guide my footsteps. I believe that you have something better for me, because I know that you have a purpose and a plan for my life. Thank you for always meeting my needs. I trust in you.(There is the focus on God.)

The mountains will always loom before us, they may look bigger or smaller, they may appear closer or at a distance, but they are there. As long as we live, we will have mountains to climb or throw into the sea. We have a choice when we see these mountains. How will we react to them. 

I challenge you to take your eyes off the mountain and instead focus on the Sovereign God of the universe. Jesus was our example, he taught us to ask for things in his name, he asked us to look to God for answers. 

“So do not worry saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:31-34.

As an end note: I still have not found a publisher for this book, but I started this blog almost a year ago as a way of sharing what God gave me. Maybe this is the avenue that God had planned. Also, I lost my job in March 2010 and have been unable to find a new one. I'm looking to God to provide for our needs and he has never let us down in the past. I'm trusting in Him and doing what I know to do until He shows me what I am to do next.

Prayer requests of others

Week 48

The more you grow in your relationship with God, the more you will share your faith with those around you. God will give you opportunities to tell others about the things he is doing in your life. He will also give you opportunities to pray for those around you. 

Many times we are given chances in our conversations with others. I once had a co-worker tell me about a test he was having done for a physical condition. I could tell that he was concerned about the test itself and the outcome of the test. It was a perfect opportunity to tell him that I would say a prayer for him. He seemed kind of surprised that someone would do that for him. 

There have been other opportunities to tell co-workers that I would say a prayer for them. The Bible tells us to make the most of every opportunity to share the good news.

We have a prayer chain at our church. If someone has a need, they can call the head of the prayer chain and the need will spread through a telephone call list and an e-mail list so that before the day is over, they have been lifted to the throne many times. What a comfort it is to know that many people are praying for you or your loved one and all it took was a phone call to get the prayer started.

There are so many ways that we can have access to the needs of others. Sometimes people don’t want to share a concern because it is too difficult to speak about. But God may put them in your heart to ask for their needs to be met.

The small group that met at my house often shared the needs of others and asked that the people remain anonymous or that we not share the need outside the group. It was really wonderful to hear the people in the group pray for those they didn't know, maybe had never met but when we know there is a need, we also know that we have a God who is able to meet the need.

Sometimes people are too sick to even ask for prayer. They may have cancer and are undergoing treatment that just absolutely wipes them out. Maybe they are taking care of a parent with Alzheimer’s Disease. Their child may be sick or they may be burdened with financial problems due to a family situation. We all know people who are in need of prayer who maybe wouldn’t ever ask for it. 

When we know of a need, it is up to us to present that need to Jesus. Sometimes our prayers are so self-centered and we are so focused on our own needs that our prayers are one-sided. Listen to your prayers, really listen to what you say to God. If there are a lot of I’s, me’s and mines, maybe it’s time to ask the Holy Spirit to put someone on your heart that needs prayer.

I recently was focused on myself and heard myself asking for this and that for my husband and myself. It was really an eye opener when I asked the spirit to put someone on my heart, there was silence and then I thought of the folks in my small group. I immediately started lifting them to the throne one at a time, remembering the concerns they had recently voiced.

It amazed me that in the course of 20 minutes (my drive to work), I had an opportunity to pray for each one of them and some of the special needs they had mentioned in small group. I was also amazed that my problems seemed to disappear as I prayed for the needs of others. What had I been asking for anyhow?

Sometimes we have the chance to really pray someone through a situation. It may be a sickness, a financial crisis, a problem with a child or family member, but God will continually bring them to mind and we can pray daily for them until the problem is resolved, until the healing comes or until the crisis passes. What a blessing to hear someone say that it was the prayers of loved ones and friends who brought them through a situation. 

There are times when we hear about the answers and other times when it seems that God isn’t even listening. But perseverance in prayer is one of the most wonderful experiences we can have. Just keep praying and praying for the situation. Go daily before the throne of God asking for an answer. I have heard that some people prayed for 20 years or more for their answer. 

Someone told me once that they prayed only once for situations and didn’t ask again, but I think that sometimes we really need to ask and keep on asking. Daniel is a good example of that type of prayer. He knew what God had promised Jeremiah the prophet that the Jewish people would be in exile for 70 years, but they would go back to Jerusalem. At the end of the 70 years, he began knocking on the throne room door asking God to send them back to Israel. He also repented on behalf of his people. He began praying and fasting in earnest. He continued fasting and praying for three weeks. (See Daniel 10:2-3.)

We are told in Daniel 10:12 what happened. An angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me 21 days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”

Daniel persevered in prayer, God heard and answered in a mighty way. God isn’t any different today than he was in Daniel’s time. He still answers and he still may have to do battle to bring us the answer, but it is up to us to petition him.

Is there someone you know who has a need? Does it seem impossible for the need to be met? Has God put it in your heart to pray for them? Then do it. Go to God every day if you have to. Don’t stop until you have prayed them through the situation. Forget about your own needs and focus on the needs of others. 

Jesus told us in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” So knock and keep on knocking, seek and keep on seeking, ask and keep on asking. The answer is waiting.

Father,

In the course of a day there are so many needs that I see around me. Just today I heard a mother who has lost custody of her children ask that they be returned to her, I heard a co-worker who is discouraged ask for encouragement, I heard the mother of four little children ask for strength to get through the day. We don’t have to look too far to find someone to lift to you in prayer. 

We ask that your spirit put people in our pathways that need prayer and that we would respond by lifting them to you and expecting you to hear and answer our requests on their behalf. 

We thank you that you a merciful God, a God of compassion and love. We ask that you restore the children to their mother. We ask that you give the young lady that needs encouragement something to be joyful about and we ask that you help that young mother keep up with her children today, may she be joyful in her job as parent.

Thank you for hearing our prayers. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray.

Amen 

Origins of the Christmas tree

I Wish You a Merry Christmas

With all the hoopla lately about calling Christmas trees - holiday trees, I was curious about just how the custom of Christmas trees began.

As a Christian, I had been taught that Martin Luther, one of the founders of the protestant faith, was walking through a forest on Christmas Eve, he was looking at an evergreen tree and saw the stars shining through the branches. He was so enamored by the sight that he cut a small tree, took it home and tried to create the starlight affect by placing candles on the branches. Thus, the first Christmas tree.

Another legend has an English monk, Saint Boniface, coming upon a group of pagans gathered around an oak tree to sacrifice a child to their god Thor. He stopped the sacrifice by felling the tree with one blow from his fist. In the place of the oak, a small fir tree grew. He told the pagans that the fir was the tree of life and that it symbolized eternal life in Christ.

Yet another legend stems from the "Paradise Play" from medieval times. Many people couldn't read and plays were used to teach Bible lessons. The "Paradise Play" performed on Christmas Eve, told the story of the creation of man and the fall of Adam and Eve. The fall was represented with Eve picking an apple from a tree. In winter, no apple trees had green leaves, so an evergreen tree was substituted and apples were hung from the branches.

One more legend refers to a poor woodsman who met a lost and hungry child on Christmas Eve. Even though he was poor, he gave the child food and shelter for the night. The next morning he found a beautiful glittering tree outside his door. The child was really the Christ child in disguise and he created the tree to reward the man for his charity.

Every legend that I could find had Christmas as an origin for the tree.

Another legend that I discovered while searching for Christmas tree origins was the tradition of topping a tree with an angel or a star. The decorations symbolize the star of Bethlehem or the angel that appeared to the shepherds to tell them about the birth of Christ.

In Ireland, a large candle is placed in the window of the home on Christmas Eve to symbolize that Mary and Joseph would be welcomed into the home. The couple could find no lodging in Bethlehem except a stable and that is where Mary gave birth to Jesus. Showing that you welcome the couple to your home with a candle in the window is another way of celebrating the birth of Jesus.

The Jewish holiday Hanukkah or the Feast of Lights is a celebration of the Jewish victory from occupation and the cleansing of their temple performed in December. They use lights and decorations during the same time as the Christmas celebration, but the Jewish people are not celebrating the birth of Christ.

I researched the holiday of Kwanzaa to see if a tree was part of their celebration and found that it is a relatively new holiday. Created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga of California State University to celebrate the African American family, community and culture. It is observed from Dec. 26 to Jan 1 and builds on five fundamental activities; in gathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment and celebration. It is a cultural holiday, not a religious one and is practiced by Africans of all religious faiths.

I have not found the Christmas tree with any origin than that of Christianity. Therefore, I will always refer to it as the Christmas tree.

Another thing that I discovered was the roots of the phrase "Merry Christmas." Christmas is a translation of the old English Cristes Maesse or the Mass of Christ. It was celebrated on the eve of his recognized birthday. When the phrase "Merry Christmas" first came about, the word merry meant peaceful or blessed. So when someone wished you a "Merry Christmas," they were actually saying "have a peaceful, blessed Mass of Christ,"  or in terms today "have a peaceful and blessed Christmas."

I suppose that I could wish you Happy Holidays and that would encompass Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas, but then I'm not Jewish and don't celebrate Hanukkah, I'm not African-American and don't celebrate Kwanzaa. I am, however, a Christian and I do celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and so I wish you a "Merry Christmas."

God’s Throne Room

Week 47

Where does the God of the universe dwell? We know that he wants to dwell with mankind. He had Moses build a tabernacle for his presence to be close to the Israelites when they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. He instructed King Solomon, the son of King David to build him a temple. Isaiah saw him in a vision, “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted and the train of his robe filled the temple,” Isaiah 6:1. 

In Isaiah 66:1 we hear God say, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?”

If we fast forward to the book of Hebrews we get a better idea of God’s throne room. The author explains about Jesus’ priesthood. He shares with us the way Jesus entered the actual Holy of Holies, not an earthly imitation, but the very throne of God in heaven. He took his sinless blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat of God to make atonement for the sins of the world. It is this very throne that we now have access to through the blood of Jesus.

Each time we go to God in prayer, we have to apply the blood of Jesus. It is the covering that makes us righteous in God’s eyes. We have done nothing and can do nothing to protect ourselves as we approach God. In our own power and by ourselves we would be consumed completely before we got in the door. We are sinful people, but God is a God of mercy and grace. 

Jesus is a savior who died for our sins, he knew that was the only way for us to enter God’s presence and he took care of it for us. The Hebrew people had the priest who could approach God only on the day of atonement. He was the only one who could act as a go-between between the people and God and the sacrifice he offered had to be offered again and again, year after year. It was a never ending process. Until Jesus showed up on earth.

When Jesus took his own blood into the throne room of God, that took care of the sin problem once and for all. As far as God was concerned, anyone who comes to him in Jesus’ name, is as pure as Christ himself. Why can’t we get that through our thick skulls? Why do we think that we still have to offer sacrifices? The price has been paid, we are righteous in God’s sight if we have applied the blood of Jesus to our lives and sprinkled it on the door posts of our hearts.

Another thing happened when Jesus entered that throne room. He took his seat next to God, his father. And the word of God tells us this. “...Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:24b-25. 

What is he doing for us right this very minute? He lives to intercede for us. He is sitting beside his father, speaking on our behalf.

So how do we get into the throne room? What do we have to do to get an audience with the king of the universe? We have to pray. Jesus is sitting beside God waiting for his loyal subjects to bring him petitions. He is wanting to answer our prayers, but we have to bring them to him first. 

Many times when I have burdens that seem unbearable, I envision meeting Jesus at the door of the throne room. He takes me by the hand and walks with me across the enormous room where God is seated on his large towering throne. It is intimidating, but when you picture Jesus holding your hand, it makes it so much easier. 

Let me give you a visual example. I am a visual learner and this is the way I can best explain my prayer life. One week God put a burden on my heart for abused children in the counties where I live and work. I know that there are many children who are suffering from physical abuse and neglect and from sexual abuse. The need for protection is great and there are not enough foster homes to place these children and remove them from danger. What can we do as Christians?

Well, I went before the throne of God, with Jesus standing beside me, and I asked God to supernaturally protect these little ones. I told him that I knew many of these children had no one to pray for them and I wanted to be the one to stand in the gap for them. I told him that I wanted to be their grandma. I asked for him to cover them with the blood of Jesus and to sanctify them. 

As I was praying, I realized that little children were all around me. They were looking up at me, expecting me to protect them. Now there is no way that I can do that physically, but the God of the universe is able to do amazing things in the supernatural world and I have asked him to keep them safe.

Sound weird? Well maybe it does, but I believe that God is a God who is able to save, protect, heal and that he is our vindicator. The vision doesn’t stop there. Those little ones remained in my heart, when I awoke the next morning, I envisioned them under the covers with me. I was protecting them all night as I slept and as they slept. Do I have any proof? No, but I had such a peace about the situation that I don’t need proof.

The vision still continues, when I got to work that day, there they were under my desk. I was still seeking God’s protection for them and was continuing to stand in the gap. All those little ones stayed with me for quite awhile.

Who has God put in your heart to pray for? Take the burden to Jesus. There is a an old hymn that speaks about this concept. Listen to the words:

1) I must tell Jesus all of my trials; I cannot bear these burdens alone; In my distress He kindly will help me; He ever loves and cares for his own. 

Chorus:

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear these burdens alone; I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

2) I must tell Jesus all of my troubles; He is a kind, compassionate friend; If I but ask Him, He will deliver, Make of my troubles quickly and end.

3) Tempted and tried I need a great Savior, one who can help my burdens to bear; I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus; He all my cares and sorrows will share.

4) O how the world to evil allures me! O how my heart is tempted to sin! I must tell Jesus, and he will help me over the world the victory to win.

(I Must Tell Jesus - by E. A.Hoffman - Hope Publishing Co.)

There is a scripture in 1 Samuel that seems to explain why we approach the throne of God. When the people of God asked Samuel to pray and ask God for a king to rule over them they were told that God was going to give them what they asked for even though it was not according to his will for them. He wanted to be their king.

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.” 1 Samuel 12:20-25

Samuel had to pray for them, we have a responsibility to pray for others. Let’s not fail to do so.

Darkness is Light to God

Week 46

In Genesis we read that God spoke to the darkness and created light. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day and the darkness he called night.”

Creating light was a pretty simple operation for God. It is today also. His light, his glory radiates from him and illuminates everything that is dark.

Man continues to try and hide his wickedness in the darkness. For some reason, we think that if we commit sin behind closed doors or at night when it is dark, no one will know. The Psalmist said, “If I say, ‘surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

God is able to help the saints by illuminating the way before us. He often shines his light on our pathways to keep us from falling or tripping. His spirit wants us to follow the path He has chosen for us and many times we stray from the path.

Keeping in touch with God through his word helps enable us to follow the path he has chosen for us. Psalm 119:105 reads “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” God is the provider of the light. He wants us to ask him for guidance when we make decisions, he wants to hold the lantern for us when we are confused about which way to turn. If he can create light, he can certainly illuminate our pathway.

Jesus Christ came into the world as one of us to show us the love and the light of God. He was able to dispel the darkness by paying the price for sin with his life. The gospel of John explains it best. “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” He explains that John the Baptist was coming to be a witness of the light coming into the world. “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” 

In chapter three he says, “Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

How amazing to think that living by the truth means living in the light. 

Living in truth keeps us separate from those who live in darkness. In 2 Corinthians we read, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?”

As believers it is also our job to expose the deeds of darkness. In Ephesians 5:8-11 we hear Paul tell us, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” In verse 13 he says, “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible.”

Wow, what an awesome responsibility we have as followers of Christ. An example of this is one that many Christians share. Christians on the job are often shunned by co-workers when they walk into a situation where gossip is taking place or if someone is telling an off color joke. It is the light of Christ shining through us revealing the deeds of darkness that makes people uncomfortable. We are exposing the darkness, making it visible to God.

Scripture tells us, that as children of God, we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that we may declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.

He has called us into his light. We are no longer living in darkness. We no longer enjoy the things we used to enjoy. Our sinful lives have been exposed to the darkness and we run to the light and a right relationship with God. 

When I first came into this relationship with God, there were many times that I longed for my old way of life. It was familiar to me, it was comfortable and I missed the old life. But as my relationship with God has grown, the old ways have become foreign to me. I can’t watch the same television shows I used to watch. I can’t listen to the same music and enjoy it. Some friendships have ended and some places where I used to spend time are no longer acceptable to me. 

This didn’t happen overnight for me, I’ve heard that it does for some people. But over a period of time the truth of Jesus and what he did for me has become the most important thing in my life.

As we share our love of Christ with those around us we are dispelling the darkness. Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 6:14-16

Sometimes this means that we have to go into the dark places to light them up. This is not something that God would expect a new convert to Christianity to do. If you have had a problem with drugs and alcohol and are a new believer, God would not expect you to immediately begin to minister to those who you used to associate with. He would probably help create distance from your old way of life until you were strong enough spiritually to share your faith. 

Many new believers have a problem distancing themselves from old friends and habitats. They want to share their new found faith with their friends who are continuing in the lifestyle they are trying to leave behind. This can cause the new believer to backslide. Their light is not strong enough to dispel the darkness around them. If you find yourself wanting to minister but have any doubts, listen to your heart and wait. If God wants you to share your faith, he will let you know when to do it and how to do it.

Living in the light of God will make us lovers of our brothers. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you; God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, his son, purified us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7 “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.” 1 John 2:9-11

Father,

We are your children, called out of darkness into your marvelous light and we are so grateful that you have guided us to this point in our lives. Some of us are new to this way of life and need to be separated from the old way of life. Others of us are ready to take our light into the dark places, exposing the deeds for what they are. 

We come to you as children who need a light to shine the way before us and we ask you to illuminate our pathway. We really want to serve you and we know that you are the one who has the truth. You are the only way to find the light. Thank you for being a God of light, thank you for being a God of glory. May we glorify you with our lives and may they shine in the darkness around us. Because of Christ. Amen.

Connect The Dots

Week 45

I was very blessed to have an enjoyable drive to work. Most of it was back country road, no interstate highway or four lane road. Not much traffic unless I was running late and encountered school buses. As I was driving to work one morning, I looked to my left and saw two deer grazing in an open field. They heard the car and watched as I drove by. A half mile further, I looked up in time to see a flock of geese flying in formation overhead. The sun was just coming up and the sky was a brilliant shade of red and orange. 

I had to just keep thanking God and praising him for the wonders he had placed in my pathway. As I was thanking him, it occurred to me that he orchestrated this beauty just for me. I never saw another car as I drove down the country road and that increased my awe in my creator. 

Why would he plan such an event for me? He must really love me and want to bless me. That really got me to wondering how I fit into the scheme of things in the world.

I am a praying person, maybe more than some, but probably not as much as others. I am led by God’s Holy Spirit and when the Spirit asks me to pray for someone, I do. 

Each morning I have my devotional time before starting my day. I need that time to get prepared for the day. It seems to help me be ready for any and every situation I may face.

I have been praying around the world with the help of a world prayer map. It directs my prayers to different countries on specific days. This is a tool that I use to pray for those who have never heard the gospel message. It amazes me that someone on the other side of the world may be blessed because I prayed for them.

Back to my story, I’m not sure what I was praying as I drove down the road that morning. I know that I was marveling at God’s work in the heavenlies. The sunrise was breathtaking. God spoke to my heart that morning and assured me that I was part of something much bigger than my own little corner of the earth.

In Psalm 139:7 - 8, David says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”

As Christians, we are never separated from God and his love. His word tells us so. (See Romans 8:35-39.) That being said, we know that we are to pray. We are instructed to pray for other Christians, for our enemies, for those who persecute us. We are told to pray without ceasing and we are told by Jesus to pray: “Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13.

Did you hear what Jesus asked us to pray for? He said “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Wow, we are asking God to do his will on earth as it is in heaven. That is pretty awesome. I can’t really imagine what God does in heaven, but it is something fantastic. We know that Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven. We know that the true temple of God is in heaven. We know that there is a throne in heaven.

When we ask for God’s will to be done, we are impacting our planet in a mighty way. When I pray for the gospel message to be preached in other countries, when I ask for God’s purpose and plan to be fulfilled in the leaders of other nations, when I ask that Christians would have the mind of Christ, my prayers are being heard in heaven and affecting the heavenlies.

Remember when God created the heavens and the earth? What did he do to create things? He spoke them into existence. Although I am not God, when I speak the things that his Holy Spirit instructs me to speak, I too am causing things to happen in the spirit realm.

What an awesome responsibility and how powerful are our words. I don’t really know the impact I have on other countries when I pray. I usually ask according to Jesus words in Matthew 9:36-38, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, (that is you and I) “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” We are asking according to God’s will when we ask him to send workers into the harvest field.

How does my life affect what happens in the universe? I can’t really say, but I do know that God hears my prayers. When someone is sent into the harvest field to become a missionary and preach the good news of salvation, I am there with them in Spirit. The impact they have on others may be a result of my prayers and the prayers of other saints around the world.

When someone hears and accepts the gift of salvation, the angels in heaven rejoice. “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7 Now that is far reaching. A little prayer from me and others like me can open the doors of heaven, send workers into the harvest field, the message of salvation through Christ can be preached and people can have eternal life.

Eternal life, now that is universal. It is so far reaching that we may never know just how far that one little prayer went. 

Multiply our prayers by thousands or hundreds of thousands and you may be able to understand how you can affect what happens in the universe.

Now I have never really read anything in the Bible to prove what will happen when we live for eternity, but I have heard it said that what we are experiencing here on earth is like pre-school compared to what we will experience in eternity. And yet, we cannot experience eternal life unless we give our hearts to Jesus here on earth.

Our prayers for the lost people of the world are so important. If they are lost they don’t know to look for Jesus. We have to share the message with them. Not everyone who hears the message will accept it, not everyone who hears the message will understand it, but Jesus died for everyone on earth. That means that everyone on earth should at least have the opportunity to hear what he did for them. God wants to give everyone the chance to accept his gift of eternal life.

Do your prayers make a difference in the universe? Yes they do. Even if you don’t see visible proof, you have to pray and keep on praying. God knows your heart and he knows that you are sincere in wanting to reach the lost. 

Father,

We know that no matter where we are, you are there, your Holy Spirit is with us, as Christians, wherever we are. We thank you for the way you reveal yourself to us and we want you to reveal yourself to those who don’t know you. 

We know that you are the Lord of the harvest and that you can send workers into the harvest field to share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

We know that you have a purpose and a plan for leaders of nations around the world, you are the one who has put them positions of leadership. We pray that your plans for the leaders of the world would be fulfilled and that they would become the men and women you created them to be. 

We want to advance the gospel around the world and we pray that those who hear the gospel would accept your gift of eternal life. We know that heaven is poised and waiting to rejoice as people accept your gift and we rejoice with the angels. 

Thank you for hearing our prayers offered in Jesus name. Amen