Prayers in Your War Room

But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. ~Matthew 6:6 NKJV

How's your prayer life? In our busy, rushed world sometimes we forget that we can come before our heavenly Father and tell Him all about our lives, our troubles, and our fears. I was recently studying for my Bible class and ran across a booklet, the name of which I have forgotten, that described prayer in an acrostic. It was a good reminder for me of things I need to include in my prayers. Perhaps they will help you as well.

• Praise- Praise is a great way to begin our prayers because God created us for love. He wanted to show love. He appreciates love in return. We were created to show love to our Creator through praise. Jesus rejoiced as He thanked the Father. 

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. Luke 10:21

• Repent - When we open our hearts to praise we also open them to the understanding of our sin. As we pray repentance is a key factor. 

And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ Luke 18:13

• Ask - Ask for the needs of others. True joy comes in putting Jesus first, then Others, before You. A true servant focuses on others first. 

Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. Luke 7:7

• Yielding - Finally, enter into God's counsel and carry out his purpose. Jesus withdrew Himself and asked counsel of the Father about the crucifixion. 

And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:41,42

Heavenly Father, thank you for all the ways You care for us. Forgive us Father for neglecting to give You praise before others. Father, show us how we can meet the needs of others while giving them the message of Your salvation. In Jesus's name we ask. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

Have you noticed how there is the message of the gospel hidden in almost all literature? It may seem a little strange to think about the Grinch here in the summer, but I think he's a good example of what I'm trying to say about the difference praise in our prayers can make.

• The Grinch's heart was two sizes too small. He was selfish and cared nothing for others. 
• He thought he could stop others' joy by taking all the things he thought made Christmas. 
• He found that Christmas was more than presents and decorations and feasting. 
• When he heard the praise his heart grew. It was opened to the truth.
• He realized he was wrong and gave back the presents. Kinda sounds like Zaccheus.
• I think he may have asked to join the celebration or maybe he was asked to join. 
• Finally we see him serving, literally carving the roast beast.

Though the true Christmas story was never mentioned, we can still see message that can be used to tell others about God's love in sending His Son that first Christmas and the difference Christ makes in our lives. 

How can you show Jesus to those you meet? 

Greater Love

 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.John 15:13

My dad was drafted in WWII but was turned down without explanation. He was drafted again during the Korean Conflict and sent to Germany as part of occupation forces. Thankfully he didn't have to give his life, but every person who enters the armed forces faces that possibility. 

This upcoming weekend we celebrate Memorial Day, the day set aside to honor those who have given their lives for our freedom. Freedom has never been and never will be free. I personally want to say thank you to every veteran who has served this country and to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice by laying down their lives for us. It was their love for freedom and for family that compelled them to make that sacrifice. 

But there is another who deserves even more thanks for laying down His life for me and you. Jesus Christ came out of love for us knowing He would face death. Knowing His death would be necessary for our salvation. Through Christ Jesus, we can not only be free from the burden of sin in this life but free to live with Christ for all eternity. Not on a cloud, strumming a harp, but doing those things that most please God. Perhaps spending time in conversation, walking in the cool of a garden. Perhaps singing. Perhaps picking fruit from a tree that bears twelve different varieties. 

We grumble and complain about our lives and our government, but there is no other place on earth to enjoy the freedom and comforts we have here. I have traveled outside the US to a third world country. If you've never been there, you cannot imagine. There will be no grumbling or complaining when we see the gifts Jesus has prepared for us through His love and sacrifice. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin. Thank you for accepting my simple prayer of repentance and giving me assurance of eternal life in heaven. In Jesus's name. Amen. 

Hey Kids:

I dug out an old photo of my dad in uniform to share today.

I remember as a child he would show us this picture and tell us a little of the things he did in service. He laid telephone lines and called artillery fire. 

He also taught us a little German. I thought kartoffeln was just another word for potatoes until I was a teen taking German in high school simply because he would just ask us to pass the kartoffeln and make German a part of our home language. 

Take some time this weekend to find out who has served in your family. 

Ask mom and dad to dig out old photos and tell a few stories of your family's sacrifice of love.

Don't forget to say a thank you to those still living and don't forget to thank the One who gave the greatest sacrifice of love for us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Mother's Day Recipe for Life

 

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.    ~John 14:6 KJV

I’ve got this pretty good pound cake recipe I like to use for Mother’s Day because it goes well with fresh strawberries. I say pretty good because it has a good texture and flavor, but to make it Mad Dog Pound Cake I have to add the boiled syrup. I pour the syrup over the cake and in the middle. It sits and soaks and mmmmmmmmmmm. With the first bite, the syrup is running out the corner of your mouth and dripping off your chin. Of course, that’s an exaggeration but it sure seems that good.

Our lives are a lot like a pretty good pound cake. Most of us would say we are pretty good people, but is pretty good, good enough to get us into heaven? My pound cake totally changes when the syrup is poured over it and into it. The syrup can’t be removed and no one would want to scrape it off. No one wants the cake without the syrup once they’ve tried it. Jesus said no one comes to the Father but by Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). We can’t get to heaven or be a true Christian without first coming to Jesus. When our lives are covered by His blood and filled with the Holy Spirit, we are totally different people, fit for the kingdom of God. Only Jesus makes us good enough. Like syrup, once we’ve experienced salvation, there’s no going back to the old pretty good person and no one would want to.

                                        Have you allowed Jesus to pour over and into your life?

Heavenly Father, help me not to think I am a pretty good person, that my good outweighs my bad. Lord, help me look into my heart to make sure I belong to You because of the repentance of my sin and faith in your Son, Jesus. Help me allow your Holy Spirit to pour into and over my life, revealing You to all who are willing to taste and see that the Lord is good. In Jesus's name. Amen.  

If you'd like a recipe for Maddog Cake, subscribe by email in the box at the top right and leave a comment below. 

Happy Mother’s Day.
Gail

Hey Kids:

Have you ever tried to make a recipe and it "flopped"? Once I used the wrong kind of flour in my cake recipe. It overflowed into the oven and created a horrible mess. 

I just used self-rising flour instead of plain flour! Not a big deal, one would think.

What would happen if I had put in salt instead of sugar? The cake would have to be completely thrown out and started over!

Our lives are like recipes. 

God has the recipe for us. We just need to read and follow His plan.

Romans 3:23 says For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

Somehow we all manage to add that sin "ingredient" into our lives.

Now, how do we fix the problem? We can't, but God can!

Romans 10:13 says Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Lights In The Darkness

 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Matthew 5:14

Children chattered and played as they walked with their parents carrying baskets of food. Lamps glimmered as dusk settled in. Tonight was the last night to hear and visit with Paul before he sailed to Assos. The people agreed to meet at the large house, three stories high, in the middle of town. Neighbors watched as the little troop grew larger the closer they came to the house. 

The ladies in the house welcomed the guests, taking the baskets and spreading the food along tables for

everyone to share. With a little food, a little fellowship, a little preaching, and the buzz of the house no one noticed how late the hour had become. 

Neighbors noticed lamps twinkling in a third-story room. “What’s going on there?” Their own lamps were going out one by one as they laid down for the night. 

Eutychus, a young man, sat propped up in a window to catch the night breeze and make room for the older folks to sit. As Paul preached toward midnight, Eutychus’ eyes began to droop and his head to nod. Several times, he’d caught himself from falling onto the old man seated in front of him. He’d rearranged himself hoping to wake up. He wanted to hear and he didn’t want to begin to snore. Suddenly his arms flailed and he toppled out the window onto the street below. 

People screamed. Lights poured into the streets. A man checked Eutychus for life. "He's dead!" The commotion awakened the neighbors who stood in their doorways shivering in the night air.  Paul pushed his way through the crowd, then gathered the young man in his arms. “His life is in him,” he declared as Eutychus’ eyes fluttered open. 

“Hallelujah! Praise God! Thank you, Jesus!” came exclamations from the crowd as they lifted their hands and faces heavenward. 

"Thank you, Jesus? Who is this Jesus?" the neighbors whispered along the street. They watched as the people filed back into the house, talking and praising.

Inside people prayed, ate, listened, and asked questions until dawn when the town began to stir again.  As the people dispersed, some helped Eutychus home. 

Neighbors watched and eyed the window where last night he had fallen to his death.

Lamps through the night, a dead man raised alive, people praising Jesus. “We’ve never seen anything like this before.”

To think, it seemed to have started with lights shining in the darkness.

Heavenly Father, may our lights shine in the darkness so that others may see how You have raised us from death to a new life in Christ. For it is in the name of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen