PRAYER FOR OUR MILITARY

Many people, including myself, know someone fighting over seas. I pray everyday for their safety and speedy return home.  The following poem is a prayer written by my aunt. Thank you, Wanda, for bringing these words to life.

PRAYER FOR OUR MILITARY

Dear God, I place in Your strong hands

All those who serve in foreign lands.

Keep them safe in all they do

Let them know to rely on You.

In every danger they must face

Show Your presence in that place.

When they, at times, feel lost, alone,

Then show them You are still the One

Who always will be at their side

When they, in faith, with You abide.

Show that Your love and care extends

To all at home, their family; friends

Strengthen them to do Your will

Each day, each place, each job they fill.

Bring them safely home at last

Away from terror’s bombs and blasts.

Let us give thanks for what they’ve done

To keep us safe; our freedom won.

***wgb***

Praying for others

Matthew 18:19-20
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

“Will you pray for my aunt? She’s going in for surgery.”
“My son is being sent to Iraq. Can you put him and his unit in your prayers?”
“I could use some prayers, I’m not doing well.”

When I receive such requests for prayers from friends and family, I immediately agree to add my prayers to theirs. I believe by adding my voice I am strengthening their petitions. There are several passages in the Bible that tell us “where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” In Mark we are reminded to have faith in God and that “…whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” In Luke Jesus says “For nothing is impossible with God.”

Not all His answers will be what I want to hear, but I know with confidence that if “we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

I enjoy praying for others; I feel closer to them and like I helping carry some of their burden. It brings me nearer to Jesus and increases my faith. I relish being in this loving group called Christians.

Letting Go

Psalm 55:22 (NKJV)
Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

I try every day to hand over my worries to God, yet I quickly grab them back. I pray for guidance; I say “Thy will be done.” Yet the problem doesn’t go away; it niggles at my mind. I become impatient; I want it solved quickly. It’s hard to give up control.

Maybe the solution is to develop selective amnesia. Learn to give it up and forget about it so God can do His work and not have me constantly pleading with Him to resolve it…now!

As Christians, we are told to give our concerns over to God; He will provide for us. We should “let go and let God.” By handing our concerns over to God, we show our trust in His promise. Why is it so hard to put all our trust in Him and live worry free?

Heavenly Father,
Help me to let go and trust in Your wisdom. Let me remember You have my best interests at heart. You know what I need and when I need it.
I pray in Jesus’ name,
Amen

God Bless You.

His Place

Two years ago I received a NKJV Bible for Christmas. I was elated. The words sounded poetic and fresh, with new meaning and insight. I wanted to read it from beginning to end.

On January first, I began to read; “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…” I read every night for several months. One to two chapters a night, with a few minutes to reflect on the words, gave me a sense of peace and helped me easily fall asleep.

In September I moved. A television was set up in my bedroom; I began watching it until I was tired. As a result, my nightly ritual of reading my Bible fell by the wayside. Oh, I read a few weeks, but then the temptation of the T.V. called, and I listened. My time of reflection got shorter and shorter until it all but disappeared. Occasionally I’d feel guilty, shut off the T.V., and pick up my Bible; but that time was rare.

Last week, I finally finished reading. I felt good about it, but sad that it took me so long. It made me realize how easily the modern world can over power our spiritual lives.

How many times you stayed home from church to watch a football game or golf tournament? Or watched a television show until you were too tired to read your Bible? Do you turn less to God then you used to because of earthly desires?

Today we need Him more then ever. His Comfort is powerful; His love is all-encompassing; He is our Savior.

Join me in returning God to His proper place—the top priority in our lives. Too often, other things have come first; it is time to reactivate our faith.

God Bless You

His Plan, Not Mine

Jeremiah 29:11-12
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.

This is one of my favorite verses in the Bible.  It is a comfort to know that God has a plan for my life. 

Another translation says, ” For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you — an affirmation of Jehovah; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you posterity and hope.” 

It’s uplifting to know that God is thinking about me and my welfare. That He is thinking “thoughts of peace” towards me.  That He wants to give me “posterity and hope.”

No matter what life brings, He is “large and in charge.” When bad times come, I am reassured that if I call on Him, he will hear me. If I lay my troubles in His hands, He will take care of me. I don’t have to struggle alone. I thank Him everyday for this, do you? 

God,
I am struggling, please take over. Thank you for Your guidance in my life.  In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen

God Bless You.

He Is Risen!

He is risen, indeed!
A blessed Easter to you.

Today we celebrate the miracle of our risen Lord. Let us rejoice and be glad. Christ has sacrificed Himself so that we may live. As He is reborn, so are we.

Happy Easter.

Time For Change

1Cor 13:11
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Today is the inauguration of Barak Obama.  The ceremony was moving, the mood was confident.  I enjoyed President Obama’s speech and will remember the call for unity it contained. 

I posted the following on another blog, but feel a need to repeat it here. 

As President Obama said in his inaugural speech, “the time has come to set aside childish things.”  We need to put away our grudges, our “petty grievances,” and choose “hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.” We as one people are challenged to go forward with confidence and power, united in our actions.  I believe that all Americans need to come together as one unit and re-build this great country.  I ask you all now, join me in welcoming our new President, Barak Obama.  We can be assured that today is the start of a new era, a time that will be observed by other countries, let us show them our solidarity.

Until next time,  God Bless You.

Jesus is Still the Reason for the Season

Every once in awhile I get something in my email that I need to be cast out into the world.  My aunt wrote this and it is one of those items I need to share:

 

“Jesus still is the Reason For The Season and no one can diminish that whether they say Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings or Merry Christmas. Only I can diminish it by allowing my focus to be on something other than Christ in my life.”

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED

 

On a soft and lovely midnight, long ago,

Angels sang to watching shepherds down below,

Telling them the happy news of the Jesus birth,

Singing songs of Peace, Goodwill To Men on Earth.

Men of wisdom, traveling from lands afar,

Came to the manger following a star,

To worship at the Christ Child’s bed of hay,

The place wherein the Babe, our Savior, lay.

 

Many Christmases have come and gone since then,

And the years have worked their way and will with men.

As this season of great joy is drawing near, 

Let our better natures once again appear.

Let the Christmas spirit fill the air with song.

Cheery greetings let us once more pass along.

As we celebrate this time of joy and mirth,

Let us share the Good News of our Savior’s birth.

***wgb***

 

Wanda G. Black

December 20, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unto You a Child is Born

Luke 2:11
For unto to you is born this day in the City of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord.

Christmas can be chaotic with many activities and errands. I hope that amid the cheery lights, colorful packages, and continuous parties you take a moment to remember the announcement given by the angel to the shepherds in the fields; “unto you is born…a Savior which is Christ the Lord.”  Spend some time praising and clelebrating this miraculous event.  

I wish you  a Merry Christmas filled with  peace, joy, and goodwill to others.

Until next time, God Bless You.

Give Thanks

Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.

The aroma of turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, the laughter of family and friends, and the warmth of a cheery fire, fill our homes.  This week is the beginning of the holiday season and Thursday is Thanksgiving in the United States.

Too often, the festivities become our main focus, especially on Thanksgiving.  Some even go so far as to call it “Turkey Day.”  We tend to forget the real purpose of the day is to give thanks for all the things in our lives.  I know many of you pause to say a prayer—or go around the room and have everyone tell something they are grateful for—before the meal.  But then what?  The food, the fun, and the football game takes center stage.  I’m not saying that’s wrong, however, many times that few minutes of gratitude become the only time through out the year we consciously say thank you to God for what he has provided us.

The Bible tells us to “Give thanks to the Lord.” By doing so, we acknowledge that everything we have comes from Him. Not only does this make Him happy, but, according to some studies, it also improves our sense of well-being.

I challenge you to spend a few moments everyday giving thanks for something in your life.  It doesn’t matter whether you write in a journal or express your gratitude aloud.  One way is to start with this simple prayer:

“Thank you, God for the gifts you give me everyday. I am grateful for your generosity.”

Then add a couple of specific things you feel grateful about from your day.  The more you do this, the more you see how much you really have.  A deep sense of well-being and gratitude will invade your life. 

Until next time, God Bless You.