PM#0426 Give Thanks

PM#0426

Give Thanks

I Thes 5:18  says  In everything give thanks:

Phil 4: 6-7

I Thes 5:18  says  In everything give thanks:

Think about it.  That is good thought, but it is one that everyone of us has difficulty doing at times.  We see only part of the total picture.  We only understand the part that we see, but not the whole picture.  We are like a person in a forest who can only see the trees and not the whole forest.

When things are perplexing to you, we need to learn to thank God.  He sees the whole picture.  Sometimes many of us have later learned what was really happening and then we learned how our part fit into the puzzle.

What God wants is for us to keep our focus on Him as He provides opportunities and guides us through life.  When we do, we should be able to give thanks to God in everything.  He will be there with His presence and His peace.

Take time today to pray with Thanksgiving.  Do it through in Jesus’ Name.

Reflections

Why is it difficult to give thanks?  Is it because we do not see the whole picture of what has happened?

Have you ever learned something later that changed your perspective about an item that happened?

If we do not see the whole picture, shouldn’t we trust the one who does—that one who does is God?  He is the one who will guide us when we don’t know the whole picture.

PM#0471 Veterans John 15 vs 13 and Romans 12 vs 14

PM#0471

Veterans

John 15:13, Rom 12:14

Vietnam veterans were deeply hurt when protesters did not respect them. 

The protestors had forgotten that our freedoms come with a cost, one which we fought to preserve, and some gave their lives to protect those freedoms. The Bible says in John 15:13 that ‘Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.”  

Yes, veterans have experienced a rejection of that love as a country. Turning to God’s way, we should forgive and find ways to bless.  Rom 12:14 says “Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.”

Fortunately, our country is now honoring its veterans.  Still, all of us who are veterans should consider this prayer:

Father, help me to continually find ways to bless my country.  I forgive those who hurt us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection:

Why is important to honor our veterans?

What happened to our country when we did not honor our veterans?

Take a moment and consider how blessing a veteran honors them.

PM#0480 Are We Praying From the Heart?

PM#0480

Are We Praying From the Heart?

Ps44:21, Ps 37:4

When you pray, are you praying from your heart?

Many may will say answer yes, but God is the one who really knows if you are.  Ps 44:21 says God knows the secrets of the heart. 

When it comes to prayer, those secrets can affect our prayers, and if we want to see answers to prayer, there is Biblical encouragement in PS 37 verse 4 which says ‘delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart’.  Delighting ourselves in the Lord includes obeying God’s word, meditating on it, and letting it get into our hearts.

What is in our heart can affect our prayers.  If we really delight in God’s word, we will pray from our heart, and we will see answers to what you can call ‘heart prayer’.

Consider this prayer:  ‘Father, help me to delight in Your word, and may Your word be in my heart.  Thank you for helping me.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.’

Reflection:

When we delight in the Lord and spend time in God’s word, what happens to our heart?

The Bible says that God’s word will accomplish that to which it is sent. See Is 55:11. Consider that God’s word will guide our heart if we spend time in God’s Word.

When God's word guides our heart, it will guide our prayers.  

PM#0491 Prayer and Involvement With Others

PM#0491

Prayer and Involvement With Others

Are we involved with others?  By that, I do not mean just a passing involvement, but one which is long term, and that really takes an interest in others.

When we pray with others, that prayer is an involvement with them.  However, many times do we pray that only scratches the surface superficially?  This may happen because our involvement is very limited.  If we take the time to build a personal relationship with the individual, then that effort should also lead to the opportunity to pray for things close to that person’s heart.  Such prayer could encourage them to look to Jesus.

Why not ask the Lord in prayer to guide you, so that you can be more involved with others. That will help you to pray effectively for them. 

‘Father, I need you to guide me and help me to be more involved with others so I can effectively pray for them.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection: 

So often our connection with others is limited by our business or our responsibilites just do not afford the opportunity to connect with others. 

When that happens—it prevents us from getting to know others.  To be involve with others takes commitment to be involved with them.

Perhaps we should find a way to be reflective and in doing so—take action to help us reach out to others.  I encourage you to take a moment and write down some ways that might help you in reaching out to others.___________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________.

PM#0203 Keep Us From Sin Psalms 19 vs 13

PM0203

Keep Us from Sin

PS 19:13

Have you ever heard the saying ‘what the other does not know won’t hurt them?’  That though has often used as an excuse for concealing sexual sin, but it could also be a cover up for other problems.

Temptations face us everyday and without God’s help, we may fall into wrong doing which will hurt us, especially if we cover it up.

The Psalmist recognized this in his prayer in PS 19:13 ‘Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sin.’  He invited God’s help because he knew he needed it.  Why not join with me in this prayer.

Father, keep us from evil and sin today, and lead us away from temptation.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflections:

It is very tempting to just not speak up about sin, and there may be many reasons for doing this.  Hiding does not remove the sin.  It is still there.

To remove sin—especially that which has been hidden, or buried, we need God’s help.  The process of clearing deep issues is no fun—but once we do, we find that we are freed from it.  

Perhaps you might have experience being freed from sin.  How does that help you today?  Has it made a difference?

God wants us to be kept from and to be delivered from the bondage of sin.  Luke 4:18  

PM#0381 Letting Others Know You Are Praying For Them

PM#0381

Letting Others Know You are Praying for Them

When someone let’s you know they are doing something for you, doesn’t that encourage you? Usually it does.

Unfortunately, when it comes to prayer, I know a lot of people do not tell anyone they are praying for a person.  That is their choice.  However I believe a better choice would be to let that person whom you are praying for know that you are praying for them.  Letting them know that you are praying for them is also letting them know you care about them, and that alone can make a major difference in their lives.

For those of you who have children, your prayers for your children does a lot for them and gives much value to them. So why not when you pray for your children, tell them that you are praying for them.  It will impact their lives positively in countless positive ways.

Father, help us let our children know we are praying for them.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

Why does letting someone know that you are praying for them show that you care for them?

Why would praying for someone make a difference in their lives?

PM#0484 Honor and Respecting Others

PM#0484

Honor and Respecting Others

Matthew 15:18

We hear people say they want us to ‘communicate to them’.  What does that really mean?  Two heart words may describe what they are saying.  Those are—honor and respect.

When we use colloquial expressions like you ‘guys’ ‘bud’, or ‘hey you’, in addressing others—in person, e-mails, notes or other ways – our words are not received by them as honor or respect.  Using colloquial expressions from where you grew up, or from you home, may be received in your home area, but when used with people from other regions, frankly—they can be very offensive not show honor or respect to the one you are addressing. 

We may need help in learning to honor and respect others, and Christ can change our heart to do so.  Consider this prayer:  Father, I need your help to change my heart so I can honor and respect others, and show your love to them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflections:

Why is it important to show respect to others?

Have you ever thought about how your words or expressions might be received?

Is it really an issue of the heart that is seen in how we address others?

Why is showing honor to another person important?

Also-consider sharing what helps you respect others when they greet you.