JOINED TOGETHER THROUGH PRAYER

Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:30 NLT

I participate in an online care team ministry, responding to individual’s prayer requests. I draw upon the scriptures and often include one or two verses which they can refer to for strength and encouragement. I also write personal heartfelt prayers to address the details of their situations and include this in the email. Frequently a response of gratitude is received.

Several months ago, I responded to a prayer request from a dear woman, Judy whose husband is facing a life threatening illness. There are no coincidences with God as I, a nurse of over 40 years experience was chosen by God to respond to this prayer request. Judy continues to correspond, giving me detailed updates and asking for continued prayer and encouragement. She and I have much to praise as the Lord is meeting their financial and personal needs in addition to her husband’s medical needs. His condition remains critical but they have witnessed how faithful God has been. They give all the Glory to God when the medical staff comments on their hopeful and positive spirit.

Through our own life experiences, we understand the power of prayer to strengthen and comfort us, filling us with hope and deepening our faith and our witness of Our Almighty God.  May we each continue to seek out opportunities to come along side friends, family members, or even strangers. We will lift them in prayer and celebrate with them as God moves in their lives.

Thank you Father for the gift of prayer.

© 2018 Marianne Lucot

LOVE BEYOND UNDERSTANDING

A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. . .  John 13:34 (RSV) 

All my life I felt as if I was on the outside looking in. As years passed, I realized love was missing. Love was not expressed in my home. My mother might hug me, but she would just as easily, slug me.

No one went to church. Once I asked why we didn’t go. Dad said they were all hypocrites. Meanwhile he worked all the time, and Mom was sick all the time. They both died young.

When I was seven, my brother was born. If I heard it once, I heard it a hundred times, “You finally got the boy you wanted.” My seven-year-old interpretation: I’m not important or wanted.

After high school and business school, I married and had a beautiful daughter. We moved to Maryland from Pennsylvania. There I met a lovely Christian woman, and we became friends. She encouraged me to join Community Bible Study—and I did, eventually becoming Children’s Director. 

One CBS lesson stressed God’s love. Did God love me? I prayed, Dear Lord, I want to feel Your love. In Jesus’ name, I prayed. 

Being asked to be on a Servants Team panel at CBS Headquarters, and speak about the program was a fun chore. After it ended, I was surprised when they thanked, hugged and congratulated me. My Teaching Director hugged me with tears, which made me cry. I was overwhelmed with love. I felt loved and accepted—God’s love. Where would this love come from—His Family.

God finally got the girl He wanted.  

Dear Lord, I pray those feeling unloved to know Your unsurpassed Love. Amen

© 2018 Lois Gosley 

RIGHT OR LEFT?

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

In every good story, there is usually a pivotal moment when the hero comes face to face with who he is and who he needs to become to achieve his main objective. As readers, we are invested in the life of the hero, having spent many hours on a rollercoaster waiting for this moment to occur. Breathless, we stand at the fork in the road where our hero is faced with a decision. He can choose to remain on the familiar path—or he can choose a new path and be transformed, taking the first scary step toward achieving his main objective. Inside, we are screaming at the top of our lungs to choose the new path and leave the past behind.

The news is inundated with inspiring stories of people who have risen above unbelievable circumstances—and tragic stories of people who spend their lives making excuses, blaming others and refusing to accept responsibility for their actions. Why do some people overcome obstacles while others take the road to destruction?

None of us choose our parents and siblings, the circumstances of our birth, where we live as children or the environment in which we are raised and sadly, some of the things that happen to us. Yet all of this, our background and the baggage we accumulate along the way, shapes a part of who we are, but not necessarily who we become.

Who we become is the result of our choices and who we choose to follow.

Lord, As we encounter the forks in the road, guide us to the path that leads to You.

© 2018 Amy A. Verzi

 

HEAVENLY PETS

Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; Thy judgments are like a great deep. O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast. Psalms 36:6 (NAS)

I have a confession. I’ve been troubled by the apparent silence of the Bible on the subject of what happens to our pets after they die. After another devastating loss of a dear furry friend, I searched the scriptures in need of His comfort and peace, praying for the Lord’s guidance to find solid Biblical assurance. As always God was faithful and I was amazed.

Although the verse, “And your beloved pets shall reside with you in Paradise” did not appear, I found consolation. The opening scripture reminds us that God is righteous; His judgment is deeper than we can comprehend, and He saves the flesh of His creation. Of course He would! Didn’t He create each one and tell Adam to look after them?! During the great flood He used Noah to gather His animals to replenish the earth. Jesus was surrounded at birth by animals. Revelation speaks of animals in Heaven.

Luke 12:6 states, Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

This verse tells of God’s love and care for all His creation, even tiny birds that were sold in ancient market places for a widow’s mite. His heart is turned toward the life and well-being of each one. He also loves and cares for the pet’s owner. He knows our human need of their companionship and our concern for their afterlife. The love in our hearts first originated with Him.

My best assurances came in Psalm 145:2 which states all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

I offer praise and thanksgiving Father, for your loving care of all Your creation.

© 2018 Bonnie Mae Evans

BE FREE

Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36 (NKJV)

The other night I had the joy of hearing Anita Baker perform in the city as a part of her farewell tour. My intention was to bask in the beauty of her music all night, but in the middle of the show a fellow concertgoer captured my attention. Her passion and love for the artist and music were amazing. She was on her feet dancing, singing, and calling out to Ms. Baker throughout the night. While she caused me to chuckle a bit, I admired her freedom to enjoy the concert with no restraints. She even got me thinking about how we live out our faith journeys.

How often do we live chained by our past, our mistakes, our shortcomings, and our sins? I’m amazed by how remembering those things can make us lose our zeal for our present lives in Christ! We’ve been given freedom through Jesus, but at times our living suggests we believe otherwise.

The lady at the concert walked in the door filled with joy, freedom, and expectation. She knew she was getting ready to have an incredible experience. She refused to allow anything to make her feel bound.

Can you envision what our lives would look like if we adopted a similar attitude? Imagine being free to not worry about how our past sinful nature impacts our present life. I think a daily decision to walk in our freedom given by Christ would open the door for God to do incredible things in our lives. So, we should walk in our freedom. The Son set us free, we are truly free indeed.

Father, thank You for the beautiful gift of freedom. Let us walk in it daily.

© 2018 Dawn M. Wayman