This is something I wrote a long time ago that applies to what we are studying in the "Power of A Praying Woman."
Philippians 4 instructs us to pray without ceasing. What does pray without ceasing mean in a practical way to me? When you get up in the morning to start your day…Pray! When you are ready to give up because you are not seeing results…Pray! When you think things couldn’t get any worse…Pray! When you are discouraged and need encouragement…Pray! When you need wisdom and discernment…Pray! When you go to bed at night…Pray! When you make bad decisions and don’t know how to fix it…Pray! Nothing is too difficult for our God!
That’s what pray without ceasing means to me. All day long our thoughts should be PRAY!
Have you prayed today??????????
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Guard Rails
Have you ever wondered why there are consequences for behavior? I have. I am convinced that in God’s loving character, He goes to the extreme to do what’s best for us.
On Monday, my 25 year old son was in a wreck. He is fine, unhurt! His car may be totaled. He was driving in SC on the interstate going 65mph. The weather was wet, but not a full blown rain. He changed lanes and spun out of control. He spun 6 times, back and forth to each guard rail, in heavy traffic. He came at many different cars but didn’t crash miraculously! He landed in the grassy median stopped by the cable that kept him from the oncoming traffic.
First, I praise God for protecting him and thank God for His grace to my family. Second, I keep thinking about those guard rails. They are there for a reason. They keep the driver from a worse fate.
I believe God designed us to live in such a way that is good for us. Within Deut. Chapters 5 and 6, God explains His 10 commandments. In these 10 laws, He tells His people of a good and superior way to live. He even says they should live this way so it will be well with them. Well can mean many things: spiritual; emotional; or even financial wellness. God also explains that there will be consequences if they don’t obey.
I think those guard rails on the highway are like God’s commandments (boundaries of behavior). The best way is to stay within the boundaries of God’s commands. But when we don’t, we hit those guard rails. Consequently, we have a wrecked car that has to be fixed. We wont likely drive carelessly down that road again.
But aren’t we blessed ! We know a Heavenly Mechanic that does perfect body work. He offers to fix our car for free. Rom. 6:23 “For the wages which sin pays is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
On Monday, my 25 year old son was in a wreck. He is fine, unhurt! His car may be totaled. He was driving in SC on the interstate going 65mph. The weather was wet, but not a full blown rain. He changed lanes and spun out of control. He spun 6 times, back and forth to each guard rail, in heavy traffic. He came at many different cars but didn’t crash miraculously! He landed in the grassy median stopped by the cable that kept him from the oncoming traffic.
First, I praise God for protecting him and thank God for His grace to my family. Second, I keep thinking about those guard rails. They are there for a reason. They keep the driver from a worse fate.
I believe God designed us to live in such a way that is good for us. Within Deut. Chapters 5 and 6, God explains His 10 commandments. In these 10 laws, He tells His people of a good and superior way to live. He even says they should live this way so it will be well with them. Well can mean many things: spiritual; emotional; or even financial wellness. God also explains that there will be consequences if they don’t obey.
I think those guard rails on the highway are like God’s commandments (boundaries of behavior). The best way is to stay within the boundaries of God’s commands. But when we don’t, we hit those guard rails. Consequently, we have a wrecked car that has to be fixed. We wont likely drive carelessly down that road again.
But aren’t we blessed ! We know a Heavenly Mechanic that does perfect body work. He offers to fix our car for free. Rom. 6:23 “For the wages which sin pays is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Are You Ready To Celebrate The Lord?
Good Tuesday to you!
On the way to work this morning I was just a singing. I love Hillsong and I had my Hillsong CD in and a song came on and he said at the beginning "Are you ready to celebrate the Lord? " Everybody said yeah! I love to sing to the Lord. I remember when I was a little girl and my mom used to make me sing for her. Then we would go down to my grandmother's and I would have to sing for her. You know, music just to me is one of the greatest things God has given us. The Lord has shown me that praise and worship music is a weapon that we have been given to defeat the enemy. It says in Psalms that "Praise was ordained on the mouths of babes to silence the avenger and the foe." We all face the avenger and the foe daily don't we? Whether it is through an illness, job layoff, crazy teen age kids, insecurities, attitudes, whatever. Some days are worse than others but right in the midst of our battle we need to stand and sing, worship Him, who is in control of it all. Just like Jephsophat did when the enemy was surrounding him on every side and he said to the Lord, "I don't know what to do but my eyes are on you." Then the Lord told him to go out into battle and begin to praise. Wow! Not exactly what you would think of doing in the midst of war, is it? Well...that's just what he did and when Jehosphat and the people of Israel began to praise the Lord, it says that their enemies turned on eachother. This shows us here one of the greatest ways in triumphing over our enemy is to lift up our souls to our defender, our redeemer, our stronghold, our hiding place and begin to exalt who He is over our situation and not exalt our situation over who He is. Satan so wants us looking at our circumstances, hardships, heartaches, sicknesses, etc., because he wants the attention on him. He does all of this to get our attention. However, when we "lift our eyes to the hills", when we "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, then and only then can we say, that no matter what we are facing, "It is well with my soul!" You know, because all we see is Him and in Him, in His presence there s fullness of joy and at His right hand pleasures forevermore. So...I want you to sing with me right now that old hymn we learned when we were growing up...
On the way to work this morning I was just a singing. I love Hillsong and I had my Hillsong CD in and a song came on and he said at the beginning "Are you ready to celebrate the Lord? " Everybody said yeah! I love to sing to the Lord. I remember when I was a little girl and my mom used to make me sing for her. Then we would go down to my grandmother's and I would have to sing for her. You know, music just to me is one of the greatest things God has given us. The Lord has shown me that praise and worship music is a weapon that we have been given to defeat the enemy. It says in Psalms that "Praise was ordained on the mouths of babes to silence the avenger and the foe." We all face the avenger and the foe daily don't we? Whether it is through an illness, job layoff, crazy teen age kids, insecurities, attitudes, whatever. Some days are worse than others but right in the midst of our battle we need to stand and sing, worship Him, who is in control of it all. Just like Jephsophat did when the enemy was surrounding him on every side and he said to the Lord, "I don't know what to do but my eyes are on you." Then the Lord told him to go out into battle and begin to praise. Wow! Not exactly what you would think of doing in the midst of war, is it? Well...that's just what he did and when Jehosphat and the people of Israel began to praise the Lord, it says that their enemies turned on eachother. This shows us here one of the greatest ways in triumphing over our enemy is to lift up our souls to our defender, our redeemer, our stronghold, our hiding place and begin to exalt who He is over our situation and not exalt our situation over who He is. Satan so wants us looking at our circumstances, hardships, heartaches, sicknesses, etc., because he wants the attention on him. He does all of this to get our attention. However, when we "lift our eyes to the hills", when we "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, then and only then can we say, that no matter what we are facing, "It is well with my soul!" You know, because all we see is Him and in Him, in His presence there s fullness of joy and at His right hand pleasures forevermore. So...I want you to sing with me right now that old hymn we learned when we were growing up...
"When peace, like a river, attendenth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, it is well, with my soul, with my soul
It is well, It is well
With my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpess estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
"It is well, it is well, with my soul, with my soul
It is well, It is well
With my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
It is well, it is well, with my soul, with my soul
It is well, It is well
With my soul!
Woo Hoo!
Blessings To You Today!
Marty
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