Pray Like You Believe It~

Isaiah 59:1 "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short that it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear."

Before we proceed, let's all take a moment to reflect.

Are we alive and kicking on life's journey?

Then let's thank Him: "Thank you, dear Lord!"

Let's proceed...

That verse above is one of my all-time favorites. It's an in-your-face assertion that does not hold back.  If it weren't for all the sensitive people in the world, God might have even finished the verse with the words, "As if, honey child!"

This verse reminds us of a powerful fact: God's hand is more than enough to save you from whatever you need saving from.

Think about the most intense prayer request you have ever received. Or think about the most pressing personal need you have ever had. Some are biggies, like when a friend asked for prayer for her upcoming cancer surgery.  Others are not quite so urgent like when a little girl asked me to pray so she could find a lost earring.  Either way, God's hand is long enough to reach down and save those who believe that His ears have heard their cries.   

And notice how God does not put any exceptions in this verse.  He does not limit His saving for specific needs nor His hearing for certain requests.  Everything and anything is within reach of our Lord, and it is our responsibility to pray like we believe it!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that Your hearing is perfect and that You have tuned in to my prayer right now. I invite Your awesome, far-reaching hand to save me from _________ and save the one or ones I love from _________. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Unapologetic~

One time I was at a bridal shower, and I sat next to the prettiest young newlywed whose husband was working out really hard to make it to the big leagues. He, however, had been plagued by several injuries, so this young lady decided to "help" God by "regularly inviting other energies to help my husband."

At that I moment I stifled the urge to scream, and then realized that God purposely designed the seating chart so I could very calmly explain, "Faith in a God Who needs help is not much faith at all. Why, I find it rather unnerving, personally, that God is somehow insufficient for all I need."

She replied, "He's so busy with everything else on the planet. I am sure He appreciates it."

I countered, "May I please let you know that I really think?"

"Yes," she quietly whispered.

And then in rapid fire succession  I gently let her have it:

(1) Thou shall have no other gods before Me.
(2) My grace is sufficient for thee.
(3) Is there anything too difficult for Me?

Those three truths are the foundation for my life as a Christian, and I live by them.

Asa, the King of Judah felt the same way.  He was an unapologetic follower of our Lord and as king he got rid of all the idols in the kingdom.  He enjoyed peace and prosperity for many years too.  But He was wise, and during the peaceful times he was actively strengthening the army and fortifying the cities of his kingdom. (That's a great lesson in and of itself). At one point he had nearly 600,000 "brave fighting men."

Eventually, a powerful enemy came against Asa because such is life, right? Everything is plodding along and then something or someone shows up and threatens your peaceful existence. But look at what 2 Chronicles 14:11 says, "Asa cried out to the LORD his God, 'O LORD, no one but You can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You alone.'"

Three cheers for Asa! Yeah yeah yeah!

He cried out to his God, realized the only One Who could help him was God, and declared that his trust was in God alone.  Later on in verse 12 we read that God struck down and crushed the enemy that came against Asa.

Yes, Asa had a vast army, and there's nothing wrong with being prepared, but he realized that He needed divine guidance and help. Could it be that when we give credit and glory and honor to the One who deserves it, when we trust in Him alone, when we cry out to Him, when we acknowledge Him as our one and only Lord, that He strikes down our enemies?

I never did find out what difference my little interaction with the newlywed had, if any, but I pray that all of us can unapologetically say that God is our only God!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Just like Asa, today we say to You that that no one else can help us. It's You or nothing. Help us, Lord, for we trust in You alone. Crush our enemies, In Jesus' name, AMEN~

The Great Amen!

New Year's Blessings in the name of Jesus!

Ever wonder why we say "Amen," at the end of our prayers, or in my case, after every bit of good news I receive as well? Sometimes I actually go into an AMEN frenzy, and I don't care who hears it!
Like earlier this week when I received the blessed news that a child whom I have been praying for received a clean bill of health. You better believe I "Amened" that news a solid 20 times.  My Hershey Pie looked at me like was nuts!

Nevertheless, according to the fine folks at dictionary.com Amen means: it is so; so be it, and it is used after a prayer to express solemn agreement.

The Bible agrees.

2 Corinthians 1:20
"Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In Him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident."

Don't you love that? God's willingness to bless us joined with our willingness to receive? That is why we say Amen. We are letting God know that we want and expect to receive everything we have just prayed about. We agree that we need His love and provision to enjoy our lives. It's like a seal of approval. I love it.

Think back over all the prayers we have prayed as a group, and may you find tremendous joy and peace in knowing that each and every one has been heartily sealed with our "So be it," to God's unparalleled willingness to fulfill everyone of His promises.

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, We have prayed so many times for blessings in our lives and the lives of those we love. How wonderful to know that every single promise has been stamped with the Yes of Jesus and with our Yes as well. So be it! May it be so! And it is so! In Jesus name, AMEN!

Hershey Pie~

The Squawking Woodpecker~

Matthew 6:26

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"

This morning I woke up to a constant and loud tap tap tap at my bedroom window. I opened the shutters and saw a woodpecker with the most beautiful red crest pecking away. I was temporarily awestruck, and then I realized it might actually break the window. I tried shooing it away, but it would not leave. I physically went outside, and that's when the woodpecker started flying toward me. I froze for a second then started flailing my arms to scare it away. The woodpecker was not deterred. Rather, it came closer and closer. I turned to run back inside the house and tripped on the front steps of my porch. I almost had a panic attack as I saw the woodpecker approaching again. It flew straight to my ear and squawked, "Help! I have nothing to eat!"

Sorry! I made all that up to make a point:  A bird will never ask us for food because GOD takes care of everything they need.

And we, dear people, are worth so much more than the birds. If we connect the dots, this means that God will take care of every single thing that we - His more-beautiful, more-beloved, and more-precious-than-the-birds children - will ever need!

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, Thank You that You are the source of EVERYTHING I need. I have decided to take You at Your Word and invite You to unleash Your transforming power into this area of my life ______________________________.  If You so freely take care of the birds, and if I am so much more precious to You than they, then I know that I know that I shall receive today that which I have prayed for. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

DUH!

Happy Thursday :)

I love rhetorical questions because it's like saying "DING DONG" or "DUH!" in a nice way.

Kind of like when I used to ask Hormone, "Is your room going to clean itself?"

Likewise, even though all of us at some point or another will experience difficulties, or maybe some of us are smack dab in the middle of a whopper, I must ask: "Is God's arm too short that it can not help you? Does God lack the power to rescue you?" (Isaiah 50:2)

I love that the Bible asks those questions because they force us to focus on God and on the absurdity of even asking. Of course God's arm isn't too short nor is He lacking in any power. DUH! It's just that we have a tendency to forget and need to be reminded. I can think of a few people, myself included, who could, from time-to-time, benefit from someone grabbing them by the shoulders, perhaps receiving a tender, attention-getting slap across the face and hearing someone say, "Get a hold of yourself, precious child of God.  You are never out of God's reach, and He has everything necessary to rescue you!"

Where would you like for God to reach down today and bring rescuing power?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I get tired and discouraged sometimes, but not when You remind me that You are more than enough to bring the help and rescuing I need. I invite You to extend Your more-than-long-enough-arm and help me. And I cry out to You for Your rescuing power in (fill in the blank) !!! In Jesus' name, AMEN~

The Best is Yet to Come!

Greetings:)

How many of you woke up to a perfect day? How many of you are living a perfect life? How many of you are 100% carefree 100% of the time?

GET OVER YOURSELF!!!!

No matter how spectacularly wonderful your life is -- or isn't -- at the moment, there is a TRUTH that I want us all to embrace, and it is found in Psalm 84:10.

"For a day in Your presence is better than a thousand anywhere else."

That's right.  Better than St. John's Trunk Bay in the Virgin Islands, my FAVORITE place on earth. And better than anyplace any of us has ever lived or visited.  Think about it; this is great news and a win-win for every one.  If your life has been picture perfect, it still can not compare to the glory that awaits. But if your life has been a mix of ups and downs and joys and sorrows, then all it will take is one day with our Lord to forget all about the former struggles and get your perfectly perfect eternity on!!!

Hang on, people, the best is yet to come!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Really? Just one day with You will be so awesome that it can not compare to even a thousand picture-perfect days on a Caribbean beach? Then we can't wait. When we go through a rough patch remind us that the best is yet to come. Sometimes we experience disappointments and heartaches that are overwhelming and can take a lifetime to get over. But all it will take is one day with You to realize what true joy is. Thank You. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

He's Not Letting Go~

Greetings!

Once upon a time in 1989 Jorge and I went on a cruise. We docked In Jamaica, and one of our activities was climbing Dunn's River Falls. It was truly majestic and beautiful, and there is one thing that stands out mightily in my mind. 

It wasn't the clear wading pools waiting at every landing or the way you could stand behind the falls and watch from the inside out, or even the fact that Tom Cruise had filmed part of his movie, "Cocktail," there.

The rocks we had to climb to get to the top of the falls were really slippery, and all along the way there were folks with bloodied knees and sore elbows. I myself lost my footing right at the beginning, and from that moment on Jorge grabbed my hand and did not let go until we got to the top. 

And it was not your typical husband and wife moment, holding hands tenderly. No! Jorge held my hand super tight, as if I were a toddler and we were crossing a six-lane highway. It really made an impression on me because until that moment, Jorge had never held my hand that way. 

He DID NOT LET GO until we got to the top!

Jorge is not the only one who has a firm grip.

Isaiah 41:13 (Message Version) "I, your God, have a firm grip on you, and I’m not letting go. I’m telling you, ‘Don’t panic.' I’m right here to help you."

Aren't you glad God's grip is firm? Unyielding and solid?  Living life is way more perilous than climbing a slippery rock, and God knows it. He's not letting go!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, As we start this New Year we thank You that You wrap us tightly in Your love and protection. We move forward into 2016 hand in hand with You. Anything is possible! In Jesus name, AMEN~.

Lessons From a Newly-healed Man!

Acts 3:2-8

Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and PRAISING GOD.”

Happy New Year, and greetings in the name of our powerful and precious Lord!

Have you ever felt like the lame man in the verse above?  His problem had been going on so long that he accepted it - all he did was beg for money so he could at least have the basics of life.  No where do we read that he prayed for a healing. I hope it’s because the temple goers were generous, something all Christ followers should be known for. 

Regardless, we can learn a lot from this newly-healed man.  As soon as he received his healing he went straight into the temple courts praising God!  He did not complain that his healing had taken a lifetime to arrive.  He did not question why God had let him suffer so long.  He did not get angry that Peter and John had not shown up earlier or that he had wasted so much of his life as a beggar who had to depend on others for pretty much every thing. No! Instead, he did what we all should do when the answer comes: HE PRAISED GOD!

When he was taken by the hand, helped up, and made strong, he used it to first and foremost praise God.  That’s not to say he didn’t have questions.  All of us want to know, “Why?”  Sometimes, however, it is better to go with the flow of the good thing that has finally happened and just praise God.  It is better to forget the past and enjoy the new thing. Once we are off that desert road we should focus on the blessing and not look back. (That sounds familiar!)

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We look to You to take us by the hand and help us get up into our healing.  When we get up, we will praise You.  We will not sit back down and wonder what took You so long.   Nor will we squander our lives being bitter about anything that was lost.  On the contrary, we thank You for all the good in our futures.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!