One of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith is that God wants us
to talk to Him about everything that is going on in our lives, even
though He already knows everything. So why pray?
If you’ve ever wrestled with that question, perhaps the thoughts of the
19th-century preacher R. A. Torrey can help. Among the reasons he gave
for prayer are these:
* Because there is a devil, and prayer is a God-appointed way to
resist Him (Eph. 6:12-13, 18).
* Because prayer is God’s way for us to obtain what we need from
Him (Luke 11:3-13; Jas. 4:2).
* Because prayer is the means God has appointed for us to find
“grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
* Because prayer with thanksgiving is God’s way for us to obtain
freedom from anxiety and to receive “the peace of God” (Phil. 4:6-7).
Besides these reasons, it’s enough to read the command in
1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing,” and realize that God wants
us to talk with Him. Yes, He is all-knowing, but He also desires our
fellowship.
When we seek God’s face in prayer, we strengthen our
relationship with Him. That’s the most important reason to pray. —JDB
Our Daily Bread, November 25, 1998
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Rejoice & Pray
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 16:23
Help me always to be joyful and to pray continually, giving thanks
to you in all circumstances, since this is your will for me in
Christ Jesus.
May I never put out the Spirit's fire in myself. May I never be
contemptuous of the prophetic word and the interpretation of it.
But let me test everything I hear. Help me hold on to what is good,
and to avoid everything that is evil.
In the name of your Holy Son, Jesus, who gave us the Spirit, I
pray. Amen.
Help me always to be joyful and to pray continually, giving thanks
to you in all circumstances, since this is your will for me in
Christ Jesus.
May I never put out the Spirit's fire in myself. May I never be
contemptuous of the prophetic word and the interpretation of it.
But let me test everything I hear. Help me hold on to what is good,
and to avoid everything that is evil.
In the name of your Holy Son, Jesus, who gave us the Spirit, I
pray. Amen.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
You're In!
I just received New York City Marathon official handbook in the mail and a letter that says You're In! Entry number47262. This will be my 3rd time and it's a fun race in NYC, the Big Apple. Ache & pains!
November 5, 2006
http://www.nycmarathon.org/home/index.php
The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold. Pslams 18:2
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Make-A-Wish
Make-A-Wish Sea Colony triathlon - it's my favorite triathlon race. It's by the beach in Delaware and it's a great cause to fulfill the wishes of children facing life-threatening illnesses.
Money raised from the event helps the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of the Mid-Atlantic, Inc. fulfill the wishes of children facing life-threatening illnesses. Many wishes continue to be fulfilled because of the generosity of friends, colleagues, matching gift programs, etc.
More information on this race - September 23-24, 2006
http://www.tricolumbia.org/make_a_wish.html
Let's share our blessings and fulfill the wishes of children facing life-threatening illnesses.
Solitude
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.
Psalm 128:1
Solitude is a time when we withdraw from the company of others in order to give God our undivided attention.
- Shut out external stimulation.
- Allow ourselves to become quiet.
We need to plan how we spend our time with God. A plan helps us to stay focused.
For example:
Silent listening
Scripture reflection
Prayer
Journaling
A slow meditative walk
Worship music
Singing praises
Experiencing Solitude. Find a quiet place that is free of distractions.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, Jesus said to his disciples, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. Mark 6:31-32
Tell God what you need. Use a simple prayer:
"God, I just want to be with you."
"God, I need your guidance."
"Lord, I want to feel your love."
Be clear about what you would like to receive from God. Be fully present. Give Him your undivided attention. Speak to Him directly about whatever you are thinking or feeling.
Use Scriptures to listen to God. Invite God to speak to you through His Word. Read Psalm 23.
Read it slowly and deliberately, as through you were reading a love letter from God to you.
Respond to what you hear God saying to you through Scripture or in prayer. Speak to God about what you have sensed and felt and heard. Do this verbally or by writing.
Express gratitude and commitment. Spend a few minutes thanking God for his presence with you. Express your commitment to respond faithfully to whatever it is you have heard from him during this time. Close your time in solitude by thanking God.
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening...
Psalm 128:1
Solitude is a time when we withdraw from the company of others in order to give God our undivided attention.
- Shut out external stimulation.
- Allow ourselves to become quiet.
We need to plan how we spend our time with God. A plan helps us to stay focused.
For example:
Silent listening
Scripture reflection
Prayer
Journaling
A slow meditative walk
Worship music
Singing praises
Experiencing Solitude. Find a quiet place that is free of distractions.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, Jesus said to his disciples, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. Mark 6:31-32
Tell God what you need. Use a simple prayer:
"God, I just want to be with you."
"God, I need your guidance."
"Lord, I want to feel your love."
Be clear about what you would like to receive from God. Be fully present. Give Him your undivided attention. Speak to Him directly about whatever you are thinking or feeling.
Use Scriptures to listen to God. Invite God to speak to you through His Word. Read Psalm 23.
Read it slowly and deliberately, as through you were reading a love letter from God to you.
Respond to what you hear God saying to you through Scripture or in prayer. Speak to God about what you have sensed and felt and heard. Do this verbally or by writing.
Express gratitude and commitment. Spend a few minutes thanking God for his presence with you. Express your commitment to respond faithfully to whatever it is you have heard from him during this time. Close your time in solitude by thanking God.
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening...
Friday, July 21, 2006
Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalms 116:2
When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need. Psalms 138:3
Then I pray to you, O LORD. I say, "You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life. Psalms 142:5
Oh, don't be so angry with us, LORD. Please don't remember our sins forever. Look at us, we pray, and see that we are all your people.
Isaiah 64:9
"And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. Matthew 6:5
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. Matthew 6:6
"When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Matthew 6:7
Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. Matthew 6:9
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields." Matthew 9:38
Keep alert and pray. Matthew 26:41
One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. Romans 1:10
So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need. Psalms 138:3
Then I pray to you, O LORD. I say, "You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life. Psalms 142:5
Oh, don't be so angry with us, LORD. Please don't remember our sins forever. Look at us, we pray, and see that we are all your people.
Isaiah 64:9
"And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. Matthew 6:5
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. Matthew 6:6
"When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again. Matthew 6:7
Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. Matthew 6:9
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields." Matthew 9:38
Keep alert and pray. Matthew 26:41
One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. Romans 1:10
So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Three Kinds of Life
There are three kinds of life mentioned in the Bible:
Physical life -union of the soul with the body.
Spiritual life - union of the soul with God.
Eternal life - eternal union of the soul with God.
Jesus said, My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me. John 10:27-28
The gift of God is eternal life. One receives this gift when he believes in Jesus as his own personal Savior. Having eternal life, he will never perish.
You can work for sin but is is a cruel master. When it pays you off, its wage is death - separation from God forever. God does not pay wages. He has a free gift to offer - ETERNAL LIFE. There is nothing that one can do to earn this gift. If one could earn it, it would not be a gift, it would be wages. ETERNAL LIFE is just that - ETERNAL - it never ceases.
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:11
Physical life -union of the soul with the body.
Spiritual life - union of the soul with God.
Eternal life - eternal union of the soul with God.
Jesus said, My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me. John 10:27-28
The gift of God is eternal life. One receives this gift when he believes in Jesus as his own personal Savior. Having eternal life, he will never perish.
You can work for sin but is is a cruel master. When it pays you off, its wage is death - separation from God forever. God does not pay wages. He has a free gift to offer - ETERNAL LIFE. There is nothing that one can do to earn this gift. If one could earn it, it would not be a gift, it would be wages. ETERNAL LIFE is just that - ETERNAL - it never ceases.
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. 1 Chronicles 16:11
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
To Fear Or Not To Fear
People in the Bible who were confronted by God or his angels all had one consistent response - FEAR. To each of them, God's response was always the same - DON'T BE AFRAID. As soon as they sensed that God accepted them and wanted to communicate with them, their fear subsided. He had given them freedom to be his friends. Has he given you the same freedom?
Person:
Abraham
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great." Genesis 15:1
Moses
But the LORD said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon." Numbers 21:34
Joshua
Now the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. Joshua 8:1
Zacharias
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. Luke 1:13
Mary
The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. Luke 1:30
Shepherds. Luke 2:10
Peter
and so also {were} James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men." Luke 5:10
Paul
"For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you. Acts 27:23-24
JOHN
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Revelation 1:17-18
Jesus is your Messiah, your Savior. Do you look forward to meeting him in prayer and in his Word each day? Have you discovered a Lord so wonderful that you can't help sharing your joy with your friends?
The good news about Jesus is that he comes to all, including the plain and ordinary. He comes to anyone with a heart humble enough to accept him. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can have Jesus in your life. Do not think you need extraordinary qualifications - he accepts you as you are.
"Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:15
Person:
Abraham
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great." Genesis 15:1
Moses
But the LORD said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon." Numbers 21:34
Joshua
Now the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear or be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. Joshua 8:1
Zacharias
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. Luke 1:13
Mary
The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. Luke 1:30
Shepherds. Luke 2:10
Peter
and so also {were} James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men." Luke 5:10
Paul
"For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you. Acts 27:23-24
JOHN
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Revelation 1:17-18
Jesus is your Messiah, your Savior. Do you look forward to meeting him in prayer and in his Word each day? Have you discovered a Lord so wonderful that you can't help sharing your joy with your friends?
The good news about Jesus is that he comes to all, including the plain and ordinary. He comes to anyone with a heart humble enough to accept him. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can have Jesus in your life. Do not think you need extraordinary qualifications - he accepts you as you are.
"Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:15
Monday, July 10, 2006
Pray
Pray, and let God worry. -- Martin Luther
But I keep right on praying to you, LORD, hoping this is the time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. Pull me out of the mud; don't let me sink any deeper! Rescue me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters. Don't let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me. 16 Answer my prayers, O LORD, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Turn and take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful. Psalms 69:13-1613
Jesus said that "where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them". We need Jesus in our midst, so we need to pray together with other believers. Matthew 18:20
But I keep right on praying to you, LORD, hoping this is the time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. Pull me out of the mud; don't let me sink any deeper! Rescue me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters. Don't let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me. 16 Answer my prayers, O LORD, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Turn and take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful. Psalms 69:13-1613
Jesus said that "where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them". We need Jesus in our midst, so we need to pray together with other believers. Matthew 18:20
Saturday, July 08, 2006
True Commitment
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
When Jesus used this picture of his followers taking up their crosses ( suffering ) to follow him, the disciples knew what he meant. Crucifixion was a common Roman method of execution and condemned criminals had to carry their crosses through the streets to the execution site. Following Jesus meant a true commitment, the risk of death, and no turning back.
The possibility of losing their lives was real for the disciples as well as for Jesus. Real discipleship implies real commitment pledging our whole existence to his service. If we try to save our physical life from death, pain, or discomfort, we may risk losing our true eternal life. If we protect ourselves from pain, we begin to die spiritually and emotionally. Our lives turn inward and we lose our intended purpose. When we give our lives in service to Christ, we discover the real purpose of living.
When we do not know Christ, we make choices as though this life were all we have. In reality, this life is just the introduction to eternity. How we live this brief span, determines our eternal life. What we accumulate on earth has no value in purchasing eternal life. Even the highest social or civic honors cannot earn us entrance into heaven. Evaluate all that happens from an eternal perspective and you will find your values and decisions changing.
When Jesus used this picture of his followers taking up their crosses ( suffering ) to follow him, the disciples knew what he meant. Crucifixion was a common Roman method of execution and condemned criminals had to carry their crosses through the streets to the execution site. Following Jesus meant a true commitment, the risk of death, and no turning back.
The possibility of losing their lives was real for the disciples as well as for Jesus. Real discipleship implies real commitment pledging our whole existence to his service. If we try to save our physical life from death, pain, or discomfort, we may risk losing our true eternal life. If we protect ourselves from pain, we begin to die spiritually and emotionally. Our lives turn inward and we lose our intended purpose. When we give our lives in service to Christ, we discover the real purpose of living.
When we do not know Christ, we make choices as though this life were all we have. In reality, this life is just the introduction to eternity. How we live this brief span, determines our eternal life. What we accumulate on earth has no value in purchasing eternal life. Even the highest social or civic honors cannot earn us entrance into heaven. Evaluate all that happens from an eternal perspective and you will find your values and decisions changing.
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