I am reading the book of Tobit during my prayer time these days. Be sure to read it someday if you can find a Greek translation of the bible, as it is not in the Hebrew translations. (Greek translations = The New American Catholic, or the Jeruselum versions, I think. Hebrew translations = King James versions, I think.) It is worth looking for and reading. Quite an interesting story. Tobit, the story of a dutiful son who is given miraculous help by an angel, is part of the Apocrypha - the 5 books (or parts of books) that are included in some bibles and not in others. (Tobit, Judith, Macabees 1st and 2nd books, and Ecclesiasticus.)
Here are a couple of verses from Tobit I wanted to share with all of you . . . .
4:7 - "Never turn your face from any poor man and God will never turn His from you."
I thought about this for quite some time, and realized that I have turned my
face from the poor!
And how Mickey that day we were having our dinner and party
at the park, took lots of that food and water and gave it to those poor,
homeless people who showed up. I don't think I could ever have done that! God
does not turn His face from you, Mickey.
4:23 - "Do not be afraid if you have grown poor. You have great wealth if you know
God (Jesus?) and if you shun every kind of sin and if you do what is pleasing
to the Lord your God." In other words, our greatest treasure and riches are
the ones we have in eternity with our God. Does anyone remember that
scripture, and where it is - one of the gospels. In these times we are facing
a future of uncertainty - here in this world - but, if we build up our
treasures in heaven, then we have everything! We are rich in our blessings!
And this next scripture is what I received for Josh as he is going off to training
for Afghanistan in a couple of weeks:
5:21 - "My child, prepare what you need for the journey, and set off with your
brothers. (your unit) May God in heaven protect you abroad and bring you all
back safe and sound! May His angel go with you and protect you, my child.
5:22 - The
son left the house to set out and kissed his father and mother. The father
said "Happy journey! His mother burst into tears and said 'Why must I send
my child away? The way of life God had already given us was good enough!'
'Do not think such thoughts. Going away and coming back, all will be well
with your child. On the day of his homecoming you will see for yourself how all is still well with him. Do not think such thoughts; do not worry on his account.
A good angel will go with him; he will have a good journey and come back well and happy." 6:1 "And she dried her tears."
I bought Joshua a small bible with a "marines" cover on it. It has a couple of pages in the front to write a message for him. I am going to write 5:21 there, along with other words of encouragement for him.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sharon
Pray for Sharon tonight and tomorrow. She has another treatment in the morning. (Tues)
Father God, we know Your Word has become a part of her. It is flowing in her bloodstream. It flows to every cell of her body, restoring and transforming her body. For You sent Your Word and healed her. (see Psalm 107:20)
Your Word is manifest in her body, and will cause growths to disappear. These tumors and this cancer are a thing of the past. We make this demand on her cells and blood and bones: that they function properly, in Jesus' Name. (see Matthew 17:20 and Mark 11:23).
Heavenly Father, as we give voice to Your Word, the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus makes her free from the Spirit of Death. And Your Life is energizing every cell of her body.
Cancer, you must GO! Sicknesses from the treatments MUST FLEE! Tumors cannot exist in her, for the Spirit of God is upon her and the Word of God is within her. Sickness, fear and oppression have NO power over her for God's Word is what we claim for her, and it is what she believes! (again, Mark 11:23).
We praise you and we thank you, in Jesus' name (God's Word) for what you are doing in her body as we ask. Amen
Father God, we know Your Word has become a part of her. It is flowing in her bloodstream. It flows to every cell of her body, restoring and transforming her body. For You sent Your Word and healed her. (see Psalm 107:20)
Your Word is manifest in her body, and will cause growths to disappear. These tumors and this cancer are a thing of the past. We make this demand on her cells and blood and bones: that they function properly, in Jesus' Name. (see Matthew 17:20 and Mark 11:23).
Heavenly Father, as we give voice to Your Word, the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus makes her free from the Spirit of Death. And Your Life is energizing every cell of her body.
Cancer, you must GO! Sicknesses from the treatments MUST FLEE! Tumors cannot exist in her, for the Spirit of God is upon her and the Word of God is within her. Sickness, fear and oppression have NO power over her for God's Word is what we claim for her, and it is what she believes! (again, Mark 11:23).
We praise you and we thank you, in Jesus' name (God's Word) for what you are doing in her body as we ask. Amen
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Follow Jesus' Example
"We have around us many people (cloud of witnesses, some have passed on, and some are still with us - a cloud of saints!) whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began, inspires, our faith and who makes it perfect. For the sake of the joy which lay before Him he endured the cross, heedless of its shame. And now is sitting at the right side of God's throne! (the highest honor). Remember how He endured the opposition of sinners; hence do not grow despondent or abandon the struggle." (Never give up!) Hebrews chapter 12, verses 1-3
Jesus hears all the voices of all the people who follow Him. And He sees you! From the very first man (Adam) to the infant born as you are reading these words. He sees and He hears them all! (Read Hebrews chapter 11)
And you can be sure of this: Among the voices that found their way to Him who is seated at the right hand of the Father, was your voice . . .
And not only did He hear you, He saw you. He saw your face beaming the hour you first knew Him. He saw your face in shame the hour you first fell. The same face that looked back at you from this morning's mirror, looked at Him. And it was enough to kill Him! He died a torturous death on the cross because of YOU! He could not bear the sight of sinfulness and evil in the world, He could not bear the thought of your hopelessness - so He took it all to the cross, where it all died with Him! And he does this every day! He saved YOU, and all of us, and all who are willing Follow Jesus' Example! It wasn't easy for Him, and for sure, it's not easy for us. But the Joy that follows is worth it all!
Look for joy in difficult times. As Sharon tells us often - laugh every day! How can others benefit from your struggle? Look beyond the pain and struggles and find God's purpose for your life. Ask Him to reveal it to you. Then pay attention - because He will show you.
Hebrews 13:15 - "So through Jesus let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise, coming from lips that speak His name. Do not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God." And verses 20-21 - "I pray that the God of peace will give you every good thing you need so you can do what He wants. I pray that God will do in us what pleases Him, through Jesus Christ, and to Him be glory forever and ever. Amen"
Be sure to read Psalm 126 - it's a short one.
Let's share with each other here - ways we've found joy in our difficult times. What brought us to tears and what did we find of joy in those tears?
Have you realized the purpose of your struggles and pain? What is it? I know my purpose is not any grandiose thing like I thought it was supposed to be when I first accepted Jesus into my life. One day I heard loud and clear the saying I'd heard so many times: BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED!!! God wanted me to teach my own family and those I come in contact with so often. This reading from Hebrews was very eye-opening to me as I grew in the Lord. There are so many "saints" around me, both in the heavens now, and living around me, who were great examples of Jesus and how He intends for us to live. And then He showed me all the people around me who really didn't know Jesus and He wanted me to introduce them to Him. That is my purpose. My "Mission Field". Another purpose I think for my life is intercessory prayer. So important. There are so many people and circumstances to pray for, and it seems like God puts them right in my world, and brings them to mind when I need to pray. At times I don't really even know the people I am praying for, but God puts them in my mind, so I pray! I don't understand that part so much, but I do it. And, of course, we all need to pray for America. She needs God's help and protection more now than ever before. Another time I'll share some of how these unknown people and unknown circumstances prayers are answered. Can you share, too?
God bless you all.
Jesus hears all the voices of all the people who follow Him. And He sees you! From the very first man (Adam) to the infant born as you are reading these words. He sees and He hears them all! (Read Hebrews chapter 11)
And you can be sure of this: Among the voices that found their way to Him who is seated at the right hand of the Father, was your voice . . .
And not only did He hear you, He saw you. He saw your face beaming the hour you first knew Him. He saw your face in shame the hour you first fell. The same face that looked back at you from this morning's mirror, looked at Him. And it was enough to kill Him! He died a torturous death on the cross because of YOU! He could not bear the sight of sinfulness and evil in the world, He could not bear the thought of your hopelessness - so He took it all to the cross, where it all died with Him! And he does this every day! He saved YOU, and all of us, and all who are willing Follow Jesus' Example! It wasn't easy for Him, and for sure, it's not easy for us. But the Joy that follows is worth it all!
Look for joy in difficult times. As Sharon tells us often - laugh every day! How can others benefit from your struggle? Look beyond the pain and struggles and find God's purpose for your life. Ask Him to reveal it to you. Then pay attention - because He will show you.
Hebrews 13:15 - "So through Jesus let us always offer to God our sacrifice of praise, coming from lips that speak His name. Do not forget to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God." And verses 20-21 - "I pray that the God of peace will give you every good thing you need so you can do what He wants. I pray that God will do in us what pleases Him, through Jesus Christ, and to Him be glory forever and ever. Amen"
Be sure to read Psalm 126 - it's a short one.
Let's share with each other here - ways we've found joy in our difficult times. What brought us to tears and what did we find of joy in those tears?
Have you realized the purpose of your struggles and pain? What is it? I know my purpose is not any grandiose thing like I thought it was supposed to be when I first accepted Jesus into my life. One day I heard loud and clear the saying I'd heard so many times: BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED!!! God wanted me to teach my own family and those I come in contact with so often. This reading from Hebrews was very eye-opening to me as I grew in the Lord. There are so many "saints" around me, both in the heavens now, and living around me, who were great examples of Jesus and how He intends for us to live. And then He showed me all the people around me who really didn't know Jesus and He wanted me to introduce them to Him. That is my purpose. My "Mission Field". Another purpose I think for my life is intercessory prayer. So important. There are so many people and circumstances to pray for, and it seems like God puts them right in my world, and brings them to mind when I need to pray. At times I don't really even know the people I am praying for, but God puts them in my mind, so I pray! I don't understand that part so much, but I do it. And, of course, we all need to pray for America. She needs God's help and protection more now than ever before. Another time I'll share some of how these unknown people and unknown circumstances prayers are answered. Can you share, too?
God bless you all.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Heloooo!
Hello out there in blogasphere - anybody there? I am wondering if anyone is reading this sight. If so, could you please put comments on the blog post? I hope you're out there. I'll publish some more thoughts if I think anyone is following.....and maybe I will even if no one is! Just a short comment will do. I just want to know someone is interested. Even if you disagree with what I write, I would like to hear those comments, too!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
God's standards
I used to wonder how to remember all the commandments of God. When I was a kid I memorized the Ten Commandments in catechism. But there are so many other commandments in the Bible - - hundreds of them. Then I discovered a wonderful fact - that the first and greatest commandment is to love God . . .
So it isn't as complicated as I had thought! Love God completely, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do to your neighbor as you, in your best moments, want him or her to do to you. If we obey only these two basic laws, we will be obeying all the others, too.
It is wonderful of God to tell us what He allows and what He prohibits, what He likes and dislikes, for we might otherwise be unsure of ourselves and unsure whether or not we are loving God by obeying Him. We all need rules to guide and protect us. If you are a parent, God has set the example, and He has set that same example for all people:
LOVE!!!! God has set clear, fair guidelines and He expects us to stay within those guidelines. Just like a parent, He will be firm in implementing them.
Read Mark, Chapter 12, verses 30 and 31. And the book of Proverbs has lots of wise commands from the Lord. Here are two: Prov. Chapter 28, verse 23 - "Those who correct others will later be liked more than those who give false praise", and Chapter 29, verse 25 - "Being afraid of people can get you into trouble, but if you trust the Lord, you will be safe."
So it isn't as complicated as I had thought! Love God completely, and love your neighbor as yourself. Do to your neighbor as you, in your best moments, want him or her to do to you. If we obey only these two basic laws, we will be obeying all the others, too.
It is wonderful of God to tell us what He allows and what He prohibits, what He likes and dislikes, for we might otherwise be unsure of ourselves and unsure whether or not we are loving God by obeying Him. We all need rules to guide and protect us. If you are a parent, God has set the example, and He has set that same example for all people:
LOVE!!!! God has set clear, fair guidelines and He expects us to stay within those guidelines. Just like a parent, He will be firm in implementing them.
Read Mark, Chapter 12, verses 30 and 31. And the book of Proverbs has lots of wise commands from the Lord. Here are two: Prov. Chapter 28, verse 23 - "Those who correct others will later be liked more than those who give false praise", and Chapter 29, verse 25 - "Being afraid of people can get you into trouble, but if you trust the Lord, you will be safe."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)