Prayer

Growing Older Praying

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But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. Luke 1:13

We often forget as we read Luke chapter one about the life of John the Baptist’s parents, that God was concerned for the needs of this elderly couple. Maybe in old age they had all but forgotten their prayer for children, but God had not. God had heard their prayer. God was still working on the answer. They didn’t have to follow some special formula. Zacharias and Elizabeth simply needed to remain faithful to what God had given them to do.

Last week we lost our dear friend Helen. She lived 91 wonderful years and remained the listening ear and encouraging voice for her family for all the many years that we knew her. Though Helen was not a Bible-thumper but she did hold an unwavering  desire for her family to know Jesus Christ. She was quiet when others raised their voices. She was gentle when folks were fighting. Helen continued praying for her children and grandchildren. Now that she is gone; she leaves behind the legacy that all six children have made a commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The grandchildren have wandered and it may be that she now sits alongside of Jesus quietly reminding Him to continue interceding for them also.

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Helen sharing a moment with my wife

In the same way all of us who have grown older without seeing the answer to things for which we have prayed can be encouraged that God also remembers us. Neither age nor weakness changes God’s ability to answer prayer. It doesn’t matter how many years pass. When we are praying something in God’s will for our lives He hears us. We are never out of warranty!  Miracles can still happen because God never gives up, never forgets and never forsakes us. Don’t be afraid. He has heard your prayer!

New Year – New Horizons

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After a couple of weeks away with time to enjoy Christmas and New Year with the other half I am officially back to writing for 2020. Thank you to all of you who have followed, read and commented over the past year. It is a real encouragement knowing some of the things God has brought me through have been a help to others. 2020 will be a different in that I will be posting only once a week except for around the holidays. I will also be posting once a week on New Beginnings about Nursing Home outreach. I am thankful that a small group of volunteers is beginning to network with me through our local church to help with the outreach in the North Tampa area. If you or someone you know is interested you can check out the weekly posts over at New Beginnings

None of what has been happening would be possible without the help, prayers and support of many people. Last year my resolution was to pray more honestly. In 2020 my desire is to pray more intensely since the time is growing short and only by God’s power can anything be accomplished of eternal worth. God bless you and may you walk closely with Jesus this week.

 

Always Pray

When our eyes first open and the sun peeks in

We can thank the Lord as our day begins

Or when storms close in and darken the sky

We run to find shelter at our Jesus’ side

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If the corn is ripe or if the fields are dead

We can still thank God for our daily bread

And when we sin and fall under guilt and shame

He forgives if we ask Him in His holy name

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Photo by Ivan J. Long on Pexels.com

After we’ve run as far as we can

He renews our strength when we pray to Him

When we stand up strong or when we fall down

If we’ll pray to the end He has promised a crown

It’s not by our wisdom that this battle is won

Nor by our strength that the race must be run

He gives when we ask and when we seek we will find

If we’ll pray and not faint to our life’s finish line!

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint                   Luke 18:1

Nepal and India 135

2020 Devotional

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As I buckle up in the passenger seat of any airplane my mind is flooded with questions like: “Who is the pilot?” and “I wonder if this plane is in good repair?” Then as the jet engines start to whine the flight attendant stands up and explains what to do in emergencies. This never gives me comfort since the last thing I want to think about at take-off is the possibility of crashing! Before I know it we begin to hurtle down the runway and then up into the sky above the airport. Part of my worry is because I cannot see where we are going. Secondly, there is someone at the controls whom I have never even met. Last and maybe most troubling is the fact that I have no idea what holds the plane up in the air! Yet despite my fears, I not only accept the risk of air travel, I actually pay good money for my ticket!

That humorous look at my personal outlook on flying may be how some of you feel as you face the unknown journey into a New Year.  For that reason I have called this year’s devotional, “Flying Through 2020 With Jesus” We can buckle up for this flight with confidence because by faith we know who our pilot is even though we cannot see Him. But God also wants to be so much more than just our pilot. He wants to give us wings of faith and then teach us to fly, so that we can follow Him safely all the way home!

You could either follow the link provided below or search in your Kindle Store for Flying Through 2020 With Jesus. It is available in both softcover or E-Book format. Whatever decide; may God bless you as you prepare for His flight plan for the New Year!

Flying Through 2020 With Jesus

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