Jesus Still Prays for You

In Luke’s gospel he shows us a scene at the Last Supper of the disciples using the moment while they are still eating to argue about who is the best and most important.

Jesus then pulls Simon Peter aside to give him both a warning and a promise. He tells him to pray because Satan stands ready to attack but Jesus also assures Him that He has been praying for him.

Did you ever stop to think that Jesus is also still praying for you? God’s promises have not changed and remain active and in force for anyone of any status, age or ability; to believe in, trust completely and claim for their lives, family and generation.

No matter who or what we face today; we do not need to do it alone. When we go to God in prayer we can go with this assurance in hand. Jesus is still praying for me!

TEACH ME TO PRAY

Before beginning our day above everything we need to pray. But even that discipline will be useless and dry without the help of the Holy Spirit. When we go to our knees and quickly bring our needs as we see them we miss the moment for which prayer is designed to bring us.

There is a song that says, “There’s a garden where Jesus is waiting. And He asks you to come meet Him there.” He is the gentle Master waiting for us to hear what He has to say. Of how much more value will we be to those around us when we have heard from Jesus than when we simply repeat our morning prayers? How much more we will have to give when we have had a drink from the well of Bethlehem?

And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” II Samuel 23:15

Retirement in 3 Chapters

Just 6 months ago my wife and I decided to finally make the decision to retire and move to Florida. She had finished her chemotherapy and was recovering her strength. The sale of our business was finalized and the transition completed. Even our kids and grandkids were urging us to make the plunge. Everything seemed so right and we moved ahead with as much enthusiasm as we could towards a new and uncertain future. For the benefit of anyone in our position or who are thinking about retirement here are three chapters we have passed through. Some days have been great and some have been stressed and even traumatic.

Chapter One… Wahoo we’re in Florida! No more ice..no more snow…no more 4-5 long colorless months of barren cold landscapes!!

Chapter Two…oh noooo we’re in Florida! It’s 1200 miles to the nearest friend or family. Everybody seems to be trying to sell us something and the water tastes like someone washed their gym socks in it!

Chapter Three… Oh I see -God has been in Florida long before we came. He knows all the answers and has called this new place our home!