Prayer

Always Pray

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

Always Pray and Never Faint

When our eyes first open and the sun peeks ikimg2456n

We can thank the Lord as our day begins

Or when storms close in with darkening skies

And we run for shelter to our dear Lord’s side

kimg1384When the corn is ripe or when the fields look dead

We can still thank God for our daily bread

When we’ve sinned and feel the guilt and shame

He forgives us if we ask in His holy name

When we’ve run the race as far as we can

He renews our strength when we pray to Him

In every day and through every night

In every victory and through every fight

When we stand up strong or when we fall down

If we’ll pray to the end He has promised a crownp1010267

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

Not by our own strength that the race can be run

He gives when we ask He that seeks surely finds

When we pray and don’t faint to the end of the line!

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

 

 

 

 

Autumn’s Humble Blush

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p1020438The hydrangea blushes pink in this brief quiet lull between the August dog days and the January snow drifts. Autumn is this silent moment when we can glance over our shoulders and remember county fairs, family weddings,  grandkids birthdays and church suppers. How was your year? Did you run through every open door? Were you patient during times of testing ? Did you speak a kind word when it could make a difference? Have we any of us stopped to pray each time the Spirit called with a gentle tap on our spiritual shoulders?

This reflective moment is like the prayer before receiving the cup and the bread. It is an assessment of where we have been and where we need to go. This is the time to ask for our hearts to be cleansed and ready for God’s season of change. In the Autumn moment comes  the pink blush of humility to our souls. Then the ears of our hearts can stand on tiptoe to listen to the God who listens to our every honest prayer. He is longing to speak a word. Let’s give Him our own quiet ears to hear…

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite Isaiah 57:15

What Does the Bible say about voting?

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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior 1 Timothy 2:1-3

 

I am truly thankful for the freedom and peace we enjoy in the United States yet I often find myself in cojuly-2012-006nflict over the issues surrounding our current political process. I face struggles to reconcile my faith with the differing political ideas within my own family and church.

First, the Bible gives us no example of democracy anywhere within its 4,000 plus year history. Joseph would be scratching his head if you asked him which  party he thought would give  them the best nominee for Pharaoh. Daniel similarly would have had no advice as to who he was voting for, for the next king of Persia. In New Testament times we find that John the Baptist was more concerned about Herod’s choice of wife than about taxes. The Apostle Paul’s appearance before Caesar in a highly political and grossly unfair trial drew no complaints about the corruption of the government or its forays into wars of conquest. But in spite of the absence of direct advice on voting, we can find a common theme that each of these men gave us in dealing with the ruling authorities of their day. The principles which they each maintained were a personal faith,  an unwavering trust in God as the sovereign authority over every king, and a personal responsibility to pray. Today let’s examine the last – Our personal responsibility to pray

Daniel we are told not only prayed three times daily for his nation but he did it so consistently that it became general public knowledge. Paul tells us we ought to pray without ceasing and John the Baptist was known for having taught his disciples to pray.

Can we take a little test to see how we are doing?

Can we remember the last time you prayed for our president and his family?

Have we ever prayed for the leaders of nations we consider our enemies?

Can we point to prayer time we have devoted to one of the hot button issues of this election?

If Jesus came to live in my neighborhood what would be his most urgent prayer?

I would love to hear what your prayers have been or would be. Please feel welcome to react and tell us what you think!

We can do nothing until we have prayed but when we pray it will be impossible for us do nothing!

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