MYSTERY OF ANSWERED PRAYER

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Perhaps the word mystery isn’t the word I should have used but this is the way I feel sometimes.

Now I know some people say they can pray for personal issues and order up their request and receive an answer exactly in detail as they outlined it to the Lord. But me, I have to settle for a little less, and just take what my faith can produce for me. I’m not sure that there are others who fit in this same category but there maybe some.

I suspect that there are some girls who have prayed for a husband and had exactly what they wanted in mind, and told the Lord, make him handsome, about six foot tall. I want one who is virile, strong and the ideal weight, and oh yes I want him to be a great lover with money. Well what the Lord sent was a slightly bald, paunchy midriff with an average job and a rather laid back guy. Of course the man I described was what she had twenty years later after the wedding. Even before the marriage she had to compromise a little for he didn’t fit all her specifications. Now she prayed and GOD answered, but there is a mystery that surrounds this whole transaction.

A guy prays and requests a gal. I want her to be the hottest of the lot and all the guys want her but she chooses me. Well guess what; GOD answers his prayer but she isn’t the most popular girl of all. She seldom has a date and was glad the guy asked her out. She is nice but not beautiful, and besides she needs to have her teeth fixed. But now here is the mystery part, she is the only one sent along so she must be the answer to his prayer. But the guy isn’t satisfied, and prays again, and along comes another girl, one who is pretty, but she talks non stop, and when she laughs she sounds like a cackling hen. Now the Lord has answered both prayers, kinda. The guy decides he could get used to the cackling and the occasional snort but he prays once again; Lord perhaps I didn’t make myself clear. I want a wife but I don’t want to be ashamed of her. This time he meets one he is willing to settle for. She isn’t super hot, and only a few guys have asked her out (none for a second date). At least this one doesn’t cackle or need her teeth fixed.

This brings me back to the mystery I referred to, I asked for money and HE gave me a job. I prayed for healing and ended up getting a pill from the doctor. Now I got what I prayed for but not in the way I wanted it. I wanted a miracle, and all I got was a solution.

So wherein lays the mystery? The answer is we don’t know what we really need when we pray and GOD has to sort through all our foolishness and then in HIS mercy give us what we can handle.

On the broader scale there are many things that are not personal but affect the work of GOD where we can only pray and leave it HIS hands.

Who among us could be trusted with the power to always receive a direct answer to prayer from GOD without becoming inflated much like Satan did.  If we were to have that much power to command GOD and have HIM perform our every wish it would make HIM a servant to us.

So what to do? Pray fervently for everything GOD quickens you to pray for. Pray for those who need help. Pray for those who need salvation. Pray for your needs, and learn to accept GOD’S answer in whatever form it comes. Always pray with expectancy and never become passive but with understanding what the will of the LORD is concerning you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQG5wHWGsM0
Linked with Charlotte’s Spiritual Sundays.  Please visit there!

THESE KIDS

Psalms 127:3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

It should be mandatory for every parent to first acknowledge that this verse is a true statement before they could receive their child. It would also be helpful if they had to vow to raise up “This child” in the admonition of the Lord and then let the child chose whether they wished to serve GOD or not.

Of course this is contrary to the present philosophy of; let them become a practicing rank sinner first and then decide when they are grown if they want to become a Christian.

This is contrary to the plain teaching in scripture; Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Christianity is the product of the Word of GOD and Satan knows if a child is deprived of the true Gospel, then chances of them becoming a Christian is greatly reduced.

Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." 

His disciples stopped the parents from bringing the children to Jesus; Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

There are those who do NOTwant parents to bring their children to Jesus today and they stand out as the most despicable humans on the face of the earth.

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One of the greatest experiences a young child will ever have is at bedtime when a mother reads a bible story to them and prays for them. The last thing before they fall asleep is the comfort from the word of GOD and mother’s prayer.

Mothers know so much more than I do about “The mother’s touch” but one important thing they can do is to take their child’s face in their hands, look them straight in the eyes and say “I love you” and pause awhile before releasing them. This can heal some of the upsets of the day, which is common to all parents.

Some are not blessed with motherhood, but there are so many children who need a little love. It is an opportunity to enjoy what is second best and that is to be an “Auntie” to one or more children.

Behold children are a gift from the Lord even if they are not your own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTViRzfyla0

This post has been linked to Laura’s, Brag on God Fridays  

FISHERS OF MEN

Matthew 4:19 And he said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Jesus went down into the waters of the Jordan River and was baptized. As He came up out of the river the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. Then the Father announced that this was His son and He was pleased with Him. Although many people witnessed this momentous event none had a clue as to what really happened, not even John fully understood it.

Immediately Jesus was driven out into the desert and experienced the most rigorous testing man ever would be subject to. None other than Satan himself was the chief tester, throwing all his might against Christ during forty days of fasting.

So often just when you have had a spiritual victory the enemy comes against you with such force you can’t help but wonder, “Why is this happening to me?”

It is a pattern played out over and over for the enemy doesn’t want even the smallest saint to enjoy any victory over his evil works.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.                    

As you study what Jesus did during his preparation for his ministry you will notice that he first submitted himself to GOD, and was empowered by the Spirit, and resisted Satan by using the WORD of GOD to defeat him.

The word of GOD is established. It doesn’t fade away or lose its power; therefore Jesus was able to say, “It is written” or established as an eternal truth, and Satan had to yield to it. If there was no other reason for reading and studying the Bible, knowing that you are able to use it to defeat the devil would suffice and justify it.

Another reason is found in the Psalms 119:11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

These are the things Jesus began to teach these fishers of men he had called and are things each of us need to know. The more of GOD’S word we hide in our heart the stronger spiritually we become.

This is why some of these little old lady missionaries are as giants spiritually while others who are much more impressive as to stature - - are weak and nearly impotent concerning spiritual battles.

Enjoy this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18eLs9A1Nqo&feature=related

This post has been linked to Michelle’s Thought Provoking Thursday
And to Thankful Thursday hosted by Laurie during January

THE VOW

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My family took a vow of poverty.

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It had nothing to do with a religious experience but rather it just showed up and we embraced it like the croup or mumps.  In other words it was ours whether we wanted it or not.

As it turned out our family crest was a man with a patch on the seat of his pants, and the only accessory he wore was a sweatband to soak up that which he expired.

As to schooling we had some but it was got when the crops were safely in the barn and cellar. We learned figures using apples of which we had plenty. One apple and one apple was two apples and so on and fractions were harder because you had to cut up the apple into pieces. One half apple and one half apple was a whole apple. This was testy but we learned it even to the point of figuring out a half apple and half of a half was three fourths of an apple.

The test of whether you were educated or not was if you could spell a word with six letters. Some could spell two or three while others only learned one. Being a proud people we didn’t want to seem to be ignorant to outsiders so the ones who couldn’t spell good always kept in the background.

My folks liked poetry especially that which was in the Bible so when the preacher came to visit he always read the psalms which sounded good but we never completely understood them. For the most part we liked the Song of Solomon because it seemed he knew a lot about farming and doing what comes naturally. Some of it embarrassed the younger sisters but us boys liked it a lot.

Of course being country we loved music, one of our favorite singers was little Jimmy Dickens and his song “Out behind the barn.” It described us somewhat and it sure sounded good.

Because all our folks worked hard - - slowly but surely our vow of poverty faded away. When the young’ens finished schooling they were just like the rest of the town kids, although it seemed to me there was something missing. We older ones had something those hard times taught us when we just did things naturally.

This has been a fun post and I hope you will also enjoy this fun song - -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w5DgFHj_gA&feature=related

This post has been linked to Joan’s Grace Café.

THIS CHILD

THIS CHILD by Robert Moon

Oh Lord won’t you bless this child

I am lifting him up to you today

Look down upon him, see his face

Oh Lord bless this child

Oh Lord won't you bless this child

Cause him to grow up without any guile

And with your hand upon him

He will have reason to smile

And as a young man draw him nearer

As he learns of you things will be clearer

I fear that he is so much like me

When I want him to be like you

Lord won’t you bless this child

Transform his thinking, renew his mind

And one day help him find

Your perfect will for his life

Oh Lord won’t you lead this child

In the way that he should go

From the paths of righteousness

Never let him go astray

Keep his feet upon the narrow way

In the hour of temptation never let him go

For I fear he is so much like me

When I want him to be like you

Oh Lord won’t you use this child

Let him show your love to the world

Helping people who are in need

Oh Lord won’t you use this child

Oh Lord won’t you bless this child

So his life will not be in vain

Here he is I bring him to you

This is what I can do

Oh Lord, I will teach him your ways

I will be there for him all my days

I am glad that you are willing

To make him the man that he should be

Oh Lord, help me raise this child

Help me to understand all his ways

And when I’m in need of patience
Oh Lord, help me raise this child

For I fear he is so much like me

When I want him to be like you

Linking up with Tracy at Winsome Wednesday
And with Jennifer at God Bumps & Incidences Wednesdays

 

 

 

THE SILLY ONES

Timothy 2:6 For of this sort are they who creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, who are led away with divers desires.

“There are always weak-minded women enough in any community to give an opportunity of practicing these arts, and often the aims of the impostor and deceiver can be best secured by appealing to them.

Such women are easily flattered; they are charmed by the graceful manners of religious instructors; they lend a willing ear to anything that has the appearance of religion.” (Barnes notes)

This form of debauchery is not the exclusive property of women alone, for men also are deceived. It just happens that men are more apt to be a deceiver than women are.

I have personally seen cases where men from the outside come in and took married women away from their families. They did this all the while professing to love GOD and worship HIM. Their goal was to con the woman into believing lies they had mastered and to separate them from their faith and friends.


Naïve innocent girlimage courtesy photobucket

If this had only happened once it would be more bearable but in the small church I attended it happened several times. All the while the gospel was faithfully preached each week but it had no effect on them for they did not mix faith with it.

Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Without uniting faith with the gospel it is not effectual to the hearer.  Single women are not exempt from this deception for they may be even more susceptible to these wiles of the devil.

There ever have been artful men, who, by pretence and flatteries, creep into churches and gain the favor and confidence of those who are gullible and ignorant. The idea is that women are under the influence of sinful desires and propensities, (fantasies) and hence, are better adapted to the purposes of deceivers.

These deceivers take advantage of the church’s graciousness in welcoming strangers but mature men and women need to “Watch and pray” over these new ones. They can appear as an “Angel of light,” but underneath they are ravenous wolves seeking some Cutie they can devour.

2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived, they being a partaker of their own deception.

The last thing we need is a suspicious mind that goes about being mistrustful of everyone, yet this is the perfect time to watch and pray and let GOD reveal illicit circumstances should they exist.

This Post is linked with Laura’s “Play dates with God.”

ARTIFICIAL REALITY

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There are two realities in the world that we deal with.


One is that which is artificial. That which we create ourselves; such as games of every description and play acting - - and the reality which is the stark circumstances that accompany everyday living.


We try to entertain ourselves with things that have little to do with the survival of the races. It is a form of escapism; it allows us to create an environment where we substitute realities.

Much of what we do is aimed at keeping us in our pleasure zone. Since there isn’t a “One size fits all,” it has required a multiplicity of genres to meet our needs.


Whether it is music, sports or hallucination pursuits all of which lull us into a feeling of security and pleasure and it becomes our lifestyle.


Contests are created whereby people are set against each other with winners and losers. This is a form of class warfare not unlike the old caste system of yesterday that establishes a superior/inferior status.


We try to compensate for intentional dissipation with health restoration processes of various kinds.


In the real world it is a far simpler process whereby we are only dealing with survival. Only those things that are expedient need to be considered worthwhile.


The sophistication of society has blurred the difference between the real and the artificial to the point we have a hybrid form of existence which can’t distinguish the difference between them.


This same modus operandi has invaded the relationship of GOD and man where we have developed certain forms of communication with HIM that bear the stamp of artificiality.


We are admonished to sing songs unto our GOD, to gather together and encourage each other, but when we are conditioned to depend on this in order to communicate with HIM we ignore the “One on one,” which is important to maintain.


The point I try to make is that the raw unembellished relationship with HIM is just you and GOD in personal fellowship with nothing or no one else involved. When you are alone, just you and GOD, it is here where you find out what reality truly is.


1John 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

This is as personal a reality as it gets.

This post is linked to Deidra’s Sunday Jump Tandem
Michelle’s Hear it on Sunday