TABLESCAPE OF PRAYER!

Some days can be harder than others and I have to go back to bed right after my morning cuppa! This morning was one of those days. I returned to bed for a 4 hour snooze. (...a bit longer than Gilligan's 3 hour tour)

I might still be a sleep if hubby had not awakened me at 11:15 am to check my pulse. When I went into the kitchen I saw a very welcoming sight......much like spiritual sky-writing.

I sat at the small table by our eastern window and was greeted by a large greeting straight from heaven.

I didn't even need to leave the table to go to my prayer chair. I sat right there with a glass of my iced tea, Bible and  my prayer journal......warmed by sunshine from heaven.....in His very Presence!

A great reminder of National Day of Prayer coming tomorrow, 5/1/2025.  

I can begin early!

A perfect  tablescape for National Day of Prayer prep!

PRAYERS AVAILETH MUCH!

Actually, James says,  .......it's the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man that availeth much." (James 5:16)

Asking according to the Father's will is key as well.

Pray warriors I know are all proponents of intercessory prayer;

Family and friends,

Salvation for non-believers,

Revival for believers,

Pastors and missionaries, 

Church leaders and teachers,

City, state, and country.

Prayer from the heart for God's glory and His purpose is key and availeth much!

GOSPEL LENS!

Physically, I seem to be getting weaker. Thus, service to others seems more difficult at times. Even my practice of prayer has too easily become self-centered, i.e. "Help, I need strength." 

Pastor Emeritus, Scotty Smith, reminds us to daily  "Pray the Scriptures."

Nothing has been of greater importance to my growth in grace than learning to pray the Scriptures while wearing the lens of the gospel. 

As Martin Luther said, we need the gospel every day because we forget the gospel every day.

Is heartfelt-engagement possible with a tired body? Even my eyes aren't what they once word after new glasses. I need clarity along with strength.

I need to begin each day with an open Bible read through gospel-lens. (James 5:16c)

PRAYER POSITIONS---A HOLY HUDDLE!

In 2015, Coach Joseph Kennedy of Bremerton high school lost his job after  kneeling post game on the 50 yard line in prayer. Some of his players and members of the community joined him. 

January 2, 2023, while playing in the Buffalo Bills'/Cincinnati Bengals game, Bills' player, Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest after a hit. After CPR and ambulance transport to an area hospital, the prayers started.....all over the field, in the stands and even aloud from the broadcast booth! At least from the lips of the 2 men...I never heard the word prayer from the "lady" commentator.

Prayers spilling way beyond the 50 yard line. 

The Bills met the Patriots in the play-off game in their on stadium on January 8, 2023. 

Gathering for pre-game prayer for teammate Hamlin 

and dedicate the game to him.

Notice the crosses under Hamlin's eyes.

What a way to start a game.....A holy huddle for sure!

ALL......SAYS..........IT..........ALL!

All says it all. The dictionary defines "all" as an indefinite adjective. In Scripture, I see all often used as complete, definite. In English, all has several functions---as an adverb, noun or pronoun. Most often I think of "all" as completely.

"That's all she wrote." That could mean something is finished and that is all there is to be said. For me,  it could mean, if I were the "she" that tonight I'm finished typing. Nite. Nite.

It was all I could do not to get up in the night to finish this because thoughts were whirring.

As thoughts are still whirring about current circumstances, I went back to Robert Morgan's All to Jesus Day 297, whose thoughts were not whirring but were clear and concise.

With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and...be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18, NASB)

All kinds of prayers---arrow prayers (Margie Hornor) "HELP, THANKS, WOW prayers, (Anne Lamott) silent prayers, spoken prayers, travel mercies prayers, walking prayers (JoLynn)

All hours of the day---morning, noon and night.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16, KJV)

With all perseverance.....Keep on keeping on....(I Thessalonians 5:17)...for all the saints as many as possible specifically and by name. (Morgan, Day 297) 

All to Jesus I Surrender!

All says it all! That's all I have to say---today.

AT THE CROSSROADS!

When we're at the "crossroads of life" decisions, the decision making can often seem too difficult to do by ourselves.

Sometimes we need to look both ways and we cannot do that alone. 

Are you at a crossroads? A critical juncture of decision making? 

Do you have someone watching your back?

(Red tail hawks' photo compliments of hubby on his morning walk.) 

Often signposts are clearly marked in scripture. Believers know that Jesus the son, seated at the right hand of the Father, intercedes for us. (Romans 8:34) as does His Spirit. (Romans 8:26) But God......has also provided "others" to join us in prayer. (James 5:16)

So......when answers don't seem specific, is someone with you to pray for clarity? 

All believers benefit from an earthly prayer warrior. Find yours today. 

You might both be at the same crossroads!

CHOOSE: PRAYER

Prayer of a righteous man availeth much....(James 5:16, KJV) or as HCSV renders it...."is very powerful in its results."

To be continued.............

FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY!!

For most believers, every Sunday is a fellowship Sunday of sorts. Once or twice a year, our church gets together for BBQ, games and other activities on the grounds. Officially we "dub" this our "fellowship" Sunday, somewhat akin to dinner on the grounds of times gone by.

But, todays went beyond that! As I looked out over the sanctuary there was a sea of green!! Green in every spectrum. Even one of the young dads dedicating his infant son today wore green tennis shoes. Even Nancy, sweet friend in the faith, who was visiting with us today wore green as well!

Why green? One of the youngsters in our church is battling cancer, and as in similar cases, our congregation has stepped up to the plate! Unbeknownst to his parents, many in our "body" wore "Green for Griffin" whose young body has been invaded by leukemia. It was our way of saying to Griffin's family, We Got Your Back!" We're on your team!

So many scriptures whirred in my mind as we all prayed for this young man and his family. We are family---his family.

• So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:10)
• Continue steadfastly in prayer,  (Colossians 4:12)
• ....pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)
• Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Corinthians 5:11)
• How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)
• May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, (Romans 15:5)
• Let brotherly love continue. (Hebrews 13:1)

Unity Prevailed----baby dedications, responsive readings of scripture, spontaneous baptisms, prayers and WEARING GREEN---lots of it!

One in the Spirit----that's what we celebrated this "Fellowship Sunday!

Prayer Warriors---near and far

Morning call, filled with prayers, from way across the pond---think France, coupled with yesterday's email, with Dr. Jeremiah's quote, from Eads, TN---think a stone's throw away, reminded me of how BIG my God is! 
"God's woman in the center of God's will is immortal until God is finished with her!"
God's purposeful peace accomplished.

Different countries. Different type residences. Different denominations. Same God.
Prayer warriors both.

Prayer Help

2/4/13 Scripture teaches much about prayer:

...it's effective (James 5:16)

...needs to be continual (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

...all kinds of prayer (Ephesians 6:18)

...include thanksgiving when you pray (Philippians 4:6)

We're even given examples of prayers from the Bible but.....sometimes words don't seem to come. What then? I've often heard to pray til you feel like praying. Sometimes I've felt like praying but words don't seem to be adequate to express the yearnings of my heart. Then what?

This quote, often ascribed to John Bunyan and sometimes to Gandhi, has helped me.

In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.

And in the same way the Spirit is a help to our feeble hearts: for we are not able to make prayer to God in the right way; but the Spirit puts our desires into words which are not in our power to say; (Romans 8:26, BBE--Bible in Basic English) 

A great verse to meditate on for God's answer to "prayer help."

Words With Friends....

12/4/12 ...at her hospital bed prior to surgery. Soon those words became prayerful words. Prayers for friends. Later downstairs in the chapel the Words were God's words from scripture. Prayers by a friend to a Heavenly friend for an earthly friend.

God's word encourages us to pray for one another. It's one of my favorite privileges in"one-anothering."

.... and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; (1 Timothy 2:1)

HHH

10/21/10 H.H.H. are the initials of a precious 8 yr. old girl from Allen Bible church. 3 weeks ago she was fine 'til she had a bad stomach ache.
Synopsis:
Tweets begin. TESTS. Waiting. MRI. Very rare cancer. Waiting. Bilirubin up. Meds given. Waiting. Meds don''t work. Fewer tweets, more prayers. Prayers for younger brother, Jacob. Surgery for stent to drain fluids. Waiting. Lung collapses. Waiting. Lung improves. Family at hospital day & night. Waiting. Consult with liver transplant team. Waiting. Another MRI needed. MRI postponed. Waiting. MRI completed. Results due in hours. The longest waiting begins.

Recent tweets with prayer requests:

• Healing of her Liver & for Hannah's emotions & spirit to remain positive, calm, upbeat & to know she is loved!
• Bilirubin to come down so they can treat the cancer!
• MRI & Xrays to show improvements not regression!
  
• A liver transplant after determining that the cancer has not spread is the only earthly possibility for Hannah's survival!
  
• Thursday is HUGE in our daughter's life for sure, but AGAIN, our hope is in the Lord & to Glorify God even if they come back & say NO!
  
• Give us Hope Lord! Purify our Hearts Jesus to be more like you!
  
• We believe that you are the Christ & our Savior & your ways are perfect!
  
• Everyone who reads this Tweet, we need your prayers more than ever for our sweet little Hannah!

Please join me throughout the day in praying God's best for Hannah Hasslen.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)
May the we pray for the Hasslens to "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and fervent in prayer." (Romans 12:12)

To God be the Glory!