What a relief

Romans 8:26-27

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

Do you ever wonder if you are praying for the right thing? I do. Well, here's the answer to the problem... the Spirit intercedes for us... makes our words in accordance with God's will. So, no matter what our weakness might be, no matter that we don't know what to pray, so no matter if they are spoken or unspoken, God hears just the right prayer.

What a relief.

Praying for popcorn

1 Corinthians 14:14-15

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

Lately I've been thinking about prayer quite a bit and listening to the prayers that I hear spoken in public places. Some pray so eloquently that I am taken back at the talent they have to put such wonderful words together without even thinking ahead of time what they might say. Where does this leave me? I suppose somewhere in the middle for I do not have the gift they do. Still, that is okay too because God knows and hears my heart. I know this beyond any doubt.

Last night Carley Ann and Anna Claire were starved so as soon as I put their food on the table they started taking bits. When I sat down Carley Ann looked at me and said, "MeMama, we forgot to say the blessing." I assured her God would understand and then she bowed her head and said her prayer. At the end she said, " and please let us have some popcorn tonight while we watch Barney." You guessed it, they got popcorn. :)

This morning was a crazy morning trying to get everything done we needed to do. These are wonderful days full of amazing wonders and little girl delights.



At Weight Watcher's the other night the leader told us that many times she makes a soup out of a can of diced tomatoes with Italian spices and a dolop of fat free sour cream. I haven't tried that yet, but I found a barbecue sauce recipe that I want to try. Looks good doesn't it.

Ina Garten’s Barbecue Sauce

From The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook
Makes 1 ½ quarts

1 ½ cups chopped yellow onion (1 large onion)
1 T. minced garlic (3 cloves)
½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup tomato paste (10 ounces)
1 cup cider vinegar
1 cup honey
½ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 cup Dijon mustard
½ cup soy sauce
1 cup hoisin sauce
2 T. chili powder
1 T. ground cumin
½ T. crushed red pepper flakes

In a large saucepan on low heat, sauté the onions and garlic with the vegetable oil for 10 to 15 minutes, until the onions are translucent but not browned. Add the rest of the ingredients. Simmer uncovered on low heat for 30 minutes. Use immediately or store in the fridge.

His people

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Aren't you glad we are His people.

Personal

Matthew 6:5

5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Every time I read this passage visions of men on sidewalks speaking loudly of the coming of the Lord come to mind. On occasion I have even thought that some of them might be mentally ill. Of course I know we are not supposed to sit in judgment, but I admit I do my share of it then check myself and ask God to help me not be so judgmental. After all, there have been times I have been so empowered by the love of God that I shouted to the world too. Well, maybe not on the street corner, but with anything wonderful that happens to you, it's natural to want to share it with others so in the excitement of the moment you might seem mentally ill to someone who just didn't understand the need to share.

Still, this passage isn't talking about sharing God's love, it's talking about God wanting a personal relationship with us. This passage lets us know that those that people who make a show of being super-religious so that they can be admired by men already have their reward. What God really wants is a personal relationship with each of us. He wants to talk to us each day and have a rich communication link so He can hear our deepest prayers and give us comfort for our concerns. If the only time we pray is when we are in trouble, our relationship will be off balance. It's like going to the bank and taking out money but never putting anything back in. Sooner or later the bank is going to dry up. I'm not saying God will ever leave us, but I am saying our relationship will suffer if we don't give ourselves back.

It's a good thing to have scheduled times for prayer, but we should be prepared to meet God in private anywhere, anytime, all day long. This is truly what He wants. After all, this is why He made man in the first place.



Friends Carolyn and Jan. Jan died last year of a brain hemorrhage and I still miss her sweet spirit so much.

All about me

Luke 12:11-12

11 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Public speaking has never been my best talent. Still, if I'm pressed into doing it, I will. I remember well the day I was approached by a leadership committee to teach a Sunday school class and then a Girl's in Action group. All this was many years ago and were my first attempts at presenting God's word to any group of people. Needless to say I floundered around and made a mess half the time and really felt inadequate. Still I knew God was with me and would continue to grow me into what He needed me to be. Twenty five years later I can truthfully say I’m still growing.

If you are considering teaching or talking to someone about Jesus, just remember you don't have to be perfect and you don't have to know everything. Not one of us knows all there is to know about God but all of us have a place in His plan. I think in my first teaching attempts the students taught me more than I taught them and the same is still true with writing this blog. Each morning when I get up and open my Bible without fail some word from God falls into my lap. It might be something old that has been pressing on my heart for years or it might be something new I have never thought of or read before, but I can always count on God to talk to me, to show me the way, to teach me, to love me, to take care of me and to wait for me to finally figure out that everything is not all about me.

My friend Maureen is a new grandmother. This is Holly and baby Olivia. :)

The Will of God

1 Thessalonians 5

1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Various Exhortations

12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Blessing and Admonition

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Self-realization

Philipians 3:10

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

The age we live in offers us instant access to what the world is thinking and doing. At any time during the day or night the TV or radio can be turned on giving a view into the world events and it's people. In some cases this is a good thing, in others it speeds platforms that are not good for us as Christians.

How do you know the difference between what is good and what is not? Satan certainly weaves a comfortable trap that can be confused as good. The only way we can avoid his traps is to make sure we have the Holy Spirit with us in every aspect of our lives. Our goal is not to know ourselves better, but to know Jesus Christ completely. The Holy Spirit is determined that we shall realize Jesus Christ in every domain of our lives. We are destined to repeat the same points, the same lessons, until we put Jesus Christ first even in the smallest tasks. Self-realization won't get us there, the realization that Jesus Christ is Lord of everything will. It's not what He has done for us, but what we do for Him.

Worry?

Matthew 6:25

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

Worrying about things robs me of the peace that God has promised his children. I realize this and try not to worry, but still worry pops into my head. In Matthew again we read to be careful about one thing only and that is our relationship to our Lord. I smile and agree, my relationship to Jesus is much more important than material things.

Family is more important than material things too. :) Simple pleasures like chocolate milk and holding a pet and the realization that God is in control makes everything right.

Being ready

Exodus 3:4

4And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

Sometimes I feel I'm walking around in a fog with my days slipping by me, getting nothing of importance done. I feel like such a small cog in the larger wheel of God's plan. I see and read about others doing great things on the mission field and other activities and feel envious. Still, I know that God doesn't see my small efforts as being small. Everything is of the same importance to Him. When we do as God asks and are in His will for our lives, His plan works for us and for others. It's like we have talked about before, we don't know how God works, we just need to know He does. We don't always know what God's plan is for our lives either, we just need to be ready when He calls no matter how small or how larger that call might be.

Yesterday I made a table centerpiece for our Heritage Crisis Center table dinner. Women in our church have agreed to fill a table of 8 and create a centerpiece made of things to give to the center. It was fun to do something different to help in an area I had not been involved with before. If you ever have need of a table decoration like this, please take this idea. It wasn't hard to do. Just take any box and fill it making it look like a toddler bed with jars of baby food for legs. The little stuffed animals are Precious Moments animals that say the bedtime prayer. :) Too sweet. Carley Ann said I needed to get me a baby. I think not. LOL

Recurring theme

Ephesians 3-20-21

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

God is at work within us even when we are not aware. We've talked and though about this many times so I suppose you could call it a recurring theme. One of the reasons I believe it keeps coming to the surface in my life is to give me assurance that He never quits. We may have times in our lives that we are not as close to Him as we should be, but He is always there waiting for us to come to Him. Sometimes we might feel our prayers aren't getting answered, but He is always working.



Hydrangeas
12x12 oil

Prayers

Nehemiah 1: 5-11

5 Then I said:
"O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you. 7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

8 "Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'

10 "They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man."
I was cupbearer to the king.

I love reading and hearing the prayers of others. So many times I feel the prayers that come out of my mouth in public don't adequately express what I have in my heart. I hold back. Why I'm not sure. That's okay because I know that God knows my heart and listens attentively to each prayer and thought I have no matter if they are spoken or unspoken. Nehemiah had a tough job being the cupbearer to the king. His job was to taste the food and wine before the king did and if Nehemiah lived, the king could then eat in peace knowing it had no poison in it.

Anyway, last night we had a birthday party after church. It was a great day and I thank God for my 61 years and look forward to what each day will bring knowing that God is with me, listens to my prayers and works in my life.

What I've learned

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Today I am 61. :) I'd like to share with you some of the things I've learned through the voice of Maya Angelou.

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

"I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Maya Angelou

The invitation

Philippians 1:3-6

3I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

4Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

5For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

David Brumbelow on SelahV Today asked why Baptist churches have an invitation song at the end of each sermon so people can come down to the front of the church and make their public profession of Jesus Christ, move their church affiliation letter, or have someone help them understand how to accept Jesus Christ as their savior. In response to him, this is what I wrote.

I hope I never see the day that my church doesn't have an invitation to join the church or to make a public profession of faith.

Not only does a church invitation call give the person accepting the invitation a means to profess their faith publically, it also gives all the church members a chance to see who the person is, meet them and have the opportunity to encourage them. I have never doubted the sincerity of a single person who 'walked the aisle'. It's not up for us to judge, but more than that we don't know how God is working in their lives and all the steps it took to bring that person to make the most important decision of their life. For some, it might be the first step, for others it might be a long progression of steps. The best we can do is love them and encourage them as our sisters and brothers, warts and all just as we have.

It has been a long time since I made my profession of faith but I still remember coming forward and making my decision public. Next to accepting salvation, which I did all alone talking to God in my bedroom late one night as a pre-teen, making my public profession and then being baptized were the most powerful blessings in my life. After that, the birth of my son and watching him grow and experience the same blessings of God were and are also powerful experiences that changed my life and continue to change my life daily as I grow right along with him and everyone else I meet and interact with.

An alternative to giving out an invitation would be just to put the invitation in the bulletin and have anyone fill it out and put it in the offering plate as it comes around. Then new professions of faith and new additions to the church roll could be added to the bulletin the next week. It would be a great way for church members to become just another number. Is that what we really want, or do we want our members to be a family, all members of the family of God, His children and our brothers and sisters in Christ?

“Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.” Jude, second verse.

I feel God's presence in my life daily. I know He is there because long ago He began a good work in me and will continue it until the day Christ Jesus returns just like the apostle Paul said in Philippians. If you don't feel God's presence in your life I invite you to bow your head and ask Him to come into your heart making Him the Lord of your life. You will never regret it.



Red Gerbers
oil on canvas
12x12 finished yesterday

Autopilot

Micah 6: 8

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Each day I get up and go about my regular routine. It seldom varies except for when my granddaughters are with me on Friday nights. I find too, many times my mind goes on auto pilot when I'm driving and I catch myself thinking have I ready gone through such and such a town. A couple of times my car has turned down a street I once lived on when I actually had no reason to do that. When I do that it scares me and I wonder if I'm truly alert to everything that is around me.

I don't think God wants us to live out our lives on autopilot. Take for instance getting up and going to church each Sunday. He doesn't want us to do things because it's our routine, but because we love Him, want to worship Him and want to be with fellow believers.

Pray with me today that we won't go on autopilot with our worship times.