Raising Godly Children Is Possible!

Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”

When I woke up this morning, it was with great joy in my heart! Our youngest daughter graduates from college today! And not only that, but tomorrow is Mother’s Day and all of our girls are home to celebrate it with me. My cup overflows!!

As I laid in bed thinking about the goodness of God, I knew that I was supposed to blog this morning on raising godly children. I’ve actually thought about writing a book about it, but for the moment, I’ll just share a snapshot of praise!

There is great truth in raising children in the way that they should go! Early in our courtship we made some very real commitments to our children and they hadn’t even been conceived yet. We agreed with each other before God that we would both be involved in their spiritual journey in life and their academic life. We agreed that they would never see us fight or hear us belittle one another. We agreed to spend time with them and to enjoy each stage of life. And we agreed to discipline them in love.

Of course, I can’t write about all of that today, but I want to share about the two most important aspects of raising our children. The first challenge was to raise godly children in an ungodly society. I can truly say, we were successful because we didn’t trust our knowledge or experiences, but we relied heavily on the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

We have always attended church as a family. We attended Sunday worship services and Wednesday night bible studies all of their lives. We introduced Jesus to them at an early age and then walked our faith out before them. They each accepted His Lordship as their own and throughout their college days were faithful in their walk with Him. Amazingly, we didn’t have to call and encourage them to go to church, but I believe it was because they had been taught the value of worship. When problems came in our lives, they saw us pray about it and trust God; and so when they had issues growing up, we encouraged them to pray and trust God. I used to tell them when they misbehaved that the devil was using them, but they would get the spanking. It curbed a lot of nonsense!

The other area we were consistent in was academics. Raising godly children in an ungodly education system is a challenge for every godly parent. But we did it! We agreed to support our children academically. My husband was strong in math and science and would help with those areas and I was strong in literacy and help with that. Throughout their time in school we kept with that commitment. If my kids would ask me to help them with math, even if I understood it, I would refer them to their dad. And he always helped them! When they graduated from high school they were strong in both areas. Of course they had leanings toward one or the other, but they were prepared for college.

When they had homework growing up, they were never allowed to stay home from church to complete it. Never! And they were never allowed to bring it to church! They had to learn to prioritize life just as we did. And more importantly, they had to learn that service time was God’s time and it would not be compromised. They weren’t always happy with that, but they learned to do homework early on Wednesday, and don’t leave anything until Sunday because they would have a price to pay. Not me! A perfect place to add, we didn’t do their work, we only assisted. And they had more projects than you can imagine! But they made it!! Glory!!!

What am I saying? We were purposeful in raising our children. We knew that we wanted them to have a strong relationship with God and to be well-educated individuals. We didn’t believe that we had to sacrifice one to get the other. So that is how we raised them.

Looking back on them and our lives, we are pleased with who they are in Christ and professionally. We weren’t perfect parents. Just ask them! But we obeyed the Word in training them in the way they should go. We taught them to love God and have a love for His Word. We taught them the value of church attendance and service to the Lord. And we taught them the importance of education and choosing wisely a career. The stories I could tell!!

I will share, just this one. Our middle daughter plays the piano and sings. As a matter of fact they all can sing, and the oldest two really learned to play. But when it came time to go to college, she decided that she should delay college and pursue a musical career. Well, we were not in agreement with that, although we supported them in a lot of things. Since she was graduating a year early from high school we told her she could stay in high school and continue to sing and play at church or she was going to college; but there would be no time off. She went to college!

I have so much I can say about raising children. I’m a parent and an educator. I have a lot of opinions!! Lol! But the best advice I can give to those who are still parenting, is to trust your children to God and teach your children to trust Him as well. Then as you train them up in the way they should go, they will not depart!

Wishing all graduates of 2019 much success in their future endeavors! And a very happy Mother’s Day to those who get up every day meeting the challenges of motherhood with grace and love! God bless you! Wonderful Jesus!!

Acceptable in His Sight!

Psalms 19:14- ‘Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.’

A lot has been going on. I am sure that you can say the same; but those things have kept me from blogging. As a matter of fact, my blog will be short tonight!

As I have been working these past few weeks, I have experienced many of the same challenges of the past that usually cause me to become weary. And although I don’t like these things any more today than I have in the past, I have made a conscience decision to watch what I say and to watch how I think about them.

In the above scripture, David wrote that he wanted the words that he spoke and the thoughts that were in his heart to please God. I’ve said that before. And I meant it when I said it. But how easily it is for me to get into a situation and to forget that! After all, it is normal to complain, to worry, to moan and groan. But God isn’t pleased with that action and therefore, we have to do it differently than what is normal.

So, although I may share my experiences today, I am more aware of the way that I share them. I endeavor to be careful about who the focus of my conversation is about and how I say what I say. But more importantly I work to keep my heart right. Because Jesus said that it is what comes out of a person that defiles him. (Matthew 15:18-19) I know we can be defiled by our environment, but Jesus said that slander, lying, and even murder comes from the heart. I don’t want to be guilty of those things.

So I have made a conscious decision to watch my words. Recently as I was having a conversation with a colleagues she said to me, “I like the way you said that!” Instead of referring to students as “bad” I refer to their behavior as unacceptable or different! Instead of speaking ill of others, I either don’t comment or at least try to say something positive. Sometimes it isn’t easy, but I’m allowing the Holy Spirit to assist me and I am getting better.

It isn’t easy to let my words and thoughts be acceptable to God because He isn’t fooled by anything. But I truly want them to be.

My Class Creed says it this way:

Watch your thoughts; for they become words

Watch your words, for they become actions

Watch your actions for they become habits

Watch your habits for they become character

Watch your character for becomes your destiny. (Don’t know author)

I have a destiny in Christ Jesus. To please the Father. To be acceptable in His sight! So I must get the victory in every area of my life, daily! And so must you! Wonderful Jesus!!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Matthew 28:6- “He is not here, for He is risen..!”

How glorious those words were on that day when the disciples ran to the tomb! And they are still glorious even today!

Paul wrote, that if Jesus didn’t rise from the grave, then our preaching and our faith is in vain! (1 Corinthians 15:14) Well, I don’t believe for one second that my faith or my preaching, or my blogging is in vain, for He is risen!!

My first attempt at a blog for today was to talk about the Exodus and the Blood of Jesus! But I decided that I would rather just share from my heart.

I love my Jesus! Because He first loved me.

When I think of Calvary and all that Jesus suffered on His way to the cross, I think, I could have never done that! When I think about the people who had cried out, “Hosanna,” and then later, “Crucify Him” knowing that He died for them also, I think I couldn’t do that! When I think about the whips, the nails, the spitting, the denials, I think, I couldn’t do it! And neither could you!

It wasn’t just that He was the Son of Man and the Son of God that made it possible for Him to do it! It wasn’t just that He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world that made Him do it! No! We find the answer in Romans chapter 5 verse 8. It was a demonstration of His love. His love was so great for us, that He suffered through all of that for us. That we might be saved. That we might be free. That we might be healed! That we might have access to the Father. That we might have eternal life. That we might…

I read in a book last night that there are over a thousand promises in the Bible, all sealed with His Blood! Each and every promise was that we might…!

No, I couldn’t do it! I was not qualified! You were not qualified. No one else was but Jesus, so I am grateful tonight that the One who was qualified, completed the task. He died, He was buried, but He rose again! And He is alive!

We make a big hype at Christmas time. But the biggest hype should be made at this time. Because it wasn’t until He got up out of the grave that our deliverance was complete! Because had He not gotten up, we would still be in our sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17) And that would be most unfortunate!

So on this Resurrection Sunday, I am eternally gratefully that He has risen and my sins are forgiven. I am eternally grateful that He loved me so much, He endured the cross that I might have eternal life! Yes! He is alive, and He lives in me! Wonderful Jesus!!

Supernatural You!

Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

There isn’t a single Christian who couldn’t expound on the glory days of yesterday when Jesus walked on the earth. He accomplished much in the short time of ministry He conducted.

The blind received their sight! The lame walked! Limbs were stored! The dead was raised! Leprosy was cleansed and body parts were restored! Water was turned to wine! Storms were stopped! And He even walked on water!

Even with all of these amazing things, John wrote that all the books in the world couldn’t hold the amazing and wonderful things that Jesus did in just under four years! And so we marvel at a time and even long for the time when Jesus was on the earth!

But the writer of Hebrews echoes a truth that we fail to understand. Jesus is the same today, as He was yesterday (during biblical times) and He always will be! The problem with Him moving in our lives and our situations is that we have not truly grasped the concept, or the reality of this truth!

Every thing about Jesus was supernatural! He was born supernaturally when the power of the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary, who at that time was a virgin, and she conceived of the Holy Spirit!

There was a movie a few years ago, about the “young Jesus”! That was a bunch of foolishness, for the Bible clearly lets us know when He completed His first miracle; however, I am sure the writer was just trying to show that He always had a life of the supernatural.

He even died supernaturally! Yes, the cross was natural, but the swiftness of His death and more importantly, His resurrection was definitely supernatural.

What’s my point today? Since Jesus is the same today, shouldn’t we, His believers, experience Him in the supernatural? Yes we should!

First of all, our salvation is a supernatural experience! Some teach that we just confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that we are saved, and so we are. That is definitely what the scripture teach. But when Paul wrote this, he wrote of an experience that was far more supernatural than ordinary. He explained in layman terms what happens supernaturally when we are transformed out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son.

He explained in simplicity what happens when old things are passed away and all things become new. The “act” may seem simple, but the truth is, it’s supernatural! When the Holy Spirit sees the faith of the repentant heart that is open to the truth of Jesus, He steps in and takes those simple words, and cause a transformation to happen spiritually on the inside of us that changes us forever!

We become a “new creation”. We look the same on the outside but when God looks at us, He sees Jesus! And when Satan looks at us, He sees Jesus! But when we fail to grasp the reality of the change in our lives and all that means for us because we see us and not Jesus, we hinder the supernatural in our lives and continue to operate naturally.

Well, you don’t have to live “naturally” in Christ when He offers you a “supernatural” life. When your life looks like someone who doesn’t know Him or even worst, there’s a problem. And it isn’t with Jesus! Stop and take inventory of who you are and where you are spiritually. If you look like Jesus, and act like Jesus, you must be born of Jesus; but if not, reevaluate, repent, and get on track! Because the same Jesus who did all those wonderful things when He walked on the earth lives on the inside of every believer and wants to do wonderful things in and through us! I’ll continue this next time! Wonderful Jesus!

The King of Glory!

John 12:12-13 – On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

I was reminded today that tomorrow is Palm Sunday! Traditionally speaking, it’s the day that we remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where the people waved palm branches and cried, “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord!”

I had one thought in my mind as I began this post, but then I believe the Holy Spirit gave me another path to take; so I will!

The following verses flowed into my spirit as I began writing this post: of course, in my thinking it is always appropriate to think of the King of Glory!

Psalm 24:7-10 -Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

But what I didn’t know, or remember, is that this psalm, these verses are directly connected to the triumphant entry of Jesus to Jerusalem!

I went back and read the entire psalm and then I had to go and read a commentary on it. It’s amazing how the Spirit of God leads us into all truth!

Anyway, the psalm begins with this amazing truth:

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

Kingship is about dominion or land ownership. A kingdom is usually the land that the king rules over. In this verse, David proclaims that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it; even the world and all the people that dwell in it!

David understood kingship. He understood that his reign was over Israel: the land and the people. So he had no misconceptions in his mind or heart when he proclaimed that the Lord was king over the world.

Then he prophetically states: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in..” Now when I looked into this psalm, the commentator remarked that this psalm was recited by the priests on the first day of the week, so in essence, when the people were out in the streets with their palm branches shouting , “Hosanna,” the priests were in the temple shouting, “Lift up your heads O ye gates…that the King of Glory may come in!” And Jesus was entering through the gates of Jerusalem at that prophetic, God-divine appointed moment, when both the people and the priest were proclaiming Him King and announcing His entrance to Jerusalem! Amazing stuff!

Now we know historically, they didn’t know what they were saying and they later cried, “Crucify Him!” But the point of the matter is God’s timing is perfect timing!

Who is this King of Glory? The psalmist responds, “The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle!” Our King is not some weak, yellow-bellied, coward that was led to a rugged cross and had His life shortened by cruel Jews! No! He is the Lord strong and mighty, and mighty in battle! It took strength to lay down His life for us! It took strength to take the sins and diseases of the world on Himself! It took strength to be separated from the Father! It took strength to not call on the legions of angels He knew who would listen to His bidding! He was strong in the face of His greatest trial in order that I might be strong in the face of my greatest trials! Powerful stuff!

Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts! The God of the angel armies! The One who is captain of the angelic beings! He is the King of Glory! His army isn’t an army of mere men! No way! His army is the angelic hosts that await in heavenly anticipation to do His bidding!

Over 2000 years ago, in the streets of Jerusalem, King Jesus, entered through the gates of Jerusalem as a humble King on a donkey. But He is not just that man! No! He is King of kings, and He is Lord of lords! He sits enthroned in the heavenlies at the right hand of the Father, waiting for the day when He will return for His Bride to establish His forever kingdom. A kingdom that has been growing in numbers, in strength, and in power since Calvary. A kingdom that cannot be shaken! A kingdom that cannot be stopped! A kingdom that cannot be overturned! A kingdom that cannot be destroyed! A kingdom that will last forever; because the King of Glory is the King! And He is strong and mighty and mighty in battle!

So we need to lift up our heads, church! We need to understand that prophetically and spiritually He came to lift us up. And as we allow the King of Glory to come into our situations as we allow Him into our lives, we cannot be defeated! Why not? Because the King of Glory will come in on our situations in our lives. The King who has a host of angels at His command who He sends to minister on our behalf!

This Palm Sunday, recognize the greatness of the truth that you have allowed the King of Glory into your heart and therefore you have the potential to win every battle that comes your way, for the One who is strong in battle is your King! Wonderful Jesus!

With His Stripes

Isaiah 53:5 – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

When I was coming up in church, every Sunday morning, the “sick and the shut-in” were remembered in prayer. I can’t say that I felt that there was any expectation that they would be healed; but at least someone knew that they were ill and would possibly pray for them.

Well, as I’ve grown in the Word and in my walk with the Lord, I want you to know that I don’t want any cursory prayers when I am going through in my body, or when someone I know and love are going through. I want someone praying for me, who believes He is the healer!

Isaiah 53:5 has become one of my life scriptures. Jesus was wounded for my transgression, and Jesus was bruised for my inquities; the chastisement of my peace was upon Him, and with the stripes He received on His way to Calvary, I was healed!! Not once! Not twice! Not even three times!!! But numerous times and I give Him all the glory and the praise!

But not only have I been healed, but I have witnessed so many others receive healing that this truth has been etched in my heart. He’s the Healer! He doesn’t provide healing, He is healing!!

As we approach the season of “Easter” or “Resurrection Sunday” we always stop and remember Jesus, our Savior! I still get very excited over that truth. I was headed to work the other day and heard the song, “Above All” by Michael W. Smith and tears came to my eyes. I’ll quote the chorus here:

“Crucified, laid behind a stone

You lived to die, rejected and alone

Like a rose trampled on the ground

You took the fall, and thought of me

Above all!”

So I am eternally grateful for my salvation that came as a result of the Blood of Jesus! Hallelujah! But that blood wasn’t just shed for my salvation. NO! It was also shed for my healing! Spiritually, yes! But physically and emotionally also!

Some think it’s ridiculous to believe that God still does miracles, until they need one. Then they HOPE He still does miracles, because when we are sick or have a death sentence over us from a doctor who can do no more, we want to know that He will heal!

A few years ago, a dear friend of mine died from cancer. Our church family prayed earnestly for her healing. But yet she transitioned to heaven. We were devastated, as we believed for a miracle for her. Before she transitioned, she confessed that even so, He was her healer.

I was angry with God, as I am sure others have been throughout the centuries because my prayer wasn’t answered in the manner that I believed. And then He spoke to me in a dream:

In the dream I was on a battlefield, like in the Civil War. And I was a medic. I was helping a wounded person, when yet another needed me. As I rushed around the field helping the wounded, some died and some lived. But I didn’t stop at the ones who died, and I didn’t stop at the ones who lived for I was yet needed to help others. I then woke up!

God spoke to me and told me that I couldn’t get stuck at the fact that my dear sister and friend had died. Others still needed to hear the message that He is the Healer. Others still needed hope!

So I got over my hurt and anger and settled in my heart once and for all that He is my healer! And He wants to heal me, and He wants to heal you!!

I don’t believe God was saying He’ll heal some and not others and keep it moving! No! I don’t know why some receive and some don’t! I just know that I believe that God is the Healer and when I pray for the sick, I fully expect them all to recover. When they don’t, I just keep believing and praying!

As Easter approaches, don’t just remember the Jesus who died on the cross for your sins; remember the Jesus who paid for your healing with His life’s blood and wants to make you whole! Wonderful Jesus!

The Spirit of Truth

The Spirit of Truth

John 16: 12-13- “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

I recently taught on the Spirit of Truth and thought I would share a little on my blog today.

If you are familiar with this portion of John, then you know that Jesus is about to be crucified. As a matter of fact, He has engaged in the Passover with His disciples and are giving them final instructions.

In verse 12, He actually tells the disciples that He had some more things that He wanted to share with them but they were not able to hear it yet. Why? I can well imagine that they are on overload. Jesus has already revealed the betrayer to them, He’s told them of His soon crucifixion and therefore, departure. He has told them of some things that would even happen to them after He left; therefore, He senses that they can’t handle anything more at the moment.

But then He tells them that He will send the Spirit of Truth!

Now the interesting point about the Spirit of Truth is that this is the third time in this long discourse with the disciples that Jesus mentions the Spirit of Truth. And every time He mentions the Spirit of Truth, He tells them a little more about Him. He really wants them to recognize Him when He comes.

In John 14:17-18, Jesus states the following in regards to the Spirit of Truth: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you And will be in you.”

So Jesus starts His description of the Spirit with this simple truth:

  • The Spirit of Truth is another Helper
  • He will abide with us forever
  • He cannot be received by the world
  • He dwells with us and will be with us

In chapter 15, at the end of the chapter He mentions the Spirit of Truth again:

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

  • Jesus tells them the Spirit of Truth proceeds from the Father
  • The Spirit of Truth will testify of Him (Jesus)
  • And that we will also testify of Him

In Acts 1:8- Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would enable them to be witnesses! So the Spirit of Truth has a lot He will be doing on behalf of the disciples or in assistance to the disciples.

In our key text, the Spirit of Truth will:

  • Guide us into all truth
  • Speak what He hears
  • And reveal things to come!

We can certainly understand why at this time Jesus would mention that the Spirit of Truth would guide the disciples into all truth! He is truth, and therefore, will guide us into all truth! Some things are crystal clear in the logos (written word) of God; but some things we need the Spirit of Truth to guide us in. And Jesus didn’t have time to tell it all to us, or help us through it, so the Spirit of Truth used Paul and others to write some things out for our learning.

People are still arguing today, if there be any Holy Spirit! And does He still operate as He did in Jesus’ day! Yes and yes!! But those of us who understand this truth had it revealed to us; and those who don’t, yet have a need!

People are still arguing about tithing! Do we tithe or not? How much is the tithe? For me, and so many others who have had this truth revealed to our hearts, this is a silly argument. But the Spirit of Truth has assisted us in understanding the truth!

What questions do you have? Does the logos make sense to you? Are you still arguing about the Word of God? Well, I have some great news for you! You can stop arguing! The Spirit of Truth has come to guide you into all truth! Jesus has much to say to you and to me, but He isn’t talking to us -as a rule – one on one. He’s talking through His Word by His Spirit! It’s time to open our hearts to hear what the Spirit of Truth hears as He reveals to us “things to come!” Wonderful Jesus!

God of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

Ephesians 1:17- “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.”

Tonight I am in a mood to give God some praise! So much is happening and going on in the world, in my sphere of life, and in general. I just feel like giving Him some praise!!!

Having said that, as I was reading again in Ephesians, a verse leaped out at me. Yes, they actually seem to leap at me!

Paul referred to our Heavenly Father as the God of our Lord Jesus Christ! That’s an amazing truth that we need to remind ourselves of every now and again: the God we call Father, is the same God that Jesus was and is in communion with! Of course, we understand that they are one in the same, but I just like how much Paul was always mindful of Jesus!

Even in the opening of Ephesians Paul writes about God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul wanted it understood that while he was talking about God, he was definitely talking about the Lord Jesus Christ and His connection to God our Father!

We are living in a day when the name of Jesus is taboo. We can mention God, but not Jesus! But Paul is making it crystal clear that he was talking about the God of the Lord Jesus Christ!

So as I read through these verses that Paul wrote, I couldn’t help but get a little excited that I am serving the same God that Jesus presented to the world when He was here in earthly ministry. The same God who worked miracles at Jesus’ word, is my God!

The same God who healed the sick, He is still healing the sick today! I have been a recipient of that healing grace, and so many others! In His Name, Jesus, I have seen pain leave people’s bodies, sickness go away, health be restored! I thank you today, God my Father, the Father of Glory! I thank You for Jesus!

The God that provided fish, at the word of Jesus, even though Peter had fished all night and caught nothing, is the same God who is my Provider! The One who makes sure that I have a job whenever I need or want to work! The One who makes the 90% go further than the 100% ever could have gone! Yes! I give You praise!! It is still at Jesus’ word that when they say no job exist, Jesus calmly says yes it does!

The One who is My Shepherd, who is always leading and guiding me, and even prepares a table before me in the Presence of my enemies! Yes and amen! Literally, I have seen You do this time and again! Personal protection from Jesus, when the enemy rears his ugly head is worth the battle! I give You praise, O Lord my God, Father of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

This blog, is an insufficient space for me to properly give praise to my God and to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! But for just a few minutes, I wanted to!

Lord, thank You most importantly for being there for me, when no one else is or even can be! And thank You Lord for understanding me better than I understand myself, and still loving me. And thank You, for Your grace and tender mercies that are evident in my life! And thank you for my wonderful family (husband, daughters, siblings, siblings-in-law, nieces, nephews, etc..) I thank You, Lord!

For today may not have been my happiest day, and it may not have been my most productive day! And if the truth be told, it may not have even been my most spiritual day, but when it is all said and done, I know that I am still treasured by You! So, I thank you Father! For during the good times, the challenging times, the prosperous times, and whatever times, I take great comfort and strength in knowing that You are with me.

So, I wanted to stop for one day, and say, thank You, God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and me, for all that You have done, all that You are doing, and all that You have in store for me! Wonderful Jesus!

Somebody Prayed

Ephesians 1:16- “Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers”

As I was reading in Ephesians a couple of nights ago, this verse seemed to leap off the page, and I knew I would blog about it this week.

As I was preparing for my day, and thinking about this verse, a song from many years ago came to mind:

“Somebody prayed for me! Had me on their mind! Took some time to pray for me! I’m so glad they prayed! I’m so glad they prayed! I’m so glad they prayed for me!”

Everyone loves it when they hear the words, “You were on my mind today and I prayed for you!” I know, because I have said the words often enough and seen the response; and I have also been the hearer of those words and felt such a sense of encouragement to know that the Father laid me on someone’s heart and they prayed for me.

Paul, to me, was such a powerful witness of the Lord Jesus! He walked in incredible wisdom, started churches, trained ministers, spread the gospel, and walked in the supernatural anointing of God, and yet, he took time to pray for others. Regularly!

There was a time in my life when people would ask me to pray for them and I would respond to them that I would, and then I would forget. But one day the Holy Spirit convicted me and I learned to stop and pray immediately, just so I could say that I did. Some times, even now, I am able to only give a short prayer because of when I hear something, but my heart is always to pray!

As I have matured in Christ, and have grown in leadership responsibilities in ministry, I find that people come to my heart, or situations come to my ears and I have a burden to pray. Those are times I pray longer and more consistently. And of course, to see those prayers answered and to see those victories won are a true blessing.

But Paul didn’t wait for situations to come, for needs to be presented to him, for prayer requests. No! Paul said that his prayers were motivated because he heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for the saints and therefore, he continuously prayed for them.

Now, I am not there! In my prayer time, I admit that different pastors, ministers, leaders, friends, family members, co-workers, etc.; come to my mind and I pray for them. But I can’t say with fidelity that they are always in my prayers.

As I meditate on this scripture it causes me to realize that if this was true of Paul, and he was super busy with all that he writes about, then it can become true about me. I can get to the point where I pray for the members of our congregation all the time, where I pray for my colleagues all the time, where I pray for my students all the time, where I pray for pastors, ministers, and church leaders all the time. And I can’t remember the last time I prayed for my followers! Shame on me! But again, I’m not there, yet! Of course, I am not able to say about all these people on my list that I have heard great things about their faith in the Lord Jesus or their love for all the saints, but…!

Do I have to pray for the same people all the time when I pray? Do you? No! But it’s a goal for my prayer life to take time to pray regularly for others as I pray regularly for myself and my family. In this life, we all have tribulations (Jesus said so) and I have lived long enough to know it’s true. Knowing this, I find the thought that someone else has determined to keep me lifted in their prayers on a regular basis is encouraging and comforting! So I am determined to be used of God to return that encouragement!

When was the last time you stopped what you were doing and prayed for someone other than you and your family? When was the last time you prayed for your pastor, your church congregation, your co-workers, or even your neighbors? If you can’t say it’s happened in the last week, take some time today and pray for them! Then tomorrow you can walk up to someone and say, “I had you on my mind, so I took some time to pray for you,” and watch them be encouraged by it! Then, feel that sense of being an encouragement. It will keep you praying! I am going to go and follow my own advice! I’ll meet you in the throne room of heaven as we pray for one another! Wonderful Jesus!

Love for the Saints!

Ephesians 1:15 -Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

I find it interesting that when Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus that he mentions their faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints. And yet, not!

I’ve done some traveling in my life, and as I have traveled and met people of like precious faith, there was almost always an instant bond. It’s like going to your parents’ hometown, meeting a distant cousin, and feeling as if you’ve always had a close relationship. That’s how faith in the Lord and love for the saints manifest!

In my Logos app, I read the following statement from a commentary on the verse:

“Nor is this faith a matter only of their personal relation to their Lord. It affects their conduct towards all the saints…Otherwise his meaning must be that their faith was evident, not only in their inward spiritual lives but in their relationships with all their fellow-Christians as well.”

Isn’t that true? Our faith in the Lord Jesus affects our conduct towards all the saints! On the job, in the church, at school, wherever we find ourselves and other believers, our conduct towards them should reflect our faith.

I worked with a woman whose faith didn’t control her conduct towards people, let alone other believers! And as time went on, people began to doubt the authenticity of her faith! And yet, Paul commends the church at Ephesus because their faith in the Lord was demonstrated in their love towards the saints.

Jesus said, “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one to another!” John 13:35

I think Jesus’ words give us the best directive available to the believer, people will know we belong to Him, when we have love for each other!

It’s as the commentator wrote, “their faith was evident, not only in their inward spiritual lives but in their relationships with all their fellow-Christians as well”.

Well, truth be told, that’s not always easy, but Paul helped us by telling us “that as much as possible we are to live at peace with all men!” (Romans 12:18) He had enough personal relationships to know that some people are just plain difficult to get along with. But we love and work on it anyway!

What am I saying? When we have a genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, it shows up in our relationships! All of them! If you are having issues in your relationships, you may be having issues with your faith! Wonderful Jesus!