In light of a recent conversation I have had with a Teen back in Michigan, this article by John Piper hits the nail on the head.
A Conversation Between Prayerful and Prayerless
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From the topic: Prayer
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Prayer and Predestination
While articles like this would have made me angry and frustrated a few months ago, in light of our pregnancy, I am almost brought to tears.
All Pregnancies are equally valuable whether desired or not… but there is something particularly sad about this statement made by a Doctor in regards to a patient…
“‘This was a desired pregnancy — she’d been getting prenatal care — but they re-evaluated expenses and decided not to continue,’”
My heart goes out to the Parents (for they will forever be such) and my prayers go up to our Father in Heaven for them and their unborn Child. May God intervene and shed light on the Darkness of their Hearts and Mind. May the Lord show the intricate value of life based upon nothing more than the Image of God and the Miracle of Life.
Filed under: General, Personal Lessons..., Prayer..., Reflections..., The Walk...
Psalm 37:25 & 26 –
I have been young, and now am old,
yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
or his children begging for bread.He is ever lending generously,
and his children become a blessing
Filed under: General, Personal Lessons..., Prayer..., Reflections..., The Walk...
This Morning was the first Morning since December 31st that I drove my Truck to work. For the past month my truck has been parked unable to be driven in the parking lot of our Apartment with brake issues. Well, as of last night, the issue has been resolved along with a Battery issue that came about from lack of use.
So, on my way to work this Morning I was reflecting on the present condition of my Truck with great amounts of Thankfulness to God. Sure, it is old and rusted, has over 215 thousand miles, probably won’t last much longer, and is a money pit at times, but I have a vehicle that gets me where I am going and allows me to work.
It wasn’t long til the Old Hymn entered my mind – “Count Your Blessings.” So, that is what I intend to do:
- I have been Saved by Jesus and Forgiven!
- I have a Lovely Wife who is a constant source of Encouragement. She loves God and desires to Grow in His Grace while showing His Love.
- We are expecting a Baby in July. This, in and of itself, is a blessing beyond Belief. A Gift from our Father’s Hand!
- God has provided me a job in order to Fulfill His command to Provide (I love how that works).
- We have an apartment that fits our needs and keeps us warm… and a place to go when our lease is up. Both have been specific answers to Prayer.
- I have a Loving and Supportive Family on both sides. Both my own and my wife’s family are a Blessing.
- I have Peace, Hope, and Joy due to my relationship to the Heavenly Father and a future that is secure.
- I have Amazing Friends… and though I am not with them and don’t get to see them often, I Praise God for their Friendship and time spent with them.
- ETC., ETC., ETC.
- Oh yeah… and my Truck Runs!
O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinners to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.
O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing;
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.
O to be like Thee! While I am pleading
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve.
by Thomas O. Chisholm
Filed under: Prayer...
Tomorrow is the Semester “Day of Prayer.” It is exactly what it sounds to be. Every semester the student body gathers in the gym for a time of prayer stretching from 9 o’clock in the morning til 4 o’clock in the afternoon. The day is structured around different things: personal holiness, unsaved family, churches, the persecuted believers, burdens of our classmates, and the list could go on.
Part of me longs for this day… while the other part dreads it. For it is on this day that I realize how far I really am from God. When I go before my God and am forced to first inspect myself… I am ashamed. Yes… I know that my Loving Father looks at me and sees nothing but the Righteousness of Christ… but the shame of who I know I truly am still exists. How could God… accept me, listen to me, comfort me, answer me… I struggle.
I do not struggle believing that it is possible or even that it is true… I struggle with how. How could God do this? I know the basis of it rest solely on the work that Christ did on the cross. So, I guess it is not a true struggle… but utter amazement.
I started this post with the desire to pose a question… but for some reason my thoughts wandered here. Perhaps I will ask the question later.
“Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations
Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.
And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.”
~James 1:2-4~
God is Good… God has a Purpose…
