Monthly Archives: October 2015

Help My Unbelief

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You know what? I’m no theologian, clergy person, or Bible scholar, but I am a strong believer with an abundance of faith, and tend to take God’s promises seriously. However, I am not naive enough to expect that even though my motto is “All Things Are Possible” that all things are going to be possible. There are some limitations to human expectations and experiences.

It’s wonderful to pray for and with people who, despite limitations being a possibility, still hope enough to entertain the possibility that their prayers can and will be answered. Believing is a huge part of experiencing answered prayers.

There are those of us who pray that our belief and faith will trump the doubt on the recipient’s part, and so go ahead and pray for miracles. Some will say that this gives false hope. False or not, all hope is conducive to positive feelings which help people expect the best outcome for their situation…come what may.

Alexander Pope wrote in An Essay on Man, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast”…

Mark tells the story of the healing of a boy with an evil spirit since childhood. The boy’s father begged Jesus, “…if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” The boy’s father responded, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Jesus then relieved the boy of the evil spirit. (Mark 9:14-29)

Help my unbelief…what a pleading, positive and powerful prayer.

An Interesting Question

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Have you let God’s call go to voicemail? Isn’t that an interesting question?

Our new associate pastor/pastoral care leader said that this was what led her into ministry. She had felt drawn to this profession most of her life, but pursued other avenues such as teaching and raising a family, always putting the “nudges” onto a back burner of her life, until one Sunday she heard a sermon with the title “Have You Let God’s Call Go To Voicemail?”

Monica said it had a profound effect on her and prompted her to answer “the Call” that had been a quiet and steady urging for years.

Yesterday, our church had the honor of inducting this dedicated woman as Associate Minister of the pastoral charge.

I, for one, am very happy that Monica retrieved God’s message, followed his guidance, and is now an integral part of St. Andrew’s.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

Have you let God’s call go to voicemail?

 

Reaching Out

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A couple of days ago I wrote a post about praying for the men and women who serve us in the capacity of rescue. Without realizing it at the time this includes members of my own family. Two of my grandsons-in-law are police officers and one is a firefighter. It makes me happy to write these words. It makes me happy that in addition to my own prayers for these young men, there will be many others now praying for them because one EMS member stood up in church and asked a congregation for prayer.

There have been times before when I have used this blog to reach out to the WWW community to pray for someone in deep need. Today it is just a reminder to include our emergency workers in prayer while praying for our own friends and families; prayer for those who serve us so admirably, putting their lives on the line every time they don their uniforms, or in some cases, plain clothes.

It is simply a way of reaching out.

Image result for praying hands

Sharing is Caring

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Every once in awhile I come across blogs or articles that touch me so much that I like to share them. While clearing out my “in-box”, I came across this one from UP! A Daily Devotional by Matthew Ruttan (MatthewRuttan.com/Up). It’s about Holy Spirit. Matthew talks about how Holy Spirit can be vague or confusing to some people, or indeed, many people, and then goes on to write an analogy to encourage better understanding of this spiritual being. And so I give you “Come, Holy Spirit”.

August 26, 2015

Come, Holy Spirit

Psalm 51:11
“Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me” (NIV)

Thought
The Holy Spirit doesn’t get talked about very much.

And yet…

The Holy Spirit is God, a part of the Trinity, the Lord’s renovating personality and power… but we shy away from talking about him.

Why?

To some people the Holy Spirit seems vague or confusing—and so, not knowing much about him, they stop inquiring.

So today I want to encourage you like this:

Imagine I’m walking down the street with my son, Benjamin. Then I pick him up in my arms, tell him I love him, and hug him. We just enjoy each other’s company for a few minutes. Then I put him down and we keep walking.

Was Benjamin more my son when I held him in my arms than he was when he was just walking along? Of course not. But in terms of his awareness, there definitely was a difference. No question.

Why?

Because in my arms, he was directly aware of and experiencing his relationship with me.

This analogy comes from a 17th century pastor named Thomas Goodwin. And I love it. Here’s how it applies to you.

When the Holy Spirit becomes a part of your life, you can sense the embrace and love of your true Father. You are aware that you are his child. Therefore, you develop intimacy with him.

Today, why not invite the Holy Spirit inside of you, and ask him to make you aware of the embrace, love and steady guidance of your strong Father in every step.

It’s not necessarily a feeling—but it is a personal awareness.

Is that missing in your life right now?

If you’re standing in a room in the dark, the dimensions and furniture remain the same. But everything changes when you turn on the light.

Come, Holy Spirit…

by Matthew Ruttan

I invite you to extend the invitation…you won’t be disappointed.

Pray For Those Who Treat You

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Many years ago I began praying for Ambulance, Fire, and Police cars whenever I saw them or heard sirens, either close by or at a distance; well, not actually the vehicles but their occupants, and ultimately the people they were going to rescue.

Last Sunday, our church had as a guest, a representative from the EMS. (Emergency Medical Services) This young man spoke to our children before they went to Children’s Ministry, and then to our congregation. He was articulate, informative and obviously a very caring person.

What struck me the most was that he asked for prayer; prayer for his profession and colleagues. It touched me in a way that made me thankful for the prayers I sent their way, and for further prayers that would now be forthcoming.

What a blessing these men and women are to us on a daily basis, going about their business of saving lives, and encountering sometimes horrific scenarios which often leave them traumatized.

These are people we often take for granted, and now that we know they need our prayers, let us pray for those who treat us.

 

One Day at a Time

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After having recent conversations with people about the trials in their lives and how they are trying to cope, I remembered the following lyrics to a great song, “One Day at a Time”. This song got me through some pretty trying times in the first part of this twenty-first century and it seems right to share it here.

One Day at a Time

I’m only human, I’m just a woman (man)

Help me believe in what I could be and all that I am

Show me the stairway I have to climb

Lord for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time.

One day at a time sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking of you

Just give me the strength to do every day what I have to do

Yesterday’s gone sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine

Lord, help me today, show me the way one day at a time.

Do you remember when you walked among men

Well Jesus you know if you’re looking below, it’s worse now than then

Pushing and shoving, violence and crime

Lord for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time.

One day at a time sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking of you

Just give me the strength to do every day what I have to do

Yesterday’s gone sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine

Lord, help me today, show me the way one day at a time.

The song was written by Marijohn Wilkin in collaboration with Kris Kristofferson.

http://www1.cbn.com/devotions/end-my-rope-one-day-time