Tag Archives: Christianity

The Great I AM

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Many years ago,1977 to be exact, while on vacation in Trinidad, I was introduced to a Pastor who gave me this very short but powerful prayer for use in times of need; any kind of need; spiritual, physical, emotional, to name a few.

“Jesus Christ, the Great I AM, have mercy on me.”

It is a prayer to be repeated over and over until the peace of Christ is felt in body and soul.

The prayer has been a huge blessing to me and several others over the years. Following are a few scriptures introducing “I AM”:

I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35)

I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)

I am the Door (John 10:9)

I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)

I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)

I am the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)

I am the Vine (John 15:1,5)

I am the First and I am the Last (Isaiah 44:6)

I Am who I Am (Exodus 3:14)

I am the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8)

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (Revelation 21:6)

My prayer is that this prayer will be valuable to all who use the Lord’s name not in vain.

The Bible on Birth (or God’s DNA?)

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Many years ago I was asked this question: “If we are God’s children do we have his DNA?” I have grappled with the question over the years and finally found some answers in the Bible; not necessarily DNA answers but God’s participation in our birth.

No one who is born of God will continue to sin because God’s seed remains in him. 1 John 3:9

…You brought me forth from my mother’s womb. From birth I have relied on you. Psalm 71:6

…Your redeemer who formed you in the womb: Isaiah 44:24

Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Psalm 22:9, 10

…You whom I have upheld since you were conceived and have carried since your birth. Isaiah 46:3

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…Jeremiah  1:5

Did not he who made me in the womb make them? (slaves) Did not the same one form us both within our mothers? Job 31:15

Your hands shaped me and made me. Job 10:8

You gave me life and showed me kindness. Job 10:12

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

And that concludes my search for “the Bible on birth” to date. I don’t know if I have God’s DNA but I do know that he is my Father.

Church Fun

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The sole purpose of going to church is to worship, right? Yes. But, when the last hymn has been sung, the last “amen” uttered, and the last person has exited the sanctuary, the fun begins.

God has been served and will continue to be served as his people enjoy one another’s company in the C.E.H. (Christian Education Hall) after each morning service. It’s called fellowship.

This Sunday I had more fun than usual because I was on “coffee duty” in the kitchen with several other people. There was chatter and laughter as light-hearted conversation accompanied the preparation of ninety cups of coffee and sixty cups of tea. Even more fun was serving each person who came to the counter for their choice of beverage. “Just a half cup, please” or “Three quarters of a cup will be fine” or “Could you top that up a little more?” A young lad of perhaps twelve, smiling through his braces, said, “Coffee, please”. No fruit juice and cookies for him at the kid’s table!

It was even more fun because two of our members happily celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary, and two giant strawberry shortcakes were a tasty addition to the tea and coffee.

Yes, we go to church to worship God, but I know he likes his children to have fun, too. Proverbs 17:22 says a cheerful heart is like good medicine, and for me that is a prescription for church fun.

The Wonder of Christmas

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Wishing peace, comfort, love, joy, and all the blessings of Christmas to each and every one.

THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS

The wonder of Christmas,

The birth of a Child,

The angels are singing His praises,

The people rejoice

At the sound of His voice

Echoing down through the ages.

Hope, love and laughter,

Peace and goodwill,

The message resounds loud and clear,

The birth of God’s Son,

His gift to us all,

This is the wonder of Christmas.

©1995

 

My Greatest Gift

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This morning I opened a forward that one of my daughters sent my way in 2012. It was a flashmob rendition of Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee, and numerous other wonderful Christmas Savior songs.

As the music crescendoed from my Ipad, I raised my hands in response to the call for adoration.

Joyful tears flowed as I gave thanks not only for the Baby born over two thousand years ago, but for the babies that have blessed my life over the last sixty years: my sons and daughters, my grandsons and granddaughters and most of all my great-grandchildren; all truly wonderful gifts.

The joy that filled my heart at our family Christmas party yesterday, overflowed this morning in thanksgiving to the One whose presence in my life is my greatest gift.

“Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Sunday Prayer

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It’s Sunday again and I’d like to share another prayer of the people:

Breathe on us breath of God as we welcome Your Holy Spirit into the silence of our hearts.

Father God, help us to realize that talking about You is not the same as knowing You, and talking to You.

Help us to overcome the obstacles that prevent us from enjoying a closer relationship with You. Help us to trust You completely in the problems we face and the decisions we make each day.

When we are self centered, help us to center on You and the needs of others.

When we are feeling depressed and anxious help us to rest in Your never-ending love and to feel the comfort and peace that Your love brings.

When we lose our sense of compassion, help us to remember Your constant compassion for us and make us aware enough to feel it in our lives.

Make us humble enough to know that You are our help in every need and without You we are incomplete.

Father we pray for our friends and families and for each other and ask that You would replace our grief with peace, our sickness with healing, our poverty with prosperity and our sadness with joy.

We pray for world peace, for unity among all people, for governments of all countries and for courage to stand up to the unacceptable acts of those who have no concern for the lives and welfare of their fellow human beings.

Help these people to find a way to channel their destructive behavior into productive action that they may become caring members of our society.

May our prayers today be acceptable in Your sight, and may we try to make our lives acceptable to You in every way. Amen.

 

It’s About Time

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Don’t ask me why I thought about this topic; it’s just the way my mind works sometimes. These are just a few of the things we say about time:

Time heals all things

Time is money

Time stood still

Time is of the essence

Time flies

It’s about time

The time is right

Time out…

And this from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV)…

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

 

 

A Year Without God?

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There is a young man, Ryan Bell, a former pastor who is questioning his faith. In January of this year he decided to give up on God and try atheism for one year.  His blog is called Year Without God.

I can’t even imagine going on a journey like that, and wonder if brave would be an apt adjective to describe him.

From what I understand, we can give up on God, but God doesn’t give up on us. I’m sure Ryan is on par with the prodigal son right now and I pray he doesn’t have to hit the pig sty before returning to his Father. I’ll be reading more about this young man and his struggle with his faith.

He says he’ll still be blogging at the end of the year and he’ll just change the name to Two Years Without God or A Year With God, depending on who wins the arm wrestling match.

My money’s on God. Even Solomon turned away from God at one time, but returned and wrote the book of Ecclesiastes to describe what he learned. I love that book.

God’s Advice

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Working in Pastoral Care and as an Elder, and even just because of friendships, I am always searching for words of comfort and hope to relay to people who suffer some of life’s toughest tragedies, especially the loss of loved ones.

Yesterday I happened upon three bits of advice from three different sources, all from unknown writers. I’m sharing them here:

Although we grieve and hurt in a tragic situation, it still is not about us…it is about God.

Everything that happens in life is ultimately between God and the person involved in the  happening.

Don’t let tragedy steal your trust in God.

I’m always thankful when timely tidbits come my way to share with those who may be in need of what I think of as God’s advice.

Some Sound Biblical Advice

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Most people who know me know how much I love my Bible. Some even wonder why. Well, I’m here to try to answer that question.

I have found such good advice and lessons for living in the Bible that it would be difficult for me to put it aside. And here’s an example:

In the New Testament we find Paul in his second letter to Timothy giving this advice…

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels…instead be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Timothy 2:23,24

Does that not sound like a lesson in living?

Here is an acronym for the Bible…

Basic

Instructions

Before

Leaving

Earth

Makes good sense to me.