God knows even when a little bird dies.
Next time you think God doesn't care, think about this.
Whoever is not willing to carry His cross and follow Jesus is not worthy of Him.
What is your cross today?
32 "All those who stand before others and say they believe in me..."
Tell people why you follow Jesus Christ. Why you love Him so much. Why He means so much to you.
Jeremiah 20:8c-9
His message becomes like a burning fire inside me,
deep within my bones.
I get tired of trying to hold it inside of me,
and finally, I cannot hold it in.
How intensely does the desire to speak about Jesus burn within you?
On the front cover of his numerous diaries and journals Wesley wrote: "I resolve to devote an hour morning and evening to private prayer, no pretense, no excuse whatsoever; and to converse face to face with God, no lightness, no facetiousness."
During the 1980’s, more than 17,000 members of a major evangelical denomination were surveyed about their prayer habits while attending seminars on prayer for spiritual awakening. Because they attended this kind of seminar, we can assume these people are above average in their interest in prayer. And yet, the surveys revealed that they pray an average of less than 5 minutes each day. There were two thousand pastors and wives at these same seminars. By their own admission, they pray less than 7 minutes each day.
This may be bold, but there are a couple of things people might lie about when put on the spot, their weight and for Christians, if they pray. I believe very, very few Christians actually pray face to face with God.
Jackie and I pray together for about 15 minutes in the morning. Throughout the day I will talk to God as I encounter people and situations. I wonder what my life would be like if my dedication to prayer resembled Wesley's. God help me!
It is very easy to make people feel guilt about failure in prayer, and that’s not the intent. But we must come to grips with the fact that we must pray.
PRAYER IS EXPECTED
Jesus Expected Us to Pray
Mt 6:5 “And when you pray…”
Mt 6:6 “But when you pray…”
Mt 6:7 “And when you pray…”
Mt 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray…”
Lk 11:9 “Ask…see…knock…”
Lk 18:1 “Then Jesus told his disciples…they should always pray.”
Col 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer.”
1 Thess “Pray continually.”
“As it is the business of tailors to make clothes and of cobblers to mend shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray.” Martin Luther
Why do so many disciples of Jesus confess that they do not pray as they should?
A lack of discipline. Not planned, no time allotted. Gets crowded out by things more urgent.
Doubt it will help
A lack of sensing the presence of God
Little awareness of real need
“…apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5
Have not learned about prayer
PRAYER IS LEARNED
“Lord, teach us to pray.” Luke 11:1
O loving God, my heavenly Father, in this time of prayer come to me. Speak words of life and love into the depths of my being. I love you, my God, Truly I love you!
The West Plains Zizzer cross country teams have won an incredible amount of state championships. Riding my bicycle to work I see them out running early before school. So dedicated! Here's a little something I wrote. Hair swinging obviously refers to the girls. :) Read this poem with a little shortness of breath as if you are actually running.
A little something I wrote a few years ago about my wonderful Jackie. What a woman. I am truly blessed because Jesus is my life and Jackie is my wife. Buddy refers to a cocker spaniel we a had for a number of years. Of course Jackie took care of him too. We share his helpless look around Jackie.
