Friends' Favorites - The Abraham Generation

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Psalm 71:18

There is a common misconception that as we age, we lose our value. We may not be able to move as we did in our younger days, or lift as much, or remember as quickly, but I can assure you this: If you get two or three seasoned followers of Christ in the same room praying, they will touch heaven on your behalf.  

I have known three women - all of them prayer warriors - who died from Alzheimer's. They lost their memories. Those precious, loving women couldn't recognize their own children, but they did NOT forget their God! They knew Him and prayed powerfully until the end of their lives on Earth. They were a living testimony of Romans 8:38-39 - NOTHING separated them from God's love! 

That is why I was SO pleased to see the honor bestowed by a church body on its' older generation. I was privileged to attend a ground-breaking ceremony for an older church to begin a new building. It is a congregation of generations in a small town. During the ceremony at the construction site, I was impressed with the way they lovingly gave honor to whom honor was due.

While the whole of the congregation walked out to the construction site, the seniors were helped into golf carts for a smooth ride to the front side of the site. They were then assisted the few feet to the pastor's side as he honored them for having carried the church on their knees in prayer. He titled them, "The Abraham Generation" and explained to the younger folk about the blessing of generations, and how the new church would not be a reality without the prayers of the saints that stood before them. He acknowledged and reinforced why it so important for the older generation to teach and for the younger generations to listen and learn. It was incredibly beautiful and holy as the Abraham Generation pointed it all back to God! I know God will continue to mightily bless the young pastor and his congregation.

If you are blessed with knowing members of the Abraham Generation, thank God for them, and also pray for them. Treat them with respect. If you have to slow down for them, do it honorably. It will be time well spent.

Prayer:

Father,

           We pray Your Word* - May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. May we be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to You, God, who is able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to You in the church and in Christ Jesus through ALL generations forever and ever! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

*Ephesians 3:19-21 NLT

Friends' Favorites - Who is That In the Mirror?

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

2nd Corinthians 3:16-18 NLT

We've all seen our image reflected in one way or the other. A mirror, a window, a waxed car surface. Have you ever seen your image reflected by a carnival mirror? The ones that make you tall and skinny or short and fat? There have been some pretty strange reflections, don't you think? Even in a good mirror, your reflection is still the opposite of you.

Life is like that - it can take who we are and twist and turn and warp our image, giving us and others a false reflection of who we are. It is only in the Lord that there is Truth. Only in Him is the Truth revealed. Only in Him do we reflect His true image. Glorious!!

Prayer:

Father,

          Help us to not be sucked into the deceits of the world's reflection with all its sparkling glitz and glimmer. Lord, we want only to reflect You and Your truly glorious image. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Working and Working and Working Some More

God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.
Philippians 2:13 NLT

I find great hope in this verse. 

Increasingly, I find I have more of a desire to do what will please God, and I am encouraged to know that He is at work in me to give me the power to do it. At work in me to provide the discipline to override my flesh that just wants to be a couch potato after a long week. At work in me to accomplish and complete those God ideas pulling at my heart and the tasks that are calling my name. 

In John 9:4, Jesus tells us, We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.

I know I'm playing catch up from the moments and hours I have wasted in this life. When that night comes, I want to be able to say that I have finished what God assigned to me. I do not want to stand before Almighty God and not be finished. That's why it gives me such great hope to know that God is working in us... working and working and working some more.

Prayer:

Father,
           We want to do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize us. Help us to live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Most of all, Father, we want to finish our assignment and fulfill Your purpose for our lives. Thank You for providing such great hope by working in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Can You Relate

Quick, God, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down, All the friends I depended on gone. Everyone talks in lie language; Lies slide off their oily lips. They doubletalk with forked tongues. Slice their lips off their faces! Pull the braggart tongues from their mouths! I'm tired of hearing, "We can talk anyone into anything! Our lips manage the world." Into the hovels of the poor, Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks: "I've had enough; I'm on my way to heal the ache in the heart of the wretched."
God's words are pure words, Pure silver words refined seven times in the fires of his word-kiln, Pure on earth as well as in heaven. God, keep us safe from their lies, From the wicked who stalk us with lies, From the wicked who collect honors for their wonderful lies.

Psalm 12 The Message

If I didn't know better, I'd think King David had been listening to talk radio and the politicians of his day. Slice their lips off their faces! Pull the braggart tongues from their mouths! Boy, howdy - I can relate to that feeling! I don't want to offend anyone, but I have to admit, there are many times throughout the Psalms that I can relate to the general theme of "Kill 'em all - let God sort 'em out."

However, just when I've worked myself into a self-righteous lather, in my heart of hearts I hear, "His mercy endures forever" and "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy" and I read how God built the mercy seat for us in the holiest because of His great love for us...

And it's then that I want to relate to David in a whole new Light. I related to him in his sin and flesh nature, but I want to be just like him in his role (as the Lord Himself described) as a man after God's own heart. Can you relate?

Prayer:

Father,

        I pray Your Word in Psalm 5, But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - No, I Can't

When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
Mark 2:17 NLT

Moses did it. Gideon did, too. Let's not forget Peter. How many people do you know (maybe yourself included) who tell God 'No, I can't' when He asks them to do a specific task and all because they are all too familiar with their own shortcomings? And some will even go one step farther and list all their limitations in an effort to convince God... as if He doesn't already know! Ha! 

One of Alan Neel's great quotes is - "Christ doesn't call us because of what we've been, but because of what He's called us to be."

I've said it before and I'll say it again, and in all reality, will probably keep on saying it - If there was never going to be a need for forgiveness, the crucifixion of Jesus would never have taken place. This inexpressible gift of mercy is there to move us past our sin. We are the ones distracted by our shortcomings and sin. God isn't. He has a purpose for our lives beyond our sin.

In 2nd Thessalonians, Chapter 1, Paul, Silas and Timothy write, So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

What will you choose today - fear or your faith?

Prayer:

Father,
           Shine the light of Your Truth on us every time we open our mouths to say, "I can't." It is true that in and of ourselves, we can't, but YOU can - through us - if we'll walk in the measure of faith that You have given us. Your Word declares, This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. Help us to take the leap of faith, relying totally on You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Reaching Out

Like a cool drink of water when you're worn out and weary is a letter from a long-lost friend.

Proverbs 25:25 The Message

Have you ever been dry in your journey with the Lord? Have you ever been parched from the heat of the battle? Or worn out from wielding your sword and weary from holding up your shield of faith? So busy fighting off the onslaught of the enemy that you couldn't even look to see if anyone was fighting with you? And half afraid to look in case there wasn't anyone there?

If so, then you know what it's like when you call out and hear a friend's voice answer. It IS like a cool drink of water; refreshing, strengthening, renewing, solidifying your place in the fight. Providing hope that enables you to stand when you've done all you can to stand, pushing you toward the Father, for the battle is His and the victory is ours!

So whether you're the caller or the callee - reach out! Someone needs to know you're there.

Prayer:

Father,

          Cause us to be ever mindful of those around us who are fighting every day, spiritually, physically, emotionally. Let us see with Your heart of compassion so we may call out to them...just like You call to us. Let our words be words of hope, just as Yours are to us...Come all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest... Help us to not be weary in well-doing. In Jesus' Name we pray.  Amen

Friends' Favorites - Entrusted to Our Care

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
Psalm 24:1 NLT

If everything belongs to God, that makes us His stewards. Merriam-Webster defines stewardship as the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.

Have you ever truly thought about it? What are the greatest matters entrusted to your care? The people within your sphere of influence? Family, friends, co-workers? People who serve you in some capacity on a regular basis? What else? What about the talent He's given us?

The most obvious to me personally are my children and my grandchildren. Have I always managed carefully and responsibly? I shudder to think of the mistakes I've made.

Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 instructs us to ...commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. It doesn't say when it's convenient, or when your favorite show is over, or only on Sunday.

Everything looks different through the perspective of "It's all God's" and with the question of what we have done with it.

Prayer:

Father,
           Give us an eternal, Kingdom perspective, along with the knowledge and wisdom to manage carefully and responsibly everything You have entrusted to our care. Teach us so we may better understand that You require a return on everything You have given us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen