Prayer Picture
Monthly Archives: October 2017
Wow!
Peter. What a preacher! We can not accuse him of PC. I am so glad. I hope someday to outgrow that stuff myself!
As we open Acts 3 Peter and John were approaching the Temple for prayer. It was that time of the day. Scheduled prayer. It’s an okay thing to schedule! Before they could get inside a man lame from birth asked for a donation to his cause of survival. They gave him better than money. They gave him his own two legs! We as a society could learn so much here!
Along about verse 12 Peter begins an impromptu sermon. I love it! He pulled no punches. He said to them: 15 You killed the Author of life—the One God raised from the dead! We are witnesses of it. How’s that for blunt? And yet with all his bluntness, the man is full of compassion and passion and mercy. Look what he said next.
17 “Now brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders did. He continued to explain the reason for their ignorance. And it is their reason for ignorance that is our reason for ignorance. Two thousand years, give or take, and mankind has not changed. Why were they ignorant? Why are we ignorant?
Simple. They ignored the Prophets. They did not read their Scrolls and even what they did read they disbelieved. Are we getting the picture? Smacks pretty hard!
Peter had really good news for them. There is really good news for us too! We can repent! And our sin of failure to read and obey will be blotted out! Along with the rest of our sins. How good is that?!!
19 Repent, therefore, and return—so your sins might be blotted out, 20 so times of relief might come from the presence of Adonai and He might send Yeshua, the Messiah appointed for you. source
Acts 3. Wow! It’s good!
Chazaq!
Still So
Ps. 103: 8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. source
The LORD is compassionate and gracious.
That is just a fact. The Scripture says it. The LORD is compassionate and gracious. We either believe it or we don’t. Whether we do or not, it’s still so.
Slow to anger. GOD does get angry. It’s a fact. It is also a fact that even in anger He is still compassionate and gracious.
So why do we run from Him, ignore Him, shun Him and flat-out dis-believe Him? Good question.
Ps. 103: 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
14 For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust. source
Chazaq!
John 3:16(KJV) 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For Help
This is a Word for us. Words for us to read, meditate on until they change the way we think. You see. As soon as our thoughts change, our lives change!
Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power. 11 Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil’s evil tricks. 12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. 13 So put on God’s armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy’s attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.
14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, 15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. 16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. 17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. 18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people. source
As we continue to pray for the people of Las Vegas, these verses will help.
Abba, we know Your heart is broken over this and we know this was not Your will; it was the will of our enemy but he will not have the triumph; You will be glorified in this and people will be comforted and hearts will be turned to You in love and surrender. We thank You that this evil will not be overlooked and You will have Your way. I pray the companion of the shooter will be located and appropriate measures will be accomplished. In the meantime, we bring the people harmed by this even though we do not know the names of those injured and those grieving those who have died. We trust You to be there, offering hope and comfort and redemption to the hurting. And we pray for healing of the broken in body and soul. Thank You for allowing us to pray. Thank You for what You are doing even in this moment. Amen in JESUS Holy and Mighty Name.
Quest
Your purpose and my purpose on this earth is to know GOD and to make Him known.
That’s it. That’s the total of it. And that is only the beginning.
To know Him and to make Him known. That is why we were born. To know GOD and to make Him known.
Where do we even begin to know this GOD?
Praise and Thanksgiving is a grand place to start. Starting with the things we do not understand and the things we hate. Not praising Him or thanking Him that they happened BUT that He has not forsaken us and He has not messed up. Start there.
Positive confessions are a MUST! Turn those negative thoughts and fears into out loud praise and positive confessions from GOD’s Word and we will see.
Watch Him turn your night into day in the middle of dark morning hours when all the world is asleep and you are awake in pain and gripped with fear.
Our very quest to know Him with our praise and thanksgiving and positive confessions of His Word in the midst of evil will make Him known to us AND make Him known to others through us.
The quest is on!
John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. source
Ecclesiastes 12:13 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. source
At this writing I am waiting on my copy of The Quest by Beth Moore. I am thinking this study will only advance what the Holy Spirit of God has already started.
Chazaq!
The White Stone 