Category Archives: KWT Paraphrasing

A Quick Hello, KWT Paraphrasing

Do I Dare?

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Tomorrow’s Sunday School lesson which I am preparing to lead is entitled: The Decision Dare. And I am questioning myself do I dare put forth all my notes for discussion.

For my question: I am wondering have we done the church and possibly the world an injustice, damage even, by fostering the idea that worship is coming to church participating in singing, and listening to a preacher? Is that worship? Really what is worship?

First, we know worship must have an object to either receive the worship or at least something to which we give it.  Still, what is worship? And what are we giving to this something in worship?

We walk in. Sit down. Stand up. We sing a few songs. We sit down. We pass the plate. We throw in some money. We stand up. We shake hands. We sing some more. We sit down. We listen to a message. We sing another song. We go home. Is that worship?

We do this once a week. Some twice a week and some fanatics (of which I am one, for the most part) do it three times a week. Is that as often as worship occurs? Is that as often as GOD deserves? Is He pleased with that? Are you?

Happy Saturday, my Friends.

Assurance - Promise, KWT Paraphrasing

In The Midst

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Just a quick word for strength this morning.

Zephaniah 3:17 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.”
via Zep 3:17 KJ21 – The LORD thy God in the midst of thee – Bible Gateway.

In the midst of traffic.
In the midst of uncooperative coworkers.
In the midst of piles of laundry.
In the midst of blank manuscript pages due to be written.
In the midst of yang-yang bickering siblings – child and adult :) .
In the midst of life altering illness.

In the midst of it all ABBA is with YOU. And HE is mighty. Mighty enough to bring you to the other side. Mighty enough that He can rejoice over you and what you will become because of this as you submit to His tutelage in this.  His mind is made up. He is not searching for new reasons to love you. He just does! He is pleased with CHRIST in YOU. You in CHRIST brings a smile to His Face and He sings. Over You.  Get that? Over YOU He sings!

Thank You, ABBA. For this Word and for singing.  We are beyond blessed to know that we can bring pleasure to You; that You smile; that You sing over us.  Thank You, JESUS, for making it happen! So for each One that comes here to read and pray today, may we embrace this truth and live this truth so this truth can be experienced by each of us. And for Israel, ABBA, we take Your command seriously and we pray for Her peace and for the subduing of Her enemies and for Your Kingdom to come. For the Church, send us revival, Father, revive us I pray in JESUS name. And for THESE we come asking that You heal our sick and afflicted and that you rescue and restore our rebellious. And, ABBA, as You will enlist us in Your Great Work for JESUS Name sake. Amen and amen.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,

Christian Living, KWT Paraphrasing, Questions

SLA

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And another week has begun.

We are into our third week of Summer. A summer, I am hoping, to be packed with learning and sweet memories for my GRANDS to carry with them through their lives.

There is a skill to learning, don’t you know? A most valuable skill, wouldn’t you say? And my GRANDS are not the only ones needing to learn the skill of learning.  And I know just the Teacher!  And I believe the steps to learning have been revealed to us. THE TEACHER used them Himself. Here let me share with you what I have found.

Luke 2

Remember the account of JESUS at twelve? Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem thinking He was within the caravan with some of His cousins. And when it came time to make camp for the night, naturally they went looking for Him. And when they did not find Him they returned to Jerusalem. Can you imagine the horror of not finding Him for three days?? I mean think of it! You have been entrusted with GOD’s SON and you can’t find Him?!  Seriously, what Mother’s heart would not be in a gut-wrenching panic even for a moment of not knowing where is her child – much less THREE DAYS?!

Finally, they go to the Temple and there He is!

Learning! 

46 Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. via Luke 2 NASB – Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem – Now in – Bible Gateway.

Three words, in particular, are my focus for this message.

Sitting. Listening. Asking

The steps to learning.

SIT.
To learn anything. Scripture. Math. Science. How to cut hair. You name it. Learning requires us to POSITION ourselves. To be still. Sit! Put ourselves in an environment conducive to the art of what we wish to learn.  JESUS was in the Temple. Smart move. We could learn a lot from this 12-year-old GOD-BOY!

LISTEN.
JESUS was not sitting there checking His Facebook, or playing a game on His iPad or iPod.  He was listening. He gave the teachers His attention! He heard their words. He considered what they said. He played the words, the concepts, the ideas in His mind examining them. He listened. We have to LISTEN if we expect to learn.  JESUS did. And if GOD did. Who are we not to?

Perhaps we don’t like the concept of JESUS learning; because learning denotes there is something we do not know and didn’t JESUS know everything?  As the GOD-INFANT, GOD-TODDLER, GOD-CHILD, GOD-BOY?  No, He didn’t. HE LEARNED. He allowed Himself to be limited because we humans are limited. He learned.  So can we, following His practice – Sit. Listen.

ASK.
If we sit. If we listen. We will surely have questions. Sometimes I have questions but I don’t ask. I don’t ask because I don’t want to appear ignorant. There’s a word for that kind of ignorance – PRIDE. I need to learn better.  :)  And I will.  JESUS modeled the pattern for us. The least we could do is use it!

Sit. Listen. Ask.

Simple isn’t it? And there is no art of schooling to which we cannot apply it.

Sit. Listen. Ask.

I am glad to be learning this — aren’t you?

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,

Thank You, JESUS, for this simple and profound tool of learning; help us practice it well for Your glory and our good. Thank You, Father, for each soul who comes here to read and to pray. I am asking You to bless them for coming; whatever their needs I pray they will find You faithful today.  I pray for strength and courage, wisdom and discernment, peace and security, and for our sick and afflicted I pray You will heal them and for the wayward and rebellious I am thanking You that You will not give up on them and You are continuing to pursue them. I pray, HOLY SPIRIT, for You to help them repent.  And we remember Israel, praying for peace and safety, and for America, we pray for a great awakening unto repentance. Thank You, Father, for perfecting Your saints in JESUS’ name. Amen and amen.

Assurance - Promise, KWT Paraphrasing, Prayer Requests

It Doesn’t Hurt To Ask

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I have been thinking about it so perhaps I should write about it this morning.

I recall a time.  A panic attack was forming. I could feel it coming on. I was scared. I didn’t want to go there AGAIN.  And in ignorant desperation I cried out – literally!:

JESUS, pray for me.

He did. The panic attack immediately subsided.  Mind you I have had some anxious moments since then but none again to that magnitude.

My point? It is a good thing to ask JESUS to pray for us. Shall I give you Scriptural bases?

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
via John 17 KJV – These words spake Jesus, and lifted up – Bible Gateway.

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
via Luke 22:31-33 KJV – And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, – Bible Gateway.

Past tense, right?

25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
via Hebrews 7 NASB – Melchizedek’s Priesthood Like – Bible Gateway.

Present tense!  He ALWAYS lives to make intercession for us.

So doesn’t He pray even if I do not specifically ask? Of course He does! BUT what of  ‘ye have not because ye ask not’ (James 4:2)?  I’m just giving you some food for thought.

Next time you’re in a tight place, you could cry out: JESUS pray for me.  Perhaps it will make a sweet memory that you will never forget.  A memory that you will hold on to for the rest of your life. A memory that will encourage you and remind you every time – HE LOVES ME! HE HEARS ME!

Thank You, JESUS, for praying for me even when I do not form the words. And thank You that when I do, You let me know that You are always, always praying for me; always loving me.  And not just me but every willing soul who believes and receives. And for every soul who comes here to read and pray today, I pray this precious Truth will bear fruit in their hearts. And, ABBA, we come with our sick and afflicted again this morning, asking You to heal them. And, HOLY SPIRIT, we come with our wayward, rebellious, oblivious Ones and ask for mercy and grace and space to repent. And we pray for our beloved Israel for peace and safety for them. And for our own beloved Nation we pray for mercy; for a revival; for You, HOLY SPIRIT, to call people to come together to pray and intercede for others in JESUS name. Amen and               .   

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,