BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO PRAY

     Growing up on a farm in Northwestern Ohio, I learned a lot from my father about working the land he loved.  He would first plow a field then disc it to prepare for planting.  Once the planting was completed, my father would follow up with cultivating the soil several times while the plants were young.  This not only aerated the soil but it also kept weeds from growing.  It was a first line of defense for the young crop developing in the field.  In fact, my dad often said the cultivator was one of his most valuable implements in working the soil.
     As Christians, we are also equipped with tools to help us in our growth in Christ.  Ephesians describes for us the picture of armor:  the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit and the Gospel shoes.  However, what knits everything together is prayer.  Like the cultivator, prayer keeps the weeds of wrong thinking out of our hearts as we grow and keeps the soil of our soul aerated by keeping our focus on God.   Is there any other privilege quite as special as the ability to talk directly to our Lord?  I can think of none.  Here are some of the reasons we need to become prayer warriors.
     First, Jesus Christ our Lord was the perfect example of someone who prayed regularly to the Father.  He frequently went off to a quiet place to commune with the Father either before He ministered to the needs of the people or after He had finished teaching.  He taught the disciples to pray and often pointed out to them that prayer should not be vain repetitions (Mathew 6:7) or for show but to talk with God in private (Mathew 6:6).  Jesus prayed and blessed food for the 5,000, and He prayed for Himself and all who would come after Him in John 17.  This high priestly prayer is one of the most beautiful examples to us of how to pray.
     In addition to our Lord’s example, we also have received a command in Scripture to “pray without ceasing” given in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 5:17).    This may sound difficult, but in reality, it is easier to keep a running dialogue with the Lord throughout the day.  I find myself many times praying over situations and people silently as my workday goes by.  God hears us whether we are eloquent with our words or very simple in our manner of speech.  The key is to focus on the Lord who delights in communing with us.
     As we engage in prayer, we are also changed by our time with Him.  I often think of Moses who spent time with God as he led the people of Israel.  If ever there was a man who had a tough job, it certainly was Moses.  Being in relationship with God, he never missed an opportunity to seek His face when the people were rebellious, hungry, or complaining.  He could have tried to handle things on his own, but wisely, he realized his deep need for God to intervene.  Each time Moses met with God, his face shone so that he had to wear a veil because ultimately the glow faded as time went on.  Now I do not expect our faces to shine each time we meet with God in prayer, but I do believe that each time we pray we come away a different person.  God is at work in us to accomplish His will.  This is especially true when we are surrendered to Him in prayer.
     Certainly my father worked hard to cultivate his fields so that the weeds would not grow but the crops would.  In like manner, we need to do the work of prayer not just for ourselves but also for our family, neighbors, church, city, state, nation and leaders.  We live in perilous times and the weeds of discontent, division and evil are being sown everywhere.  As believers, we need to humble ourselves before the Lord and take up the tool of prayer as well as God’s Word daily.  We will see results and uproot these toxic weeds that threaten to cause havoc both in our homes as well as our nation.
     Here are a few suggestions to help you develop a more meaningful prayer time:  1.  Make a prayer diary.  List the requests and as you see answers write them down.  This helps your to rejoice in what God is doing.  2.  Look for opportunities to focus on just one area of our church ministry or for a specific church staff member.   3. Read the prayer lists announced in Sunday School, church or in home groups.  Pray for the needs whenever it comes to mind.  I am blessed to let people know I am lifting them up in prayer.  It means so much for them to know that.  4. If someone comes to you with a prayer request, take time to pray with them on the spot if possible so you do not forget to lift the matter before the Lord.  5.  If you have drive time to work, pray as you go (obviously not with your eyes closed).  These are just a few ideas to help you get started.   This I know:  time with God is time well spent.  Let us be known as a people of prayer.  We will see great results if we humble ourselves and pray.  Selah!

Destroying Our Children

     Several weeks ago now, the New York State Legislature passed a law which repealed previous abortion law; thus removing any restraints on having an abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy.  Further the law allowed other health care professionals to do the abortion procedure without a medical doctor present.  Upon passing this law, there was a burst of congratulations all around and applause.  Governor Cuomo went on to say that pro life supporters and conservatives were not welcome in the state.
     At first, I was shocked that anyone could applaud the killing of a viable baby during the last trimester of pregnancy up to and during the point of labor.  Adoption is a much better option rather than the taking of a life.  In my own experience, I cherished each child and prayed for each one.  I had difficulty getting pregnant so to me, every child was a miracle.

Ryder Glenn Thayer at 6 months

     As I thought about the ramifications of this new law, I recalled the Scripture story of Moses and the burning bush.  God had called him to return to Egypt and the Hebrews that he might lead them out of bondage.  Moses began to make excuses such as the people not believing he was sent from God.  When that failed, he told God he could not speak well.  We pick this up in chapter 4:10-12 of the book of Exodus:  "But Moses said to the Lord, 'Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.'  The the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth?  Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.'"
     In this passage of Scripture, I saw something I had never seen or really thought about before.  The Lord plainly told Moses that He makes the mouth.  He also makes the mute (those unable to speak), the deaf, the seeing and the blind.  To put it another way, God makes no mistakes when He creates us in our mother's womb.  For His purposes known only to Him, He makes some to see and some who are blind.  Following along this train of thought, we can conclude that God also makes children who are special needs as well.  Our Branson was a perfect example.  He had multiple difficulties from a physical point of view, and he required a lot of care.  However, the six years we had him brought so much joy to our family and he changed our lives forever.  He was not a mistake.  He was a gift from God's own hands given to our son and daughter in law who lovingly cared for him.
     Two other passages of Scripture also come to mind when thinking about babies as a gift from God.  Psalm 139:13-14 reads:  "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."  The intimacy with which David writes this beautiful Psalm shows a relationship that began in the womb where God fashioned him.  The other Scripture is found in Jeremiah 1:4-5:  "Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.'"  Once again, we see that God formed Jeremiah in the womb and called him to be a prophet even before he was born.
     All of this puts a different perspective on abortion doesn't it?  If God is intimately involved in fashioning a person in the womb and even laying out the plans for their life before birth; then, what we are destroying in abortion is a precious soul made by the hands of God.  How many teachers, musicians, doctors, attorneys, pastors, scientists have been destroyed?  The current count in our country is over 50 million babies killed since Roe v Wade.  Now we are faced with possible infanticide, and God will hold our nation accountable for this slaughter.
     For Christians, we can make a difference by contacting legislators and making our feelings known.  We can volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center or donate to a right to life group.  Certainly the most important thing we can do is to pray.  We must pray for our nation and for the lives of the unborn because we know that God cares even more than we do about each life He has created.  Selah!

Christmas Memories

     Recently, we completed a remodeling project in our home. As we started to put things back, both my dear husband and I have been going through our possessions to dispose of things we no longer use or need.  As we looked through our boxes, we found pictures, news clippings and items given to us from our families.  What a flood of memories for both of us.
     In fact, I can close my eyes and see all the scenes of the snowy Christmases past.  There was the one horse open sleigh ride I had as a small child.  It had been a heavy snow day but my grandfather hitched up a horse to his sleigh and took my cousin and I on a ride of a lifetime.  Then, there were the 5 a.m. Christmas mornings when I tried in vain to wake everyone up because I wanted to see my gifts.  I remember my sister (8 years older than I) opening her bedroom door and throwing shoes at me down the hallway telling me to go back to bed.  All this and more as I think of my childhood home.  It was the same for my husband as he showed me pictures of his childhood.
     Pictures of our children when they were small made us smile as we recalled our many celebrations with them.  Now we have our grandchildren to enjoy watching.  Time grows more precious to us as we grow older, and this brings to my mind a song that has lived in my heart for many years:  "Heirlooms" by Amy Grant.  The words are simple but so meaningful at Christmas:
                                 
Up in the attic,
Down on my knees.
Lifetimes of boxes,
Timeless to me.
Letters and photographs,
Yellowed with years,
Some bringing laughter,
Some bringing tears.
Time never changes,
The memories, the faces
Of loved ones, who bring to me,
All that I come from,
And all that I live for,
And all that I'm going to be.
My precious family
Is more than an heirloom to me.
Wisemen and shepherds,
Down on their knees,
Bringing their treasures
To lay at his feet.
Who was this wonder,
Baby yet king?
Living and dying;
He gave life to me.
Time never changes,
The memory, the moment
His love first pierced through me,
Telling all that I came from,
And all that I live for,
And all that I'm going to be.
My precious savior
Is more than an heirloom to me.
My precious Jesus
Is more than an heirloom to me.
     I remember singing this song in church during the time my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers so it has always been dear to my heart.  It reflected not only the precious gift of family but the even more priceless gift of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. This is the true meaning of Christmas and here is the invitation that God offers to each of us:  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that Whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).  He loved us so much He sent His Son to pay the price for our sins.  All we have to do is repent (turn away) from our sin and believe in Him as our Savior.  We cannot earn salvation.  God gives it as a free gift to all who believe in Jesus Christ.
     This is the real heart of the Christmas celebration.  He came and we will never be the same.  Of all my memories, I will never forget the day that both my husband and I believed in Jesus Christ three months before we married.  It made such a difference in our life.  If you do not know Him, I pray that this Christmas you will make Him your Savior and Lord.  If you already know Him, rejoice knowing that God gave us the best gift we could ever have!  Merry Christmas from our house to yours!  Selah!