I understand that is was President Harry Truman that signed a bill into law in 1952 making the National Day of Prayer for America an annual event on the first Thursday of May, encouraging millions across our nation to unite together to pray.

Today is that first Thursday. Now, I realize everyday should be a national day of prayer and a personal day of prayer, but being honest, I find everything in the world to deter me from praying.

I have work and more work, and cooking and caring for others in my life, cleaning the house, taking care of pets, taking the children to every activity they are involved in, even church activities, and television time and more. I am certain everyone can generate a list of all the great reasons why it is difficult to spend time in prayer. I was challenged by a fellow Christian to pray for just four minutes a day and have not been able to do that. Four minutes. Sad to admit my failure.

One of my friend’s favorite scripture is  1 John 5.14-15 that tells us. “and this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” So, the big question is, ‘why don’t we ask?’

I have a list for that too. Sometimes I doubt, sometimes I am lazy, sometimes I am apathetic, sometimes I think I can manage myself, sometimes I use my busy life as an excuse, and more.

The Word of God is clear that ‘the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.’ James 5.16. I want to make my prayer count and avail much for the ones I see in need. The homeless I pass along the road, the one walking miles down roads that seem  to lead no where, the mother’s with their children in the grocery store, my family, the young men and women working each day to gain an education or work to make a better life for themselves,  family struggling with depression and drug and alcohol addiction, and everyone I meet.

I am always astounded when I read how Jesus’ disciples asked Him, ‘Teach us to pray’ in Luke 11.1. Prayer is something that should come so naturally; something everyone knows how to do. We even see pictures of little children on their knees next to their beds, praying. I do not believe the disciples asked merely to learn how to ‘pray’ but to ‘pray the way He did!’ They saw the great works He did and how His life was committed to constant prayer. Amen to that.

Our world is in great need of prayer – from our leaders to our neighbors and families. God is still the answer and He still hears and answers prayers. I do not always pray for my leaders, but God’s word teaches us to. 1 Timothy 2.1-2 tells me – ‘I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.’ 

Join with the nation today and pray.

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A little boy born with Down syndrome attended his third-grade Sunday School class faithfully each week. As you can expect, the other children did not readily accept the boy because he seemed different.

The Sunday after Easter, their teacher brought in small boxes–one for each child. The children were told to go outside, find some symbols of new life, and put them in their containers. So the children ran wildly throughout the property looking for something to fill their boxes.

Once they returned to the classroom, they began to share their discoveries with the class. One by one they opened their boxes to show flowers, butterflies, leaves, and more. Each time the class would “ooh” and “ahh.”

Then the child with Down syndrome opened his box to reveal nothing inside. The children exclaimed, “That’s stupid! It’s not fair! He didn’t do the assignment right!”

The little boy exclaimed, “I did so do it! It’s empty…because the tomb where Jesus laid was found empty!”

Jesus left the grave behind Him. What does that mean for us? If Jesus had not risen from the dead, our faith would be foolish and fake. But He did rise from death, confirming His life and message. The resurrection of Jesus is the basis for our hope of life eternal beyond the grave and for everything we need in Him each and every day. Because He is alive, we also live in eternity and here.

After Jesus rose, His promise in John 14.16 – ‘…and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever..’ was fulfilled.

Not only is the Spirit of God our Comforter, He is our Teacher to teach us everything and the One to bring all things to our remembrance – all things Jesus has to say to us. John 14.26.

Also, just like the first followers, we are blessed with power. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me … unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” Acts 1.8

And, just like the disciples we can be filled with His Spirit – “And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room …  (the disciples) all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.” Acts 1.13-14 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2.1-4 

God’s triumph over death is our triumph and He planned for us to be given His Spirit to continue with His power and love to do the work He designed us to and be delivered as we need to be. Praise the Lord for His unspeakable Gift. 2 Corinthians 9.15

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Good Friday is here again. Seems like just yesterday, we had ashes placed on our foreheads for the start of the Lenten season. Now, we come to the time to continue to remember what our Savior did for us so many years ago and all this means today.

Tonight, many, many years ago, Jesus had supper with His followers. He told them what was going to happen, promised everything would be alright, and then He went to the Garden of Gethsemane with a few disciples.  “….And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22.44. How many nights I have agonized over my life situations or my loved ones? I always thought God did not understand the agony of the human condition, however, I was wrong, He is well acquainted with agony as well as sorrow and grief and sin even though He never sinned or deserved punishment.

Today I heard a story that asked, “What is the very strong emotion to a person who is very difficult and terrible to us or has done very wrong things?” Most answered ‘hate,’ and at first that is what I would think I would answer. But the truth is there is another answer. An answer that took time to sink in – it is Jesus’ answer. He answers, ‘Love.’ Love is His response to those who hate Him, those who praised Him just a week before and now want Him dead, those who falsely accused Him, those who spit on Him, those who dragged Him to be humiliated in front of kings and jeering crowds demanding He be killed even though He healed many among them and fed them and was kind to them and did no wrong. Jesus responds in love to the ones who shoved a crown made of painful thorns on His head and beat His back, stripped Him and mocked Him and those who put Him on a Cross and drove nails in His hands and feet . He answers to forgive them and continues going to the Cross where He suffers an unimaginable death to save us and love us.

For ‘no one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.’ John 15.13. And ‘…but God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us. Romans 5.8.

God’s reaction to my sin, disobedience, stubbornness, pride, lack of faith, disinterest, hate in my heart against others who wronged me, and more is not hatred and disgust with me, but mercy and love and forgiveness. I am thankful as I remember the Lamb of God Who came to live and die for me and the whole world. The Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world. John 1.29.

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Hosanna! A shout of praise or adoration; an acclamation. Praise is the offering of grateful respect or reverence rendered in words or song; as an act of worship. The crowd cried Hosanna in the streets on what we celebrate this Sunday as Palm Sunday. 

Most know the story of Jesus riding through the streets on a donkey being praised and adored; palm branches lining the streets.  Matthew 21.9 tells us ‘And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.’ In Luke 19.39-40, the story continues how the religious leaders tried to stop the praise – ^“some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ to which Jesus replied ‘I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.'” Creation praises God every moment. So will I. 

The greatest adoration for our God is to praise Him. Praise flows from a grateful heart and demonstrates our love for God. In fact, praise is one of the greatest weapons against attacks of the enemy.  The gates of hell cannot resist against our worship and praise. The devil is no match for the praise we give to God. I have experienced relief from tormenting anxiety and depression if I just sing a song of praise to the God I love.

The account of Paul and Silas being imprisoned shows how mighty our praise to God is – “..but about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them, suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone’s shackles were unfastened.” Acts 16.25-26. Our chains also come loose and we cannot be stopped in any way from healing, restoration, financial blessing, answered prayers, freedom from addictions, depression, and other tormenting things around us. Praise is powerful. 

Psalms mentions praising God at least 150 times and I find Psalm 150 tells us best –

It’s easy to forget. Sometimes it’s great to forget. Great to forget difficult moments in life, accidents that were devastating, job loss, hurtful words, times we thought we’d never make it through, and more. Sometimes we forget so we can remember only the good things in life.

On the other hand, memories are precious. It’s great to remember. Great to remember good friends, good times, achievements, fun parties, past vacations, and more. Many of us have pictures or mementos that remind us of special moments or special people in our lives.

It seems to me that God knows how easy it is to forget and tragically how easy it is to forget Him and how much He did for us so many years ago. In His Word, He reminds us to continually remember God. All the goodness in my life is from the Hand of the Father. I want to remember each day how He came into my life to give me His life and His truth, and His deliverance and love. I want to remember His care for me and what He did to care for me.

Luke 22.19-20 tells us – “Then He took a loaf [of bread], and when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and gave it to them saying, This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me. And in like manner, He took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament or covenant [ratified] in My blood, which is shed (poured out) for you.”

So, what did He do for us? Isaiah 53.4-10 tells us -“Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has made to light upon Him the guilt and iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, [yet when] He was afflicted, He was submissive and opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who among them considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living [stricken to His death] for the transgression of (all) people, to whom the stroke was due? And they assigned Him a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick. When (God) make(s) His life an offering for sin [and He has risen from the dead, in time to come], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, and the will and pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”

He gave His life to give me mine. Praise be to God. I pray to always be in remembrance of Him.

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I have read the entire Bible many times. It seems I miss a lot though. One day, while driving, I listened to a minister preaching about the Spirit of God. He mentioned a verse in Romans – 8.11 to be exact – that I have read many times. The verse states  “….and if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you….” Either another translation or the minister emphasized this verse to say ‘the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me.’ The Words hit me like a ton of bricks. I never noticed these words this way the many times I read my Bible.

The same Spirit – the One that raised Jesus from the dead. God is constantly reminding me of the profound truth and meaning of this verse. I never seem to fully grasp it though. If the same Spirit lives in me, why do I live so below my own expectations? Why do I worry my prayers may not be answered or God may not come through for me? Why do I think my problems and struggles are too great for the Living God or go unnoticed by Him? Why do I think His love and mercy will end or His supply for my life will end? Why do I go defeated, anxious, and depressed at times?

This season of Jesus’ life and death reminds me constantly of the sacrifice my Savior endured so that the same Spirit that raised Him could live in me. The same Spirit that allowed Jesus to cast out demons, heal the sick, raise the dead, and preach the Word. The same Spirit that allows me to be loved by God, be forgiven every weakness and sin, be loved as the imperfect me as God loves Jesus, have everlasting life – here and after physical death, and allows me to pray for the ones I love.

It is the same Spirit that allowed Jesus to turn the water into wine, walk on water, and change His ordinary apostles into committed followers. It is the same Spirt that leads me into truth and truth that allows me to be set free. The same Spirit that is my Comforter, my Counselor, my Way Maker, my Deliverer, my Everything. The same Spirit that was sent from God to me, opened my blind eyes,  infills me with power for the tasks of today,  and blesses me with assurance of being a child of God. The same Spirit that knows my weaknesses and prays for and through me. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me.

I pray for the deep and wonderful revelation of these Words to penetrate every fiber of every readers’ being this Lenten season and forever.

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I am not sure I have heard sadder words than, “I don’t care” or “who cares?” How important is it to care?

I once heard a young man talking about his relationship with his father. To be honest, his father seemed harsh in his punishment for the things this young man did wrongly. After a number of years of wrongdoing and being punished, the young man was arrested. His father never punished him for this. The young man was confused and asked why? and his father said, “I just don’t care anymore.”

According to the young man, this small, but powerful statement hurt that young man more than all the excessive punishment he had received in the past. For someone to ‘not care’ who was inherently supposed to care was apparently devastating to him.

I have contemplated the words of this young man many times. What and who do I care about? I care about eating and sleeping and exercising and working.I care about my clients and pets. Do I care about my neighbor or family or co-workers? I hope I do.

Some tragic events in the Bible talk about Jesus and caring. The New Living Translation Bible quotes Isaiah 53.3 as “He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”

Tragic words to me. The Creator of the Universe, the Eternal One, Almighty God came from heaven, became a man, walked among us, did many miracles, taught God’s Words, never hurt anyone, was tortured, and ‘we did not care.’

I realize many do care, but there are many that do not take notice of the profound and ultimate Gift God has given to us and the true impact of the Cross and Jesus’ life and sacrifice.

Matthew 22 tells me another tragic story – “Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.  He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come…..” Some had other things they considered more important – they plowed fields, married off their children, and more. They had no time for God. 

Because of this Lenten season we celebrate – the life and death of Jesus – and His resurrection, we have all been invited to the banquet. It is a season for caring.

I love Lionel Harris’ song – “He paid too high a price to have my soul just stirred at times, but never really changed….”

I pray for everyone to care.

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Since Ash Wednesday, we have entered into the ‘Lenten season.’ It is the Christian season that is a period of 40 days before Easter. It is a time when many Christians choose to fast, repent, do things in moderation, practice self-denial of certain enjoyable activities, or work on spiritual discipline in areas they feel could use some improvement. To many, the purpose of Lent is to take time for reflection on Jesus Christ—His suffering and His sacrifice, His life, death, burial, and resurrection.

Before He was crucified, Jesus spent time with His disciples. He prepared them. He told them about the soon-to-be events. He told them how He would be taken, beaten, and crucified. He told them they would abandon Him, but it would be alright afterward. He told them one of them would be the one to betray Him. He knew Peter would deny Him three times. Jesus knew everything and He spent the time before He left them preparing them and telling them how He knows everything and everything has a plan and purpose.

Jesus could have called thousands of angels to rescue Him, but then He would not been able to rescue us. His sacrifice and choosing to surrender have been the very thing that saves us all today from every failure, every mistake, and every regret. His sacrifice has allowed us to be healed and well. His sacrifice allows us to become the children of God.

I admit my sacrificial intentions usually only last about 6 or 7 days when I try to do things to become a better person and better Christian. I would be happy to give up stress and procrastinating and many of my other ‘bad’ habits. Truth be told, I have been a miserable failure at trying to do better in many areas.  I don’t want to just give up complaining, fearing, swearing, bad attitudes, lack of concern for others, and all my other shortcomings for 40 days, but forever.

I thank Jesus for choosing to come to Earth, be born a Baby, live His life, and suffer and die on a Cross to be raised from the dead three days later for me. I realize I do not have to suffer because He already has, but I want to reflect on Him and His goodness this season and all to come.

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I adore Anne Klein clothes. I bought a beautiful skirt by her once. After bringing it home, I had second thoughts, so I drove back to the store to return my purchase. The clerk asked if there was anything wrong with the skirt. I replied, “No.” She then asked if it looked okay – which I replied, “It is lovely.” When she began to ask a third question, I stopped her mid sentence and tensely stated, “I have a shopping problem, can you please just take the skirt back.” She did so without any further interrogation.

I have given up wanting ‘more’ things, but not more of God. To continue my list from last week, I do want more, much more.

I want more blessing – “The blessing of the Lord, it makes (us) rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” Proverbs 10.22

I want more favor – “You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor.” Psalm 145.16

I want more answers to prayer – “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” James 5.16 b

I want a more of a closer walk with God – “Come close to God and He will come close to you.” James 4.8

I want more inspiration – “..but they were not able to resist the intelligence and the wisdom and [the inspiration of] the Spirit with which and by Whom he spoke.” Acts 6.10

I want more purity – “With the pure You will show Yourself pure.” Psalm 18.26

I want more holiness – “…but as the One Who called you is Holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living.” 1 Peter 1.15

I want to be more obedient – “..and now, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” Deuteronomy 10.12

I want more teaching – “(My) God instructs (me) and teaches (me) the right way.” Isaiah 28.26

I want more of His Word – “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119.105

I want more direction – “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37.23

I want more good fruit – “For every tree is known by his own fruit.” Luke 6.44 and  “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5.22-23

I want more reverence – “Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Hebrews 12.28

Yes, I am still guilty of greed and wanting more. God bless everyone.

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