Watchful and Thankful Prayer

Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

If there is one thing that you do this year, I hope that it is prayer that is watchful and thankful.

devote yourselves to prayer

is what the Bible states

and do it with thanksgiving

a tender heart it makes

but also do it watchfully

and do it with much care

and give away the faith you hold

so bountiful yet rare

and do not heistate to tell

your friend or neighbor why

you kneel before the living God

with hands held to the sky

for nothing shall defeat you

if you give it all to God

and nothing will ashame you

when they lay you 'neath the sod

pray with watchful eyes

and pray with thankful hearts

and His joy will be completed

when the Holy Spirit starts

Don't Be Troubled

Don't be Troubled

John 14:1-6

14 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

I had been going through a period of loneliness. Last May my wife went down to Florida to support our oldest son. My Daughter-in-Law was in the ICU down there and was close to death and my wife decided she needed to go and I agreed with her. I would have gone too if I could have. Thankfully, she is pulled through and she is out of immediate danger, but she still will be recovery for some more months, and will require some follow-up surgery to correct a congenital problem. Thank you for you continued prayers for healing.

Now I at first thought that my wife going was to be no problem for me.  I am self-sufficient. I don't need any other  person to make me happy and certainly, the fact that my wife and I will be celebrating 38 years of marriage this month, seemed to me to under-gird that fact. To be sure, we have spent time away from each other during the years for various reasons...but never for more than a week. Seriously, how bad could it be? I was wrong. I was correct that the first week was not too bad, but the longer it went on, the worse it got.  I found strength in what Jesus told His disciples before He was to leave them.

1) Do not allow your heart to be troubled. Believe in God and in Me.

When we are facing loss of anything, we cannot dwell on ourselves. We must look at the bigger picture and it is not about us. It's about God and His plans not only for us but for the world.  When we focus too much on ourselves, we lose perspective and we focus on the mundane and the trivial. Force yourself to look to God and to what His Son, Jesus has done for us. What comfort that is! What great joy! Now you know that there is someone who never has forgotten you and is doing everything for your good. Dwell on that and have peace.

2) I am going, but do not be discouraged. I am going to make a place for you and you will one day be with me.

Jesus knew His disciples would be lonely, discouraged and even depressed when He was gone. He sought to give them a vision of the future in telling them and us all, that He is going, but He is not going for no reason...He is going for their sake. He is going to prepare things for them when they come.  He later told them not to worry; that even though He was going He was going to come back for them.  This gave them a new perspective of the event and comforted them with the truth that Jesus was not abandoning them alone.  In fact He told them that if He went, it would be better for them because the Father would send them a Helper who would guide them in all things.  We look back on this and realize that the Holy Spirit is perhaps our greatest asset in our relationship with Jesus while we live on this earth.  I would not trade that for anything in the world. Would you?

And finally 3) He tells them the truth about His relationship with the world.

Many people mock God. Many people mock Jesus.  In the end, as the scriptures say, God is not mocked.  This one fact, that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, cannot be over looked.  It is one fact that over-rides all opinions and people who would point and say that there are multiple ways to get to heaven.  It goes beyond the people and opinions who say that we are all worshiping the same god. The fact is if we take this as truth, and I say we MUST, then there is no other way to get to where Jesus is except to believe on Him and the One who sent Him.

Are you lonely today? Is your life void of meaning? Do you feel as if you cannot go on because the world seems so much against you and your so called friends are not there when you need them the most? Then rejoice! Because you have found the only thing that will fill that gap. You have found the only thing that will bring you comfort is a world that is comfortless. You have found Jesus. Just like the Disciples who thought they were losing the only thing they had ever believed in, they came to realize that Jesus was there for them. He was the reason to live. He was the reason to keep on doing what He told them to do. When their time on earth was done, He would be the one who would come back personally and show them the room He had prepared for them.

Friends, I do not know about you, but these words of Jesus fill me with joy. How can I be lonely when my Lord died on the cross to bring me life? How can I be lonely when once He died, the Father sent His Holy Spirit to live with me, in me and through me?  How indeed!

Make this New Year the best ever with Jesus!

Blessings all!

Momentary Troubles

2 Corinthians 4:17

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

There are troubles in life.  But all trouble is momentary. Our LORD is eternal. Our lives with Him will transcend time. Trust in Him, for He cares for you!

Amen?

Blessings All!

What if...a Pro-Life Exercise

What if...?

I've been thinking lately that we really should do more to illustrate the absurdity of aborting not-yet-born human babies. I think I've come up with one that will shock and disgust all...it should underscore this heinous act.  It's drastic and I am sure will emote much hatred...but remember this is just an exercise of the mind...a 'What if' scenarios...

So I'm thinking that most people..even people who are pro-abortion and pro-life, like either kittens and puppies. I happen to love both.  Am I right? I mean, who in the world could hate a cute kitten or an adorable puppy?  You've got to have no heart at all to hate one of those.  So what if....there was a 'clinic' that offered to abort puppies and kittens and it was supported by both private finds and public dollars? What do you think the reaction would be to this? I'm thinking that there would be a great outcry...even by those who are in favor of abortion in all it's gore.

So then, what can we say about those who are in favor of abortion of pre-born human babies and not in favor of aborting puppies and kittens?  A few observations.

1) Such people have devalued human life.  Make no mistake.  This IS human life.  A baby (Pre-born baby or not) has it's very own unique HUMAN DNA.  There is none like it in the world...nor has there ever been.  Ponder that for a while.
2) If such people believe in God, their idea of who God is and what pleases Him is warped.
3) Such people are inconsistent. It makes no sense to me. But it does make sense if what I've said in the first 2 points is true.

One thing is for sure, this is a divisive topic.  However, Christian people and those who are pro-life need to be ready to confront this evil and defend human life. I happen to believe that life is a sacred gift from God.  There are many who do not believe in God and yet can recognize that Human Life is special and should be preserved at all cost,

Where do YOU stand and how will you defend your position. Ponder on these things but I am all for what God said to the Hebrews in Deuteronomy. "Choose LIFE"

Blessings all!

Pity Party!

Pity Party!

I decided to throw a party

I invited everyone

but it’s hard to have a party

when there is only one

Sometimes....

Sometimes I sit and wonder in my bed

has everything that could be said about you been said

has everything that could be thought been thought

has everything that could be brought up been brought

but then I know why I believe and you alone are there

nothing has been said about you that can be said

nothing has been thought which could be thought of

and nothing has been brought up which could be brought

who am i who seeks to see your face

who am I who seeks to find your grace

who am i to look above

who am i lord...just someone you love

© 2013 Elbert LaGrew

The Task

The Task

the task is too great for me oh god

my hand too weak and small

my arms feel as if they are wood

my legs shake and i may fall

my mind not strong or sharp or good

my voice trembles each time i call

my gut feels as if it’s too full of  food

i am not up to this at all

Fear not what you lack for I am here

Haven’t I told you so

I have not left you I am near

I said I would be where you go

you will be the head and not the tail

you will stand strong and tall

you will trump both snow and hail

you will answer when I call

So go you now and preach each word

I place into your mind

now go forth and let it be heard

How I saved all mankind

© 2013 Elbert LaGrew