Author: pleadinginprayer

Holding On or Letting Go

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Holding On:  Many times we find ourselves holding on to what we want.  Our dreams, hopes, aspirations.

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Letting Go:  Sometimes God gives us what we desire, but sometimes He has other plans for us.  I have prayed that God would replace my desires with His (Psalm 37:4).

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Sometimes I struggle telling the difference between what I should hold on to and what I should let go of.  Is this what God is giving me?  Is this what He wants?  During those times I hold on tight to the promises of God.  Pleading in prayer.

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Remembering How Much God Loves Us

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I was recently reminded of a story from my time of teaching K4.  One of my students needed to have heart surgery which was scheduled for mid-December.  As a class we prayed for him at the beginning of every school day.  I know how easy it is to look at difficult circumstances and think that God doesn’t love me.  I also know that a 4 year old doesn’t have deep theological understanding.  I wanted to pray something that my students could understand.  Each time we prayed I asked for God’s help for the surgery and that God would remind this boy and his family how much God loved them.

When times get tough it is, unfortunately, easy to question if God loves us.  I know.  I have been there.  However, for those of us who have trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior, He has lovingly handpicked each challenge to help us become more like Him.

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, know this. His burden is lighter than your pleasure.  Knowing Him is the only way to find true and lasting happiness.

My prayer for you today, no matter what you are facing, is that God helps you to remember how much He loves you.  I know He will.

A Lesson from Hummingbirds

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Hummingbirds try 2

Hummingbirds are notorious for not getting along.  When one is at a feeder he usually will fight off any other that comes near.  This picture was taken at a restaurant in Colorado.  They had some hummingbird feeders along the front of the building.  There were several times when more than one hummingbird was at a single feeder.  How did these hummingbirds get along?  I have no idea, but it makes for a great picture and a good lesson.

We should work on sharing the blessings we are given.

Thunderstorms

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Thunderstorms

Tonight I got to hear one of my favorite sounds.  A thunderstorm.  This is highly unusual for Minnesota in March.  We are more likely to get a snowstorm (which we did – a week ago this past Friday – over 12 inches overnight – but enough of that.)  Today God gave us a warmer day with rain and thunder.

As a child I did not like thunderstorms at all.  I was terrified of them.  Then one day my dad told me that he loved thunderstorms.  I’m pretty sure I thought he was crazy.  Then he told me that the thunder and lightning reminded him of the power of God.  Those of us that have trusted Jesus Christ as our Savior do not need to be afraid of God.  We are His children.  I had trusted Christ by that point in my life so the words meant something to me.  I didn’t enjoy thunderstorms right away after that, but the fear started subsiding.  Some years later I found myself loving the sound of God’s power.  So tonight I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the sound my Heavenly Father made and my earthly father helped me to enjoy.

“Love my Neighbor and Myself”

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“Love my Neighbor and Myself”

I was recently reminded of a cute story from working with 3-5 year olds in my church’s Wednesday night program.  We were learning Mark 12:31.  The shortened version for the preschoolers was “Love thy neighbor as thyself.”  (We were using the King James Version at the time.)  I wanted to teach respect for God’s word by having the children say the exact words, but this one seemed to backfire.

If I broke the verse down into two sections the kids could say the correct words.  But when we put the whole verse together, many of the kids said, “Love my neighbor and myself.”

Not “as myself”.

“And myself.”

At first I just chuckled over the cute mistake, but I realized the truth behind what they said.

Preschoolers are often brutally honest.  The truth is that we do love ourselves.  We don’t naturally want to put others first.  Unless we come close behind.  But to put others first without the thought of getting something in return…that is not so easy.  Especially for preschoolers.   And adults.  Pretty much all of us.

I enjoy reminiscing about cute kid stories, and the lessons they sometimes bring are priceless.

Now to work on loving others.  May God help me put Him first (Mark 12:30) and others next (Mark 12:31).  I need to disappear (John 3:30).

Mark 12:30-31 KJV
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Mark 12:30-31 NASB
30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

Mark 12:30-31 AMP
30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.’ 31 This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

To my single friends (married friends – please read this too)

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I have concern for my single friends.  Singleness can be challenging.  We can be lonely.  We can have God given desires for marriage and a family.  However, to act on those desires without allowing God to guide our hearts is a disaster in the making.

First, our hearts are not a good guide.   Jeremiah 17:9 (AMP) tells us,  “The heart is deceitful above all things and it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives?”.  We are all born with a sin nature.  Without God, we cannot make good choices.  We need to pray that God would lead us.

Second, the world keeps telling us that we can do whatever we want.  The problem is that the world does not care about the consequences.  A friend of mine tells her children that there are natural consequences to our wrong choices.  So true.  Those consequences can seem minor at first, but defying God is never in our best interest.  Galatians 6:7 (AMP) says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.”  Whenever we set aside what God tells us, that is no better than mocking God.

The best part – God’s way is best and brings great joy.  Waiting is hard. Very hard.  Especially when we see others around us enjoying what we want.  However, waiting for God’s timing – His person for us – is always (yes, I said always), the best choice.  I have heard of married people regretting jumping into marriage without Christ as their guide.  I have not heard of singles who regretting waiting.  I have heard stories of married people who did wait through the difficulties of their singleness – and rejoiced through married life because of it.   Psalm 25:3 (AMP) “Indeed, none of those who [expectantly] wait for You will be ashamed; Those who turn away from what is right and deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed (humiliated, embarrassed).”  Psalm 27:14 (AMP) “Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.”

Waiting is worth the effort.  You are worth waiting for.  God’s way brings the most joy.  Please wait for God’s best for you.

 

Married friends – please be aware of the singles.  They can feel set aside.  I know – sometimes it is our fault.  But if you can help someone from the slippery slope of bad relationship choices – you will also know great joy.

Rug Burns

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I don’t know where the term “rug burns” actually originated, but I like to think my friend and I came up with it.  🙂  As we walked some difficult paths together, God frequently brought us to our knees.  Not literally mind you (I don’t tend to last long kneeling – I’m 41 after all).  However, rug burns are the best way of seeking the Lord with anything difficult.

Pleading in prayer.

Philippians 4:6-7  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”