PRAYER-PART TROIS

 I am fairly certain this will be the final post on prayer---BUT NEVER SAY NEVER!

The early morning walks I take Hero on are the perfect time for some fine thinking!  There is very little to distract me since it is still semi-dark, rarely do I meet someone, and it is still and quiet.  It is a proven point I am easily distracted.  Thus I move from one project to another like a stream rolling down the mountain side.  My head works the same way--rolling from one topic to the next---unless I am still and quiet.

This morning I began to think about "approach".  It all began with the times I have been in court.  No one is allowed to go near the judge--who is seated high above all of the court--unless you are specifically granted permission by the judge, "You may approach the bench." or at times, "Approach the bench".  Depending upon the circumstance both convey the same message, but one has a kinder tone and the other an order.  Because of the judge's authority and position---the rest of us laymen should show the respect granted by their position.  We are only allowed to approach them with their permission.

This led to considering a country's royalty---whether by birth or by election---all countries have a class of royalty.  Once again we find we are not allowed to approach the deemed royalty without permission.  Their position among the citizens of that country requires a protocol of approach.  We are not allowed near these high powers without their permission and the permission of those who protect them from we commoners.

When you consult the Oxford Dictionary , you learn the verb approach is defined as "come near or speak to someone".  Approach can also be used as a noun, but today we will think about the verb--the action of coming near or speaking to someone----someone with great authority---held in high esteem--by virtue of who they are.  Can you feel where I am going?

If we are allowed to approach our Great God with prayer, have we considered what a privilege we are being granted?  Might I even say we are blessed that Jesus tore the curtain so that mere man might communicate with the High God of the Universe.  When we pray, are we aware---conscious of what a wonderful thing it is to have a conversation with God? Perhaps I should start every prayer with this acknowledgement---and gratitude for His ear. The fact he actually listens to us--proves beyond any doubt---He is the God of Love and His omnipotence is beyond compare.

"So whenever we are in need,

we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God.

There we will be treated with undeserved grace,

and we will find help."

Hebrews 4:16

PART DEUX

 Last week's post on Thursday brought many good comments and emails.  You guys have no idea how it makes my day when you enter a discussion with me on any  posted subject.  If there are no comments, I sometimes wonder if I am talking to myself.

The subject was prayer--and specifically when we tell someone we will pray for them.  The next logical question is  do we actually pray as we stated we would?  Perhaps it is just me--but when we do not follow through ---it is a really big deal .  I have let the one needing prayer down and God sees my forgetfulness and neglect of the one who asked.  NOW---bear with me on this---BUT God knows our needs and does not have to be reminded of them BUT it does bless Him when we acknowledge His greatness by going to Him in prayer.  Further that with our acknowledgement of His great power and ability to intervene in our circumstances and we have put the problem at the feet of His throne.

Of all the comments, and there were many---I came away with two additional thoughts on our faithfulness by praying.

1.  MANY---gave me examples of how they remember to pray.  I loved them all.  One reader has a Prayer Jar that they physically write down the request and put it in the jar to be pulled out during their time of prayer.  Great idea!  First we engage our brains by physically writing it down (several did this) and then we pull it out and read it--once again searing it on our brains.  One reader prays for the one who asked and then lets them know by sending a message, "I just prayed for you".  What an encouragement to be notified you are being prayed for!  Many of us--including me---immediately pray for the one who asked.  We all agreed the  promise to pray is not to be taken lightly.

2.  One of the things that occurred to me while discussing this  via email with a reader is that we do not have to pray an epistle.  God knows our needs---even before we figure them out.  He does not need reminding, but does desire us to lift one another up to Him.  There are times--when I pray a name and tell God His will is always best, but I want to bring this person before His throne.  "His will be done" is sometimes difficult to pray--especially when we want what we think would be best.  BUT GOD---someday we will understand, but He is always pleased when we come to Him in prayer.

Perhaps you have other thoughts.  I KNOW it can be overwhelming as a Believer living in a fallen world all those who need and sometimes have asked for prayer.  We can count on the Holy Spirit to impress upon us---those we need to lift.  He will do His part---now we need to follow through with our part.  A simple prayer---no long winded declaration is necessary--only a simple prayer.  And I love the reader who acknowledges to the one in need-they have prayed.  What a wonderful way to show our concern."  

""Confess your faults one to another,

and pray for one another,

they you may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

James 5:16

A NICKLE IN YOUR POCKET

All this talk of telephones hit a chord with another walk down memory lane.  BEFORE we had a telephone on us 24/7, we were tied to the land lines  we discussed yesterday.  In those "good old days", there we telephones booths--with coin operated phones.  A relic from the past--but a fond memory.

A classmate and dear friend during his professional career with "MA Bell" was charged with keeping these booths in repair.  Since these were not the run of the mill phone, he was a specialist.  A specialist whose specialty became obsolete and he had to switch to another before his eventual retirement.

In case of trouble while I was out:1 and about, the rule was keep a nickel in your pocket.  The price went from that to a dime and eventually a quarter, but that one small coin would allow you to communicate with anyone locally.  So if you knew were the phone booths were, and had the needed coin in your pocket, you could get help if needed.  NOW--there were NO VISA cards around and the only form of payment it would accept was the needed coin.  If you did not have the coin, you only option was to call the operator and place a collect call to the party (Momma) you needed to speak with.  Those collect calls were not cheap and you better have a really good reason for making them.  SO keep the needed coin in your pocket at all times---just in case.

SO thankful for the direct line I have had my entire life to God.  All the charges were prepaid and you did not have to remember to be prepared with payment if you needed help--or even just an ear to hear.  Jesus paid the price that allows us 24/7 access to God's ear.  This plan will never be obsolete and He will always answer when we call.  

"I waited patiently for the Lord;

he turned to me and heard my cry."

Psalm 40:1

"OPERATOR, GET ME JESUS ON THE LINE"

 It is truly amazing when I think of how telephones have changed in my life time.  I am of the rotary phone generation.

My earliest memory of a telephone is this number.  When we moved into the house I consider my childhood home at 5, we had a wall mount in the kitchen and two more of these sleek black numbers in our ranch style home.  In a "L" shape it was a long way from the back door in the kitchen to Momma & Daddy's room at the other end of the L.  I am certain it was a mark of affluence to have 3 homes at the time.  All rang every time someone called.  My friends who lived out of town were on "party lines".  I am not certain exactly how that worked, but different houses had different rings (2 long, 1 short & 1 long, etc).  The phone rang in every home, but you knew from the ring who was being called.  There were those who were guilty of picking up and listening in to other's conversations.  It took a steady release of the cut off button to be undetected, but there were those who were adapt at it.  I believe these were the original nosy neighbors.

My next memory is of the "phone envy" I had over friends who not only had a telephone in their room (on their Momma's line), BUT also had the much desired "Princess Phone".  Who didn't want a Princess?  Any call out of your area (which was your town) carried a long distance charge, and heaven help you if you called anyone long distance.  Money was not being printed by the government at today's rate and funds were tight.

Moving forward---we have a growing family---and my spouse needed a "Bag Phone" for the car in case of a work emergency (do they have those in banking?".  This cumbersome phone in a bag was plugged in to the cigarette lighter (another thing long gone ) for power.  I seem to remember it had a short antenna and I don't know for a fact since the bank paid for it, but I bet the "trunk" charges were not cheap!

Fast forward to today's technology of the cell phone.  I have not had a "land line" for a LONG time, but only use my cell phone.  The innovations of the cell has been amazing.  Now we are connected to the WWW and can get more information at our fingertips than imaginable.  I have a mini phone---it fits nicely in my hand and pocket---and it is amazing all I do on this phone--including posting my blog (after it has been written) to Facebook and checking and answering the comments.  

Alexander Graham Bell would be amazed if he were around today.  BUT the bottom line is the same--the telephone is used to communicate with others.  Thought physically it has changed over the years---the basic premise and use are the same.

If you think about prayer, it is a great deal like this.  Prayer is used to communicate with God.  Prayer comes in all forms---and some might say it has changed with the generations in form.  The basic tenant the tool used to communicate with God has not changed.  It is exactly like God's character---unchangeable.  No matter what spin we put on it or  what form we use, it is still used to communicate with God.  So many things in our world point to God--remind us of who God is--this is just one of many.  So thankful He hears my prayers--no matter the form--He is listening.

"For I the Lord do not change;"

Malachi 3:6

OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE

 If you love a good "who done it", you know the methods to determine who done it.   You must follow the string of evidence.  What is evidence?  Dr, Google says it is the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.  So we study the scene surrounding the crime in order to come up with our suspect.

I do love one of these boards they use when narrowing down the suspects.  Who doesn't love a good diagram?  

My day to day life includes time spent trying to maintain order in my life and surroundings.  One of the things I truly love is drapes pulled back or blinds raised to let in the beautiful sunshine.  This is best enjoyed with sparkling windows.  I have spent a great deal of energy trying to keep the windows clean.  At present---being in a second floor apartment--I can only clean the inside, but I do my best.  The reward for my labor is an unobstructed view.

In the beloved home we raised our children in, we had a leaded glass front door that I dearly loved.  BUT--the draw back was those who insisted upon putting their hands on the glass instead of using the handles.  The guilty party's handprints were left behind as evidence of their guilt.  NOW---I do not have a fingerprint kit, nor do I have the capability of tracing said prints.  A great deal could be discovered by the size of the print---one of the children or an adult?  AND since my 3 children were born in three different decades and have quite a gap in age---there was a clue.  Was it the 16 year old, the 9 year old or the 2 year old.  It didn't take a rocket scientist to determine the culprit.

Evidence helps us in many ways in our lives.  We can see evidence of spring coming all around us--the shrubbery is beginning to bloom, the temperatures are beginning to moderate---and the days are longer.  The dark clouds coming from the west are evidence of a storm coming.  The time spent with family is always filled with evidence of our love for one another.  Our beliefs about life and all it holds are usually formed when we examine the evidence surrounding us.  

 There is overwhelming evidence ---of God.  We all begin to make the mistake of taking a lot for granted as just being part of the world.  We forget the complexities of creation and all we are blessed by--without a second thought.  Personally I have seen God work in my life over and over.  I have had something I have been earnestly praying about for months with seemingly no answer beyond wait.  I was prompted in small group prayer time to ask the ladies to pray with me.  Within a week---the prayer was answered with God's handprints all over it.  The story is wonderful and such an encouragement.  Today's point though is the power of two or more praying.  It takes courage to admit we need prayer---US---not our loved ones, our friends, our kin---US.  God reminded me of my need for a fellowship of Believers to not only study with---but pray with.  So many times over the years---I have seen God's handprints on my life--and footprints walking beside me.  I am so thankful for this evidence---this reminder of His deep love for us all.  AND I am thanking God for those who pray with us--for us--and ask that we pray for them.  What a blessing from God.

"Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed for I am your God;

I will strengthen you,

I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

ANSWERS

I try NOT to complain much about my aches and pains, but sometimes when they pop their ugly head up they inspire me.  

 As I put my feet on the floor every morning after stretching them, the question is always is it going to hurt--and how bad and where.  Today it was slow going, but I quickly warmed up.  It is a steady rain here today, but the wonder dog has to have his walk.  After putting on all my rain gear, we head out in the steady peppering.  I do not get to the end of my drive before I have an excruciating pain in my bad foot.  I keep going thinking it will work its way out and get better.  It does not get better, in fact I am noticeably limping and practically dragging my foot behind me.  Hero senses my misery and slows down, but he is NOT going home until he has made his round and done his business.  I am beginning to wonder what I am going to do when it occurs to me--PRAY!  Most of us do not want to bother God with the little things.  We feel as if we should save up our points and only lift those prayers for the really biggies.  We like to think "WE" can handle the small stuff.  NEWS FLASH---God is in the minutiae of our lives too.  He is unlimited in His power, in hearing His people calling, and is pleased when we give Him even our smallest of problems.

I started praying.  Within a very few steps, the horrible pain left--completely.  NO MORE PAIN.  NOW--does God give us a Yes in answer to every prayer--NO.  He does like to remind us that He hears even our minor pleas and always answers---yes, no, wait--but He answers.  Had that pain NOT left, there would have been a good reason for it continuing.  Faith comes in trusting that God tells us no or wait for a good reason. 

OVER and over I have seen God answer my prayers in my life.  He has faithfully provided what I needed, He has healed my pains and injuries, He has been by my side---every step of the way.  He is pleased when I talk with Him and even when He has answered "No", I come to understand it was for my own good.  God faithfully hears our prayers---EACH AND EVERY ONE--He is listening for us and delights in our giving Him our burdens.  Our greatest burden is never too great for our loving God to take on.  He is our provider- Jehovah Jireh.

"Therefore I tell you,

whatever you ask in prayer,

believe that you have received it,

and it will be yours."

Mark 11:24