Lent 2014 blog is now on McKernan Christian Church website under "Pastor's Blog"
www.mckernanchurch.ca
Monday, March 17, 2014
Sunday, March 9, 2014
KEEP ON KEEPING ON
Sunday March 9, 2014
Day 5 - Lent 2014
Don't Give Up!
Luke 11: 9-10
Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened.
Jesus said that when it comes to prayer, we need to keep on keeping on. Okay, maybe He didn't say it in those exact words, but that's the gist of what He said! He said we are to ask, seek, and knock. Because all these words are in the present tense in the original Greek (not that I'm a Greek expert, but...), this means we are to... KEEP ON asking, KEEP ON seeking, and KEEP on knocking. In other words, DON'T STOP!
Ever pray for something and it didn't get answered? Or it took what seems forever before it was answered? We've all been there, done that, and sometimes it gets frustrating. George Mueller was an English orphanage director, well-known for his persistent praying; he once commented on prayer:
God, help us to persist in prayer, even if we don't see answers. Help us to trust in you for all things, and to know that we need to place our faith in your time, not ours! Amen.
Day 5 - Lent 2014
Don't Give Up!
Luke 11: 9-10
Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened.
Jesus said that when it comes to prayer, we need to keep on keeping on. Okay, maybe He didn't say it in those exact words, but that's the gist of what He said! He said we are to ask, seek, and knock. Because all these words are in the present tense in the original Greek (not that I'm a Greek expert, but...), this means we are to... KEEP ON asking, KEEP ON seeking, and KEEP on knocking. In other words, DON'T STOP!
Ever pray for something and it didn't get answered? Or it took what seems forever before it was answered? We've all been there, done that, and sometimes it gets frustrating. George Mueller was an English orphanage director, well-known for his persistent praying; he once commented on prayer:
The great point is to never give up until the answer comes.I've seen family members come to know the Lord near the end of their lives; at times, it seemed it would never happen, but then again, God has His own timetable, and so often it's a lot different than ours! God DOES answer prayer, He just doesn't always do it as we might like or when we might like. So continue praying, continue asking, until you receive. God will meet your need in His time, when the time is right. For us, that just means we have to KEEP ON KEEPING ON!
God, help us to persist in prayer, even if we don't see answers. Help us to trust in you for all things, and to know that we need to place our faith in your time, not ours! Amen.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
GOD, DO YOU HEAR ME AT ALL?
Saturday March 8, 2014
Day 4 - Lent Blog 2014
PRAYING WHEN YOU FEAR THAT GOD WON'T GIVE YOU THE ANSWER YOU WANT
Matthew 7: 9-11
If you, then though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!
Today hasn't been a great day. Oh, it was a day off, and I didn't really do a lot, but... I don't know why it doesn't seem a good day, I really don't. Well, maybe because I know I will lose an hour of sleep because it's "Spring Ahead" time. Maybe it's because I feel God is SO wanting to do SO much in me, in our church, etc., and yet sometimes it seems like things are moving as well as... well, as my father used to say, "molasses in January"!
Do you ever feel like God won't ever give you the answer to the prayer you may have been praying for... well, forever? Do you ever think God doesn't hear? Oh, you know in your head that He always hears our cries to Him, but in your heart, you don't see things happening or happening as you wish they would, and so you wonder? Let me quote from the book "the prayer dare":
Stop resenting what you don't have, start being excited about what is in store, and be thankful for what is happening now. God knows what's best - now go and have a good day!
Day 4 - Lent Blog 2014
PRAYING WHEN YOU FEAR THAT GOD WON'T GIVE YOU THE ANSWER YOU WANT
Matthew 7: 9-11
If you, then though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!
Today hasn't been a great day. Oh, it was a day off, and I didn't really do a lot, but... I don't know why it doesn't seem a good day, I really don't. Well, maybe because I know I will lose an hour of sleep because it's "Spring Ahead" time. Maybe it's because I feel God is SO wanting to do SO much in me, in our church, etc., and yet sometimes it seems like things are moving as well as... well, as my father used to say, "molasses in January"!
Do you ever feel like God won't ever give you the answer to the prayer you may have been praying for... well, forever? Do you ever think God doesn't hear? Oh, you know in your head that He always hears our cries to Him, but in your heart, you don't see things happening or happening as you wish they would, and so you wonder? Let me quote from the book "the prayer dare":
Do you understand that God hears your cries? He knows the anxiety you feel... the exasperation you feel... the desperation you feel... the heartfelt desire... You must truly understand how much God loves us...Martin Luther once said:
Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.So what's the problem? Not praying 'cause maybe God won't give you the answer you want? Yup, thought so! So listen to this - nothing profound, yet something so incredibly profound you won't believe you didn't blog it first yourself!!!
God loves you SO much that He is willing and eager to give you the good gifts He has in store for you.There it is - so stop thinking God is reluctant to help, 'cause there's nothing God wants to do more than to help! Ask in faith believing!
Stop resenting what you don't have, start being excited about what is in store, and be thankful for what is happening now. God knows what's best - now go and have a good day!
Friday, March 7, 2014
GOD IS WILLING
Friday March 7, 2014
Lent - Day 3
UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS WILLING
You go to your friend's house, asking for food so you can feed your company. Your friend doesn't want to go to the bother of getting up, so he tells you he can't get up now, that his children are sleeping, the door is locked, so... basically, go away! But now that the children have woken up, and the dog is barking, and the chickens are fluttering around, he decides he may as well give you some food. Not because he's your friend, don't go thinking that, but because he has no choice!
Jesus' story to His followers, which we can read in Luke 11, is one we sometimes think means that, because the man had no choice and the friend was uber-insistent, the man pretty much had to give his friend food. Yes, that may be part of it - after all, if we think of prayer, if we persist God will give us what we ask. Been there, heard that 2 blogs ago! But there's more... in Middle Eastern culture, it would be a loss of face if the friend refused to help, and so even if he didn't give food because of their friendship, he would do it in order not to lose face with the community.
Luke 11:8
[Jesus said] I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
You see, God is willing... and able... and sometimes, we just don't get that! The author of "the prayer dare" states:
Lent - Day 3
UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS WILLING
You go to your friend's house, asking for food so you can feed your company. Your friend doesn't want to go to the bother of getting up, so he tells you he can't get up now, that his children are sleeping, the door is locked, so... basically, go away! But now that the children have woken up, and the dog is barking, and the chickens are fluttering around, he decides he may as well give you some food. Not because he's your friend, don't go thinking that, but because he has no choice!
Jesus' story to His followers, which we can read in Luke 11, is one we sometimes think means that, because the man had no choice and the friend was uber-insistent, the man pretty much had to give his friend food. Yes, that may be part of it - after all, if we think of prayer, if we persist God will give us what we ask. Been there, heard that 2 blogs ago! But there's more... in Middle Eastern culture, it would be a loss of face if the friend refused to help, and so even if he didn't give food because of their friendship, he would do it in order not to lose face with the community.
Luke 11:8
[Jesus said] I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
You see, God is willing... and able... and sometimes, we just don't get that! The author of "the prayer dare" states:
If a tired neighbour give you what you need, how much more will God, who never sleeps, give you? Jesus said that, just as He prayed constantly and persistently, so should you pray, because GOD IS MORE THAN WILLING to meet your needs.Remember something oh-so-important: when you pray, you are praying to a God who is more than willing to meet your need. Your every need. And... He is also able to meet your need. Your every need. So don't hold back - give it all, give it all, give it all to Jesus. He is there, He cares, and He dares - dares us to ask. So do it. Don't hold back. He is willing and able, and so we needn't be afraid of bringing anything to Him!
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Thursday March 6, 2014
Lent - Day 2
KNOW THE ONE TO WHOM YOU ARE PRAYING
Luke 11:1
Lord, teach us to pray...
FOOD
Jesus often left long before breakfast to spend time in prayer to God (Mark 1:35)
GATHERING CROWDS
Jesusoften left the crowds and prayed (Luke 5: 15-16)
SLEEP
Jesus often prayed into the night, or even into the next morning (Luke 6: 12-13)
CELEBRATING VICTORY
Mark 6:45
Jesus told the people that they should start praying by remembering to whom they are praying! (God, their Father in Heaven) Remember when you pray, that you are praying to God, who created all there is, who loves us so much, who is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present. God is strong. God is loving. Know it. Remember it. Live it.
Pray to the one who created you, loves you, helps you, protects you, saves you. The author states:
You and God - quite the combination.
When you pray, always remember to whom you are praying!
TODAY'S DARE
- every time you pray, tell God you recognize who He is, that He is loving and strong.
Lent - Day 2
KNOW THE ONE TO WHOM YOU ARE PRAYING
Luke 11:1
Lord, teach us to pray...
If you want to know something, ask an expert.Who is the expert on prayer? Yes, Jesus. In the Gospels, we see Jesus often paused from His busy day so He might pray. Prayer was more important to Jesus than many things:
FOOD
Jesus often left long before breakfast to spend time in prayer to God (Mark 1:35)
GATHERING CROWDS
Jesusoften left the crowds and prayed (Luke 5: 15-16)
SLEEP
Jesus often prayed into the night, or even into the next morning (Luke 6: 12-13)
CELEBRATING VICTORY
Mark 6:45
Jesus told the people that they should start praying by remembering to whom they are praying! (God, their Father in Heaven) Remember when you pray, that you are praying to God, who created all there is, who loves us so much, who is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present. God is strong. God is loving. Know it. Remember it. Live it.
Pray to the one who created you, loves you, helps you, protects you, saves you. The author states:
Prayer is how we tap into God's power.Prayer and power - quite the combination.
You and God - quite the combination.
When you pray, always remember to whom you are praying!
TODAY'S DARE
- every time you pray, tell God you recognize who He is, that He is loving and strong.
Wednesday March 5, 2014
Ash Wednesday - Day 1
James 4:2
You do not have because you do not ask God.
Do you ever get to the end of your day and realize you didn't pray? Didn't talk to God? Didn't spend time alone with Him? Everyone, hands down! We all do this, at one time or the other, don't we! In "the prayer dare", the author quotes Martin Luther as saying:
Ask... but with the right attitude and with a pure heart. If we ask simply because we wish to get something out of it, God knows that. If we ask because we love God and know He is able to do all things, God knows that. And if we know that God knows, then why (or even how!) are we able to skimp on our prayers!
In "the prayer dare", the author states:
Ash Wednesday - Day 1
James 4:2
You do not have because you do not ask God.
Do you ever get to the end of your day and realize you didn't pray? Didn't talk to God? Didn't spend time alone with Him? Everyone, hands down! We all do this, at one time or the other, don't we! In "the prayer dare", the author quotes Martin Luther as saying:
I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.The whole point of this devotional blog is that, perhaps by reading or by pondering some of what's being written, you (and me!) will grow closer to God. How do we do this? Pray! Yes, pray! Talk to God. Listen to God. Do something about what you said to God and what you heard God say to you. This way, God knows about us and our wants/desires/need, and about our hearts as they pertain to Him and our relationship with Him. But we have to do something first. Ask. But Pastor, why do I need to ask if God knows everything anyhow? Glad you asked... God absolutely insists that we ask because we need to learn to depend on Him. God also wants us to give Him the credit when He does anwer our prayers. So ask...
Ask... but with the right attitude and with a pure heart. If we ask simply because we wish to get something out of it, God knows that. If we ask because we love God and know He is able to do all things, God knows that. And if we know that God knows, then why (or even how!) are we able to skimp on our prayers!
In "the prayer dare", the author states:
The first principle of prayer is pray... It is an ongoing conversation you have with God throughout your day.Remember, as we talk with God, as we listen to God, we grow closer to God. We spend time with Him, we talk to Him, we love Him. And it just keeps getting better and better as we keep on praying and praying! Just ask! Just do it! You'll be glad you did!
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Lent 2014 - "the prayer dare"
(Note: I am blogging on this site for now, but hope to use the church website blog page - I can't seem to get it up and running right now, and am waiting on the person who is the expert in this field to get back to me and bail me out! Oh, and you may or may not be able to comment on this site, even though there is a "Comments" space available - in the past, it couldn't be done, but hopefully when - not if - this blog is being done on the church website, comments will be able to be made!)During the season of Lent 2014, I have made a personal commitment to spend time with God every day, and to blog on this time. This blog will come out of my devotional time spent in a book called "the prayer dare" (yes, all small letters!), and another book called the Bible! For 40 days, I have challenged myself to get closer to God through prayer, and this book ("the prayer dare") devotes 40 days to helping me do that. Don't expect profound, or even amazing, although that may just happen - my hope is that whoever reads this will journey with me, and that we will all find a closeness to God that we may not have been experiencing lately.
Today, I will be blogging for yesterday and today, and then daily thereafter.
So sit down, buckle up, and be still - God is waiting to hear from me, from you, from us. Let's take this Lenten journey together, and see where it takes us...
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