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| Praying Hearts Sanctuary |
| Newsletter |
| August 2001 |
| Volume 1 Number 4 |
| EXCITING NEWS FROM ANG I have created a message board for people to go to and talk about various issues concerning spirituality and mental health. The address is http://pub39ezboard.com/bprayingheartssanctuarychristiancommunity. Please feel free to join Ang and the team to post messages and also to reply to those that are meaningful to you. ************************************************ EDITOR'S UPDATE: Due to circumstances out of our control, this August newsletter is later than usual in getting to you. We sincerely hope that even though it is late it was worth waiting for and that the content will strengthen your faith and your well being as you read it and ponder its truths. Included in this newsletter are some "Diamond Truths from Di," a special article Paul wrote for the newsletter entitled, "Why Pray?", Psalm 37 and quotes about "Finding Peace with God" from Billy Graham. *********************************************** DIAMONDS FROM DI Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone, Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own. (Adam Gordon, 1833-70) ******** If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. (Thoreau) ******** To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you somebody else is to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting. (e.e.cummings) ********* This quote from Reinhold Niebuhr often keeps me rooted to reality and sanity: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference. ************************************************ WHY PRAY? "Have you prayed about it?" is a common question asked of persons who have disturbing problems. Sometimes carelessly asked and sometimes with deep concern. I recently read about a young man who, when asked about his prayer life, responded by saying, "You don't believe in that superstitious junk, do you? This is the age of science, not mumbo jumbo. How can you talk with someone you cannot see?" How indeed? It is not abad question. Jesus said, "No man has seen God at any time" That rules out any visual sighting. Yet He told his followers to pray! Here is a matter certainly requiring discussion. Jesus told His followers in one of His sermons that prayer was meaningful in at least four situations: 1) When one had enemies of some sort, "Pray for them that despitefully (insult, slander or falsely accuse) ... you." This glove fits many a Believer's hand in any age. Many non-believers hate Christianity. 2) Pray for the Nation's stability. "Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter," He said to His Jewish audience. Jesus knew that the Jewish people in Judea would soon face the destruction of their nation at the hands of the Roman army, and that God in His sovereignty might speed up or delay the Romans. Prayers about the conditions in, or about the direction in which our Nation at various times is headed, are not ever wasted prayer-times. National-type prayer requests center around Christians being at peace by the will of God; "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life..." (First Timothy > 2:2). 3) Pray about personal attitudes, "Pray, that ye enter not into temptation;" meaning a trial of some sort, tempting a response that one is unprepared for, or unable to carry out. Jesus reminded His disciples in the same breath that "the flesh is weak" even though the [disciples'] spirits were "indeed willing". Personal humility is a must before God. Our fleshly emotions must be examined before the Lord in prayer. 4) Pray for alertness regarding the Lord's return, "For ye know not when the time is" and we don't want to be caught unprepared in any way. A good way for Americans to be unprepared is through building up wealth, fame or prestige while neglecting personal holiness and the Lord's commands. Jesus never wasted words. These commands mean something. But how can you talk with Someone you cannot see? Has anyone been successful at it? Scripture has the answer. Moses had the courage to defy the Pharaoh of Egypt, who was the most powerful man of his day. Moses did not ever see God but "he endured as [if] seeing Him who is invisible." He pressed on, "through faith", in his gargantuan task of freeing his countrymen. "Faith" is the secret of talking to Someone you cannot see [Who, incidentally, always sees us]. "Faith" needs to be defined as it relates to God and Christianity. Many times the word "faith" used in the King James Bible can more meaningfully be translated by the word "belief". Where does faith [belief] come from? Faith in God is not a spiritual belief we can initially produce of and by ourselves, because mankind is "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1-3). God must jump-start us or we would never believe. Only God can raise the dead! "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that [belief is] not of yourselves; it is the gift of God!" (Ephesians 2:8). This tells us a most significant fact: God takes the initiative before asking that we communicate with Him! Fully knowing and understanding this adds tremendous motivation for us to pray. If God is already involved, how can prayer be "useless"? Not only that, but God helps us pray! "Likewise the Spirit [of God] also helps our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for..." This verse has to do with general Christian living and certainly prayer should be a part of that: a very great part. Pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks, is the command of God through His Word, whether praying for our enemies, our Nation, our own problems or in regard to His return. Don't feel like praying? That happens frequently in our busy, work-bound or entertainment-prone existence. Would that we lived our lives under the stars and had that solitude and awe a dark night can produce. But we don't. We are children of the light: the electric light, that is. Since we are normally so distracted, we need reorientation as to who we are and where we are really going. This can be accomplished in that old fashioned way of "rehearsal": going over known facts in our minds. No matter how you feel, just start prayer something like this: Father, thou art the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the God of all the Prophets; the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and the God and Father of all who come to you through the faith in Him you give us. Thou art faithful to all generations and bidding us come boldly to the throne of grace because Christ has opened the way.....and we thank You [for that, and for as many blessings we can call to mind]. A practical reorientation of our thoughts occurs as we take our minds off ourselves and deliberately remember God's revealed work in history, His calling and election and His grace on our personal behalf. It will help us gain an ability to communicate with our saving and only living God and Savior in a free and grateful way. Being thankful for God's blessings and His truths is also a great way to start talking with Him. This part of a true worship of God is often sadly lacking in our churches and in our Christian lives. WHY PRAY? Because it is commanded and it works. God answers in His own time, but He does answer at least through events in ours and others' lives, and through that "peace which passes all understanding" which the Apostle Paul talked about (Philippians 4:7) in relation to prayer. Paul Francisco ([email protected] and Paulsbooks.com) (Scriptures behind the above paragraphs are found in Matthew chapter 5, 24, 26 ;Mark chapter 13; Romans 8; and Hebrews 11) ************************************************ PSALM 37~ Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret--it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace. The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. The days of the blameless are known to the LORD, and their inheritance will endure forever. In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty. But the wicked will perish: The Lord's enemies will be like the beauty of the fields, they will vanish--vanish like smoke. The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; those the LORD blesses will inherit the land, but those he curses will be cut off. If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off; the righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip. The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, seeking their very lives; but the LORD will not leave them in their power or let them be condemned when brought to trial. Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it. I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil, but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. **************************************************** "Praying unlocks the doors of heaven and releases the power of god. God's answers are always right and good and best. Whether prayer changes our situation or not, one thing is certain: Prayer will change us!" ******* "Whatever the circumstances, whatever the call, whatever the duty, whatever the price, whatever the sacrifice - His strength will be your strength in your hour of need." ******** "Effective prayer is offered in faith. If you want to get your prayers through to God, surrender your stubborn will to Him and He will hear your cry. Obedience is the master key to effective prayer" ******** "Our hope is not based on circumstance. It is through our adversities that we learn to trust in Jesus. Look upon adversities as an opportunity from God to grow in your faith and to become a stronger servant of His." ******** "Our prayer must be for god's glory. If we are to have our prayers answered, we must give God the glory." ******** "Instead of filling your mind with resentments, humbly give all over to God. Your conflicts will diminish and your inner tensions will often vanish. Then your life will begin to count for something." Quotes taken from Finding Peace with God by Billy Graham ************************************************* CLOSING PRAYER Our Almighty King, Lord of lords and Prince of Peace, we come to You with grateful hearts for the blessings we receive from You. We know that You are our God and our Master. We know that as we trust in You that You give us peace and comfort when all around us others fail. You never fail. Today, I pray for Your help, Your strength and Your comfort for those of us who need Your special touch today. I pray for Your wisdom and guidance for each of us who know not which way to turn and which road to take today. I pray that You will grant us a sense of peace in the decisions we make today knowing that we have prayerfully sought Your will in each undertaking. I pray today especially for those of us who are in anguish over relationships that have gone sour. Help us to have the wisdom to know what to do and the fortitude to do it. Help us to be patient and loving but help us not to compromise Your standards for our lives. I pray these things in Your Wonderful and Matchless Name, Lord Jesus Christ, Who was and is and is to come, Amen. GOD'S BLESSINGS ON YOU TODAY! Editor: Patricia Mattoon To Contact Praying Hearts Sanctuary please go to [email protected] |
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