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| Praying Hearts Sanctuary |
| Newsletter |
| June 2001 |
| Volume 1 Number 2 |
| It was with excitement that I discovered we now have fifty subscriptions to our Praying Hearts Sanctuary Newsletter and this after just one issue! We thank you for trusting us enough to subscribe and pray that you sense the love and the desire to intercede for you that we of the Praying Hearts Sanctuary feel. Even before our first edition was published, we began working on our second edition of our newsletter. We hope you liked our format for our first edition, as we will continue to make only slight modifications at least for now. We begin with another favorite portion of the Bible, Psalm 121. Paul has just completed another thought provoking article which is entitled "Why Bad Things Happen to Good People" and we've included suggestions as to how to pray form Paul's published booklet on the topic. We end this newsletter with a prayer. * * * * * Psalm 121 ~ I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. * * * * * Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? by Paul Francisco This title says that bad things happen to good people and infers it's not supposed to be that way. Where can we look for a reason? Unless this is a completely chaotic world, every event must have a cause. The Bible is the Christian's source of all needed information and facts about spiritual matters and human existence. One should look to it for a meaningful reason why bad things happen to good people. For example, we may read the history of a man named Job in the Old Testament. There was "none like him on earth"; perfect [complete], upright and worshipful. That was God's apparent approval of Job's life when he asked Satan to consider him. Yet Satan was allowed by God to destroy all that Job had and loved, except his wife. In the end he was blessed with full restoration plus even more, but why did Job have to go through that tortuous time? Why did God single Job out that way? It seems that though Job was a perfect man in public view, he was imperfect from God's point of view and the Lord had something to teach him and us. A very important lesson, too. Job had managed to make and live a very successful and bountiful life for himself and others. When one reads the speeches which both he and his friends made it becomes apparent that Job was a defender of the poor, an exceedingly honest man and a good example of what faith and Godly living could produce. However, in the lament over his losses of children, animals and health are Job's words that what he had "greatly feared" had come upon him. "Greatly feared" meaning a general overall fear. Job, in the midst of all his prosperity and goodness, had a pervasive doubt about the power, knowledge and goodness of God; a significant breach of faith in a man who "feared [worshiped] God". He had lived in fear of losing everything, either at the hand of God for no reason, or by accidental circumstances. It is likely that many Christians occasionally have some similar very human reservations in their walk of faith through life. Yet we do not experience punishment or loss for them. Why, then, was Job so afflicted? An answer lies in the teaching ministry of Scripture. All we can know about God, faith, righteousness, salvation, and pleasing God lies in the Bible. It is The Book given us by the Lord for instruction. The history of Job was written and preserved for an educational purpose. We can read that God finally answered Job's complaints by saying, in brief, that He is in control of all things in His created world, and Job's knowledge was pitifully small. Job's trouble and suffering had brought this limitation of his knowledge and trust to the forefront. When finally answering God, Job said that he realized he knew practically nothing, but now understood that God could do anything He wished and was not to be argued with or asked for a reason. In other words, Job learned that he needed to trust the Lord in all aspects of life: not just in success and abundance, and not just when things were going well. In this new found extension of his faith Job was eventually blessed greatly by God. "Happen" in the article's title above, does not mean some unforeseen event occurring in a Christian's life. There are no "accidents." "All things work together for good to those who love the Lord." We are not to think it strange when we go through trials. Some problems or events are to correct us. Whom the Lord loves He chastens. Romans 5:3 tells us that tribulation works patience into our lives and leads to more appreciation of God's love. James 1:2,3 more or less repeats this theme. Both Scriptures teach that we can benefit spiritually from trouble, as it drives us more and more into the arms of our Heavenly Father. Becoming a child of God, and thereby becoming "good" [Godly], does not assure us of an easy and trouble-free life. Our Master said we shall have tribulation in this world but, He added, "be of good cheer (courage and comfort) for I have overcome the world". An important lesson taught throughout the Bible is that God's people are sustained in health or sickness, good times or bad, by God's loving will. When we question this, we are to remember just how little we know about God's sovereign actions or purposes. The proper Christian attitude is that of humbly recognizing the Lord's sovereignty and waiting for His deliverance, whether it comes in this life or the next. God does give grace to bear whatever we must now experience within His will, and His will is constantly involved in our whole lives always for our good. The Bible indicates that God's education of us as His children can contain that which is hard to understand and even harder to bear, but produces the fruit of righteousness. When we understand that The Good Life is not always a part of God's plan and we submit to God's will with patience, prayer and a trustful faith, we will grow spiritually. This produces more peace of mind in spite of the troubles or problems coming our way, as God so wills. In summary, why do some folks seem to zip through life without many problems and others are laden with a seemingly impossible load of painful burdens? To understand a little, one must have faith in the sovereign will of God who alone knows what He intends for every person. Furthermore, Jesus said that the flowers in the field are subject to God's attention, but perish. He also said that the rain falls upon both the just and the unjust. Living in a sin-cursed world means that both evil and good are allowed to cross our paths, but God gives grace. He aids His prayerful children to endure in whatever "bad" state He places them for His own purposes and their good, and promises our triumph in the End where All Good lies. (Some of the Scriptures involved: The Book of Job, especially Chapters 1 & 2, and 40 & 42. Matthew 5:45, 6:28-30; Romans 8:28, 12:12; Hebrews 4:16, 10:36, 12:1l; Philippians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Peter 1:7-9) * * * * * MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER (From a booklet written by Paul Francisco) PRAISE GOD FOR: -His absolute sovereignty; -His whole creation: the universe, the earth and Mankind; -His absolute justice and perfection. -Your wonderful salvation. THANK GOD FOR: -Revealing Himself to you as our Father in Jesus Christ; -Jesus, bearing your sins in His own body on the cross; -Giving you the faith to believe in Jesus and be saved; -The faith by which you have forgiveness of all sins, and everlasting life; ASK GOD FOR: -The humility to offer yourself daily to serve Him; -The honesty to confess your sins and ask forgiveness; -The deep desire to grow in grace in order to reflect Jesus in your daily life; THINGS TO DO: CONFESS FREELY: -All remembered sins, past and present: with sincere repentance. -All lack of faith to fully trust God to work all things for your good, as His child. -Your worries, problems, and anxieties. PRAY FOR: -Greater faith; -Wisdom for all the happenings of the day -Your relatives, friends, etc, -That promised peace which passes all understanding -Your enemies or those who oppose you in any way; -Our Nation and its leaders -Anything the Holy Spirit brings to mind, such as what He wishes you to do that day or evening. Take your time in prayer.God has no timetable, and nothing is more ever important than talking to our Heavenly Father. Think about what you are saying as you pray silently or aloud. * * * * * Web Site Information Praying Hearts Sanctuary has a website at www.geocities.com/prayingheartssanctuary. Please feel free to visit us there. If you missed our first newsletter or have deleted it but wish to reread anything from it, please check it out at our newsletter page of our web site. Also, you may email us from our website or by going directly to [email protected] * * * * * Updating Prayer Requests It has been exciting to receive prayer requests. The prayer team has actively been praying for the needs, but more than that, we have also emailed those who have shared their prayer burdens. We count it a privilege to be able to intervene for you, if you have a prayer request. We feel that it is a blessing to pray for those who have requested prayer, but feel that unless we receive updates at least once monthly we cannot pray up- to-date and accurate prayers. So, in the interest in being current and accurate, we have decided that we will honor each prayer request for a month. We trust that if no email update is received that God is working out matters and the situation about which we were asked to pray has been resolved or that dear soul who requested the prayer has gotten to the point of not needing further prayers from the Praying Hearts Sanctuary team. If you sent us a request and it is your desire that our prayer team continue to pray for the matter, please send us an update at either our [email protected] or directly to one of the prayer team's email address. * * * * * * Closing Prayer Our dear and precious Lord and Heavenly King, we come before You with grateful hearts for Your Holy Presence within our lives. You make yourself known and available to us continuously. Your Kingdom knows no end and is not limited by time or space. We continue to be amazed at the miracles we experience deep within our souls, as well as those we observe among our brothers and sisters. You are our Living and Gracious Lord and without You we are nothing. With You, we are able to experience Your loving presence, Your power and Your amazing peace. In spite of the problems with which this world challenges us, we are able to build or rebuild our lives as cling to You, our strong and immovable rock, our firm foundation. We thank You for your incredible power to love and forgive our sins, Your vast understanding of us and the love and understanding you give us for others. Right now, we pray for each of Your dear and precious family who is in pain. You know each need, be it emotional, spiritual, physical or intellectual. You understand the cause and the cure of our ills. We trust You to touch and grant healing in Your perfect way and in Your perfect timing. We pray for patience and strength to understand the needs we presently have. We also seek Your wisdom to open our hearts and minds to opportunities You have for us to heal and move on into a more victorious period of our lives. This we pray in your Matchless and Holy Name, Jesus Christ, Amen. [email protected], Editor |
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