5 Faith Lessons On Prayer

This morning I finished the book Prayer: Conversing with God by Roaslind Rinker. I picked the book up at the thift store about  week ago. The circa 1970’s yellow-orange cover with bad graphics immediately caught my eye. To my suprise the back cover notes that the first copy was a best seller and first printed in 1959 with nearly half a million copies in print in over twenty editions! For .35 cents I had to have it!

Prayer: Conversing with God is an easy to digest 126 page mini masterpiece explaining the simple joy of conversational prayer, talking person to person with the Lord Jesus. I’d like to share a part of Chapter 8 that I have summarized in my own words as 5 Faith Lessons On Prayer. These are things are prayer promises to remember as we sit down for our God Time to pray and converse with God.

 

1. God is willing to answer our prayers. He is faithful and more willing to give than we are to recieve.

2. Faithfully ask for God to meet your deepest needs.

3. Seek God’s presence in a moment of thanksgiving and worship before beginning in prayer. Realize He is there with you during prayer time.

4. Stronly desire God and His will for your life and during prayer. Let your need for God alone be the first prayer you pray.

5. Be conscious and prayerful about a “point of contact” with Jesus. This is when you touched the hem of his garment and know you’re prayer has been answered. It may not be in the way you expect though!

Planned Prayer Time

Plan on quality prayer time with God and you can trust God is planning a quality life for you. This is called God’s Providence; the care, guidance and wisdom He offers when we are in prayer communion with Him. It doesn’t mean you will never encounter difficulties or suffering but that you may approach them with an understanding that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Why planned prayer time?

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says to pray continually. By “Planned Prayer Time,” I am not disagreeing with continually prayer but am suggesting a specially devoted time alone with God to commune with Him in prayer. I’ve been watching the chaos of mothering three kids (two in diapers), keeping up with the housework, and helping my husband run his business slowly distinguish my energy and ability to properly care for myself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I believe God is using this an an opportunity to teach me the importance of seeking time with Him ALONE for preservation and restoration, which are both essential for maintaining a healthy spirit life.

 

PRESERVATON:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” Proverbs 4:23

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6

RESTORATION:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” 2 Corinthians 4:16

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” 1 Peter 5:10

 

      Regularly scheduled God Time:

•  should be seen as a date with God and not a business appointment
• will require dedication and committment
• should be done alone: Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning…Jesus got up…and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

 

As I mentioned in the begining: Plan on quality prayer time with God and you can trust God is planning a quality life for you.

Socialism and Anti-Christian Sentiment

Barely a week goes by that I don’t find myself in a distressing discussion about the direction of U.S. policy headed toward Socialism. Why should Socialism be a concern, particularily for Christians?  What’s the connection? Well,

I recently posted “Illegal in 52 Countries” which highlighted the countries where Christians are currently persecuted for their beliefs. What you may not know is the primary political system in those countries is Socialist. Among those include:

Marxist-Leninist/Socialist Republics/Communist States:

• China
• Cuba
• Laos
• North Korea
• Vietnam

Non-Marxist-Leninist/Socialists:

• Egypt
• India
• Libya
• Sri-Lanka
• Syria
• Bangladesh

 

Here are a few quotes regarding Christianity based on Marixism/Socialism that raise concern:

• Our Programme is based entirely on the scientific, and moreover the materialist, world-outlook. An explanation of our Programme, therefore, necessarily includes an explanation of the true historical and economic roots of the religious fog. Our propaganda necessarily includes the propaganda of atheism; the publication of the appropriate scientific literature, which the autocratic feudal government has hitherto strictly forbidden and persecuted, must now form one of the fields of our Party work. We shall now probably have to follow the advice Engels once gave to the German Socialists: to translate and widely disseminate the literature of the eighteenth-century French Enlighteners and atheists.     -Lenin(http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1905/dec/03.htm)

 

• Religion is, therefore, only temporarily an obstacle for the advance of socialism. (http://www.marxists.org/archive/pannekoe/1907/socialism-religion.htm)

 

• Religion is one of the forms of spiritual oppression which everywhere weighs down heavily upon the masses of the people, over burdened by their perpetual work for others, by want and isolation. Impotence of the exploited classes in their struggle against the exploiters just as inevitably gives rise to the belief in a better life after death as impotence of the savage in his battle with nature gives rise to belief in gods, devils, miracles, and the like. Those who toil and live in want all their lives are taught by religion to be submissive and patient while here on earth, and to take comfort in the hope of a heavenly reward. But those who live by the labor of others are taught by religion to practice charity while on earth, thus offering them a very cheap way of justifying their entire existence as exploiters and selling them at a moderate price tickets to well-being in heaven. Religion is opium for the people. Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image, their demand for a life more or less worthy of man.   -Lenin (http://www.newyouth.com/archives/classics/lenin/socialism_and_religion.html)

 

I don’t a whole lot about Socialism but I can see why, as a Christian, I should be aware of the potential of developing Socialism in the United States is NOT a good thing.

Illegal in 52 Countries

No, I’m talking about a scandalous sex tape or the latest underground drug. I’m talking about Christianity.

Below are the included countries (according to persecution.com, The Voice of the Martyrs website) restricting, condeming, and banning the Bible/Christianity. The RED indicates a HOSTILE NATION toward Christians including brutal militant force, jail time, torture, kidnapping, etc.

• Chiapas (Mexico)
• Cuba
• Columbia (South America)
• Mauritania (Africa)
• Morocco (Africa)
• Algeria (Africa)
• Nigeria (Africa)
• Tunisia (Africa)
• Libya (Africa)
• Egypt (Africa)
• Sudan (Africa)
• Comoros (Africa)
• Eritrea (Africa)
• Ethiopia (Africa)
• Somalia (Africa)
• Yemen
• Omen
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Qatar
• Kuwait
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Gaza and the West Bank
• Lebanon
• Syria
• Turkey
• Belarus
• Azerbaijan
• Turkmenistan
• Uzbekistan
• Afghanistan
• Pakistan
• Tajikistan
• Kyrgyzstan
• India
• Sri Lanka
• Maldives
• Nepal
• Tibet
• Bhutan
• Bangladesh
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Vietnam
• Brunei
• Indonesia
• Philippines
• China
• North Korea

 

Christianity is probably one of the least popular, highly criticized belief systems/worldviews. Due to the exclusivity and profound radical claims found in the Bible, I would also like add it’s the most ideologically “threatening.” When combined, it is no surprise that these qualities result it as being one of the most (if not the most) persecuted belief system in the world. In fact, Christianity has been loathed and persecuted since the first centuries after Christ’s death and resurrection.

 

 So why would ANYONE want to be a Christian, especially in highly strained areas of the world?

Sin made us, and this world, broken and wicked. Without Christ we’re enslaved to evil desires and doomed for eternal damnation as retribution. A closer look at some of the countries in red reveals the severity of wickedness and evil in the world. Watch the news or go to the Human Rights Watch website and search one or more of them and you’ll see evil is not only very real but very apparent. Christians choose Christ because He will deliver justice to us and our persecutors. Christians are promised to be set us free from the clutches of this corrupt, unjust world and Satan if we choose Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Corrupt people in power seek to be the ultimate power and authority, essentially tey seek to be godlike. The cruel, tyrannical people that rule hostile places rationally fear the Bible and Christ which means they must believe it to be a real, true threat. After all, if Christianity didn’t truly give people freedom, why would they seek to destroy it and its followers?

 

 

 

 

 

Erosion of Self

This is a Casting Crowns song called ‘Slow Fade’ which was played at my church last Sunday. I wanted to post the video and a few thoughts about the impact the song had on me.

 

My husband is the kind of guy that details our vehicles with a toothbrush and obsesses over washing and waxing techniques. He usually spends an entire Saturday morning meticulously pampering our vehicles, both inside and out. We’ve always had decent vehicles with little rust or damage but it’s not like they were luxury sedans or anything.

One morning, both curious and slightly annoyed by the extravagant process, I went out and asked him why he bothered investing so much time and energy on his day off to clean our run-of-the-mill vehicles. He replied back very seriously and equally as annoyed, “It’s not just about cleanliness. It’s maintenance.” Then he carried on about his work.

Looking back at that moment the importance of maintenance is abundantly clear. This is especially true in our spiritual walk as Christians. Build up can happen over a period of days, weeks, months, or even years. It’s often a slow fade. How bad do we let it get before we do something about it? The longer it goes, the more likely it is to cause collateral damage to our peace and joy.

Has life piled up and built up so bad that you’ve completely forgotten why you believe? Do not fret. Restoration comes from Jesus. He does the dirty work as long as we go to Him to get cleaned up.

How much time do you spend maintaining your walk with the Lord? Christian maintenance is daily and yes, it takes work. Here’s an acrostic to help you remember to WORK daily at your faith to prevent a slow fade:

　

W alk in and toward the light

“Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord” Isaiah 2:5

If we humbly and willingly walk according to the teaching of the Bible and in the love and grace of Christ Jesus, God lights the path for us to His way.

O pen your eyes and ears to God at work all around you

God is always at work and uses us to help accomplish it. Recognizing and watching for God’s activity so that you are prepared to respond for action. You can  keep your eyes and ears open by repenting and confessing whenever sin enters your life.

 

R emember God’s Word and promises

When the going gets tough it is helpful to remember the faithful promises of God so you can persevere and be encouraged.

 

K nock obstacles out of your way

“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” James 4:7

God already defeated Satan by the deathof Jesus Christ on the cross. Resist the devil and he has to leave you alone. Don’t let him deceive you into thinking that he is an obstacle that cannot be overcome. We already have the victory! 

 

 

Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunction

I’m an adult child of an alcholic (ACOA). What does that mean? I am adult whose life was negatively affected as a result of being raised by an alcoholic and/or dysfunctional family. This doesn’t mean I sit around and feel sorry for myself but I am in the process of getting help learning to recognize the hurts, habits and hang-ups I’ve developed as a result of my dysfunctional childhood.

Even with the most valiant efforts to be normal and well-adjusted I’ve always felt like part of me is broken, unbalanced. Not knowing or understanding the cause of this problem has prevented the proper healing so sometimes this part of my life festers and infects the good parts of me and my life. During a recent “flare-up” I desperately cried out to God for help. It came in an unconventional way……….but it came. Now the healing process has begun.

 

To learn more about Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctinal Families see:

http://www.rollinghillscr.org/index.php?page=aca          (Celebrate Recovery Info Specifically for ACOA)

http://www.thisisawar.com/AddictionAlcoholChild.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_Children_of_Alcoholics

http://alcoholism.about.com/od/adult/a/quiz_adult.htm

http://www.wayneandtamara.com/topicchildrenofalcoholics.htm

Adam: The First Lonely Person

 

Christians experiencing loneliness, the feeling of being alone, may also experience guilt.

 

 There is a common misconception that Christians aren’t supposed to feel lonely if they’re always in the presence of God.

But look at Adam, the first person in creation, truly all alone in this world. He was in the perfect, sinless, direct presence of God yet alone and lonely.

 God acknowledges Adam is alone saying, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Why would God consider Adam alone when Adam is in the presence and company of God?

I believe this means Christians may experience loneliness even when we are in the company of God.

God not only acknowledge the reality of loneliness, He lovingly and graciously (without guilt/condemnation) wants to provide a way out of loneliness.

In Adam’s case God created a companion, Eve. For us it may be church friends and family, biological family, a spouse, or even friends. We’ve also been given our Wonderful Counselor the Holy Spirit when we, as disciples of Christ, feel alone in this broken, sinful world.

 

See loneliness as an opportunity to humbly and unashamedly approach Our Father in Heaven, who never leaves nor forsakes us, especially in times of need. Ask God to supply comfort and perseverance to endure the difficult season of loneliness. Ask for His provision; for a fresh anointing of His Holy Spirit, a new friendship, or whatever it is God wills to meet the need causing your loneliness.

 

 

 

 

The Rise and Fall of Stock Market Christianity

     Christianity is not a crutch weak people rely on in order to provide an explanation for the confusion of the world or to fulfill a “false” sense of security or comfort. Some evangelicals work very hard “selling” Christianity as an instant band-aid that heals all a person’s problems and deceives the world into thinking Christianity is “the good life.”

It’s time to stop underestimating the intelligence and maturity of the unbelieving population by delivering a spoonful of sugar to make the Gospel medicine go down. People don’t like being fooled.

This kind of falsely advertised, romanticized Christianity doesn’t last. Numerous new “converts” often immediately fall away from Christianity because their faith is based on an emotional experience rather than a disciplined personal commitment. There is no get rich quick Christianity and it is a bad thing to invest in.

 Spiritual rebirth as a follower of Christ requires a personal investment, an investment in the spiritual stock market. A person accepting Christ as Savior is graciously deposited with the Holy Spirit of God. When cared for properly, the investment of Christianity can result in a portfolio of spiritual gifts. Upon the return of Christ this investment will fully mature and be ready for withdrawal as an eternal and perfect life with God.

But the Christian life, at times, can be just as treacherous as the stock market. You see, when a person accepts Christ as savior and Lord they will continue to face hardships and problems and have also accepting Satan as an adversary. Think of Satan as the greedy and corrupt CEO’s of our time. He’s wants what he can’t have. If your investment is vulnerable he will try to destroy your investment. He cannot just take it, you have to give it to him. He will do whatever sneaky and decietful things he has to do to build your trust or distract you from protecting your investment. You must persevere when the “market” of life seems down and falling; it will go up again.

So, until Christ returns, the investment must be protected, watched and maintained. 2 Peter 1:5-8 helps a person understand how to do this: “For this very reason, make EVERY EFFORT to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perserverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in INCREASING MEASURE, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive…” (emphasis added)

It will take EVERY EFFORT to protect and maintain the investment and will TAKE TIME for it to INCREASE IN MEASURE. You must always keep watch (not to be confused with paranoia, okay) and be diligient in the matters of your Christian faith. Eagerly await the day when the labor of your investment is fulfilled. Encourage others to do the same.

IF YOU INVEST IN GOD, HE WILL INVEST IN YOU!

 

This has had me thining lately about my life and I’d like to ask some questions I have to ask myself each day?

What are you investing in?

How am I continually protecting my investment?

How am I continually maintaining my investment?

How do others see my investment as a Christian?

Salt in the Snow

I’ve been enduring another dark season of the soul leaving me unable to write anything I find worth sharing so I thought I’d post some lyrics from a band I’ve been listening to lately. The band is called The Classic Crime and the song is called ‘Salt in the Snow.’  

 

Give me wings,
Give me peace.
These are the things that I need.
I’m tormented, broken and shamed
Are you listening? (Are you listening)?
Give me shelter from the storm,
I know it’s a lot to ask for,
Considering how recent I’ve piled the dirt on your name.
Are you listening? (Are you listening)?
Are you listening?

I have heard that winter’s cold
will give way to summer’s warmth
Oh no! Like salt in the snow
I’m melted and left all alone on the side of the road.

In this where I am for your sake,
Stuck between sleep and awake?
My mind is dreaming of things.
Are you listening? (Are you listening)?
I took you for granted again
And threw you aside
And pretended for one minute that I had control of my life,
And direction it seemed to be in
I was wrong again, (I was wrong again),
are you listening?

I have heard that winter’s cold
will give way to summer’s warmth
Oh no! Like salt in the snow
I’m melted and left all alone on the side of the road.

I will wait for you to come again,
And I can’t pretend like I’m confident
And I can’t pretend like it makes much sense when it doesn’t.

I have heard that winter’s cold,
Will give way to summer’s warmth.
Oh no! Like salt in the snow,
I’m melted and left all alone on the side of the road.
On the side of the road.
On the side of the road.
On the side of the road.

Is Christianity oppressive, prejudice and intolerant?

I used to view Christianity as oppressive, prejudice and intolerant toward all other belief systems. When I became a Christian I continued to struggle with the exlusivity Christianity claimed. I could easily admit I was a sinner. I strongly believed in God as the creator and power of the universe. I even believed Christ was God incarnate (made human), born to die for my sins. But I couldn’t allow myself to be as narrow-minded as “other” Christians and claim Christianity as the only way to believe.

Why would God be so exclusive if He loves everyone and wants everyone to be saved?

 God has a given us (most of us, anyway) a fine working mind with the ability to learn and respond to the world He created. I wanted to discover the truth of this matter. The first thing I learned during this process was this:

God created us to be FREE THINKERS because faith IS NOT thoughtless, careless, or irrational.

Using this ability to feely think I humbly and liberally approached this matter from a strictly Biblical point of view. I defined the words oppression, prejudice, and  intolerance in the dictionary, compard them to the Bible and my Bible-based Christian faith and understanding to better define and explain these issues.

 

•    OPPRESSION: to dominate harshly, to subject a person or a people to a harsh or cruel form of domination.

Here are just a few verses discussing the topic of oppression. Some Christians may misuse their title of faith to dominate people lacking fellowship with God but the Bible clearly doesn’t teach any doctrine of oppression nor does it reveal God’s character as oppressive.

Exodus 22:21 (regarding social responsibility of God’s people, the Israelites): ”Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens from Egypt.”

Psalm 9:9: “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

 Pslam 72:4 “[God] will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.”

Pslam 31:5 (regarding national leaders that abuse power): “lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.”

Luke 18:4: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.” (Jesus said this)

 

• INTOLERANT: refusing to accept differences, showing an unwillingness or refusal to accept people who are different from you, or views, beliefs, or lifestyles that differ from your own

 I focused on “accept differences” and “accept people” to clarify the word ACCEPT phrases. Acceptance doesn’t mean that I’ve adopted the views, beliefs, or lifestyles differences of other people but have ACKNOWLEDGED and COME TO TERMS with these differences.

Because I have not adjusted my Christian views, beliefs, or lifestyle to that of another is not being intolerant. That would be comprimising to my faith (Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 1:14). I do, however, need to WELCOME and  ACKNOWLEDGE and RESPECT the persons having differing views, beliefs, or lifestyles. Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you.”  also Romans 15:7 “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

God has standards for His people. As a follower of Christ, anything less than what God expects of me isn’t acceptable for me. (Although it doesn’t mean I’ll be able to perfectly follow.) The same standards may be “accpetable” for people not following Christ even if God intends His standards for them also.

When I accept another person regardless of differences, I am not adapting or adjusting my beliefs to comform but loving them the way love Christ loves me since he died for the world while Iwas still a sinner and not because I attained some kind of holy glory.

 

• PREJUDICE: a preformed opinion, usually an unfavorable one, based on insufficient knowledge, irrational feelings, or inaccurate stereotypes

First of all Christianity :

1) only seems unfavorable for those who don’t follow Christ. God desires to show us favor when we favor Him.  

2) is based on the sufficient knowledge of a Sovereign God accessible by the spritual rebirth through God’s Holy Spirit and the inspired immutable Holy scriptures. 

3) is not based on irrational feelings but the experiences of God through Spiritual rebirth through the Holy Spirit.

4) is not based on inaccurate sterotypes but by the perfect example of Christian living based on the life and teaching of Christ.

 

 

Conculsion: 

Christianity is neither oppressive, prejudice, nor intolerant. Only people are.