God's Tug - Strong Prayer

Strong Prayer

April 28, 2011

³² For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? ³³ God is my strength and  power: and he maketh my way perfect. ³⁴ He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places. II Samuel 22: 32-34 KJV

Just awhile ago when I was in the bathroom, I made the statement, “My prayer is so weak.” And I decided to examine, just exactly what makes my prayer this way. Is it me? Is it my laziness? Is it the fact that I feel the only time to pray is in the morning? Maybe all of these things and a misconception I may have about prayer.

Yesterday in the shower, two men I’ve never met, but are strong Christians came into my mind. Now, this might be a strange place for me, a woman, to think about Christian men I’ve never met, but God doesn’t want His followers to pray when it’s convenient for them. So, right then and there, I prayed for these two men. The thought occurred to me that there is no correct time to pray. That’s what makes it strong.

I knew a lady in a church I attended who told me many times, “Pray without ceasing.” This, too, is what makes prayer strong. In David’s prayers to the Lord when Saul kept persecuting him, David prayed all the time. Second Samuel 22 is an amazing prayer of David. The whole chapter is filled with praises to God. And if David prayed in caves, before battle, as a king, and in all kinds of other situations, then I guess I can, too.

There’s never a correct time or place to pray and that is what makes it strong.

God’s blessings upon you, your family, and your furkids (if you have any). If any of you would like to pass this on to others you know, please feel free. I do this not for those who read it, but because of what happens between God and me and His instructions about what I'm supposed to do each day.

Michelle Rose

God's Tug - A Question of Success

A Question of Success

April 27, 2011

In everything he did he had great success, because the LORD was with him.

1 Samuel 18:14 NIV

TN: What is your current definition of success? How has your story affected your understanding of what it means to be successful?

RON: A successful person is one who is living a joyful life with the hand he or she was dealt.

DENVER: A successful person is one who can thank God for nothin’, and then He’ll give him everything! 

Same Kind of Different as Me. Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent.

I have been reading the book Same Kind of Different as Me. What an amazing book it is, since it has helped me take a diverse look at my faith and my definition of success. Ok, for much of the book, tears have been in my eyes, since the Denver Moore’s faith so incredibly sturdy, especially with his life’s experiences. This man came into the 21^st century without so much of the knowledge that many of us take for granted. In his early life, he was abused and shifted from place to place as he watched the people he loved dying one by one. Yet, everything Denver Moore experienced, God was able to use.

I have wondered all my life how the Lord can use me. I mean, I’ve never accomplished great things, don’t have extensive education – beyond a BA; can’t count very much as vast success in my life, and have emotional, mental, and physical disabilities preventing me from doing what I see others accomplishing. By my own definition, I’m not much of a success. But does God see me differently? He saw in Denver Moore someone He could use. And I’ve seen many times in the Bible how the Lord has used people who thought they were weak and were unsuccessful. This verse from I Samuel 18:14 and the two lines from the interview in back of Same Kind of Different as Me started me thinking that God’s view of success in me (and others) is quite a bit different than humans have of themselves. As I’ve heard many times before, “God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.” I’m beginning to understand this saying. What an amazing God we have!

I have not written God’s Tug for several days because of having problems with migraines and the medication I take for them. I’m happy that I’m able to write it tonight. A thought also occurred to me today that there is no special time to pray for others – I can do it anytime. It’s not that I haven’t known this before, the thought just came with more clarity today.

I ask the Lord’s blessings upon everyone who reads my blog, in addition to your families, and furkids (if you have any).

Michelle Rose   

Nan's Calendar

by  Nan Forehand,  Statesville, NC

You cannot suddenly fabricate foundations of strength; they must have been building all along.
Philip Yancey

What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all -- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?  It is God who justifies.   Who is he that condemns?  Christ Jesus, who died -- more than that, who was raised to life -- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:31-39

Our foundations of strength and faith are built stronger each time we absorb God's truths in the Bible.  I want to whet your appetite, to give you a taste, to want more of the precious Bread of Life, which will give you renewed energy and vigor in laying the blocks and sealing the mortar of your foundation.  It all begins with the living Stone, Jesus Christ.  I urge you to open your Bible to 1 Peter Chapter 2, where you will learn more about not only the Capstone, but about living stones.   The analogy of living  stones ( we, as believers)  takes us from building the foundation to becoming the foundation and then becoming a living, breathing spiritual building, that being the church.  For everything in life, there is a beginning, a middle and an end.  From its beginning to its end, the church is built on Jesus.
I know, some are of the mindset that they have become disenchanted with "church" altogether.  Remember, not one human being is perfect.  We are all a work in progress.  Open your heart, your mind and your spirit to the will of God and you will be amazed at where He leads you!  Are you willing to be a living stone?

As you and I hold hands (figuratively, right now) you will feel the warmth of this stone that was warmed by the Son.  It takes a multitude of stones to build a church.  We are all connected.  Each stone is important and serves a vital function.  You are very important and your function is very important.  We support each other, providing strength to the foundation that upholds us all.

Take care and enjoy being a stone today.
Love, Nan

Good Things

by    Everett Christian,  McAlester, OK

 
GOOD THINGS
Monday, April 25, 2011
 
 
GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD
 
4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,
 “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
      chosen for great honor,
   and anyone who trusts in him
      will never be disgraced.”
- 1 Peter 2:4-6(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
GOD'S PROMISE TO US FROM HIS HOLY WORD
 
23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.  - 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24(New Living Translation).
 
 
 
A QUOTE
 
A virtuous person is clean both inside and outside.
- George Washington Carver -
 
 
 
THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER
 
The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
Happiness can sneak through a door you didn't even know you left open.
- From Reminisce Magazine -
 
 
 
NOTES
 
Today has been mostly cloudy with thunderstorms in the afternoon. High temperature today was 74 degrees. Low temperature last night was 60 degrees. We have been having lots of thunderstorms and rain the past few days but the weather is calm tonight. We had a Wonderful Easter Service at church yesterday. Church was dismissed last night. Today I had lunch with my brother, Charley, Bill Derichsweller, Steve LeFlore and his wife, Jeanne LeFlore. I came by Country Mart and then the post office and then home. I was resting during the thunderstorms this afternoon. Rascal came in a little damp and snuggled with me while the storm raged outside. It got pretty dark for a while. The picture tonight is Emmy.
 
For those who have been receiving Pastor J. T's Daily Jewell, it will be back Wednesday. He is at the district church camp with some other men doing some work at the camp for a couple of days.
 
The cats are fine. Coming and going as usual.
 
At 10:05 p.m. skies are partly cloudy with a temperature of 63 degrees. I will see you next time.
 
In Christian Love, Everett.

Nan's Calendar

by   Nan Forehand,  Statesville, NC

Exodus 23:19
Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the LORD your God.

As my day unfolds, I am productive; most days very productive, in fact.  The most important product of my day is that which I produce in the early morning hours; that being, the message published here.    This message is my "first fruit" of the day.  Yes, it's clear, I'm talking about intangible fruit.  I offer this with a grateful heart to God for planting within me, the desire to give back what has been given to me.  As I sit here, I offer to God and to you the best I have to give.  I don't worry that I'm giving too much or that my offering isn't considered good enough or that I may not have more love, compassion and encouragement to share throughout the day or tomorrow.  God has given me fertile soil in which to grow this fruit and because God has provided abundantly for my needs today to feed myself and my family, I can share with you.
Because I am reconciled to God through Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection, I am motivated to share the Good News.  Jesus paid the ultimate price.  His sacrifice of love to all of mankind, His willingness to die to pay for our sin-debt, changed everything.  We are all unworthy of salvation.  We don't deserve God's mercy or His favor.  It is our gratitude for salvation that carries so much meaning.  I have been saved by the power of Jesus' unfailing love.  My life has been transformed.  I was imprisoned by my own negative experiences and negative thinking.  If you are still imprisoned, if you are walking around with invisible bars between yourself and God, between yourself and others, I want you to know you can be free.  I want you to have peace of mind.   I want you to experience the love of Jesus, to get to know Him personally.    I want you to feel the very breath of God, His Holy Spirit moving through you.  I am motivated and activated on your behalf because I care about you.  Here and now, I offer to you with outstretched arms, my first fruits of the day.  Their sweetness will linger long after I'm gone and long after you've forgotten my name.  This prayer, meaning me, lifts you up to the Lord today.  Yes, as a baker bakes and a singer sings, this prayer prays. Blessed be the name of the Lord!  To Him, be the honor, the praise and the glory for ever! Take care and remember to share your first fruits! Love, Nan