I John 5: 14-15

Friday January 15th- Elizabeth's prayer- Luke 1:5-80

12:00 PM

 

Friday January 15th- Elizabeth’s prayer-Luke 1: 5-80

This week we have been studying Elizabeth.  She and her husband, Zecharais were considered righteousness in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.  She trusted Him with all her heart and did not lean on her own understanding.  She acknowledged Him in all her ways and He made her paths straight.  Come with me as I share how I think she prayed over the years of her life.






Lord, You are the Almighty One.  The Creator of the heavens and the earth.  My soul has found rest in You God alone.  My hope comes from You.  You are my fortress, I will not be shaken.  On You Lord, my salvation rests.  You are my Rock of strength, my refuge is in You.  I trust in You at all times and I pour out my heart to You.  For many years Lord, Zecharais and I have prayed for a child and (we have learned to trust in You and to wait on You for we know that You hear and listen to whatever we ask of You and You have always answered) and now when it was impossible in the world’s eyes that I would not be able to conceive anymore, You did a miraculous thing and granted to us a son, whom You named John.  [John-God has been gracious! ] 

   




That day when Mary came to visit me, You filled me with the Holy Spirit and out of my mouth came, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb”, I knew that she was the mother of our Lord and the baby in me leaped for joy at the sound of her voice.   It was a joyous time spending a few months with Mary. 

I remember the day Zacharais came home from his priestly duties,  I could tell something was different, the moment he walked in the door.  He could not talk and as he was sharing with me what happened, my heart was rejoicing in knowing that we would have a son and that he had a special purpose, to be the forerunner of Jesus.  It was a quiet nine months but a time of worshiping You, Lord and waiting for the birth of John.

I can still remember Zacharais’ prayer the day John was born.  He was praising you right from the moment that he got his voice back.  He began praising You and prophesying that You had brought redemption and salvation to Your people.  A salvation from our enemies and to show mercy to His people, remembering His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father.  That John would be called a prophet of the Most High; for he will go before the Messiah to prepare His ways, to give His people the knowledge of salvation and the forgiveness of their sins and to guide our feet into the way of peace and serenity. 

Lord, I thank You for giving to us exceedingly, abundantly beyond what we asked when we prayed for a child.  I rejoice in You, my Lord and my King!  The Holy One of Israel.  For there is nothing too difficult for You! Amen

 

How do you strengthen yourself in the Lord during difficult times or when prayer requests go unanswered  and you have been waiting for a very long time and now it seems impossible that it will be answered?

Remember nothing is impossible with God! Luke 1:37

What scriptures do you turn to?

I John 5:14-15-This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

Persevere and rejoice my sisters in knowing that if we ask Him anything according to His will we have it. 

Post prayer requests as we get together every week to pray for you all!


1 John

Friday Oct. 16th I John 3- God's children

12:00 PM

 

Friday October 16th   

I John 3

Children of God!

 





Have you ever really stopped and thought about being a child of God?  We are loved by a faithful, loving heavenly Father, Who is intimately acquainted with us and we are part of His family. 

In Psalm 139 , He knit us together in our mothers’ womb.  He is intimately acquainted with all of our ways. There is no where we can go that He is not there.  I encourage you to go and read this psalm today and let it sink in who you really are as a child of God. 

See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God!  And so we are!  For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  :1 [Amp. Bible]

. 

We are born again.

John 3:16-For God so loved the world, that He gave His  only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

One of the primary benefits of becoming a Christian is that we also become part of God’s family.

 






Eph.4:4-6-There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when called [to salvation]-one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God the Father of us all who is [sovereign] over all and  [working] through all and [living] in all.

As His children we practice righteousness in our lives. We are continually striving to live a consistently honorable life-in private as well as in public and to conform to His will.  We do not habitually practice sin.   We are set apart for His purpose and live to please Him.  As we spend time in His Word each day we get to know Him and to know who we are in Him.  We hide His word in our hearts so that we might not sin against Him. 

God does not come and go in our lives.  He carries on a permanent relationship with us because He is always there for us and in us.  We sense His presence primarily through the work of the Holy Spirit. As we abide in Christ, He nourishes us spiritually the same way a vine gives nourishment to its branches. [Amp Bible notes]

We are also warned about the schemes of the devil, who practices sin, separating himself from God. 

: 8 [Amp. Bible]

Practicing sinfulness- separating himself from God and offending Him by acts of disobedience, indifference, or rebellion is of the devil and takes his inner character and moral values from him, not God for the devil has sinned and violated God’s law from the beginning. 

The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Some warning signs to look for:

Disobedience

Indifference,

Rebellion,

Not seeking His will in thought, action and purpose.

The evil one is crafty and sly wanting to destroy and kill and we need to be on our guard esp. during these difficult days we are living in.  Don’t let the tactics of the devil deter you from walking with the Lord. 

Remember the Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Are we spending time in His Word daily?  Do we run to Him for everything and I mean everything?  Does He has first place in our lives?  What do you practice day in and day out of our lives?

Fight the good fight of faith and stand firm in His armor and let us encourage one another from His Word.   

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  II Cor. 13:14

Lyn

 


ephesians 2:19-22

Walking in Wisdom {1 Corinthians 3}

12:00 PM


Friday April 3rd-Walking in Wisdom

1 Corinthians 3:9 | Joy quotes, Words, 1 corinthians 3


I Corinthians 3

Foundations for living!  What are we here for?  What should we be doing while we are here? 
We are servants of the living God.  We all have a part to live out while we are here.   Some of us are planters, some are waterers.  The only One who can make it grow is God.

A Sign of Spiritual Immaturity | 海外華人福音網

For we are God’s fellow workers;
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 

you are God’s field,
:16-do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?]

God’s building.   
Eph. 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God’s household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a ;holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
:16  Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells n you?
I Cor. 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

February 19th – 1 Corinthians 3:23 – Knowledge of Him


You belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.  :23

He warns us in verse: 10-11 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder. I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it.  But let each man be careful how he builds upon it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
I encourage you to not be discouraged if you present the gospel to someone and do not see the fruits of it.  Be thankful that you got to share Jesus with someone and pray for them, that someone will come along and will water what has been shared to them and that God will make them grow.  We may never know this side of heaven all the lives our life has touched and those that came to know Jesus because of it. 
Stay strong in these uncertain times in our lives right now and ask God for boldness to share the gospel with those around you. 
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Lyn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eQd3K2Fxp4



Acts 16:22-30

Trials & Tribulations {Acts 16}

5:12 AM


Friday March 6th-Walking in Wisdom!

Acts 16:22-30 

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Trials and Tribulations! 
How do you react when going through them?  We probably will never experience what the disciples went through, but we can be encouraged when we go through our own struggles.    
Can you imagine having your clothes torn off of you and then beaten with rods?  After much affliction and blows to their bodies they were then thrown into the inner prison with their feet in stocks. [Acts 22-23] 
I am sure they must have felt the pain of what they went through.  But, what were they doing around midnight?  There were praying and singing hymns of PRAISE to God.  Those around them got the benefit of hearing this and they whether they liked it or not got to listen to it.  [:25]
When we are rejoicing in the Lord, it is far reaching in our lives to those around us.

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Even there in the prison God was with Paul and Silas.  There is nowhere that you can go that God is not there.
[Psalm 139:7-12]
Do you know someone who seems at peace and calm through their storms of life? 
For me it was Corrie Ten Boom, [The Hiding Place] and Elizabeth Eliot [Through Gates of Splendor]. 
They  encouraged me when I first became a Christian.  How did they do that?  I believe that spending time each day with the Lord in His word and praying and praising Him is the answer.  The more time you spend with Him the more you will get to know Him and know who you are in Him. 
I encourage you to read Isaiah 53 and see what Jesus has done for you. 

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blessings!
Lyn

Acts 11:23-24

Encouraging one another to remain true to the Lord

1:00 PM


Friday Feb. 14th   Walking in Wisdom

Encouraging one another to remain true to the Lord.
 Acts 11:19-30
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Barnabas:
·    * A Levite from Cyprus named Joseph, whom the disciples call Barnabas, which meant son of encouragement.  Acts 4:36

·     *Has a proper perspective on the use of money and property and gave it to the apostles  Acts 4:36-37

·     *Served others   Acts 4:36-37

·    * Stood up for Saul  Acts 9:26-27

·     *Full of the Holy Spirit and faith  Acts 11: 24

·     *Encouraging other believers to remain true to the Lord  Acts 11:23

·    * Through his ministry a great number of people came to know the Lord   Acts 11:24

·    * Willingness to do whatever church leaders needed
Acts 11 25-30 

I love Barnabas.  

We all have an upbringing.  Some of us have good ones and some of us not so good ones.  It does not matter how you were raised.  What matters is if you know Jesus.  It was obvious that Barnabas knew Jesus and loved Him and served Him well. 
Are you someone who loves to encourage others? 
Are you willing to do what the Lord asks of you?
Are you willing to give up all that you have to the Lord?
Are you willing to be stand up for someone in the faith?
Do you know a Barnabas or are you a Barnabas?

The only way to be like him is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  To spend time in His Word getting to know Him and who you are in Him.   We spend time with people every day and by doing that we get to know them very well, it is the same with Jesus, do you spend time with Him every day?  
For those of you who do spend time with Him every day, are you out there encouraging the believers?  And did you notice that not only was he encouraging the believers but others were being saved as well. 

Father, help us to be  encouragers today of the believers and that it is far reaching into the lives of the unsaved.  That we would hunger and thirst after Your righteousness. 
Let our roots grow down into You and draw up nourishment from You, so we will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth we have been taught.  Let our lives overflow with thanksgiving for all You have done.   Col. 2:7
That we would delight in Your law, Lord and meditate on it day and night and we will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever we do we prosper.  Psalm 1:2-3
That we would be the land which drinks in the rain often falling on it and produces a crop useful for whom it is farmed and we will receive a blessing from you God.   Heb. 6:7
Amen!

Blessings
Lyn




II Peter 3:9

Lost and Found! God's love for the sinners!

12:00 AM


Friday Jan. 24th       
Walking in Wisdom!
Lost and Found!  God’s love for sinners!

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Luke 15
It starts out with the tax collectors and sinners coming often to listen to Jesus teach. 
Tax collectors were men who collected taxes for the Romans and had a bad reputation for extortion and malpractice.  Sinners were those whose daily occupations rendered them ceremonially unclean and not to be associated with. [foot note in my bible]
Read Matt. 9:10-13
[Interesting that they asked the disciples instead of asking Jesus who was right there with them.]
Eight times in this chapter the "lostness" of man is emphasized
vs. 4-What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 
:6 -And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost
:8-10 Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
:11-13-A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his  wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.
:17-But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!
:24-for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. 
:32-But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

The Lost Sheep
A shepherd cares much for his sheep.  He nurtures, heals and leads them.  If he finds that one is lost, he will leave the rest [who are still being cared for] and goes and finds the lost one. 

The Lost Coin
Here is a woman who lost a precious silver coin.
She searches for it till she finds it.
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The Lost Son
Here we have a son who chooses to leave and go out on his own.  He is given his inheritance and squanders it to the point that he has nothing left and no one is giving anything to him.
He comes to his senses and realizes that he can return home to his father.  He will repent before his father and ask to be accepted as one of his father’s hired servants. 
Well, his father does more than that.  His father sees him in the distance and has compassion for him and runs and embraces him and kisses him.  He welcomes him with open arms and plans a feast for him.  The father is rejoicing because his lost son is found.
We have 3 examples of Christ’s love for the sinners and the lost. 
In the first two stories what was lost was sought after till found. 
In the last story there was no seeking for that lost one but a waiting.  I can only think that this father prayed for and eagerly awaited the return of his son.
When he saw his son coming he had great compassion for him and ran to him and embraced and kissed him. 
Read Luke 15: 25-32
Here we have the brother of the prodigal son, who is very much like the Pharisees and scribes.  Not happy about his father’s reaction when his brother returns. He was not rejoicing!
In all 3 stories there was great rejoicing when the lost was found.  So much so that they partied and invited friends and neighbors.
It is the same with us.
Did we wander off?
Did we lose something?
Did we make a choice?
Know this-
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  II Peter 3:9
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Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
God is a loving heavenly Father who is not willing for any to perish without repentance.  He sent His Son Jesus to live on this earth to save us from our sinful lives.  He gave His own life for us while we were yet sinners.  When we come to Him, repent and turn from our sinful way of life and follow Him there is much rejoicing in heaven.
Lyn

Heb. 4: 14-16

Take Time to Pray! {Luke 5}

10:00 AM

Scripture Reading: Luke 5

Take time to pray! How often do you stop during the day to pray?  Do you have a place where you go to pray? 

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But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness [lonely place] and pray. Luke 5: 16

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4: 14-16

I am so thankful for a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses and was tempted in all things that we are tempted in and that we can draw near to the throne of grace and receive mercy and grace for help in time of need.

When I went to Wyoming for my sister’s death, I went alone without my husband, it was sudden so he could not take the time off from work, was I afraid, yes because I was not sure of what I was going in to.  I had not seen my sister’s family in many years.  I had stayed in touch with them but really did not know them.  There was a lot of fighting going on among them.  I felt at times like I was in a battle zone.  I did much praying during that time and I went to my room throughout the day to pray and ask the Lord for help.  It was during that trip that I saw the Lord at work.  He taught me to slip away into my room to pray and trust Him for the results.  Very bad situations suddenly stopped.  Unkind words were stopped.  Laughter and joy replaced them. I was able to share the Lord with them and pray with them.   I was able to spend time with them and the Lord deepened my relationship with them.  I saw Him heal a marriage and bring them into relationship with Him. 

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Pray without ceasing; I Thess. 5:16

 I know that we all go through such hard times.  Talk to Him throughout the day and spend time alone with Him.  I know that we all lead busy lives but ask Him to show you when that time during the day is best for you.  He will show you because He wants to spend time with you.
If Jesus often went alone to pray, we also need to go alone and pray!

Trust Him with every fiber of your being!  What He can accomplish in and through you is proportional to how much you depend on Him.  He cares as much about your tiny trust-steps through daily life as about your dramatic leaps of faith.  You may think that no one notices, but the One who is always beside you sees everything-and rejoices.  Consistently trusting in Him is vital to flourishing in His presence. [taken from Jesus calling, Sarah Young]
Lyn