3 Reasons to always pray

By Mazda

“The less I pray, the harder it gets.”

– Martin Luther

HIS RESOURCES

The Bible says that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). This doesn’t mean God only owns a thousand hills and all the cattle on them. In fact, the whole earth is His because He created it. He has ownership over all that is, including all we have and even our own selves (1 Corinthians 6:20). So why shouldn’t we pray if we have a need? God has it all; and He’s a good God, willing to share His blessings with us.

HIS POWER

God reigns supreme. Where the Supreme Court rules, He overrules because He is God over all of His creation, including His creatures (us!). So tap into God’s power for whatever it is you need. It’s not right to pray for all we want because wants and needs are not the same thing. We might want something, but God knows better what we need than we do. In fact, He knows our needs before they even come to our attention. So why not pray to the God Who can do whatever He pleases?

The rest is at: http://www.christianquotes.info/images/3-reasons-to-always-pray/

King of Love – Chapman video

There is joy in serving others

God does not bless . . .

How Do We Know Matthew Was the Author of the Gospel of Matthew?

http://www.jonathanmorrow.org/how-do-we-know-matthew-was-the-author-of-the-gospel-of-matthew/

10 Resolutions for Mental Health

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/10-resolutions-for-mental-health

What the Book of Job Teaches Us About Unexplainable Suffering

http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/videos-for-pastors/289567-the-book-of-job-unexplainable-suffering-justice.html

Mary, Did You Know? – Pentatonix

A Prayer about Loving as the Dearly Loved

 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph. 4: 30– 5: 2)

As I read this portion I realized anew that it wasn’t just the negative “stuff” that grieves God, but the absence of positive stuff, too.

Note that lack of kind actions, not doing things that show a tender heart toward people, forgiveness, not having a life characterized by loving actions (see Galatians 5 – Fruit of Spirit) also grieves the Holy Spirit.

Too many of us think that kind words when we see people in church constitutes kindness or love. I know that I have been satisfied with my own word — thought I was being kind and loving by a verbal “blessing”. I now realize we fail when we don’t recognize that both require actions, not just words. Words are nice, but cheap and easy but usually don’t take any effort or cost us any time or involvement. Jesus-love is more than words, offers of help, or even a verbal blessing. Words don’t impress the world about us, but actions that involve commitment, involvement and resemble what Jesus was like can — especially when the whole body of Christ is involved.

So, I suspect that my lack of involvement with others might just be grieving the Spirit. I think it best if we all stop, consider our actions — or lack thereof — and maybe repent and re-read and re-consider Paul’s words. I need to do that.

A Prayer about Loving as the Dearly Loved

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph. 4: 30– 5: 2)

Merciful Father, mighty Holy Spirit, most compassionate Lord Jesus, I praise you today for the love with which you love us, in which you have rooted us, and by which you are transforming us. It took the whole Trinity to redeem me, and it takes the whole Trinity for me to live this life of love to which you have called us. There’s no other way I will even begin to be an “imitator of God.” So hear my cry.

Father, I don’t want to live today just with a theoretical or theological awareness of being your dearly loved child. Let it be deeply experiential and existential— very real, very encouraging, and very humbling. Your great love for me is the greatest convicting power this side of the new heaven and new earth.

All day long, let me hear you serenading me in the gospel, that I might grieve the ways I grieve the Holy Spirit— with my thoughts, with my words, and with my actions. Otherwise, I might try to justify the ways I love so poorly.

Lord Jesus, you are so kind, compassionate, and forgiving of me. I want the fragrant aroma of the sacrifice you made for me on the cross to permeate all my relationships. You’re not calling me to change anybody. You’re calling me to live as a broken perfume bottle through which the aroma of grace will bring your disruptive and gentling presence. Let me live more out of brokenness than out of my woundedness and self-righteousness.

God the Holy Spirit, you who raised Jesus from the dead, give me the power I will need today to rid myself of— not to nurse, tolerate, or justify— my bitterness, anger, rage, brawling, slander, and malice and all the other ways I love poorly. Indeed, Triune God, the life of love you live for me, please live through me. I pray in Jesus’ peerless name. Amen.

Scotty Smith, Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith (p. 329)

What Should Be One of My Chief Aims at Church?

~ Austin Brown at http://gentlereformation.com

The answer is quite simple: encouragement.

Now not just your own encouragement, which is important enough, but the encouragement of others. That’s the aim. That’s where the emphasis falls.

In a section like 1 Corinthians 12-14, where Paul addresses spiritual gifts, and the attendant misuse among the Corinthian saints, the apostle exhibits both a clear and sustained emphasis upon encouragement.

Here’s a sampling to make the point. Why are gifts given?

• “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Cor 12:7)

• “That the members may have the same care for one another.” (1 Cor 12:25)

• “On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.” (1 Cor 14:13)

• “Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.” (1 Cor 14:5)

• “So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.” (1 Cor 14:12)

• “For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.” (1 Cor 14:17)

• There is also, sandwiched between the two chapters highlighted above, a Niagara Falls like emphasis upon love. Love is the linchpin for encouragement. Without love how can one truly encourage their brothers and sisters in Christ? See chapter 13.

Paul wants the saints to be encouraged. He presses home the point time and time again, urging the Corinthians to use their gifts, and in particular, the things they say, to build up the people around them.

The takeaway for me just that. How do I use my words at church? Do I aim to build others up? Is it an active ambition of mine? Do people inwardly groan when they see me approaching? Or do they feel encouraged and built up in Christ once the conversation is over?

The act of encouragement is wonderfully simple and good, but extraordinarily difficult for sinners. So my encouragement to you (and myself!) would be to lean hard on the Spirit and ask for help. Reflect afresh on the gifts God has given you and think how those can be used in new and lively ways among the saints.