Kindness - and Prayer

Kindness seems to be a trend these days. Facebook has different kindness groups on the roster, one of them in my county. I joined the group to see what they have to say and what they are doing.  Encouraging people to be kind at a time when our political climate is something other than that is a great thing.

However, I think there is always the danger of sharing your random acts of kindness on a social media page and then slapping yourself on the back for it.

So, how can we encourage people to spread kindness without it becoming a self-serving, egotistical project?

I'm not sure, but I think praying would help. In fact, I think prayer is crucial to any endeavor we decide to undertake, whether it be random acts of kindness or anything else. 

Because being kind doesn't get one to heaven. That's right. Only by God's saving work on the Cross can one reach an eternal life with Him. Jesus gave His all when He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross and laden with every sin that had been or ever would be committed. And we receive that grace by admitting that we are sinners and that we cannot save ourselves. We must believe in Jesus Christ and that He died in our place and then rose from the dead to live forever. And we must confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness - then turn away from sin. 

It's called REPENTANCE. And it's what gets us to heaven.

I want to share with you something I began doing in December when something happened in our immediate family that caused me such great concern that I could not sleep. Anxiety had me in its grip. 

I decided I needed something to take my mind off of myself and my problems. When I perused Facebook, I realized that so many people need Jesus, whether they know it or not. So I committed myself to praying for two Facebook friends each day until I had exhausted my friends list. To date, I still have two full pages of friends for which to pray.

When I pray for these friends, I let them know right away that I am praying for them throughout the day. I can't tell you what a difference it is making in some peoples' lives. I have received specific prayer requests for some. Others have messaged me to tell me that on their day they were going through difficult times and that prayer made the difference for them. Others have replied that they had been waiting for their special day. And the list goes on.

As I reach the end of this commitment in the next month or two, can I encourage you to take up where I have left off? I would really love to see this praying thing continue and spread through Facebook. People need prayer. To date, NOBODY, even those who are the furthest from Christianity (and admit that) have refused to let me pray for them. I think that, deep inside, people have a deep rooted need for the spiritual, specifically for the living God. 

If you will commit to printing off your friends list and praying for your Facebook (or any other social media) friends, please share in the comment section on this post. In this world, at this time in history, prayer is more critical than ever.

Book Review - Evening Prayers for Every Day of the Year by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt

Evening Prayers for Every Day of the Year is written by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt and is published by Plough Publishing. Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt was born 1842 and, during his life, influenced great theologians such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Barth, as well as many others. He died in 1919. This book of prayers was originally a set of prayers said during evening devotions with a group of Blumhardt's closest friends. The prayers were collected and put into book form only after his death, published in 1926 in Berlin.

I think I have found the perfect book for nighttime devotions. Currently, I read the Bible through in a year, and first thing each morning. I spend an hour in devotion and prayer time after reading the Bible. As for evenings before bed, I pray, but nothing else. The prayers in Evening Prayers for Every Day of the Year are divided into daily readings, and they follow a short reading of Scripture. The first day's reading, for January 1, relates to the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-10). The prayers are short enough to be used in the evening when I am tired, but are very poignant.

The prayers do not have to be the sum of your prayer life - in fact, they should NOT be. Rather, they can be used to augment what you already do and, perhaps, enrich your prayer life a little more. That is how I plan to use this book of prayers. It will be the catalyst that sets off my evening prayers and gets me going in the right direction.

*I received a copy of Evening Prayers for Every Day of the Year in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Saturday Scripture Speaks

Because you Levites did not carry the Ark the first time, the anger of the Lord our God burst out against us. We failed to ask God how to move it properly. 1 Chronicles 15:13 (New Living Translation)

The second half of this verse speaks volumes to me. I'll tell you why in a moment. The context is this: The Ark of the Covenant was not in Jerusalem and David wanted to bring it there. He had not done so because he was afraid - remember what happened when Uzzah touched the ark to steady it? Bad news - God struck him dead. David was afraid to move it after that, and he left it in Obed-Edom's house for three months.

Now, he was ready to bring it back.

This second time, David was more careful. He realized that, "We failed to ask God how to move it properly."

This is the verse that speaks to me. I am a huge Bible student. Prayer, though, is not always the most important part of my life, but it has to be. If I fail to ask God what to do, I set myself up for disaster.

Bible study and prayer go hand in hand. Seek the Lord's will be reading His Word - pray, I mean really pray that you will find yourself in the center of that complete and perfect will. He delights to give you what you ask when it's what He wants too.

But you need to ask God. Ask and ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22; John 16:24 KJV)

Prayer Request

Hi all...
Just a quick prayer request or two tonight -

Jonathon leaves the church tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. EST for Kenya. Please pray for safety for the group going there to minister to street boys. Please pray for the salvation of the boys. Please pray that God's name be glorified. AND please pray for this mother as she sees her son go very far away. I'm not used to any of my kids being that far!

Also,
Please pray for our friend, Jeanine, who had surgery today. I haven't heard how things went but I know she was very scared. It was to remove a portion of her colon because of a large mass inside of it. We don't know what that mass is - praying it wasn't cancer. Please pray for her family as well.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

Free Chocolate and Other Things

I'm just full of posts tonight :) Seriously, though, I forgot to tell everyone earlier that every Friday you can go to the Mars Real Chocolate site and enter to win a coupon for some free Mars chocolate. I did it today and was one of the winners. I will receive a coupon in the mail. I'm a chocolate addict, so this is something great for me!

Jeff took me out to supper tonight. I didn't want to go because I'm on this kick right now about saving money and only spending on necessities. Eating out isn't a necessity. Anyway, we went to La Senorita and had a nice Mexican supper. It sure was packed out. I must be the only one who balks at a supper out!

A friend of mine e-mailed today to say that her house had a tree drop on it because of a tornado that whipped through the area (Liberal, MO). She's asked for prayer because they don't have insurance. I haven't heard the extent of the damage yet, but praise the Lord she and her family are safe!

We've been having some thunderstorms here recently. They aren't all that violent, though, and are providing rain for my gardens. The rhubarb and raspberry plants are really going to town. The flowers are all doing well, too. The lillies we planted last year have already multiplied and are coming up all over.

Summer's coming!

Entrecards Drops Not Happening

My entrecard droppers might notice that I'm not doing many drops tonight. I'm going to try a few, but honestly, I'm so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open.

Hubby is in intensive care tonight and will continue to be for 2 days up to a week. He had a pulmonary embolism last night in spite of extra precautions before and during surgery. I had to come home earlier than planned today because we got a good 5 inches of snow by 3:30 and it's still coming down. Thank you for your continued prayers. I have to think that was what made the difference last night when by all accounts the PE might have killed him.

Surgery Update

**NOTE**
Please continue to pray. There was a turn for the worst last night but they're keeping a watch on it. Now it appears he won't come home until late today or tonight. We're under a winter storm warning for up to 8 inches so I need prayer as I drive! Thank you!

Just a quick note to let all of you praying people know that my husband came through surgery just fine. They did both surgeries in one and are now keeping him overnight to play it safe, as he has had blood clot problems in the past. The fact that both surgeries were combined is nothing short of a huge blessing. We couldn't afford two huge hospital bills and the time off work, not to mention that PAIN he would go through. Best to get it all done at once.

Again, thanks for praying - it made a huge difference!

Thankful Thursday - Jan. 22

"They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers." Acts 1:14 (NIV)

Lori over at Laurel Wreaths Reflections is hosting Thankful Thursday this week. Her post is excellent so you'll want to get over there to read it. You can also link your post there.

The theme is prayer and it's probably something I haven't done enough of lately. This week I was all pumped because I thought I had cinched an online editing job. I spent two long days researching and writing news stories for this company to review (they wanted six and in a very short amount of time) and, in spite of the interviewer's glowing praise about my stories being the best of all she'd received, and telling me that she was going to recommend they hire me, I failed to get the job. I got an e-mail very late last night informing me in one sentence, "You were not chosen." I don't know why, just that I wasn't chosen.

I've thought a lot about that word - chosen - today. When the Bible speaks of the saints being chosen, it's special. God calls us believers chosen, special, hand-picked by the God of the universe. Wow! When you realize that a completely sovereign God thinks us important enough to choose us - through salvation and repentance - you only have a glimpse as to how awesome He is and how awesome His grace is.

Even as I contemplate this afternoon of the greatness of God's offer of salvation to me, I think about my husband's upcoming hernia surgery. I think of another problem he saw the doctor about today and the cost of the prescriptions he has in at the drug store. I also think of the paycheck we get tomorrow - the lowest it's been in a long time (my hubby works on commission). I worry.

And in the midst of all of that I'm reminded of a quote I read this morning in Harvest, a book of testimonies of some Calvary Chapel pastors. Here's what Chuck Smith said after being elated when a friend called him and told him the church was sending him the exact amount of money he needed to pay his personal bills for the month. He'd just finished waltzing his wife around the kitchen, feeling pretty good that someone was stepping in with the exact amount of money he needed that month.

"Then He got me. He said, This morning when you got up, you couldn't sleep. You were moping around. Now you had My Word that I would supply your needs. And I didn't see you waltzing your wife around the kitchen. I didn't see you exuberant and praising Me. Now that you have gotten the word of man, you are all excited. Whose word do you really trust more?"

I'm thankful today for God's Word, the Holy Bible. Where do you think we'd be today without it? It is God's road map to Heaven.

I'm thankful that my family is safe. Yesterday a fatal accident occurred on the interstate on a stretch from our town to the next one south, a route we take very, very often.

Most of all, I'm grateful that I can go to my Lord in prayer and take my needs before Him. I have confidence in that He is more than able to move in my own situation. I know that my Redeemer lives and that He listens AND answers.

My Answer to a Stalked Victim

Someone contacted me regarding stalkers she's dealing with. Again, we're talking about people who stalk, harass, and otherwise pester people over the internet in an effort to control and bully. What makes this situation different from mine is that this person has received death threats.

It's difficult to give advice in this situation because it could be the wrong advice. I definitely think that if you have received death threats, and even if you haven't, it's probably time at this point to get the police involved. I would report this to the proper authorities immediately.

We live in a difficult time. The internet and other electronic means (cell phones - i.e. text messaging, fax machines, etc.) make it easier to maintain an anonymity of sorts and people think they can bully others under a smoke screen.

Christians feel that they must not retaliate when they're treated poorly. Turn the other cheek is what we're counseled to do. While we should return evil with kindness in many situations, there are definitely times when it's not only proper, but crucial that we not allow evil to run rampant and hurt others, especially when it's well within our means to do something about it. God doesn't expect us to turn a "blind eye" to sin, but rather to confront it for what it is.

If you're reading this post and you are a Christian, please pray for the person I mentioned at the top of this post. Please pray a hedge of thorns around her family so that the devil cannot get inside. They are in a bad spot but God is still in control.

Busy Two Days

Sorry I've been a little lax in posting here today. The past couple of days have been busy ones for me - Thursdays and Fridays are days that my husband is home and I spend time doing things he wants to do rather than sit at my computer. That's a good thing because sometimes I spend a little too much time here rather than being busy at what needs to be done that day.

I checked on Dorothy tonight and she's doing very well. She'll be out and about in no time at all.

I got the chance to go to town with hubby today to get groceries. Last week the weather was so bad that he got the groceries for me. I feel horrible about the fact that it cost me $160.00 for groceries and a couple of birthday presents for Evan. Food just keeps getting more expensive and I didn't buy any meat other than some sandwich meat (bologna and ham) for Jeff's lunches. I do hate that he eats that cholesterol filled stuff, but he keeps choosing it because it's about the only thing he can eat on the go in his truck. I only bought 1 gallon of milk, no vegetables other than lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Flour, sugar, vegetable oil, butter, and the like made up the bulk of my grocery cart. I think what really brought the bill up was cheese. I got mozzarella for next week's pizza night and also for the lasagna I have on my menu for tomorrow night. I got a chunk of cheddar and it cost me $7. Ridiculous.

We went to Bosman's Mercantile and I actually found Christy's gift there - marked down 75% off. Can't say what it is because she reads this blog. Dog food has gone up. What was once $15.99 for a 40 lb bag is now $19.99. Pooey.

Tonight the kids put on the homeschool Christmas play. I took some pictures and will post a few tomorrow. I don't usually put pics of my children on here often anymore, but since they aren't the best pictures, you'll never make out their features. HA!

I'm bushed tonight so I'm going to hit the hay for now. Tonight I have a prayer request for myself. I think I have an ulcer and it's making me miserable (whatever it is - I've not seen a doctor.) Please pray it goes away and I can do my job of wife, mother, and teacher. Thanks!

Prayer Request

It's me again with another prayer request. The snow's been hitting hard and we've had accidents galore already this season. Our neighbor, 16 year old Samantha, had a head on collision at Ironton Springs with people we know from the Baptist church on Friday. Sam (this is Josh's friend, Mitchell's sister) is intensive care and we hear she's getting a little better each day but she and her family need prayer. We've known this family for many years, especially Mitchell, and I know it can't be easy for them to go through this trying time.

Josh brought Johnny and Evan to youth group tonight and then they stopped for chocolate chips (I guess I'm supposed to make cookies tomorrow for Josh's class which is probably cancelled anyway) and then they're supposed to come right home. I'm on pins and needles because we're to get 10 inches of new snow by tomorrow.

I'm telling you, I age considerably each winter I spend here.

Hope it's warm where you are tonight:)

Another Update

My mom is now sitting up in a chair now and then and she is breathing on her own, talking and feeling so much better. I know in my spirit and in my heart that the huge amount of prayers going up on her behalf have made all the difference in this case. When we first sped to Indiana last week we expected to find her on her deathbed, which in essence, she was. Nobody really expected her to pull through but we remained as optimistic as we could and prayed hard. We asked for prayer from our churches and churches we did not attend. We asked for prayer through blogs and other online contacts.

Mom made a miraculous jump since last week, getting stronger and withstanding the surgery that the doctors weren't sure she could. She attributes this to the prayers that God has answered. I do too.

Please continue to keep her in your prayers. She's getting stronger but sometimes she gets an anxious feeling. She wants to go home but can't just yet. Once she is home, though, my dad, brother, and sisters will need strength to care for her until Mom is fully recovered. I live too far away and I feel helpless, yet I know that it'll all work to God's glory.

Praise

Just a note to let everyone know that Mom is out of surgery and thus far doing well. I am fully convinced that prayer has made all of the difference in this case, which at first looked extremely bleak. Thank you. And praise the Lord!

More Updates

I thought you might like to see a picture of the pita breads I made tonight. It took a long time to do, so if you decide you want to make them I would suggest you do it on a day that's pretty much free for you. I might add that they were absolutely delicious.




I also want to give the prayer warriors an update on my mother. She is expected to be in surgery at noon tomorrow. Please pray that she is strong enough to go through the surgery. Pray that her spirits hold up. As it is, there are a couple of family members bent on bringing in a false religion and these same people demand they are in the room alone with my mom. Each time they visit my mom is left depressed. Please pray a hedge around my mom for protection against Satan. And a big THANK YOU to everyone who is praying.

Travels

I'm so sorry for not getting out a post for Thrifty Green Thursday today but things were still hectic. Tomorrow we head back home after stopping in at the hospital, so I really doubt I'll get much of a fantastic post tomorrow, but you never know.

I checked our local weather for tomorrow and it appears we'll have a decent day to drive home, but Saturday it's supposed to snow...AGAIN! It's been nice being a little further south and not having snow, but it sure has rained a lot.

Mom is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday afternoon, if all goes well. I'm aware that some of my readers are praying for Mom so I'll post updates now and then. I had wanted to stay for the surgery, but I can't. I am confident that my family will keep me informed, though, and if I must, I will travel back south again. Mom knows the risk involved in this surgery and she is at peace with it so I must be as well. You know, when you have complete assurance of eternity, you can face these things knowing that no matter the outcome, it's going to be alright. That's where we're at.

I had a heart to heart talk with my niece today and I was so very glad to have the time with her. I've always had a good relationship with her and nothing's changed there.

Until I talk with you tomorrow or Saturday, keep looking up.

Update

I'm overly tired tonight due to driving to see my mom at the hospital. She's not had surgery yet because of complications that make surgery difficult. From my understanding, the doctors need to check over imaging to be certain it is okay to proceed. I'm so in the dark because I don't live close, as do my siblings. My sister-in-law keeps me updated as best as she can, but it is always better to be there.

We got here very late and visiting hours had already ended. We were allowed, though, to stop in Mom's intensive care room. She stared at Jeff and clearly didn't know him. She didn't seem to know me as well, but they tell me that's due to the pain medication. It would break my heart to think it was anything else. Anyway, since she was sleeping most of the 20 minutes I stayed, I left and decided to get to bed in order to rise early and get to the hospital before the doctors arrive. I want to be a little more in the know.

I'm going to research a bit on the cause of Mom's condition tonight and then talk about it here. I'll say right now that it is so important to be informed in health issues. A few years ago my mom had surgery for a broken hip. My sister approached the doctor about the issue we're dealing with today, and the doctor said it was nothing important, not life threatening. Apparently he was just trying to appease us because we know now that it is life threatening and we should all have been more insistent.

As I said, I'm very tired tonight and will write more later. Please continue to keep us in prayer and my mom especially. Thanks to those who've e-mailed and commented to reassure me of their prayers. It's ultra important to me.

Change - Is it Really What You Want?

Everyone's screamed, "Change! Change!" Okay, it looks as if we're going to get a whole lot of change in this country. The more I study the Bible the more I'm brought to my knees, while in tears, to pray like I never have - for this country and for all of the people who turn their backs on God and what He says is right.

After viewing some of the early returns, in Michigan in particular, I'm fearful of what the future holds. If you don't know what I'm talking about, read the book of Revelation and some of Ezekiel.

Change is coming and I think a whole lot of people are going to regret it in the end.

May God have mercy on us.

Proposals

If you're a Michigan voter, I would urge you to look closely at the two proposals on the ballot. Proposal One is concerning the issue of the legalization of marijuana. I will be voting NO on Proposal One. My own mother-in-law, whom I dearly loved, died a horribly painful death from cancer. She suffered immensely, but I don't believe smoking a joint would've helped her one bit. All it would've done would be to put her out of her mind and she wouldn't have wanted that. You can go here to read a little about Proposal One.

The other issue is Proposal Two. I will be voting NO on Proposal Two. This proposal is a horrible one. It involves fetal stem cell research and is worded to include unrestricted experimentation on human fetuses and embryos. It would open up a whole new can of worms, as it even allows for human cloning. Not only is this research highly immoral, it is highly unnecessary and ineffective. To date, there have been ZERO cures, or anything close, for diseases using fetal stem cells. Adult stem cell research, on the other hand, has found much success in the medical world and it doesn't involve killing a human being. One frightening thing about Proposal Two is that, if passed, it would make even discouraging fetal stem cell research illegal.

Please, go out and vote tomorrow. Do so after much prayer and seeking God's will. Pray for MERCY for our country. God has promised that if a nation seeks His face and turns from their wicked ways, that He will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14. Would you agree that that USA needs healing?

Missions in Your Backyard

This should be interesting - I'm babysitting 3 children today (a friend's), cooking up some tomatoes to juice and put away for winter sauce, and typing this post. This'll have to be sort of short.

I just wanted to say a bit about ministry in your "own backyard." We always seem to have this idea that in order to do mission work, we must move "far away." This just simply isn't the case.

I've spent the summer praying for the teens next door. I never see an adult there...just a bunch of teenagers and a toddler (lots of dogs too!) I want to be able to minister to them, but have never taken a step to do so. Finally this week, since I have made no physical move to do anything about that goal, the Lord brought the kids to my step. For the past two days they've come here. One girl in particular seems to want to hang out with me in the kitchen (where else would I be?)

Be careful what you pray for - just as the Lord brought me the Good News 5 Day Club and now the teens next door, He'll be sure to answer you. It just might be in a way you weren't expecting.

Giving of One's Self

I just finished up the book A Simple Path, by Mother Teresa and I was left awestruck. No matter what you believe concerning Catholicism, you'll still glean much concerning the meaning of love. This book is not meant to be a story about the nun's life but rather about the ministry that she set before her, thus the title she chose.

Mother Teresa's philosophy was a simple one: "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matthew 25:40 (KJV).

This was the theme of the entire book. Love others without passing judgment. Mother Teresa didn't judge others. She said she didn't have time to waste by trying to decide if something or someone was good or bad. She only had time to love. She looked past another's sins - she didn't care about that because it was for God to judge, not her.

She felt that meeting the needs of the suffering and hurting was the best way to present the Gospel. I think she was effective in that. People knew that she didn't do good because of what she got out of it. She did it for what they got out of it. You know what? I don't think that Mother Teresa went about her daily work in Calcutta thinking, "Wow, just think of all the crowns I'll receive in Heaven!"

This woman prayed a lot. She believed that God hears prayers and that He answers. No need to fret about whether He cares - He does.

Even though I was raised Roman Catholic and I know very well where Mother Teresa was getting at in various passages of this book, I don't agree with some of her thoughts. But that doesn't matter. What matters is what Mother Teresa saw when she looked into the eyes of a hurting person - she saw Jesus.