Prayer

Websters defines prayer as an earnest request, supplication, an humble entreaty to God. My definition of prayer is communication with God, making my wishes known through praying in line with His book of instructions, the Bible. I believe I am a person of prayer, I am not alone in this belief as I get many calls and emails on an almost daily basis from others asking for prayer. I have a few questions for you, I will give you my answers. If you disagree or have positive input please leave a comment. What do I/You pray about ? Everything, God is concerned about every aspect of our life and longs for us to ask and seek His guidance for our lives and those whom we pray for. When do I/You pray ? Paul said pray without ceasing, I believe he meant for us to be in an attitude of prayer at all times. Of course there may be a specific time of the day that you pray, I pray each morning before my feet hit the floor. To stay in tune with the Spirit, so when needed I am ready, willing and able to pray, not only for my own needs, but especially for those who may not be as confident that God hears their prayers. Those who feel the need to have agreement from another when they pray. I believe if we do not have an active daily prayer life, when crisis time comes we will not be able to pray effectively, James said the fervent prayer of one in right standing with God has tremendous power. When we have a crisis we see our need as BIG and NOW, God see the overall picture. He is all powerful ! We must see Him as such and realize NO problem we face is bigger than our God ! When I/You pray IF we allow doubt to creep in, doubt that He will hear, doubt He will answer ? Faith can not work where there is doubt. This is another reason why an active daily prayer life is essential, you will believe He hears and know that in line with His Word He will answer. Prayer should be a daily activity, not waiting till a crisis looms over us. Matt 6v 9-13, we call the The Lords Prayer, but it should be our prayer, praying for daily needs, spiritual guidance, forgiveness for self as well as others, that we will avoid the evil and temptations of this world. I pray now that if you are reading this and realize you do not have an active daily prayer life, you will begin now to change this area of your life, I can not express how important it is for you to become a person of prayer, it will change your life ! You say I do not know how or what to pray. You need only pray in line with his Word, He said He would prove His Word, if you have doubts as to how to pray, pray His will over the situation, you will never be praying wrong, remember delay in the answer is not denial. Galatians 6v9, Paul said DO NOT grow weary, in DUE season you will receive. Until next time, "Keep Your Eyes On Jesus !"

The Seasons of Life -- Then It Is Winter !

I received this in an email, wanted to share it with you. . The Seasons of Life, Then It's Winter.........!

Time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years' It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all... And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.... But, here it is... the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise.... How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well...seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like... But, here it is... my friends are retired and getting gray... they move slower and I see an older person now. Lots are in better shape than me... but, I see the great change... Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant... but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be. Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory! Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit! And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last... this I know, that when it's over...its over.... Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn't done.... things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I'm happy to have done. It's all in a lifetime....! So, if you're not in your winter yet... let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don't put things off too long!! Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not! You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life... so, live for good today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember....

hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!! 'Life is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.' LIVE IT WELL!!----ENJOY TODAY!!!!-----DO SOMETHING FUN!!!----BE HAPPY!!!----BE THANKFUL!!!!!

This has a special meaning to me, as I just lost two people from my life that were not in the winter of their life in years, BUT it was winter for them. They will see no more seasons here with us, they left us with good memories, we go on without them. I believe they would tell us, Live, Love, Laugh, Forgive, makes for fewer regrets.

Until next time, "Keep Your Eyes On Jesus !"

Life Goes On -- It Really Does !

It is only 12 days into the New Year and I have had to face two tragic deaths, on Jan. 3rd. I lost a dear friend in the prime of her life, 45. She had a vibrant personality and never met a stranger. On Fri the 7th. a cousin's wife died suddenly at 40, leaving 2 small children. already emotionally upset from my friends death, I went into a period of sadness, sorrow, and minor depression. I could not get past the usual question, "WHY GOD ?" This continued for several days. Thank God I realized by Sunday what was happening and asked my partner in prayer to pray for me. She laid her hand on my mid section and began to bind the spirit of depression over me and pray peace in to my spirit. I could feel the warmth of the Holy Spirit and immediately I felt the sadness, sorrow and depression lift from me. It was gone ! I was free from the oppression that had tried to overtake me.This led me to once again realize how important it is to, " KNOW WHO GOD IS AND WHO I AM IN HIM !" To understand I was on shaky ground spiritually, if the enemy can get us focused on the problem God seems far away. I had to take my own counsel and seek prayer from one who I know is connected to the Father. We are all vulnerable at times, most important is to recognize we need help ! This is wisdom on the part of the one who sees themselves on that shaky ground to call for help from the Father who loves us so unconditionally. Has Grace and Mercy mixed with peace and love to give us all we need in times of trouble and turmoil, often not directly affecting us, but still is devastating to our spirit. So I am taking some of my own counsel this week, seeking prayer and counsel from another who is prayed up and ready to help me through to the light of Jesus. it has been a long time since I have found myself in the dark tunnel, but I thank God he drew me to the Light of the Son ! I dedicate this posting to the memory of Laura Cox St John and Lori Schafer Clark, may you live on in the thoughts and memories of those who knew and loved you. Until next time, "Keep Your Eyes On Jesus ! " He truly has EVERYTHING we need !!

Out With The Old -- In With The New !

Here we are ready to close out another year, 2010 has passed in a blur. I guess what Grandma said is so very true, the older you get the faster it goes. Some thoughts as we leave 2010 and start 2011. Our lives are not set in stone, lives like flowers continue to unfold. We have options and we have choices along the way. I believe as we approach a new year we often tend to look back, not just over the past year, but even further back into our lives. Perhaps thinking about wrong choices and thinking what IF , or reflecting on times that were good the right choices that were made. Either way we can not go back ! I believe for most of us we do not want to go back, certainly we have been influenced by our past, things that happened to us in childhood that we had no control over. Still we do have the ability to alter our present and our future. Life moves fast and if we are not careful we get left behind ! The most important part of life here is to prepare for life after. To know who God is and who we are in Him is the most important choice we will ever make. IF you make but one resolution for this New Year, make that choice to serve Him. Allow God to get involved in your life. hopefully you have already made that choice and He is not only your Savior, but also your Lord. Life is so much better with Jesus as your pilot, when God participates in your life you can soar above the problems and storms that life brings your way. Believe me they will come to all of us at one time or another. How we respond will depend on what is in our heart, the love of God, or the hate that the world has to offer. Out with the old and in with the new can have a two fold meaning for you, if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. Out with the old man of flesh and in with the new spiritual rebirth ! You will never be the same when you meet Jesus face to face, He comes alive in your inner most being and changes you from the inside out. Life is in the living, the living is in Jesus !! Until next time, "Keep Your Eyes On Jesus !"

Sharing Jesus: A Special Day

Sharing Jesus: A Special Day

A Special Day

This poem was written by my Pastor, Lloyd Lane. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do ! A Special Day

We celebrate it on the twenty-fifth of December,

How often do we get too busy to remember?

The reason that we celebrate was announced very long ago,

A baby to be born of a virgin, a man she did not know.

How could this be, Mary proclaimed, how can this happen to me?

The angel said, by the Holy Spirit, believe and you will see!

Mary said let it be according to Your Word,

Hundreds of years have passed and the story is still being heard.

A baby was born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes they say,

They called His Name Jesus, meaning the Truth, the Light, the Way.

He lived a life like most men would, except He knew no sin,

Though only guilty of love and caring, He faced a cruel end.

He was placed on a cross until death and laid in a borrowed tomb,

But the end of this story is a happy one, it doesn't end with gloom.

He rose again on the third day, God rolled away the stone,

Jesus returned to the Father, He went back to His Home.

So it tis the season to be jolly when you understand the reason,

We have so much to be thankful for in this time called Christmas Season.

Merry Christmas !!

Another Christmas Season, I asked Bobby the other day, "Where has this year gone ?" Seems like only a short time since we were celebrating this very special time of the year. Need I remind you, WHY we set aside December 25th each year ? Some might say, the parties, others the gifts, children would most like;y squeal with delight, thinking of Santa and the long list of their, "Wants". Today more than ever before many are trying to take Christ out of the Season. We no longer see Merry Christmas in store ads, even in our little town of Buffalo I received an ad that said, "Happy Holidays". I find this so sad that those who profit so much financially from this time of year want to remove the very reason we have the season. Christmas trees and decorations must be removed because they offend a few people, SO WHAT ? I am offended when they are removed ! You ask what is the answer, I believe we as Christians must stand up, speak out, let the people who are taking Christ out of Christmas know we will no longer buy from the stores that do not celebrate the REAL Christmas. This is America, we have celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ for over 200 years. Why must we give in to a few who want to change "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays". I am not offended by others who have a different belief, I do not ask them to change their way of celebrating, why must they try to destroy what Christmas has been to the Christian community for many, many, many, years. So, as for me and my house we are saying ,"MERRY CHRISTMAS" in response to those who say ever so lightly, Happy Holidays. Christmas for me will ALWAYS be celebrating the birth of MY Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thanking God the Father for the greatest Gift ever given to mankind, a way to have our sins forgiven and be assured of eternal life with Him, God The Father, Jesus The Son, and The Holy Spirit. I pray you will not be one to remove Christ from Christmas, by X ing Him out or saying Happy Holidays. From The Threet Home To Yours, Merry Christmas !! Until next time, "Keep Yours Eyes On Jesus" !!