Do You Need a Miracle?

We had a wonderful message today, one that I thought I'd share through Charlotte and Ginger's Spiritual Sundays. Be sure to drop by for a visit!

I'm taking this straight from our service today.

Do you need a miracle? Then ask and trust.

Two reminders:

Prayer is a mystery, not magic. We are invited into the mystery of God working out His redemptive will in the midst of a fallen world.

        Matthew 6:10, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."

Prayer is a mystery, not logic.

        Isaiah 55:8, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways."

        Job 42:3, "You asked, 'Who is this that obscures My counsel without knowledge:?' Surely I spoke

        of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know."

Do you need a miracle?

On one hand, ask.

        Luke 11: 9-13, "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are eveil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

{Look at the verb tenses of those words...they are in the present tense, that means we need to keep asking! Prayer needs to be first response rather than a last resort.}

        2 Corinthians 12: 8-9, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me, But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

On the other hand, trust.

        Psalm 139: 5-6, "You hem me in ~ behind and before: You have laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain."

        2 Corinthians 4:6-18, "For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all~surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jeasus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."

        Luke 23: 39-43, "One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him, "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?" We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But his man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

God grants what we are asking OR give us something even better...

Do you need a miracle?

For the actual sermon, you can log on to the website, www.gdlc.org and follow the link for sermon archives. 

                                                       

I hope you are enjoying your day. Thanks so much for visiting!

Give me a hand...

I'm linking with Ginger and Charlotte's Spiritual Sundays. It's such a refreshing place to visit. If you don't have time to visit all participants today, it's a great place to visit any day of the week!

To continue the series on prayer....more specifically recentered prayer, I'd like to share a simple way to pray. I found it online at this site:   http://dalesdesigns.net/5prayer.htm

5 Finger Prayer

 

 

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."



2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.



3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.



4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.



5. And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

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I'd like to end my post with a few things: First of all, I hope that by visiting Ginger and Charlotte's site as well as all the others who contribute, that someone out there in blogland will be spoken too, helped, inspired, made to feel better, or become more interested in learning about God. Secondly, my posts are recaps of our Sunday's message, simply restated and with, perhaps a little of my two cents. Please understand that I am not a minister, only a simple sinner, one that wants to share the good news of Jesus and to hopefully help someone along the way.

My church, Gloria Dei Lutheran, is Missouri Synod and located in Nassau Bay, Texas ~ near Houston. If you're ever in the area and want to visit, please know that you'd be welcomed with open   arms. If you are unable to travel and would like to listen to messages on line, those are available as well. There are even videos you might like to view too. The website is http://www.gdlc.org/.

Enjoy your Sunday...and the rest of your week!

Recentered Prayer...

I'm linking with Ginger and Charlotte's Spiritual Sundays. It's such a refreshing place to visit. If you don't have time to visit all participants today, it's a great place to visit any day of the week!

Today's message at our church was entitled, Recentered Prayer...Lord, Teach Us to Pray.  Based on several verses, Luke 11:1, Matthew 6:7-13 to name a few, the Bible assures us Jesus listens. One of my favorites, Matthew 6:8 states, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." I'm afraid that I'm guilty of trying to tell God want I need from Him and then tell Him my timeline! How ridiculous is that? Like I'm in charge of anything, really? Being a Type A personality, I need to just slow down and listen!

I'm a worrier too. I tend to worry about things way before I should and then I just worry more...It's a terrible cycle. It's something that I work on constantly. Matthew 14:27 states, "Take courage! It is I, don't be afraid!" If I would only slow down and listen!

During life's ups and downs, my prayer time is not consistant. When things are good, I send prayers in thanksgiving but when things are not good I tend to pray more. John 16:33 states, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." If I would only slow down and listen!

Jesus taught us how to pray with the Lord's Prayer. It's a type of formula {for us Type A people}! It's written in Matthew 6:9-13.  It's a God~centered prayer not a self~centered prayer. God invites us to take our eyes off ourselves and our circumstances and recenter on Him. He's already our Heavenly Father who is with us and already helping us!

Prayer is a way to recenter every situation, every question, every need on God. God in the middle. God as the source. God as God. In prayer we don't need to direct God. We need to involve God. We need to receive from God. We need to receive God.

What is going on in your life?What are you facing? What are you hoping for?What are you afraid of? Now recenter all that on God. Introduce God into that equation.

Visit Psalm 121:1-2, "I lift up my eyes to the hills ~ where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth."

And finally, there's Psalm 46:1-2,7,10, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way. The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress. Be still, and know that I am God."

I need to slow down and listen!

Today I'd like to end my post with a few things: First of all, I hope that by visiting Ginger and Charlotte's site as well as all the others who contribute, that someone out there in blogland will be spoken too, helped, inspired, made to feel better, or become more interested in learning about God. Secondly, my posts are recaps of our Sunday's message, simply restated and with, perhaps a little of my two cents. Please understand that I am not a minister, only a simple sinner, one that wants to share the good news of Jesus and to hopefully help someone along the way.


My church, Gloria Dei Lutheran,  is Missouri Synod and located in Nassau Bay, Texas  ~ near Houston.If you're ever in the area and want to visit, please know that you'd be welcomed with open arms! If you are unable to travel and would like to listen to messages on line, those are available as well. There are even videos you might like to view too. The website is http://www.gdlc.org/.

Enjoy your Sunday...and the rest of your week!

God is Faithful...

I'm linking to Spiritual Sundays with Charlotte and Ginger who have graciously hosted this wonderful event. Be sure to stop by and visit the other links for more inspiration.

If you've been following my Spiritual Sundays, you know that I've been bringing our church's message to my blog. It is my hope that it will reach those who want/need to hear the good news.

Today's message was the next in a series, Courageous Generosity, and was entitled, Generosity in Hard Times. It was based on 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 and John 6: 1-13, the feeding of the five thousand. In all actuality, there was probably more than 5000 - some scholars say the numbers could have reached up to 20,000. {The bible mentions 5,000 men and then later references to the women and children as well.} Jesus normally spoke to small crowds, but this time it was to teach a lesson about faith. His disciples were concerned about feeding such a large crowd but through the innocent faith of a young boy, food was offered - small fish and bread.

After the meal was finished, Jesus asked for the leftovers to be picked up...12 baskets were colleted. I don't think the number 12 was by chance. I think it was to teach the 12 disciples a lesson. God already had a plan, God was going to provide. It's a wonderful read...Notice that two disciples thought the task was impossible and illogical but the small child didn't.

Remember God is faithful. If you're facing a situation that you think is impossible, remember Luke 18:27: The things which are impossible with men are posssible with God. 

If you're facing a problem and you think the solution is illogical, then just remember Isaiah 55:9: For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. 

If you'd like to hear the message in its entirety, you can click here and follow the link to the sermons. And remember...never doubt what God can do. He is in the miracle business!

Enjoy your Sunday!

Courageous Generosity...

This post is late, should have been posted on Sunday, but I'm still linking with Spiritual Sundays. I wanted to send out an invitation to anyone who'd like to hear a wonderful message about trusting God. This is something that I struggle with...apparently I think I know what's best instead of trusting that God is in charge and has a plan for me. The message was also speaking of Stewardship and tithing. The verse that had very special meaning to me is from Malachi 3:8-10. "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. Bring the whole tithe. Test me in this. See if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven."

If you'd like to hear this message {in a series}, please log on to: http://www.gdlc.org/. There is a link to the sermons. There are also other links that you might find interesting.

I hope you enjoyed your Sunday.