THE LIGHTHOUSE OF PRAYER

We're introducing a new segment to "The Power of Your Love" today!!

First, I want to share with you a little, so bear with me;

When I see a lighthouse, I think of God--standing tall, firm, faithful, always there, never failing in His love for us. He is a never wavering fortress in our lifes--the good times and when the storms coming beating down upon us.

He is guiding the light for us to follow, even through the fog and mist when we cannot see or hear Him clearly.

How do we communicate with our God? Through prayer.

How many times do we say to others, "I'll keep you in my prayers".

Do you have people in your life who are actively praying for you--for your needs, for your requests to God, rejoicing with you in your praises to God?

Jesus came to this earth not only to show us how to lead and conduct our lives, to sacrifice Himself so that we could have forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with Him, but to bridge the gap between man and God. He intercedes for us with God. His ministry on this earth lasted only 3 short years, but He is still interceding for us some 2000+ years later!!

Praying is our means of talking with God-- just like we talk with our friends--telling them what is going on in our life--what we're joyful about, what we're sorrowful about, what's happening with our friend that we're concerned about.

God is the source of change in our lives--only He has the power, might and strength to change the future. He is the sole history maker. But, we can be an active part of this history change through prayer to God. He hears us. He is just waiting for us to come to Him, to talk to Him.

This is going to be an interactive prayer request-comment conversation with God.

All you need to do is post a comment with a prayer request--something that is pressing in your life, whatever has been imprinted upon your heart that you feel the need or want others to pray along with you, a praise of whatever has made you joyful that you would like to share so that others can rejoice with you, an answer from God for something that you have been praying about.

Now, here's the really important part--those who stop by and read your prayer request will leave a PRAYER for you--not a comment--the specific PRAYER that they have said for you. And you have the opportunity to leave a comment as a PRAYER for others.

Jesus intercedes for us, and we will be interceding for others!!

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty excited about this!!

I can't think of anything that would be more appropriate than to start this with my prayer:

Abba,

I love you and praise Your Name always. You are the most high, always there for us, never wavering in Your love for us.

There are many issues upon my own heart as well as the hearts of others. Please lead us in prayer to You for You are the sole source of our hope in this life. Let us learn to depend upon You more and more until we are totally dependent and fully surrendered to You.

Today I come to you with my children upon my heart. They know You, Lord, but they have not accepted You as their Savior. I pray that You bring them to You, show them the full extent of our love and be a life-changing force for them.

My work situation is also on my mind. You know how overwhelmed and stressed I feel there. Is this the place You want me to be? Lead me in Your wisdom, guide me through my day no matter what the situation is. Let me lay my stress upon You for Your shoulders are much broader than mine and able to bear the weight of this.

I thank you for always being there for me, always loving me even when I don't feel deserving of this love.

I humbly ask that You bless this day--each and every moment. Let us feel Your presence in our lives and be a shining light to others to guide them to You.

In Jesus' most precious name,

Amen.

Weekly Memory Verse

How's everyone doing with the weekly memory verse? I've memorized this one--not too long or difficult to memorize:

He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and He will reward them for what he has done....Proverbs 19:17

When I first read this Scripture for memorization, some other verses came immediately into my mind:

Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"

The King will reply, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."....Matthew 25:37:40

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things human beings look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."....1 Samuel 16:7

As I memorized the weekly memory verse and added these few verses in to ponder upon, I searched further into my Bible. And I came to Philippians 2:5-11:

In your relationships with one another, have the same ATTITUDE of MIND Christ Jesus had:

Who being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God
something to be used to His own advantage;
rather, He made Himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a human being,
He humbled Himself
by becoming obedient to death--
even death on a cross!

Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place
and gave Him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in Heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD,
to the glory of God the Father.

This one verse from Proverbs, a verse that was easy to memorize, speaks volumes. It speaks of our need for humility, our need for discipleship, our need to strive to become more Christ-like in attitude and mind every day, every moment of our lives--and most of all the need to put aside our own wants and needs and to develop the heart of a servant.

Jesus did not come to be served as most kings of this time. He came to show us how to be effective servants. He did not come to make more laws and rules for us to follow, but to change the condition of our hearts.

Our hearts--that is what the LORD is looking at! He is not looking at our clothing, our cars, our homes-- He is looking into our hearts and seeing what is truly there.

Are we feeling kindly towards others? Are we helping those in need? Are we available at times when we are being called by God to be His hands and feet?

I know that in our area we have had quite a cold snap. One day the temperature didn't rise about 10 degrees. I heard on the radio that 65 homeless people had willingly come into a local shelter that evening, and there were people on the streets looking and gathering more to come to the shelter. This is servanthood. This is having the heart of Jesus.

Then, of course, all these people needed to be fed, needed a place to sleep, needed extra blankets and pillows.

I don't have a lot of extra financial resources that I can go and buy new items to donate. But, surely in my home I have an extra blanket and pillow, some canned goods that can be donated to this mission to help feed the people who came seeking shelter from the freezing cold.

This is what this verse has spoken to me this week:

Use what you have. Use the resources that are at your own fingertips. If I don't have any items to donate to others, I have some time. I can use that time to go to the shelter, help prepare and serve meals.

There is a church in the city that is closest to me that serves a hot meal to the homeless every evening. They are always looking for people to come and help prepare and serve the meals, clean up afterwards.

Doing these things not only helps others, it helps us. We learn to be humble, have the heart of Jesus. There is nothing different between the rich and the poor except for our circumstances. We are all unique, but we share one quality: We were all created by God. He loves each of us--regardless of our circumstances.

This is what is meant by being "kind to the poor". For in doing these things for others, we are doing the same for Our God, and our reward will be great--an eternity spent with Him in Heaven.

What did this verse speak to you this week?

Now, we'll move on to next week's verse:

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have
been established by God.....Romans 13:1

A little more difficult to memorize, but appropriate for this coming week.

I'm looking forward to reading what last week's verse spoke to you as an individual.

Beth

Super Sunday

A friend sent me this as an e-mail, and I thought I would share this with you today:

The Holy Alphabet

Although things are not perfect

Because of trial or pain

Continue in thanksgiving

Do not begin to blame

Even when the times are hard

Fierce winds are bound to blow

God is forever able

Hold on to what you know

Imagine life without His love

Joy would cease to be

Keep thanking Him for all the things

Love imparts to thee

Move out of 'Camp Complaining'

No weapon that is known

On earth can yield the power

Praise can do alone

Quit looking at the future

Redeem the time at hand

Start every day with worship

To 'thank' is a command

Until we see Him coming

Victorious in the sky

We'll run the race with gratitude

Xalting God most high

Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...

Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

Please be sure to stop by and visit Peggy at Amazing Grace~~Mazes, Messes, Miracles to view more participants of Super Sunday. Why not join in? It's super, it's simple, and it's Sunday!

Beth

Simple yet profound

No God -- No Peace

Know God -- Know Peace

Thankful Thursday

I'm joining with Sonya for "Thankful Thursday". Be sure and stop by and visit her to see what everyone is thankful for this week. Maybe this will be the week that you decide to join and list just a few of the things that you are thankful for.

My thankfuls this week:

• I am thankful that God is opening doors for me in a mission that has been placed in my heart for quite a while. The doors are beginning to open in this direction, doors that only God could open. He has a plan for this mission. I feel this in my heart. Lord, help me and the others involved in this ministry to hear Your voice and follow Your Will for this mission. Guide and direct us as to Your plans, Your purposes in this. Use us as Your hands and feet to bring guidance, warmth, comfort and Your Word and peace to others. This mission is all for Your Glory.
  

• I am thankful for the new books that I received in the mail yesterday so that I may dig deeper into God's Word and increase my prayer life with Him.

• I am thankful that my son, Andrew, has taken the steps to further his education. In the turmoil of our lives when he was younger, he did not graduate from high school. He started taking classes last week to prepare for his GED so that he may attend college. This first class was basically placement tests. Last night, the teacher at these classes told him that he is already at college level, does not need to take the additional preparation classes and is ready to take the test. He was so excited that he called me on his drive home. What a boost in his confidence and the knowledge that yes, he does have the ability to accomplish this goal in his life. Yes, I am thrilled with this knowledge, also!!

• I am thankful for my job. Yes, that was a hard one to even write. My job is mentally taxing and stressful from the minute I walk in the door to the minute I leave to come home. I have questioned whether or not this is the place where God wants me to be. But, I have come to realize and understand that God will use me wherever I am. I just need to be more conscious of His voice speaking to me through my day as to how to respond to certain situations--showing His love for others instead of my own frustrations. And in the state of our economy where many do not have work, I am thankful that my job is secure.

• And lastly, I am thankful for God's creation. Did you see the moon last week? It was spectacular!! God in all His Glory shining His evening light!! And God saw that it was good!! If you didn't see the moon, check it out here. I "just happened" to have my camera with me and was able to catch a picture on my way to work.
  

So, tell me--what are you thankful for this week?

Beth

Weekly Memory Verse

Here we go!! I'm going to type out last week's verse from memory (you'll just have to trust me on this!), and we'll see how well I did!!

So I say live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature......Galations 5:16

Not too bad--no punctuation, but that is okay!!

Now, how has this verse spoken to me this week:

This is the time of year when I look back at the previous year and see what I want to change during the coming year. These are what are usually called resolutions. Many people make these "resolutions" on New Year's Eve with a determination to follow through with them during the coming year.

Are we more or less setting ourselves up for disappointments in the new year?

A week or two into the new year, and I have realized that I have already forgotten or missed the mark on what I "resolved" to do during the coming year.

The Apostle Paul in writing this verse in Galatians has given me a very important insight into this and what it takes to truly make changes in my life:

I need to change my focus!!

Instead of focusing so intently on what I want to change--what I consider to be a "desire of the flesh", "a sinful nature" which are basically negatives, I need to place my focus on the Holy Spirit and make the decision to live by the Spirit guiding and directing me.

Only by focusing and living by the Spirit can these changes come about. Instead of eyeballing the negatives and weaknesses in my life, I'm going to zero in on where the Spirit is leading me.

Then changes will come--the changes that God is wanting me to make--from the inside out.

What do you think? Place our focus on Jesus--I'll be willing to say that more changes will come about in our lives than we can ever dream of in our "own resolutions".

How has this verse spoken to you this week? Please share with me either here in a comment or on your own blog.

And here is our verse for this week:

He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and He will reward him for what he has done....Proverbs 19:17

Beth

Super Sunday

It is time for Super Sunday!! Be sure and visit Peggy at Amazing Grace~~Mazes, Messes, Miracles to see more participants and join in !!

Okay--I'll admit it. I'm in a kind of funk here. I've had difficulty sleeping lately, then sleeping too much. The madness of the world is beginning to bother me quite a bit. I want to cocoon myself from all the hurts and pain.

Is this realistic? Is this even possible?

Where do I turn? Where do I go?

JESUS

"Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid nor dismayed for the Lord is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9


"The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid...The Lord is with me; He is my helper." Psalms 118:6-7

"You, Lord, give perfect peace even in turmoil to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you." Isaiah 26:3

"I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth. Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you." Isaiah 46:3-4

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like an eagle; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. -- Isaiah 40:28-31

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." John 11:25-26

My precious Jesus,

You are my strength, my strong deliverer. Come to my rescue and lift this from me--this feeling of oppression. Help me to focus on the positive instead of the negative. Show me, lead me, direct me, guide me. Wrap your arms around me and let me be so aware of your loving embrace. This world has nothing for me. You are my all, my everything..............


Beth