Prayer Power!

I was working on my next bible study again.  Chapter 12 in Acts.  It was about Peter’s 1^st release from prison.  A group of Christians prayed, and an angel rescued Peter.   As I was reading and praying and writing I began thinking more about prayer.  

Prayer works, faith works.  Prayer brings peace.  If someone asks me why I am so sure God is real, I would have to say, first and foremost, because of prayer.  God answers.  He may say ‘no’ or ‘just be patient’, but he does answer.  Sometimes I have received answers that are just too crazy to be a coincidence.  When my husband and I were still engaged, we ordered several items for the wedding online at different times.  These orders were made on different days spanning a few weeks and ordered from different sellers at different locations.  One night I prayed and poured my heart to God, asking him if this marriage was really what he wanted for me, if it was his will or my own.  The next morning, the very next morning, the doorbell rang, and when I opened the door I was greeted with a pile of boxes.  Everything we had ordered, everything, was sitting on the door step.  Every item ordered on every different day, from every location had arrived all at once.  I stood there for a moment staring at the pile of boxes, I recalled my prayer of the night before and said, “Okay, God, I get it.”  The relationship I have with God is why I know for sure that the bible is real and God is real.  Everything stated in the bible has been true, I can see it in my life and the lives of others.  It would be like asking me if my father was real. 

God is there.  Prayer works.  Peter’s story is a prime example of the power of prayer.  What answers to prayer have you seen in your life?  What clear evidence have you seen, or think you may have seen, that God is here with us every day?  Please leave discussion comments so we can talk about it!  That will be awesome to see everyone’s prayer testimonies!

Philippians 4:6-7  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Unlikely Sources

I was writing in my next installment of the Our Legacy series (this one is Acts).  I am currently writing about Saul.  What came out as I wrote the reflection of Saul's conversion is that God really does like to use unlikely people to do great things.  He used Moses (a guy who is repelled by the thought of public speaking) to go before Pharaoh and release all the Hebrews.  He use little Mary to be the mother of Christ.  He used tax collectors as disciples.  He used fishermen to spread his word and do miracles in his name.  He used a man (Saul) who's hobby was to imprison and kill Christ's followers to grow his kingdom leaps and bounds.  All of these people obeyed God when called to do a job.

Every little problem and trial we face grows and changes us.  Our life circumstances shape who we are.  God uses these shapings we receive to grow us into people who do great things for God's kingdom!  What have you learned from your problems and trials?  What new knowledge have you gained?  What is God preparing you for?  How will He use you?  The biggest question of all.... are you going to listen when He calls?

Romans 5:3,4

"We can rejoice to, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation."  (NLT)

What a Day!!!!

Right now, this very moment, I am sitting in my little office on the second floor of my house.  It is a small room, so the two windows more or less cover one entire wall.  The windows are open wide.  I am listening to all the morning bird songs.  It amazes me!  There are so many different bird sounds right outside my one little window.  Tweet tweet tweet, chirp, squeak, trill, oooaaa, whoo wa’ hoo hoo hoo, yayaya, and several that I cannot even begin to imitate with the letters of our language.  We were not given letters and words that can truly convey the beauty of God’s creation. 

By many standards this hasn’t been the greatest week.  I am dueling with some weird blood sugar issue, I have somehow gotten lung congestion in the middle in the summer (I have asthma and had pneumonia last year – not good), the dog got sprayed by a skunk and ran into the house for sympathy (nough said), one of my cats is missing, and summer is over for me and the school year is beginning (as a matter of fact I really should be getting ready to go right now)…

But all I can see and feel are the blessings of the morning!  The gentle sunlight is streaming through my little eastern windows.  The birds are chirping and strumming and giving me the most amazing and beautiful personal concert to bless my day!  No one but God and I can hear this particular concert.  It is just for us and the birds (and my sweet little puppy on my feet, and I suppose the stinky dog out on the deck…).  My rooster just joined the happy chatter outside.  The sun just rose a little higher and filled my room with light!  The owl hasn’t went to bed yet, so amazing so beautiful!  The light and trees outside my window are creating a picturesque reflection on my computer screen.  A light morning breeze has just began sliding gently through the window screens.

Now I ask you, no matter what is waiting for me today – be it stinky dogs or breathing problems – how can I be sad?  How can I be downcast?  How can I be discouraged when God has given us this beautiful world!  God has blessed us so generously, God is SO amazing.  His world is SO amazing!  There is nothing to fret or worry about, nothing can get in the way of the joy of this morning.  It will be a fabulous day!

Psalm 118:24 

This is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it.

P.S.  I wrote this entry this morning.  Since then, my health has improved greatly, my cat has returned, and my dog doesn't stink very much anymore!  God is great!  What a wonderful day!