Prayerlogue

Thanksgiving 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:02:00 +0000

I have “tracker” software on my blog which tells me how many “hits” I have, where they come from in the world, and what “search terms” they have used to bring them to my site.

For a person like myself, who has “detail-itis” it’s interesting to read. Naturally, at this time of the year the most often used “search terms” uses wording having to do with “Thanksgiving” prayers or devotions.

However, there was one hit last night that broke my heart. The “hit” came from Fort Worth, Texas and the “search term” used was, “Thanksgiving prayer when loved ones are gone…”

There are so many times that I wish I could contact the person and ask, “Did I have anything that helped?” How my heart goes out to them, and immediately I think of Fort Hood (however, after looking at a map, I see that Fort Worth is no where near Fort Hood – but still…) And I have to ask, are the loved ones gone due to death, or choice?

Either way – someone has lost someone at this time when we are all celebrating (or are supposed to be celebrating) our thankfulness.

Let us not “falsely” celebrate Thanksgiving. Let us not simply push aside our fears, our pain and our grief, and pretend that everything is fine. However, let us remember Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB) “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Paul doesn’t say to give thanks “for” everything, but “in” everything. Be aware that in even in the darkest times, God is still God, and we belong to Him. Psalm 100 says, “Know that the Lord, He is God. It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

Don’t ignore the pain, but instead search for and lift up a “Thanksgiving prayer when…” whatever it is you are facing grips your heart.

Gracious and loving God may we, as the Psalmist said, “Shout joyfully, serve with gladness, come with joyful singing, and know that You are God!”

We are not in control. You have made us, and we are Yours.

May we enter Your door with thanksgiving, come into your garden with praise, and thank You and bless Your holy Name. Because, dear Father, You are good, Your “hesed” Your mercy, is everlasting, and your truth and faithfulness “endures” to all generations – including our own.

May we, in this time of Thanksgiving and in preparation for this Christmas season, lift up those (or even ourselves) who are struggling for whatever reason. Father, let us not ignore the pain; let us not pretend that it isn’t there, that there isn’t suffering on every corner. But instead Lord, may we “in all things” give thanks to You – for You are God. May we cling to the assurance that, You’ll “strengthen us, help us, and cause us to stand. Upheld by Thy righteous, Omnipotent hand.”

For it is in the Name of Jesus, our Saviour we pray – Amen.

A Matter of Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:18:00 +0000

The other night we were out driving as the nearly-full moon was on the horizon. "Isn't that a beautiful moon?" my husband asked.

"Where?" I said, looking toward what I thought was the East.

"Over here!" he said, pointing out his side of the car.

"Gee, what's it doing over there?" I said. And then we rounded a curve, "and over here?" Then another curve, "and back over there?" (We live waaaay out in the country.)

It was so interesting to see the moon "seemingly" move from one side of the road to the other, and I got to thinking about perspective. What we "see" is all a matter of our perspective.

Over "Reformation weekend" (halloween weekend) we got to hear one of the very best Bible teachers I've ever had the privilege of hearing (in person or otherwise.) Her name is Evelyn Laycock. And if you ever get a chance to hear her - do whatever you have to do to get there.

She was teaching on the Parables of Jesus, but on Saturday night she began by talking about Psalm 137. You remember how it starts, "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion..."

It is a Psalm of Israel when they were taken into captivity in Babylon. You may recognize the beginning, but do you remember how it ends? It ends by saying, "How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones against the rock." That is what had happened to their children, and yes, it is what they wished upon their captors. But more than that, it was a prophecy of what would (and did) happen to Babylon.

But a sentiment like that disturbs us. And rightly so. It is the picture of vengeance, of retaliation, and of judgment. Judgment without mercy and grace should disturb us.

As Evelyn taught about it, she mentioned our view of God. She said that many people view the God of the Old Testament as being a harsh "mean" God. And that the God of the New Testament is loving and kind.

"But," she reminded us, "God is immutable. God never changes."

So, how do we reconcile that viewpoint? It is a matter of perspective. Not in that God changes or moves, but that we do - just like mine and Joe's viewing of the moon. The moon did not move, but we did!

Jesus Christ - the Word - became Flesh so that we might be moved from one perspective to another. The "veil" of sinfulness that prevented us from being in the presence of a Holy God was torn away, our eyes were opened and we were/are allowed to see.

In the Old Testament we view God more as Moses did on Mount Sinai - from His "backside" - without understanding.

In the New Testament we view God in the very face of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

(But, even at that - the "backside" of God is more merciful than we deserve!)

Our loving and gracious Heavenly Father we thank You for sending Your Son, Your only begotten Son to take away our sin. He is our mediator and the One who allows us to "see" Your loving face. It was always there... we just couldn't see it. Thank You for changing our perspective. Thank You for changing our standing.

In Jesus' Holy and Precious Name - Amen.

Commentary on Psalm 94

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:06:00 +0000

Psalm 94 is another of those (what I call) "sleeper Psalms" - that is - one of those "jewels" that we often pass over in our haste.

We have our favorites - the 23rd Psalm; Psalm 42, and 27 and 9 and 119, etc. We're also familiar with and love Psalm 100, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all ye lands..." (just can't get away from those "memorized" KJV Psalms!)

In my research I’ve found many things about Psalm 94: it is the “Wednesday” Psalm (“A Psalm of David for the 4th day of the week” – Albert Barnes); it is a part of a group called “Kingdom Psalms” (J. Vernon McGee); it’s “The Consolation of Prayer under the Oppression of Tyrants” (Keil & Delitzsch) and it’s “An appeal to God against oppressors” (Adam Clark.)

Some say that David wrote it, but others say it was written much later… I don’t really know, but for me (as per my book "Studying the Psalms with a Simple Heart”) Psalm 94, I think, is a picture of a "relationship prayer." Let me explain.

I see, in this Psalm, a picture of a person (one who has a very deep relationship with God) having a conversation with Him. There is a vast difference between "just praying words" and "sharing in dialogue" with your Heavenly Father.

You can tell, when someone's praying, if they "know" Him or just "know about" Him. (Even with those who aren't comfortable "praying in public" - you can tell if they know "Who" they are talking to or not!)

The psalmist here "knows Him."

As you read the psalm you can see it alternate between the person talking to God, talking to "the wicked" and talking to himself. And, if you've ever been in a time of intense prayer with God, you've done the same thing.

For sake of clarity, the “prayer” portion will be in yellow bold; the “self-talk” will be in red; and the rebuke to the “wicked” will be in orange. (The “version” is NASB)

He begins with a prayer - a cry for help from God (verses 1-7).

Psalm 94:1-7 “O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!
Rise up, O Judge of the earth, Render recompense to the proud.
How long shall the wicked, O LORD, How long shall the wicked exult?
They pour forth words, they speak arrogantly; All who do wickedness vaunt themselves.
They crush Your people, O LORD, And afflict Your heritage.
They slay the widow and the stranger And murder the orphans.
They have said, ‘The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob pay heed.’”

Then he speaks to the "situation" which plagues him (verses 8-10)

Psalm 94:8-10 “Pay heed, you senseless among the people; And when will you understand, stupid ones?
He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?
He who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke, Even He who teaches man knowledge?”

He "rehearses" it in his mind… (verse 11)

Psalm 94:11 “The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are a mere breath.”

…before going back into conversation with his Father (verses 12-13.)

Psalm 94:12-13 “Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O LORD, And whom You teach out of Your law;
That You may grant him relief from the days of adversity, Until a pit is dug for the wicked.”

Then he reassures his own heart (verses 14-17)

Psalm 94:14-17 “For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
For judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it.
Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness?”
(I tell ya) If the LORD had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

And then returns to "prayer" for the next 4 verses (18-20)

Psalm 94:18-20 “If I should say, ‘My foot has slipped,’ Your lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up.
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.
Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which devises mischief by decree?”

Verses 22-23 become an "affirmation of his faith" as he again "talks to himself", reinforcing his strength and belief in God and His power.

Psalm 94:21-23 “They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.
But the LORD has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge.
He has brought back their wickedness upon them, and will destroy them in their evil; The LORD our God will destroy them.”

When you are in "prayer conversation" with God, there is an "ebb and flow" to the prayer, and I wonder... in the times that you are "talking to yourself" is that God's Holy Spirit speaking to you?

You know... I think it just might be!

Father, we pray for the discipline, to take the time to have a "conversation" with You. I believe Lord, that You desire to communicate with us, but You can't (won't) do that if the conversation is all one-sided; if we just "throw words" at You...

May we, instead, "listen" Lord - even as (from our perspective) our minds drift from the prayer, to the situation, back to the prayer, and then to "talking to ourselves".

May we listen for Your words in all of that as (perhaps from Your viewpoint) You "hear our words, then show us the 'current reality', then hear us again, and give us encouragement..."

May we learn how to converse with You, our Father.

And Lord, we pray too, for those who don't really "know" You; those who know all about You; all about Your Word and all about Your Son, but who just don't have the relationship to be able to cry "Abba, Father..." We lift them Lord, and pray that in Your mercy and grace, You'll call them unto Yourself.

We lift this prayer this morning, in Jesus' Holy and Perfect Name - Amen.

New Study Available!

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:01:00 +0000

We just finished a 4 week study on Paul's First Missionary Journey titled, "Goin' Down a New Road".

We taught this as a Sunday night service at the Huckleberry Springs Church building. (Huckleberry Springs UMC merged in 2007 with Riverdale UMC to form the French Broad UMC, but the building is still being used, and hoped by many to open again some day... anyway...)

This is how we promoted the study:

Are you at a new stage in your life?
Are you finding yourself facing things
that you never thought you'd face?
Come along as we begin a 4 week series titled
"Goin' Down a New Road"
based on Paul's First Missionary Journey.

Paul found himself in places, doing things, and facing struggles
that he'd never even dreamed about!
Learn about the People, the Path, the Plan and the Persecution
of his first journey, and see how his struggles might just be similar to your own!

If you'd like a copy of this study e-mail me and request a copy. It includes the manuscript that I taught from as well as a study guide for each week's lesson.

Several folks had asked about getting a copy, so I thought I'd post it here as well.

If you'd rather have a "hard copy" or a CD of the study, the cost is $5.00.

(Ask about other studies we have available.)

How does intercessory prayer overcome free will?

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:11:00 +0000

I spent the morning praying for a friend’s child and their struggles. I prayed that “today” would be a good day, because I know (from long personal experience) that that is how you survive the struggle. You pray for “today” and then tomorrow you pray for “today” as well… and you keep on praying for “today” until that particular battle becomes a skirmish, and that skirmish becomes something that you talk about in the past tense, while praying for the conflict that the new day brings (because every day brings one of its own.)

I prayed this morning for a closer loved one with a struggle, and for a friend whose husband has cancer – very serious cancer… I prayed for her strength and courage “today.”

I prayed for some I know that have made poor choices, that are now being covered by lies and deception, and for others who are overwhelmed by their responsibilities, and for those who are just plain afraid.

But, I kept coming back to “how does intercessory prayer overcome free will?” If my friend’s child chooses to turn away; if my own loved one chooses to react; if my friend chooses to give in, or allows fear to take control of her life… how does my intercessory prayer change anything?

How does intercessory prayer “make” someone tell the truth or give someone a way out, or keep someone from fear?

And the answer is – I don’t really know. All I know for sure is – there have been times in my own life when the only way I made it through was in knowing that someone was praying for me. I remember distinctly driving down the interstate (I can picture it in my mind, even today) and thinking, “Georgia and Ruby said that they were praying for me… that will get me through today…”

So, maybe I should let them know that they are being prayed for… Maybe that’s where intercessory prayer gets its power. Maybe just being reminded that even if you’re powerless; even if you’re the one on “the stretcher” that you have friends that are willing to carry you to Jesus, tear off the rooftop, and lower you down to Him… Maybe that’s where the power really is.

We just need to allow Him to deal with the sin or the heartache or the pain or the fear. I don’t have to (and in fact, can’t) “fix it.” But He can, and will… I only have to pray.

I still don’t know how intercessory prayer overcomes free will. But then, I don’t have to understand – I only have to pray.

And Father, I do pray, today... and leave it in Your hands. In Jesus' Name - Amen.

Busy, busy, busy!

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:36:00 +0000

I can't believe that it's been so long since I posted last. I've been so busy. If you know us, you know that we live on a farm and I own a business http://www.newmanvalley.com where we do chair caning and wicker repair. But, as I often tell folks, during the summer we do much more "canning" than "caning"!

I continue to do a lot of Bible studying as well writing and teaching Bible studies. I'm teaching a Wednesday night study at Bethel UMC (http://holston.org/churches/bethel-umc-french-broad-kodak-tn/programs/wednesday-night-bible-study/ ) on the book of Mark and a Sunday night study at Huckleberry Springs ( http://holston.org/churches/french-broad-circuit-t/programs/sunday-night-faith-lift/ )that we're calling "Sunday Night 'Faith Lift'!"

In our Sunday night study we're doing a 5-week study on the First Missionary Journey of Paul, titled "Goin' Down a New Road." If you're interested in a copy of this study, e-mail me and I'd be glad to send you a copy.

I hope to resume posting right away, but then again, we are coming up on the "Fall Shows"... so, we'll see...

To those of you who check in often - thank you - and I'll try to be back at it soon.

betty

Holston Annual Conference and McKay's Used Books

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:50:00 +0000

(Since “The Call” is still reporting on Annual Conference, perhaps it’s ok for me to touch on this thought one more time…)

A popular illustration for reaching the next generation involves how we listen to music. (It must be popular… I heard it from an evangelist in April and not once, but twice at Annual Conference from two totally different speakers, from two totally different parts of the country! I think I have an idea of where the “original” came from…)

However, as the illustration goes, one is first shown what we “old folks” refer to as an “LP” record. For those who don’t know, that’s the large “albums” that played at “33 1/3” rpms on our record players. (Of course, we could mention the old “78’s” or even the “Victrolas…” if we really wanted to go “back there” but I digress…)

Next we see an “8-track” tape (which brings back loads of memories) followed by a cassette, a CD, and then an Ipod… The whole thrust of the illustration is to say that although the “message” of the Gospel doesn’t change, the “method” for sharing it does.

Many have taken this illustration to mean “out with the old, and in with the new” and if you aren’t on the cutting edge of “worship” then you’re completely missing the boat. If you’re still doing worship the “old way” then there’s no way that you can bring in young folks. Tired old traditions and rituals are out, and new innovation is in.

And while I agree with that to a certain extent, I don’t think we can “throw the baby out with the bath water!” God told Moses numerous times in the “books of the Law” to teach these traditions to the people, and to make sure that they were passed on with, yes, even the keeping of rituals. Paul even told the Thessalonians to stand firm and hold to the traditions which they were taught.

So, tradition – in and of itself – is not wrong. In fact, I think the young folks crave the “concreteness” of tradition and ritual.

The next Sunday after we came home from Annual Conference, I went to McKay’s Used Books with my daughter-in-law. I’d never been to the new warehouse before. I was amazed! To a “read-a-holic” like me, it was like taking a kid to a toy store!

Of course, if you’ve been to a McKay’s, you know that they carry much more than used books. There’s all kinds of music as well as video games and Wii games, plus a whole lot that I’m sure I missed. (The section featuring the commentaries was outstanding!)

So as we left I asked Suzanne, “I saw lots of CDs, but do they take cassettes?” (I’m “old” I tell ya!) She said, “No, but a really big thing now is vinyl. If you’ve got any old record albums that you’re willing to part with, you can get good money for them! The younger crowd seems to really appreciate how music sounds on vinyl...”

Hmmm… perhaps some traditions are worth keeping? Let’s examine our “traditions” before we just get rid of them wholesale. There are reasons some things are still around…

I believe that we must teach the rituals and traditions of the faith. They are not “dry and dusty” – they are as alive as we make them. And they still have power.

Father, lead us to remember the faith of our fathers and our mothers. Help us to combine the “old” with the “new” as You would lead us. Renew in our own hearts the reasons behind the things that we do, so that when our children ask “why do you do this” we can share what You have done in our lives.

Thank You for the precious blood of Jesus, and may we never neglect His call to “Do this in remembrance of Me…”

In His Name – Amen.

Morning Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:06:00 +0000

A prayer of F.B. Meyer that I have adopted for my own says, “May I be willing, to be made willing, that Thy Will should be done.”

In a time of preparation for prayer one morning the following song came to mind. Many of you know it as our churches sing it often, but many times we find that as we sing, we don’t really “listen” to the words that the Spirit would speak to us. So, this morning… listen…

These precious words are inspired by John 20:22

Breathe on me,
breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love
what Thou dost love,
And do
what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me,
breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee
I will one will,
To do
and to endure.

Breathe on me,
breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Till all this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire
divine.

Breathe on me,
breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee
the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.

Dear Lord… what must happen in our world so that Thy Will is done – on earth, as it is in Heaven? What must happen in our churches, so that Thy Will is done – on earth, as it is in Heaven? My Father… what must happen in my life so that Thy Will is done – on earth, as it is in heaven? May I be willing, to be made willing, that Thy Holy and Perfect Will should be done in my life.
In Jesus’ Name – Amen.

Down From the Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:03:00 +0000

Or, this could be subtitled, “Lessons from Annual Conference!” (This could fall under “don’t get me started!” But, if you want to know more – call or e-mail me and I’ll go into more detail.)

I just returned from our Church’s Annual Conference, which is held at Lake Junaluska, NC. It was (as always) an awesome week. The music was uplifting and inspiring. The preaching was amazing. The ordination and commissioning services gave me chills, and touched my heart.

And the teaching was… well… let me just say this – never before have I ever seen an altar call given at Annual Conference, and especially after a teaching session on how to preach and lead worship! Our Bishop was moved to tears (and so were a couple thousand people!)

We left there with our heads swirling and our hearts bursting!

And then we came home.

And maybe it was just me, but the clouds and storms that engulfed us as we left that place seemed to mirror my mood. Maybe I was just tired – after all, the days were long, and the walking… well, let’s just say “thank goodness for the trolley!”

But, my ankles were hurting and then feeling like I’d made a fool of myself didn’t help matters any, and I began thinking of others who’d come “down from the mountain” as well.

When Moses came “down from the mountain” there were the Israelites with that dog-gone golden calf!

When Elijah came “down from the mountain” there was Jezebel and her threats.

When Jesus and “the three” came “down from the mountain” there were those hopeless disciples with that man and his demonic son… does nothing ever change?

And I began thinking about Bishop Marion Edwards’ sermon on Tuesday evening. The title was “Who Will Come and Go with Me?” and his Old Testament scripture was Exodus 14:10-15, where the Children of Israel have left Egypt and have come to the Red Sea.

They have mountains to the right, and mountains to the left, the Egyptians behind them, and the Red Sea in front of them, and they cry out to Moses… “This is all your fault! Were there no graves in Egypt so that you had to bring us out here to die? Is that it?!”

I wrote in my notes, “Leading, when no one wants to follow…” Sometimes that’s what I feel like (and I bet you do too…)

My “Psalm per week” this week is Psalm 77, and once again, God has spoken to my heart.

The “title” for this Psalm in my NRSV Bible is “God’s Mighty Deeds Recalled” and in it the writer cries out to God saying that he is so weary of crying that “my soul refuses to be comforted…”

But then in verses 11-13 he says, “I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work, and muse on Your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?”

And with that I call to mind, again, the songs of praise, and the altar call… that gut-wrenching, knees-buckling, soul-humbling, altar call on Tuesday night… and I know, God is in control.

Back to the scripture in Exodus… Moses tried to give the Israelites a pep-talk - “just hang in there… it’ll be ok… but then he turned (where no one could see him, I suspect) and cried out to God. And when Moses cries out to God there on the shores of the Red Sea, God says to him, “Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward!”

In other words, “Don’t sit around belly-aching about the problems. Go forward!” And the question comes back, “How do you lead when no one wants to follow?” And the answer is, “Lead anyway!”

And so members of Holston (and any other leaders) “Lead Anyway!” Our church is depending on you!

Our Father… it is so very difficult to lead. We just don’t feel adequate for the task. Our enemy attacks us with, “Well, who do you think you are to be leading…” and “Ha! You really made a fool of yourself that time! Why don’t you just keep your mouth shut?”

But yet, You have not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, and love and discipline; not just power, but we are to lead with love, and self-control… Oh God, be in us that power, and that love and that discipline, for “ours” is so very weak.

Bless this Church, O Lord, and all others who stand in their own denominations. We are but cracked and blemished vessels in which You have chosen to pour Your Own Spirit. May we lead with Your Power, Your Love and Your Control… And when no one wants to follow – give us courage to lead anyway!

In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray – Amen.

No Fudging

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:49:00 +0000

It came to me today, maybe why we sinners think that God will “cut us some slack” when it comes to sin. Why we think, “well, it’s just a ‘little’ sin. It’s not as bad as…” (name your comparison); maybe why we think we can “fudge” a little on the “judgment thing.”

Didja ever play marbles? Once you start to shoot your marble, there’s no “fudging” – no moving the marble from its starting place; no “repositioning”; no moving closer to the target for a better shot. And if you mess up… well, the marble has to stay where it is.

I thought about this today as I was driving up I-40 in the middle lane, and cars were passing me on both sides. The speed limit is 60, and I was going 65. Still, cars were passing (literally) right and left!

The thought went through my mind that, “You know… they pretty much ‘give you’ 5 mph before writing a ticket, but this is ridiculous!

Then I thought back to a meeting yesterday (Methodists will understand this.) In our “apportionment” system, knowing that the Conference will never collect 100% of the apportionments allotted for all the churches, they purposely set the amount higher, so that the amount that does come in will be somewhat close to what is needed…

In apportionments as in speed limits, why can’t it just be “set” what it needs to be, and then made compulsory for everybody? No fudging.

We seem to expect to fudge a little on everything. Maybe that’s why we expect the same in our lives before God.

God does not allow “fudging.” As a friend of mine says, “It is, what it is!” Sin is sin, period. If you’ve not murdered anyone, nor stolen from anyone, but have at some point in your life, told a lie – you’re just as sinful as any murderer sitting on death row.

James says, (James 2:10) “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.” No fudging.

No rationalizing, no whitewashing, no fudging. The penalty for sin is set in stone, “the wages of sin is death” no exceptions. No setting it higher so that we can get “close enough.” No “padding” it to make allowances. It must be paid. And it was. Purely through the Grace and Mercy of God, by the blood of Jesus Christ are we saved.

The difference is we want to fudge – but God wants to forgive.

Father, open our eyes to see areas of our lives where we’ve made compromises. May we, starting this very hour, remove all “fudging” from our lives. Help us to stand firm, confessing all, and seeking Your forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name – Amen.

Prayer preface - Worship

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:02:00 +0000

As my husband goes to the church to work on his music, and I have dishes to do, I think, “This is a good time to pray…”

And I begin…

Oh Lord, I must begin with worship; not because You need my worship, but that I need to say it. I need to affirm it…

Because, O Lord, there is no hurt that I can feel, that You have not already felt.
There is no question I can have, that You don’t already know the answer to; and there is no fear that I can fear that You are not bigger than… because You are God.

You are God, and You know everything - You are Omniscient.
You are all powerful – You are Omnipotent.
You are everywhere – You are Omnipresent.
And, You are GOD!

(And I am overwhelmed with the idea that the dishes will just have to wait, because I need to write this down…)

I just have to affirm that worship. I just have to drink that into my very being.
“Be still…” the Psalmist said, “And know that I Am God.” But what he/He really said was, “Cease striving…” “Don’t kick against the pricks; don’t kick against the goads…”

And I immediately ask, “Lord! What in the world does that mean?” And I find it means “to offer vain and rash resistance which is a proverbial expression alluding to unruly oxen and applied to those who by unruly rage hurt themselves.”

And I cry out, “Oh God! I do do that, don’t I?” In my case (at least at “this” age) it’s not so much “rage” or anger anymore, as it is fear, and discouragement, and an ache in my heart for those I love… but still, it is “vain and rash resistance…” to being still and knowing that You are God.

Help me, O Lord. Help me.

Even in my praise; even in my worship; remind me O Lord, that I am Your child, and You love me.

As I lift up, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty. You are Holy, O my Saviour, my Redeemer! You are Worthy to be Praised… and I will praise You, Most Holy One.

And now, Father… “Abba”, let me crawl upon Your lap, lay my head on Your shoulder, and feel Your arms around me while I pray…

Easter Sermon for Children

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:14:00 +0000

I don't do a lot of children's sermons, but this will work for a sermon or if you need to keep the kids occupied while the adults are hiding the eggs! (Which is the reason I wrote this today.)

Children’s Sermon/Story for Easter
(Use for “Egg Hunt” story time or Easter Sunday Sermon)

Do you know what “Special Day” tomorrow (or today) is?

Why do we celebrate Easter?

(Let the children make comments.)

We have a lot of special days, don’t we? Can you name some other special days? (Christmas, 4th of July, Memorial Day, etc…) We celebrate each of these special days for a reason – Christmas is Jesus’ Birthday; the 4th of July celebrates our county’s birthday, etc.

When Jesus was a little boy, (well, when He was all grown up, too) the Jewish people had a lot of special days that they celebrated. They had one called “Passover”; and one called “Hanukkah”; and one called “The Day of Atonement”, and a whole bunch more. But they had one that they celebrated on the very same day that we celebrate Easter… Do you know what it is?

It is called the “Festival of First Fruits.” What do you think that might mean?

Just like our special days’ having a reason for celebration, so did the “Festival of First Fruits.” When God brought the Jewish people into the Promise Land they were mostly farmers and shepherds – they grew crops and raised sheep. Every year when their crops were ready to pick, they were supposed to bring the very first of the produce to God as a “thank you” for His blessing on their crops; they called this the first “fruit” whether it was a fruit or a vegetable or a grain of some sort. So they called the special day, “The Festival of First Fruits.”

Now, I’m going to use a really big word, and see if you know what it means… Do you know what “Resurrection” means? It means to have a new life. Jesus died, but then was given a new life.

In another place in the Bible (1 Corinthians 15:20) a man named Paul calls Jesus the “first fruits of those who have died…” What do you think that might mean? (He is the very first One to be resurrected.)

Do you think He will be the only one to ever have a new life?

Let me ask you this… have any of you ever had a garden? What did you grow? When you picked the very first _____… did you think that would be the only _____ that you would have? Why?

Paul called Jesus the “first” fruit… he didn’t call Him the “only” fruit… This means that someday, everyone who believes in Jesus will be given a new life, too.

I’ve got one more word to ask you about… Do you know what a “witness” is? A witness is someone who has seen something or knows something for themselves. When Jesus was given a new life, a whole lot of people were witnesses to that. A lot of people saw Him over a few weeks’ time. But you know what? Even though we haven’t seen Him, we can be witnesses of Jesus, too.

One time Jesus healed a blind man, and later a bunch of people were asking the man all kinds of questions about Jesus, and the man said, “Well, I don’t know a whole lot about Him, but one thing I know for sure – I was blind, and now I can see. And that’s good enough for me.”

And so, we don’t have to “see Jesus” to be His witness. All we have to see and know are the things He has done in our own lives. One song says, “When I am sad, He makes me glad… He’s my Friend.”

And so, when anyone asks you what Easter is, you can say, “It means that Jesus has a new life, and it means that I can have one, too. And I know that for sure!”

Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for Easter. And thank You for calling me to be a witness that Jesus is the First Fruit, and that I can be one too!
In Jesus’ Name – Amen.

Apology

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:08:00 +0000

Just a short word of apology to those of you who keep checking my blog for something new.

In the past month, my laptop (which I use at home for all my studies) crashed, not once, but twice!

I had just reloaded my e-Sword software, along with some new Bible software that I'd gotten, and had just begun to get back in the habit of writing, when the laptop started making the strangest noise!

I called my "tech-guy" and said, "Listen to this" and held the phone close. He said, "oh-oh... that isn't good..."

So, my only access to this blog is in my studio - which, I could write here... but the "atmosphere" just isn't conducive to studies... so... if you've come looking for "new stuff..." I'm sorry.

Here's an idea! Go back into the archives and read some of the older stuff... and let me know what you think!

betty

Kitchen Table Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:25:00 +0000

Many times I’ve gone to prayer with the cry, “What do I say, Lord? What do I say?”

Usually this is in response to a deep seated need for my own family or for others who’ve asked me to pray.

However, for a rewarding experience in prayer, try this sometime. If your kitchen is anything like mine (and I’m betting it is) then it is the “nerve center” of the home. It’s where things happen.

Sit down at your kitchen table and just look around. You’ll be amazed at what you see…

I’m not going to share my prayer - it’s too personal - but I’ll tell you some of what I see.

First of all, the table is cluttered with books and papers and such - an indication of our busy lives. I am thankful for each of these “activities” and the health to pursue them.

I see a jar lid that says “A B 88” - that stands for “Apple Butter 1988”. It is in my Mother’s handwriting… I miss her so much, and I am so thankful for how I was raised.

I see a couple of boxes of herbal tea that our younger son brought in, and a western magazine belonging to our older son… I pray for, and am thankful for them. We are so blessed.

On the refrigerator is a photo of my husband - what we have is beyond words. And, there’s a card from my daughter-in-law - such a special gal!

I also see a photo of a friend’s baby, a “Lucy and Ethel” magnet from a very close friend, and a faculty list from our local high school (I often pray for these teachers and school staff.)

Looking on around I see “treen-ware” (wooden spoons) and a handmade “cat doll” and herbal vinegars made by craft/artist friends; each of whom hold a dear place in my heart.

There are gifts from this one, and utensils from that one and items that spark all kinds of memories. And, as those memories roll in, I pray for these folks and thank God for their place in my life.

I am also thankful for the time I can take, with my coffee, before the day begins to meditate on God’s grace and the overwhelming blessings He has given us.

No, our lives aren’t perfect - and I’ve cried many tears at this kitchen table - but this morning, as I look at the bounty from last summer, the cookbooks on the shelf, the antique dishes belonging to my “faith mothers”, and the coats hanging on the chair backs - I am reminded (again) of just how blessed we are.

I didn’t set out this morning to do this. God just opened my eyes at my kitchen table - let Him open yours, today.

God, thank you for opening my eyes this morning. I pray for my friends and those who seek to serve You daily. Use the “little things”, I pray, to spark memories, and bring to mind “faces” of those for whom You would have us pray, today.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.
After this, I don’t think I’ll ever look at my kitchen the same way again!

Ah! So THAT'S Where That's At!

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 13:55:00 +0000

As much as I love Scripture and the study of God’s Word; as much as I have “hidden it in my heart”; as much as I desire to “walk before the Lord in the land of the living”, still, I am not very good at “chapter and verse.”

I know “what” it says - I just may not be able to tell you where to find it. (Thank goodness for “search functions!”)

This week as I come to Psalm 56 in my “weekly study” of the Psalms, once again I find myself saying, “So that’s where that’s at!”

Psalm 56 is titled “A psalm of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath.” You remember Gath - that’s where the “Anakim” lived... you know, the big people. Goliath was from Gath…

Several years after David slew Goliath, he was hiding from Saul, and the place that he went to hide was in Gath - talk about jumping out of the fat into the fire! (You can find this story in 1 Samuel 21.) And this Psalm is his cry for deliverance, and his statement of faith.

The first section of the Psalm records David’s cry in which he says, (verse 3) “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”

And then in verse 8 he says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.”

“You have collected all my tears in Your bottle…” This word for “bottle” is not some little ointment bottle, or perfume bottle, but the word for a wineskin; a big bottle. He has them all - every silent whimper, every wail, every body-shaking sob - He has them all!

Last week I gave the message at a funeral for a church member. (See previous post) In it I read the words to the song, “Does Jesus Care?” And we saw that yes, He does!

May He bless and comfort you today.

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Refrain

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed,
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

Refrain

Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Refrain:
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary,
the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Funeral meditation

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:29:00 +0000

Welcome brothers and sisters, we have come this afternoon to honor and celebrate the life of Anna Rhea Lynn.

Our God is an awesome God! He took a man from Illinois, and a woman from the hills of East Tennessee, and had them meet - in California - on a blind date - at a high school football game - in the rain! Now you think God wasn’t in that! :-)

The family shared with me of what a strong and adventurous woman she was. She loved cooking and gardening, even belonging to gardening clubs in Calif. and traveling all over judging competitions.

She was a woman dedicated to caring for her family - doing whatever it took.

She was like those familiar words form the book of Proverbs.

(Read Proverbs 31:10-12, 25-30 NLT)

May your hearts be comforted as we share together today…

(Word of Grace and opening prayer - Rev. Bill Cahill)

Sermon:

I want to share with you from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 NLT. (Read)

This is how we are to comfort one another - we are to remind one another of the hope that we have in Christ, Who was the first raised from the dead. Paul is saying that we don’t grieve as those who have no hope, but one thing he is not saying, is that it won’t hurt, because it will, and it does. Christ certainly expects us to shed tears and feel loneliness as we go though these valleys. But in the midst of our sorrow, there must be the testimony of the living hope we have in Christ

Jesus Himself said to Martha when Lazarus died, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die." And then He said to her, “Do you believe this?”

And we have to answer that as well. Do we believe it or not?

But, do you remember what happens next? He weeps. Jesus cries at the tomb of Lazarus; He who knew that He was, Himself, “the resurrection and the life”, cried at His best friend’s tomb.

I believe there are several reasons He cried. First He cried because it was necessary for His friend to die. He had to allow Lazarus to die, and that pained Him greatly.

And second, He cried because those He loved so dearly were hurting. Many times, when it’s just us, we deal with grief pretty well. But when someone we love is grieving, it causes us to cry with and for them.

Yes, we have hope, but it is going to hurt.

There is an old song that asks the question, “Does Jesus Care?”

(Read verses 1, 4 Cokesbury Hymnal #180)

These memorials and funerals are hard, but we are not meant to carry this alone. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Paul tells us that God offers comfort to all.

(Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT)

Isn’t that encouraging? That we will be able to give one another the same comfort that God has given us! And that is why we are here today. We want to celebrate and honor the life of Anna Rhea, but we also, as a Church, want to comfort and love you.

But, I believe there is another reason that Jesus cried. I believe He cried because He had to bring Lazarus back from heaven.

Can you imagine? Heaven! Paradise! The word for paradise is paradisos - it means “the King’s private garden.” Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise!” Today, you’ll walk in My Father’s garden.

He told the disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

When Bill told me about Anna Rhea doing all that traveling with the garden clubs and the competitions, I thought, “Yeah, that’s where she’s at - she’s “inspecting the gardens!” Her feet aren’t hurting, and her knees are well, and she’s enjoying the garden.

While we’re here on this dying earth, we can rejoice for Anna Rhea who is in the presence of Christ.

Of course you’ll miss her! Of course it’s going to hurt. And you’ll find yourself caught off guard sometimes at the most unlikely thing - a certain flower, a certain sound, a rainy football game, but remember, as we read, the Apostle Paul tells us that we don’t grieve like those who have no hope.

Our parting is not the end - it’s only an interruption. We’ve not “lost” Anna Rhea - we know exactly where she is. She is experiencing Christ’s presence in a place so joyful and wonderful that it is called “Paradise!”

And one day, we’re told, we will be with the Lord forever! “Comfort one another with these words!”
I want to close by reading the words to another old familiar song.

(Read all 4 verses, then chorus of “The Unclouded Day” Cokesbury Hymnal #207)

Closing prayer - Rev. Bill Cahill

Dismiss to Cemetery

Fear Not

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:07:00 +0000

Luke 1:30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God." (NASB)

"Wait a minute!" you say, "It's January already! Christmas is over!"

Bear with me, I've got something exciting to share!

I recently did a word study on the phrase "Fear Not", and found something that greatly touched, and encouraged my heart.

"Do not be afraid", or "Fear Not" is how we often hear and read it (the Greek word is phobeo and we get from it our word phobia) but, the "tense" in which it is said carries all the meaning!

The tense (according to my Key Word Bible and "Bibleworks" software) is "present imperative", which means the phrase is really saying, "Fear not, and keep on fearing not!"

It does not mean, "Oh here, let me pat you on the head and comfort you..."

No, it is a command. It recognizes that fear has started to creep into Mary's heart, but the angel commands that the fear stop... and not start back up again!

It is the same with Zechariah (Luke 1:13) and with the angels (Luke 2:10).

With Joseph however, (Matthew 1:20) the word is the same, but the tense is different. In Joseph's case it is "passive subjective", which means (basically) that the fear or doubt only comes because all the facts are not known yet. Once Jesus is born, there will be no further fear or doubt about marrying Mary.

But the real "kicker" is found in Matthew 28:5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. (NASB emphasis added)

It is the very same word, and tense! Fear not, and keep on fearing not!

So yeah, another Christmas season has come and gone, but in many cases, once we come "down from the mountain" the fear "returns" as we settle back into the routines of life.

But, from a borrowed cradle to a borrowed tomb, the "bookends of Faith" say to us, no they Command us, "Fear not, and keep on fearing not!"

May God strengthen and encourage you this new year!

betty

Prayers for the New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:20:00 +0000

I originally posted these prayers 2 years ago for the New Year 2007, but with many new readers of this blog, I decided to repost them for this coming new year.

My prayer for you is, (from Isaiah 55:6) "Seek Him while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near."

If we can pray for you, please e-mail us.

Prayers for the New Year… 2009

(Personal prayer)
Father, as I pause to think about praying for a new year, I have to wonder, what is it about changing the date on a calendar that makes us think of “starting over.”? Don’t we realize that every day, yes even every moment is new with You? That at any moment we can surrender ourselves to You and start afresh? Why do we think a “date” must change for us to change?

Or, is it the “season” we’ve just gone through that prompts us to make changes? We have experienced the Advent and the celebration of the Day of the birth of our Lord. Is somehow, that “advent” so ingrained within us that we long for “something new”? That we subconsciously want to “prepare” ourselves to be, what, better? More ready for His coming?

I don’t know the “why” Lord. I just know that we do. My prayer is, as Paul said, “forgetting what lies behind, but reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on to the goal…” And what is my goal, Lord? To know Thee more clearly, to serve Thee more nearly, and to love Thee more dearly… this is my prayer.

In Jesus’ name - Amen.

(Universal prayer)
Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent God; our Creator, our Adonay, our El-Shaddai, our God Almighty, You are everything we need. You have created us for Your purposes and to glorify You, hear our cries; hear our praises this day…

We lift up to You this day, a new year; a turning of our earthly calendar. Do You laugh at that, God? For to You “a thousand years is as a single day” and yet we turn the calendar with such pomp and circumstance - with such celebrations and resolutions, that one would think that “we” had some control… but, it is all Yours.

We humbly bow at that admission and revelation. It is all Yours! Make of us, Lord, servants of the Most High God, make of us, Father, servants of Your children.

We pray, Father, for those for whom the turning of the calendar brings hope; for those who just want to forget last year and start afresh. We pray that they would come to know that “every” day is new with You.

We pray for those for whom the turning of the calendar brings despair, anxiety and fear; for those who just can’t see how things can get any better. We pray that they would come to know You in all Your fullness, and to recognize that “this world is not their home.”

We pray for those for whom the turning of the calendar brings excitement; for those who know You and just can’t wait to see what You’ll do next. God! That is so exhilarating - just to know the joy of the Lord! But even at that Lord, may we too, realize that “this world is not our home” either. Don’t let us get so caught up with “living” that we forget “life.”

We humbly lay this “year” at Your feet and ask what would You have us do? Where would You have us go? Who would You have us touch? And who would You have touch us?

And may all that we do, glorify You.

In Jesus’ name - Amen.

(My prayer)
My Father and my God, so order my steps in this coming year as to only bring honor to that Name I carry - “Christian.”

Lord, I know that means so many different things to different people - and some of it is not good. May I begin to change that!

John (our younger son) once said, “I keep tying my shoe, and it keeps coming untied - it must be something in my step…” Father, no matter how much I try to keep life together, no matter how often “I” tie my shoes, they keep coming untied. “Life” keeps coming unraveled, because that’s how “life” is. And as long as we live as humans, in fallen “containers” it will always be like that.

And so I pray, God, order my steps, control my walk, direct my path, that I may serve You and You alone this new year. That is my plea.

In Jesus’ name - Amen.

My Favorite Christmas Scripture...

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:45:00 +0000

... is Galatians 4:4a. "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman..." (NASB)

"Fullness of time" - what does that mean? It means "perfect" timing.

It absolutely amazes me how God works, not only in the individual lives of men and women, but in "time" (past, present and future) as well. How He "works" everything together just boggles the mind.

The following is excerpted from a piece I wrote titled, "From Malachi to Matthew."

In speaking of the "400 'silent' years", I said:

"Yes, God may have been silent, but that does not mean He was not at work!

The Babylonians carried the Children of Israel into Exile, but it was during that period that the books of the Bible were compiled and the Synagogue system of worship created.

The Persians allowed the Israelites to return to their homeland. The temple was rebuilt and temple worship reinstated.

The Greeks (Alexander the Great) brought the Greek culture or Hellenization to the world. This brought a way of life, trade, diplomacy, and most importantly, the Greek language. It became the language of commerce and thus of the world.

The Romans (the Caesars) were geniuses at "movement" and engineering. They created a system of roads whereby the whole world could travel.

It is into this setting, at what Galatians 4:4 calls "the fullness of time" when the whole known world could travel and could communicate that we find (which, by the way, was written over 700 years before) "…unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace…"

At just the perfect time!"

*************************************************************

I pray that you have a wonderful Christmas season. Watch and listen for God's perfect timing. Remember, God doesn't make mistakes!

betty

Staircase to Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:45:00 +0000

Oh God, what a picture, what an image, to imagine that great chasm which lies between the man of sin and the Holiness of Your Presence… And then Lord, to picture a staircase, sure and firm though it be, to see that it is built out of “cross-wood”; rough, splintery, blood-soaked, cross-wood.

I see it rising, Lord, and winding past the petty sins of selfishness and greed, and ascending past princes and powers and principalities. I see it climbing up and circling the mount… the blood becomes mingled with gold as it passes angels and thrones and crowns.

It continues past prophets and priests and kings, to come to a throne-room where the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, reaches out His nail scarred hands and bids me come and pour out my heart to Him… He assures me that He has His Father’s ear…

God, I am breathless and awed and humbled to even think about and visualize such a staircase, and to know, that even if there were no other person, He would have built it… and climbed it… just for me…

I praise and exalt His Holy and precious Name… Amen.

Pray Specifically

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:13:00 +0000

I have a new set of CDs from Chuck Swindoll on the Book of Daniel. He has run this series on his radio program for the past couple of months, but I kept missing parts of the lessons, so I just decided to order them so I could hear the whole thing.

The series had (of course, being from Daniel) quite a bit to do with prophecy, but the whole series (both halves of the book) was so relevant to the difficulties of today.

As you may recall, Daniel was taken into captivity with the Israelites as a young man, and rose to great prominence in the land of Babylon (much like Joseph’s captivity in Egypt.) The first half of the book of Daniel is (you might say) “practical” and the second half is “prophecy.” (Personally, I believe that Daniel wrote the whole book - but that’s another debate for another day…)

Again, what really struck me about the radio series was it’s relevance to today.
Rev. Swindoll spoke of elections, and of praying for the nation in times of great difficulties. He talked of wars and terrorist attacks and financial woes. I actually thought we were getting the sermons, pretty much, as he preached them.

Then I got the set in and found that the sermons were originally preached, just before the elections, in 1976! Wow! Thirty-two years ago… The similarities were eerie!

One thing he said really struck me, though. He said, “As Christians, sometimes our answer to difficulties is to look for the Rapture. Just ‘take us out of here’ we cry. But instead, our answer should be, as Daniel’s was, to pray.”

And so I urge you today… pray, pray, and then, pray some more. And don’t pray “generically”; pray specifically! If you don’t pray specifically, how are you going to know when God answers?

And, if you don’t know when He answers, how can you have faith in prayer, and how can you praise His Holy Name?

Precious and Gracious Lord; Father of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and by adoption, our own Abba, Father… we fall on our knees before You and pour out our hearts to You this morning.

God, we specifically name those things that create such terrible weights on our shoulders, and we pray, Lord, that You would lift our burdens.

For each of us, the “names” of the burdens may be different, but the pain is the same; the concern is the same; and the paralyzing fear of uncertainly is exactly the same. We just don’t know what to do next. Show us, I pray.

Lay out a path of direction that is so clear, that it could come from no other but You. And give us peace, Lord. Give us an assurance, an encouragement that our prayers are being heard, even if it’s going to be a long time until the complete answer comes, give us “something” to hold onto until that day. Give us… that peace that we so often hear of… that surpasses understanding.

Father, my personal prayer is for those that I wish (and that each of us wishes) would pray this prayer, but we just can’t seem to convince them to pray. We all have those, Lord; our friends, our family, our brothers and sisters in Christ - who just don’t seem to “get it.”

We pray that their eyes will be opened; we pray specifically that they will hear Your Voice when You call out, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

And we pray specifically that (this person) will respond.

In Jesus’ Holy and Perfect Name - Amen! (and Amen.)

Is the Bible Relevant to Today's Life?

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:10:00 +0000

Biblical Relevance?

The headlines read:

Terrorist Attacks Continue

Economy in Ruins

Many Losing Jobs and Homes - Moving to Find Work

People in Despair

Lack of Faith in God Evident

These are not headlines from your local newspaper. They are from (if there was one) “The Bethlehem Times” during the 12th century BC, during the time of the setting of the book of Ruth.

I recently heard someone on the Bible Broadcasting Network begin a series on the book of Ruth, (95.3 if you’re in the Knoxville, East Tennessee area or http://www.bbnradio.org/ ) and I realized, “You know, I’ve never really delved into the book of Ruth!”

I’ve studied and written about Esther, but not Ruth - and since I’ve started this study, I’ve been amazed at what I’ve found. You think prophecy describes today? You should read the opening chapter of Ruth.

You might title the book of Ruth, “How Difficult Times Affected One Family.”

I’m convinced that Elimelech (whose name means “God is my King”) really believed what his name signified. But, he was a “devout” man, caught in desperate times.

If you could ask him, he would tell you, “No, I didn’t want to move to Moab, but I had to provide for my family. Ya gotta do what you gotta do, you know…” And so he went…

Little did he know that he would never set foot back in his hometown again; nor would his sons…

I intend to write a more in-depth study on the book of Ruth, but my number one goal as a Bible teacher is to give you (what I call) “the ‘want-to’s”.

I want you to “want to” read this for yourself.

If you’ve never studied the book of Ruth - or it’s been a while - read it today. Watch how God’s Hand of providence directed this one family, during a time of national unease, to fulfill His Will.

The key for us is this: He’s done it before… He’ll do it again… Look for it!

Father, I lift up those reading my blog, or on my mailing list. The older I get, the more I realize that every… single… person… has areas of their lives that desperately need prayer. And so I ask, Lord, hear the cries of their hearts - those spoken cries, those unspoken cries, and those cries that don’t even have words to bring them to light.

You promised that Your Spirit would connect with our spirit and take our groans and utterances right to the Throne of Grace - and so we pray for that very thing.

Fill us with the assurance of Your Presence as we live in these increasingly difficult times. And lead us to make right decisions, based on Your Promises and Your Word, and not on what we “think” we need to do to provide for our families.

Help us Father, to remain steadfast and faithful, and to seek to know You better through Your precious Word.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Conversion Isn't a "One-Time" Event

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:01:00 +0000

Isn't it funny how we use words differently inside and outside of the Church?

When we say the word "conversion", if we're "inside" the church, we immediately think of "salvation."

But, if we're "outside" the church, we may more readily think of something like "conversion van" for instance. We think more of something that has been altered or changed in someway to make it useful for another purpose.

A recent S.S. lesson was on Saul's conversion, and it got me to thinking that, in actuality, conversion is a long drawn-out process, that involves a lot of changes.

For instance, the men we call the disciples were converted from their "jobs" to "followers of Christ." Then they were "converted" to disciples, then apostles, Church Fathers, and then most of them, to martyrs.

Actually the opposite of conversion is stagnation. When we stop changing, and growing, we are useless.

In Philippines 3:12-14 (NLT) Paul says, "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

In my own life, I've undergone many "conversions." First I was a child, a daughter; then a student, (then a believer) an employee, a wife, a mother, a business owner, a writer a caregiver, a mother-in-law, and a teacher. And now, I am undergoing yet another "conversion" for which I am in daily prayer.

What about you? Have you undergone "conversion" in the "Biblical" sense? That's first and foremost. But then, what about in the fuller sense of the word? Are you undergoing conversion?

If not, are you in danger of becoming stagnant?

Father, I lift up those who genuinely seek conversion; those who seek to so change daily as to serve You in the fullest sense of the word; those who "forgetting the past, are looking forward to what lies ahead."

I pray Lord, that they... we may press on to reach the end of the race, and receive the heavenly prize for which You, through Christ, are calling us.

In Jesus' Name - Amen.

What a Difference a Word Makes!

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:55:00 +0000

Psalm 42 is very familiar to many people, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul thirsts for God, for the living God…” (“Oh yeah, that one…”)

As I came to read this Psalm again, I found that at sometime in the past, I had titled this Psalm, “A Prayer for a Dead Church.” And indeed it certainly reads like a lonely faithful one’s prayer for their troubled church.

But what really caught my eye this time (and this is a wonderful argument for reading from several translations) is the subtle differences in 2 verses that, at first glance, appear to be identical. This is how it reads in the NASB.

Verse 5 says, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.” (Remember, the words in italics aren’t there in the original Hebrew.)

And verse 11 says, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”

As I was reading this, it was the little word “yet” in verse 11 that jumped off the page at me. It changes the whole tone of the verse from “wishful thinking” to a firm belief; from encouraging “self talk” to expectant hope; from “someday maybe” to “once again, for sure.”

As I read this Psalm in several different translations I saw that in many of them this verse doesn’t change. “So why,” I thought, “does it change in the NASB…?

I found that the Hebrew word for “yet” is the same as the word for “shall again”. So, is it “subjective?” Is it the translator’s whim as to which word to use?

No, it has to do with “tenses” (which is waaaaay over my head) that determines how the “tone” of the verse is translated from the Hebrew.

Therefore, the two verses really are different. We really can go from “wishful thinking” to a firm belief. We can go from “encouraging self-talk” to expectant hope. We can go from “someday maybe” to “once again, for sure.”

When our souls long for the “seemingly absent” Presence of the Living God, we can know that we will again rejoice in the comfort of His care.

But there’s one more thing that the word “yet” means. It also means “in spite of.” When we use the word this way we are saying, “No matter what it ‘feels’ like, I still have the assurance of God’s Presence, and no matter what happens, I will praise Him. For He helps how I look at things, instead of how things look to me, and He is my God!”

I pray for you today, to know God’s Presence, and His assurance in spite of the condition of the world around you.

In spite of your job security, in spite of your checking balance, in spite of the last doctor's report; proclaim with the prophet Habakkuk, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet (I imagine him saying with upraised fist) I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” (Emphasis added!)

Who Has Whose Hand?

noreply@blogger.com (Betty Newman) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:03:00 +0000

When we see an adult, with child of 5 or 6 years old, holding hands as they cross the street - we know who is holding whose hand.

But add 50-55 years to that scene - and now, who has whose hand?

I remember clearly a pastor we had once mentioning during a sermon something about God being at Jesus’ right hand. Now, we all know that Jesus is at God’s right hand, and I know he saw my puzzled look because as we made eye contact, I saw a slight smile come across his face as he continued talking about God at Jesus’ right hand…

Until… he got past the crucifixion, past the resurrection, and to Hebrews 12:2 where he read, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” And then I understood.

God was on Jesus' right hand in mission, and Jesus is on God's right hand in Glory!

That’s been nearly 15 years ago, and I still think of it. (I have notebooks full of notes from his sermons!) I’ve also thought of it several times this year as I’ve studied the Psalms. It’s amazing to me the number of times David has said, “You (God) take my right hand…” (Psalms 16:8; 73:23; 109:31 for example) and then the times he has said, “Let me (David) take Your (God’s) right hand…” (Psalms 17:7; 18:35 for example - actually there are some 35+ Psalms that mention God’s right hand…)

And so we ask, “Who has whose hand?”

Sometimes David has God’s right hand, and sometimes God has David’s right hand… what’s the difference? It’s certainly not that when God has David’s right hand (the hand of strength) that David is “taking care” of God.

It’s the fact that sometimes God is the strength at our right hand (putting us to work) and sometimes He comforts and protects us by keeping us at His right hand (when we’re too weak to work.)

It’s always God’s strength and salvation, it’s just that sometimes He holds our hand, and sometimes, He allows us to hold His…

At least this is my understanding of it…

As Jerry Clower used to say, “Ain’t God Good!”

God, my Father, my Strength, and my Deliverer, take my right hand and lead me into battle… and then, when the battle looms large ahead of me… may I take Your right hand in comfort and protection.

Oh God, this is almost too much for me to understand. I can’t quite wrap my mind around it.

Oh the depths of Your Word - and the heights to which it takes me - it’s dizzying, and at times, gives me cold chills and almost takes my breath.

As I meditate on Your Word, sometimes a warm wash of clarity comes over me, so much so that I scarcely breathe and don’t want to move, afraid that I may lose that understanding that is barely touching my fingertips…

Oh the wondrous joy of Your precious Word! Thank You for the treasure I hold in my hands!