When "I am in trouble, Lord!"

I just had a moment this morning… I was just going to look quickly at my e-Sword (Bible Study software) for just one quick thing because, “I had other things to do…” but…

When I opened the software my “Daily Devotion” popped up, and the words of F.B. Meyer (written in the 1930’s – during the “Great” Depression) caught my heart, and I knew that I had to share them.

He uses as his Scripture Isaiah 38:14b which in the New Living Translation says (rather bluntly) “I am in trouble Lord. Help me!” And then Meyer goes on to say:

"THIS PRAYER is so indefinite that it will suit any emergency, and yet brimful of faith that God will undertake all responsibility. Are you oppressed with the sense of failure, with temptation, with the consciousness of sin?

Or oppressed with poverty, or debt, or the fear of unemployment, or with inability to find work? Or cast down with bitter persecution within or without your home? Or sorely beset and hindered by ill-health, the hopelessness of recovery?

All these eases of oppression are included in this petition, and may be handed over to your faithful Creator, with the certainty that He is as willing as He is able to undertake for you. He is never weary of hearing your cry; the Everlasting Arms are never tired; and our God neither slumbers nor sleeps.

What may we expect from a prayer so simple, yet so comprehensive? We shall know God."

Read the familiar story of Hezekiah’s cry when God (through Isaiah) told him that he was going to die. We remember Hezekiah’s turning to the wall and crying, but we may not know that later in that chapter we are told what he actually prayed.

Meyer goes on to say:
“At the pit we learn God's Love. How can we measure God's love? They say that a man's fist is the measure of his heart. Come and stand beneath the stars! There is God's hand! Now judge His heart! It is illimitable!

By that love He has put our sins behind His back into the ocean depths!

With that love He has drawn us out of the pit of our sins!

By that love He bears with our cold response and languid petitions!

Through that love He will bring us to glory! His is a love that will never let us go!

Then he ends with:
"Take the hand of Jesus to steady you; look down into the hole of the pit from which you have been redeemed, and then look up to the Throne of God to which He passed at His Ascension, and recall His own words: "where I am, there shall ye be also." Trust Him to undertake for your little life!"

Part of his prayer closes with:
"May I trust more than I know, and believe more than I see; and when my heart is overwhelmed within me, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."

To which we add… Amen!

There is another prayer

I used to say that I had to be in the “mood” to write… maybe that meant that I had to be “inspired” to write.

Maybe, I needed to be in God’s presence to write (although I didn’t know it at the time…) Perhaps now, I need to be in God’s presence to really pray.

“God is Omnipresent,” you say. “He’s everywhere. We’re always in His presence.” And maybe we are – but is He in ours?

Every time my mind is “still” (if even for the briefest of moments) my thoughts turn to prayer. I say “Thank You” or “Praise You” or I lift up a name that’s on my heart.

But, is that really prayer?

“Yes it is,” I argue. And I am right; it is a type of prayer. It is, what I call, “a prayer of aware-ance.” I am continually “aware” of the presence of God. But, in this prayer, “I” set the tone and “I” set the time. And I tell God, “Here I am! Let’s talk now.” And then I tell God when I’m finished, and I close the door and get on with “life.”

But… there is another prayer.

And that is the prayer of immersion – where (most times unexpectedly) I feel myself engulfed, surrounded, enshrouded by His Presence. Where God doesn’t just poke His Head into my world, but instead, I am “allowed” entrance into His Court.

It’s like a fog slowly rolling in. At first, you barely “see” it. And then before your mind fully comprehends what is happening, you are embraced with such wonder that first catches your breath, and then makes you want to breathe deeply, and be filled as completely within by His Aura, as you are enveloped without, by His Arms.

At times like these you want to cry out, “Oh God! What an awesome gift of Your Love. Thank You for tearing that curtain down!”

Do we really realize what a privilege we have been given? No, I don’t think we do. At least, not very often…

Prayer preface - Worship

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…

Pray Specifically

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.)

"I'll Be Praying For You"

A man in our church has just been diagnosed with inoperable cancer. I called his wife at home the other night and while talking to her, I asked if I could pray with her on the phone. She readily agreed.

When I finished, she asked if I'd call her husband at the hospital and pray with him, which I did.

You could tell that they both greatly appreciated it.

I got to thinking - we often tell people that we'll be praying for them, but how often do we let them hear us? I know a lot of people are uncomfortable praying in public - it merely takes experience to get comfortable with it, and you don't get experience, except by doing it.

So, in my weekly e-mail devotional this week, I sent the following "challenge" and "encouragement.'

Maybe this will help you, too.


“I’ll Be Praying for You”

Ever told someone, “I’ll be praying for you” or “I’ll put you on my prayer list”?

What about, “I’ll be thinking about you…” or (and I really hope not) “I’ll send ‘happy thoughts’ your way…”? (Sorry to tell you, but that won’t help a bit!)

If you’ve ever told someone, “I’ll be praying for you” then I’ve got a challenge for you - why not do it right then!

Instead of saying “I’ll be praying for you” say “Can I pray with you now?”

“Whoa,” you might say, “I can’t pray in public! I don’t know what to say.”

Why not? You’re just talking to God… about the person… for whom… you just told that you would! What’s the difference in doing that with them and doing it alone?

Try this - copy this prayer and put it in your purse or billfold and pull it out whenever you need it. You’ll be amazed at how much they appreciate it (and after a while, you won’t need a written prayer!)


Dear God, You know that I’m not real good at this, but I just want to thank you for allowing me to pray for __________.

God, we don’t always know how to pray, but then, we don’t have to; You alone are God. You know _________’s needs - the needs that are apparent, [name them if you want] and the needs that lie beneath the surface. And You know what will bring You Glory. We pray that You will bring those things together.

God, we just want to take this brief moment to share our friendship before You, and pray that You will bless that friendship, and our service to You.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Now just think… wouldn’t you love for someone to pray that with you today?

I just did...

I prayed for you by your name, if I knew it; or by your e-mail address if I didn't - but rest assured, God knows your name.

I prayed for you, where you are at 6:30 this morning - it's Monday... that can be exciting or tough. Some of you are dealing with death in your family today, and some are facing extreme illness - either in yourself, or family or friends. I lift you up.

Many of you are caring for children, or parents, or more likely - both. I know from experience how difficult that can be. I pray for strength, and more importantly sometimes, wisdom - "just what in the world, God, do You want me to do here..."

I know, I've cried those very words.

I pray for pastors, pastor's wives, (or spouses) and church staff. I pray for teachers, staff and support personnel. I pray for students, employers, employees, the self-employed, and the un-employed. God is there.

And I pray for your homes. God knows your every need. I told a group last week, "Everybody thinks that everybody else has it 'all together'... I've got news for you - ain't none of us got it all together!"

Every single one of us feels alone at times; every single one of us is afraid at times; every single one of us needs God. And God created us to need each other.

I've prayed for you... you pray for one another - and don't be afraid to let them hear you pray...

Amen.

Unstillness in Prayer

You know it's been a long time since you posted to your blog when you have to stop and think about what your password is...

And then, once you've gotten to the page you find it's been almost 2 months! Wow! June and July went by in a blur, what with - new pastors coming in, seminars to host and speak at, friends in very freak accidents, vegetable gardens to be maintained (2 of my own and now my friend's), surprise 90th birthday parties and family reunions to be planned, implemented, and experienced (and then recouped from!)

And now, all the produce from the above mentioned gardens are coming in and need to be harvested and "put up." And this doesn't even take into account my Art and Antiques Studio work... (guess that's what "employees" are for, huh?) Whew - makes me tired just reading all this!

But, in speaking of being "busy", I am sharing a prayer on just that very subject, which an e-mail newsletter sparked. If you love Bible Study, and reading the "classics" on theology and prayer, check out www.ccel.org . (Christian Classics Ethereal Library) You'll love it!

But now...

Unstillness in Prayer

I come this morning, Father, as one who doesn’t know how to pray as she should. I come full of an “uneasiness”; a… trepidation; a… fear…

No wonder people seek to stay “busy”, because if we become still, we are so aware that “we” don’t know what we’re doing.

We “say” we’re so busy, and we are; we truly are! Or at least we’ve allowed ourselves to get that way. We have our work, our homes, our responsibilities, and we are so overwhelmed with all the “stuff” of life…

We are “connected” on every hand, and feel that we must be able to be “reached” at all hours of the day and night. And for many of us, it’s not just an “imagined” need; we have children, or parents who truly need to be able to reach us. They depend on us…

But then again, many times… far too many times, we use this “connectability” as a crutch, or perhaps an umbilical cord, connecting us to the world, not only physically, but emotionally as well.

And so, our minds are so filled with all the things that we’ve allowed (even unconsciously) to fill them, but if we really probe deeply enough, Father, I think we’ll find that this is really the way that we want it to be…

Oh, we “say” we’d like to have more time; we’d like to shed some of our responsibilities. We “say” we’d like to spend more quiet time; more meditative time in solitude… but when those “still” moments come upon us, even so briefly… we become antsy, nervous, and uneasy in being alone with You.

When those of “the world” have these “still” moments, they immediately seek to fill them. Are we any different? Most of the time we do the same thing. But, as we grow in our walk, and we seek to draw closer to You, and we “set aside” time to pray… it is then that we realize how “uncomfortable” silence and stillness really is…

And we realize that we come, as one who doesn’t know how to pray as he or she should…

So, what do we do? Well, if we’re “Scripturally sound” we hold to the scripture that says that we don’t know how to pray as we should, so the Holy Spirit intercedes for us “with groans and utterances too deep for words…”

But quite frankly God, I think that’s a cop-out… Sure, there are times when the feelings are too deep for words, but most of the time, we just simply don’t want to take the time to learn how to pray, or we don’t want to take the time to listen for Your voice…

The “world” speaks of “evolution”, but in actuality, we are devolving… One has only to read the “Church fathers’” writings on prayer; or read “classics” from only a century ago on theology or prayer; or even read prayers from just a generation ago to realize, we don’t have a clue as to what they’re saying.

“Well, ‘language’ is different,” we say. And it certainly is. We have devolved into a society of acronyms and invented words; we coin phrases to reflect our surrounding culture which takes us farther and farther away from being able to read and understand Your Holy Word.

Father, forgive us, and in this fast-paced world (perhaps “spinning out of control world” would be more like it!) help us to come to You as the disciples came to Jesus and say, “Lord, teach us how (and teach us now) to pray…

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Decoration Service Prayer

First of all let me say to those who check in to this blog, I apologize that it has been over a month since I've posted. (Man, time gets away doesn't it?)

I have been extremely covered up with work in my business (www.newmanvalley.com) and in other studies as well. I am currently writing a study on the travels of Paul which I will be teaching on Wednesday nights. I hope to post these after a while as well.

Today was "Decoration Day" at the church where I grew up. The cemetery which belongs to the church is where both my parents are buried, as well as my sister, my maternal grandparents, and one of my aunts.

Last year I did the devotion for the service, and this year I just did the opening prayer.

First I will post this year's prayer, then I will post the entire service from last year because as I was searching for prayers online I found that (seemingly) only folks in the South have "Decoration Day" services! And finding anything online was near to impossible. So, I want to make it easier for the next person searching!

2008 Decoration Day Service Opening Prayer:

Oh precious and loving God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Creator of all that is, we lift up Your Name in praise this afternoon as we gather in this sacred place.

It is sacred Lord, not because of the building that it is, but because of the prayer that has hallowed it. It is Your House, and it is a House of Prayer.

We come this afternoon Lord as a time of remembrance, lifting to You our prayers of thanksgiving for our friends and loved ones who are in Your Holy Presence.

Oh Father, we call to mind times and places, words and faces, and sometimes tears sting our eyes as the memories flood our hearts, but, we also come Lord, as a time of reminding, a renewing in our souls of the promise of the resurrection that is to come.

As all of nature bursts forth with new life after the death of winter, so we are reminded of the new life that shall burst forth at the appointed time, when the dead in Christ shall rise.

In this hope, then, let our hearts be found holding fast to You, for You alone are faithful in Your promises, and just in Your judgments.

In the Holy Name of Christ who was the First Fruit, the First Born from the Dead, our Sustainer and Redeemer - Amen.

*****************************************************
2007 Decoration Day Service

Huckleberry Springs United Methodist Church
Cemetery Decoration Service
May 6, 2007



Welcome:
Welcome to the Huckleberry Springs Cemetery Decoration Service. As we share in this brief service, may we laugh together, and cry together; may we reminiscence and rejoice together. May we sing songs and hear stories that fill our hearts with memories and our spirits with happiness.


Opening Prayer:
Almighty God, in Whose church we gather for this service of remembrance, bring to our minds, precious memories of Your saints; not perfect persons, not faultless individuals, but striving people, and those who worked in faith to serve Your kingdom here on earth.

May we see them as You saw them, forgiven sinners, and searching pilgrims living in faith in a fallen world.

And may we honestly see ourselves the same way, not as having achieved, but as hungering and thirsting after righteousness. And then, as You promised, may we be filled.

In the Name of the One Who brings fulfillment; in Jesus’ Name - Amen.


Devotion:

I want to look briefly at a portion of scripture found in the book of Joshua - if you have your Bibles, turn to Joshua chapter 4.

A few years ago I was asked to fill in on Memorial Sunday. I really didn’t think much about the date, and prepared a sermon, hymns, prayers, and so forth for the service.

On Saturday night, about 7:00pm, I began to feel a leading in an entirely different direction. I said, “Lord, surely not…” but “surely” so and I kept hearing “memorial, remember, don’t forget…” “memorial, remember, don’t forget…” over and over in my mind. And what I ended up with was a scripture from the last chapter in the book of Joshua. But it seems that a lot of the book of Joshua revolves around memorials, and remembering.

So, for our scripture this afternoon, let me set the stage for you. The children of Israel have spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. Only two men, who were above 20 years old at the time of the Exodus, are still living. These are Joshua and Caleb.

Moses was allowed to climb to the top of Mount Nebo and view the Promised Land, but he was not permitted to enter before he died. Joshua is now the leader, and they are encamped on the East side of the Jordan River, getting ready to cross.

During most of the year, the Jordan River was about a hundred feet wide; but at the spring flood season, the river overflowed its banks and became a mile wide. But yet, God told them to cross. They aren’t to look for a bridge, or begin building a bridge, or wait until the waters recede a little. They are to cross then, and there.

The Levitical Priests carried the Ark of the Covenant ahead of the people, and when the Priests’ feet touched the edge of the water, the water stopped flowing and stood like a wall about twenty miles away upstream, more than half way to the Sea of Galilee, and then as what was left flowed on toward the Dead Sea, soon the riverbed was dry as far as the eye could see.

The Priests walk out to the middle of the river, and all the people begin crossing over. And we begin reading in Chapter 4… (read 4:1-9; 15-24)

Let us pray - Father, as we pause on this Sunday afternoon to remember this place and the people who have gone home before us, roll back the curtain of our memories to grasp the pure and true things that we have learned here, and then help us to build a monument so that when our children ask, we will have the stories to tell them. In Jesus’ name - Amen.

If these walls could talk, what stories would they have to tell? We all have an abundance of memories of this place. Even for those of you who’ve only been here a few times, even you have memories of this place.

I have over 50 years of personal memories, and even a few more of things that I’ve been told I said and did. When I was about 3 years old, Mr. Roy Huffaker commented on the pretty ruffles that I had on my socks… where upon I raised my dress tail and showed him “other” ruffles I had as well…

I remember coming from a Sunday School class and sitting with Jean Craig on the back seat before preaching… and my Mother promptly took my hand and led me a few rows closer to the front. Mr. Cox told her, “Why, she’s a good girl. She won’t hurt a thing sitting on the back seat…”

My Mother replied, “As long as I raising her, she’ll not sit on the back seat…” And I haven’t to this day…

Memories… I’m sure you have as many of them as I do about this place and the people who touched your hearts here. I can’t tell you what it did to a 6 year old’s heart when I peeped out the door before a Christmas program and saw my favorite uncle (who I never remember going to church) sitting in the audience, all because “Bets” had asked him to come…

As we’ve been cleaning out Mother and Daddy’s house, I just kept coming across pictures, hymnbooks and Bibles… “Pictures, Hymnbooks, and Bibles” - Someone said I should write a poem about that… I just may do that one day…

But stuck in a lot of these hymnbooks and Bibles were scraps of papers and old bulletins. On these were folks names, and every one evoked a memory.

(Share a few…)

God told Joshua to tell the 12 men to carry the boulders from the middle of the Jordan River to the town of Gilgal and build a monument as a “conversation-starter” so that when the children asked what they were there for, then they could tell them the story of the crossing, and what led up to it.

The Jews were good for that, or at least God was good at prompting them to do that. We read numerous times where they are instructed to “teach the generations…”

And I think we’re called to do that as well. We come together on this Decoration Sunday, one day out of the year, to “Decorate” the cemetery, and to remember. Now, I dare say that most of us don’t spend a lot of time in cemeteries. We know that our loved ones are not there, only the shell that housed their souls and spirits.

And, to be quite honest with you, I am touched more often by memories of Mother and Daddy at, what I call “odd-ball” times - times when “something” sparks the memory. Like on Saturday mornings when Joe says “are you hungry?” Daddy used to say that when they’d be out running around together.

Or once when I was driving down Riverside Drive and came upon a pear tree in full bloom, and I just erupted in tears, because Mother and I had often discussed that tree when we were making the weekly trips to the hospital.

These are the things that touch my soul, but you do that a time or two and your kids will think you’re crazy. And so, I think, cemeteries are actually for future generations. They are our “stones of remembrance.” They are the things that spark our memories of people and places in our lives. They are “conversation-starters” for our children. And oh, if those stones could speak… what stories they could tell…

A few years ago I spent a whole Saturday afternoon with Joe’s niece and nephew traipsing through cemeteries all over East Knox, and Sevier Counties looking for the graves of ancestors. Do you know where your ancestors are buried? Have you been there lately? But, more importantly, do your children know where your ancestors are buried? Do they know the stories - the good and the bad?

The Bible is a real book, and no one’s life is “white-washed.” Our families were real people, there’s no need to be cruel, but there’s no need to gloss over the past either.

When I think of this cemetery, I think of this church. Now I know that many of the “saints” of this church aren’t buried there, but still it reminds me of them. And it reminds me of their impact on me and my faith walk.

At Jack’s funeral, Edna and I were talking of how folks were related. She knew some things that I didn’t, and I knew some that she didn’t, and so that prompts me to issue this challenge to you.

If each one of you will write down, just the names of the people that you know who are buried here at Huckleberry, and how they’re related to you, if they are, and get it to me, then I promise to have something compiled for you by Decoration next year.

You don’t have to write a long story or a genealogy, although anything you want to add will be helpful, but just names and relations. We have a “history” of sorts that was shared at homecoming last year, but that was just about the building and things about it. I think it’d be pretty cool to have something with “names” on it; something that makes the walls, and stones actually speak.

Will you do that? Let us share how these stones speak to us today...

Let us pray.

(closing prayer)

Study on Prayer - week 5

As we finish up our 5 part study on prayer, we come now to the Gethsemane Prayer, Jesus’ last and most intense time of prayer with His Father. Many times as we go through our Holy Week services, we tend to “hopscotch” from the Last Supper, to the cross, to the empty tomb, and we never seem to spend much time on this prayer. But it is here that Jesus reaches the very core of His humanity.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21 “He (that is, God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

As we studied “The High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus last time, we saw that the perspective of that prayer was like it was from “the other side of the cross.” In other words, Jesus prayed like the crucifixion was a “done deal” - like it had already happened. In fact, if you didn’t know better, you’d think that prayer was being prayed after the Resurrection!

But it wasn’t… and now we have come to the moment of entering the garden, where Jesus is preparing to take on all the sin, of all mankind, of all eternity…

Let us listen in…

I’ll be reading from Matthew’s gospel, chapter 26, verses 36-45, with details (in italics) added from Mark 14 and Luke 22. I’ll be reading this from the KJV. I normally use either the NASB or the NLT, but there’s just something about the KJV that allows us to feel the magnitude of the moment…

Mat 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
Mat 26:37 And he took with him Peter (and James and John) the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
Mat 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, (about a stone’s throw) and fell on his face, (and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
and He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.)

Mat 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it… thy will be done.

Mat 26:43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy (and they didn’t know how to answer Him.)
Mat 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

(Then Luke tells us, Luk 22:43-44 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground. )

Mat 26:45 Then, cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Let us pray… Oh my God, we cannot read this and be unmoved. The agony that Christ felt… Though He was fully God… He was fully man, and His fear was so very real. We cannot begin to imagine the terror that He felt on that night, knowing, fully, what lay ahead of Him.

As we look at this prayer, let us stop and think for a few moments what our salvation, what our redemption from an eternity in hell, really cost.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.


Jesus prayed 3 times that the “cup” might be taken away… There are several differences of opinion of just what the “cup” actually was that Jesus prayed for God to let pass by; some believe it was a premature death right there in the Garden, before He ever made it to the cross (you remember, He said His soul was deeply grieved, to the point of death) or whether it was the cup of God’s wrath, which is a well documented theme throughout the Bible, or possibly as Wesley taught, the cup of terror and fear, or even as some have said, an avoidance of the cross all together. Perhaps we’ll study that in depth at some other time, however what the “cup” actually was is not the subject of this particular study - but what Jesus did with the cup is our concern.

E.M. Bounds, in his book titled, “The Reality of Prayer” says that in the Gethsemane prayer, “Jesus sought to be relieved from that which seemed too heavy to bear. He prayed, however, not in revolt against God’s will, but in submission to that will, and yet He prayed to change God’s plan and to alter God’s purposes.”

Bounds goes on to say, “Simple submission to God’s will is not the highest attitude of the soul to God.” He says, in essence, there is a difference between submitting to God’s will and conforming to His will…

Conformity to God’s will involves submission… But submission in itself falls short of and does not necessarily include conformity.

For instance, think about a cake pan. If I take 2 cake pans and pour water into one and cake batter into the other - both the water and the cake batter have “submitted” to the shape of the pan, but after 30 minutes or so in a 350 degree oven, only the batter will “conform” to the shape of the pan. The water will pour right out.

A prisoner of war may “submit” to his captors, but seldom will he “conform” to their ideology.

“Conformity means to ‘stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.’ It means to delight to do God’s will…"

William Barkley says that “It makes all the difference in what tone of voice a man says, “Thy will be done.”
1. He may say it in a tone of helpless submission, as one who is in the grip of a power against which it is hopeless to fight. The words may be the death-knell of hope.

2. He may say it as one who had been battered into submission. The words may be the admission of complete defeat.

3. He may say it as one who has been utterly frustrated and who sees that the dream can never come true. The words may be those of a bleak regret or even a bitter anger which is all the more bitter because he cannot do anything about it.

4. Or, He may say it with the accent of perfect trust. That is how Jesus said it. He was speaking to one who was “Father”; He was speaking to a God whose everlasting arms were underneath and about him, even on the cross. He was submitting, but he was submitting to the love that would never let Him go. Life’s hardest task is to accept what we cannot understand; but we can do even that if we are sure enough of the love of God.


Let me end by sharing the story of a woman I know who found a lump under her arm as she was putting on her deodorant one morning. It was about 7:00am and so it was about an hour or so before she could call a doctor to make an appointment.

She spent that hour in prayer, in an agony of her own. She had 2 small children and a husband for whom she was deeply worried. The word “lump” strikes a fear in anyone’s heart, and it did hers as well.

She was a Christian, and knew what the outcome of even the worst diagnosis would be - that is, an eternity with Christ - but no one wants to go through pain and suffering.

And so she prayed.

At first her prayer was to beg God that it not be anything serious - but, resignedly ending it as she had always been taught, “nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done…”

Then her prayer progressed to “but if it is serious… if we cannot avoid this suffering…” then with a deep breath she said, “whatever You say Lord, Your will be done…”

She continued to pray and to cry, thinking of her children - her “babies” as she called them, and as she prayed, a calmness came over her; a peace that she didn’t understand.

She saw that her Loving God and Father loved her children more than she herself did; more than she ever could - and that even if the diagnoses was a serious one, God was still God, and would provide… no matter what.

And as she rose from her knees, and reached for the telephone, she confidently declared, “Thy Holy and perfect will be done!”


Jesus spoke like that; and when we can speak like that, we can look up and say in perfect trust, “Thy will be done!” And we will be “conformed” to the image of God.

My Personal Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Oh Father… prayer, praise, and thanksgiving… It has been said* that praise and thanksgiving are so nearly alike that they are virtually indistinguishable… And so it is with praise and thanksgiving that I lift my prayer to You on this “day” set aside for “Thanksgiving.”

Father, I am so thankful for this gathering of family. Our “circles” intertwine through birth and marriage, but our hearts join together through love - love for each other, and love for You. And we thank You for that.

Lord, there are no “ill feelings” in this room today. And we thank You for that, too. We have so much to be thankful for. The bounty of food that we have is amazing, but what is so overwhelming is that we are blessed with the ability and the freedom to have this much every day if we so desired.

And our health… Lord, we all have our aches and pains, but we are here… and not sitting in a hospital room, or planning a loved one’s funeral…

God! Who are we to have been so blessed?

So Lord, as we pause to pray, to praise, and to give thanks, let us remember to lift up those for whom the day is a hellish nightmare; and those who will struggle with finding enough food for this one day; and those who, for whatever reason, are away from their families this day.

As we eat and laugh and enjoy one another’s company this afternoon, let us remember that this day (as every day) is an undeserved gift that You’ve given us. Let us not take that for granted, but let us lift our hearts in prayer, and praise and thanksgiving to You this and every day.

In Jesus’ Name - amen


*From E.M. Bounds “The Essentials of Prayer.”

Thanksgiving Prayer 2007

It has amazed me that the highest "count" of hits on this blog has been on, and around Thanksgiving Day. It seems that the whole world is looking for Thanksgiving Prayers and Devotions.

As I meditated on this thought, and of writing a Thanksgiving prayer, I thought about the massive numbers of people and situations represented, and how I couldn't possibly understand what they were going through... and so my Thanksgiving Day Prayer is prefaced by a "Pre-Thanksgiving Day" Prayer.

Whoever you are, wherever you are - as you read these prayers, know that I have prayed for you. God knows you... He loves you and sent His Son for you. If you were the only person alive, He still would have done it... If you don't know Him, know this - He knows and loves you.

Find a church and get connected. Find a man or woman of God to pray with you - and open your heart to Jesus. He is standing at the door of your heart now... knocking to come in...

And now - the prayers...

Pre-Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Father, as I set out to write a prayer of thanksgiving, I remember the multitude of circumstances that are represented by the people around the world who read this blog. Many find themselves in loving families, but possibly even more find themselves in not so loving situations.

How do I offer a prayer for them, Lord? I cannot relate, nor understand the anguish that they must feel. But, I know that You do. And so, I simply lift them to You, and pray that You will touch their hearts and hold them in the warm embrace of Your arms.

Father I pray, that each of us, in whatever place in life that we find ourselves, will look for the things for which to be thankful. There is always something. May we seek it like gold, and when we find it, hold it to our hearts and bow our heads, praising You - for You alone are God, and You alone gave the greatest Gift of all - Your own precious Son.

So, at Thanksgiving, and every day, may we, no matter our circumstances, thank You for Jesus. As it is in His Name we pray… Amen.

Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Precious Lord, we pause today, if but for a brief moment, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving. For each of us, the things that we are thankful for are different; for our families - their safe trips in traveling; for healing in times of sickness; or for strength in the midst of struggles.

For our loved ones, whether near or far, whether “estranged” or dearly held in our hearts, our prayer is lifted to You - for their safety, for their health, and for their blessing.

We are thankful for the bounty of the meal before us, and the hands which prepared it - whether it be at a table well stocked, or a meager gathering; whether the hands were “loving” or just “dutiful” in their preparation - still we are thankful and pray for them.

Father, we realize that if we have anything at all, we have much for which to be thankful. When we stop and think of the multitudes for which this is just another day of struggle for survival, we are ashamed at our thanklessness at times. Remind us, dear Lord, of our overwhelming blessing.

And now, we cannot neglect to pray for those men and women around the world who are away from their loved ones by way of military service. No matter on which “side” of any given war they find themselves, if it is war, it is war, and they believe themselves to be “right.”

We long, Father for the day when all will serve You, and every knee will bow to Your Son Jesus Christ. For only in that day, will there truly be peace. And Thanksgiving Day will truly be a Day of Thanksgiving! In Jesus’ precious Name we pray - Amen.

Pray without ceasing

A couple of weeks ago as I did my weekly e-mail devotional, I wrote asking prayer for an answer to the question of “Where to go and what to do.”

A few days later, I received an e-mail from an “online friend” in Texas that said in part, “When I read your title I immediately thought ‘Where to go - go to your knees!” What to do - pray without ceasing!”

And of course, that is THE answer!

On Sunday morning I filled in for our pastor and my message was on this very thing. As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians he said (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in all things give thanks for this (that is doing this) is the Will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

So, you want to know what God’s will for your life is? This is it - rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in all things give thanks.

Many people will say, “That’s too simple!” Well, sometimes the toughest things to do are the very things that seem too simple. (Just ask Naaman! 2 Kings 5.)

We saw that in the Greek, these three things are “commands” which means, they cannot be based on “feelings” (as feelings cannot be commanded) but were instead based on resolve.

I am in the process of reading a set of “classics” on prayer. This is a set of 8 small books by E.M. Bounds (written in the 1800’s.). In my opinion, these are the best books on prayer ever written. Last night I read about “asking, seeking, and knocking” and something was opened to me that I’d somehow overlooked before. This is not just three terms of “request” - this is a progression! When praying, this is becoming increasingly more intense!

Bounds said, “Prayer is the helpless and needy child crying to the compassion of the father’s heart and the bounty and power of a father’s hand.” He goes on to say, “God’s willingness to answer our prayers exceeds our willingness to give good and necessary things to our children.”

He said that Jesus’ command to “ask, seek, and knock” was so forceful because He knew that if we did not receive immediate answers, that our “spiritual sloth” would come in under the guise of ‘submission’ and say ‘well, it is just not God’s will…”

He said, “Ask! And if asking does not get, then seek! And if seeking does not secure, let seeking pass on to the more energetic and clamorous plea of knocking! We must persevere!” In other words - ask, seek, knock and knock, and then knock some more!

“Praying without ceasing” is the hardest form of praying you’ll ever do - but be assured - it is, indeed, God’s will for your life!