PJ's Prayer Line

Good Evening to All!

Hope this finds everyone happy, healthy and wise! Before I forget, I wanted to let you know that Collin, the little 6 month old baby with swine flu on the prayer list is well again. A prayer is answered. Also, Max a young boy who the doctor said had a 90% chance of having H1N1, is feeling much better. Another prayer answered. I am so thankful for a God that heals at the lifting up of a name, and a prayer. He is an awesome God! As the praise reports come in, I will let you know what they are. Praise the Lord He is the Great Physician!

My day started off at "Curves" as usual, then I spent some time with my "best friend" and came home. After doing some mundane chores, I spent the majority of the day on the computer, reading blogs and e-mails. I did get a pleasant surprise, however. I got on Facebook for a little bit and who should I see on their but my sister's sister-in-law and nieces. I haven't seen them since I was a kid in my teens. I'm really beginning to enjoy Facebook. It sure beats writing lette rs, too. I am definitely not a letter writer. I can type all day, but I hate to write. Anyway, after that, I found out my nephew is also on there, so we're just making it a "family affair." This is so great!

Daily Inspirations from the NIV

Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Cor. 5:2-5

I opened my book, and this verse popped out at me. I felt the need to use it because it is exactly the way I feel. I am so ready for Christ to come back. I know that may sound strange to some and silly to others, but I am. I am really tired of this world the way it is, and it's sure not going to get any better. I can't count the times I looked up to the heavens and said, "ok, Lord, I'm ready when you are." "Anytime....." And before you get it into your head, no, I'm not suicidal. If I go, it will be because it's my time to go with God's blessing and not by my own hand. I have this attitude because I am ready, I really don't feel like I belong here anymore, and I don't have any kids to worry about. I hope that doesn't make me sound odd, or morbid, it just the way I feel. I'm ready for that heavenly dwelling that Paul speaks about where no more arthritis, or back pains or sickness, or anything but happiness, praise and worship exists.

Planting the Seedlings

Bible Seeds

"But Jesus asked him, 'Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?'" Luke 22:48

Probably nothing shocks us more than betrayal. Why? Because in order for the incident to be labeled betrayal, it mus involve someone close to us.

We expect strangers not to care and possibly to treat us badly. But not close friends! That's why we call them "friends." We depend on and confide in our friends, putting them in the very position to be able to betray us if things go awry. When betrayal does happen--an indiscreetly shared secret, a stolen idea, a confidential comment disclosed--our reaction often "betrays" how much unlike Christ we actually are.

Jesus was betrayed boy one of his closest associates, arrested, and taken by an angry crowd to an illegal trial. The strangest part about the whole thing was how calm Jesus was. Even though the situation looked bad, Jesus knew who he was and why he had come. Jesus stayed focused on his mission--to love sinners.

To me, this says a lot. It tells me that no matter what, we need to keep our minds and eyes on our mission which is to strive to be more Christ-like and concentrate on living for God, doing what He tells us to do in His Word. To love our neighbors, to treat people as He treated people when He walked this earth. To show our love for Him by showing love and compassion for others. I can't remember the exact scripture, but I'm thinking of the scripture that says something about "when He hungered we fed Him, when He thirsted, we gave Him drink, when He was naked we clothed Him... and it went on, naming things which was done for Him, then the people He was talking to said they didn't remember doing those things and He said "when you did it (or do it) for the least of these, you did it for me. Now, I know that's not word for word of course, and in the interest of time, I won't stop to look it up, but I'm sure someone can probably quote that verse word for word. I wish I could. Anyway, back to the main thought, that's what God expects us to do. This one little verse or couple, says an awful lot.

Dig Deeper:

The Greek word for "betray" comes from two words--para meaning near, nearby, the relation of immediate vicinity or proximity and didomi, to give. Only someone nearby can give the hurt of betrayal.

In the same way, when we know who we are in Christ, there's no reason to collapse or seek revenge when things go wrong in our relationships. sure, we feel angry. But we can control our behavior and stay clam. We can focus our mind on being like Christ.

God has called us to become new. He wants our reactions to become like his own. Ephesians 4:23-24 says, "be made new in the attitude of your minds; and...put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Even if friends betray us, we can respond righteously because we know who we are in Christ.


Weed & Water:

Recognizing we live in a sinful world should help us have thicker skin if wefeel betrayed. Like Jesus, we can say, "Father, forgive them." Ok, it's hard, but letting it go, placing our hurt in the hands of Jesus, will bring freedom and peace into our lives. Recognizing how we feel when we are betrayed should also help ;us steer clear of serving up this hurt to others. Finally, if we say we are Christians but our actions are the same as nonbelievers, we too are guilty of betraying Christ with a kiss.

Think About It:

Prayer Pot:

What was Jesus' reaction when He was betrayed?

What was your reaction when you were betrayed?

How can you make things right with the person whom you have betrayed?

Lord, help me to forgive the betrayal of .....

*God's love is never accompanied by betrayal.

Planted seeds take root and bloom.

I know that this is a lot to read, and a lot to take in, but if just a seed or two takes root, then it is all worth it. When I see something with this much print and very few pictures, it makes me nervous, and I skim rather than read, unless it's the Bible. At the same time, even skimming can cause a seed to be planted and take root.

Good Night and May God Bless!

PJ