Prayers, Supplication and Intercession

 I was doing some Bible Marking today about prayer. If you aren’t familiar with Bible Marking check into it at “Come Fill My Cup” blog.

I understood the verse I was reading but wanted to go a little deeper.

1 Timothy 2:1

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

 Exactly what is the difference between prayer, supplication and intercession? Google to the rescue.

     Prayer

• A solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship.

Supplication

• The action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.

Intercession

• The action of intervening on behalf of another.

 Not sure I ever really picked up on the differences between these three.

 A simple lesson for me today, but made me more aware of my prayers.

 Hope it helped you.

 May God Bless

God as a Master Gardener

Have you ever thought as God as a gardener? I know it’s a little different and don’t mean any disrespect in saying that, but He is. 

He planted man here on earth, yes as already full grown humans, but he still tends to us and watches us grow. If we are in God’s word we are constantly reading, learning and growing. Isn’t that what a gardener does?

A gardener plants a seed – God’s word – waters and feeds it – God’s words and blessings – watches it grow into a mature flower – watches us grow and develop into mature Christians.
The Bible teaches that when we are young Christians we are on the milk of the word as a baby is on mother’s milk or formula. As a baby grows we provide different forms of nourishment such as fruits, vegetables and meats.

Hebrews 5:13

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

As we grow from infants in our Lords kingdom we should be eating up God’s lessons and teachings to help us mature.

I know sometimes it seems that I bring God down to our level and I mean no disrespect by that, however, it helps me to do the little comparisons like this because it puts life in perspective. Sometimes God is so big and omnipresence that it is hard for this little brain of mine to wrap around His majestic glory.

So for today as you go through your day, look around you at the things you tend to and make them increase whether it is plants, business or your family. You too are a gardener making it grow as God does you.

Rejoice – you are more mature than you were yesterday. 

May God Bless

Count Your Blessings

I wasn’t really in the mood for counting joy today. Laundry, cleaning and all the minuscule tasks that faced me this morning. What joy could be brought through all these items on my to-do list?


Count your blessings came to mind – the song – Count your blessings name them one by one. So I did.

Thank you Lord for:

• Warm water and the clean towel – I was able to take a shower.
• Sheets on the bed that needed changing. I have a soft comfortable bed to sleep in.
• My husband was able to get up this morning and go to work.
• The home I have to clean and care for.
• The washing machine and the dryer to clean our clothes.
• The food in our freezer and fridge, I can plan a good meal for us to eat this evening.
• The friend that called me because she was thinking of me.

Before I knew it those pesky chores of the day were behind me and I was feeling blessed.

James 1:2

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials

I really don’t think Jesus was talking about cleaning my house as a trial, but the verse fits. I should count it all joy when I go about my daily life and the work in it.

We all get bogged down and overwhelmed with chores and life’s to-do list. Try and see the blessings today in those little things you do. They add up to one glorious life with friends and family that God has blessed us with.

May God Bless

Sister Secrets

by Lillian Humphries

I have secrets, some are good and some I’m ashamed of and don’t want anyone to know about.

It can be fun knowing secrets, especially when planning parties, baby showers and good times. But how about those secrets we keep that aren’t real pretty, the ones that are dark that we don’t want anyone to know about.

Carrying those heavy burdens plays havoc with our minds and bodies. These secrets hurt and can hurt badly. How do you know when someone is hurting and being haunted by their secrets? Most of the time we can’t tell.

See that sister over there? The one who looks so together, the one whose hair and nails are done, the one with the smile on her face and greeting everyone at services: she’s the one with a big dark secret. The one that is teaching your children Bible class, the one that takes care of others, the one that sends cards or calls everyone, she is the one with the dark secret.

What kind of secret is she holding on to? Sadness, depression, bi-polar disorder, low self esteem, abusive relationships, abortion, sexual abuse, and anything else you can think of.

She has become a master at moving forward in life and covering her pain so no one can see. It weighs heavily on her. When not in the public eye doing her fair share, she is at home alone with her thoughts. Maybe laying in bed, crying, feeling alone, overwhelmed, unloved or no energy to get the things done that need to be completed.

Our God has told us to “carry each other’s burdens” in Galatians 6:2 and I believe each and every one of us would readily do that, if we only knew.

Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

We’re afraid to open up and allow others to see the pain within. We are ashamed of bad choices we have made that created the problem or we think no one will understand how bad it hurts. Sometimes that’s true, they don’t understand, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help or they don’t care.

Sometimes just crying and having loving arms from a sister that cares can do wonders. It brings comfort in knowing you are loved and can carry your burden for another day. Your burden may never go away but by opening up to each other, as the Lord commanded, it can make that burden easier to carry.

Please ladies, don’t hold that burden so tight and close to your heart that it kills your light for Jesus. Turn to a sister and ask for help open your heart and feel the love and support that someone can give you.

To Smudge or Not to Smudge

I just read an article (not my first) on cleaning the air in your home from positive ions. It appears we want negative ions in our home and in our life Almost sounds opposite doesn’t it? We normally want more positive in things in our lives, like positive feedback, positive thoughts and positive thinking. 

If you think smudging is just some kind of “woo woo” with no science to back it up, think again. Research published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology entitled Medicinal Smokes in 2006 found that burning smudge sticks has the ability to cleanse the surrounding air of harmful bacteria. The authors reported: “The most frequent medical indications for medicinal smoke are pulmonary (23.5%), neurological (21.8%) and dermatological (8.1%). A very large list of pathogenic bacteria was shown to be absent in an open room after a remarkable 30 days following treatment, leading the authors to conclude, “We have demonstrated that by using medicinal smoke it is possible to completely eliminate diverse plant and human pathogenic bacteria of the air within confined space.”

Interesting as it was, and I do not doubt the medicinal purposes of this herb, but questioning the mental aspect of it. The video I watched was an Indian man who was a healer, explaining how and why he does this ritual. It made me think of some of my rituals that I do or do not perform and why I do them.

This gentleman prayed to the “creator” while he was performing the ceremony. He did interject that you can pray to Jesus, God, Buddha or Mother Earth while you interacting with your smudge wand or bowl. Once again take out the scientific medicinal regards to affecting the ions and just concentrating on the cleansing power of our homes and lives, can’t I just do this throughout my home without the smoke?

What would happen if I started at the left of my front door and walked through out my house in a counter clockwise direction and requested from Jesus the same things. A calm and loving home, gentle words, loving hearts and peace within. What if I did this once a week or maybe at least once a month, would it help? Would it bring peace to my family and friends? Would they feel the peace in our home when they entered it? I don’t know!

I do know, God has the power to do anything He wants. If I ask God, as we are requested to do, He will give me what I need (not want).

Matthew 7:7 – Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

So I will leave it up to you whether you choose to smudge or not, either way, as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.