He Is Everywhere And Hears Every Prayer

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’   (Acts 17:24-28 NIV)

Every now and then I get this notion to question how God can possibly hear my prayers and the prayers of so many others all at the same time. He not only hears them; He answers them. The short and only answer is this: "I do not know!"  

I do not know how. But, I do know that He is everywhere and hears every prayer and according to His good will for all people He answers those prayers. I know this because scripture assures me of this. I know this because He has answered my prayers and the prayers of multitudes of His children since the beginning of creation.

God the Creator; God the Father; God the Savior is not far from any one of us. In Him we live and move and have our being. We cannot say how that occurs, either. But, we believe it. We experience His presence. We know Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Gather Together Often

"And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Heb 10:24-25

Even as St. Paul admonished the Hebrews, we are admonished not to neglect coming together as a community of saints. We have a very busy Lenten season fast approaching. The season will present many extra opportunities to gather together in worship and in fellowship. Today, the crafting ladies from Christ Lutheran are having a "Fat Sunday" lunch following worship. I am not sure what all they have planned; but, I am looking forward to the opportunity to be able to spend time with brothers and sisters in Christ.

On Tuesday, Ngaio Carlisle, an author and two-time cancer survivor is the speaker at "Cancer Knows No Boundaries" Workshop at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.  Another opportunity to be with others and to support one another.

And.. then comes... Ash Wednesday! Beginning with Ash Wednesday and then every Wednesday throughout Lent we will meet together to worship at 5 p.m.. We will be using the Small Catechism and "what does this mean" as the format for our liturgies. After every service (except Ash Wednesday) worship will be followed by a soup supper. And, of course, we will not neglect to gather for worship at the two Senior Living Apartment Complexes each Wednesday. It is good to meet together to provoke one another to love and good deeds.

As Ash Wednesday approaches, we prepare for our journey to the cross which will culminate at an empty tomb. Who will make this journey with us? Who will gather with us to remember and thank God for all that he has done for us through Jesus Christ our Lord?

May God plant in the hearts of all who would bear the name of Christ the desire to gather more often to worship Him and glorify His Holy Name.  

God's Peace - Pr. J