1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 KJV; 21st Sunday after Pentecost; Give thanks for all who by the power of the Holy Spirit share the Good News of Jesus the Christ.
Showing posts with label ceasing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ceasing. Show all posts
Friday, October 20, 2023
Sunday, March 22, 2020
He Is Home! Thanks Be To God!
Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
(1 Thess 5:16-18 KJV)
Giving thanks this morning that my husband was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon. He is home! Thanks be to God!
We are so thankful for the staff at Advent Health in Palm Coast and Daytona Beach. The doctors on staff did not send him home when at first they did not find anything serious. They kept looking until they found the cause and took steps to fix it.
I am thankful that he was able to be released yesterday. When I got to Daytona Beach yesterday, the hospital was on lockdown for about an hour. Visiting hours were restricted to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and only for those who had medical authority for the patients. Those restrictions will probably tighten up in the near future.
There is a lot of trouble in the world today. But, good people with integrity also abound. Let us consider the good that is all around us. Let us give thanks to Almighty God as we live in the hope of God's good will concerning all of us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!
God's Peace - Pr. J.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
He Hears And Answers
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.
Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
(Psalm 28:6-9 KJV)
The Lord hears our prayers and answers! It may not always be the answer we anticipate or desire; but, He does answer.
In good times and bad times the Lord is listening and watching. Way too often when things are going along quite smoothly for us, we tend to neglect communicating with God. But, when times get rough the prayer line and prayer chains get really active.
He is our strength and our shield. He is our Savior. But, He is much more. His very presence lifts us up so that we might rejoice in His being. Do not neglect to speak to him often and to listen.
"Rejoice evermore.
Pray without ceasing.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
(1 Thess 5:17-18)
God's Peace - Pr. J
Monday, October 21, 2019
Praying Often; Always
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. (Matt 14:19 KJV)
Most of you have probably heard the story about how Jesus fed the multitude on five loaves and two fish. They were so fed heartily with this meager meal, after Jesus prayed over the the food and the disciples shared it with the people, that there were leftovers.
We are encouraged to pray and give thanks to the Lord not just on Sunday but always for everything and everyone. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thess 5:16-18)
The other evening after shopping my husband and I stopped to eat at "Steak and Shake," an almost fast food hamburger restaurant. Service is really quick; but, you actually get a friendly server and a few minutes to look at the menu. While waiting for our meal, I saw something that I don't get to see too often. It was a family of five (with at least two teens) holding hands and praying before they ate. There were no cell phones at the table. What there was after they prayed was quiet conversation as they ate. I don't get to see many people praying publicly so it caught my attention. I pray that God blesses every member of that family with faithfulness all the days of their lives. Those young people are off to a good start...
May God help us all to remember to pray often, even unceasingly, giving thanks for all that He has done and continues to do for us through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Friday, October 26, 2018
Pray Without Ceasing!
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thess 5:16-18 NRSV
There is so much to be thankful for. The reasons to rejoice never end because "we know that all things work together for good for those who love God." (Rom 8:28) Yet, we know that there are those whom we love who do not love God; who do not know the Lord, and so we pray without ceasing. We pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that they may be strengthened in their inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith, as they are being rooted and grounded in love. We pray that they may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that they may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Eph 3:16-19)
Because we love even those who do not love or know God, we will never stop praying for them. We will joyfully give thanks for we know that God hears our prayers and answers, according to His good will.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Saturday, May 5, 2018
Trust and Rejoice!
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)
There are many times in this world that we become anxious or disheartened. Depression may even get the best of us for a time. Life does not always dish out pleasantness. St. Paul reminds us today, as he did the Philippians, not to worry; but, to present our requests to the Lord. In bringing our needs before Him in prayer, we find the confidence to trust that all things are in His hands and He has a good plan for those who love Him. (Rom 8:28)
The trials that St. Paul endured were many and hard. If he could stand, trusting in and rejoicing in the Lord until the day of his execution, surely so can we.
Think for just a moment about the problems you have encountered throughout your life. Did God not see you through them all? Was He not with you? Those problems are now nothing more than a memory. Rejoice then that any trials and tribulations you may be encountering today will also pass. Continue on in the way of the Lord. Trusting and rejoicing in Him!
God's Peace - Pr. J
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Pray Without Ceasing!
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thess 5:16-18 NRSVThere is so much to be thankful for. The reasons to rejoice never end because "we know that all things work together for good for those who love God." (Rom 8:28) Yet, we know that there among those whom we love who do not love God and so we pray without ceasing. We pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that they may be strengthened in their inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith, as they are being rooted and grounded in love. We pray that they may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that they may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Eph 3:16-19)
Because we love even those who do not love or know God, we will never stop praying for them. We will joyfully give thanks for we know that God hears our prayers and answers, according to His good will.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Listening To Advice
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.
Prov 12:15 NIV
Not all advice is good advice. Just because it feels good doesn't mean it is good. It is painful to watch someone whom we care about following the advice of those who are lost and hitting bottom themselves. It is difficult to witness anyone intentionally following those who are going down a path that leads to destruction.
The truth is that there is very little that we can do about it. We cannot make them change directions. We can give them advice as to way the Lord would have them go; but, often, they will not listen until they learn in a very hard way what it means to truly be lost and alone when one has chosen to follow in the ways of the world and have turned their backs on God.
The one thing that we can do is to pray for them; pray without ceasing and may the Lord, our God open their hearts and minds that they might listen to Him and follow in The Way.
God's Peace - Pr. J
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Pray Without Ceasing
When we fail to spend time in prayer; when we fail to spend intentional time in the presence of God, the Spirit can become quenched.
I have found that my life and the lives of the people around me go a lot smoother when I begin my days in communication with God. I take it very personal when things interrupt my the times I set aside for prayer each day. Travel and vacation over the last couple of weeks have definitely interrupted my routines. The change of routine has thrown my clock out of whack and I have found it more difficult to find the time to sit quietly in His presence and to be refreshed and empowered to do God's will throughout the day.
The good news is that I am very aware of this and have found myself intentionally praying randomly more often throughout the day and more often for people whom I do not know: for bikers riding in heavy traffic or rain; for the mother pushing a stroller; for the man in the electric cart in the department store; for the beautiful gray haired lady who worships God with such enthusiasm.
Pray without ceasing! Rejoice that you don't need a cell phone to talk to God! The line is always open and He never fails to respond to your call.
God's Peace - Pr. J
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