Thomas Kinkade Quote

"Rather than set aside daily time for prayer, I pray constantly and spontaneously about everything I encounter on a daily basis. When someone shares something with me, I'll often simply say, 'let's pray about this right now.' "

Oswald Chambers Quote

"We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the
difficulties"

Prayer & Faith

Yesterday the sermon at church was on Faith looking at the classic chapter on faith and being encouraged to look forward in faith and to tell our story of faith.

Hebrews 11:1
Now Faith is the assurance of the thing hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.


Faith needs to be exercised in prayer and as we feel led to take action we exercise faith again. But yet in both it is the fear of the unknown as accrostix points out: "Forsaking all, I trust him". Praying Lord, I do not know every single detail but I do trust you.


James 1: 6
But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

"God opens the door"

Colossians 4 tells us that it is God that would open this door of opportunity! While God uses men and women it is God that causes anything to Grow as Corinthians points out. What does this mean we keep trusting the Lord to open the right doors of opportunity to present his word.

Prayer, Vision, Action!

Just finished reading the book entitled An Irregular Candidate: Jackie Ross of Blythswood written by Irene Howat. It tells the story of Jackie Ross who founded Blythswood 40 years ago and also involved in church ministry and community work in Locharron. Irene took to speak to Jackie, his family and friends and many others he worked alongside. While staying locally I did not meet Jackie Ross. Reading the book Mr Ross was an inspiration too many. He was man who saw a need and carried it out to completion. He had what many in the book might call "Tunnel vision". If he was envisioned to do something he had the perserverence to carry it on to completion. Many found encouragement from the fact that he wasnt just a visionary but was prepared to work alongside others in getting their hands dirty for the sake of sharing the gospel in a practical way.
I was reminded of Nehemiah who begun out with prayer then a vision then action and this is how it should be
Prayer>Vision>Action (All the way seasoned with prayer!)

Keeping Alert in Prayer

Having been kept on drawn to these first couple of verses in colossians 4. Praying for opportunities is a daily exercise but how do we keep alert in praying? Colossian 4 tells us that it is by coming with a attitude of thankfulness.

Wrong Motives (James)

What are our motives in prayer?
This is what James speaks:
James 4:3
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

What does this verse say? It says that we should pray according to his will and not in order to fuflfil our own selfish desires. This is a struggle as this world tells us to be independent and professional.

Lord we pray that you would help us to pray "let your will be done!"

Prayer for Opportunities.

Paul the apostle was not stand alone apostle attempting to do things on his own strength. Paul needed prayer too. He needed prayer that there would be doors open to share the gospel message and not only that he would present the message of Christ clearly. As we go about activities that we normally go about we should be praying for open doors to present Christ clearly. Sometimes this might be by the way we live our lives.

Colossians 4:3-4
praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

James & Prayer

Having spoken about James & camel knees - what does James have to say about prayer? There is a few things which speak prayer:

James 1:5-6
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 4:3
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures

James 5:13-18
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
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Other posts on James:
James & his camel knees
No Resentment!

James & his camel knees!

You are maybe wondering what this post is going to be about with a title like that. James is a book in the Bible. According to tradition, James had camel knees . Camels (dessert animals) are said to have thick calluses on knees from all the kneeling that they do. According to traditions, James was constantly kneeling before the Lord in prayer. Tommorrow night, our church homegroup will begin looking at this wee book of James. It is amazing that there is many a pearl of wisdom in this wee book. Lots of things for us to chew over, think over and ultimatley hope that we are changed by the reading and studying of this book.

God's purposes and answered prayer

Proverbs 16:9 (New International Version)
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

Since June I keep being drawn back to these verses in proverbs which speak about God's purpose. Not only that I know it as a reality as God works out his purpose in my life. In June my wife, accepted a post and I have now during this past week accepted a postition which will mean my wife will be staying at home and I will be going back to work.
In the answered prayer (you will see a link to post below) I noted that we continued to seek to keep our ears open to what the Lord would say to us. We do not want to be in the path of least resistance but hopefully trying to actively hear what the Lord has to say to us.
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Brian Robertson has a post on the theme of The path of least resistance

Other posts on purposes:
Purposes, Purposes, Purposes (October 24th)
God's purpose will prevail (June 30th) details the verses in Proverbs about God's purpose.
Answered Prayer (June 22nd)

Worth more than sparrows!

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrow.

The insignificant detail shows us how God cares for the world intimately. The two sparrows were sold for a penny. Not very valuable! But only if it be God's will - will these sparrows fall to the ground. If God cares so much how can we say thay God doesnt care. How can we say we are not valuable. We are worth more than many sparrows! As we come to him we need to remember that he is an intimate God who is in control.