Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8, NRSV
“Today, the questions in the church are different. In the church, as in much of life, “Who benefits?” is more important than the validity of certain beliefs. So the primary question becomes, “How can the church benefit me?” For this reason we see persons “shopping’ for congregations that can provide the most.” – Joe E. Pennel Jr. “God, Cornbread, and Elvis”
Pastor Pennel also states, “AS TIME PASSES, questions change. Back in the 1960s when I became a pastor, the primary faith question was, “Is it true?” College students, teachers, scientists, and others wanted to know the truth as presented by Christianity. Study groups, classes, conferences, and conversations went on and on about the convictions and claims of Christianity. …”
When we read the Word of God it spans thousands of years. When we read the words and opinion of Pastor Pennel he snapshots maybe 60 years or less. It sounds like we are facing a church that has veered in dangerous waters in less than 60 years. This type of thinking and reporting really gets my attention. My question that’s looking for an answer. Does either church, ‘the back in the 60’s or ‘the now church’ either model the church of over 2,000 years ago? If so, in what way?
The caption read, “Even your eggs are happy when you start your day with prayer.” The picture showed a carton of eggs with happy, smiling faces. It caught my attention and made me realize how prayer changes us.”
“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18 (NRSV)
It seems worldwide the heat of politics is blazing hot and the reports of hurricanes, tornadoes among other natural disasters are overwhelming to both my thoughts and prayers. I often feel so overwhelmed that I don’t even have the energy to utter a prayer. It was so refreshing to see smiling eggs put a smile on my face and joy in my step that I paused to meditate and pray. So often eggs are a topic of conversation in both our dietary needs as well as symbolical in nature.
I imagine we all have an egg story and lots of tags to add on. How often have you heard, which comes first the chicken or the egg? 🥚🥚🥚
The dozen eggs sparked my thoughts and started a prayer storm within my inner being asking have I been calling on the Lord in TRUTH? (reference scripture above) If so, the Lord is very near to all the troubles that boggle my mind. Yes, I can balance an egg on a teaspoon. Paint a smiley face on an egg. Tell an Easter Story from an egg. Hide a egg to delight a child’s find. Let my imagination do the work and I may just find “a good old egg” smiling at me.
🍳 Try It!
I made a new friend today, Oliver the pig. He is awesome! I always wonder why/how God just can’t stop surprising us with joy!😱
Through the looking glass of nature we can learn much about the spiritual things of God.
The other day I had just come home and I walked out to the screened in porch. I heard a slight commotion on the screen. When I looked closer there was a tiny hummingbird with his beak caught in the screen and his little wings beating frantically trying to free himself to no avail. I tried to ease his beak out of the screen but it wouldn’t budge. I didn’t know if I should touch him or not.
In an instant I thought he will die so I rushed to the other side to free hm. I gently pulled him out of the screen. He flew away as fast as his little wings could carry him.
Earlier this summer I was pruning bushes and down among the limbs, I saw something yellow. When I picked the pile of limbs up the yellow was a yellow butterfly. I thought I had killed him when I picked the branches up. I proceeded to pull the branches away from his body. Oh no, was he dead. He laid e perfectly still with wings extended. I gently placed him in the palm of my hand and said a prayer for him to be healed. Suddenly his little body climbed from my palm and up my wrist and flew away.
With all that has been happening in Houston and Florida and adjoining states, we can certainly see the same kindness shown to the beautiful people who needed help so desperately and the loving helping hands that snatched some from certain death or carried others from a bad situation, giving a loving touch and prayers to God to give healing and hope to each person and freedom to fly again. Thank you God for those who serve others tirelessly and lovingly.
Philippians 2:4 …not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Change is in the air here in Northern Virginia. The night temps are lowering, some leaves are starting to change colors, summer flowers are fading while fall flowers are getting a kick-start. Hardy winter pansies are beginning their bloom cycle that will take color into the winter and next spring. Fall mums are putting on a show that will last four to six weeks. Ornamental cabbage and kale are frost-proof additions to pots and garden beds as are grasses, asters and cold hardy fall annuals.
If you are in the Leesburg, Virginia area, you will find all these and more at the Monroe Technology Center’s annual Fall Plant Sale. Agriculture department students are eager to help you make selections and proceeds from the sale help support their scholarships.
The dates and hours are Wednesday, Sept 13, 10-6pm; Thursday, September 14, 10-5pm; and Friday, September 15, 10-4pm. You will find us at 715 Childrens Center Rd, SW. Hope to see you there!
The first day of Sunday School, I was as excited as the children. The class was made up of all girls. I asked the girls, “Do you think prayer is important?” They said, “No, not so much.” The girls quickly learned that was not the right answer in Ms. O’s class.
I’m sharing what worked for me in getting children excited about talking to Jesus. It took the whole Sunday School year. The growth which occurred is amazing. Blessed to have them again this year.
The chart below gave the girls structure for praying. Before beginning we sing one of their favorites: “Good Morning God”. It goes, “Good Morning God, this is your day, I am your child, show me your way, and teach me to obey. Each part of the song is accompanied with sign language.
1. First step in our journey in talking to Jesus was to write prayers the girls wanted to pray on sticky notes. Their prayers were for teachers, safety in schools, missionaries, others, family, and pets. Wow, some pretty good prayers.
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Prayer Chart on Poster Board Paper
2. First couple of weeks, I role modeled the entire prayer, beginning with praise, prayer request, and closing the prayer which I always did.
3. After many weeks of this type of placing prayer request on sticky notes and my role modeling of talking to Jesus, one of the children
asked, “Ms. O may I pray my request.” Then another asked and then another.
4. The following weeks ahead, they all
wanted to pray their own request, after I modeled talking with Jesus on the items on the circular chart.
5. A short time later the students asked if we could discontinue the sticky notes and they would just pray their own request. I role modeled talking to Jesus still at the beginning and end of the prayers.
6. After a few more weeks, near the end of the Sunday School term,
the students started saying can we pray for the world, the USA/those in authority. Can we pray for President Trump and staff, missionaries who are suffering for Christ, teachers, school safety in school, weather disasters, missionaries, unsaved friends and people they knew, parents, people who were ill and in the hospital, pets, safety in travel, and what they wanted Jesus to help them in their own personal lives. They were growing in their own personal relationship with Jesus. They, in other words, were walking and talking with Jesus. This process takes the whole Sunday School year.
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This is part of our group praying. This is what it looks like in our classroom as we pray. We bend down before the Lord Jesus. We pray with one hand on top of another as a sign of agreement in prayer. When we end the prayers, we say 1, 2, 3 Praise the Lord (the latter was suggested by a student.)
Lord you are my rock and my fortress.
I have found you listen to me
and you draw me close to you
You have loosed the chains that bound me
that nearly squeezed the life out of me
You are my hope and salvation
Please Lord never leave me.
Lord you have been my strength and protection
I thank you every morning for what you have done for me
I thank you for the storms of the past which have
Drawn me into a closer relationship with you
and at the same time have molded me into the person I am today.
I tell everyone what you have done for me
whether they want to hear or not.
Please Lord never leave me.
Lord now that I’m old
What beautiful memories I have had with you and continue to have..
The verse I have played over and over in my head is from Genesis 50:20
“What others intended for harm, God intended for good.”
Being old enough on this journey of mine,
the storms have caused me to dependent on God and as he never fails me.
I now have begun to ask the Lord, “What are you trying to teach me in this storm?”
Please Lord in this season of life, I say again:
Never leave me. I need you every hour.
Lord are you there?
Are you there….
Please bend down and hear my prayer.
Lord my heart is breaking
The tears continuously flow
Please bend down and hear my prayer.
I remember the story of Moses and how you bent down and heard their prayer of brokenness.
Please bend down and hear my prayer.
As I continued to cry out for help, the Lord spoke to me. I am in your sorrow. I will hold your hand through it all. My peace I will give you. My presence will surround and my arms will hug you. Then you’ll know I’m with you through it all. I’m always here, right beside you and I have heard your prayer.
Again, I cried, but it was because of God’s great LOVE for me.
Lord are you there?
Are you there….
Please bend down and hear my prayer.
Lord my heart is breaking
The tears continuously flow
Please bend down and hear my prayer.
I remember the story of Moses and how you bent down and heard their prayer of brokenness.
Please bend down and hear my prayer.
As I continued to cry out for help, the Lord spoke to me. I am in your sorrow. I will hold your hand through it all. My peace I will give you. My presence will surround and my arms will hug you. Then you’ll know I’m with you through it all. I’m always here, right beside you and I have heard your prayer.
Again, I cried, but it was because of God’s great LOVE for me.
Let all that I am Lord
Praise your holy name
May I never forget what you did
at Calvary
Because of my faith in you oh Lord
I have been forgiven
I praise you with a thankful heart
You are my Lord and King of Kings.
You saved me that day at Calvary
of all my sins
Now all is done here on earth
Heaven’s doors are open wide for me
I enter in and fall at your feet
Worshiping and praising you
How glad I am that I put my trust and faith in you!!!
Now I’ll be with you forever.
Hallelujah, and Amen! and Amen
Thank you for saving a sinner like me.
Wont you let Jesus into your heart today?
You will never regret it!!!!!
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