Prayer Warriors Needed

This is Tessa Pyorre. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Tessa, but I had her mommy, Erica in my daycare years ago. Erica, her husband Jacob and the rest of their family found out this month that little Tessa has leukemia. Devastating news. I am calling out to Prayer Warriors to pray healing prayers for Tessa and asking that you add her to your prayer chains. 

Matthew 4:23
Jesus went through Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom,
and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

I believe He stills heals today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

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."

Malachi 4:2
But for you who revere my name,
the sun of righteousness will rise
with healing in its rays.

Gratitude
1. Modern medicine
2. Doctors
3. Nurses

Phil 1:4 In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah

Modern Day Psalms

My sister-in-law played a song for me the other day that almost put me in a meditative state. I could feel it and went to a place of solitude and beauty with God. Psalms can do that to me, also. Their beauty is breathtaking. I was thinking of two songs this morning that remind me of God. One is "The Long and Winding Road" by the Beatles and the other is "Like a Bridge over Troubled Waters," by Simon & Garfunkle. Two very beautiful songs whose meaning could be about God.

The first one is the plea, "The Long and Winding Road."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIHEuYfDypg

The second is the answer, "Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjNgn4r6SOA

Both made me cry while I listened.
Both speak of the journey to Him for me.

Genesis 24:48 ...and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who leads me on the right road...

Gratitude
3 Gifts in water
1. Baptism
2. Hydration
3. Life

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah

Fruit of the Spirit - Self-control

Milky Way. Chocolate. Fun.

I have a hard enough time resisting chocolate on any given day, but when you put "fun" on the label it is almost impossible. Chocolate fun! Yea. Someone might ask me why I bought those little rectangles of "fun" and I would tell them that I heard them calling to me across the vast expanse of a Walmart Super Store! Calling. Really. I couldn't resist. I have very little self-control when it comes to chocolate.

I am on a diet. Geez, aren't most women? I need to lose about 20 more pounds. I've lost nine since the beginning of the year. It is coming off slowly, but it is coming off. II Peter 1:5-7 tells us that in the building blocks of Christian character, perseverance is added to self-control. Ahhh. I find I have much more self-control when I pray and ask for help. I pray, sometimes, before I go into the store and if I have faith, He will answer me.

You can substitute any other habit for the word chocolate; cigs, soda, alcohol, etc. If you ask you will receive help.  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."

Ask. Receive. Persevere.

Did I ask?
No.
*sigh*


Hebrews 10:36
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.

Proverbs 25:28
Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.

Gratitude (prompts from aholyexperience.com)
3 Gifts found around a table
1. Family
2. Friends
3. Strangers who become friends

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah

Life Began in a Garden

I see God.

I always find God in nature. In my own garden, walking along the road, in the mountains. He is there. It is a different feeling for me than being in church. Being out in His creation resonates with me. I look at all the different plant life and ask, "How can someone say there is no God?' I look at all the different animals and the differences in the same species, such as horses, cats, dogs and I ask the same question.

He exists, because I see it with my eyes and feel it in my soul and know it my heart.
It gives me hope and it gives me peace.

I guess finding God in nature more than anywhere else isn't too far fetched. After all, Life began in a Garden.

Genesis 2:15
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden
to work it and take care of it.

Gratitude
1. Gardens
2. Lavender
3. Nature

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah

Fruit of the Spirit - Love Part 3

Unconditional love.

Webster's defines unconditional as being "not limited in any way."

God's love is unconditional.
No limits.
Unlimited.
Eternal.

Is there anything that is able to separate a believer from the love of God?
No.
Not a.n.y.t.h.i.n.g. (Romans 8:37-39)

As children of God, we are to walk in the way of love. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

God = Love
Jesus = Love
Holy Spirit = Love

Unconditional love.
Eternal love.
God is good.

John 15:12
This is my command:
Love each other the same as I have loved you.

Prayer (from "365 Pocket Prayers")
O Lord Jesus,
If I get anything right in this life, help me get love right.
I want to love you and others with the unconditional love you model for me.
Too often I think of love as just a feeling. I know that is part of it, but according to Your Word, it's so much more than that. You show me that it is a commitment. (...) I am making a commitment to develop a relationship with you, the Creator of the universe. Thank you that you loved me first and daily pursue me with Your love.  Amen.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Gratitude (prompts from aholyexperience.com)
3 gifts in your Dad
1. Unconditional love
2. Great sense of humor
3. Safety

My cup runneth over.
Blessings,
Deborah

Love - Part 1 http://sharing1000epiphanieswhilewaiting.blogspot.com/2016/05/fruit-of-spirit-love.html

Love - Part 2 http://sharing1000epiphanieswhilewaiting.blogspot.com/2016/06/fruit-of-spirit-part-ii.html

Fruit of the Spirit - Faith

Matthew 17:20 "Because you have so little faith. Truly, I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Let's see. My faith. Hmmm... Now where did I put that?

Do you ever have times when you rely on yourself and not your faith in God? When you're having a tough day, or you can't figure something out or think up a post for your blog? I rely on myself far too often. I forget, at times, to use my faith to get things done, to take a little quiet time to listen for that inner voice. I wanted to write here today, but I couldn't think of anything. I wracked my brain to come up with a topic. Something! Anything! It wasn't until I tripped over my faith in the "darkness" that I remembered Who to speak to about a topic. It is His blog after all and shouldn't He have some say about what I write here? Yeeeeeees. He always does when I ask Him and have faith that He will answer.

People have struggled with faith for centuries, so I don't feel too alone. Paul tells us in Acts 20:21, that we must repent and have faith in Jesus and in Romans 3:27-28, he says we are justified by faith. The great benefit of being justified by faith is God's grace. (Romans 5:1b)  *sigh* That is all I ever want is God's grace and mercy. All so easy to have, if I just have faith.

I wrote this piece in 15 minutes. My brain was working so fast my hand almost couldn't keep up. Faith. I must remember to always keep it front and center of my mind. To always rely on God and have faith He won't let me down.

In 1Corintians 13:2b Paul describes himself as "being nothing" if he has faith without charity.
Amen, Paul. Amen.

Romans 1:17c "...the just shall live by faith."

Gratitude (prompts from aholyexperience.com)
3 gifts smelled
1. Fresh baked bread
2. Roses
3. After the rain

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah

 

 

 

Proverbs 31

There are over 4.5 million results when you type in Proverbs 31 studies in Bing search. Your trivia for today. With all those search results, what could I possibly say on this matter that is different? Now, I haven't read all those posts, so I don't know if what I am about to say has been said before or not, but here is my take on this.

I have been pondering Proverbs 31:10-31 for a while. I remember a lady in a Bible study a few years ago who hated this passage. I wasn't familiar with it at the time, so I didn't know how to respond to her fury over any man who holds this standard for a woman.  Today I would ask her what is wrong with being this kind of wife? And if you think about it, we already are! It is just different today and a whole lot easier with modern technology. My recent epiphany about these verses is how I am appling them to my life. I am concentrating on verse 26 that says, "She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue." I am remembering this verse when I get irritated or angry over something little; like when my husband leaves something out instead of putting it away. When this happens I say to myself "Proverbs 31," and do it myself. I am not saying I think I should always pick up after my husband. How I am using this verse is to help me "pick my fights." To be a calmer person and not so easily irritated or angered over the little things. This is big for me. Let me say that I am not an angry person who has anger issues. That is not my M.O. I am not abusive.  Please undestand that. What I am saying is I have a new calmness in me from God that is awesome due to Proverbs 31. I am also striving to be a better Christian wife and learning to be thankful for the house I have to clean and the bed I own to make, etc. I wanted to share this epiphany with you in hopes that you can use Proverb 31 in a new way yourself.

James 1:5
If you need wisdom,
ask our generous God,
and He will give it to you.
He will not rebuke you for asking.

Gratitude
1. My house
2. Its contents
3. My new calmness

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah

Digging Deeper

Do you like to dig deeper when you're studying the Bible? If you come across a passage you don't understand or it makes you think "hmmm," do you pause and go to your computer or concordance or Bible dictionary?

The two churches I was raised in never encouraged me to read my Bible, let alone dig deeper. It was never said during a sermon to go home and read the passages during the week and the whole chapter to learn more.  It has only been in the last 10 years that I have read my Bible from cover to cover. I'm on my third journey through this wonderful book. I love the Bible and in its entirely it is enough. Anything you want to know about God's love for you or His laws are contained in this one Book, but at my age and in this part of my journey I want to know more. I want to dig deeper.

Take the Garden of Eden, for instance. Why did Eve talk to the serpent? Did she know him already? Was he a friend or someone who helped in the Garden? A servant perhaps? Was he someone she trusted? She took his advice readily enough. We know he walked upright until after the fall when God told him, "Because you have done this, Cursed are you above all livestock and wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life." (Genesis 3:14) But what about these questions? Hmmmm.......

I've dug deeper into questions like these and love finding the answers. I hated history in school, but when it comes to Bible history, I'm finding I love the treasure hunt of digging deeper.

Acts 20:32 Now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Gratitude (prompts from aholyexperience.com)
3 gifts in what you are reading
1. Grace
2. Forgiveness
3. Mercy

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah

A New Christian

There is a new Christian in my family. I learned last night that my step daughter was baptized recently and to say I am happy is an understatement. I am joyfully ecstatic!! I have prayed for this a long time and God answered. Welcome to the family of God, sweetie!

Luke 15: 4-6 Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, "Rejoice with me; I found my lost sheep!"

Psalm 150
Hallelujah!
Praise God in His holy temple;
praise him in the firmament of His power.

Praise Him for His mighty acts;
praise Him for His excellent greatness.

Praise Him with blasts of the ram's horn;
praise Him with the lyre and harp.

Praise Him with timbrel and dance;
praise Him with strings and pipe.

Praise Him with resounding cymbals;
praise Him with loud-clanging cymbals.

Let everything that has breath
praise the Lord.

Hallelujah!

For you, sweet daughter:

Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you
and be gracious to you.
The Lord turn His face toward you
and give you peace.

Gratitude
1. My daughter becoming a Christian.
2. Answered prayer
3.The love of Christ

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah

Fruit of the Spirit - Love Part 2

Mark 2:30-31 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Matthew 5:44 "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for them who persecute you."

A few years ago I awakened every night at 2:00a.m. for two weeks, because the Lord laid on my heart, "Love your neighbor." I would tell God that I did love my neighbor and that I knew "neighbor" didn't mean just those who lived on my block, but everyone. Then I would go back to sleep. The next night the same conversation would happen and the next night and the next until after two weeks of this I got up and sat on the couch and said, "Okay, Lord. What are you trying to tell me? Obviously there is more to this lesson you want me to learn." He answered, "Love your enemies." I couldn't think of anyone personally who was my enemy, so I asked, "Who?" He gave the name of a man who was in the news at the time. This man was the leader of another country, a murderer of his own people, corrupt and the list goes on. I told the Lord this was too big for me! How could I love someone like that??! The Lord said, "Pray for him and people like him." Epiphany! I could do that. I could pray that his heart was enlightened by the One true God and that he would change his evil ways. So I did. The man has since died and I pray he has now seen the light.

We still have people like him in this world today that we are commanded to pray for. Not all are leaders of countries, but they need our prayers regardless. Please pray for them. Pray that they are released by the evil one where they live in darkness and are possessed by it. Pray they come into the light of God. Pray in earnest.

1Timothy 1:5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Gratitude (Prompts from aholyexperience.com)
3 Graces overheard
1. Let me help you
2. Can I give you a ride home?
3. Can I carry that for you?

Phil 1:4
In all my prayers for all of you,
I always pray with joy.

Blessings,
Deborah