If We’re Gonna Pray, We Better Pray Right!!—Right?

Monday, August 31, 2015

Hey Everyone!

It’s another awesome Monday Blog Day!  Welcome and thanks for joining me!!

Often times I get various questions and insights about Faith, Religion and Spirituality. I find that all three of these, while actually separate of each other, do have one huge characteristic in common—PRAYER. No matter which of these (or all) you may embrace, prayer is involved…to some one or some thing. Personally, I use the Holy Bible as my guide and inspiration, however, there are times when I find some of the scripture confusing and that’s why we have Bible scholars, theologians and ministers—to explain it in a language we non-scholars can understand, right?

What I do know is that there are specific instructions from God on how we’re to behave in the act of prayer…

QUESTION: How to pray to God – WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

ANSWER: Jesus shares some tremendous insight regarding how to pray to God in Matthew 6:5-13—

“And now about prayer. When you pray, don’t be like hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.  

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think prayers are answered only by repeating words over and over again. Don’t be like them, because your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come soon. May your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven. Give us our food today, and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgotten those who have sinned against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one’.”

In the above verses, Jesus shares how not to pray:

*We are to pray in secret.

*Jesus asks us to go to a private place since our Heavenly Father already knows what we are going to pray about.

*Jesus tells us not to ramble on an on, as people of other religions do, or be repetitious with words. God, our Heavenly Father, would have us be specific about our prayer. Then He reiterates that the believer is not to pray repetitiously like the heathen.

Next, Jesus teaches us how to pray:

*Jesus says we should give honor to God and His name.

*We are to pray for His kingdom to come, and for His will to be done, that there would be a heavenly or godly presence here on earth.

*We are to pray for daily provision.

*We are to pray and ask for forgiveness for our sins, and for others who have wronged us.

*We are to pray and ask God to keep us from being tempted, and to deliver us from Satan and his power.

The protocol on how to pray covers several ways of prayer. The primary focus of prayer is the intent. Does the prayer honor God and exalt His name? What is the purpose behind the prayer? Is it personal gain or ambition? Do you pray for others to be blessed and encouraged? Are your prayers done in secret in humility? Are your prayers focused on obtaining godly wisdom, counsel, and direction? God is pleased with these prayers and answers them.

The Bible also says we should pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

What should we pray for? What if we do not know how to pray? The Bible says the Holy Spirit will help us to pray (Romans 8:26-27).

How do we pray to God? Prayer is essentially putting your requests, concerns, or issues before the Lord, and trusting Him to answer them, and we need to pray with the heart of little children…simple, reverent, specific, and trusting (Matthew 18:3).

Why should we pray? We have all sinned and deserve God’s judgment. God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the creator and eternal Son of God, who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that He died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead according to the Bible. If you truly believe and trust this in your heart, receiving Jesus alone as your Savior, declaring “Jesus is Lord,” you will be saved from judgment and spend eternity with God in heaven.

My understanding of this scripture is that Prayer is paramount in our lives— if we’re going to honor and obey God’s will for us. Prayer affects everything! Remember, we are to “pray without ceasing.”

My prayer for us all this week is that we’ll spend some precious alone time with our heavenly Father…in Prayer, as it is outlined here.

I, for one, need to check myself and be aware of the fact that “If I’m gonna pray, I better pray right! Right?”

GOD is Good! GOD is Great!!

Love,

Margaret

PS  In each of us there’s a sleeping giant and when he wakes up, the miracles begin! Go to the Lord in prayer, be worthy of His miracles!

Special Thanks to: My loyal Blog follower, Lynn, for providing today’s topic and for her never-ending prayers for me!

and

To the awesome team at AllAboutGOD.com, for today’s scriptures. AMEN!!

 

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Are You A BFF?

Monday, August 24, 2015

Hey Everybody! Happy Blog Day…Welcome to my world and it’s so good to have you here!!

Note— BFF: Best Friends Forever

“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” — William Shakespeare

These last few months I’ve been touched by so many “friends” and so often now, that I can say without a doubt, that LOVE is alive and well here on this great Earth of ours!!  

Plus, another observation I’ve been blessed with, is the fact that it’s easier to give Love, however, not as easy for some of us, to receive Love. Do we feel we’re unworthy of being loved, of receiving our gift of Life to its fullest? We can give it out, but we can’t receive it in return—Why is that anyway?

***Note—My definition of Love: “Love is this incredible, indescribable, intangible feeling and is awesome in every conceivable way! If one puts God first in all he does, all other relationships will fall into place; both the giving and the receiving.”***

In Jesus’ time, “proper” people looked down on those they considered to be sinners and would not associate with them. But we are all sinners in our own ways. Jesus taught by word and example not to look down on, shun, criticize, judge or condemn other people. (Matthew 7:1-5)

The apostle Paul said that Christian love is the greatest and most essential of all the spiritual gifts. Even faith is worthless without love! Paul went on to describe the nature of true Christian love in this beautiful passage: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13)

So still, why do some of us struggle with receiving love?  We all know what the Bible says about “receiving”: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” —Acts 20:35…Yes, I believe this whole-heartedly, but this is not what I’m talking about; rather, the one who observes and honors this instruction from Jesus, himself, but still suffers with receiving the gift of LOVE from others.

I believe as was in my situation growing up, that the unworthy feelings we accept about ourselves, for whatever reasons, become an unconscious road block for us. I watched my darling Mother suffer this self-sabotage for years, and without realizing it, she “taught” her children to do the very same thing. For me, however, I began at an early age, to simply pretend that “all was well” in my world. Now, I’m not suggesting anyone follow in my footsteps, however, it probably saved my life, until I could get real help; now of course, hindsight is always 20-20, right?

I bring this up only to point out how easy it is to hold onto negative beliefs (real or not) about ourselves. This, often times, will result in an enormous feeling of unworthiness. It’s not really real, but we may end up “BFF’s” with what can become our worst enemy — a feeling that regardless of how hard we work, how dedicated we are, how kind and thoughtful we are, even how much we love the Lord…YOU name it…we’re just not deserving of blessings!! This is not a good trip through our gift of Life. NOPE!! I know first-hand, all too well, the powers of this invisible bandit. What a thief!!

There’s no instant cure, no pill, no new outfit (I used to actually think I could “dress” my unworthiness away…I couldn’t). I didn’t understand what had and was happening to me, therefore, I couldn’t possibly “fix” me. My pretending did help me though, until I was old enough to get the proper help I needed—and believe me, I’ve made up for it too! Today, I LOVE ME. GOD loves me and I live my gift of Life knowing I AM worthy, and I choose to live the kind of Life that fills me with uplifting and awesome blessings! I want to be worthy!! It’s up to me and no one else to live a worthy Life. I thank God every day for His earthly angels, for their help and guidance I received at a time when I truly was lost in a past behavior of self-denial and unworthiness. The devil loved it. He lost. I won—I couldn’t lose…GOD is Good, GOD is Great—Always!!

Ya know, this “affliction” some of us walk around with…not understanding it, but fully embracing it,  don’t have the T-Shirt: “I’m Not Worthy” …so, this week, my prayer for all of us is that we’ll walk slowly and consciously in a frame of mind and heart that causes us to consider how this must feel and if you know or suspect anyone is living like this, just PRAY for them. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. We can’t fix everyone’s problems, but we sure can PRAY that GOD will fix everyone’s problems…

“Lord, I pray for those who are feeling inferior or unworthy today. I pray for those feeling defeated and discouraged. I lift up those who have never heard what they are really worth, those still searching for validation. I pray for those who have heard most of their life how inadequate or stupid they are.They need truth, Your truth and fast. I pray for those who feel invisible in family or in marriage. I pray for those who struggle with body image issues, who hate who they see in the mirror. I pray for those who are striving to be successful in a world that says their value is based on a title, a large paycheck, a certain pant size, what they drive, where they live, or what they have. God, You know exactly who feels unworthy or worthless right now. You know how shame has robbed them of their daily joy for years or even decades. You know their names. After all You created them, on purpose, by design, to know you intimately. In the mighty and powerful and precious name above all names, Jesus, I pray. Amen”

Blessings to you ALL for an incredible week!! Be someone’s BFF—PRAY for them.

Love,

Margaret

A note of thanks to the awesome pray-er — Tiffany Stuart for her contribution today to my Blog. XO

Pretty Is As Pretty Does

Monday, August 17, 2015

It’s Monday Blog – Happy day to you all, my Friends!!

I’m on the road this week, so I’m going to make this short and sweet…

This week, let’s all be conscience of our actions and how we treat each other. Whatever we’re doing, wherever we are  –  starting with our families, our friends, our work associates, and last…total strangers; let’s embrace The Golden Rule with an added thought…”Pretty Is As Pretty Does.”

“Pretty” is a state of mind and heart.❤️  It’s not just a girl thing! It’s also a GOD thing.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”   – 2 Corinthians 4:18

GOD is Good! GOD is Great!!

Love,

Margaret

“He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might, He gives strength.” – Isaiah 40:29

Love Thy Neighbor

Monday, August 10, 2015

Good morning, Everyone!! Welcome to my Monday Blog!!

I’ve been very busy this summer promoting my novel, That Melvin Bray. In addition, I’ve been quite busy with family and summer travels to visit friends and loved ones. Being away from home is just part of Life sometimes and it’s hard to keep up with everyone. This weekend  I found out some incredibly sad news about one of my dearest friends who lives right next door to me. Let’s call her “Luba”…

We’ve been friends for over twenty years now and I’ve grown to cherish her with all my heart. She’s one, incredible human being!!  A doctor from Eastern Europe, married with two children and her seventy-five year old Mother to care for. She would be working at Emory. This is all I knew about her when she moved next door to me twenty years ago.

The first few years, we would just visit and chat either in our front or back yards and this is how we began our friendship. As time went by though, we would share many stories and life experiences, visit in each other’s homes and have lovely meals together. Both my daughter and son and her daughter and son all graduated, went off to college, got married and started families of their own. During this time though, her Mother would become quite ill and would be house-bound, which forced Luba to leave Emory and care full-time for her aging and ill Mother. Not long after that, her husband became ill and he too, would require her full attention. Life, as she knew it, would never be the same.

Her sweet Mother passed away a few years ago and now, after several hospital visits, surgery and continued poor health, her beloved husband still requires her full attention, and Luba is dedicated to whatever the cause may be, the job at hand will get done and properly. She has a devout faith in God and a work ethic beyond reproach and is dedicated to her loved ones.

Yesterday I found out that my dearest Luba has cancer and her doctors tell her she “has about three months.” She is presently going through chemo but has the mind set that if God wants her, then so be it and she’s always told me, “GOD knows what He’s doing, waaaay better than us!”  Her concern is not for herself but for her darling husband, Al—Naturally!!

I love Luba so much and am very sad, however, I agree with her wisdom 100%: GOD knows what He’s doing waaaay better than us!

Today, I honor my friend Luba, and should our heavenly Father choose to take her sooner than later, then I honor that as well. Luba has another saying: He’s the Boss!!  So, may God, the Boss, bless Luba and have mercy on her.

I ask that you ALL pray for Luba and her family and that they will be comforted by God’s awesome love and tenderness.

Something for us all this week:

Dear God, thank you for the beautiful Life you have given us. Forgive us if we sometimes don’t love it enough. Amen.

GOD is Good! GOD is Great!!.

Love,

Margaret

Remember, our love for God should be evident in our everyday life and relationship with others. XO

From A Child’s Perspective

Monday, August  3, 2015

And a Happy Monday Blog to you All…

I’m sure we all can remember a few things we may have gotten a little “off”  or a bit mixed-up from one Sunday to the next, growing up and sitting in church with our parents and siblings. Well, a few days ago a dear friend sent this to me and I’m certain you guys are going to love it!

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The Teacher: “This is a child’s report on the entire Bible. I am glad I did not grade this paper. The young man has a real talent though—A little shaky on the dates but good chronology. This sixth grade child was asked to write a book report on the entire Bible. Here is what he wrote:”

The Child: The Bible in a Nutshell

“In the beginning which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, “The Lord thy God is one,” but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, “Give me a light!” and someone did. Then God made the world. He split the Adam and made Eve.

Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren’t embarrassed because mirrors hadn’t been invented yet. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden…Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn’t have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel. Pretty soon all the early people died off, except for Methuselah who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charleston Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent the ten plagues on Pharaoh’s people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable. 

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicottie. Then He gave them his Top Ten Commandments. These include: don’t lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor’s stuff. Oh year, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses’ best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town. 

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore. There were also some minor league proplets, but I guess we don’t have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New Testament. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, “Close the door! Were you born in a barn?” (It would be nice to say, “As a matter of fact, I was.”)

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Republicans.  Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him. 

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn’t stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.”

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Matthew 18:1-3—  At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:10—”See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.”

John 3:16-17—”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Amen!!

I hope we’ll all notice the children this week wherever we are…be aware of them and remember what God says about them.

GOD is Good! GOD is Great!!

I love you,

Margaret

Note: A big Thank You to “Carol” for providing “a book report on the bible(HOLYSPIRIT).”