Lessons from the Model Prayer

I was flipping through my Bible and came across Lessons from the Model Prayer in it.  I wanted to share it with you.

Prepare for prayer:

• Pure heart and motive (Matt. 6:5-8)
• Private conversation intent on invoking His presence (Matt 6:6)
• Meaningful communication (Matt. 6:7-8; Luke 18:1-8)
• Presenation of specific requests (Matt. 6:9-13; see 1 Sam. 12:23-24)

Pray:

Phrase - "Our Father in heaven" (Matt 6:9)
Meaning - Recognize who He is -- the PERSON
References - Rom. 8:15; see Is. 64:8

Phrase - "Hallowed by Your name" (Matt. 6:9)
Meaning - Adore Him because of who He is -- PRAISE
References - Ps. 18:3, 96:8

Phrase - "Your kingdom come/Your will be done" (Matt. 6:10)
Meaning - Seek and do God's will.  His Word is the path to finding His will -- PURPOSE
Reference - 1 John 5:14

Phrase - "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11)
Meaning - Ask God to meet even your most mundane needs to accomplish your spiritual duties -- PETITION
Reference - Phil. 4:9

Phrase - "And forgive us" (Matt 6:12)
Meaning - Ask God to forgive your debts or your failures to give obedience due Him -- PARDON
Reference - Ps. 66:18, Hos. 14:2

Phrase - "And do not lead us into temptation" (Matt. 6:13)
Meaning - Seek a way of escape from teh evil of temptation -- PROTECTION, not removal from any trials but from judgement that comes when you are overcome by trials.
Reference - 1 Cor. 10:13, James 1:2-3

Phrase - "For Yours is the kingdom" (Matt 6:13)
Meaning - This benediction is also a doxology -- PRAISE AND PERSON

They say "this model teaches the manner and method of prayer and shares matters for which to pray".

I don't know that I would believe this is the only way to pray and to be heard by God, I think He hears prayers of all sorts, but I do think this is a wonderful guide for anyone who is wondering how to start praying or how to make their prayers make sense :)  That last part is added in for me...I tell people I will not pray outloud because those listening wouldn't understand...I flutter from one thing to the next and back to the previous.  I just can't seem to keep my thoughts straight when I'm praying...maybe this model would help me...?

Blessings in Christ,

 

Two Types of Wisdom

The Bible tells us that there are two different types of wisdom, worldly wisdom and spiritual wisdom.  I thought it might be interesting to take a look at the two. 

Paul warns against worldly wisdom in 1 Corinthians 3:18 - 17.

Let no one deceive himself.  If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For hte wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."  Therefore let no one boast in men.  For all things are yours; whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come -- all are yours.  And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

Worldly Wisdom...

• Sees the message of the Cross as foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18)
• Does not know God (1 Cor. 1:21)
• Boasts in men (1 Cor. 3:21)
• Takes pride in human knowledge (1 Cor. 8:2)
• Is puffed up (1 Cor. 4:6)
• Criticizes leadership (1 Cor. 4:8)
• Relies on the power of words (1 Cor. 4:20)
• Takes pride in personal accomplishmens (1 Cor. 4:27)
• Scoffs at differences (1 Cor. 12:21)
• Insists on personal rights (1 Cor. 8:9)
• Is insensitive to others (1 Cor. 8:11)
• Arrogantly wounds others (1 Cor. 8:12)
• Leads to envy, strife, and division (1 Cor. 1:10, 3:3)
• Is full of malice (1 Cor. 14:20)
• Is subject to "fall" (1 Cor. 10:12)
• Will be caught in its own craftiness (1 Cor. 3:19)
• Has immature understanding (1 Cor. 3:1, 14:20)
• Will not last (1 Cor. 3:15)

In 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, Paul writes about Spiritual Wisdom. 

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?  Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.  These things we also speak, not in words which man's widom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.  For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 

Simplifying it, Spirtual Wisdom...

• Realizes the message of the Cross is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18)
• Demonstrates the power of God (1 Cor. 2:5)
• Glories in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:31)
• Knows the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16)
• Seeks meekness and humility (1 Cor. 2:3)
• Submits to spiritual leadership (1 Cor. 14:37, 16:16)
• Relies on the power of God (1 Cor. 4:20)
• Recognizes God as source of everything (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
• Respects diversity (1 Cor. 12:11)
• Becomes servant of all (1 Cor. 9:19)
• Edifies others (1 Cor. 8:1)
• Seeks another's well-being (1 Cor. 10:24)
• Pursues unity (1 Cor. 12:13)
• Walks in the way of love (1 Cor. 13:11)
• Stands up under temptation (1 Cor. 10:13)
• Maintains self-control and discipline (1 Cor. 6:12, 9:27)
• Develops maturity (1 Cor. 2:6)
• Will last (1 Cor. 3:10-14)

I bolded the last description of each type of wisdom because I think that is one of the most important things for us to remember.  Only the teachings of Christ will last.  Nothing else.  Should we decide to follow something else, then we must realize that we too will not last.  Only following the teachings of Christ will we have the chance for eternal salvation. 

...Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. -- 1 Corinthians 2:5

Blessings in Christ,

To Every Season...

People younger than you aren't supposed to die.  But there are accidents. 

This past weekend seemed to be filled with car accidents.  I'm not sure what it was, the break in the rainy weather we've had, or just everyone out trying to enjoy one last fall weekend. 

Two young girls involved in an accident were sophomores in college.  I didn't know either girl very well, but the part that I really kind of struggled with is that I had them both in classes when I was substituting.  They were your average teenagers.  I would get annoyed with them for thinking because I was a substitute they didn't have to do their work and then later on one would be helping me get a rowdy class of freshman under control. 

In the wake of tragedy, it is always wonderful to know that they knew God and accepted Him as their savior. 

But what I find odd is that I reacted more to these two deaths, of students whom I had in class a handful of times, more than I did to my own grandma's.  Granted this was unexpected and my grandma's we knew was coming, but still.  I do find that odd. 

If God sees it fit for me to become a teacher, that is going to be the hardest part for me to deal with, students who die.  How do you deal with that?  It certainly isn't going to be one of those things that gets easier with time...  I guess by God's grace only will anyone be able to deal with this fact of life and help others to work through it as well. 

Blessings in Christ,

 

Amish Proverbs for Daily Life

Enjoy today...it won't come back. 

Live each short hour with God and the long years will take care of themselves. 

Thoughts are tax-free.

An industrious wife is the best savings account. 

It may be difficult to wait on the Lord, but it is worse to wish you had. 

You can't stumble when you are on your knees.

Walk softly, speak tenderly, and pray fervently.

A sweater is a garment worn by a child when his mother feels chilly.

Put the swing where the children want it.  The grass will grow back.

A smile is a curve that can straighten out a lot of things. 

It takes 73 muscles to frown and only 14 to smile.  No wonder grouchy people are always tired.

If you think you're too small to make a difference, you haven't been in bed with a mosquito. 

If we don't stand for something, we will fall for anything.

If you can't see the bright side, polish the dull.

Be like the teakettle; when it's up to its neck in hot water, it sings.

You can tell when you're on the right track.  It's usually uphill.

If you find a pathway with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. 

Happiness doens't come from doing what we like to do, but liking what we have to do.

Nothing is all wrong: even a clock that has stopped running it is right twice a day. 

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and take what comes with a smile.

There is one thing more exasperating than a wife who can cook and won't, and that's the wife who can't cook and will.

Nothing is quite so annoying as to have someone go right on talking when you are interrupting.

(All proverbs are taken from Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher)

Blessings in Christ,

 

Bread Recipie...?

This is kind of off the wall...

But...

Does anyone have a white bread (or wheat bread) recipie they like to use?  My roommate and I have been trying to make some bread, but every recipie we try (we're on our 4th one now) doesn't turn out right.  Not sure if it's the recipie, the flour, or our oven...

Thank you!

Blessings in Christ,

Day of Rest

I did a series of posts this past spring on the Ten Commandements, but I would like to come back to one.

Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.

As Conservative Christians, there is so much stress placed on this commandment, making sure that we do not engage in activities that would not be appropriate for a Sunday.  Some of us even going to the extent as to not take a job which would require us to work the occasional Sunday.  Some of those positions though are such a servant position that I wonder if we are actually doing a bad thing by not taking those positions (nurses, aides, doctors, vets, etc.). 

I know that Jesus cured the sick on Sundays sometimes and some criticized Him for doing so.  Given that example, how should we apply that to our lives? 

A couple months ago on my way to church Sunday morning, I passed a field where there was an Amish farmer and a vet around a downed cow.  It made me think of how the Amish (among other groups) would not think of being a vet, or at least have on-call hours for Sundays, but they will use one if they need one on a Sunday.  I wondered how our hospitals could operate without those who work on Sundays, some of who I would assume are Christians. 

I think back to the 1800's where Christianity was more common than it is now and how they lived a much more conservative lifestyle than most do today, the doctors and vets were still on call Sundays.  Just because the calendar said it was Sunday does not mean that they would not respond to a call if needed.  Should we ignore the call simply because our calendar says Sunday?   

There is one young lady at the church I had been attending who is a nurse aide and is required to work every other Sunday.  Surprisingly, the church is rather supportive of her.  I say surprisingly because so many other members would not even consider taking a nurse aide job, or any job which would require rotating Sunday work.   

I myself have applied for several jobs which would require rotating Sunday work. 

How do you view jobs which might require you to work a Sunday? 

Blessings in Christ,