Verse 13 of 52!

With Romans 5 finished (praise the Lord!!), I have begun working on the latter half of 2 Timothy 2. It is a familiar passage for me, so this week, God allowed me to memorize 2 Timothy 2:20-22.

"But in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Thoughtful Thursday - Friendship (Part 1)

Friendship

Friends. The very word sends our thoughts to a special group of people that we tenderly call “friends.” At the same time, some of us might feel a sting as we think of past friendships that are now dissolved. Friendship, in all of its blaze and glory, is not without its bruises and tears.

The Bible has a lot to say about friendship. From good examples (Jonathan and David) to bad examples (Samson and Delilah), to blessings, to warnings, we see friendship woven throughout the Old and New Testament.

People also have a lot to say about friendship. Our pastors and youth pastors preach about it, our parents and grandparents fuss about it, and our friends (obviously) encourage it! Is there really a need to look at it any longer?

Not Just Any Friend

In the world today, girls are thrown together with many different types of people. However, we do not need to befriend everyone with which we come into contact. We must choose our friendships carefully and wisely. One way to choose friends is through the guidance of our parents. Though many girls do not care to have their parents “interfere with my life,” God has given our parents to us for this very reason! Perhaps if Samson had listened to his parents’ counsel and desires, he would not have fallen into Delilah’s traps and ultimately imprisonment and an early death (read Judges 14-16).

Another way to choose friends is through the guidance of Scripture. “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.” (Proverbs 27:12) Consider wisely the choice of friends you have.

What is a Friend to Be?

Friends laugh hysterically with each other at midnight; friends share their dreams and desires; friends wear matching outfits; friends sing duets; friends write notes and emails. Such glorious, happy-go-lucky types of friendship are what a girl often has, but is that all there is to being friends?

“And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.” (1 Samuel 23:16) The last part of this verse struck me: and strengthened his hand in God. A valuable friend to have is one who shares our beliefs and will strengthen our relationship with God. A true friend will pray for us, share verses with us, share how God is growing them, and . . . a true friend will even come to us and give us some (maybe unwanted) Biblical advice.

What types of people should we have as friends?

Older friends to mentor us (Titus 2:3-5)

Women such as grandmas, aunts, moms, our pastor’s wife, and other godly ladies should be special friends. God has placed them in our lives to help us live holy before Him. Older women have lived through the struggles we live through, they have learned from difficult mistakes, and they are full of wisdom that should be a treasure chest to any young lady.

Friends that we can learn with (Proverbs 27:17)

Our peers are probably the friends we seek out the most. These can be the “iron-sharpening-iron” relationships (those who are growing in Christ, reading the Bible, and striving to live a Christ-like life) or detrimental relationships (those who are living for self, without a thought of God). We need to evaluate our friendships to be sure that they are building us up in the Lord and not causing us to fall away.

Friends that we can encourage in the Lord (Galatians 6:1-2)

There are special friends in our life that may not be at the same maturity as we are (emotionally and spiritually). These are the friends that we can encourage and build up. At the same time, we must be careful that these “ministry friendships” are not pulling us down. It requires a lot of prayer and discernment (as well as counsel from our parents and older friends) to have this type of ministry friendship. Our younger friend must be growing, seeking to learn, and maturing; if such is not the case, we must carefully weigh if it is a friendship that God would have us to continue.

The Ultimate Friendships

“But I don’t have any friends,” some might say.  Please, please, please do not count this as a curse!!! This “friendless” time could be used in many ways by God. First, it can cultivate a warmer relationship between you and God. Secondly, it can draw you closer to your siblings (who are, in reality, your life-time friends). Thirdly, it could be a way of God protecting you from a harmful friendship. Remember that no friend at all is much more desirable than mixing with bad company.

~~~

Next week, Lord willing, we will continue to look at friendship with:

To Be A Friend

Broken Friendships

Conclusion

Verses 11/12 of 52!!

Once again, the busyness of life has swamped me and while I tried to memorize Romans 5:20 last week, it never happened. So this week, I "caught up" and memorized Romans 5:20 and am working on Romans 5:21 - the last verse in Romans 5!!! I am so excited that God has allowed me to memorize another chapter in His precious Word!!!

"Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."

Romans 5:20

"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 5:21

A Giveaway - 1,000 Gifts

I have never read Ann Voskamp's 1,000 Gifts, but I have heard it is an excellent book. Here's a link to a giveaway for it: http://www.growinghomeblog.com/2012/03/one-thousand-gifts-by-ann-voskamp.html

Thoughtful Thursday - Obedience in All Things

Obedience in All Things

Obedience: the state or fact of being obedient; doing what is ordered; submission (Webster’s New World Dictionary)

Who are we to obey?

Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1, KJV)

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:20)

We cannot say that this direct order is not intended for us. If we have a parent, then we are one of the “children” that these verses are talking about.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17, KJV)

Here, we are simply commanded to obey them that have rule over us. Not only are we to obey them, but we are to submit (or surrender) to them. According to this verse, our parents are held responsible for the way we act until we reach the age of accountability. They will have to stand before God and giving an account of how they have trained us, and how we responded! Will they be able to do so with joy, or with grief?

                                                                                                                      

How are we to obey?

Many of us look at ourselves and feel good about being obedient. But are we really obedient?

Let’s look at Ephesians 6:1 and Colossians 3:20 again. The word “Obey” in both of these texts is the same Greek word: hupakouo. It means, “To hear under, to listen attentively, to heed or conform to a command or authority.”

What are some ways that we can have proper obedience?

       1. Obedience is an act of the heart, not the body. If our parents ask us to clear the table, we may outwardly obey and clear the table. But our attitude on the inside might be, “They’re so unfair! I have pages of homework to do, a book to read, and a report to write. I never have any time for myself!” Inwardly, we are rebelling, which is the complete opposite of obedience.

“It doesn’t matter what I think; just as long as I do it.” How many of us are guilty of this thought? True, our parents may not see our inward attitude, but God sees it! He measures inward obedience just as much as He measures outward obedience. He can see that we are not whole-heartedly obeying His command in Ephesians 6:1.

       2. Obedience also includes doing our task the best we can. If we half-way do a job that our parents have asked us to do, are we really obeying them . . . to the best of our ability?

       3. Obedience is more than just heeding what our parents say. Our parents have something called a will. Their will is basically their desire. My parents have never told me, “Do not buy alcohol.” However, I know that it is totally against their will for me to buy alcohol. If I buy alcohol, then I am disobeying my parents. Colossians 3:20 says, “Obey your parents in ALL things.” It does not say “Only obey your parents’ words.”

Another way to obey our parents’ will is to not try to “change their mind.” When Dad says, “No, you cannot go to Sara’s,” and we whine and beg and make promises until he says, “Alright, go!” we are disobeying his will.

“But he said ‘yes!’” we might argue. Perhaps he did, but it was not his will to say so. He just wanted to keep peace in the home.

Yet another way to obey our parents’ will is to do things without being told. We do not have to be told, “When the sink is full of dirty dishes, I want them placed in the dishwasher.” We can easily see that this is probably something that Mom would like us to do.

Why are we to obey?

Ephesians 6:1 simply tells us to obey, “for this is right.” Two verses later we read, “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

Colossians 3:20 tells us to obey, “for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.”

Hebrews 13:17 tells us to obey, “for they watch for your souls.”

To obey our parents is to obey God’s commands. It is also a step of preparation. When we get married, we are to obey and submit to our husband (Ephesians 5:22, Colossians 3:18). If we have practiced rebellion towards our parents, we will have difficulty submitting to our husband. Is this perhaps one of the reasons that divorce is so prevalent among couples today?

More important than preparing for marriage, obeying our parents is preparation for life. When we are no longer under our parents’ authority, we are accountable directly to God. If we have not learned to obey those whom we can see and hear, how can we obey God, Whom we cannot physically see and hear?

There are many examples in the Bible of those who did not obey the Lord, and the consequences were great. In one instance, the prophet Samuel said, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22b)

It is my prayer that all of us can learn to have complete obedience to our parents, our future husbands, and our Lord.

Thoughtful Thursday - Fear

Fear

Previously posted on my family's blog

“What is happening to my America?” This was a question posed by a lady who feared the changes that have been made in our country. As Christians, we also ask the same question, with the same tinge of fear. What is happening to our country? What will happen to us? What freedoms are going to be taken away? We have no peace. Why? Because we are all fearing instead of trusting.

What is fear? The modern dictionary defines fear as “a feeling of anxiety and agitation caused by the presence or nearness of danger, evil, pain, etc.” but I believe that God’s Word defines it much better.

Fear is not from the Lord:

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7-9)

Fear is lack of love:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. I John 4:18

Fear is lack of trust:

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Psalm 56:3-4

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. Psalm 27:1, 3

When we spend time in God’s Word, it should cause our fear to come crashing down. Our Heavenly Father has given us many promises that we should hide in our hearts to combat the devil’s weapon of fear.

 God is always with us:

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6

 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5b)

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

The Lord is always ready to help:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Psalm 46:1-3

The Lord will watch over us:

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

The Lord will protect us:

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? Psalm 118:6

Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. Proverbs 3:25-26

The Lord does not intend to do evil to us:

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

How can there be peace with fear? There cannot. Peace comes by simply trusting God, loving God, and determining to push away any fear when it arises.

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8

Verse 10 of 52!!!!!!!

Verse 10 in this challenge is Romans 5:19

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

As I memorized this, the differences between the two opposites really stuck out.

"By one man's disobedience many were made sinners" This is a reflection of something that happened in the past to affect all of human nature.

"So by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous." This is a reflection of the present and the future - "shall many be made righteous." The saving power of Jesus' blood is still in effect today! Many are still being made righteous because of the obedience of Jesus Christ.

Praise the Lord for His salvation!!!!

Thoughtful Thursday - Our Passover Sacrifice

Jesus Christ - Our Passover Sacrifice

Previously posted on Rubies Like Ruth (December 2011)

When God brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt, He established several feasts. One of those was the Passover.

“The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it.” Numbers 9:11-12

When Jesus Christ was crucified, He became the new Passover sacrificed for us (see 1 Corinthians 5:7). Just like the Passover lamb, His precious body was not left on the cross until morning (see John 19:38) nor was any bone of His body broken (see John 19:36).

“But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the Passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.” Numbers 9:13

Just like in Passover times, God requires us to respond. Every soul that does not accept Jesus Christ as the Passover, will be judged one day, bearing his sin (“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23).

“And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:13

Just like God passed over the houses that had blood sprinkled on the door posts, He looks to see if we have Christ’s blood sprinkled on the posts of our hearts and will judge us accordingly. Have you been covered by that blood? Have you accepted the Passover Lamb as your sacrifice for sins?

Verse 9 of 52!

My ninth verse in this challenge is a continuation of Romans 5:

"Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." (Romans 5:18)

A Giveaway

Here's a giveaway at a blog I enjoy reading:
http://www.growinghomeblog.com/2012/03/31-days-of-homeschool-encouragement.html

Thoughtful Thursday - In Tune

In Tune

Previously posted on my family's blog

The Lord allowed me to purchase my own piano in April 2010. Before I moved it into our house, I noticed that it needed tuning, but tuning a piano is expensive! Months passed with me playing it, cringing, and thinking, “I really need to get this tuned!” And of course, I still did not make a move towards tuning it. I knew the main benefit of tuning my piano: it would be so much more pleasant to play and teach on, but I also weighed the personal loss: I was not willing to spare that money needed to tune it.

The inside of my piano

As I was thinking about my neglect in hiring a piano tuner, the Lord helped me to link the piano to my spiritual walk with Him. How often do I know that I need to “tune up” my life, but when I realize the sacrifice and time it takes, I neglect it? I know that my life would flow in a smooth stream of harmony and music instead of the current of dissonance and clangs, but because I am not willing to make the sacrifice, my life continues in dissonance.

Just like my piano, my heart will not resonate with lovely music until I decide to make the sacrifice needed to bring it back in tune.

~*~*~

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

Psalm 51:10

A Selfish Blogger?

I was blessed by reading this blog post today. If you have a moment, check it out: http://biblelovenotes.blogspot.com/2011/05/are-you-selfish-blogger.html

Verses 7/8 of 52!

I have been memorizing my verses, but have been too busy to post them on here. So to catch up, here are verses 7 and 8:

"Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:26)

~

"For if by one man's offence, death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace of of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)

(Only 4 more verses to go before the whole chapter is memorized, praise God!!!)

Thoughtful Thursday - The Ministry of Letter Writing

The Ministry of Letter Writing

Previously posted on Rubies Like Ruth (August 2011)

Letter writing is an old art that is still continued by a select few young ladies. Girls write (or email) for amusement, to keep up friendships, for communication, and to get a reply. All of these are fun reasons to write, but I like to think of writing as a ministry as well. We see a vivid example of ministering by letters in the New Testament. Paul wrote many letters to different churches and men, challenging them in their walk with God and sharing truth.

Our notes can bring a smile to one’s face and brighten their day. A word of encouragement can help a sister in her walk with God. A question can challenge one to stay faithful. Most importantly, a letter can simply show the love of Christ.

In my love for letter-writing, God has shown me a few ways that I can minister with letters:

     1. Pray that God will give me some way to encourage my pen-pal

     2. Write not just to those who are “fun” to write to, but those who will need the encouragement

     3. Pray for the person to whom I am writing

     4. Include a verse with which God has been challenging me

     5. Humbly share an area in which God has been growing me

     6. Ask them about a specific area of their walk with God (prayer, Bible reading, memorizing)

     7. Ask if there is a specific area that I can pray for them

There are many ways we can minister to a friend in letters – sometimes we simply need to ask God to show us what He would have us to do and be tender towards His leading.

The next time you go to write a letter or type an email, let me challenge you to make it worthwhile. Do not just “chat,” but leave your friend with something that ministers to her heart.

Thoughtful Thursday - Quality or Conviction?

Quality or Conviction?

Previously posted at my family's blog

Capable musicians are a growing need for churches. Many churches do without musicians because no one in their congregation is musically inclined. Other churches hire out their musicians. Most churches require an instrumentalist to be accomplished, but they neglect to inquire if the musician is a born-again believer. Does this matter?

The Bible speaks of those who were allowed to participate in the music of the temple. The clearest accounts we see are in 1 and 2 Chronicles.

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the

singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding,

by lifting up the voice with joy. (1 Chronicles 15:16)

The musicians were not just any accomplished musicians. They were chosen from the Levites – the tribe that God had set apart for the purpose of leading Israel in worship (Numbers 1:47-50). We see that though they were skillful in their music (1 Chronicles 15:22), their goal was strictly to praise and thank the Lord.

It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound  to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;” 2 Chronicles 5:13).

They were not playing for money’s sake, to show off their skill, or even just to fill a need. They were personally praising God with their music.

According to Psalm 86, the reason one can praise God is because of salvation.

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy

name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast

delivered my soul from the lowest hell. (Psalm 86:12-13)

Just because a person is qualified musically to fill the place of church musician does not mean that they should. Scripture seems to indicate that a church musician should be a believer of the Lord Jesus Christ; a person who has experienced His saving grace. If he is not saved, how could he fill this place that God has specifically chosen as another form to worship Him?

The church musician plays a very important role in the church. It should be filled by someone who can worship the Lord “in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)

Snap-shot taken by my brother

“I will declare Thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation

will I praise Thee. Ye that fear the LORD, praise Him;

all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; and fear Him,

all ye the seed of Israel.” (Psalm 22:22-23) 

Verse 6 of 52!

This week's verse is Romans 5:16,

"And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift; for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offenses unto justification."

I cannot lie. Last week, I memorized another verse because I had a very difficult time committing this one to memory!!! After much prayer and much review, God allowed me to get this one down.

Memorizing verses is so neat! When you read different verses, sometimes the meaning pops out to you, but when you're memorizing them, you almost have to understand them in order to really memorize them. Then, after you have them memorized, you can pull them out at any time and meditate on them - and learn new truths from them.

That is basically what happened with Romans 5:16. To get the full meaning, I had to review Romans 5:15 (“But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one, many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, hath abounded unto many.”). Then, as I continued to memorize, the beauty of the difference from being judged to being justified really stuck out to me. How grateful I am for God's salvation!

Thoughtful Thursday - Claiming True Beauty

Claiming True Beauty

Previously posted on Rubies Like Ruth (May 2011)

A frown crossed Marie’s face as she stroked the brush through her hair. It was not exactly a describable color – it wasn’t a blonde, or brown, red, or black. It was just . . . some color. Her gaze left her hair and briefly studied her face. She tried to feign a smile, but her forehead creased with dissatisfaction. No, she was not at all pretty. With a small sigh, she turned and left the mirror.

How many of us are like Marie? The “girl in the mirror” is not nearly as pretty as our eyes would like to behold, but the “girl in the mirror” is the true, unchangeable “me.” A girl’s dream is perhaps to be slender, tall/short, with beautiful hair, and of course, pretty features. But more often than not, we stand in front of the mirror thinking, “I’m just plain and ugly.” In a frantic attempt to undo this insufferable ugliness we paint ourselves, changing what we can but leaving much more than we want undone.

When indulging ourselves in this vain self-pity, how often do we stop to consider what we are doing? The God Who told Jeremiah “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee” (Jeremiah 1:5, KJV) is also the God Who formed us. The God Who was praised “for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) is the same God Who should be praised for His marvelous handiwork of our lives. The God Who made Adam in His Image (Genesis 1:26) still creates humans in His Image. The God Who did all this is the same God to Whom we are ungrateful for the appearance He gave us.

Have we forgotten that “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised?” (Proverbs 31:30) Even Jesus was prophesied as a man who had “no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2) It was not outward attractions that drew people to Christ – it was Him, His perfect loveliness.

As Christians, we are to be like Christ; but too often I am afraid that we lose focus. Instead of perfecting that inward beauty, we look at outward beauty. Are we more focused on vain beauty than we are on significant beauty? Are we so concerned about what others think of us that we forget to ask, “Let others see Thee in me?” Is our physical face more important than the face we put on the title “Christian?”

If our aim is towards any beauty at all, should it not be the beauty described in 1 Peter 3: 3-4? “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” Facial flawlessness and a perfect form may be what the world sees as great beauty, but here the Bible clearly states that the meek and quiet spirit is “in the sight of God a great price.” Is the value of outward beauty so great that we would trade it for God’s acceptance?

Nothing is more beautiful than a girl or young woman who is sold out to Christ, and there is nothing uglier than a girl who has all the “beauty” of the world, yet is vain, proud, selfish, and etc. Which are we going to choose?

Verse 5 of 52!

My fifth verse for this challenge is 2 Corinthians 10:12. (Yes, I veered away from Romans 5 this week, but Lord willing, will be back on track with that in a week or two):

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise.

(By memory, so I might have missed punctuation or words)

SO much can be said on the matter of comparison. What a great reminder to stay away from comparison, as it is a poison that affects much of what we do or do not do.

Thoughtful Thursday - The 5-second Prayer

Five-Second Prayer

Previously published with Incorruptible Beauty newsletter in 2009

A few months ago we had the director of BEAMS Bible Ministries (beamsbibles.org) speak at our church. As he was closing his presentation, he asked how many of us would dedicate to pray a five-second prayer for them. It was a strange request, so he went on to explain, “A five-second prayer is when you are mowing your lawn, doing your work, or whatever else, and happen to think of us; take the time to bow your head, and say a quick, five-second prayer for us and BEAMS Ministries.” The response he got after the explanation was vibrant consent.

After that Sunday, I thought a little more about the five-second prayer. Many times, I have had different acquaintances flash through my mind at odd times; could those times have been when God wanted me to lift them up in a short prayer? Though God’s Word indicates that we are to spend much time with Him in prayer, I believe that those five-second prayers are also essential. We do not know what an individual is dealing with at the moment we think of them.

Another challenge with the five-second prayer is capturing our thoughts. As I hear different news my thoughts tend to wander, often resulting in some very judgmental thoughts towards fellow-believers. Recently, God has convicted me with the challenge, “You can think about them and inwardly judge them as much as you want, but if you do not pray for them, you will succeed only in injuring yourself.” What truth! Now, as God helps me, when I am tempted to think badly towards others, I instead lift them up in prayer. The outcome is not only having peace in leaving the results up to God, but also having a freedom from evil thoughts and surmising.

What can be benefited by a five-second prayer? I am sure that we will never know. We should just be sure that we immediately obey God and His prompting

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. I John 5:14-15

Verse 4 of 52!

My fourth verse for this count-down is Romans 5:15:

"But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one, many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift of grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many."

God's grace is so amazing!! I love the words to the hymn "Grace Greater than Our Sin:" 

(Words by Julia Johnston)

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.

Yonder on Calvary's mount out-poured,

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Sin and despair like the sea wave cold,

Threaten the soul with infinite loss.

Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,

Points to the Refuge, the the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.

What can avail to wash it away?

Look there is flowing a crimson tide,

Brighter than snow you may be today!

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

You that are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?

Chorus

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within!

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Praise God for His wonderful, matchless grace that saves sinners like me!!