Bible Ballistics: BBs #218 A Fortnight Of Thanks-Living #8

I thank God for “pray-ers”. I know we talked about being thankful for “prayer” the other day, but I’m talking today not about “prayer”, per se, but about those we personally know, that God has placed in our lives who are our “Pray-ers”, also known as “prayer warriors”.

“ ……The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16b

You know who I’m talking about—that one or two people (and if you have more you are abundantly blessed) who you know you can count on to “PRAY”!!! Now I mean no disrespect, but I’m not talking about all those people who say “I’ll pray for you”, but the ones that you KNOW WILL pray for you or whatever request you might call on them for; the ones who labor and seek the face of God in prayer on your behalf, that you know walk in HIS presence!

“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:21

Those who know the truth of Jesus words about our frailty and His call to prayer because we live in a weak and sinful body of flesh, and in a wicked world. We must pray!!! We must have those around us who know how to pray!!!

“Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38

Thank you Jesus that YOU pray for us, and that you have blessed my life with great and faithful prayer warriors– those who know the power of prayer—not only for themselves but for one another also, as you taught us!

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25 (Be sure and read the context of this verse)

Praise God Almighty for His Son who loved me enough to die for my salvation, but also that He is still praying for me as He did in the garden. And just to give you a lift on this Friday morning here’s what the Master prayed for us:

“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:9-17

Thank you Jesus for being my greatest prayer warrior! And thank you to each of you (and you know who you are) who stand by me in prayer so faithfully. I praise my God for you always and I love you for your great gift of prayer. I couldn’t manage without you, and praise God I don’t have to!!! May HE bless you richly for your great ministry of prayer.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #217 A Fortnight Of Thanks-Living #7

I thank God for memory. And while that may seem to be a strange thing to be thankful for, I believe it is a valid principle. We can’t truly appreciate what God is doing today, without being aware of all He has brought us from and through!

Now I’m not talking about morbid, guilt riddled regret, but deep awareness of what God has delivered us from:

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:    

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:” Col. 1:12-14

Oh, the wonder and joy of “forgiveness of sins”! It’s what allows me to look back with total confidence in what God has done, is doing and will continue to do! Because I’ve been forgiven, the past is strictly that “THE PAST”!!! It should bring gratitude for what God has done for us, not guilt or condemnation, because we have received this wonderful gift of “new life” which transforms our lives and sets us free.

“There is therefore now no condemnation

to them which are in Christ Jesus,

who walk not after the flesh,

but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus

hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

And because I’m free –I can thank God for the memory of what HE has done for me. I can know that He used my past to bring me to Himself; to make me what I am becoming today; that when I look back it IS in gratitude, with regret that I didn’t see sooner, but not in guilt or oppression that grips me or holds me in the bonds of condemnation. Jesus death brought my redemption and deliverance from those bonds. I can now look forward with hope, joy and expectation of great things with God. I can look forward to great opportunities to serve my Lord, my God, my King, and walk in His love and grace. And I think that is what Paul is speaking to in Philippians—that we can forget the condemnation that was on us, and walk in the newness of life in Jesus Christ.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” Philippians 3:13-15

I can walk forward with joy in the memory of what God has done for me with absolute certainty of HIS work in me because He is always working in me, with one goal in mind:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Ro. 8:28

Bible Ballistics: BBs #216 A Fortnight Of Thanks-Living #6

I thank God for family; all those that God has placed in our lives through blood, marriage, adoption and love. Those we often call “kith or kin”, those we love by blood or choice, and are closely connected to. While I have many connections I’d like to do something I seldom do, name a few people that God has especially blessed me with, and I invite you to take time today and let someone know how special they are to you and that you are thankful that they are in you life.

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 (Or sister!)

A brother is born for adversity—as children we think they are born to give us adversity, but usually as adults we can see that our brothers are there to help us. I thank God for my brother—a godly man who is serving God, his family and others as he has opportunity. Thank you God for my brother Billy! I love YOU and am thankful for YOU!

This also applies to little sisters—you know the “tag-alongs” that we used to show off when they were little, try to avoid when they got to be old enough to tattle, and left lonely when we left home before they did. But as adults we become the greatest of friends, and God blesses us with someone who we can share the difficulties and triumphs with us, knowing our failures. Thank you God for my sister Myrtle Denise, a godly woman who serves God as a pastor’s wife, a mother and grandmother. She has ministered to others selflessly in ways that are beyond belief. I love YOU and am thankful for YOU!

I am thankful for my brothers and sisters-in-law, as we call them. Those who come along side our loved ones and have enhanced our lives with love and compassion. Thank you God for my “in-laws” who bless my life, both those who have gone on from this life, and those who remain, who share love and fellowship with us still. I love YOU one and all: Cecil, Cynthia, Lonnie, Dawn, Barbara, Jean and Francine. And you bless my life and soul.

I am thankful for those cousins that shared my life—those first friends in our lives. Thank you God for my dear cousins, many who have gone on from this world and those who remain. Many all over the country but for brevity sake, I’ll just say the Louisiana cousins, and the Virginia cousins. I love YOU and treasure you more than you can ever know—and a couple of you shine out like stars and you know who you are!!! Keep on shining!!! Where ever God has planted YOU!!!

And lastly thank you God for the ability to love all these precious ones that you send into our lives. I am so grateful that God made us creatures who can love and share goodness with one another. We are abundantly blessed and I challenge each of YOU to reach out and touch someone today who is special in your life. I myself am headed to do that today. How about you?

“And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:8-10

And most importantly, I thank YOU Father, Son and Holy Spirit for making me a part of YOUR family through the blood of Jesus. If you don’t know Him, join the family now!

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

Bible Ballistics: BBs #215 A Fortnight Of Thanks-Living #5

I thank God for the privilege of prayer. But what is prayer? Many think of prayer as a “heavenly slot machine” —drop in your request, pull the handle, and God “MUST” grant your request! WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Prayer is not a “magic genie” mentality, but prayer is the privilege of intimate conversation with the Holy God of the universe. Not just having a “wish list” that we present to God, but true and intimate conversation to seek out His desires and do them.

And if you don’t already know, conversation is a two-way encounter. We talk to God about our deepest thoughts, desires, troubles and grief. And listen for His direction, comfort, reproof and love to speak to our heart. It is also best when exercised in unison with studying the Word of God, and devotion to and confidence in its author.

“Rejoice in the Lord always:

and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men.

The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing

by prayer

and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests

be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts

and minds

through Christ Jesus.”   Philippians 4:4-7

All prayer must be through Jesus Christ.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me…. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”   John 14:6 & 13

Jesus is the ONLY way to God–

We must pray in the name of Jesus, and that doesn’t mean just rattling off a “wish-list” and sticking Jesus’ name at the end. It means that I am to pray in agreement with what pleases God, in union with the Holy Spirit of God/Jesus (who is dwelling in every genuine believer), striving for the fulfillment of Jesus’ purpose: “that the Father may be glorified in the Son”! Don’t miss this important fact; all we do is to be done for God’s glory through the Son.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”   1 Corinthians 10:31

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” I Corinthians 15:57-58

Prayer is our being in tune with Jesus, and then through Him God gives us victory in our daily walk and life in this world of trouble and sorrow. And because we are victorious in HIM, we can be “stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”! It’s all about Jesus, not about my flighty and ever-changing lusts of this flesh. And we can only find God and His will through the Spirit of Jesus within us, sought out with prayer and the study of God’s Word. So dear friends—PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. It works, but only God’s way—in, for, through and by Jesus, and to God’s glory!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #214 A Fortnight Of Thanks-Living #4

I thank God today for friends. What a blessing to have friends, to be a friend and to be friendly. God says people who are “friendly” will find friends, and some even closer than blood!

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24

To have a friend is such a blessing and a privilege, but they don’t come easy, nor do they come cheap—and they shouldn’t! Friends should be important enough to us that we are willing to invest ourselves into the lives of others. And while that investment may cost us greatly, the value and return on the investment is of immeasurable and consequential reward. I thank God for my friends, and also for the privilege that God has given to me to walk by their sides in gladness and in sorrow, to be the “picker-upper”, and sometimes to be the “picked-up” one. But through it all the joy of sharing life, love and caring with others is second only to joy of knowing God, who also calls us “friend”!!

“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15

Jesus is making His Father “known unto you”—because that’s what ‘friends’ do! Friends open their hearts and share of themselves with one another. Friends care, they sacrifice time and energy to support and stand by one another. Friendship isn’t always convenient, in fact sometimes it may mean sleepless nights and long days; but a real friend is available in that time of need, often without even being asked. Have you been that one in need? Have you experienced the joy and satisfaction of being the one meeting the need?

As I told a friend, who had been going through a seemingly endless time of “need” and feeling bad because others were always helping her, “Your time to give will come, and you will know how much it means to receive love and help from those who care”! We must remember that people don’t always need us when it’s convenient, but when they have a need—that’s when they need us. In my opinion the cost of friendship is a sacrifice of love, and those who give it will always receive back more than they spend! That’s what friends do! God is my best friend! Am I His friend?

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” James 2:23

Do people see Jesus in you? Are you a friend of God? Do you spend time with Him? If God is our friend, then we can learn how to be a friend to others, and that is the desire of my heart. I’ve been privileged over the last few days to spend time with a friend of many years, and while we don’t get to be together often, when we are together it is such a joy and delight. We’ve each been in the need of help, and we’ve each been privileged to meet the needs of one another –and oh what joy that brings to our hearts when we can share all those “precious memories” of joys and sorrows shared.

Are you being a friend to the friendless? Have you been blessed with those real, precious and faithful friends? Then thank God today—and call that friend, that loved one and tell them so!! Don’t wait until it’s too late to share!

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17