No Paperless Intermissions

Greek is the language the writers used to write all NT scripture. The above scripture in 1 Thess. is the only scripture about prayer that is interpreted as meaning to constantly be in a state of  connection with God. If you think about what the writers were doing, they knew that God was using them to write down not only their experiences, but also what God was inspiring them to write, so they had to always be in a constant state of openness to God's Spirit...and then always be ready to write it down as well! 

 

 

 

 

Therefore when they endeavored to write down what God was sharing with them about this unceasing kind of prayer, they used their own experiences...which was; never being able to take breaks without having paper with them! This in turn tells us that we are to always be in a communing and ready state with our Lord so when He wants to speak to us or use us in some way we will be ready. So! No paperless breaks for us!

 

 

Does this mean to be in a constant state of anxiety? Does this mean to be hyper-aware? No. Well, we'll probably start out this way...but this is because we're not sure how to do it yet. But it is supposed to become a natural thing...in fact it is what God wants for every spiritual practice - to become like second skin, like it was for Adam and Eve in the garden. (But of course at that time they didn't have to practice, they already had 'it' before their disobedience cut us off from it)

 

 

I would liken it to when you have a baby. At the beginning you are hyper-aware and even when she isn't crying you think she is. So every little noise you go running in there to check. Then as you practice, and as you continue to be open to her noises, you get to know what certain sounds mean and then you begin to relax and things become more natural. In fact every relationship is very similar. As you get to know each person you get more and more relaxed because you know how they sound and how they are unique in their own way...it is the very same with God. So, it takes some time and patience.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning this is a wonderful place to be in your life and walk, as it is what ushers in learning to hear God's still small voice much better, as well as being able to be in step with the Holy Spirit...which of course is what we all want so much!  (Please  view above picture...click on it...hope it helps!)

 

 

 

Subsequently I believe prayer means much more than is normally taught. Since I was young prayer meant to bow my head, close my eyes, fold my hands and pray aloud...but, as we know, folding hands and etc. are not biblical. However, since working with kids for so long, now I know where this started! Ha! You and I also know that God can hear us just fine even when we are not speaking the words aloud...even though there will be times one can do this, as in one's prayer closet. 

 

 

 

 

Then as a young Christian I heard teachings that vehemently instructed that we had to incorporate daily devotions into our lives!  The example that was given once was when the Israelites were provided with manna everyday they were instructed to not keep any extra for the next day because when the next day arrived the manna left over was wormy. So,  it was used as a metaphor to say that the devotions of one day will not last till the next day!

 

 

 

 

 However, when you and I learn more and more to allow our hearts to be open to God and have this kind of close relationship with Him...then because we are always in a peaceful, spirit of prayer, we don't have to worry about 'not missing prayer time!' So the prayer times you do have in your prayer closet, which may be at different times and needn't be planned, will be for those times when God wants you to be alone for studying His written word...praying about something specifically...worship...or whatever...but it will be what you and God wants it to be.

 

What Will You Say?

Will It Be...

Or YES?

 

1 Corinthians 7:23 God paid a high price for you, so don't be enslaved again by what the world does.

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We said YES to Him when we called out to God for salvation...now the evidence of His entrance into our lives naturally comes after that...so, now we just follow His lead?What do you say? 

 

 

 

 

YES!?! ~ So then, what is it that grows more and more out of an authentic Christian? OH, I know! We naturally listen and obey Christ's command...you know, because we are so happy to do whatever He wants!!!...or maybe our mind says, I DON'T LIKE THE WORD OBEY!!...and THE WORD COMMAND either!! ((BIG sigh))

 

 

 

 

Hmmm...BUT then why would those words scare us?? When the God who loves US and knows EVERYTHING is the One commanding!?! However, maybe He saved us for another reason???? Hmmm...To create a church that would enforce our idea of a moral society...or perhaps to form another special interest group and  stand up for our rights??? ?

 

 

 

 

 

Hmmm...Did He save us so we could enjoy life and send money to the missionaries so they could do the work...or make prayer shawls for Christian charitable organizations?  Hmmm...

 

 

 

 

 Well, maybe we are supposed to rally together and make laws that keep certain sinners from choosing how to live! (Yeah! That'll show 'um!) Perhaps we ARE supposed to learn and understand the most important doctrines and mysteries of God so we can finally know how to please Him? ? 

 

 

 

 

Or did Jesus save us so we could become more like Him, so we serve when there is a need? Or, maybe so we could be more happy, successful and prosperous?

 

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1 Cor. 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

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Col. 2:2 I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.

 

 

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So, why did God call us into the Christian life? To be really nice and friendly people with big grins on our face all the time? Or people that are authentic and truly treat others with the same care we would care about ourselves. Or maybe our purpose is to be a part of a body of believers that are glad and ready to help whenever another part of the body is in need? Well, those all sound good, but I think we have to spend our time now that we're saved, to focus on trying real hard to keep sin out of our lives!??

 

 

NAH!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I KNOW why He saved us!!! It's all about His grace...and I mean, it is ALL because of grace that I have complete access to Jesus now ~ the King of Kings!! Halleluia! Perhaps the completely new person I am inside will naturally grow when I do just one simple thing ~ fix my attention on my Savior ~ then take His words and HIS ways in the Gospel AS my example! It is right then that I have accepted His yoke upon me!!...that yoke that is easy and light! Wow! Think of it! I can actually walk and talk with Him...the God of the universe...and learn from Him. AMAZING! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

1 Peter 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 John 2:6 Those who say they live in God must live their lives as Jesus did.

  


 

 Hmmm...Well!!! Was it so we could get holy, healed and relish in being abundantly blessed? OR, perhaps it's so we could warn people of God's wrath and form a group that only accepts those God deems truly worthy of being in church? You know...us regular sinners who only gossip, quarrel and secretly lust - not those extreme ones who are homosexual!

 

 

Mark 2:17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to callthe righteous, but sinners."

 

 

 

OR maybe our purpose is to say YES to the call God has placed on each one of us - to show the mighty love of Christ as God gives us opportunity each day, so others can be drawn to Him and be saved too? BUT, doesn't the grace we have now free us to do nothing?But, that would be boring...and it sure would not be truly satisfying!

  

Galatians 5:13
For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

 

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Matthew 22: 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. ~ Love God and your neighbor as you love yourself.

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So, what will you say when God calls you?

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James 1:20 For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

 

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Eph. 5:2 Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

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Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

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* I found this video on my friend's blog - http://mountaintopmemories.blogspot.com/  She is a wonderful servant of God...please also go on over and visit her inspiring  blog when you get the chance!!

 

Guest Author For This Post: Maria Rachinskaya from Russia

“However when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Luke 18:8

As for me it’s probably one of the most stunning questions that Jesus has ever asked. The Lord, the Creator came to His people and became one of them, some of the most devoted ones were with Him during three years listening every His word and learning from Him… and after that He wondered if people believe in Him, if there is the faith on the earth.

Let’s imagine… what if He decided to just come again to us to find the faith among people as He went down to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:21). What would He find?

I thought about my country, people around me, my church and me. How would we receive Him? Unfortunately, I started to realize that an idea of near God involved to the lives of His beloved people is hard to be understood in Russia. For a long time Russian thinking has been affected by Orthodoxy.

 

As the world goes a huge part of Russian people consider themselves being orthodox while prevailing part of them confine themselves to knowing some religious ceremonies and celebrating Christian feasts according to worldly traditions.

 No doubts there are a lot of sincerely believers among the orthodox people but I would like to give some thoughts about the influence on those who don’t want to come closer to God. What do people learn from Orthodoxy? There are great amount of the Saints who are believed to be intermediary between people and God. It may seem that God is too busy for taking care about His sons and daughters and too independent, emotionally distant from His people.

 

 

 

  In Russian people‘s mind God is he to whom you would go only in the exceptional case. Many rites need to be followed if you have troubles. It probably doesn’t concern people’s hearts, there is no need to cooperate with Him: do what you are said and wait for the improvements in your life. This leads those who sincerely come to the Lord are far from identification themselves as “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9).

 

 

 

God seems to do not deal with the ordinary people as you and me, only the priests can dare to come nearer to Him. There is another side of such understanding. Once you want to be closer to God you decided to deserve His attention, try to earn His grace. It’s still difficult to me as well to refuse an idea of earning His love by self- righteousness.

 

 

 

 Being a protestant I can sometimes observe the following idea in believers around me and in me as well: no matter how hard you try, you can do your best… however you will still feel ashamed before the Lord, you won’t feel forgiven and beloved by God because you don’t really realize that God desires relationships with you to death, He is not passive and in Christ He became near.

 

At the moment I would like to reflect on this: why after Christ’s death and resurrection, after Him being one of us, as close to us as He can be, after all that He did, He is still so distant? May be there is really no faith in our hearts? For a lot of Russian people God is either too busy or too angry at people. In both cases He is practically inaccessible.

 

If He decided to become person again, if we saw Him in the flesh would we realize that He is near? that He doesn’t need our services? that He loves us with all His heart? would we answer His Love with all our passion, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength (Mark 12:30)?

 

When the Son of Man comes to my country, to my church, to my family, to me… what will He find?

 

  You can find +Мария Рачинская on Goggle

 

SALT & LIGHT

Are you SALT and LIGHT

         to the world?

 Are you salt and light? When I say this I am not saying...and what I know the bible is not saying...is to be salt in someone's wound or a blinding light in someone's eyes so they can't see. No.

 

Being salt preserves the truth by living it ourselves...but also by living it, salt makes others thirsty for what we have.

 

 

Being light means we are not walking in darkness (Gal. 5:19-21)...and so when we are light (Gal. 5:22-26)  it draws people to the Lord and His goodness. Also, when we are with people, the life we are living in the light will naturally challenge and convict them...it will naturally expose what is in their lives...without a word from us. That is, IF we are walking in the light ourselves.  

 

 

Ephesians 5:11 "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them to the light. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

Wake up, O sleeper,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you."

 

Please click on following link... 

                                                            http://www.jimfeeney.org/Christianwitnesswitnessing.html