“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.” Psalm 61:1-4.
This past week was a tough one for our Burt church family, as we lost our Trustee, member and friend Kent Habeger, who went home to be with the Lord last Monday after a tragic farming accident. Kent was just 50, and his leaving is a huge blow for his dear wife Marti, and his sons Ryan and Mitchell, and the whole Habeger and Noll (Marti's maiden name) families, our church family, the national show cattle family which Kent and his family were a key part of, and our Burt and Kossuth County community.
Thanks to all those who have reached out to help the family with prayers and visits and food and gifts. Keep praying for them in the coming days, weeks and months as they carry on. Our love is a tangible reminder of God's love, because He makes our love possible.
Many of us cried out to God for help when we heard this hard news. I was in Mason City visiting folks at the hospital when it I was called. I cried out to God. Thank God He is a strong tower of refuge. He sends the Holy Spirit to comfort us.
Though Christmas is a wonderful time of year, sometimes it makes our losses seem greater as we remember our departed loved ones. Many folks feel that loneliness and depressionm in this time, missing the ones wo have gone on to be with the Lord. Some might even start wondering if God cares about them. Let them know someone cares, and that God cares.
We are coming to the season of the year with colder temperatures and we don’t get out as much, days grow shorter, we get less sunshine, and it is easy for depression to get hold of many of us. A great number of people who have to deal with these difficult emotions. As Christmas draws near, we should also remind ourselves that the holidays can be difficult for many people. It is a time when they are reminded of the loss of loved ones, and loneliness can grow stronger. We need to remember the promises of our faith.
Jesus loves me, is a simple little song you probably learned many years ago. It is very simple, yet so powerfully profound, that one statement grounds me in the truth of who God says I am. Friends can’t make you feel accepted all the time. Accomplishments will never truly make you feel secure. Having lots of people around you does not mean you won’t ever feel lonely. So, turn to the One who is Everlasting, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel- God with us. Draw close to Him so you can separate solid truth from shifting emotion.
We are dearly loved by God. His love enables us to display compassion, kindness and patience even when we don’t feel like it. Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (NIV)
God is with us. As we cry out to Him, we are reminded of His help, of His deep love for us. And we are reminded that we are to represent His love in our dealings with those He has led us to know.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Cast Your Burdens on the Lord, for He Cares For You!
Psalms 55:22 'Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.'
When the circumstances of life become a burden, we need to take them to the Lord! There is one place we can "cast" our burdens. A place that far exceeds the list above. There is someone who can be the best friend you'll ever have and you can be a part of His family. He is a counselor, who has no equal and He is available and wants to listen -- any time of the day or night. He takes whatever burdens you want to cast upon Him and takes care of them for you.
His name is Jesus. He waits right now for you to call on Him; to cast all of your burdens upon Him. Will you respond? Will you let Him take care of the heaviest burden you have, your sin?
Jesus gave His life so that you do not have to carry your burden. He knows this burden hinders you from having eternal life. He knows your sin burden hinders you from living the abundant life that God created you to live. He knows your sin hinders you from experiencing joy and peace that has no bounds and hinders you from receiving all that God has promised and created you to receive. You just have to ask. in prayer
He promises not to cast you away -- no matter what you have done (see John 6:37). There is nothing you have done, no burden you have, that He can't take care of for you. He cares for you, He loves you. You can call to Him now, right where you are.
In the Bible, God tells us how: "Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). So do it, my friend. Do it!
When the circumstances of life become a burden, we need to take them to the Lord! There is one place we can "cast" our burdens. A place that far exceeds the list above. There is someone who can be the best friend you'll ever have and you can be a part of His family. He is a counselor, who has no equal and He is available and wants to listen -- any time of the day or night. He takes whatever burdens you want to cast upon Him and takes care of them for you.
His name is Jesus. He waits right now for you to call on Him; to cast all of your burdens upon Him. Will you respond? Will you let Him take care of the heaviest burden you have, your sin?
Jesus gave His life so that you do not have to carry your burden. He knows this burden hinders you from having eternal life. He knows your sin burden hinders you from living the abundant life that God created you to live. He knows your sin hinders you from experiencing joy and peace that has no bounds and hinders you from receiving all that God has promised and created you to receive. You just have to ask. in prayer
He promises not to cast you away -- no matter what you have done (see John 6:37). There is nothing you have done, no burden you have, that He can't take care of for you. He cares for you, He loves you. You can call to Him now, right where you are.
In the Bible, God tells us how: "Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). So do it, my friend. Do it!
Is Anyone in Trouble -- Pray for Them!
“Is anyone of you in trouble? He should pray. Is any one happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” James 5:13
When someone is struggling in a difficult situation, we might think that all we can do is pray. I believe in putting feet on those prayers, but so many times I am just as guilty as most in not acting on the nudges God gives us to reach out, visit, call or write someone. But I want to emphasize that we not overlook the importance and power of our offering and following through on prayer. It is truly the best we can do. We can pray. We can storm the gates of heaven on another’s behalf. They need our prayers right now, so just keep praying!
How many times do we idly comment that praying is “all I can do?” This seems to say that our prayers are a last resort, something to do when there is nothing else I can do – no meals I can bring, no Band-Aids I could apply to the hurt, no actions I could take. We need the reminder that praying is not a last resort, it’s a first response. It’s not the action of a powerless, hopeless person whose hands are tied in every other way. It’s the powerful, Heaven-summoning activity of a warrior who doesn’t want to fight alone. Praying isn’t all I can do, it’s the best I can do.
Are you facing a situation right now that you can’t do anything about? Maybe you are watching someone go through something that you can’t help with. Do you wonder what good it will do to pray? Do you despair of anything changing, or of your prayers helping? Have you, like me, shrugged your shoulders and commented that all you have left is prayer- when really your prayers are exactly what is needed?
Let’s focus today on doing what’s best. Let’s get on our knees for ourselves, our family members, our spouses, our children, our neighbors, our friends and our nation. Let’s focus on the power in our prayers. Our intercession, and nothing more, might be exactly what God desires. Let’s not forget that we can offer the most help when we are on our knees. Psalm 50:15, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
When someone is struggling in a difficult situation, we might think that all we can do is pray. I believe in putting feet on those prayers, but so many times I am just as guilty as most in not acting on the nudges God gives us to reach out, visit, call or write someone. But I want to emphasize that we not overlook the importance and power of our offering and following through on prayer. It is truly the best we can do. We can pray. We can storm the gates of heaven on another’s behalf. They need our prayers right now, so just keep praying!
How many times do we idly comment that praying is “all I can do?” This seems to say that our prayers are a last resort, something to do when there is nothing else I can do – no meals I can bring, no Band-Aids I could apply to the hurt, no actions I could take. We need the reminder that praying is not a last resort, it’s a first response. It’s not the action of a powerless, hopeless person whose hands are tied in every other way. It’s the powerful, Heaven-summoning activity of a warrior who doesn’t want to fight alone. Praying isn’t all I can do, it’s the best I can do.
Are you facing a situation right now that you can’t do anything about? Maybe you are watching someone go through something that you can’t help with. Do you wonder what good it will do to pray? Do you despair of anything changing, or of your prayers helping? Have you, like me, shrugged your shoulders and commented that all you have left is prayer- when really your prayers are exactly what is needed?
Let’s focus today on doing what’s best. Let’s get on our knees for ourselves, our family members, our spouses, our children, our neighbors, our friends and our nation. Let’s focus on the power in our prayers. Our intercession, and nothing more, might be exactly what God desires. Let’s not forget that we can offer the most help when we are on our knees. Psalm 50:15, “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
People Get Saved When God's People Pray for Them!
Satan does not want you to pray. He will do anything to keep you from praying!
One of the tricks of Satan is leading us to believe prayer is simply a desirable exercise. Not so! It is an essential exercise, though terribly neglected by believers. In fact, it is more than an area of neglect; prayerlessness is sin. Thus Samuel assured the people of Israel, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.” I Sam. 12:23.
Did you know that there are spiritual battles being waged? I know that you will never win the war if you don't know where the battle is being fought- and we are in a spiritual battle from the moment we're saved. In Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul plainly describes the battle and advises the Christian to put on the whole armor of God. We have been so involved in figuring out the armor that we've neglected to see where the battle is being fought. Therefore, we don't engage in the battle, but spend our time on the fringes doing things that are perhaps good, but are inconsequential as far as eternity and souls are concerned. The first activity mentioned after the armor in Eph. 5:18 is clearly prayer.
Satan does not want you to understand this because you'll never be a threat to him and his cause apart from prayer. Do anything you want to do, and he'll not bother you; begin to pray and he'll put you on his hit list. Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees.
Do you understand the place of prayer? God moves in response to the prayers of His people. Although our finite minds cannot understand “why” at this time, isn't it time that we simply obeyed Him and became involved in the battle? Every believer can begin today to make a tremendous difference in lives and circumstances through prayer.The Scriptures are our aid. Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, (here is the place of Bible study) ask whatever you wish, (and here is the place of prayer) and it will be given you.” John 15:7.
Begin today to pray more consistently. Make a prayer list of concerns in your mind and on your heart. Begin to bring these before the Lord and you will see Him begin to move. He answers prayer! People get saved when God's people pray for them.
One of the tricks of Satan is leading us to believe prayer is simply a desirable exercise. Not so! It is an essential exercise, though terribly neglected by believers. In fact, it is more than an area of neglect; prayerlessness is sin. Thus Samuel assured the people of Israel, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.” I Sam. 12:23.
Did you know that there are spiritual battles being waged? I know that you will never win the war if you don't know where the battle is being fought- and we are in a spiritual battle from the moment we're saved. In Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul plainly describes the battle and advises the Christian to put on the whole armor of God. We have been so involved in figuring out the armor that we've neglected to see where the battle is being fought. Therefore, we don't engage in the battle, but spend our time on the fringes doing things that are perhaps good, but are inconsequential as far as eternity and souls are concerned. The first activity mentioned after the armor in Eph. 5:18 is clearly prayer.
Satan does not want you to understand this because you'll never be a threat to him and his cause apart from prayer. Do anything you want to do, and he'll not bother you; begin to pray and he'll put you on his hit list. Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees.
Do you understand the place of prayer? God moves in response to the prayers of His people. Although our finite minds cannot understand “why” at this time, isn't it time that we simply obeyed Him and became involved in the battle? Every believer can begin today to make a tremendous difference in lives and circumstances through prayer.The Scriptures are our aid. Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, (here is the place of Bible study) ask whatever you wish, (and here is the place of prayer) and it will be given you.” John 15:7.
Begin today to pray more consistently. Make a prayer list of concerns in your mind and on your heart. Begin to bring these before the Lord and you will see Him begin to move. He answers prayer! People get saved when God's people pray for them.
This Is Jesus Checking on You Today!
A minister passing through his churchin the middle of the day, Decided to pause by the altarand see who had come to pray. Just then the back door opened,a man came down the aisle, The minister frowned as he sawthe man hadn't shaved in a while.
His shirt was kind a shabbyand his coat was worn and frayed, the man knelt, he bowed his head,Then rose and walked away. In the days that followed,each noon time came this chap, each time he knelt just for a moment,A lunch pail in his lap.
Well, the minister's suspicions grew,with robbery a main fear, He decided to stop the man and ask him,'What are you doing here?' The old man said, he worked down the road.Lunch was half an hour. Lunchtime was his prayer time,For finding strength and power. 'I stay only moments, see,because the factory is so far away; as I kneel here talking to the Lord,This is kind a what I say:
'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY.'
The minister feeling foolish,told Jim, that was fine. He told the man he was welcomeTo come and pray just anytime. Time to go, Jim smiled, said 'Thanks.'He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar,he'd never done it before. His cold heart melted, warmed with love,and met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed, in his heart,he repeated old Jim's prayer:
'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY'
Past noon one day, the minister noticedthat old Jim hadn't come. As more days passed without Jim,he began to worry some. At the factory, he asked about him,learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried,But he'd given them a thrill.
The week that Jim was with them,Brought changes in the ward. His smiles, a joy contagious.Changed people, were his reward. The head nurse couldn't understandwhy Jim was so glad, when no flowers, calls or cards came,Not a visitor he had.
The minister stayed by his bed,He voiced the nurse's concern: No friends came to show they cared.He had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Jim spokeup and with a winsome smile; 'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,that in here all the while everyday at noon He's here,a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down, takes my hand,Leans over and says to me:'
I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY,AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.
His shirt was kind a shabbyand his coat was worn and frayed, the man knelt, he bowed his head,Then rose and walked away. In the days that followed,each noon time came this chap, each time he knelt just for a moment,A lunch pail in his lap.
Well, the minister's suspicions grew,with robbery a main fear, He decided to stop the man and ask him,'What are you doing here?' The old man said, he worked down the road.Lunch was half an hour. Lunchtime was his prayer time,For finding strength and power. 'I stay only moments, see,because the factory is so far away; as I kneel here talking to the Lord,This is kind a what I say:
'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY.'
The minister feeling foolish,told Jim, that was fine. He told the man he was welcomeTo come and pray just anytime. Time to go, Jim smiled, said 'Thanks.'He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt at the altar,he'd never done it before. His cold heart melted, warmed with love,and met with Jesus there. As the tears flowed, in his heart,he repeated old Jim's prayer:
'I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY'
Past noon one day, the minister noticedthat old Jim hadn't come. As more days passed without Jim,he began to worry some. At the factory, he asked about him,learning he was ill. The hospital staff was worried,But he'd given them a thrill.
The week that Jim was with them,Brought changes in the ward. His smiles, a joy contagious.Changed people, were his reward. The head nurse couldn't understandwhy Jim was so glad, when no flowers, calls or cards came,Not a visitor he had.
The minister stayed by his bed,He voiced the nurse's concern: No friends came to show they cared.He had nowhere to turn. Looking surprised, old Jim spokeup and with a winsome smile; 'the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,that in here all the while everyday at noon He's here,a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down, takes my hand,Leans over and says to me:'
I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY,AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY.
As the Deer Pants for the Water Brooks, So My Soul Longs for You, O God!
Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
(1) Let Us Get hungry for God. Get thirsty for his mercy. Ask the Lord to make you conscious of your need for Him. Ask Him to give you an intense hunger and thirst for righteousness. Ask Him to place within your heart a longing for intimacy with Him, for purity of life, for the salvation of friends and neighbors, for revival in His church, and for the advancement of His kingdom in the world.
(2) Meditate on the spiritual riches God has promised His children. Compare the reality of your spiritual experience with the abundance He offers. If you are not enjoying the fullness of His peace, joy, freedom, and power, let that motivate you to come boldly to His throne of grace to receive all that He has promised.
(3) Welcome pressures and problems as an opportunity to cry out to God. Though my natural instinct is to wish for a life free from pain, trouble, and adversity, I am learning to welcome anything that makes me conscious of my need for Him. The psalmist said, "When I was in distress, I sought the Lord" (Ps. 77:2). And "Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD" (Ps. 130:1; see also Ps. 107:5–6; Jn. 2:1, 7).
Rather than running from, resenting, or resisting problems, learn to embrace them, for they move us to seek the Lord. When we have nowhere else to turn, we will be more likely to turn to Him.
4) Recognize that without Him you can do nothing. I sometimes wonder how much of my work for God will go up in smoke at the Judgment Seat of Christ, because it was done independently of His enabling and power. It was my agenda and my effort, not His. When I walk through my day without expressing my need for Him, without asking for His grace and enabling, I am really saying, "Lord, I can do this without You." All such labor is of the flesh and is less than worthless in terms of eternal or spiritual value.
(5) Remember that spiritual battles cannot be won without divine intervention. In the midst of everyday realities, we so easily forget about the warfare that is going on in the heavenly realm. How often do we tackle life's challenges and demands under our own means-natural wisdom, human effort, man-made programs-rather than in dependence on the power of His Spirit? Ask God to give you eyes of faith to see the real battle; the vision will move you to cry out to Him to exercise His power over the unseen forces of darkness.
May God grant us faith and boldness to approach His throne. For when we do so, we link arms with Omnipotence and become instruments of the fulfillment of His eternal purposes on this earth.
Our prayers that we persistently take to God over and over will bear much fruit. . Miracles tend to happen when there is a desperate need. Folks need to rely on God to meet their needs. Miracles still happen in places where there is a total reliance on God, and the accompanying belief that He will answer.
(1) Let Us Get hungry for God. Get thirsty for his mercy. Ask the Lord to make you conscious of your need for Him. Ask Him to give you an intense hunger and thirst for righteousness. Ask Him to place within your heart a longing for intimacy with Him, for purity of life, for the salvation of friends and neighbors, for revival in His church, and for the advancement of His kingdom in the world.
(2) Meditate on the spiritual riches God has promised His children. Compare the reality of your spiritual experience with the abundance He offers. If you are not enjoying the fullness of His peace, joy, freedom, and power, let that motivate you to come boldly to His throne of grace to receive all that He has promised.
(3) Welcome pressures and problems as an opportunity to cry out to God. Though my natural instinct is to wish for a life free from pain, trouble, and adversity, I am learning to welcome anything that makes me conscious of my need for Him. The psalmist said, "When I was in distress, I sought the Lord" (Ps. 77:2). And "Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD" (Ps. 130:1; see also Ps. 107:5–6; Jn. 2:1, 7).
Rather than running from, resenting, or resisting problems, learn to embrace them, for they move us to seek the Lord. When we have nowhere else to turn, we will be more likely to turn to Him.
4) Recognize that without Him you can do nothing. I sometimes wonder how much of my work for God will go up in smoke at the Judgment Seat of Christ, because it was done independently of His enabling and power. It was my agenda and my effort, not His. When I walk through my day without expressing my need for Him, without asking for His grace and enabling, I am really saying, "Lord, I can do this without You." All such labor is of the flesh and is less than worthless in terms of eternal or spiritual value.
(5) Remember that spiritual battles cannot be won without divine intervention. In the midst of everyday realities, we so easily forget about the warfare that is going on in the heavenly realm. How often do we tackle life's challenges and demands under our own means-natural wisdom, human effort, man-made programs-rather than in dependence on the power of His Spirit? Ask God to give you eyes of faith to see the real battle; the vision will move you to cry out to Him to exercise His power over the unseen forces of darkness.
May God grant us faith and boldness to approach His throne. For when we do so, we link arms with Omnipotence and become instruments of the fulfillment of His eternal purposes on this earth.
Our prayers that we persistently take to God over and over will bear much fruit. . Miracles tend to happen when there is a desperate need. Folks need to rely on God to meet their needs. Miracles still happen in places where there is a total reliance on God, and the accompanying belief that He will answer.
Let God Soften Your Heart and Fertilize Your Roots With His Word
Do you have hard or dry places in your heart today? If so, God wants to soften those areas. He promises in Ezekiel that He will take out the stony, hard heart, and He will replace it with a new heart, a heart that is open to Him. And when you have an open and receptive heart, you are good ground! We need to till that ground and apply fertilizer. Open it up so that the seed of the Word will take root and grow, and it will produce an abundant harvest of blessing in every area of your life!
As we fertilize our spiritual roots, remember that the goal of the palm (or apple) tree is not to produce coconuts (or apples); it is to produce another tree. Our greatest desire should always be to reach out to others in the name of Jesus Christ. The blessings we receive should impel us to share that good news with others, to reach out to the lost and the hurting to bring them in. We are God's welcoming people!
As we fertilize our spiritual roots, remember that the goal of the palm (or apple) tree is not to produce coconuts (or apples); it is to produce another tree. Our greatest desire should always be to reach out to others in the name of Jesus Christ. The blessings we receive should impel us to share that good news with others, to reach out to the lost and the hurting to bring them in. We are God's welcoming people!
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