Praying Or Fainting?

"The devil would continually have us crossing streams that do not exist."

The above quote caught me off guard a few Wednesday evenings ago as I sat in church halfheartedly listening to the sermon. As I realized the truth of it, I was startled to also realize that I have been "crossing streams" that have not existed....every day of my life. 

I get discouraged. I get frustrated. At times I even wonder why I do any of the things I do. Lately I've wondered "WHY do I even pray?".

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a certain widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man,; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?  -Luke 18:1-8

As I read this parable, it stood out in a way it never has before. I had never done what God says and "heard" what the unjust judge said. When I did, I realized several things.When I do not pray, when I'm crossing those imaginary streams, and building a fake thunderstorm inside myself, I....faint. I simply cannot handle it. However, when I pray, trusting in God, having faith in Him, He gives grace, strength, peace, and an answer. I also realized that I shouldn't just pray when I wake up in the morning and maybe before I fall asleep at night. I'm supposed to pray continually....all the time.

The next thing I noticed was one of God's wonderful promises. "...he will avenge them speedily..." God WILL hear ME. And He will hear me speedily. How wonderful!

The last thing I saw was, I need faith. The question is asked, "shall he find faith on the earth?". We're told in the Bible that the prayer of faith shall save the sick; that without faith it is impossible to please God. I know my faith is weak. When I look at these verses, I can only cry out humbly to God, and like the man in the New Testament, ask, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. "

Hope the parable is encouraging to you, as it is to me!

Granola Recipe

I recently found a delicious granola recipe and had a lot of fun making it. So I thought I would share it :-).

Granola

Stir together in a large mixing bowl:

10 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup coconut flakes

1 cup wheat germ

Place in a saucepan and heat just until warmed:

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups safflower oil

1/2 cup pure maple syrup*

3/4 cup honey

1/2 tsp. strawberry flavoring

1 1/2 tsp vanilla flavoring

1/4 cup water

Pour liquid mixture over grains and mix with a heavy spoon until combined.

Place granola mixture onto large baking sheets or into a roaster pan. Layer 1 inch thick and bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.

Remove from baking sheet and place immediately into a large container. Repeat baking granola until all the granola has been baked and trnasferred into a container. Leave container open to cool completely.

Add into granola mixture**:

1/2 cup banana chips

1 cup chopped dates

1/2 cup dried pineapple dices

1/4 cup dried blueberries

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries

1/2 cup dried apple pieces

Stir well to combine all fruits into granola. Cover with a tight lid. Keeps on pantry shelf for 4-6 weeks. Serve with milk or yogurt. 





* I did not add maple syrup. I just used the 3/4 cup honey and it turned out great.

** I used a mixture of dried blueberries, cranberries, cherries, dates, and pineapple.

Hope you enjoy!





Until I Learned

Until I learned to trust,

I never learned to pray;

I never learned to fully trust

'Till sorrows came my way.

Until I felt my weakness,

His strength I never knew--

Nor dreamed 'till I was stricken

That He would see me through.

Who deepest drinks of sorrow,

Drinks deepest, too, of grace;

He sends the storm, so He Himself

Can be our hiding place.

 His heart that seeks our highest good,

Knows well when things annoy;

We would not long for heaven

If earth held only joy.

- Copied

Reasons For Affliction In The Christian Life

On Sunday evening, I had the privilege of hearing a missionary preach at my church. His sermon title was "Responding to Adversity and Affliction in the Christian Life."  What he had to say through God's Word was so encouraging to me. I thought I'd share a few of the notes I took.

So many times when I go through a difficult time, I wonder why I am having to go through that problem. Here are some answers to my question. :-)

Conformity. God brings trials in our life to conform us to Him.  Romans 8:28,29. "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. 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."

Dependence. Trials bring us to a place of dependence upon God. II Corinthians 12:7-10. "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore take I pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

Patience. Trials make us more patient. Romans 5:3 "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;"  James 1:2,3 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."

Ministry. God allows affliction to prepare us to minister to others. II Corinthians 1:3-5. "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."

Restoration. Sometimes God sends us trials to restore us, to 'straighten us out'. Psalm 119:67 "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word."  Psalm 119:71 "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes."

Godliness.  Hebrews 12:6-11. "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore, if we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall not we much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peacable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

Reward.  Suffering will bring us reward. I Peter 1:6,7 "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"

Count Your Blessings

Count Your Blessings

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

Count your blessings,

Name them one by one;

Count your blessings,

See what God hath done.

-Johnson Oatman, Jr. 1856-1926

Today I am especially thankful for salvation, for God's faithfulness, and His mercy.

Do you have any blessings that you would like to share?

A Moment With Him

A Moment With Him

We mutter and sputter,

 We fume and we spurt;

  We mumble and grumble,

Our feelings get hurt;

   We can't understand things,

 Our vision grows dim,

 When all we need is

  A moment with Him!

                                        - Author Unknown

I Corinthians 1:3-5

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."

These verses encouraged me today. How wonderful it is that we also have comfort through Christ!

Patience

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:" - Romans 5:3,4

I have been thinking a lot recently about this verse. For a long time, I could not understand why in the world I should be happy about trials and hard things in my life. It just didn't make sense. But I finally realized that God's Word isn't saying that I need to be happy, necessarily, about the trials themselves, but that I need to be glad about what those trials will bring me in my spiritual life. I have so little patience. It is comforting and exciting to know that all the things (good and bad) that God brings into my life, are to teach me, to draw me closer to Him, to make me more patient.

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers tempations: Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." - James 1:2-4

 There are hard times so we can learn to have patience. Then, patience will make us 'perfect and entire, wanting nothng.' How wonderful it is to know that the trials in life are not in vain! What a loving God we have, Who cares so much about us that He sends trials our way, so that we may grow! Who am I that God Almighty should think about me like that?

"Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." - Psalm 40:5

What A Wonderful God I Serve!!!

"For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people." -I Samuel 12:22

"But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me:" - Psalm 40:17a

"The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy." - Psalm 147:11

"For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation." - Psalm 149:4

This is one thought that has always amazed me--that God thinks about me, and that he takes pleasure in me!! I cannot understand it, but it makes me want to praise God with all my heart and life.

"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable." - Psalm 145:3

"Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being." - Psalm 146:1,2

"Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you." - I Samuel 12:24

Trust

Trust Him

Trust Him when doubts assail thee,

Trust Him when thy strength is small.

Trust Him when to trust Him

Seems the hardest thing of all.

Trust Him, He is ever faithful,

Trust Him, His will is best.

Trust Him, for thy Father's heart

Is thy surest place for rest.

Trust Him in storm and sunshine,

All thy cares upon Him cast,

Till the term of life is over

And thy trusting days are past.

- Author Unknown

Lately, it seems that I have been having an incredible amount of trouble trusting God. I let the storms of life overwhelm me, and I worry and fret over things of which I have no control. The more I let doubt have its way, the bigger and blacker the storm clouds become, and I find that they cover and obscure the rays of sunshine that really are there. When I'm not trusting in God, my life is miserable. But God is always faithful, and He always gives me what I need. Recently, as I've been reading my Bible, there have been many verses about faith, and trust that have really 'popped out' at me. I am finding that when my focus is where it should be ( on God), and I put my full, complete trust in Him Who is in control of everything, and concentrate on serving and pleasing God today, where I am, that I have so much more joy, and each day is brighter as I seek to serve God better.