Hi Jessica!..I do believe we are getting together on 3/6. I haven't posted in a bit myself...I have been studying a good deal though!I am planning on blogging a new entry tonite. Thank you so much for your feedback!

A Highly Recommended Book on Prayer

Hello! I hope everyone is making it through our snowy weekend okay. I am excited to blog a little today because I am excited to pass on the title of a book that I highly recommend. I know Jessica had been asking about a book on prayer, and I had said that most of them I have read have often hindered more than helped me. But today, this particular book was brought back into my memory. It is a fantastic book. Here are a couple of excerpts from the Preface:

"Therefore, with a sincere desire for your own salvation, seek nothing from this book except the love of God. With such expectation you shall assuredly obtain that love."

"Oh, if only once we could be convinced of God's goodness towards His children and of His desire to reveal Himself to them! We would no longer seek our own selfish desires. We would not be so quickly discouraged from pursuing what He is so longing to give us."

"This little book, conceived in great simplicity, wa not written to be published. I wrote it for a few individuals who desired to love God with all their hearts. But because of the profit they received from reading the manuscript, many asked to obtain their own personal copy. It was because of these requests that this little book was commited to the press."

"This book, therefore, lights the way to the desirablility, the pleasure, the advantages and the ease of these two matters: prayer and piety."

Here are a few excerps from Chapter 1 Titled: From the Shallows To the Depths

"Once the Lord spoke and said, 'I counsel you to buy from me gold tried in the fire that you may be rich.' (Rev.3:18) Dear reader, there is gold available to you . This gold is much more easily obtained than you could ever imagine. It is available to you. The purpose of this book is to launch you into this exploration and into this discovery.

I give you an invitation: If you are thirsty, come to the living waters. Do not waste your precious time digging wells that have no water in them. (John 7:37)

You who are poor, come.

You who are afflicted, come.

You who are weighted down with your load of wretchedness and your load of pain, come. You will be comforted!

You who are sick and need a physician, come. Don't hesitate because you have diseases. Come to your Lord and show Him all your diseases, and they will be healed!

Come!"

The name of this book is, "Experiencing the The Depths of Jesus Christ." The author is Jeanne Guyon. She wrote it in about 1685. I don't know whether anyone else wants to buy this book, or I could just post quotes from it like I have done above. Either way, but let me know if you want me to post more of her writings here...

Hope you are having a good weekend!

Living the Good Life

I am going out for the day, but this was in my heart this morning, and so will write this quick blog to get it written down. Because I am in a hurry, I am not able to write out the scripture verses for the moment. When I have time, I will edit this and fill in the scripture quotes. I think a key in dealing with difficult people is in realizing that we have been given a great gift, and if it were not for God giving it to us, we would be no better off than those who are in the world without Him and without hope (Ephesians 2:12). The reason we can maintain our peace when people treat us wrongly is that we have a God who cares for us deeply. They do not have that, and so they fight and strive in hopes of getting their own way, making others "respect" them, and try to exalt themselves. All of this is selfish, of course; but since they are without God's love and peace, they have only themselves to rely on. We however have all they are looking for. It is God's gift to us. We have the promise of an unimaginable inheritance. We have the promises of God which He lays out for us to discover in His Word. We are beloved children of the God who created the very universe (Eph. 1:3-6). We can know the very mind of the Father because of His Sweet Spirit who comes to live with us and let us in on the secrets of God (I Cor. 2:9-12). And we can know that God is for us, not against us and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31-39). We have good reason to be happy! They have good reason to be unhappy because they are missing out. Unhappy people treat other people badly. The sad thing is, they don't know the answers to their dilemma unless someone can show them. They are in darkness and don't understand what makes them stumble That is our part. There is no guarantee that they will receive it; but they might. Praying for them that the blindness that keeps them from seeing the Truth is important (II Cor. 4:1-6.)

On Prayer

Hi again Jessica. That book from Gloria Copeland looks like it will be really good! I was talking with your dad today, and thinking about books on prayer, and actually I do have one I think would be good. It is by Lynne Hammond, called, The Master is Calling. I have hesitated to recommend a book on prayer because for me, sometimes reading those books have hindered more than helped me. I was going through parts of Lynne's book, and found that that is what has happened to others too. She writes, " I remember one woman said to me, 'You know, when I first began my relationship with the Lord, I had the most wonderful times in prayer. I would just talk to God so easily and we would fellowship and enjoy each other. But after a while I got some teaching. I started learning how to regiment my prayer life and put all the different kinds of prayer in little boxes so everything could be all neat and tidy. When I did that, I lost the joy of communion with God and I began to pray less and less. Finally, I just decided to go back to that relationship I had with Him in the beginning.'

I would not want that to happen for you either. Sometimes we get caught up in how to pray, and it becomes more "mechanical" rather than a sharing of our heart with God. But on the other hand, there are things to learn about prayer. Who wants to pray and pray and get no answers? That is no fun.

These are good questions that you have, and I am enjoying the process of examining my own walk with God when I go to answer your questions! God can not be put into a box. But I know that what is most important is what is in your heart. He responds to the cries of our hearts.

On Dealing With People

Jessica, I just wanted to let you know that I published another entry today, but for some reason to find it you need to scroll down. It was entered below the last two blogs I posted. It is titled, "Dealing With People". It is the one that I told you about that I had saved as a draft. Joey showed me how to get it out of draft form. Have a good day!

Figuring out the blog

Hi Jessica...I know what you mean about having troubles with the blog. I just spent 1 and 1/2 hours blogging about how to deal with harsh people, and I saved it as a draft, and now I can not figure out how to get it out of the draft and into the blog! lol....Plus, I just accidentally discovered how to read your comments! This is a learning experience for sure. I haven't talked with your dad in while, but I did call that store where you can get used but restored computers. They don't have any laptops in right now but you can get put on an email list so they will notify you when they do get some in. They do have a lot of desktops though at prices that depend on what is on the computer I guess. I saw some for 131.00. That is not bad. I am sure it is for the cpu and monitor. I will check again. I know he prefers a laptop. I don't know if Grandma has checked the blog out yet either. I will have to check with her. In the meantime the two of us can plug along and figure it out...lol...

I will consider the different books on prayer that I have and let you know if I think one is particularly good. In the meantime maybe some of the others have suggestions. There are different types of prayer...such as prayers of intercession (which are on the behalf of others), prayers of commitment, and so forth. Mostly though, prayer is simply sharing what is in your heart with God. He want you to talk to Him just as you do a friend. If you are angry, tell Him. If you are happy, tell Him that too. Ask Him things. Let Him know you appreciate Him. Jesus gave us what we call, The Lord's Prayer as a pattern. It starts with acknowledging God as Father and giving him praise. Then we are to remember who He is by acknowledging His Name...."I AM"..He is whatever you are in need of. If you need encouragement, help, wisdom etc., He is able! He is the I AM. (Hallowed by thy name.) Then we pray for His will to be done in our lives, in our friends lives, in our country, in the world etc. Whatever is on your heart. We think about what His will is. For His goodness to be known, for us to know Him better, for people to get healed, for needs to be met..just like in heaven (thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven). We can pray for our needs to be met (give us this day our daily bread). This can be material things we need or spiritual insights and strength. We take time to forgive whoever has done us wrong by recognizing that God has forgiven us and thank Him for His forgiveness (forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors). We ask for His guidance to keep us from falling into bad circumstances that might pull us away from Him and things like that (lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil). And then we again turn our focus onto Him and His ability to answer our prayers, His faithfulness, and on how great He is (the glory and the power is His forever. Amen).

Another fantastic way to pray is to pray the scriptures. Paul wrote some of the prayers he prayed, and they are really good for us to pray them to. They are found in:

Ephesians 1:17-22
Ephesians 3:14-21
Philippians 1:9-11
Colossians 1:9-14
II Thess. 1:11,12

These are really powerful prayers given to us by the Holy Ghost. Make them personal For example:
Ephesians 1:17....Father, please give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I can have greater knowledge of You. Let me know exactly what you have called me to do and help me understand the richness of the glory of what I am called to.

I would encourage you to look them up in your Bible, highlight them, and pray them for yourself and others.

Have a great day!

Dealing With People

At our meeting the question came up concerning how to deal with people that are antagonistic and harsh toward us. I feel like that issue was only partially dealt with, and of course there is always room for gaining a better understanding and being more firmly grounded in God's Word and will for us. This issue of dealing with people who treat us harshly is something we all experience. Jesus certainly did, and the scriptures tell us that He left us an example to follow.

Romans 12:17-21 Recompense to no man evil for evil. If it is possible, as much as it is in your power to do, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, do not avenge yourself, but give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy hungers, feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Heaping coals of fire on his head might sound like revenge. lol You might think, "That sounds exactly like what I want to do!" Remember that fire is a type of the Holy Spirit and judgment. God purifies by fire (we are baptized in the Holy Spirit and Fire). When you do good to your enemy, the Holy Spirit can use your humble dependancy on Him to purify your soul from selfish motives as well as convict the other person.)

I Peter 2:12 says...."whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men." So many people do not know the goodness of God. He wants them to know His loving kindness and patience. Then they can be changed by His love, just as we are! He has shown us His love, and we are to show it to others.)
The Message Bible sheds some light on this too. It reads: Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody. Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it." Our scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

The Books of I and II Peter are written to Christians that were undergoing terrible persecution and is full of exhortations for people in difficult circumstances. It is quite common for the letters to the Churches to begin with encouraging words, reminding the people of the great things God has done for us, and the inheritance we have from Him.

This is important because the way we can overcome evil, rather than being overcome by it, is to keep our focus on how much God loves us, and how much He has done for us. It is easier to endure evil treatment over which we have no control when we know that we have a hiding place, a refuge, a comforter. I Peter 1:4 tells us we are given an "inheritance that cannot be corrupted that is reserved in heaven for us." This is so important in helping us deal with the harshness of life. This brings the balance when we read scriptures that tell us not to repay evil for evil. Instead of focusing on the harsh behavior of others, or the bad circumstances we find ourselves in, we need to focus on and magnify what God has done for us.

Sometimes when bad circumstances come our way, we might have the tendency to think that God does not care about us. How can He allow us to be treated so badly? But we must understand that we are living in a world that is harsh and corrupt, and Jesus was no stranger to it. We have two choices:

1) Fight back, be harsh ourselves and defend ourselves. This leaves us with ourselves to depend upon, to be our own savior. We might feel satisfied for a moment that we will not allow ourselves to be treated badly, but in the end, there is no redemption of the situation unto peace between us and God. We have just shown Him that we don't need Him.

2) Continue to do good and speak kindly. In order to do this, you must be totally dependant upon God and trust Him. You must know that He loves you. In I Peter 2 it is written: "...there is no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you are treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God. This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it step by step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost with no idea of who you were or where you were going. Now you are named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your soul.

No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless - that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. "Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here is what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you're worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he's asked;
But He turns his back on those who do evil things.

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.

Hebrews 12:1-4 is really good too. It says: Seeing we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesess, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us, and run with patience the race that is set berfore us, Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds. You have not yet resisted unto blood in striving against sin.
Here we have it again. Consider what Jesus put up with. We haven't shed blood over our struggles...lol..People may be rude or unkind to us, but they have not shoved thornes into our heads! :-)

Part 2 on the bapatism of the Holy Spirit

Here are more scriptures referencing the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, or scriptures with specific regard to speaking in tongues. I hope this is helpful. I would also like to note that we should recognize that we do not receive a "thing" or "it", but we are receiving the Holy Ghost, just as we received Jesus as our Savior. Tongues is just one manifestation and gift of the Holy Ghost. My next post will be scriptures telling us about the Holy Ghost. Who or what is the Holy Ghost? What is the personality of the Holy Ghost like?

Acts 19:2-6 He (Paul) said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the LORD Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities - takes hold together with is in our inability to produce results: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because he makes intercession for the saints according to God's will.

Jude 20,21 But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

ICorinthians 14:2,4 He that speaks in an tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man understands; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries. He that speaks in an tongue edifies himself.


The entire chapter 14 of ICorinthians is devoted to the subject of speaking in tongues. Many in the Church at Corinth were carried away with this gift and were using it inappropriately, so Paul was writing to them to straighten it out. The operations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant to be functioning in the Church. Tongues is just one of the gifts, and can and should be used in a persons private prayer time. When it is functioning in a church setting, it should be accompanied by the interpretation so that everyone can be edified. The other gifts are listed in chapter 12 verses 8-10. These should be functioning in a healthy church as well. In chapter 13 Paul reminds the members of the Corinthian church that the most important thing, however, is that whatever is done within the church needs to be done with love. The people at Corinth were caught up in the excitement of these supernatural gifts, and it seems that they thought they were pretty special because they could operate in these gifts. But Paul reminds them that the gifts are for the building of the body and that without love, all else is worthless. Just as when we give a gift to someone it is an expression of our love for them, these gifts are expressions of God's love for us. It is our privilege to receive these gifts just as we receive His love.

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Martha Stewart has a saying she uses when she really likes an idea. She says, "It's a good thing." Being baptized in the Holy Spirit is a good thing for all believers in Jesus. Scripture tells us that it is something that we need. Here are scripture verses that tell about being baptized in the Holy Spirit:

John 1:31-33 This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore I am come baptizing with water. And John bare record saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.

Jesus Himself (as a man) needed the Holy Spirit, so how much more do we need Him. John recognized Jesus as the one who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit and he came to know that because he saw the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus and remain on Him. The Holy Spirit working in us can cause others to recognize that we are God's children and His witnesses.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall batize you with the Holy Ghost and fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

I like how The Message Bible puts these verses: . . .He will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He's going to clean house - make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.

Jesus called the Holy Spirit, "the Comforter" (John 14:16,26; 15:26; and 16:7) This word is parakletos, which literally means, "called to one's side, i.e., to one's aid. It was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defence, and an advocate.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

Acts 8:14-18 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

What did Simon "see?" What did he witness that told him that these believers had received the Holy Spirit? Remember that in Acts 2, the people saw the disciples speaking in other tongues.

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus that appeared unto you in the way as you came has sent me that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

While it does not say specifically here that Paul "spoke in other tongues, we know he did. In I Corinthians 14 verse 18 Paul says, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all." Chapter 14 of I Corinthians teaches a great deal about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including tongues. We will cover that a little later. For now it is good to establish the scriptures that show that tongues is scriptural and is needed in our lives.

Acts 10:44-46 While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.

Peter and those that came with him were Jews, and at this point the Jewish people did not know that God would save Gentiles as well as Jews. They were astonished to find this out. Also, in some of the verses covered here, the Holy Spirit came to believers through other believers laying hands on people and praying for them. In this account, no one had laid hands on the people, but the Holy Spirit fell on them anyway. If it would be a help to you, we certainly can pray and lay hands on you. Again, the purpose here is to show that tongues is scriptural.

There is more to be said on this subject, but for now it is a good start I think. It is late so I am going to log off. I look forward to hearing from you.