appointed prayer

week of July 27

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon all your faithful people your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Anna, Isaac, and Haley the Christmas dogSolomon tells us that “a happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing” (Proverbs 17:22, AMP). God undoubtedly has a sense of humor; we need only look at some of the animals He created (it’s hard not to smile at the sight of a hippo, a monkey, or a puppy). Or think of some of the married couples you know: don’t you think God was smiling at the wedding as He looked ahead to the interaction of the wildly different personalities that will be living together?

And as if often the case, medical science is proving the wisdom of Solomon’s Spirit-inspired words.

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posts tagged Bible

help with anger

Saturday, July 8, 2006 · living the life, quick take · no responses · comments closed

This article is targeted toward mothers, but the tips and perspective it offers work equally well for fathers:

  • Be accountable to someone
  • Evaluate your parenting goals
  • Evaluate your expectations of your child
  • Evaluate your expectations of yourself
  • Raise your level of resistance

I especially appreciate the author’s focus on prayer and Scripture:

As I continued reaching out to God, he showed me the seriousness of my sin. After confessing it, I began devouring the Scriptures. I clung to God’s promise in Philippians 1:6 that he always works to perfect us. God’s unconditional, gracious love held me up and moved me forward.

I frequently prayed through Psalm 139:23, 24, asking God to show me any “offensive way” in my life. I clung to the promise in Psalm 46:1 that God is ever-present in trouble. I claimed the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 that no temptation is too big for me to be victorious over. I saturated my mind with God’s Word. As I read and prayed, God showed me things about myself that needed to change. And he led me to new solutions and steps to take with my child.

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are you blind?

Monday, April 17, 2006 · meditations · no responses · comments closed

My father was telling me recently of a friend, a godly man, who had been very sick; after receiving prayer, he had what could only be termed a miraculous recovery. Though the man was happy to be well, he had a crisis of sorts because his theology didn’t allow for God to heal in that way. He turned to Scripture to study healing and concluded that he was a fluke. He was blind to the truth — -or even to the possibility of another perspective…

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above the political fray?

Wednesday, October 5, 2005 · culture, reading · no responses · comments closed

Chri Sumberg, in an essay called “The War on Common Sense” (published in Orion), writes, “why not begin by stating what we already know: The Good Book is not a conservative text. Neither is it a liberal text. It is a spiritual text; and as such it is—or should be—above the political fray.”

Though I doubt I […]

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    DanReflections on a Christ-centered, grace-filled life. Writer and teacher Dan Butcher's blog takes an eclectic approach to faith.
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