Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. This was my nightly prayer as a young child. It was also the prayer of my children, on their knees at bedside. God loves honestly simple prayer. HE cherishes prayer spoken from the heart, in your own words, in your own style. Most of all, HE loves to hear your voice.

We recently held a small prayer service for those involved in the Charleston Church shooting. A family moved to the front of the sanctuary in the shadow of the cross, knelt with their arms around each other and prayed. Dad began, then Mom, and finally the young child. Each of them raising their voices to the creator of all that is, pouring the contents of their heart into the ear of the LORD. I later learned that this family prayer included forgiveness and the hope of salvation for the disturbed shooter.

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:15

Prayer helps us to learn how to be unselfish. How to share. How to care for others and be sincere in their well being and station with Jesus. It is through HIM that we have opportunity to come before our FATHER, to have audience, to be in HIS Holy presence by prayer. Prayer is a big deal! Prayer is the very language of GOD.

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. Acts 1:14

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. This was my nightly prayer as a young child. It was also the prayer of my children, on their knees at bedside. God loves honestly simple prayer. HE cherishes prayer spoken from the heart, in your own words, in your own style. Most of all, HE loves to hear your voice.

We recently held a small prayer service for those involved in the Charleston Church shooting. A family moved to the front of the sanctuary in the shadow of the cross, knelt with their arms around each other and prayed. Dad began, then Mom, and finally the young child. Each of them raising their voices to the creator of all that is, pouring the contents of their heart into the ear of the LORD. I later learned that this family prayer included forgiveness and the hope of salvation for the disturbed shooter.

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:15

Prayer helps us to learn how to be unselfish. How to share. How to care for others and be sincere in their well being and station with Jesus. It is through HIM that we have opportunity to come before our FATHER, to have audience, to be in HIS Holy presence by prayer. Prayer is a big deal! Prayer is the very language of GOD.

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. Acts 1:14

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him.
Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone. [Lamentations 3:25-33]

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.
Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him.
Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.
For no one is cast off
by the Lord forever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone. [Lamentations 3:25-33]

WHERE IS YOUR GOD-SPOT?

Do you have a God-spot? A place that is outside of the house? Somewhere where you can be all alone, and feel the breath of God on your face? That special location. Just you, the sky, the air and Him, no distractions?

I just returned from mine. Its a picnic table down by the boat ramp. On a good day, I can sit there and talk to God for hours. Once in a great while I can hear that whisper, that quiet voice from deep inside, like a deep thought. I believe it is the Holy Spirit, counseling, helping me to see through His eyes, His way, His will. Most of the time, the conversation is one-way. Or so it would seem.

In my heart, I truly believe that he hears each and every word. He knows my heart and knows in an instant if I am hedging in my conversation. Although I realize that all words I perceive from Him come from deep within me, I know that it is He and His indwelling Spirit who guides these expressions of my conscience, that familiar inner voice. Oh the many, many situations that have been resolved during these special dialogs !!

Several weeks ago, while at the God-spot, my heart was fairly troubled. I was calling on Him for His guidance and help. Before long, it was as if I was figuring out the solutions to my issues, all by myself! Not so. I can do nothing by myself. It was the very spirit of the living God who provided the solutions, or at the very least, uncovered them so that I could clearly see the path.

No sooner had this epiphany taken place, just as my eyes looked out over the waters of the bay, three pods of dolphins swam by first from the West to the East, then returned moving from East to West. Each of the pods had one baby swimming aside the mother, and another adult trailed slightly on the opposite side. Three pods of three. I do so Love the way He works.

Jesus had to get away to His God-spots. A place where He and the Father could talk candidly, where He could open His heart to him as any child would to his Father.

If you don't have a God-spot, what an opportunity of the Spirit you are missing. I recommend this highly. Doesn’t have to be fancy, just private. Just enough room for you and God to have a good talk. A place to share your special secrets with Him. To get your Spirit recharged. I can promise, you will not regret the meeting.

May His Blessings continue to be the Light by which your eyes may see, Amen.

Brother Gary

WHERE IS YOUR GOD-SPOT?

Do you have a God-spot? A place that is outside of the house? Somewhere where you can be all alone, and feel the breath of God on your face? That special location. Just you, the sky, the air and Him, no distractions?

I just returned from mine. Its a picnic table down by the boat ramp. On a good day, I can sit there and talk to God for hours. Once in a great while I can hear that whisper, that quiet voice from deep inside, like a deep thought. I believe it is the Holy Spirit, counseling, helping me to see through His eyes, His way, His will. Most of the time, the conversation is one-way. Or so it would seem.

In my heart, I truly believe that he hears each and every word. He knows my heart and knows in an instant if I am hedging in my conversation. Although I realize that all words I perceive from Him come from deep within me, I know that it is He and His indwelling Spirit who guides these expressions of my conscience, that familiar inner voice. Oh the many, many situations that have been resolved during these special dialogs !!

Several weeks ago, while at the God-spot, my heart was fairly troubled. I was calling on Him for His guidance and help. Before long, it was as if I was figuring out the solutions to my issues, all by myself! Not so. I can do nothing by myself. It was the very spirit of the living God who provided the solutions, or at the very least, uncovered them so that I could clearly see the path.

No sooner had this epiphany taken place, just as my eyes looked out over the waters of the bay, three pods of dolphins swam by first from the West to the East, then returned moving from East to West. Each of the pods had one baby swimming aside the mother, and another adult trailed slightly on the opposite side. Three pods of three. I do so Love the way He works.

Jesus had to get away to His God-spots. A place where He and the Father could talk candidly, where He could open His heart to him as any child would to his Father.

If you don't have a God-spot, what an opportunity of the Spirit you are missing. I recommend this highly. Doesn’t have to be fancy, just private. Just enough room for you and God to have a good talk. A place to share your special secrets with Him. To get your Spirit recharged. I can promise, you will not regret the meeting.

May His Blessings continue to be the Light by which your eyes may see, Amen.

Brother Gary

WHERE DO I BEGIN?

“Where do I begin”, I asked Him. “Do I start over there? Is down there the start? How about up on that distant hill? Is that where I might find the beginning?”

He said to me, “Look down at your feet. See how firmly they are planted? Now, look to the left and after you have observed all that there is to see then look to the right and do the same.” His instruction continued; “Without moving your feet, turn your head and body just enough to see what is behind you. When you have observed all that there is to see, look straight ahead and repeat. Where your feet are in relation to what is seen on the left, and on the right, and behind you and in front of you, that is where the beginning resides.”

“Your journey may now begin by taking your first forward moving step. Each step always moving forward, pausing when necessary, but never moving backwards. Each and every step now becomes a simple update to the last.” Trust in Him, enjoy the journey. You have now begun.