Sunday, July 18, 2010

PRAYER REQUESTS for THIS WEEK

*photo source worshipmoments.com

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.".......(Matt 18:20).

This is an interactive blog based on a comment and response system. PLEASE WRITE YOUR PRAYER, PRAYER REQUEST, PRAISE, THANKS in the place that would normally read comments after the most recent post but here it will read "PRAYERS LIFTED TO THE THRONE of GOD."

We'd love to see your prayer requests, praises to God, in this comment area and others will be supporting you through their prayers written as a response to your comment there. Be sure to come back and see the prayers lifting you & yours together to the LORD!

SHARE PRAYER REQUESTS HERE
Yours or
for Others
in the regular comment section that we call
"Prayers lifted to the Throne of God"

SO
THEN

SHARE PRAYERS for THESE REQUESTS
in the comment section also where it reads
"PRAYERS LIFTED TO THE THRONE of GOD"

Let's see how this works. If it fills up, we'll start again or we may try Linky Tools - Prayer Requests, but it does not seem to offer this interaction.

Ephesians 6:18


Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

To that end keep alert with all perseverance,

making supplication for all the saints,...


REMEMBER
to PRAY every FRIDAY

with


with Angela @ Free Spirit Haven
and other intercessory hearts


Wednesday, July 14, 2010

TOPIC 4 TODAY: GRIEF or LOSS

*sorry, this is late but I just got internet service back again, and slowly catching up but needed to share on a topic for me for this week again (it's easier that way)...

GRIEF or LOSS
Need for Comfort
(of course, from the one & only
Holy Comforter)


Now the point of (formerly)(TUESDAY'S) TOPIC 4 Today is to change any of these verses or combination into a PRAYER for yourself or someone else.
(No names are necessary).

The first week the topic was STRESS, ANXIETY, WORRY that we laid down, in exchange for HIS PEACE & TRUST in HIM (it was a S.W.A.P.)
If you'd like to pray about any of those, you can GO THERE.
Then last time, the topic was ANGER. So you can go HERE for that one... both of these posts give oodles of great scriptures that we need to turn into PRAYER. That's the intent of this BLOG: to PRAY!!! Lift our hearts in one accord to the Throne of God!

Each week, we hope to share different topics & verses to turn into prayers...
we would like you to SWAP "whatever it is " for what God desires to change or replace that "whatever" with HIS "BEST EVER".

Maybe you don't need to pray about the topic but if the spirit impresses upon you, perhaps you will lead by leaving a prayer for someone else who may be struggling in that area. You can always be anonymous. God knows and HE is the only One who truly matters.

Here are verses from God's Word (the Bible) to help with comfort for grief, loss & sadness (I don't know how sites can copyright the sharing of Bible verses to help others, but they do, so though these may duplicate what some have shared, I did my own list, not copied)(geez, this is like school):

Of course there are many Psalms but the best is all of PSALM 23, particularly verse 4. Others include: Psalm 73:26; Psalm 9:9 or 18:2; Psalm 119:50

Here are more given by Encouraging Bible Verses (which has many other great categories as well to encourage you)
I feel why duplicate their great work!


Psalm 27:4-5; Psalm 30:5; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 37:39; Psalm 46:1-2;
Psalm 48:14; Psalm 55:22; Psalm 71:20-21; Psalm 138:7

Since Isaiah is one of my favorite books, I also have the following verses from there (as the above lists them also and other good ones):


New International Version (©1984)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.




And most certainly the Bible verse I chose for my regular blog; Isaiah 61 (particularly verses 2 & 3)
...to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair....


Then from the New Testament:

Revelation 21:4

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18


Brothers (and sisters) we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.


2 Corinthians 1:3-4


Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.


1 Peter 5:6-7


"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.7Cast all your anxiety on Him because HE cares for you."


And of course, the important two from Matthew...


Matthew 11:28 and the one of the be-attitudes Matthew 5:4 (respectively):


"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."


"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."


Jesus knows OUR LOSS, as with his friend Lazarus, as Mary & Martha also knew and then Jesus' own mother, Mary, who knew this pain, this grief, this unbearable sorrow...


If you need more verses for COMFORT in GRIEF or LOSS or SADNESS, please visit the site above ENCOURAGING BIBLE VERSES or maybe FOCUS ON THE FAMILY COUNSELING can guide you or point you in the right direction or for an article, you can try (because I did not have much success in getting it) 15 Comforting Bible Verses for Grief by Josh Wiley (but it sounds great)


BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO CHANGE THIS WORD INTO YOUR PRAYER or A PRAYER FOR ANOTHER YOU MAY KNOW DEALING WITH A LOSS or better said, not able to cope & deal with the grief and the loss of a loved one...


I know, I've been there before and I'm still dealing with a recent loss (on my blog) of a very special friend from the end of last year, that is why these verses are so clear today... I needed them. I needed to identify with how his mother must feel today... as Mary with Jesus... on the day that she gave birth to her son. I needed to have words to encourage her in her pain today... and mine.


So let's not give the enemy an edge to defeat us any longer, WE ARE victorious through Jesus Christ and He wants to give us (S.W.A.P) His peace, His Comfort, His Hope for all eternity by living life to the fullest in honor of those we love!!!


"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18


NOW LET US PRAY for ONE ANOTHER


Please refrain from comments but use this for PRAYERS or changing a scripture for anyone that may need your prayers, because sometimes the words just don't come to us when our hearts are heavy and we need someone else. ***

[That's the role of the Holy Spirit, living inside each one of us, who knows Jesus as Our Lord & Savior (if you don't yet or perhaps have wandered away or closed that door in anger at God, it's TIME to come back and PRAY once more to receive Him... click HERE and allow them to walk you through this and lead you in this PRAYER)]


***Actually, that's why Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to remain with us...so call on the Holy Spirit to fill you and speak for you... if you need prayer, you are more than welcome to leave your prayer request (if you can, it's preferred as a prayer also).


Added note: grief or sense of loss is for more than just the loss of a loved one as in death, passing from this life into a better life with God eternally. We can pray together about any of these losses or griefs. I'm sorry if I was leaning towards only one... we all need prayer as we grieve any loss.



Some helpful sites on GRIEF:


Recover from Grief


Helpguide.org


Cancersurvivors.org


Open to Hope


Surviving Suicide


and of course, there are many books on the topic of GRIEF like Coping with Grief but we highly recommend God's WORD!!!

Monday, July 5, 2010

TOPIC 4 TODAY: ANGER

ANGER
You may express anger in many different ways.

Do you get grumpy, irritated or angry? If you have an anger problem, you may express it by screaming, engaging in physical violence or showing other signs of rage and fury. Or you may show it in less obvious ways—through bitterness, grumpiness, frustration, impatience, criticism, irritation, sarcasm, self-pity, depression or a cold silence—whether you are a Christian or not a Christian.

Regardless of how you express your anger, you know how destructive it can be. Your spouse and children may be afraid of you. People on the job may avoid you. Promotions may be denied. Your anger hurts others, but it also hurts you—spiritually and physically. Most importantly, the Bible tells us that it grieves God.

There is HOPE! You can overcome ANGER! With God's help, you can break free from the grip of anger.
Here's some resource helps I've chosen:


"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
Psalm 103:8 (KJV)

"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night,
but joy cometh in the morning"
Psalm 30:5 (KJV)

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

"A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel."
Proverbs 15:18 (NIV)

"Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city."
Proverbs 16:32 (NIV)

"The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression."
Proverbs 19:11 (NKJV)

"The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life."
Proverbs 20:2 (NKJV)

"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools"
Ecclesiastes 7:9 (NKJV)

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"
Ephesians 4:31 (KJV)

"In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry"
Ephesian 4:26 (NIV)

1 Corinthians 13:5 (30 kb)

Bible Verses on Anger

Leviticus 19:17-18

Nehemiah 9:17

Psalm 7:11; Psalm 4:4; *Psalm 30:5; Psalm 37:8; Psalm 103:8 Psalm 145: 8-9

Proverbs 14:17; *Proverbs 15:18; *Proverbs 16:32; Proverbs 17:14-15; *Proverbs 19:11; *Proverbs 20:3; Proverbs 21:19; Proverbs 22:24-25; Proverbs 29:22; Proverbs 30:33

Ecclesiastes 7:9*

Matthew 5:22; Matthew 21:12-14

Mark 3:1-2, 5

Romans 12:19-21

Colossians 3:7-9; Colossians 3:21

Ephesians 4:25-27*; Ephesians 4:31*-32

James 1: 17-20

2 Timothy 2:23-24

I guess BIBLE VERSES on ANGER MANAGEMENT would be better. And of course, verses on PEACE and PATIENCE also go along with this for the fruit we need to replace the anger.

For ANGER MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, here is one resource I found at All About Life Challenges

To overcome anger, these steps are important:

  • Consciously determine to be calm. Don't react, think! Remember your goals and respond appropriately. Choose to remain calm!
  • Communicate. When someone upsets you, tell them. Calmly talk to them about how you feel about their words or actions. Learn to express yourself better -- clear and composed. Choose to!
  • Remove yourself from the scene until you can respond without anger. Your success will not happen overnight. Take it one step at a time, one day at a time. Remember to relax. Relaxation exercises or music can be helpful. Keep in mind you can reach out to someone you trust for help. Choose to!
  • Frequently take time for yourself. Do something you enjoy like walking in the park, swimming, reading the Bible, or seeing a feel-good movie. Do something nice for someone you admire. It's okay to feel good about yourself. Choose to!
  • Look for the positives. Don't dwell on the negatives. "Don't sweat the small stuff." Learn to be forgiving. This is difficult, but we need to start by learning to forgive ourselves
And I would like to add write out the Bible verses above on ANGER, even memorize them. But read them often, in the morning or at night until it sinks in. Change the verses into prayers and PRAY often to see the victory over anger and resolve conflicts in peace...Jesus' peace.

*CONFLICT RESOLUTION is what I needed and chose many times to run away, rather than invest time in resolving the conflict(s). Without resolution, conflicts stir up many other problems and also have a bad effect on one's health. We must learn to resolve our conflicts peacefully through God's direction and help. We must surrender our will and our powerlessness to God alone to show us His way to deal and make healthy choices.

Wisdom, peace, patience and sensibility are the fruit of controlling our anger and temper. When anger rises within us and we let it control our actions, the results are helplessness, trouble, bad consequences, impatience and arguments.

Anger is a natural emotion and the Bible often speaks of God’s “righteous” anger. Like all emotions, anger needs to be controlled and used, not the other way around.

Anger can be a barrier to our relationship with God, too!

“So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.” (Matt. 5: 23,24)


Now the point of (formerly)TUESDAY'S TOPIC 4 Today is to change any of these verses or combination into a PRAYER for yourself or someone else. (No names are necessary).

Last week the topic was STRESS, ANXIETY, WORRY that we laid down, in exchange for HIS PEACE & TRUST in HIM (it was a S.W.A.P.) If you'd like to pray about those, you can GO THERE.

Each week, we hope to share different topics & verses to turn into prayers...we would like you to SWAP "whatever it is " for what God desires to change. Maybe you don't need to pray about the topic but if the spirit impresses upon you, perhaps you will lead by leaving a prayer for someone else who may be struggling in that area.

[You can pray for me on this one... and that I may discover the root of this anger, forgive if necessary and move forward in God's grace & forgiveness] Thank you!


Thursday, July 1, 2010

PRAYER REQUESTS for this WEEK

*photo source worshipmoments.com

"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.".......(Matt 18:20).

This is an interactive blog based on a comment and response system. PLEASE WRITE YOUR PRAYER, PRAYER REQUEST, PRAISE, THANKS in the place that would normally read comments after the most recent post but here it will read "PRAYERS LIFTED TO THE THRONE of GOD."

We'd love to see your prayer requests, praises to God, in this comment area and others will be supporting you through their prayers written as a response to your comment there. Be sure to come back and see the prayers lifting you & yours together to the LORD!

SHARE PRAYER REQUESTS HERE
Yours or
for Others
in the regular comment section that we call
"Prayers lifted to the Throne of God"

SO
THEN

SHARE PRAYERS for THESE REQUESTS
in the comment section also where it reads
"PRAYERS LIFTED TO THE THRONE of GOD"

Let's see how this works. If it fills up, we'll start again or we may try Linky Tools - Prayer Requests, but it does not seem to offer this interaction.

Ephesians 6:18


Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,...


Please remember to PRAYER for the Gulf State Area in our Sunday post


and

each Friday with Angela @ Free Spirit Haven
this past Friday, we shared here in



It's Time to Pray


TheDanielPrayer_Meme_5

PRAYER for Our Nation

This was shared in an email from the Presidential Prayer Team:

Declaration of Independence Signer

Samuel Chase
George Washington (1732-1799), 1st President of the United States

"Almighty God: We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy Holy protection; and Thou wilt incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government; and to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." --

This prayer of George Washington appears in St. Paul's Chapel in New York City.

To read MORE go here with Presidential Prayer Team