TAKE IT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER

I find that it is easier to pray if I have an organized way of doing it.  I found an article in POWER (a monthly paper published by Southaven Church of Christ) by John Tracy who suggests using the days of the week to pray for specific issues:  

Sunday - pray for the Saints; fellow Christians, church leaders, your local congregation, and the church universal. 

Monday - Missionaries; pray for missionaries, evangelism, and the lost (by name). 

Tuesday - Pray for Teachers; Bible class teachers, the department heads, and the education department in general. 

Wednesday - Washington; pray for the civil government at all levels.  Pray for  world-wide peace so that the gospel might be spread. 

Thursday - Thanksgiving; make this a day to thank God for all of your material and spiritual blessings.  

Friday - Family; pray for your family, friends, and relatives. 

Saturday - Shut-ins and sick; pray for the shut-ins, elderly, and chronically ill; also remember the poor, the afflicted, and those that mourn.  He also suggests having a prayer list that lists people (by name); church programs, etc. for which you want to pray because it is easy to forget if you don't have something to jog your memory. 

The system I have used for years--since high school actually--is very similar except that I use my hand for a guide:  

Your thumb is the closest to your body, so pray for those close to you -- friends, relatives, etc. (James 5:16).  

Your first finger, also known as "pointer" serves to remind you to pray for the Bible teachers, preachers, and elders (Matthew 9:38). 

Your second finger is the tallest so pray for those in high places -- president, governor, etc. (I Timothy 2:2). 

Now, your third finger, as anyone who took typing (guess that should read 'keyboarding'...showing my age. LOL) will know, is your weakest, so pray for  those who are weak -- whether it be physically or spiritually (James 5:13-15). 

Your  pinky is your last finger, so it can serve to remind you to pray for yourself and your own individual needs (Philippians 4:6). 

And of course, your hand as a whole can remind you to pray for all men (I Timothy 2:1).  

Now there are other ways of praying, obviously; the idea is to find one that suits you, set aside regular times to pray, and just do it.  If we, as Christians, ask in faith (Hebrews 11:6), with reverence and humility (Matthew 6:15), God will hear and answer our prayers.  Prayer is our privilege, and we should always be ready to commune with God (II Thessalonians 5:17).  What other friend or relative do we have that will always be there ready to listen and able to help?

                                     --Beckye Mosher

A HELPFUL PRAYER

If any little word of mine

may make a life the brighter,

If any little song of mine

may make a heart be lighter,

God help me speak the little word, 

and take my little bit of singing.

And drop it in some lovely vale

to set the echoes ringing,

If any little love of mine

may make a life the sweeter,

If any little care of mine

may make other lives completer,

If any life of mine

may ease the burden of another,

God give me love and care and strength

 to help my toiling brother.

Author Unknown

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Prayer is the one weapon the enemy cannot duplicate or counterfeit.

A SAD FUNERAL

     This is an article I wrote in the '90's. Since then we have lost many dear friends and loved ones, some who were Christians and unfortunately, some who were not.

     A SAD FUNERAL

     All funerals are sad; no one wants to lose someone you love or to see others lose someone they care about.  Mark and I have lost several friends, but so far not too many relatives.   I guess the closest ones I've lost were my grandmother last May and my nephew, James, in August 1989.   And although both funerals were sad occasions, my grandmother's was definitely the saddest.  My nephew was only five months old when he died--he had been in intensive critical care hooked up to machines since birth.   There is no doubt that as much as he was wanted here, he went on to a much better place.   He is now safe and free of pain.  

   My grandmother, however, was not a Christian.   Her funeral was hard because there really was not a lot you could say for comfort.   Funerals are for the living and that is who the preacher speaks to.   The speaker (a minister of the church) at my grandmother's funeral said that he did not know her and therefore, could not judge her, but her fate was sealed and she has gone on to the next realm--it is too late to change her destiny, but what about those she left behind?   It is not too late for us to change our way of living if need be.

            We have probably all lost friends and loved ones, both Christians and non-Christians and it is too late for them--but it is not too late for us or for our friends and family that we still have with us.   We were not expecting my grandmother to die when she did--especially that suddenly, but it just goes to show that none of us know how much time we have left, and we need to make the most of it.   I don't want to attend any more funerals devoid of hope--and I don't want to be responsible for letting my friends and family die lost.   How about you?   We may not be able to save everyone, but we can sure teach them.  It is something for which we will be held accountable (I Timothy 4:16).

--Beckye Mosher

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THREE THINGS THAT DO NOT

 COME BACK

Remember, three things come not back:

The arrow sent upon its track--

It will not swerve, it will not stay

Its speed, it flies to wound or slay;

The spoken word, so soon forgot

By thee, but it has perished not;

In other hearts 'tis living still,

And doing work for good or ill;

And the lost opportunity

That cometh back no more to thee--

In vain thou weepest, in vain doest yearn.

These three will nevermore return.

--Author Unknown