Dean Martin could really belt it out, “I’m praying for the rain in California so the grapes can grow, and they can make more wine.” If that was this year, you could be led to believe Dean had access to God. However, even though Dean sang that song, we have no record of his praying.

This is what happens when you are in the will of God and you pray.

James 5:17-18

 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.  Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

God doesn’t just arbitrarily answer prayer, but when we pray according to His will, get out the umbrella.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Genesis 4 is the account of two groups of people, i.e., those who call upon God and those who don’t, individuals who make God an integral part of their lives and those who don’t.  Notice you can leave God out and still become successful in life. However, God acknowledges those who call.

Genesis 4:26

To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

Like the advertisement states, “Make that call.”

Give it some thought.

Gary

“therefore I despise myself,
    and repent in dust and ashes.”

Now who would make a statement like that? One who believed in God wholeheartedly. One who said he would never speak evil of God. One who was tormented by his ignorant friends who were actually enemies. One whose wife told him to curse God and die. One who had lost his children, wealth and health.

He had finally come to that reality because of the revelation that he was nothing and God was everything. God was in complete control of events and he was not. God had given him much, taken it away, then returned it more abundantly.

Job 42:6

therefore I despise myself,
    and repent in dust and ashes.”

What does it take to come to that conclusion?

Give it some thought.

Gary

Stephen Grellet (1772 –1855) was a prominent French-American Quaker missionary. Here is a tremendous quote from him.

“We shall pass this way on Earth but once.  If there is any kindness we can show, or good act we can do, let us do it now, for we will never pass this way again.”

John Wesley was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. This is his quote:

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”

God’s Word:

1 Timothy 5:10

having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.

Give it some thought and go out there and do it.

Gary

WHAT MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME

Unknown Author

My mother taught me RELIGION: When I spilled grape juice on the carpet, she instructed, “You’d  better pray the stain will come out of the carpet.”

My mother taught me LOGIC: From her decisive words, “Because I said so, that’s why.”

My mother taught me FORESIGHT: “Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

My mother taught me IRONY: “Keep laughing, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”

My mother taught me about STAMINA: “You’ll sit there ’til all that spinach is finished.”

My mother taught me about WEATHER: “It looks as if a tornado swept through your room.”

My mother taught me THE CIRCLE OF LIFE: “I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”

My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION: “Stop acting like your father!”

My mother taught me about ENVY: “There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have a wonderful Mom like you do!”

THANKS, MOM!

Proverbs 31:27

“She is vigilant over the activities of her household; she doesn’t eat the food of laziness.”

Proverbs 31:26-27

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Give it some thought.

Gary

What is prayer? It is simply talking to God. There are many circumstances that bring about prayer. The Bible records the account of the first man in his fallen state talking to God. Adam said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

Let me put that in the new and improved Gardner translation. “I’ve made a mess of things, and I thought it best to stay as far from you as possible.” Many of us have the same problem. We allow sin to distance us from communing with God. In actuality, sin should drive us to God and not away from Him because God has a remedy.

Genesis 3:21

And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

Colossians 1:20

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Talk to God. He’ll give you a way out.

Think about it.

Gary

Lisa, a young woman, was out driving in her native Brooklyn when her car died at a red light. Try as she might, she was unable to restart the engine. Soon, a long line began to form behind her.

A male driver, immediately behind her, was particularly impatient, honking his horn continuously.

Finally, Lisa got out, went to the driver behind and said: “I can’t seem to get my car started. Would you see if you can get it started for me? Don’t worry – I’ll stay here and honk the horn for you!”

We, as human beings, are sometimes confronted by individuals who don’t understand the situation we’re in. They are only concerned about their own little world and wear their blinders when out in public. Other people’s problems are not theirs and are only a nuisance, hindering their own progress.

It should not be that way with us who believe:

Philippians 2:4 

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

Galatians 6:2 

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Give it some thought.

Gary