The day with dianne Louise

But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 HCSB It is interesting that although there are many types of prayer, as in corporate prayer, national prayer etc Jesus spoke about personal prayer. I imagine that the Jews were not used to individual prayer, unless it was learned. As someone who grew up in a catholic household prayer was what we learned at school and church.  There was little room for individual, relational prayer. Jesus demonstrated individual relational prayer. Prayer is talking to God the Father, as the Lord's prayer typifies. Some prefer to pray to Jesus or the Holy Spirit. They are all One, so I'm sure it does not matter. Praise God for Jesus, God made man, who showed us a better way. Amen!

But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 HCSB Prayer is a private interaction with our lover God. He is jealous for our affection and wants it all to Himself. It is also good for us to learn to love the Lord our God with our whole heart. When Jesus walked the earth He would escape to a quiet place to pray. Except for the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the prelude to that time where John writes out His prayers,  the other gospels do not reveal much of what He prayed. However, Jesus told the disciples how to pray when He gave the the Lord's Prayer. Unfortunately we pray it like route, not with the intent it was given. In it are all the ingredients: praise to the Father for all He is, a prayer that His kingdom would come, a prayer for provision, a prayer for forgiveness, and a prayer for deliverance from evil. A good prayer time in the making. Amen!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 If it is one thing Jesus is, He is consistent. Consistency can be trusted. Whilst, at times, we wish for more speed, He is always reliable and never fails.  We fail and we change our minds He doesn't. Praise Him!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 HCSB Jesus does not change with every wind of doctrine that crosses our paths. He is consistent,  just as the Father is consistent.  New things can entice and draw, they can raise our emotions,  but Jesus does not change. It is interesting that this verse comes sandwiched between: remember your leaders, watch their lives and do not be led astray by strange teaching. Jesus is the filler, the stable centre. Today we have many strange doctrines abounding.  Main denominations are splitting because of false doctrine. Parts have been drawn to unclean sexual practices. This is not new. The book of Revelation deals with such churches. In chapter 2:20 Jesus tells the church of Thayatira it tolerates a woman called Jezebel who teaches and deceives his people to commit sexual immorality. The church is told to deal with the woman and the sin. We are the bride of Christ and must live in purity for Him. Amen!

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:21 NLT This morning I stepped through a boundary.  I had recently prayed that I might do more for the homeless, the orphans etc. I went for a walk after breakfast, down where I have not been for a while. There was a small car parked near the council area. It looked filled with personal possessions. I walked by but felt convicted that I had  spare bed and could help. I went to the car and discovered a mature aged woman and asked if she was homeless. She said she was. I invited her home for breakfast, a shower and a room for the duration. She gratefully accepted. It meant my office had to be cleared out and  a single bed installed. I pushed and shoved furniture, carted books and folders to my garage.  I had almost finished by the time the woman returned from visiting our social services office.  Needless to say I have one very grateful boarder. She is able to pay some rent, and now she wants to ...

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:21 NLT This is the last verse of chapter12. It opens with an exhortation to make our lives a living sacrifice, not living as the world lives but for Christ.  We are encouraged to love one another with genuine love, love our enemies and heap burning coals on their heads. Evil is rampant, but love is greater.  We overcome evil by doing good. We do good out of love. Amen!

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT When a whole lot of ingredients are sitting on the kitchen bench, some may not know what on earth could come from them. Only a cook would know, and only a particular  cook would know what to do with them. To the initiated an artichoke would look weird and not palatable. Some mushrooms are weird and uninviting, nori looks weird and only a Japanese person would call it that, or perhaps a Korean would.  The rest of us would say it was seaweed and to the person who has never had sushi it would look unappetizing.  The Lord takes all that happens in our lives and uses them to make us into a person who conquers, creates, and collaborates with Him. He is able to take dirt, and make a man, surely He can take disaster, and make a trophy.amem!