n0klu's Rants

  Mar 1, 2022 at 12:19 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     God Save You God Save You "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."       Isaiah 9:2 Scripture Focus: Matthew1:18-25 "God save you" was the greeting Fred gave to his Uncle Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Although Scrooge did not receive it well, Fred's cheerful message drew Scrooge's attention away from his work.   Joseph also received a greeting to address his greatest concern at the time-how would he handle Mary's pregnancy? As he pondered what to do, the Lord spoke to him in a dream. The right words at the right time proved to be a "God save you" greeting that changed Joseph's course of action. He trusted the Lord and continued with God's wonderful plan. That greeting made a huge difference in the lives of both Mary and Joseph.   How easy it is to focus on all the holiday preparations. The decorating, shopping,

  Feb 28, 2022 at 1:55 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Gift of Prayer, Pt. 2 Gift of Prayer, Pt. 2 "Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel."       Genesis 35:15 Scripture Focus: Genesis 35:9-15 One part of coming to know someone better is through conversation. What a gift it is to be able to communicate with a person, and in so doing grow closer together. Prayer is like that. When prayer becomes the breathing in and out of the moments of your day, you know Jesus better.   "Thank you for prayer, for it reminds us that we are a part of each other's lives, bearing one another's burdens and edifying each other.   "Thank you for prayer as it helps us to see the good in the lives of others and so humbles us that we may esteem others better than ourselves.   "Thank you for prayer that allows us to know you are sovereign and have control over the details of our lives, that you even count the number of hairs on our heads. No one but you knows us tha

  Feb 22, 2022 at 12:01 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Gift of Prayer, Pt. 1 Gift of Prayer, Pt. 1 "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."     Hebrews 4:16   Scripture Focus:   Do you remember the famous photo of President John F. Kennedy working in the Oval Office as his two-year-old son played under his desk? It gave the idea that "John-John" had constant access to his daddy, no matter how important a man his father was. Magnify that thought: You and I have constant access in prayer to the God of the Universe! "Eternal God, so high above us that we cannot comprehend you, and yet so deep within us that we cannot escape from you, make yourself real to us in our very heart of hearts. It is in this inner place that we carry out our own conversation with ourselves every day. It is also here that we talk to you, Lord, in prayer. "We thank you, Father, for prayer itse

  Feb 21, 2022 at 1:36 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     When the Answer Is "No" When the Answer Is "No" "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission."       Hebrews 5:7 Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Hebrews records that our perfect, righteous Savior prayed pleadingly. And the answer from His heavenly Father was "No." He was heard but did not get a "Yes." If you've prayed for someone's disease to be healed, for some dear couple to have a baby, for a prodigal child to return to the Lord, but instead wept to see that God's answer simply was "No," then you're familiar with the agony of Jesus' heart.  "God is not deaf to our cries, pleading, and longing. But, sometimes, for reasons that we may not understand, His good purpose is to say no" (Melissa

  Feb 18, 2022 at 12:4 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Jesus Prayed Jesus Prayed "After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you."       John 17:1 Scripture Focus: Mark 1:35-39 The Bible records Jesus praying 25 different times during His earthly ministry, and certainly He prayed many more times than that. The Son of God Himself needed to pray? You'd think since He and the Father are one (John 10:30) that He wouldn't need to set aside time to pray. But Jesus seemed to need time with God just as much as we do.   In His humanity and in relationship to His Father, Jesus became like a child wanting to be with the one he loves. He was dependent on His Father (John 5:19). He invites us to do life the very same way, remembering that apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).   "Our heavenly Father, we thank you for the atoning death of Jesus that paid the penalty for our sins, although th

  Feb 17, 2022 at 1:37 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Praying Out Loud Praying Out Loud "I, go about your altar, LORD, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds."       Psalm 26:6-7 Scripture Focus: Luke 18:9-14 It's a privilege to offer up our silent prayers at any time. But praying aloud is something you may want to do also. It's not a rule; it's just another way to be real in prayer. Speaking your words out loud may keep you from getting lost in your own thoughts.   Jesus never wanted prayer to become a showy thing. He tells the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18 about two men who both were praying out loud. He goes on to encourage us to pray in privacy, alone. Pray this prayer aloud today:   "Spirit of the living God, walk through our lives and minister to our personal needs. We ourselves hardly know the secret motives of our own lives, and we are so busy we seldom meet them face to face. Enter into the inward, p