Tommy, I Miss You

Dear Tom,

You passed from this life on October 22, 2011. I can’t help but remember that today would have been your 51st birthday. It’s been almost 6 months since you left this earth, but I still think of you a lot and miss you. I am thankful that you were a part of my life. You were not only a great brother, but you became a wonderful friend to me during the last year and half of your life. I sure am thankful too that I was on that 14 page prayer list of yours that we found out about after your death. There is probably no telling how many times I was uplifted, encouraged or kept from danger because of your prayers.

I am sad on one hand, because I miss being able to talk to you and share times together, but I rejoice also, because I know you were ready to meet the Lord, and you are now in His loving hands! One day, we will be reunited with you in the presence of the Lord, and what a glorious time that will be!!! Looking forward to seeing you again in God’s time.

Your loving sister,

‘lynnie

 

The Habit

“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” Corrie ten Boom

 

Do you have the habit? I am talking of course, about the habit of prayer. Over the years, I have heard it stressed through many different preachers the importance of having a regular prayer time. When we were at West Coast Conference in November, Elder Morton was talking about the importance of having a regular time and place where you pray daily. He mentioned that when you start doing this, after a while that time of prayer will call to you. I have found that to be so. I like to pray in the morning because at that time, I am generally the most alert. I find that most of the time, I just wake up on my own without the aid of an alarm clock when it’s about time to pray. Actually, I know it is the Lord helping me to wake up, so I can keep that special appointment.

 

Sometimes we will have days where our prayer time may be interrupted by something unexpected, and we may not be able to keep our special appointment, but that should be the exception and not the norm.

Do you have a habit of brushing your teeth or showering daily? Have you ever had to go for a day or two or longer without being able to do one of these? I have, and it felt downright nasty especially not to be able to shower. It felt so good when I could finally get back into that habit again.

Do you feel grimy in your spirit if you start missing your prayer time? Does it seem you lose your temper more quickly or are more easily agitated or worse yet don’t feel like reading your Bible or going to church? Those are sure signs that we need to pray.

May God help us to continually cultivate this most important habit of prayer!

 

It’s About A Relationship

God dropped a thought in my mind this morning as I was thinking about prayer. When Jesus’ disciples had asked Him to teach them how to pray, these are the first words that came out of His mouth.

Matthew 6:9

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 

Those 2 words, “Our Father” just seemed to jump out of this verse. “Father” signifies a relationship. The first thing that makes a father a father, is the fact that he has a child or children. I thought about the attributes of a good father.

A good father will………………

provide for your needs

sometimes indulge your wants

listen when you come to him with your cares

will offer helpful advice to you

wants to help comfort you when you’re hurting

delights to share in your joys

is firm, but loving at the same time

 

Although asking is a part of prayer, there is so much more to it than that. God as our Heavenly Father wants to hear of our joys, hear of our struggles, comfort us when we’re hurting and will give us the best advice in the world through His Word, if we will just listen. May we seek to cultivate that special relationship with God, our Father.