On Prayer

I'm even hesitant to discuss prayer as I have been a slothful, lax, negligent pray-er for most of my 60 years. I've had times of devout praying; I've had years with virtually none.

I've been reading about prayer. Figures...it's always easier to read about something than to actually do it. Nevertheless, I offer the following truths about prayer found in my recent readings.

From E.M. Bounds' important book, Power through Prayer, (how come I haven't read this before now?):
NOTE: This book was written specifically to pastors, so everywhere the words pastor, minister etc. appear I simply substitute Christian, child of God, or believer.

• "The preacher's relationship to God is the insignia and credentials of his ministry. If he does not excel in grace, he does not excel at all. If he does not preach by life, character, and conduct, he does not preach at all."
• Martin Luther's motto was "He that has prayed well has studied well."
• "The preacher must primarily be a man of prayer. In the school of prayer, only the heart can learn to preach. No learning can make up for the failure to pray. No earnestness, no diligence, no study, no gifts will supply its lack."
• "Our laziness after God is our crying sin."
• "No man who is not a man of prayer can do a great and enduring work for God, and no man can be a man of prayer without giving much time to prayer."
• "Public prayers, as a rule, ought to be short and condensed. Our short prayers are effective and efficient because long ones have preceded them. The short, prevailing prayer cannot be prayed by one who has not prevailed with God in a mightier struggle of long continuance."
• "A prayerful ministry is the only ministry that brings the preacher into sympathy with the people. Colleges, knowledge, books, theology, and preaching do not make a preacher, but praying does."

From Elizabeth Elliot's Notes on Prayer: "One way of laying down our lives is by praying for somebody. In prayer I am saying, in effect, 'my life for yours.' My time, my energy, my thought, my concern, my concentration, my faith--here they are, for you. So it is that I participate in the work of Christ. So it is that no work of faith, no labor of love, no smallest prayer is ever lost, but, like the smoke of the incense on the golden altar, rises from the hand of the angel before God."

I do not know who authored the following but I found it in an old tract that belonged to my sister:

He prayeth best who loveth best

All things both great and small;

For the great God who loveth us,

He made and loveth all.

And finally this from The Meaning of Prayer by Harry Emerson Fosdick: "The Eternal God calls us every one by name. He is not the God of mankind in the mass; He is the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob! All great pray-ers have lived in the power of this individual relationship with God. They have said with the Psalmist, 'I will give thanks in the great assembly: I will praise thee among much people.' (Ps.35:18)"

Head knowledge not enough

I have spent most of my life pretending I am intellectual. But the older I get the more I realize that smart isn't enough, in fact, it may be detrimental. I read alot, think alot, pray alot, but still seem to have a never-ending struggle with doing alot. Why is that?

Some would say that head knowledge (you know, scholars, deep thinkers, classically trained debaters, the intelligensia, and ivory-tower braniacs!) are the real deep Christians, the ones who know oodles of doctrine and church history (not that that is bad, it isn't). But when the disciples tried to shoo away the children Jesus reprimanded them and told them that 'of such is the kingdom of heaven' and that if they 'did not become as a little child' then their prospects for kingdom living were dim. Now why did Jesus say that? What about children are we to emulate? Is it their complete and, dare I say, naive faith? Is it that they trust without needing all the details or even fully understanding the claims or demands of the Christian life?

I think that for most of my life I have been hiding behind 'head knowledge' because 'heart knowledge' is what actually causes us to live a life of cross-bearing and self denial. I don't really like the whole idea of lugging painful burdens, like a cross, or of saying 'No!' to self over and over and over. Yet I know that if I want to be a disciple of my dear Lord Jesus then I must everyday deny myself, take up my cross and follow him. I have had some dark times in my life (often of my own making though that never makes the pain any less!) and during those times it has felt like just Jesus and me...and it was enough. He is enough. But we can be praising God everyday for the fact that He has placed us in families and families (even kind of dysfunctional ones) can make our journey so much sweeter and not nearly as frightening.

Since perfect love casts out fear and since God loves me perfectly I have no need to fear Him. He is the Gentle Shepherd that carries those with young in His bosom and tenderly guards His sheep. I have a loving family, but if I didn't, my Shepherd would be enough.

I think heart knowledge is what leads to adoration of our Lord. I think heart knowledge helps us to really live as those who esteem others better than themselves, as those who love their neighbors as themselves, as followers of Christ who deem it a privilege to see in every occurrence 'a chance to die' to self and live to Christ.

Truth is, if I DID even 1/10 of 1% of what I already KNOW to do, I would be very devout and pleasing to the Lord. For those who say there is nothing that we can do to garner God's blessing, I ask, then why is the newer testament full of imperatives for us? There are hundreds and hundreds of things we are to DO, simply because we are told to and because it brings peace to our souls and comfort to those both in and outside the fold.

I'm going to give the gaining of 'heart knowledge' a whirl. I really don't need anymore head knowledge, not at this point anyway. I admit to a certain fear about 'heart knowledge' as I have heard that it can be quite painful and often causes one to spend hours in prayer, days fasting, nights weeping and years toiling with others for the sake of His glorious Name.

Nevertheless, I'm going for it!

Peas in Abundance

I think this might be the very best pea crop I've grown in the past 30 years. This is mostly due to the fact that I have all the room I could possibly want for my garden and, therefore, I planted lots of peas. The thing about this crop is that it takes a lot of pea plants to produce enough to do more than eat them fresh.

So far this year we have picked 16 ice cream pails full of luscious peas. They are indescribable when fresh. The children like to hang out in the garden eating peas as fast as they can pick and shuck them.

Again, as I have said often: It is a blessing to live in America!

Berry Pickin'

Yes, that's a drainer full of luscious strawberries! We went picking at a berry farm south of Northwood. Ooh, la, la! The strawberries were sweet and juicy. I made jam with what was left after fresh eating.

And the 'berry lady' grows June berries. They are worth their weight in gold! We picked and picked and picked. Then we ate some with cream (real cream!) and sugar, just like when I was a kid! Oh, my, surely this shrub grew in the Garden of Eden.

Froze the rest for June berry pies for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Summer...at last!

Well, it sure has been a long time coming, yet we do not complain as the Sovereign Lord oversees all, including the seasons.

Our garden was mostly in before the plenteous rains came...and I MEAN plenteous. It does appear as though some of the tomatoes, peppers and green beans have succumbed to the standing water. I suppose this bodes well for the mosquitoes, also.

The peas are a bit yellowish but otherwise look pretty good. I think absolutely EVERY sunflower seed we put in the garden germinated. Looks like a good year for fall bouquets. I have planted four different kinds of sunflowers, ranging in height from 20 inches to almost 12 feets. The feature colors from deep red, almost rust, to butter yellow. When they have completely matured and the heads are full I have the guys at the Blessed Life Ranch cut the stalks just above the ground, gather them into large 'bouquets' and tie them to metal fence posts right outside our large, double windows in the great room. It provides food, shelter and perches for the many birds of late summer and fall, especially for those spending the winter. I have also dried them upside down in the garage and then stuck them in snowbanks. Again, food, perches and protection.

The first crop of corn is up and looks pretty good, but REALLY it ought to be as high as an elephant's eye by the Fourth. That will never happen this year. The carrots have bravely pushed through the fertile Red River Valley soil, but, again, they ought to be much, much further along.

With about 11,000 sq. ft. of garden to care for, I am kept busy during the summer months. I love just about everything about the project and I can sure see why God started things out in a garden.

As God prospers this little spot of Eden I will be canning, pickling, and freezing.

I appreciated the sermon on Sunday about the scattering of seed and how it falls on various types of soil or non-soil. Almost everything in life can be equated to a garden for all things take weeding, thinning, watering and trimming. That's how it is relationships anyway.

Well, I'm off now to examine further damage in the garden and make plans to fix or ignore what can't be fixed, to plant again or give up on some things for this year.

And still....I am filled with joy and deep gratitude for the pleasure of living, loving, feasting, singing, dancing and laughing in this great country. We are blessed, we are blessed, we are blessed.

Thai Chicken Recipe

I got this recipe from someone very dear to me after having enjoyed her gracious hospitality and this splendid dish. Serve with a green salad and fresh fruit and you have yourself an amazing meal. I have served it repeatedly since our initial delight and it has become a favorite.

2-3 lbs. skinless chicken breasts
olive oil for sauteeing
4 c. unsweetened coconut milk
1-2 T. green curry paste (I use 3 because we love curry!)
1 t. lime zest or 2 Kaffir lime leaves (I use the lime zest.)
1/2 c. chicken broth
2 T. fish sauce
2 T. finely chopped fresh basil (or dried to taste)
2 T. chopped cilantro (or dried to taste)
1 poblan chile (optional)
1 stalk fresh lemon grass (or add another t. zest)
Discard tough outer leaves of lemon grass, mince tender white bulb. Season chicken with salt & pepper and saute; set aside. Deglaze skillet with coconut milk; reduce to about 3 c. (simmer about 15 min.). Add curry paste, simmer 5 min. Add chicken, lime zest, fish sauce and chicken broth; simmer briefly.Add basil, cilantro, chili and simmer 10 mn. Serve over jasmine rice (I use regular white rice.) and garnish with cilantro and chopped green onion.

Sunday Dinner at Grandma's

I love the idea of having dinner at Grandma's every Sunday and I try to make it a reality, but sometimes it just doesn't work out.

I don't have very many memories of meals at my Grandparent's home. I wish I did.

I want my grandchildren to know two things about me:

That Grandma loved God more than her own life and that she loved them more than her own life.

That would probably add up to a life well-lived!

Tips for Practical Christian Living

I had it in mind to go through the entire Newer Testament and write down all the imperatives regarding the Christian walk. I still plan to do that, but I found so many in Matthew alone that the following list is offered. Some have said that there really isn't any list of pratical tips one could use to have a successful Christian life, but I think if one (primarily, ME!) would exercise even one tenth of what we know to be pleasing to our dear Lord Jesus we would exhibit lives worthy of emulation. The Scriptures are full of imperatives and they are not suggestions.

Here's the list with reference and my paraphrase:
Matt. 4:10-Serve and worship God ONLY!
Matt. 4:17-Repent.
Matt. 5:16-Let your light shine...others will witness your good works and give glory to God.
Matt. 5:42-Give generously and do not refuse a borrower.
Matt. 5:44-Love your enemies; pray for your persecutors.
Matt. 5:48-Be perfect.
Matt. 6:3-Give secretly.
Matt. 6:6-Pray secretly.
Matt. 6:7-Long-winded prayers are not heard by God.
Matt. 6:17-Look as though you are NOT fasting when you fast.
Matt. 6:19-Earthly treasures are a waste.
Matt. 6:20-Heavenly treasures are worth obtaining.
Matt. 6:25-Don't worry about your physical life.
Matt. 6:33-Seek God's kingdom and righteousness.
Matt. 6:34-Don't worry about tomorrow.
Matt. 7:1-Do not judge.
Matt. 7:7-Ask, seek and knock...it works!
Matt. 7:12-Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Matt. 8:22-Follow Jesus.
Matt. 9:38-Pray earnestly for soul winners and missionaries.
Matt. 10:28-Do not fear those who can harm to your body; fear what can destroy soul & body.
Matt. 11:28-Come to Jesus and He will give you rest.
Matt. 11:29-Take the yoke Jesus gives you; it will give you rest.
Matt. 15:10-Hear, understand: stuff coming out of your mouth defiles, NOT what goes in.
Matt. 16:24-Deny self, take up your cross and follow Jesus.
Matt. 18:3-Become like children.
Matt. 19:14-Keep the commandments.
Matt. 22:21-Give to the government what is due; give to God what is His.
Matt. 22:37-Love God with absolutely EVERYTHING that is in you...then love your neighbor!
Matt. 25:13-Keep a watch.
Matt. 28:19-As you go about your business make disciples, baptize and teach.

Frost STILL?

I am always taken by surprise by the splendor of Spring. I love the green of the grass and the smell of freshly mown yards is something to dream about. The birds have returned to the Blessed Life Ranch and we have added two to our list of almost 70 species--the Yellow Warbler and the Common Snipe.

Believe it or not it was only 24 degrees this morning. Last night BB covered the few flowers I have planted so far and the radishes had to do the best they could on their own. It is almost the first of June and I am covering up flowers because of frost---this just doesn't seem right.

We had a busy week traveling to Bismarck on Thursday, Devils Lake on Saturday and celebrating Memorial Day on Monday. The visit to Bismarck was to see some dear friends from India and very special friends from 'back home'. It brought back many simply luscious memories from our trip to India in 1997. The visit on Saturday was to see my mom, now 88 and still living on her own. We had a wonderful time together and even found out some interesting details about how she met my dad, the Ellis Island experiences of my grandparents and other snippets from her life.

We've got some of the garden in; we plant about 11,000 square feet. The weeds are doing really well even with it being a bit dry. The radishes are up but the corn, lettuces, spinach, peas and onions are still in hiding; one can't blame them considering this morning's frigid start.

What a blessing though to live in America where, even if the crop fails, we will not go hungry.

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.

Global Warming?

With it being almost the end of May and still I am unable to put in my garden, I have become even more skeptical of all the brouhaha about global warming. It was 22 degrees here in the Red River Valley just two mornings ago. YIKES!

I've been helping my grandson write a speech to persuade and he chose global warming. The furnace kicked in several times while we have been working on this project.

We have discovered some very interesting things. Did you know that almost all, probably ALL by some accounts, of prognostications about global warming are computer-model generated and that none of it is really based on science? (Remember what the scientific method is!) Plus we found some interesting quotes from global warming alarmists, one of which, made by Steven Schneider of NOAA stated clearly that they fudge (a nice word for lie!) the figures, do not admit that they have their own doubts about it all, and purposely offer up scarey scenarios.

Add to that the fact that very little actual data of world temperatures is available; no more than 200 years of recorded temps. Even if you throw in the ice core studies in which they guess about climate conditions millenia ago, you still end up with not much data. Soooooo...how could one scientifically determine that temperatures are on the upswing?

Just the fact that there is a lot of guesswork, not much science, and scarey scenarios being offered up (probably because there are mega bucks tied to it!) one should at least be a bit skeptical.

Me, personally, after this very long winter, exceedingly cold spring and tardy summer I'm not convinced about global warming at all.

Besides, isn't God Sovereign? Rhetorical question.

Thinking about spring

About two weeks ago we had another snow storm. I just finished listening to the evening news and weather and the weather gal said there is a chance of snow in the forecast.

Here's what I say.....BRING ON THE GLOBAL WARMING!

Which brings me to that subject. I'm giving my grandson a little help with his speech to persuade and he has chosen to do it on global warming. I've read quite a bit about the subject now and have a niggeling suspicion that it is nothing but flim-flam, boondoggle, phoney-baloney and the-sky-is-falling.

Check out junkscience.com or read through the books Facts not Fear or The Politically Incorrect Guide to Global Warming.

Any way, what was I saying? O, yah, I'm looking for Spring in spite of the cold weather and I'm still singing and laughing and dancing, albeit with a hooded sweatshirt and gloves!

An Encouraging Word

2 Timothy 4:18 ~ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

I John 5:4 ~ For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

I Cor. 15:57 ~ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Phil. 4:13 ~ I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

These Scriptures give Christians great comfort, especially to those who have long and hard grappled with their sinful nature, have felt as Paul did that the very things they knew they should do, they didn’t and the things they knew to avoid, they found themselves doing. We all have periods of our lives where we wonder why the struggle is so difficult. But we also have times when God makes our feet like hinds’ feet, and He causes us to walk upon the high places.

The victories we have on Earth are a result of Christ and His Spirit dwelling in us. If we believed that Christ was incapable of bringing us victory in this life, if we thought that all our earthly struggles will end in defeat then we would be the most pitiable of people.

John Piper in Why Jesus Came to Die rightly states, “God gives us this power for change through the person of His Holy Spirit. That is why the beauty of ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control’ are called ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:22-23). This is why the Bible can make the amazing promise: ‘Sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace’ (Ro. 6:14).”

These are victory verses! We are not condemned to continual defeat. Someone much smarter than I has said that the Christian walk is a long, slow, steady obedience in the same direction. We will surely have defeats, but Christ gives us the power for amazing victories, even in this life. And as we proceed in the direction of holiness we will experience triumph. We are being sanctified by the grace that God pours down on His children daily.

Paul in his second letter to the church at Corinth wrote, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession.” This does not sound like stoop-shouldered, bowed-down, never-ending defeat. It sounds like continual victory...Christ ALWAYS leads us in a victory parade.

Further in I Cor. 10:13, a verse which by God’s grace has given me many victories, states “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

The Galatians are instructed with these words, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” This is so, therefore, if Christ lives in me how could I live in perpetual defeat? If my body is the very temple of the Holy Spirit of the Living God, would He reside in the state of my continuing defeat?

Paul further tells the church at Galatia, “But I say, walk by the spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” And, “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Additionally, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

And to the Philippians he says, “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Christ Jesus will bring us victory because He is the author and finisher of our faith.

And finally, to the Colossians Paul writes, “We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” These are verses of victory, not defeat; of confidence, not trepidation; of comfort in knowing that through our dear Lord Jesus we can have victory every day of our earthly sojourn and then forever in the glorious Kingdom.

Rejoice!