God's hand in our prayers (Acts 19:11-20, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, James 5:16)

"He makes His servants flames of fire (Hebrews 1:7)"
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

My husband and I had a funny situation at Church last week.  I love to sing to the Lord.  For me it's the best way to worship.  It's like being in His throne room.  

So we found our seats and waited for the service to start.  When the music started I heard this voice behind me... it was hard to describe.  She was completely off key.  I tried to move forward in my seat but didn't want to fall on the floor and draw attention.  Then the still small voice whispered and I realized her song was the most beautiful voice in the room to God.  I sensed His smile.  He loved her song.  While we seek perfection, Our Heavenly Father? He sees our hearts.  All our songs are symphonies to Him with faith.


Don't know about you, but these verses always give me courage.  I can be very foolish at times.

27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
(1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NKJV) 

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 
When I first read this I was a bit confused.  But if I read this verse correctly.  It wasn't Paul, it was God who worked the miracles.  Paul was being a servant, allowing God's hand to help.  That's what it's like to be a servant.  Asking for the impossible, hoping for a miracle, and then healing comes.  

16 Therefore,confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (James 5:16 NASB77)

I've had some good times in prayer.  At one time, I was on a Christian Forum.  I joined the prayer team.  One day a young man asked me to pray for him so he could pass his finals.  So I prayed that God would relax his mind and bring to mind all he'd learned.  He was so excited when he passed.  He told more kids to ask for prayer for finals.  Being part of miracles is really awesome.  It restores faith.  It wasn't my words that mattered, it was that I was a servant allowing God to do some miracles.

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 
Hmmm...  Someone's putting the cart before the horse here.  First we have to believe Jesus is Lord, the Son of God.  So I'm not sure this will go well...

14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
Ok, so  evil spirits know Jesus.  Yet the Chief Priests and Pharisees had no clue.    It's sort of like saying, "We exorcise you because of the doohickey or thingamajig.  You know like He said."  That's why Jesus is in our hearts, to serve Him, protect those who are vulnerable.  And pray hard.  God is perfectly able to understand what we're trying to say.  It's best not to be too serious, when we pray and sing. 

16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 
So this really didn't go well at all.  It would be so humiliating to run in the streets naked and wounded.  Somewhere along the line, the chief priest forgot his duties.  And no longer listened to God's still small voice.  

17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

(Acts 19:11-20 NKJV)

Happy Valentine's Day (1 Corinthians 13)

Happy Valentine's Day!
One of this year's cards.
2015

It's been so crazy in the News it's hard to tell which end is up! I started making my family and friends Valentines just for fun and to give them a little laugh.  I actually get nice comments and the people I send to seem to appreciate a home made gift.  This year is the ladybug!  Hoping it reminds us all that we will see gardens soon.  It's been cold and snowy in New Jersey lately.  But!  My Governor, Governor Christie is going to run for President.  He would be a great leader.  Has no problem speaking his mind at all : )  We've had a really great Valentine's day this year.  Corinthians (the love chapter) is also written by the Apostle Paul.

Love isn't just a feeling; it's a choice.

1 Corinthians Chapter 13

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love isn't easy all the time is it?  Sometimes I don't feel loving at all.  Confessing to the Lord helps.  The stuff going on in the world is hard to hear about.  I see Ukraine in the News and my heart breaks.  But I love them, I can't imagine what they're going through.  They can't even have a simple Valentine's Day.  I'll keep praying.  Maybe it's times like this that makes it all the more important to just thank God for all that is right, and wonderful.
 
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Paul is telling us  love isn't just a nice feeling.  It's a decision.  It's not proud or obnoxious bragging all the time.  It's simple, quiet and patient.  Sometimes marriage is a huge challenge.  Men and women just don't think the same.  I'm so glad and so frustrated.  It's all good.
 
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
God's love will never ever fail.  It's lasted through everything good, holy and wrong.  He is our Master, Teacher, Friend, Counsellor, God.  Jesus showed us His image.
 
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
God has more in mind than we can fathom!  What a glorious day is coming for us!  We can only imagine now.
 
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love
(1 Corinthians 13:1-13 NKJV)
Love is the greatest and the most challenging.  Thank You Father for love.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I lift up Ukraine to You.  I pray You will bring peace.  Please comfort these people Lord.  Bless them with good things.  Help the middle east find it's way to stop all the craziness.  Please bless the nations with good things.  Restore the joy of our salvation and renew a right spirit within.

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
10 Set the world right;
Do what's best––
  as above, so below.
11 Keep us alive with three square meals.
12 Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
13 Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
  Yes. Yes. Yes.
(Matthew 6:9-13 Message)
 
In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen   

God's Valentines (1 Corinthians 13)

"Valentine's Day Roses from my hubby : )"

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  I was hoping to post on my blog sooner this week, but it was very crazy around here.  We got more and more and even more snow!  New Jersey looks like Alaska or Siberia now.  It's all stacked up outside so we're hoping there won't be a tidal wave when it melts.  May need one of those arks...  

My husband's roses seem better each year : )  So lovely in winter.  I'm looking forward to shooting photos outside again but these are very fun too.  When I think of Valentine's Day I always remember the "Love Chapter" in Corinthians.  After reading Hebrews and all that God has done for us, this year it dawned on me that we are His Valentines (hopefully) sharing His love in a fallen, sometimes frightening world.  He's given us the Bible so we can know Him and share how much He loves us.  He doesn't want us to go out and pretend to be holier than everyone, pushing and shoving the gospel, just real and kind.  Listeners who care, who love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self- seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
(NIV)

It's all so humbling.  There are so many temptations with Mother-in-Laws and world leaders.  Those who love to gossip and lie.  The only way out for me, is taking time to pray for those who drive me crazy, acknowledge God knows how things should go and lay it at His feet.  Confessing my sins so He can forgive me.  Then His joy comes back and I can serve Him once again.

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
(2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV)

I need to say a prayer for our Church.  We've been without a Pastor for awhile now and really need some good leadership.  The congregation is very kind and compassionate.  The organist also leads the music which is taxing I'm sure.

Dear Heavenly Father, I lift up our Church to You and pray You will bring a good Pastor to lead us.  Someone who believes in the Bible and will pray with us.  I pray for the music ministry that it will bring hope and healing to those who are hurting.  Let Your Spirit guide us so we can be Valentines sharing Your love with others.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

I've been out shoveling snow almost everyday for awhile now!  So grateful my husband has a good job.  I'm pretty sure I'll look much younger after all of this hahaha.

Here's a beautiful song by "Unspoken," Lift my life up, "Unspoken" (link)