Prayer is one of the greatest gifts that we can give to God

Ps141:2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of
my hands as the evening offering. Eph6:18 With all prayer and petition pray
[with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every
season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all
perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.

Prayer is one of the greatest gifts that we can give to God on behalf of

another person. I remember a time when someone came to me and said that

they knew I prayed alot and asked me to pray for them. I said that I would.

Days went bye and they came and thanked me because it all worked out ok. My

problem was, that I never prayed for them. After that, I have made it a

practice not only to pray for them, but to pray with them right there and

then. There are some that stay in my memory. Ariel in the south side of

Chicago wanting safety. Friends that are in challenging marriages. People

that are raising children alone and need some kind of support help.

Financial issues. Mental challenges. Addictions. Brethren, our prayers are

like incense to God. Nothing to big or to small for Him to handle. Heavenly

Father, please give Your children a heart of prayer, hear our petitions and

help us endure. In Jesus name, amen.

Douglas 

The Cup. Psalm 23:5b

Psalm 23 NASB
5b My cup overflows.

In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42

If Jesus had not allowed His cup to overflow with His life, poured out for all mankind, we would still face eternal separation from God.

I did a search on the word "cup" in the Bible. Interestingly, most references were of "the cup of God's wrath". But that's not what David is referring to when he says "My cup overflows". He's talking about blessings.

1 Corinthians 10:21 tells us "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons."

Isn't that what we looked at a couple of days ago with verse 5a "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies"?

A cup is also referred to in Matthew 26:27 "And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you"

When we take communion we are remembering the sacrifice Jesus made when He drank the cup of God's wrath, refilled the cup to overflowing with His blood on Calvary so that our cup could overflow with the blessings of God.

Blessings, Cecilia

2 Corinthians 7 How do others view you?

2Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. 3I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together. 4Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.

Paul expresses great love and affection for his brothers and sisters in Christ. He provides a great example of supporting himself in the ministry of Christ so no one could accuse him of alternative motives other than Christ.

Are you serving in a ministry for Jesus? How do others view you? Sometimes it is good to self evaluate ourselves and our motives. Pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance in the ministry of your service.

May we all have Paul's heart filled with comfort, overflowing with joy and pure motives in all our afflictions.

Blessings, David 

Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com

Pray for those who mistreat you!

Luke6:27 “But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My
words]:Love [that
is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a
practice to] do good to those who hate you, 28 bless *and* show kindness to
those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

By what I see in the scriptures, there will probably be more people in hell

than in heaven. If Christians truly believe that hell is as bad as the

Bible says, then we would not even our worst enemies to go there. Prayer is

God's way to help others and at the same time helps each of us find a way

to make peace with our past and the situations that have scarred us.

Everyone has probably gone through something that wasn't good. We have a

choice to be better or bitter. In my own life I can think of people that

have hurt me in such a way that I never want to see them again here on

earth. But I do pray that they surrender their lives to Jesus and that they

allow God to show them the same love and forgiveness that He has shown me.

I pray that Holy Spirit touches their lives and changes them from the

inside out.

Douglas 

Whom do you love and serve first?

Deut13:4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and you shall fear [and
worship] Him [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], and you
shall keep His commandments and you shall listen to His voice, and you
shall serve Him, and cling to Him. Mark12:30 and you shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul (life), and with all
your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.

There are many things that people associate with that are not bad, but can

become a distraction from what God has called us to be and to do. I have

seen many get caught up in jobs, family, hobbies, country, politics, etc.

and forget Whom they are to love and serve first. Remembering God, Jesus,

Holy Spirit in everyday life seems to be an afterthought. Jesus is not a

part of my life, He is my life. I am alive today because what God did in my

life and I want everyone to know Him. I pledge allegiance to the Bible,

God’s Holy Word, I will make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my

path and will hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against God.

In precious Jesus name, amen.

Douglas 

Psalm 23:5b Sheep Dip

Psalm 23 NASB
5b You have anointed my head with oil

When we read this verse we probably think of 1 Samuel 16:12 "So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah." 

This very well may have been what David was referring to but it also could be applied to something else David was familiar with. 

Anyone who has spent time outdoors in the summer is acquainted with the bugs that come out with the warm weather. When we spent time in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, deep in the woods at my Mother in Laws cabin, mosquitoes were a constant bother spring to late summer. The only chance of survival was long sleeved shirts, bug spray and mosquito netting covering our heads. 

Sheep suffer from egg laying flies that will literally drive the sheep insane if left unattended. Shepherd's apply an oil based salve to the heads and noses of the sheep to protect them from flies. If the problem is persistent, the shepherd will dip the sheep in a solution to ward off disease that could be transmitted throughout the flock. 

Another picture of "anointing oil" is being anointed by the Holy Spirit that fills our being when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. God gives us His Spirit to protect us, help us grow in our faith, guide us in the way He wants us to go, and teach us His word. The Lord dips us in this soothing, calming oil that protects us from the world. It gives us a new perspective, a heavenly perspective, an eternal perspective. No longer do we need to be bugged by the irritations of this world because we look to the next world with hope. 

Blessings, Cecilia

2 Corinthians 7 Do you have fear of God?

Paul Reveals His Heart

      1Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Matthew Henry's commentary:

The promises of God are strong reasons for us to follow after holiness; we must cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. If we hope in God as our Father, we must seek to be holy as he is holy, and perfect as our Father in heaven. His grace, by the influences of his Spirit, alone can purify, but holiness should be the object of our constant prayers.

Do you strive to be holy all week long or just on Sunday? Sunday only is a good start for an infant, but you are a living example of Gods grace. People are watching you. What type of example will you be during the week?

If you make holiness the constant object of your prayers, your behavior will change. The Holy Spirit will convict you of your behavior and you will become more  holy. 

What does "in the fear of God" mean?

The Fear of God – The Beginning of Understanding

Throughout the Jewish scriptures we learn that “the fear of God is the beginning of understanding... wisdom... knowledge.” Indeed, the fear of God is a primary theme throughout the entire Old Testament: 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline (Proverbs 1:7). 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding (Psalm 111:10). 

http://www.allaboutgod.com/fear-of-god.htm

Do you have fear of God?

Blessings, David 

Scripture blog; http://stanfordsancutaryscripturestudies.blogspot.com