Advent Calendar -Day 3

 The Teenage Years

Wednesday, the first week of Advent

 

Today’s Reading:  Isaiah 7:14 / Luke 1:26-38

 

Today’s society tends to look at the teenage years as a time to fear.  To many it is looked upon as “The Rebellious Years,” or as a time of experimentation.  It is the one phase of the child rearing years that many parents dread and pray that they have the endurance to make it through with their kids.  As one who has had the honor of working closely with and ministering to youth in the local church throughout my life, as well as actively participating in the upbringing of our own four kids, I look at those experiencing life as a 12 to 18-year-old with a different set of glasses!

I see these youth as older kids who suddenly find themselves in an in-between time where they are no longer children, but yet not quite adults.  Their bodies are changing, and they are beginning to have the capabilities to think about and comprehend the world and everything they have ever known with a whole new set of comprehensive and abstract tools.  Then on top of everything else, their emotions seem to be on a rollercoaster ride as they are going through this physical, mental, spiritual and emotional upheaval!  With everything happening in them, it is no surprise for me to see some of our youth dressed in black from head to toe, with hair in multicolored shades of red or blue, with a new vocabulary that seems to only include about half a dozen words, or with body piercing in a wide array of locations on their bodies.

Yes, they are experimenting and testing the waters of life.  Yes, they are looking to find out who they really are and what they really believe and yes, they are testing those around them, those they love and befriend, to find out just how really loved and accepted they are to them.  In my experience, I have come to realize that our youth are a product of their environment that they have been raised in, and underneath it all, that they are looking for the same securities that we adults seek in our lives.

In our story today, we see the angel Gabriel coming on the scene again as he appears to a young teenage girl with a message that could turn her world upside down!  It is interesting for me to see that there is no record of her physical features or dress.  The only description that is given is that she was “a virgin” who was “highly favored” (Luke 1:26-28)  Have you ever thought about Mary’s appearance?  What if she wore a nose ring like Rachel the revered wife of Isaac who was one of the Patriarchs of her Jewish faith?  (See Genesis 24:22) It would seem that God only looked on the qualities of her heart and not on the sight of how she dressed, her hair style or the jewelry she might have worn.

What we do see as our story unfolds though, is that this young girl, who was most likely between the ages of 12 – 15, knew the scriptures, knew the faithfulness of her God, and was very confident and yet humble to accept and pursue whatever responsibility was given to her from Him.  When Gabriel appeared to her, she was not overtaken with fear as we saw with her uncle’s experience six months previous to this event. 

I believe that her reaction that caused her to be “startled by what the angel said” and her question “How can this be?” (Luke 1:29 & 34) was simply the inquisitive request of an innocent young girl wanting to know how it would happen.  She did not ask for a sign and never doubted that it was from God, or that she could handle the calling!  Her reply to the angel’s explanation was a straight forward affirmation of: “I am the Lord’s servant.  Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”  (Luke 1:38 God’s Word ©)  Mary kind of reminds me of the young teenage girl that I fell in love with and eventually married back in the 1970’s!

No where do we find any recorded thoughts of “Can I do this?  Am I good enough or able to accomplish this task?  What if I fail?” or “What will my family friends and relatives think?” and maybe most importantly, “What will my husband to be think?”  I am positive that Mary’s home environment perfectly prepared her for her all-important role in God’s plan for our salvation.  She never flinched, but jumped whole heartedly into this sudden and totally unexpected turn in her life!

Once again, how would you respond to such a dramatic turn of events in your life?  Would you have the same simple confidence, zeal and freedom to let go and let God as this young teenage girl exemplified?  This short story has many things for us to consider this Christmas season.  For instance, how we look at others.  How we look at ourselves.  The depth of our unyielding trust in our heavenly Father, and maybe even the difference between how God looks at teenagers compared to how we view them.  This could be an advantageous time to grab a sheet of blank paper and begin to jot down some personal notes as thoughts on these questions arise within you.  It might just be the beginnings of a whole new way you look at life’s assignments, at other people and at yourself!

Have a Super day!  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “How am I expecting to see people today?”

Day Two - Advent Calendar

 Let’s Rearrange That!

Tuesday, the first week of Advent

 

Today’s Reading:  Genesis 30:1, 22-23 / Luke 1:23-25  

There is an old western film produced by the RKO studio in 1936 starring the legend of silent and talking westerns, Harry Carey Sr.  In the film the actor plays the part of a notorious outlaw who is just released from prison after a 35 year sentence.  He is totally out of touch with the modern world and is even more miffed when nobody remembers the tough guy that he used to be.  There are some pretty hilarious scenes with the way he reacts to the younger people’s comments to him as an “old man!”

In the climax of the movie, he teams up with the old Sheriff who put him away many years back to help, by using his old fashioned skills with a gun, to roust a gang held up in a country cabin.  Throughout the gunfight scene Harry Carey’s character calmly looks at different targets on, in and around the cabin and says to the young upstart Deputy crouching next to him, “Let’s rearrange that!”  Then to the amazement and chagrin of his young “Doubting Thomas” he aims his rifle and hits his intended bull’s-eye.  In the end he shoots off the stovepipe from the roof and forces the bad guys to surrender as they are overtaken by the smoke from the fireplace that fills the house.

The words of the comment “Let’s rearrange that” go hand in hand with today’s reading and corresponding lesson.  In our scripture we take up where Zechariah has just received a life altering message from the angel of the Lord.  Yesterday we saw a man that responded in doubt and unbelief, but today we see a man that quickly saw the error of his ways and “rearranged” his thinking, his faith and his courage!  Think about that for a moment.  Many of us would have probably felt sorry for ourselves, thrown in the towel and went home with our tails between our legs.  But not Zechariah!

This man of God, swallowed his pride, accepted his situation, and looked forward with new purpose to the job that was set before him.  The Word says that he did not drop everything and run home, but that he stayed on in order to complete his previous assignment with his temple duties for another few days, and then returned to his home in the mountains to proceed with the next phase of his life.  After this the story turns to his wife Elizabeth and we get an abbreviated glimpse into the reactions of a mighty women of faith.

Our story states that Zechariah and Elizabeth were quite old at this stage in their lives and that she had been barren.  Previous to this we learned that they were accepted by God because they lived righteous before both God and man.  As members of the priestly line of Aaron they had to be very much aware of the promises of God to His people, especially that of Deuteronomy 7:14 where it was proclaimed that “You will be blessed more than any other people.  Your men and women will be able to have children, and your animals will be able to have offspring.” (God’s Word ©)

Throughout my many years in ministry I have seen countless Christians who have turned away from God because they became angry and embittered with the loss of a loved one, the inability to have a family, or because they felt that God didn’t answer a particular prayer of theirs.  They blamed God, and walked away from Him and or blamed themselves and lived the rest of their lives in defeat, fear of failure and indecision.  Zechariah and Elizabeth were not like this though!  They are shining examples of those who trust in the Lord in the midst of confusing times when you might not have all the answers.  And yes, Zechariah did exhibit a moment of weakness (which is not uncommon among those of us who face negative lifelong situations or health issues day and night, 24/7), but he saw the light, “rearranged” his faith and moved forward.

Elizabeth quickly discerned not only the miracle but also the importance of the event that had taken place in their lives.  I believe that is precisely why she spend five months in seclusion so she could spend time alone in the presence of the Lord, thank Him for removing what was considered a disgrace and meditate upon, as well as prepare herself for, His next assignment.

Today we have read of an older couple who learned a practical lesson in life, made some rapid “rearrangements” within themselves and stepped excitedly into the future!  How would you (or have you) handled a similar situation?  This would be a good time to consider the place and level of faith in your life.  Are you at a place where you could positively respond to a new direction, or job that God might present to you?  If not, then maybe today would present the perfect opportunity to look within and make any “rearrangements” to better align you with the path that proceeds from His loving kindness, mercy and potential plan for your life!  Have a great adventure today!  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What “REARRANGEMENTS” am I expecting to make today?”

AC 2020 Day 1

ADVENT CALENDAR 2020

 From: 12/3/12

A few weeks ago I had written of my desire to write a Christmas Story with daily increments to be published in this blog.  After much prayer and consideration though, I have come to the conclusion that this particular blog is not the right medium for that idea.  Instead I would like to publish a series of encouraging words based around the idea of an Advent Calendar throughout the month of December leading up to Christmas Day.

If you will recall, the Advent Calendar is a special calendar that originated with the 19th century Lutheran’s in Germany and is used to count down the days until Christmas.  Each day a special event such as a reading, activity, gift or candy is unveiled to the participants.  It is a great family experience, but also can be used as a daily devotional for individuals or for small groups.  It is a wonderful opportunity to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  So I would encourage you to let this month’s blog posting become a part of your Christmas tradition!  Please feel free to share your thoughts and personal experiences with us all throughout this Holiday Season!

 

A Puzzling Announcement – Monday, the first week of Advent

 

Today’s Reading:  Mark 1:1-3 / Luke 1:1-25

As I studied the first chapter in the book of Luke verses 1- 25, I was repeatedly amazed at the significance of every little detail of the interaction between Zechariah and the angel Gabriel.  It became very evident that our heavenly Father wanted to make sure that every part of His plan for our salvation was accomplished in perfect order, according to the prophecies of old.  From His very selection of Zechariah and Elizabeth and their shared family heritage from the line of Aaron, their having His approval because they chose to live a life that “followed all the Lord’s commands and regulations perfectly” (Luke 1:6 God’s Word ©), to the specific location of the visitation in the temple in Jerusalem, and the particular hour that it occurred during the daily time of public prayer.  In legal investigation jargon you could say that God wanted to leave a clear and undisputable paper trail that would easily lead the Jews to the correct understanding of the importance to the event that happened on that day.

A few more points to consider would be that the angel Gabriel was the same heavenly messenger that prophesied to Daniel some 500 years earlier about the coming of the Messiah, and that his appearance to Zechariah was the first such visit or prophesy given to the Jews for some 400 years.  This was an earth shaking event that should have shook the very foundations of the nation of Israel… but then the human part of the equation came into play!

As a descendant of Aaron according to the division of priests from Eleazar, the eldest son of Aaron, Zechariah was most likely trained in the Holy Scriptures from his earliest childhood years.  He had to have been very knowledgeable of the prophesies regarding the coming Messiah, but when the angel appeared to him and presented his glorious message, Zechariah immediately slip into the natural mode and could only see the impossibilities of his wife’s and his old age!  His exhibited no faith, but demanded physical proof before he would consider accepting what had just been told him.  That seemingly little slip caused the potential of a big snag in God’s highly planned series of events that were to begin with the birth of the one who “will prepare the people for their Lord.”  (Luke 1:17 God’s Word)

Gabriel though, was a seasoned messenger and probably had a good understanding of the human disposition and quickly remedied the situation by silencing Zechariah so that his unbelief would not stop the plan of God.  His inability to clearly explain what had happened with the heavenly visitation to the people who anxiously awaited his over-extended return from the Holy of Holies outside of the temple, just added to the confusion surrounding the event and resulted in the puzzlement of the people.  The people knew that something special had occurred, but had to wait another year before they understood the true significance of the event that day.

This story makes me consider all the well laid plans that God has for yours and my life, and the many times we have stepped in trying to understand the plan from a natural point of view and thereby throwing a wrench into God’s directions for us.  God knows us, He knows our idiosyncrasies, our personalities, our education, our family backgrounds and our job resumes!  When He outlines something for us to do, He has already taken that all into consideration.  Zechariah was the perfect choice for this part of God’s plan for the coming of Jesus, but he looked at the natural and panicked!  God used him anyway, but I am sure that the time between the announcement of the event and the birth of their son was very difficult and emotional for the old priest.  I would think that Zachariah wished he had responded differently to the heavenly messenger who approached him on that fateful day while in service in the temple.

This event that occurred at the very beginning of the New Testament, is a good place for each of us to take a personal look at ourselves and where we stand when it comes to our faith in the callings that God chooses for us throughout our lifetimes.  Like Zechariah, would you have a hard time looking beyond the physical state of things in the situation you faced?  Would your health, your finances, your education or what your family and friends may think be more influential to you than your personal experience and trust in God?  How would you like to live the time between the announcement of God’s plan for you and its fulfillment?  Zachariah has given us some insight, and it would probably be a good idea for us to consider it!  Have a great day.  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What Course of Action am I expecting to Take today?”

The Pied Piper

When I went to bed last night, I flipped on the TV in the bedroom and music from the classical music station I usually listen to while I read at night filled the room.  With each selection that is played, the screen normally displays interesting facts about the composer, the writing or performance of the song or explains something unique about the time period in which the song was written.  Usually there is also a picture of the artist.  When I first glanced up to the screen, I noticed that instead of a portrait of the composer, they exhibited a rather large shot of the flute section in an orchestra.

That picture kind of startled me as the main instrument that I thought I'd heard playing at the time was a piano.  Since her passing, I have developed the habit of calling out “Play it Piper” whenever I hear a piano playing on our home entertainment system.  I guess it just makes me feel closer to her as she was a classically trained pianist and I loved nothing more than to hear her play!  Well, last night I had nonchalantly called the saying out as soon as I heard the music, but when I saw the flutists, I stopped short, unscrambled my brain and found myself sort of apologizing to the dog laying on the bed who looked to be questioning my statement and stammered out… “Well… she played that too!”

I don’t know if she took up the flute and piccolo as her band instruments of choice because of her “Pied Piper” name or not, but she was pretty accomplished on those instruments as well.  She proudly played the piccolo in the marching band in high school!   I always thought that it was pretty adorable… little Piper marching down the street playing her little piccolo!

It always seemed very appropriate to me that she did play the flute and piccolo… because of the song that she always carried in her heart.  And like the Pied Piper, people tended to follow her lead and join in with the overflow of joy that simply poured from her and splashed onto anyone around her.  And I am very blessed to say that since we were so close, that the splash of her joy, many times, inundated me to the point that it became a natural response of mine in any and mostly every situation I faced during and now after her life here.   Take this morning for instance…

I knowingly went off my diet yesterday and enjoyed a full Thanksgiving dinner complete with a large slice of pumpkin pie that I made sure was totally covered in whipped cream!  Well… I most definitely paid the price this morning… I awoke feeling like I had a hangover, but instead of alcohol being the culprit it was carbs, sugar and calories galore!  But I pushed on through… since I didn’t have anyone to cuddle my self-pity like Piper!  I had my Bible study, drank some coffee, fed the dog and took a shower.  That helped a little so I grabbed a coat, got the leash and took Fiver for his morning constitutional thinking that I’d feel better after a long walk in the crisp and windy morning air.

After we were out for about five minutes, I began to question my decision.  I finally had to stop for a few moments to let my light-headed feelings go away while I looked down at Fiver who was not pleased with the stop to his walk, and I said, “You know, Buddy… we might need to go home… I’m not sure I can make this!”  I am sad to say, that I learned over the last few years with Piper’s illness and passing, that when I was alone… I was on my own!  If I went down in the middle of the field there near the deserted golf course this morning… it could be a while before somebody found me… and I also had the dog to think about!

So, I took a few deep cleansing breaths and thought, “Okay, what should I do?” … and in a flash, I heard the very familiar sound of Piper’s voice in my head praising the Lord!  …and YEP!  I joined right in and began to quietly praise the Lord and before I knew it, the world stopped slowly spinning and we continued on, finished our walk and I had some breakfast!  (Next time… besides the praise, I’ll eat something before the walk as well!)

But my point… PRAISE WORKS!… Rejoice, be joyful and give thanks to the Lord!  In a very short word of encouragement, the Apostle Paul tells us in I Thessalonians 5:16 to “Always be joyful” (God’s Word ©)  The Message Bible says to “Be cheerful no matter what.”  Arthur S. Way’s translations of Paul’s letters states it as to “Be evermore glad hearted” while the Amplified Version elaborates a bit more explaining that we should “Be happy in our faith and rejoice and be glad-hearted continuously.”

Anyway you look at it, all these various translations tell us that this response in life is not just to be something we TRY to do on occasion, but instead, should be an attitude of our hearts, a part of our personal makeup or simply said, be an active part of our lifestyle!  That’s what it was to Piper and it is still pouring off her memory and splashing onto me today! (and through this post... on to you as well!)

What do you think?  Wouldn’t you like that to be said and/or known of you?  But like any thing else… it takes practice, practice and more practice… and an occasional reminder!  I mean look at me.  I literally lived with the Pied Piper and I still needed to be reminded of PRAISE, JOYFULNESS AND THANKSGIVING this morning!

I hope that you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and are still enjoying the rest of the Thanksgiving Holiday!

 

Companions

Do you have a favorite companion?  Someone or something who’s company you enjoy and find that you are most compatible with?  I’ve had a few close companions over the years with the longest lasting one being that of JOY!  I was raised in a home with a very joyful Mom, and a more reserved Dad who told lots of corny jokes and would occasionally surprise us all with a touch of some “let-it-go” surprisingly funny actions…

Like the time we were staying at a motel in Southern California and laughing at some outlandish story my mom was telling us kids, when my Dad, dressed in his green and white striped pajamas, suddenly rolled off the bed and began to pose like a wild animal on his hands and knees!  I’m not sure what we enjoyed more… the humor of it or just THAT HE ACTUALLY DID IT! Then there was the time that my folks and another couple dressed up as the Beatles… complete with long hair wigs and wooden instruments, for a Knights of Columbus Halloween party at our Catholic Church!  Needless to say, they won first place and we got lots of pictures of the event!

So, with parents like that, I couldn’t help but turn out with an easy-going, joyful & humorous disposition!  When Piper and I started dating at the beginning of our Senior year in high school, it was literally a match made in heaven!  I already had an idea of what I was getting myself into with her as we had spent the previous year seated next each other and cracking each other up in our eleventh grade English class.  We had also spent many hours together on weekends and on lazy summer afternoons as part of a group of friends that hung out together and participated in countless softball and volleyball games, trips to the beach, excursions to the local hamburger joints… and lots of laughter!

We quickly became inseparable companions and grew together in our experience of and maturity in our Christian walk.  With similar fun-loving personalities, it was easily apparent that the profusion of JOY was to be a major part and process of our ministry style.  After our marriage, the JOY of the Lord just seemed to be a constant companion of ours wherever we went and in whatever we did.  Whether it was with youth classes, in Children’s Church or preaching to the adult congregation, we always tended to receive positive remarks concerning the way in which we incorporated lots of JOY and laughter into our lessons or sermons.

I still find myself breaking into laughter today, whenever I listen to some of the cassette recordings of the occasional sermons that Piper taught to the adults on Wednesday nights.  And I always had to stay on the alert that I didn’t go down too many rabbit trails when preaching to the youth or adults with my funny stories and anecdotes!  It helped for me to occasionally glance over Piper’s way to see if she was giving me the “look” or hand signal that I was going too far off subject!  We definitely made a good team!

I was led to look up another one of Piper’s favorite scriptures yesterday that’s found in I Peter 1:8 where the Apostle wrote, “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” (NASB)  From the way she underlined, circled and highlighted part and portions of this verse in her old NASB Bible, and made numerous personal notations in the margins, I can say without a doubt that she (like me) firmly believed that JOY was a lifestyle that clearly marked and defined the Christian believer… and separated him or her from everyone else.

Peter described JOY as something that was very much alive and thriving in the early church.  He said that our faith in the Lord was of such power that at times it would bubble up, in, over and through us to the point of being “inexpressible and full of glory!”  Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible says that this is “a very strong expression, so much so as you don’t have words that clearly express it because it is so filling and always new.”  John Gill in his Exposition of the Entire Bible written between 1746 – 1763, enumerated on those thoughts declaring, “This is a JOY which is better experienced (and demonstrated) than expressed!”

So, like many other basic Bible truths, this kind of JOY is an action… and without the actions of it in demonstration… its meaningless.  Just like the way James described how “faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26 KJV)

In all honesty, this kind and/or level of JOY was one of the key forces that helped Piper and I to make it through some of the roughest times physically, spiritually and emotionally over the last eight years of her earthly existence… and as far as I am concerned… in the midst of her most noticeable absence in my life today… it still holds a very important place marker in the immediate success of my days as I work to to process everything and continue on with what the Lord still has planned for me to accomplish.

And let me tell you… it ain’t always easy!  There are times where I feel like I need to physically make the effort to go to the front door and invite His JOY back into my house to be my constant companion again… whether I feel like it or not!  In the Jim and Piper household, depression never had a voice… and I’m NOT about to allow it to spew its ugly lies now!

The companionship of JOY is a choice and a lifestyle.  What choice are you making today… and what lifestyle are you choosing to live today?

 

 

Staying in Shape!

I’ve begun to notice a pattern everyday when Fiver and I go for our daily walks along the golf course next to our home.  In the mornings when we take our first jaunt of the day, the golfers are usually made up of older men who are up early and want to hit the course before everyone else does!  On weekends the men are many times accompanied by older women, whom I suspect of being their wives.  Most of these folks are very friendly and many times stop to comment on Fiver or like yesterday, over my San Francisco Giants hoodie that I tend to wear in the cool of the morning.  Since we walk every day, we have already made friends with some of the regulars!

In mid-afternoon, the course is dotted with golf carts driven my younger men.  When the weather is nice, we’ll also see young and middle age women in their short golf skirts walking the course with their golf bag push carriers in tow.  I have to admit that I often times let my mind wander and find myself thinking of how cute Piper would have looked in one of those golf outfits!  She always took good care of herself and would have enjoyed wearing one!

If I were a golfer, I think that I would rather walk the course than buzz around on the electric carts.  For me, part of the attraction of playing the game would be all the additional exercise one could get while walking along the finely manicured greens!

And speaking of exercise, in the last few years, with everything that I have been through, I have come to the personal conclusion that God must be in pretty good shape!  As I have studied my Bible and taken various courses of actions based on the truth of God’s Word, I’ve become aware of the ACTION STEPS or maybe you could say exercise that God expects of someone who pursues the Christian faith.  Christianity is most definitely NOT a sedentary religion!  I think that Piper was way before her time when she suggested that we call our new college-age group at the Baptist Church in 1971, “Faith ACTION!”

Take for example a study I started yesterday on Psalm 37:7 where the Psalmist declares, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” (KJV)  When I think of “resting” and/or “waiting patiently,” I think of doing it while sitting on a comfortable chair, reclining under a big leafy tree, or as I lie on a nice soft bed, …wouldn't you?

Well according to the original Hebrew spoken in this verse, “rest” to God means to, “be astonished, to submit to another’s control” (Strong’s & Thayer’s) or as Finis Dake states, “to calmly resign and leave all things in the hands of God.”  But wait… Are we to accomplish this while we just sit around and do nothing?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!  Strong’s informs us that to “wait patiently” literally means “to twist or whirl in a circular or spiral manner,” or simply “to dance!”  And again, Finis Dake suggests that this ACTION is the specific way in which we “set ourselves to EXPECT God to answer.”  Likewise, Adam Clarke renders the “wait patiently” part of this verse as to “set thyself to EXPECT Him, and be determined to EXPECT or wait for Him.”

As I was studying these various commentaries this morning, I looked up the word “set” in the Oxford Online Dictionary and it defined its ACTION as “to put or bring into a specified state; to adjust.”  And my immediate thought after reading this was that when we step out in faith to “REST in the Lord and WAIT PATIENTLY for Him,” we, in actuality, are being told to actively “ADJUST” our attention away from dependence on our own resources, and onto a total dependence on HIS RESOURCES! Which I’ve learned over and over again, is the one thing that the enemy of our faith will fight us the most vehemently over! 

I saw it when a few well meaning folks did their best to try and persuade Piper and I to follow their advice rather than go with our faith, I saw it throughout the Presidential campaign when news reporters and political party leaders would constantly do their best to try and lead the people of our country as well as the President away from the truth, and over to their false narrative, and I see it today, as I work diligently to focus on what I believe that the Lord has specifically told me to do, while other sources tell me to do differently… because “this is what’s best for you!”

Well… through it all, I’m determined to stay in shape and get the EXERCISE that my Christian faith demands of me… and in doing so, agree with Joshua when he declared in front of the nation of Israel, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15 KJV)  And when necessary, I’ll do it by dancing before him while I wait patiently! 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

I pray that you get some exercise while you enjoy your weekend, and keep actively EXPECTING God’s best in your life!

 

 

Reckoning Prayer

I got a phone call early this morning from my good friend who has been in the hospital for quite a few weeks.  He called to report that he finally gets to go home!  So, when our conversation was completed, I slapped my hand on my knee while I turned to the dog on the floor behind me and loudly proclaimed with lots of emotion and a huge smile that “PRAISE THE LORD, GOD CONTINUES TO ANSWER PRAYER!”

My friend who is a few years older than me has had difficulties with his health for some time.  He lived kind of a rough life as a member of a motorcycle gang before getting saved in the 1980’s.  Piper and I met John in the late ‘80’s when he walked into our church wearing leather pants, a leather vest and a leather hat... with his Harley in the parking lot!  But even with his rough exterior and ways, Piper and I immediately took a liking to him and over the years have continued to be close friends.  We had the pleasure of taking the pictures at his wedding and even though we have not attended the same church for many years, have stayed in close contact, even with all the cross country moves we’ve made!

When Piper first got sick and couldn’t be left alone, John’s wife would come over on a regular basis while I ran errands, went shopping and took care of any business away from the home until we were able to get Piper’s first wheelchair.  John’s church also covered the cost of a homecare worker to stay with Piper while I went to a men’s Bible Study group with him on Wednesday nights.  So, with him in the hospital in California, I wanted to be available by phone for him, so that even though he couldn’t have physical visitors, he could still visit with me… from Oklahoma!  We’ve been talking on a daily basis, praying for his recovery and expecting a miraculous move of God on his behalf.

John is a member of multiple prayer groups and would often times call me in the past to tell me the good news of an answered financial prayer, of a friend who was healed and/or request my prayer assistance in the especially difficult cases.  Over the last few years, it has seemed that the Lord has opened different doors for me to pray for people.  When Piper was on hospice, I would many times find myself listening to the needs of the various nurses’ aides and praying for them when they would come over to care for Piper.  I always thought that it was kind of cool how the Lord would use Piper and I even when we were the one’s needing others help!

Over the last month or so I have had friends, former neighbors and relatives ask me to pray for various situations that were adversely affecting them or someone close to them.  And the Lord has quickened me to take the responsibility very seriously, so… I have been quick to pray and consistent with my follow-up!  Therefore, when John called with his good report this morning, I was more than a little elated!

My first thought after my exclamation of praise today, was a confirmation of a scripture truth found in James 5:16 where the leader of the church in Jerusalem proclaimed that, “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) availeth much.” (KJV)  And my second thought was that Piper’s prayers were definitely effective and availed the power of God to enter into whomever or whatever she was praying for.  She wasn’t what I would think of as a prayer warrior who prayed for long periods of time, but when a need arose and she prayed… well, you knew that she meant business.  

She would pray a scripture that supported her case before the Lord and if necessary, storm the gates of hell with her anointed request… or maybe better said… her demand that the enemy of our faith release his hold on the situation so that God could come in and meet the need!  And let me tell you, through the years, I repeatedly saw situations change in our lives, people healed when everyone around her was in doubt and hearts changed in family members with whom the rest of the family had given up on!

Piper was always a confident woman with just about everything she did… and especially when it came to her personal view of HOW BIG GOD WAS!  The Passion Translation of James 5:16 states that “tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!”  The Message Bible says that “The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.” 

I would whole heartedly admit that my personal passion for prayer and its reckoning power took on a whole new and greater meaning to me when I got that first negative report from Piper’s initial MRI in 2007.  My immediate prayer following that phone call projected me onto a higher and stronger level in my faith for the power of prayer than I had ever had before… and it has just continued to grow from there!  It is something that never grows old nor ceases to amaze me!  So, when John called with his good report this morning, I couldn’t help but rejoice like a little kid with him and then stand in praise, thanksgiving and AWE that GOD DID IT AGAIN! 

So… I guess my point with this discussion today would be to NEVER dismiss or downplay the ability and power of your heartfelt and passionate prayer to the Lord for whatever need you may have.  Prayer to Piper and I was never seen as a last resort… but as the very FIRST and most POWERFUL move that we could make no matter what the need may have been… In fact, we discovered as will you too, that the more impossible the need… the more ALL your dependence HAS to be on the Lord!

Maybe I’m a little strange… But prayer opportunities excite me… and answered prayers REALLY excite me!   HOW ABOUT YOU?