When should I pray? Well if you look at 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 It says we should pray without ceasing. My advice to you is to pray whenever you can, whenever you remember someone/a particular situation pray!! I pray when I'm in the shower (or I sing hymns), I pray when I'm doing dishes/chores, I pray in the car when I'm left to think, I pray whenever I remember a specific prayer request, I pray before my meals (obviously) but sometimes I extend it during my meals. Pray on your way to work, pray coming home from work, pray before you lay your head to the pillow, pray when you wake in the morning. Psalm 5:3 says, "O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." Psalm 88:13 "But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you." Psalm 119:147 "I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words." Psalm 88:1-2 "O Lord, God of my salvation; I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry." Mark 1:35 "And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed." (Talking about Jesus) SO, it seems that God wants us to "Rise and shine, and give Him the glory, glory" (A hymn) So when you first wake, you do your devotions or whatever, put some prayer in there. And before you sleep pray to God. It's silent in your bed, so you may whisper or pray in your head. I love praying before bed because I have the whole day and I know I have things I need to confess that maybe I forgot to you know? So when should you pray? Answer: All the time! But, start the day off with prayer and believe me when I say you'll see a big difference in your attitude and your heart in throughout the day!!
What should I pray for? If you read above you can check out the guide ACTS. Some things I pray for is wisdom. I pray for a humble heart. I pray that my ultimate desire would be to serve my God cheerfully, and obediently. I pray "Create in me, a clean heart O God; and renew a right spirit within me." I Pray for genuine love. The kind of love in 1 Cor. 13: 1-13. I pray for a soft heart. I pray that God would each day make me more like Him. I pray that He'd grow my walk w/Him. I pray that I'd be modest in speech, attire, attitude, body language (which is another form of "attitude"), and thought. I pray that I'd never make my brothers in Christ or any man stumble. I pray for my sisters in Christ for the same. I pray for my friends, and my family. I pray for specific things that people ask me to. Don't know what to pray for? Start with your sin weaknesses. Ask God to strengthen you in those areas you need strengthening. Pray for others. Read the whole chapter of Romans 12. It talks about how we are to be living sacrifices (and other things) it's how we as Christians should be acting, where are hearts should be in a nutshell. If you really don't know what to pray about start with Romans 12.
Who's prayers does God hear? Psalm 66:18 "If I had cherished iniquety in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." What David means by these words, is that those who have sin in their heart, God will not listen to their prayers. The way how my Dad interprets this is God doesn't hear the prayers of the wicked. Like the non-believing. Some people will say "Well, what if a non-believer is praying to God asking Him to save them!?" What I would say to that is this, "Obviously God is working in their hearts (if they are being genuine) and calling them into repentence. Then, yes he's hearing that prayer. For, they are being called by God Himself." Daniel 10: 12 "Then he said to me, "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words." This was Gabriel the angel. God sent Gabriel (His messenger angel.) because He had heard Daniel's prayer! Mattew 18: 10 "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face who is in heaven." Is there a specific verse that says God hears the prayers of Children? The question is, is there a verse that says he doesnt? If you are Christian parents, encourage your children to pray to their Father in heaven no matter how young they are.
When does God answer our prayers? 2 Peter 3:8 "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." Peter was talking about when Christ would come back because the Jews were getting impatient, but I was trying to make a point to you that God is God. He will answer your prayer in His own timing. OR, He won't answer your prayer accordingly to your specific timing/will of whatever it is you prayed for. It may not be HIS will that you get the $1,000 you asked for. God will answer your prayer if HE WILLS, and in HIS OWN TIMING IF HE DOES WILL.
So pray without ceasing beloved, and see what wonders God does in your life! See the changes of the attitude, and the softness of the heart!
~Lissie Darcy
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Without ceasing part#1
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (English Standard Version, italics added.)
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Matthew 7:7-11 " Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and the one who knocks will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks you for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Esv, italics added)
I've been praying a lot lately. The Bible calls us to pray without ceasing. One thing I've noticed, when we promise ourselves to set aside a time to pray we don't normally get to it. Now, maybe that's just me. I know a lot of really organized people, so it could just be me. I don't say this to accuse anyone. I say this because this is what I've noticed in myself. What if a busy day comes? What then? Do I sacrifice what my plans are for the day to go to my God and thank Him, praise Him, confess to Him? Do I put God first? Same thing when you eat you know how you pray first because we put God before our stomachs. We pray first to thank God for the meal. As you see in the very first verse I wrote we are called to pray without ceasing. I have several points I wanna make in this post.
How should I pray? The answer to that is quite simple. First lemme point ya out to Matt.6:5-14 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." In other words don't be like the hypocrites who pray out in the open purposefully so all can see. When He says "they have received their reward" He means all the praises they receive on how "righteous" they are. They are hypocrites, their heart isn't really on Christ but on their selves. They will be judged one day. Ok, back to the Words of Jesus.
"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. " For example, the Catholic; they are very repetitive in their prayers. They have so many hail Mary's to say, etc. Jesus tells us NOT to pray like that because it doesn't matter how many times you say it for God to hear you. He already knows what we're coming to Him about before we come to Him.
"Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. " Get this I looked up hallowed and here's the definitions I got from different dictionary sources: regarded as holy, venerated, sacred: Hallowed be thy name, the hallowed saints. Source#2 1. HOLY, CONSECRATED 2. SACRED, REVERED. Thesaurus source#1 anointed, beautified, blessed, consecrated, dedicated, divine, holy, honored, sacred, sanctified, etc. etc.
" Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Father in heaven will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." I think that is pretty self explanatory.
There's also a cool little guide you can use. Acts! A-doration (Giving praise to your God. Adore Him.) C-onfession (we all know what that is) T-hanksgiving (Give thanks for the abudant blessings He bestows on us.) S-upplication (Ask God for what you need. Ask, seek, and knock. Matt.7:7-11 God knows our needs. But, we are told to ask, seek, and knock!) This is a helpful guide if you have faultering lips like Moses, and I. (We're partners.) No, seriously ask my Mom. I told her when I pray I'm like Moses. I have stumbling lips. I sound like a six year old praying. Our Pastor and an elder in our Church (whom I won't name because I don't have his permission) say such beautiful prayers. God cares about our attitudes of our hearts rather then the beautiful words we pray. We can be like the Pharisees and pray such "holy, righteous" prayers, but their hearts were far from God. In other words, those prayers are just pure flattery.
TO BE CONTINUIED!
~L. D.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Esv, italics added)
I've been praying a lot lately. The Bible calls us to pray without ceasing. One thing I've noticed, when we promise ourselves to set aside a time to pray we don't normally get to it. Now, maybe that's just me. I know a lot of really organized people, so it could just be me. I don't say this to accuse anyone. I say this because this is what I've noticed in myself. What if a busy day comes? What then? Do I sacrifice what my plans are for the day to go to my God and thank Him, praise Him, confess to Him? Do I put God first? Same thing when you eat you know how you pray first because we put God before our stomachs. We pray first to thank God for the meal. As you see in the very first verse I wrote we are called to pray without ceasing. I have several points I wanna make in this post.
How should I pray? The answer to that is quite simple. First lemme point ya out to Matt.6:5-14 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." In other words don't be like the hypocrites who pray out in the open purposefully so all can see. When He says "they have received their reward" He means all the praises they receive on how "righteous" they are. They are hypocrites, their heart isn't really on Christ but on their selves. They will be judged one day. Ok, back to the Words of Jesus.
"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. " For example, the Catholic; they are very repetitive in their prayers. They have so many hail Mary's to say, etc. Jesus tells us NOT to pray like that because it doesn't matter how many times you say it for God to hear you. He already knows what we're coming to Him about before we come to Him.
"Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. " Get this I looked up hallowed and here's the definitions I got from different dictionary sources: regarded as holy, venerated, sacred: Hallowed be thy name, the hallowed saints. Source#2 1. HOLY, CONSECRATED 2. SACRED, REVERED. Thesaurus source#1 anointed, beautified, blessed, consecrated, dedicated, divine, holy, honored, sacred, sanctified, etc. etc.
" Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your Father in heaven will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." I think that is pretty self explanatory.
There's also a cool little guide you can use. Acts! A-doration (Giving praise to your God. Adore Him.) C-onfession (we all know what that is) T-hanksgiving (Give thanks for the abudant blessings He bestows on us.) S-upplication (Ask God for what you need. Ask, seek, and knock. Matt.7:7-11 God knows our needs. But, we are told to ask, seek, and knock!) This is a helpful guide if you have faultering lips like Moses, and I. (We're partners.) No, seriously ask my Mom. I told her when I pray I'm like Moses. I have stumbling lips. I sound like a six year old praying. Our Pastor and an elder in our Church (whom I won't name because I don't have his permission) say such beautiful prayers. God cares about our attitudes of our hearts rather then the beautiful words we pray. We can be like the Pharisees and pray such "holy, righteous" prayers, but their hearts were far from God. In other words, those prayers are just pure flattery.
TO BE CONTINUIED!
~L. D.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Introducing...JESSI BEAR
A while ago I said I was going to do all these new "blog series". Why you ask I didn't start on that like a month or so ago? Because I wasn't being realistic in doing a post everyday on the Scripture passages I had been reading, and every week on a family member. (Well the second is more realistic because it's every week once a week.) So, I appologize for not keeping my word. Jesus himself said let your yes's be yes, and your no's be no's. Like a good Christian I am, I totally did just that. Yeah, I'm kidding; hopefully you knew that.
So, as for the family blog series...
INTRODUCING...JESSI BEAR!!! Jess is 1 years old (Jan. 12). As far as looks go, her and Jonah have the Filipino side; the rest of us got the Irish side. That's ok though I hear there's a fear that there's becoming less and less people with red hair so hopefully we can pass it on!
Because Jess and Jonah are the two odd balls in the family, whenever we go grocery shopping we usually are asked, "Are these all your kids?". Haha. Funny, yet not funny because from the world's eyes a devource is so common a stranger isn't ashamed of asking if we all have the same parents.
Jess has this little blanky/bear that well as you can or maybe can't see used to be pink. We call it a "buddy". She has two of them. I don't know if you can see it but Buddy has a bow (a rather deformed bow now) and Jess likes to twist the bow while pressing Buddy against her chest; as she sucks passy. It's really cute and sweet. One thing I love about Jessica is when she loves something/someone she really loves it! She's only 1 years old and this human being feels love. A form of "matter" that just BOOM evolved doesn't feel love. It doesn't feel period! My Baby (Jess) feels love, anger, sorrow, "sillyness", etc. She's only 1 and she feels. Why do we need to teach our kids what 2+2 is and not "how to have the emotion "anger" or "Love" etc.?" Why do emotions come naturally? Answer: Because we are made in the image of God and God is a personal God with emotions.)
Jessi is terrified of grass, and has a love hate for stairs. It's really funny she'll sit on the last step and look up the stairs but if you actually put her on the first landing she clings to you and gets upset. Today I found out that she's not quite as terrified of grass as she used to be. I picked grass and sprinkled it on her and then she was looking at me like "EWWWWW" and of course she thought it was a game and started doing it with me. So there's one way to get rid of a child's fear.
If you say "Kisses" she will sometimes put her lips forward towards you, or other times she'll just put her head down for you to kiss her. It's really funny.
She knows how to say "ATE!" But, she likes to yell for me, "AHHHHHHHTTTTT!" It's funny! I love it. She knows her "rightful" place is my lap so if I sit somewhere and she comes along she'll plop herself in my lap. She's my little baby. If Jami or anyone else wants to come near me or in my lap she'll get mad sometimes. She'll yell at them and push them away. When she's mad at me she'll kick me. Hahah. Or reject me hoping I'll feel sorry for saying "no" or "putting her down so I can get other things done" LOL. I love that baby.
She loves books. So when she sees yur bookshelf, RUN AND DUCK FOR COVER! JK. She'll pull every book you've got off the shelf and just look at the pictures, and feel them. (We have a touch and feel book so now she's always feeling things. I taught her what it meant to feel, whenever we did the book I'd take her hand in mine and rub her hand on the soft part and say "sooooooofffft. soooooffft Jessi, soooft.") If you catch her feeling a book or anything, the way she says "sooffft" is "breeeeee" because whenever you swing her in the swings at the park you do "weee" but it's "brree" for her but in the tone of "sooooffft" HAHAHA. She thinks she's reading the book. She speaks gibberish and turns the pages. I keep telling her she'll be a great reader one day/writer.
And that's my Baby Bear!! I'll post some pics sometime this week so be sure to check back on this post.
LOVE,
~Lissie Darcy
So, as for the family blog series...
INTRODUCING...JESSI BEAR!!! Jess is 1 years old (Jan. 12). As far as looks go, her and Jonah have the Filipino side; the rest of us got the Irish side. That's ok though I hear there's a fear that there's becoming less and less people with red hair so hopefully we can pass it on!
Because Jess and Jonah are the two odd balls in the family, whenever we go grocery shopping we usually are asked, "Are these all your kids?". Haha. Funny, yet not funny because from the world's eyes a devource is so common a stranger isn't ashamed of asking if we all have the same parents.
Jess has this little blanky/bear that well as you can or maybe can't see used to be pink. We call it a "buddy". She has two of them. I don't know if you can see it but Buddy has a bow (a rather deformed bow now) and Jess likes to twist the bow while pressing Buddy against her chest; as she sucks passy. It's really cute and sweet. One thing I love about Jessica is when she loves something/someone she really loves it! She's only 1 years old and this human being feels love. A form of "matter" that just BOOM evolved doesn't feel love. It doesn't feel period! My Baby (Jess) feels love, anger, sorrow, "sillyness", etc. She's only 1 and she feels. Why do we need to teach our kids what 2+2 is and not "how to have the emotion "anger" or "Love" etc.?" Why do emotions come naturally? Answer: Because we are made in the image of God and God is a personal God with emotions.)
Jessi is terrified of grass, and has a love hate for stairs. It's really funny she'll sit on the last step and look up the stairs but if you actually put her on the first landing she clings to you and gets upset. Today I found out that she's not quite as terrified of grass as she used to be. I picked grass and sprinkled it on her and then she was looking at me like "EWWWWW" and of course she thought it was a game and started doing it with me. So there's one way to get rid of a child's fear.
If you say "Kisses" she will sometimes put her lips forward towards you, or other times she'll just put her head down for you to kiss her. It's really funny.
She knows how to say "ATE!" But, she likes to yell for me, "AHHHHHHHTTTTT!" It's funny! I love it. She knows her "rightful" place is my lap so if I sit somewhere and she comes along she'll plop herself in my lap. She's my little baby. If Jami or anyone else wants to come near me or in my lap she'll get mad sometimes. She'll yell at them and push them away. When she's mad at me she'll kick me. Hahah. Or reject me hoping I'll feel sorry for saying "no" or "putting her down so I can get other things done" LOL. I love that baby.
She loves books. So when she sees yur bookshelf, RUN AND DUCK FOR COVER! JK. She'll pull every book you've got off the shelf and just look at the pictures, and feel them. (We have a touch and feel book so now she's always feeling things. I taught her what it meant to feel, whenever we did the book I'd take her hand in mine and rub her hand on the soft part and say "sooooooofffft. soooooffft Jessi, soooft.") If you catch her feeling a book or anything, the way she says "sooffft" is "breeeeee" because whenever you swing her in the swings at the park you do "weee" but it's "brree" for her but in the tone of "sooooffft" HAHAHA. She thinks she's reading the book. She speaks gibberish and turns the pages. I keep telling her she'll be a great reader one day/writer.
And that's my Baby Bear!! I'll post some pics sometime this week so be sure to check back on this post.
LOVE,
~Lissie Darcy
For Uncle Zaiah
SERIOUSLY!! FO' ALL Y'ALL COFFEE LOVERS OUT THERE TOTALLY WASTE YO' TIME READING THIS post. Ok really don't bother reading it's pointless.
THANKS FOR THE FRENCH PRESS ZAIAH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS COFFEE IS DA BOMB! YEAH-YA! MM MM MM I'm drinkin that whole pot! WOOT WOOT! I'M GONNA BE SUPER HYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPEERRRRR WOAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
GIDDEY LONNGIE LIDDLIE DOGGIEEE
YEEE-HAW!
LOVE,
~L. D.
THANKS FOR THE FRENCH PRESS ZAIAH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS COFFEE IS DA BOMB! YEAH-YA! MM MM MM I'm drinkin that whole pot! WOOT WOOT! I'M GONNA BE SUPER HYYYYYYPPPPPPPPPPPEERRRRR WOAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
GIDDEY LONNGIE LIDDLIE DOGGIEEE
YEEE-HAW!
LOVE,
~L. D.
If.........
If you clicked on the link to the previous video I had put up then read this post IF you've watched it.
IF you watched it I don't know if you caught this or not but there were 4 different character "Types".
1. Opinion guy
2. Evolutionist fellow
3. I'm uncomfortable Dude
4. What's right for you guy a.k.a. "The Relative Thinker"
Ok so Guy #1 comes in and admires the painting, sees the signature and acknowledges that the painting has a painter.
Dude#2 Says, he hasn't heard anyone's opinion yet.
Dude#3 Says they should have a dialogue about it and talk about the painting and get everyone's opinion.
Guy#4 States how amazing the painting is and how it just fell out of the sky and formed "like so". There's your "Evolutionist Friend"
Guy#7 Says, "No painter!"
Dude#5 This conversation makes me uncomfortable...he leaves
Dude#6 Thinks that whoever you want the painter to be that's who the painter is. THERE'S YOUR RELATIVE THINKER FOR YA!
Guy#1 Says he has 3 reasons why he knows that there isn't a painter. 1. "How can we know he (sorry didn't quite catch the artist's name...) painted the painting when WE WEREN'T EVEN THERE!? 2. Everyone is saying he didn't do it. 3. If "so and so" painted the painting WHY DOESN'T HE JUST SHOW HIMSELF!?
Guy#3 Says to just enjoy the painting while they have it, and who cares if the painting has a painter or not.
Guy#7 He comes in and recognizes that the painting has a painter and says he loves the artist's signature etc.
BOOM! Then they quote Romans 1:19-20 and Dude#1 and #7 are talking and Dude#1 says, "Just because you can't see something, doesn't mean it's not there."
WOW! WOW! WOW! Why do these people not see that creation has a CREATOR!? Well, read the above verse.
This video was pretty amazing despite the corny aspect of it.
Much love,
~Lissie
IF you watched it I don't know if you caught this or not but there were 4 different character "Types".
1. Opinion guy
2. Evolutionist fellow
3. I'm uncomfortable Dude
4. What's right for you guy a.k.a. "The Relative Thinker"
Ok so Guy #1 comes in and admires the painting, sees the signature and acknowledges that the painting has a painter.
Dude#2 Says, he hasn't heard anyone's opinion yet.
Dude#3 Says they should have a dialogue about it and talk about the painting and get everyone's opinion.
Guy#4 States how amazing the painting is and how it just fell out of the sky and formed "like so". There's your "Evolutionist Friend"
Guy#7 Says, "No painter!"
Dude#5 This conversation makes me uncomfortable...he leaves
Dude#6 Thinks that whoever you want the painter to be that's who the painter is. THERE'S YOUR RELATIVE THINKER FOR YA!
Guy#1 Says he has 3 reasons why he knows that there isn't a painter. 1. "How can we know he (sorry didn't quite catch the artist's name...) painted the painting when WE WEREN'T EVEN THERE!? 2. Everyone is saying he didn't do it. 3. If "so and so" painted the painting WHY DOESN'T HE JUST SHOW HIMSELF!?
Guy#3 Says to just enjoy the painting while they have it, and who cares if the painting has a painter or not.
Guy#7 He comes in and recognizes that the painting has a painter and says he loves the artist's signature etc.
BOOM! Then they quote Romans 1:19-20 and Dude#1 and #7 are talking and Dude#1 says, "Just because you can't see something, doesn't mean it's not there."
WOW! WOW! WOW! Why do these people not see that creation has a CREATOR!? Well, read the above verse.
This video was pretty amazing despite the corny aspect of it.
Much love,
~Lissie
Saw this on the Wretched site
This video was on the Wretched site thought it was hilarious!! So true. Why can't we be as creative as these people? Granted, it was kind of corny but there was truth to it. So here's the link. The link will take you straight to youtube not to the Wretched site. So HERE!
*I EXPECT...no DEMAND feedback peeps!!,
~Lissie Darcy
*By now, you know me well 'nuff to know that I was joking. Or was I....? Dun Dun Dunnnn
*I EXPECT...no DEMAND feedback peeps!!,
~Lissie Darcy
*By now, you know me well 'nuff to know that I was joking. Or was I....? Dun Dun Dunnnn
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
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