Posts from — June 2009
I Have Heard Your Prayerrr…
In the midst of deep and convicted prayer for either a loved one, a necessity, a turmoil, a grief, a health issue, or a loss; you find that as you try to utter the words or to speak your prayer request to Him who hears all — that the words just won’t come. You are so moved with compassion and / or overcome with Godly need and grief that you can’t even get the air to travel up through your windpipe - up out past your vocal chords. You crumple at the weight of the pressing need — at the urgency of the moment. Your knees buckle. Your head is bowed low. You want and wish to pray out loud to your Savor and King but all you can manage is a moan, a whimper, a groan.
You try again. This time with tears welling up in your eyes. The need is too great. The request surreal. The urgency is stifling. You are moved to a state of Godly love and compassion for another human being or for a cause that is outside of yourself. You are completely overcome with empathy or are experiencing a loss so compelling that all that is left is Godly prayer.
You need to pray but the human emotion is too great to overcome or to bear for one person. You can’t speak; you can’t even mumble. So you groan and moan; you sob and you cry. In the recess of your mind you plead your case with God. However, God who is omnipotent sees all things; He knows all things, and He is aware of our needs before we even ask. Matthew 6:8
He sends the Holy Spirit. The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
True Godly love has taken hold. True Godly love has taken over. True Godly love is at work.
You kneel and you prostrate yourself before the High Throne of God and the Spirit pleads your
case before the Almighty in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27
He who has begun a good work in you will see you through to fruition. Believe and don’t stop uttering.
Don’t quench the Holy Spirit. God is listening and will answer in due time. Romans 8:28-39
He will answer and when He does may we be ready and able when we hear the words:
“I have heard your prayerrr…” 2 Kings 20:5
Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….
June 27, 2009 No Comments
Because I Said So
Eat the rest of your vegetables and then you may have dessert.
Why?
Because I said so…
Sit up straight at the table and remember your manners.
Why?
Because I said so…
Listen to your Mother while I am away.
Why?
Because I said so…
Be home before 11:00 or midnight on a high-school night.
Why?
Because we said so…
Stay in school, work at obtaining good grades, and remember to finish.
Why?
Because we said so…
Choose a good field, or find a career you are interested in, or seek higher education.
Why?
Because your future said so…
Arrive to work on time, be punctual, and strive to be part of the team.
Why?
Because they said so…
Meditate on the Book of the Law day and night.
Why?
Because the LORD said so… Joshua 1:8
Fear the LORD thy God, Walk in all His way, and Love him, and Serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Why?
Because the LORD your God said so… Deuteronomy 10:12
Go after Jesus, deny yourself, and take up your cross, and follow Jesus.
Why?
Because Jesus said so…Matthew 16:24
Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….
June 20, 2009 1 Comment
Put It On Ice
We head off to the grocery store to make several different food item purchases. We buy some loaves of bread, a couple pounds of ground chuck to make hamburgers, a few packs of hot dogs, a variety of fresh produce, and yes our favorite ice cream. We leave the store with our groceries in tow. Upon reaching home, we proceed to put our groceries away in our kitchens.
Now that we have purchased more than enough meat and more than enough bread and more than enough produce we will need to put these items away in a place that will keep them fresh in order for us to use them at a later date or time. To do this we will need to place a certain amount away in the freezer or refrigerator to maintain freshness. One could say, “We put them on ice.”
Or how about this, you are attending a meeting or a seminar and the committee or group is discussing ideas in order to come up with a new plan to promote better relations throughout the company or maybe they are developing new customer services techniques. Some of the topics or ideas may be used by the committee right off the bat; but some of the topics or ideas may need to be tabled or “put on ice.” That is to say, they are good ideas; but let’s hold that thought, topic, or idea for a discussion at a future meeting.
How about hibernation? I live in the northern part of the United States and when winter comes several animals hibernate during the cold and snowy months. They burrow into their dens and holes until the following early Spring thaw arrives. I guess one could say that they have been “put on ice.”
Now one is probably wondering where I am going with all of this. Let’s think about repentance. Repentance is a change from, a turning away from, a complete walk from, and a turning toward a new direction. How many of us - at any given time - Repent of something in our lives. We may have repented from some former type of behavior pattern, a thought process, a lifestyle, or a desire and lust. But the question is, “Have we truly repented or have we in reality “put it on ice?”
If we say that we have turned away from pornography and that we no longer look at it or engage in it on our computer screens; but at the same time we keep the porn websites saved in our favorites or in our bookmarks or written down on a tablet; then I am afraid we may have — “put it on ice.”
If we have turned away from a drinking problem and we no longer drink; but we keep the alcohol locked up in our liquor cabinet in our homes (for company and special occasions); then perhaps we have — “put it on ice.”
If we have a drug related problem and went through rehab and we no longer use; but we keep in contact with the same friends and users; are we not just — “putting it on ice?”
Do we have an issue with gossip and we vow to no longer gossip; so we compromise and join the prayer group — at least we will be kept in-the-know and yet we will be doing good; perhaps we have once again – “put it on ice.”
When you have an unfaithful and wandering spirit and you make a commitment to stand firm on being faithful and true to those you love; but you hold on to a past list of telephone numbers and addresses from former relationships; wouldn’t one call that — “putting it on ice?”
Repentance is a complete surrender (admitting to God and to ourselves of our faults and shortcomings). It is a complete turning to God (giving it ALL up to God), and a complete turning away from (prove our repentance by our deeds). Acts 26:20 God cannot be mocked. We will reap what we will sow. Galatians 6:7-10
True repentance is serious — it is good — it is necessary — it is complete. All too often we think of Satan as fire and hot; but he is cold and cunning and he lies in wait like a snake in the midst of winter. He is waiting for the ice to melt so he can awaken, come out from his hole, and plot his next move. He is not to be underestimated for he will strike when the opportunity presents itself. Fire and heat can burn and destroy the skin but so can ice if it has been kept in direct contact with the skin for too long of a period!
Repent and turn to God. Acts 3:19. Turn to the Lord and He will keep us safe. Proverbs 18:10
Till the next time, this is the Voice of Joyce signing off…….
June 13, 2009 2 Comments