The Prayer Room: Praying for America, FR, and all who need it

Various | 11/8/06 | Knitting a Conundrum

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

Psalm 127:1>

At this time, when feelings run high, the world seems crazy, and anger seems to be the one thing the peoples of the world have in common, I invite you, my fellow FReepers, to join me in prayers and meditation for guidance, God's help and for our fellow man, for America, our troops,  and all our own needs.


Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

William Bradbury

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.

Psalm 46: 1-3

[Eva]

My grandmother took me to someplace in Philadelphia to hear that woman missionary speak and tell the story of the missionaries in Ecuador. I think that the only real reason that I remember it is that they showed shrunken heads. It was very scary for a young child.

[bperiwinkle7]

I think seeing shrunken heads at any age is scary!

How brave they were to want to share the Gospel of Life with head-hunters....

[bperiwinkle7]

"...until at last I stand where that faith is sight..."

Amen.

[Kitty Mittens]

...dressed in your wedding robe of sparkling white.

Lovely Imagery, and my Heart can't Wait for that Day, through our Savior's Grace.

'On the holy mountain
Stands the city founded by the Lord.
He loves the city of Jerusalem
More than any other city in Israel.
O city of God,
What glorious things are said of you!

I will count Egypt and Babylon
Among those who know me—
Also Philistia and Tyre,
And even distant Ethiopia.
They have all become
Citizens of Jerusalem!
Regarding Jerusalem
It will be said,
“Everyone enjoys the rights
Of citizenship there.”
And the Most High
Will personally bless this city.
When the Lord registers the nations,
He will say,
“They have all become
Citizens of Jerusalem.” (Ps.87)

The people will play flutes and sing,
“The source of my life
Springs from Jerusalem!”'

Yes, our Master, how we Long for that City of Light! This World Becomes Wearisome, but the World that Awaits will Banish All Pain. Our Jesus Awaits; His Promises are All True. "I will Betroth thee Unto Me Forever." (Hos.2:19) Hasten that Day, our God, when the Saints of All Time will Give Thee Praise. Our Lord of Majesty, our Shepherd-King, Receive the Love and Honor from our Hearts. "I will Praise You, my God and King, and Bless Your Name Each Day and Forever." (Ps.145:1) In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we Worship You, King Jesus, amen.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I read this in a friend's blog:

Please pray for little Sophia. This little girl, who goes to has a brain tumor. She is very small for her age 7 -- caused by the tumor apparently. The tumor was discovered last week by doctors who were trying to figure out a cause for her small stature. The tumor is wrapped around her pituitary gland and her optical nerves. They expect that it will take three surgeries to remove the tumor, and she is probably going to lose some or all of her eyesight. The first surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 13. Pass this prayer request on to anyone who is willing to join in prayer for her. Pray for a miracle for Sophia. Pray for her team of surgeons.

Please pass this on to any prayer lists you have.

[Faith]

Praying for Sophia's complete victory in Jesus.

Lord, You are able to guide the hands of these surgeons, lifting this tumor from this precious child, and restoring her to complete health. I confess Your protection over her eyesight and acknowledge You as Lord over her life. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

[Rte66]

Lighting a Candle for Sophia

Light An FR Prayer Room Candle

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[bperiwinkle7]

Gen 5:24 And Henoch (Enoch) walked with God, and he was no more seene: for God tooke him away.
--Geneva Bible

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

Oh! for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame;
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul-refershing view
Of Jesus and his word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return!
Sweet the messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made thee mourn
And drove thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
--William Cowper

1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Oh Good Shepherd, You go on before your flock.
I will follow closely so I don't lose sight of You, upon Whom my heart is set.
You Lead us and guide us in Paths of Righteousness for your Name's sake.
Let the quiet peace and comfort of seeing the Shepherd up ahead permeate my soul today.

Heb 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jam 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/o/l/wolsidnr.htm

Wherewith, O Lord, shall I draw near,
And bow myself before Thy face?
How in Thy purer eyes appear?
What shall I bring to gain Thy grace?

Whoe’er to Thee themselves approve
Must take the path Thyself has showed;
Justice pursue, and mercy love,
And humbly walk by faith with God.

But though my life henceforth be Thine,
Present for past can ne’er atone;
Though I to Thee the whole resign,
I only give Thee back Thine own.

What have I then wherein to trust?
I nothing have, I nothing am;
Excluded is my every boast;
My glory swallowed up in shame.

Guilty I stand before Thy face;
On me I feel Thy wrath abide:
’Tis just the sentence should take place,
’Tis just—but O, Thy Son hath died!

Jesus, the Lamb of God, hath bled,
He bore our sins upon the tree,
Beneath our curse He bowed His head,
’Tis finished! He hath died for me!

For me I now believe He died!
He made my every crime His own,
Fully for me He satisfied:
Father, well pleased behold Thy Son.

He ever lives for me to pray;
He prays that I with Him may reign;
Amen to what my Lord doth say!
Jesu, Thou canst not pray in vain.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:24,25 RSV

We use the term to carry one's crosses sort of glibly, but let us take a moment to think about the context here. In Jesus' day, one would occassionally see an execution procession, where the victims were tied to the heavy crossbeams that would be used to execute them with, as they were marched to the place of execution where the uprights were placed permanently.

These were heavy beams, around a hundred pounds or so, and normally they would tie the victim's arms to it as he walked.

Here, we see Jesus saying, "Take up this load willingly. If you think you're going to save your life in the long run by running away from this burden, you will not, and you will lose. If you take it up and follow me, even though it looks like you are going, burdened, giving up, to a place of loss, you will find your life."

To repeat that, Jesus says:

Follow me if you want to live.

Deny yourself, and reject those things the world says are good, but God says are not.

Even if the world thinks you are burdened and a loser, you are not.

Those who follow the world will find themselves on the losing end.

Don't think it's just going to be a cakewalk. We're talking about giving up and accepting something contrary to the world's wisdom, and that can make it seem very heavy.

Jesus demonstrated this in a very literal way, by taking up his own cross, suffering and dying, and then rising on the third day. But one of the truths about being a follower of Jesus is being willing to give it all up for the glory and love of God. How we are asked to do that giving varies, but the giving is implicit in the relationship. If you are not willing to take up one's cross, you can't really follow Jesus the way he asks.

Prayer:

Each step, that day, O my Jesus, how hard it was,
that last, painful walk through the crowded holiday streets
beneath a burden incredibly hard to bear,
one foot following another,
a countdown you were born for,
each step one less to the time when you would walk no more
before tasting the depths of death.

Watching you in mind's eye, O my Jesus,
so many years after,
when the reality of this moment is doubted by so many in the world,
in my heart, seeing your blood and sweat streaked face marred beneath your thorny crown,
I contemplate your words, "Come to me, you who are heavy burdened," and know,
that as I watch you walk that short but o so long march
from the place of condemnation to the place of execution,
what weighs more on your shoulders than the hundred pounds of wood strapped to your arms
is the weight of so many sins,
my sins,
the griefs of a sin-drenched world
the darkness gnawing at the center of untold hearts,
a load you carried willingly
so that we might find rest.

O my Jesus,
may I, in my remembering,
learn to follow in your footsteps,
walking the road beneath the cross you give me
with as much love and willingness as my wavering heart can muster
for the love of the walk you took,
this day and always.

Amen.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Each step that day, as the crowd pressed in,
How hard it was for You, burdened with a dark world's sin,
that last, painful walk through Jerusalem's dust,
beneath a burden incredibly hard to bear, but bear it You must -
step by aching step, one foot following another
a countdown You were born for, while others thought to smother
Your light, Heaven's light, beneath a rebel's death
Each step that day a struggle of muscle and breath
each step one less to the time when you would walk no more
before tasting the depths of darkness that would open hope's door.

Watching you in mind's eye, O my Jesus, what you did so long ago,
the reality of that moment doubted by so many who think they know,
in my heart, seeing your blood streaked face marred beneath your thorny crown,
Your mother's tears, the bored soldiers, the impatient centurion's frown,
I contemplate your words, "Come to me, you who are heavy burdened," and know
that as I watch you walk that short but hard march, each shove and blow
from the place of condemnation to the place of execution,
That your death was a gift, the choice was God's solution.


O my Jesus, may I, in my remembering that day, that gift,
learn to follow in your footsteps in gratitude, and let you heal sin's rift,
walking beside you on the road from death to life beneath the cross you give me;
teach me to bear its burden well, as a treasure, graciously
with as much love and willingness as my wavering heart can muster,
And forgive me this day, if I forget and stand and whine and bluster
Because I love you for the loving walk you took -
Bring it to my mind daily - help me stand and look!

Amen.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[bperiwinkle7]

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/p/jpricelt.htm

Jesus, priceless Treasure,
Source of purest pleasure,
Truest Friend to me.
Ah, how long in anguish
Shall my spirit languish,
Yearning, Lord, for Thee?
Thou art mine, O Lamb divine!
I will suffer naught to hide Thee,
Naught I ask beside Thee.

In Thine arms I rest me;
Foes who would molest me
Cannot reach me here.
Though the earth be shaking,
Every heart be quaking,
Jesus calms my fear.
Lightnings flash and thunders crash;
Yet, though sin and hell assail me,
Jesus will not fail me.

Satan, I defy thee;
Death, I now decry thee;
Fear, I bid thee cease.
World, thou shalt not harm me
Nor thy threats alarm me
While I sing of peace.
God’s great power guards every hour;
Earth and all its depths adore Him,
Silent bow before Him.

Evil world, I leave thee;
Thou canst not deceive me,
Thine appeal is vain.
Sin that once did bind me,
Get thee far behind me,
Come not forth again.
Past thy hour, O pride and power;
Sinful life, thy bonds I sever,
Leave thee now forever.

Hence, all thought of sadness!
For the Lord of gladness,
Jesus, enters in.
Those who love the Father,
Though the storms may gather,
Still have peace within;
Yea, whatever we here must bear,
Still in Thee lies purest pleasure,
Jesus, priceless Treasure!

[Kitty Mittens]

Amen to your Beautiful Offerings to our King! Praying for the Blessing of Every King's Child.

JEHOVAH ROPHI, I AM THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE (Exodus, xv)

Heal us, Emmanuel! here we are,
Waiting to feel Thy touch:
Deep-wounded souls to Thee repair
And, Saviour, we are such.

Our faith is feeble, we confess,
We faintly trust Thy word;
But wilt Thou pity us the less?
Be that far from Thee, Lord!

Remember him who once applied,
With trembling, for relief;
"Lord, I believe," with tears he cried,
"Oh, help my unbelief!"

She too, who touch'd Thee in the press,
And healing virtue stole,
Was answer'd, "Daughter, go in peace,
Thy faith hath made thee whole."

Conceal'd amid the gathering throng,
She would have shunn'd Thy view;
And if her faith was firm and strong,
Had strong misgivings too.

Like her, with hopes and fears we come,
To touch Thee, if we may;
Oh! send us not despairing home,
Send none unheal'd away! ~William Cowper~

Thank You, our Master, that You Everlastingly Care for us. Your Love Gives us Strength; Your Grace Imparts our Hope. Help us, our God, to Walk in Thy Spirit's Sweet Peace. Quicken us, Revive us, Cause us to Forsake All Sin. Help Thy Children who Hurt, and Bring them the Remedies they Need. Speak a Word of Thy Kindness, a Word of Thy Sovereign, Great Grace.

You are our God, Lord Jesus Christ; we Reverance and Sing to Thy Name. We Love You, O Father our King, Praying in Jesus' Name, amen.

[bperiwinkle7]

Psa 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
.......
Psa 18:28 For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.
........
Psa 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
Psa 84:12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
........
Isa 60:19 The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.
.......
Isa 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."

Oh LORD of Redemption and Mercy, I ask that you would be everything to me.
I want to say with your Word that my heart is fixed and my eyes are on your throne.
Please be the God of my life in my spirit, soul and body.
The LORD Reigns.

Rev 19:6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.


http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/i/gismystr.htm

God is my strong Salvation: What foe have I to fear?
In darkness and temptation, my Light, my Help is near.
Though hosts encamp around me, firm in the fight I stand.
What terror can confound me, with God at my right hand?

Place on the Lord reliance; my soul, with courage, wait.
His truth will be my Sustenance, when faint and desolate.
His might my heart shall strengthen, His love my joy increase.
Mercy my days shall lengthen; the Lord will give me peace.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[Rte66]

Urgent prayer request:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1784030/posts

[E.G.C.]

BTTT