Abba Father, He's My Dad!

Who wouldn't love to have a great relationship with our Dad? Many of us had great ones, while some of us really lacked the ability to have a wonderful father-child relationship. Some dads traveled, some dads weren't communicators, some dads had themselves been hurt as little children and couldn't show affection. Some were too harsh, others too lenient. Some were absent physically or emotionally. Some were even abusive. Then some of us were distant, too busy, or thoughtless. There are many reasons why we haven't had a perfect relationship with our earthly dads, but our Father in Heaven isn't like our earthly "Dad", no matter how wonderful he might be.

We as human parents love to give gifts to our children. Christmas, birthdays, sometimes even a "just because" gift, just to let them know we love them. Our Heavenly Father feels exactly the same about us. He wants to give us good things. He longs to bless His children.

Matthew 7:7-11
7. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. 9. "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10. "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11. "If you then, being evil, (by comparison) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Matthew 6:8
"Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.

James 4:2
You lust and do not have; [so] you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; [so] you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

God knows what we need, yes. He's all knowing, but He still desires for us to ask. And then say "thank you, Father."
These first three scripture talk about our "asking" the Father for the things we need, but have you thought about asking Him for everything that HE would like to give you. There may be gifts and blessings that we haven't thought about, that He would like to bestow upon us.

We've probably heard the story about the man that arrived in heaven and was led to the large room filled with rows and rows of beautifully wrapped presents, each one tied with a bow and sitting on a shelf. He was amazed and asked his guide what they were. The guide replied. "These are all the gifts and blessings that God had for you, but you never thought to ask for."

A little simplistic, but wouldn't you want to receive each and every gift that God had prepared for you out of His great love? This goes for not only material things and blessings, but how about friendships, experiences, and spiritual gifts. Many people are afraid to ask for spiritual gifts because they think they are "scarey". God is good, He will prepare and nurture you for your giftings.


Psalm 103:1-5
1. [A Psalm of David]. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, [bless] His holy name. 2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3. Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; 4. Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5. Who satisfies your years with good things, [So that] your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Here we see that God has gifts and "benefits". These come with our salvation "package", but sometimes we don't know or recognize it. Salvation, forgiveness of sin, health, love, spiritual optimism and hope. A satisfied life. Youth in body, mind, and spirit. These gifts are all available for us by "asking" for them.

Galatians 4:6
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:15
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"


These last two verses talk about God refering to Himself not only as our Father, but as our Dad. How wonderful to know that God says "I love you so much, call me Dad!" Knowing God in this way enables us to go before Him to "ask" because we know He loves us, really loves us. This gives us the understanding that we have a loving dad who wants us to ask for the things we need, even though He knows these things in advance. He has a plan to give us all that He wants to give us, and so that we will come before Him with confidence, that we might have "effective prayer".

Hope you are having a great start to your week.

love,

Debra

Effective Prayer, A.S.K.

Bible Study Fellowship is an International Bible Study open to all denominations. I imagine many of you have had the opportunity to belong. No matter where you live in the world, each group studies the same scripture and topic each week. I participated for six years, and during that time my knowledge of God's Word was expanded and strengthened. Having studied in this way has shown me that Scripture should be our basis for any "study". They have a prayer list for each individual small group called A.S.K., referring to the scriptural idea of "ask, seek, knock."

Version: NAS

Matthew 7:7-11
7. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. 9. "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10. "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Just in case you didn't know, God encourages us to seek Him. He is waiting for us to "open the door" of our heart and invite Him in. Not only for salvation, but for our every day needs and situations. Below are some scripture verses that prove God is asking us to seek after Him. His Holy Spirit "woos" us, yet God will not force us to seek Him. He wants US to come to HIM. That's part of our "free will". He gives us opportunity to come after Him.

Proverbs 8:17
"I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

Matthew 6:33
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you."


Psalm 34:8-102
8. O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9. O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him, there is no want. 10. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.


2 Chronicles 7:14
...and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.


Hebrews 11:6
...And without faith it is impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Jeremiah 33:3

'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

Let's look at these verses in a little more depth. Are we "diligently" seeking God? Not just half way with a "ho-hum" attitude, but are we serious about coming after Him? I can tell you it's worth the effort.

Are we seeking Him first? I love how Joyce Meyer says, "Run to the throne, not to the phone". I know it's really easy to want to discuss our problems with everyone else, check out what the Internet has to say, check in with the doctor, etc., but God asks us to come to Him first. If we do, we are giving Him the opportunity to speak to us and to "work on our behalf". He's not saying we can't consult others, just talk to Him about it first.

God tells us that when we look to Him as our Father and Provider, we will not lack any good thing.

And here's a touchy subject, do we have sin in our life that we need to hear from the Lord about? If there are things in our life that are unpleasing to the Lord we need to let Him speak to us. I'm sorry, I can't sugar coat this, this is the Truth of God's Word. I'm not saying He refuses us, on the contrary. He wants to help us.

God tells us that if we seek after Him that He will reward us. Intimate relationship, peace, joy, healing of body and mind. He is a rewarder of those that seek Him.

And lastly He says if we will just call out to Him, that He will answer! Good to know that we are not wasting our breath. He will answer.

So, not only does God encourage us to "seek" Him, He tells us that if we do He will reward us. He is a giver of good gifts, as we saw in the Matthew 7 passage. He is a good Father.
Seeking Him is part of the invitation to prayer. He calls us to come after Him. He's standing at the door and asking us to "open up". He isn't the one that we have to twist His arm. He's willing and ready to get involved with our prayer needs. All we need to do is ASK.

I will be posting the "Weekend Comments" post late Friday or early Saturday. Remember, if you need to catch up and want to leave a comment on any of the daily posts this week you can leave them on the weekend post, just reference which day and post name. I'll check in. Hope you're getting something from these prayer posts. I know they are simple and basic, but sometimes that's just what I need.

love,

Debra

Have a great weekend, hope your weather is better than last weekend. I know ours is!

Stay "Connected"

Think of yourself right now, wherever you are; sitting in a chair at a desk or at the kitchen table, curled up on the sofa, or cozied up in the bed. Yeah, let's sneak away for a few minutes of "alone time", that mini vacation amidst the holiday hustle and bustle. Some time to spend with our blogging pals, searching the latest Christmas decor and tasty recipes. Ahhh computer, "take me away"!


So since we are all on the computer right now let's just use this analogy.

Having a  computer, we know that it's useless unless it's "plugged in". We can look at the computer screen, sit there all day waiting for it to "turn on", but unless the little wires are connected to the electrical outlet, we don't get anything. Oh, you say, "Well, I have a laptop and I don't need to be "connected"." True, you may not need the connection for the moment, but I can guarantee that at some point in the near future your battery will run out and you will be in the same place as the rest of us. Nothing showing up on the screen but a blank space and a faint glimmer of your own reflection.

In our physical daily life we can be running around, taking care of all our duties, have a fabulous social life, and kids that are "bumper sticker" worthy. We may cook the best and most tasty recipes that draw oohhhhs and aaahhhhhs from our families, show up in the new slinky nightwear, and have a floor that you could eat a 5 course meal off of, but what if you're just running on "batteries" and you're not really "plugged in"?

Pretty soon you will be running down, and at the most inconvenient of times you will be without power; "blank". You will be staring at a black hole in the middle of life.

The Vine and The Branches, John 15

Version: NAS

John 15:1-7

1. "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every [branch] that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit. 3. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither [can] you, unless you abide in Me. 5. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6. "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you."

Jesus talks about us abiding in Him.

Let's look up the real meaning of "abide".


to live with, to act in accordance with, to endure, permanent, unchanging, constant, steadfast, everlasting, fixed, firm, immutable.


So when I read the verse where it says we are to "abide" in Him, and that then He will "abide" in us. I think it means more than just a casual relationship. Sounds to me like Jesus is asking us to "move in" with Him, be more than just a casual friend. We can even take the thought of "marrying" Jesus. He's looking for a permanent, constant, exclusive relationship with Him. After all, He does call His Church, the "Bride of Christ".
Joyce Meyer has often said, "We need to do more than just "date" Jesus, we need to be "married" to Him. We need that kind of lasting, permanent, official, steadfast kind of relationship.


Jesus is our power source and without being "plugged in" to Him we are not going to be running at our optimum speed, or for very long. It doesn't take long for our "batteries" to run out when we're "using it up' with the busy-ness of life. 


Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. Without being "connected" to the vine, our power source, it wouldn't be long before we are losing our nourishment, then over time we start to wither. If there was any fruit there it soon becomes dried up..."raisins", shriveled and small. Then before you know it, due to lack of flow from the Holy Spirit, we start to break apart from the vine. Then we're spiritually dead. Next?...well, you have read the rest.


Especially this time of year, it's easy to let the stress of all the Holiday Season, from Thanksgiving to New Years, with Christmas in between, get us down and zap our strength. It's easy to let expectations, lack of time, financial burdens, and family "drama" get the better of us. In this busy time, lets stay connected to the source of our strength and power. Plug in to Jesus. Let's keep that connection for a daily time of prayer and "intimacy". A time to study God's Word and keep that communication flowing.

Fruit that is "constant" is the sign of health and vitality in our relationship with God. It's a sign that we are "abiding". Let's "Abide in Him", so that we can be confident in our ability to see those "benefits" we talked about. And along the way we will become more like Him. You know what they say, you start acting like those you hang out with. So let's spend our "alone time", not by ourselves, but connected. Connected to Jesus.

Have a wonderful "week before Christmas".
love,

Debra

Benefiting from the Gift of His Presence

I had a plan for this next post. But one thing the Lord always asks of me is to be "available". He wants me and you to be available to hear Him and then do what He asks us to do.

We just happened to watch the movie "Yes Man" last night with Jim Carrey. I'm not saying run out and rent it. It had some questionable language, and a few other things that were, well, maybe not Bible Study material. The reason I even make mention of it, is because when God calls us and then asks things of us, I have learned that He wants a willing heart and an attitude of  "Yes". So today when I planned on another post that I still feel He wants, He asked me to write this instead.

God wants to talk about benefiting us

with His presence,

 and all that "Gift" really means.

Please don't be turned off by the amount of scripture that's here today. Each one of these passages God gave me specifically. That was one of the things I want to stress here in this blog, it is A Bible Study. I can talk all day, and maybe say some things that are interesting and even beneficial, but there is nothing better than God's Word to get to the heart of the matter. So that is why there is so much scripture to read. He can say it better than I can. The Word of God supernaturally informs, reveals, convicts, heals and permeates our being. There are some people out there that He wants to reach today. So ask God if you are one of them. (I think we all are). Then let Him bring to your mind and heart what He is wanting to say to you.

Version: NAS
Psalm 103:1-18


1. [A Psalm of David]. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, [bless] His holy name. 2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3. Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; 4. Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5. Who satisfies your years with good things, [So that] your youth is renewed like the eagle. 6. The LORD performs righteous deeds, And judgments for all who are oppressed. 7. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. 8. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. 9. He will not always strive [with us]; Nor will He keep [His anger] forever. 10. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. 12. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13. Just as a father has compassion on [his] children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. 14. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are [but] dust. 15. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more; And its place acknowledges it no longer. 17. But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children, 18. To those who keep His covenant, And who remember His precepts to do them.

God is giving us an opportunity for good things in our lives. If you don't know that or believe that, please do. He is not harsh or mean spirited. He is not angry with us. No matter how many times we mess up or fall down, He is right there, reaching out His hand, taking ahold of us and wrapping us in His arms. We cannot compare His love for and to us with any earthly parent. He is above and beyond any love that we have ever known.


Version NAS
Jeremiah 29:11-13


11. 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13. 'And you will seek Me and find [Me], when you search for Me with all your heart. 14. 'And I will be found by you,' declares the LORD,

Version: NAS
Matthew 12:15-21


15. "... And many followed Him, and He healed them all, 16. and warned them not to make Him known, 17. in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, might be fulfilled, saying, 18. "Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19. "He will not quarrel, nor cry out; Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20. "A battered reed He will not break off, And a smoldering wick He will not put out, Until He leads justice to victory. 21. "And in His name the Gentiles will hope."

Not only do these scripture verses talk about Jesus healing physical disease and illness, He is reminding us today of His great love for us. Somewhere due to circumstances in our lives we tend to forget that God Really Loves Us.
In verse 20 it says that He will not break off a battered reed or put out a smoldering wick. What does that mean? God loves us so much He will not do anything to harm us. He sees when we are downtrodden, depressed, and feeling without hope. He sees when there is only the slightest spark in our spiritual life and relationship with Him. Is He going to stomp on you and crush you when you are down or "in the pit"? Does He refuse us because we may not feel worthy? NO! Just the opposite, He will do whatever He can to pull us up. Just let Him. Just give Him the attitude of "yes". Trust Him and give the Lord the permission to help you. He is right there waiting to help you whatever your need...physically, mentally, emotionally, and relationally. He is ready to step in and let you FEEL and Know His benefits.

Remember the scripture from last post?

Version: NAS

John 15:9-13

9. "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. 11. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and [that] your joy may be made full. 12. "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus laid down His life for us. For salvation, yes, but for other benefits from His great love. I love the verse about "Joy", that His joy may be placed in our hearts. No matter what we are going through we can still have the "joy" that comes from knowing Jesus.

Let His love put you in a place where you can receive His Benefits. After all they are right there waiting for us. It's a complete package. You get Him and you get His Benefits. I think realizing that could be the best Christmas gift we could ever receive.

Love to all you,

my "friends".

Debra