“PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.”

Meditations on God's Word, , ,

 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
    to all who call upon Him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)

PRAYERS 

Eyes opening in the morning.

A prayer of praise.

Walking at dusk, looking up at the heavens.

A prayer of thanks.

Driving to work, an ambulance siren heard from behind.

A prayer for healing.

A friend’s text message request for support with depression.

A prayer for God’s hope.

The loss of a family member you could not see for closure.

 A prayer for faith.

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Is there a time, an occurrence when prayer

could not be part of the experience?

 

Prayer-

Our breath to God,

Inhaling His Word-

Exhaling our thoughts,

Communicating with Him

In praise, in gratitude-

Seeking His comfort

In hope, in faith-

As He leans toward us,

Hearing and listening,

Ever present in love,

Answering in His way-

His Breath to us.

 

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING . . .

(1 Thessalonians 5:17)

(Sharon G. Tate blog  05/02/21) teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

“KNOW THAT THE LORD IS GOD.” 

Meditations on God's Word, ,

 

The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

(Job 33:4)

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 How often do we think about and reflect upon–

**breathing–unless there is a health concern that affects that life necessity?

**walking–unless something happens which impairs or prevents our ability to move?

**seeing–unless our vision is reduced, diminished significantly, or gone?

**hearing–unless communication becomes challenging or lost through this sense?

 

We, often, take much for granted in this life—

until something is missing, changed, or gone.

Maybe by taking the essentials of our creation for granted,

we are taking God, our Creator, for granted.

 

—So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:27)

—For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14)

—Yet You, Lord, are Our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

—Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?  (I Corinthians 3:16)

 We should daily think about and reflect upon God’s gifts of–

**breathing—taking in every breath gratefully as it is given from God.

**walking—moving forward in the moment and experiencing joy in the ability to do so.

**seeing—beholding the creation around us, including family, friends, and family in the Lord.

**hearing—listening to the sounds of God’s nature, the voices of loved ones, the praises to God.

His gifts to us, just in the creation of our own being, are beyond what we can comprehend. Even when impairments occur within our mortal forms, there is so much wonder in how we have been “knit together” by God that we should always be in awe. We can–and must–daily appreciate, in wonder and gratitude, our created existence in all its complexity and simplicity from our Father, our God, our Creator.

“An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children.  He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.” 1

Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His;
we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. (Psalm 100:3)

1 A.W, Tozer quotes. goodreads.com

(Sharon G. Tate blog 04/25/2021) teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

THE BLESSING OF GOD’S GRACE THROUGH CHRIST

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I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it;

 I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.(Romans 7:18-19 The Message)

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A pond. Rocks piled on the bank. A little boy.

He looks at the rock in his hand and knows he should not, but inevitably, the sound:

Kerplunk!

A second rock hitting the water.

Kerplunk!

His mother enters the scene. “Didn’t I tell you NOT to toss rocks into the pond!” The boy sheepishly lowers his head, knowing he has disobeyed his mom. He looks down at the rock in his hand and away from his mother’s eyes. His hand does what he knows he should not do.

Inevitably, the sound:

Kerplunk!

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17-20 For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. 21-23 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. (Romans 7:17-23 The Message)

We know we should not—yet we think the thought: Kerplunk!

We know we must not–but we speak the words: Kerplunk!

We know better—yet we commit the act: Kerplunk!

We know we should–but we do not: Kerplunk!

Are we any different from the boy who disobeys his mother, not really wanting to, but being a little boy, drawn to what a young child will do? And we adults, with our human weaknesses, think, speak, and do what we know we should not and do not do what we know we should. In Romans, Paul speaks of this dilemma, recognizing that he needs Jesus. Alone, he cannot keep from sin. Jesus took his sins and ours to the cross, that we might have the grace of God to help us in the battle against our own weakness to sin.

 24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? 25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.  (Romans 7:24-25.The Message)

 Jesus is our answer when we are at the end of our rope.

He is the Lifeline. He is the Light. He is the Way.

I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

(Sharon G. Tate blog 04/18/21)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

GOING HOME TO THE FATHER

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25 “These things I have spoken to you, while I am still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming.  He has no power over Me; 31 but I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go hence.

(John 14: 25-31)
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JESUS CHOSE THE CROSS IN OBEDIENCE TO AND LOVE FOR THE FATHER,
TO WHOM HE COULD DECLARE FROM THE CROSS,
“IT IS FINISHED.”
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GOING HOME
Jesus told His disciples that He was going away to the Father. He did not leave them, or us, alone. He left His peace, The Holy Spirit would be sent, and He would come back to take those who follow Him to be with Him forever. We, His current followers, now await His return with anticipation, that we may go home and be with Him and the Father eternally.
GOING HOME
The saying is that one can never go home again as it will not be the same, and we will have changed. Jesus returned to the Father. He went home. God had not changed, for He cannot. The home, heaven, was the same. Yet, what about Jesus, who had become a mortal, living thirty-three years on earth, experiencing what we all go through, suffering and bleeding in death? Was it different for Him, returning home with the perspective of knowing what it was like to be human? He is divine, but because of His experience here and His sacrifice for our sins on the cross, we can go to Him as He understands and can empathize with our struggles, pain, heartaches, and joys. He became our intercessor with the Father.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues for ever. 25 Consequently He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens.  (Hebrews 7:23-26)
GOING HOME
Jesus went home and became our High Priest. He chose this through His commitment to take on our sins and offer His life on the cross. Without that sacrifice, we would not have the intercession we can access always through Him to God. Continually and always, Jesus gives to us, speaks for us, and intercedes for us.
What can we do in return, in gratitude to Him?
And He said to all, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself  and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
(Sharon G. Tate blog 04/4/21)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

THE TRINITY OF PROMISE, LIGHT, and HOPE

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 STAY.  WATCH.  PRAY.

 36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsem′ane, and He said to His disciples, “Sit here, while I go yonder and pray.” 37 And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zeb′edee, He began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther He fell on his face and prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and He said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, for the second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Thy will be done.” 43 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, My betrayer is at hand.” (Matthew 26:36-46)

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AWAKEN.  ARISE.  FOLLOW.

The directives from Jesus to His disciples were clear. Yet, they did not watch. Instead, they slept, and they were not praying in this somnolent state. His companions, His friends, the chosen ones who would carry out His mission when His purpose on earth was fulfilled could not even stay awake, watch, and pray. Three separate times, Jesus came to them and found them asleep.

Three separate times. Jesus prayed to His Father as the disciples slept, asking if what is to come could somehow, if it was possible, pass from Him. Yet, He still acknowledged it was His Father’s will that He would obey, not His own. He was awake. He prayed. He stayed with His Father.

A trinity of commands. A trinity of prayers. A trinity of response.

The hour was at hand. The betrayer was at hand. The disciples were not prepared for what was to come.

There was a scattering of the disciples as Jesus was taken. “And they all forsook Him, and fled.” (Mark 14:50) They were not asleep this time. Awake to what they saw, they might be taken too by association with Jesus. They did not stay with Him, except Peter who turned back and followed, but at a distance with the crowd. Yet, he did not stay with Jesus in loyalty.

A trinity of cock crows. A trinity of denial as Peter declared he never knew Jesus.

And what of us, His disciples today? Have we stayed? Are we watchful? Are we praying? Are we awake? Have we risen to His call to teach others about Him?  Are we truly following our Lord Jesus in the open, not the shadows?

AWAKEN.  ARISE.  FOLLOW.

We have a Trinity of Promise, Light, and Hope to guide us

 in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Let us remain faithful.

STAY.  WATCH.  PRAY.

(Sharon G. Tate blog 03/28/2021)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

Solitude with God

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And when it was day He departed and went into a lonely place. (Luke 4:42)

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“Who wants to go camping!” A hand is not raised. It is mine. Anyone who knows me at all is aware that camping is not “my thing.” One problem is the campfire smoke with autoimmune lung disease, but overall, I just am not a camper. However, the concept of “getting away from it all” is, often, desirable and needed.

“Getting away from it all” by going to God alone, in solitude,

wherever that place, whenever that time may be.

 For me, it might be in the morning when I first awaken. My personal one-on-one talk with God.

During the hours in the day, it might be communicating with Him while washing dishes, doing the laundry, reading a page in a book. Connecting. Maybe remembering a prayer forgotten. Thinking of someone who is hurting. Maybe it’s me, needing support for the day.

It might be later in the evening outside on my deck or looking out through a window, watching the sky blossom into a beautifully vivid sunset. I stand there in gratitude to my Creator for His creation and this moment in awe and reverence.

Alone time with God is the most precious time.

Being with the One who truly hears and listens.

Communicating with my Father who loves completely.

Pouring out thoughts and feelings openly to my God.

15 But so much the more the report went abroad concerning Him; and great multitudes gathered to hear and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But He withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. (Luke 5:15-16)

 Withdrawing from others, withdrawing from self to join with God in prayer—

the communication He has offered to us freely, anytime, every time.

 

Jesus needed this time,

Alone with His Father,

In solitude with God.

 

How much more do I

Need to withdraw

And seek His Presence.

 

Always finding Him,

Waiting for my heart

To open unto Him.

(Sharon G. Tate blog 03/21/21)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

‘WHAT SORT OF MAN IS THIS. . .?”

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 23 And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep. 25 And they went and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?” Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?”(Matthew 8:23-27)

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38 But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” 39 And He awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”   41 And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey Him?   (Mark 4:38-41)

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24 And they went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing! 25 And He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even wind and water, and they obey Him?” (Luke 8:24-25)

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As I write, the March winds are howling. If the pond that I can see from my window was not frozen, the waters would be churning in agitated motion with waves lapping against the banks. It would not be a safe place for a small boat with passengers.

The disciples were not on a small pond but on the sea in a boat “swamped by the waves” during a great storm. And Jesus was asleep. They called out to wake Him, so He could see their dire dilemma, addressing Him as Lord, Teacher, or Master in these accounts. Yet Jesus was, also, referred to as a man. When they pondered the magnitude of power needed to calm the winds and sea, indeed, this was no ordinary man. “What sort of man is this…?” “Who, then, is this…?” Did the question reflect a storm within of uncertainty, of fear regarding this man Jesus? The disciples had witnessed His miracles. Yet, the mortal mind will engage in human reasoning to explain the obedience of the elements to this man Jesus: “What sort of man is this…?”

Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith. Haven’t we all been there, in the storm, facing the tumult, fearful of the outcome? Did we think Jesus was asleep? The disciples reached out to Him. Yet, they did not comprehend His power and authority. Do we, likewise, fail?

The storm may be daunting: “You are in respiratory failure.” “You have Stage 3 cancer.”  “Your baby is stillborn.” “Your mother passed in the nursing home in COVID restrictions.” But Jesus IS awake and living. He waits for us to reach out to Him through our fears, our despair, our heartaches and tears. And He can and will give us the saving calm we need. “Peace! Be still!” It is up to us to accept His peace, His presence, His plan, and His love which may involve a rebuke for our lack of faith.

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never fail you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

 We cannot turn to anything or anyone else but Him for the salvation and peace we need—whether we are in the small boat on the pond dealing with the lesser problems in life or in the boat on the sea during the most difficult storms.

(Sharon G. Tate blog 03/12/21) teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

 

 

FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION: TEACHING CHRIST

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Train up a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it.
(Proverbs 22:6)
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Recently, I had a Facetime chat with my grandchildren. When my six-year-old grandson was in view, I saw that he had lost his other front tooth. I started singing, “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.” He looked at me oddly and said,
“I never heard of that.”
It was just a moment of sharing something that he had “never heard of” from a past that was not his, but it represents an interaction we need to have with our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all those younger than us. It is, especially, important that we share Jesus Christ and the Word–as teachers, mentors, and living examples like Paul was to Timothy.
3  I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I   remember you constantly in my prayers. 4 As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your  sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lo′is and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you. . . 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; 14 guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. (2 Timothy 1:3-5, 13-14)
Timothy had the teaching and example in his youth from his mother and grandmother. This was the foundation that Paul could build upon to help Timothy become a strong disciple for Christ.
A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40)
 We have opportunities to be the teachers, mentors, and living examples for those closest to us and those we encounter, even if for a few moments. A woman in the church my grandchildren attend seized upon an opportunity and started an online Children’s Worship on Zoom since the church has not had in-person services due to COVID. This is a wonderful opportunity to reach these children who would, otherwise, miss this teaching. The teacher told me that my grandkids ask to pray for me as I have been dealing with COVID and lung issues. It gave me the opportunity to reach out to my grandchildren in a letter to tell them that I am praying for them as they have prayed for me. To my granddaughter, who is eight, I told her we have this special bond in prayer between us, that I pray for her and she prays for me. I did not see her reaction to this, but I do know a seed was planted.
Many seeds need to be planted with our youth. The adage “it takes a village” is so true, and it is reflected in this verse from Proverbs:
Where there is no guidance, a people falls;
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
(Proverbs 11:14)
A nation will fall if the generation that follows is not guided by the generation before. The love of the Lord and the Word must be planted and nourished.
 One generation shall laud Thy works to another,
and shall declare Thy mighty acts (Psalm 145:4)
 Every child is “my child” and “your child” in the sense of God’s community.
13 Then children were brought to Him that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; 14 but Jesus said, “Let the children come to Me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 19: 13-14)
Children can–and do—teach us, and we need them to remind us how we must be before our Father and our Lord and Savior. Yet, it is, also, our responsibility to be the example for them.
It is “the other” whom Jesus always looked after in His life and in His death. He continues this focus now into forever. To have the mindset of Christ, we must, likewise, have others in our minds and hearts.
 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men.  (Philippians 2:4-7)
 We do not want our children to say to us later in life,
“I never heard of that.”
(Sharon G. Tate blog 03/07/21)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

 

 

“A Still Small Voice”

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11 And He said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small Voice. 13 And when Eli′jah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a Voice to him, and said,

“What are you doing here, Eli′jah?”  (I Kings 19:11-13)

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“What are you doing here, ________________________?”

Have we heard the Voice, asking the question? Not in physical presence, not in spoken words, but inside us, where His Word dwells. We can hear the “still small Voice” if we are close in heart to God.

“What are you doing here, ________________________?”

–Maybe we are in a place physically where we should not be as a Christian.

–Maybe we are dwelling in a mindset that we should not have.

–Maybe we are looking at an opportunity to help someone know more about Christ, but just standing there watching as he or she begins to walk away.

–Maybe we are in a worship service, sitting in our regular pew, thinking about the many tasks that await us afterward.

“What are you doing here, _______________________?”

Did we need to hear the question in the wind or the earthquake or the fire, thundering loud to shake us up enough to listen?

The Voice is in His Word. The Word must be in our hearts and minds, our very being, our thoughts, our words, our actions. We need to ask ourselves:

“What are you doing here, _______________________?”

 And we need to answer the question.

(Sharon G. Tate blog 02/28/2021)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word

Praying from Our Hearts to God

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16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually,
18 give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
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“I miss you Grandma to I wish we cud go up to your house”
This was the email I recently received from my six-year-old grandson. We have not seen each other in person since Labor Day weekend in September 2020. It is difficult to be apart, as most everyone reading this post knows in some way from 2020 experiences and restrictions that continue into 2021.
As a retired high school English teacher and reading specialist, the grammatical errors in my grandson’s email stand out to me like bold, enlarged print. Yet, these errors do not matter to me at all. The message is perfect, sincere, and heartfelt. It brought forth both tears and smiles when I read it.
Do we think about our communications with God, how they are spoken in our prayers and how they are received by Him? Jesus criticized the Pharisees who prayed elaborate prayers before others, for the human audience.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”    (Matthew 23:27-28)
Our prayers to God need to be heartfelt, not an appearance of humility and not perfect in elocution. Communication with God does not require the skill of “clearer and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation.” 1 In our personal prayers, we must show our respect to our Father, our God. Yet, the communication should,  also,  be        intimate with Him, the Father, whom we know will hear us and respond to us. Such prayers can be “on the spot” in a walk, on a drive to work, while putting clothes in the washer. In those moments, we can rejoice, be thankful, and tell Him our heartaches and hopes. The early morning hour, mealtime, and/or bedtime prayers, on the other hand, can become routine or even ritualistic, if we are not more conscious of this time with Him.
The simple, sincere expression of love in my grandson’s email touched my heart. How do our words and how we speak them, whether aloud or in our thoughts, affect our Father when we pray? Are we reaching out to Him in a way that clearly shows we have a close relationship with Him? Do we want to spend time with Him, now and eternally?
 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Colossians 4:2)
. . . pray continually . . . (I Corinthians 5:17)
We want to be with you, Father, in your house forever.
One day. . .
Until then, we come to You in our prayers.
 
 1 Elocution. Definition from Google’s Dictionary-Oxford Languages. Google.com.
(Sharon G. Tate blog 02/21/2021)  teacherforjesus.com  Meditations on God’s Word