Call Upon Me

People ask Peg and me to pray for them or their loved ones all the time.  So we do.  Over time, I have come to believe that God answers all of them the way He wants, which is not always the way we want the outcome.  This is especially so if you look through human emotions at whatever the outcome may be.  But even if some look like failures, especially if the one you might be praying for dies, while others are deemed to be successful ... that doesn't mean God's will in all of them wasn't accomplished.

God said … "Call upon Me and I will answer."  You can find that in Psalms 91:15.

But Lord ... that's not the outcome I wanted.  So God reminds me of Isaiah 55:8-9 where He says …

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

Each of His purposes shall be accomplished, no matter what is in the heart and mind of man concerning how we want prayer answered.  It will be His will, done His way, in His time.  

1st Corinthians 2:16 … "For who has known or understood the mind and purposes of the Lord …"

We must come to understand that His purposes and thoughts, as He has shaped and drawn the image of things in His own mind; everything that is … "is" ... determined by the Lord; that nothing comes by chance, but everything is as it is … purposed by God, and that everything comes to pass which He has resolved and spoken.

Therefore ... every solution to prayer, and every answer … proceeds from Him, and is the product of His wisdom and Providence.

I believe that God is ultimately responsible … for everything.  He made all things, and He has never lost possession or control over them.  The Psalmist David states in Psalms 24:1 …

"The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."

The Psalmist David, knowing from experience that he could call upon God, proclaimed many times that God answered his call.  He gives testimony to that in Psalms 34:4-9 as he says ...

"I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.  This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.  The LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." 

My mother taught me there is only one way to pray; and I quote … "I pray every time like I'm going to get it, and whether I do or not is up to God."

So … what happens if we don't get the answer we are looking for when we pray? 

We should have enough confidence in God to believe that all His dealings are ordered from a heart of love.  What if … He takes away our possessions, and/or visits us with pain, will we lose all our confidence in Him?  Do we submit to all of the sovereign providence of God without a complaint ... only during good times … or even when natural events are sent in their place?  

We breathe the air which God has made, walk upon His earth, and eat the food He provides; but if and when He takes one or all away ... do we feel that He has taken only what belongs to Him … of which we have no right or claim to anyway?

The question is what do we do ... not if trouble comes, but when trouble comes ... for none of us are immune from the problems in life.  Is our confidence in the Lord enough to say what David said in Psalms    86:7 ...

"In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou will answer me."

It is useless to call or cry for help to those who cannot or will not hear.  Convince men that prayer has no effect upon God ... and they will have no more of it.  There can be no reason for praying if there be no expectation of the Lord answering it.

The duty then which is taught, is that of patience, perseverance, faith in God, and a belief ... that He answers our cry for help … though many times the answer to our prayers seem to be long delayed and slow to come.

There may be some men who try to "will" something through prayer; others may try to receive their answer through "running" or earning it.  He is not obligated to answer prayer because of anything man wills or earns.

Paul teaches this in Romans 9:15-16 … "For He (God) saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy."

God has the right to give mercy to some, and deny it to others; and He can never be charged with an act of injustice, since He is not bound to give it to any.

So, what conclusion then can we come to? 

That God can dispense His blessings in answer to prayer to whomever He wants and with what terms He pleases, for God is always just and right in all His dealings with His children.

God governs the world as He sees fit; but we cannot always see the reasons for His conduct or know why He answers some prayers and not others.

God said … "Call upon Me and I will answer." 

David said ... "Blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."  



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Prayer Warrior Mom

Today you are going to hear from the heart of one of Peg's and my favorite teachers.  She is a mother and grandmother like Peg is.  That means she has gone through many spiritual battles dealing with life as she watched her own children and grand-children find their place in Christ.

With this post, the "KingdomMom," Karen Cooper is reflecting on her own spiritual heritage and the Christian home she was raised in.  As you have most likely already discerned, she is remembering her "Mom" as the prayer-warrior laying hold of the throne of God for her.

Because of what I know about Karen, I'm not even going to ask for her permission to repost this article.  If I did ask, Karen would say ... "Go for it" ... knowing it might help others who need a little nudge to remember their godly moms or become one themselves.  I will leave the link to her blog at the bottom.  Check it out.  Check her out as well.  I think you will find someone who's goal in life is to represent Jesus in everything they say and do.
    
So ... soak in some of her Holy Spirit anointed writing today.
   

"I was not a latch-key kid but I often had to let myself in.  My mother was usually home when I burst through the door. But I wasn’t always met with milk and cookies.  There was another kind of welcome when Mom lost track of time… on her knees.  I remember tiptoeing toward her secret place, hoping to catch a word or two.  What was she praying about?  She was behind the door talking with the Creator of the universe.  Was that my name I heard?  It put the fear of God in me, I tell you.  Dad always said she had a direct line to heaven.  But beyond the godly fear, Mom’s prayers wrapped me in love and security.  They stabilized my perspective, influencing my choices and destiny.

Mom prayed about everything.  She turned my eyes toward Jesus no matter what the circumstance.  From physical to emotional hurts, Mom prayed.  If I faced indecision, she made her requests known.  Never forgetting to thank the Lord for every answer.  Her faith was a constant in my life.  Prayer saturated every detail of our home.  It was a haven.  Not a perfect place but peaceful.  My friends noticed.  They loved coming to my house.  The atmosphere oozed love and kindness, truth and mercy.

Jesus sat on the Throne of our family’s life.  Mostly because Mom constantly invited Him in.  She was alert to our feelings and concerns.  And she knew where to go with every need.  Mom closed the door to distractions in order to talk with God about her family.  My life has been blessed because my prayer-warrior Mom took the time to storm heaven for me."


Were you lucky enough to have this kind of mom?  If you were, thank God for her, and tell your mom ... if she is still around ... just what that meant to you.

May I ask ... have you made your home a place of prayer for your children to develop and grow in the love of God?  If not, it's not too late to start.  If your children are still at home, you can be a spiritual blessing to your children's friends like Karen's mom was.  You may be the one who makes the difference in their lives.

Blessings ... Carl


Karen's blog ... http://www.kingdommom.com

Jerusalem

As there is frequent reference in the New Testament to Jerusalem; as it was the place of the public worship of God; as it was the place where many important transactions in the life of the Savior occurred, and where He died ... it seems desirable to present, a brief description of this city.

Jerusalem was the capital of the kingdom of Judah, and was built on the line dividing that tribe from the tribe of Benjamin.  Jerusalem is located on a plateau in the Judean Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, and is one of the oldest cities in the world.

It was once called "Salem," and in the days of Abraham, it was the home of Melchizedek.  When the Israelites took possession of the promised land, they found this stronghold in the possession of the Jebusites, by whom it was called "Jebus" or "Jebusi."

The name "Jerusalem" was probably compounded of the two by changing a single letter, and calling it, for the sake of the sound, "Jerusalem" instead of "Jebusalem."  Ancient Salem was probably built on Mount Moriah or Acra - the eastern and western mountains on which Jerusalem was subsequently built.

When the Jebusites became masters of the place, they erected a fortress in the southern quarter of the city, which was subsequently called Mount Zion, but which they called "Jebus."  Although the Israelites took possession of the adjacent territory, the Jebusites still held this fortress or upper town until the time of David, who wrested it from them, and then removed his court from Hebron to Jerusalem, which was thenceforward known as the city of David.

Jerusalem was built on several hills ... Mount Zion on the south, Mount Moriah on the east, (upon which the temple was subsequently built), Mount Acra on the west, and Mount Bezetha on the north.

Mount Moriah and Mount Zion were separated by a valley, called by Josephus ... the Valley of Cheesemongers ... over which there was a bridge or raised way leading from the one to the other.  On the southeast of Mount Moriah, and between that and Mount Zion, there was a bluff or high rock capable of strong fortification, called Ophel.  By these the city therefore was encompassed by hills.

On the west there were hills which overlooked the city; on the south was the valley of Jehoshaphat, (the valley of Hinnom), separating it from what is called the Mount of Corruption.  On the east was the valley or the brook Kedron, dividing the city from the Mount of Olives.  On the north, the country was more level, though it was a broken or rolling country. 

On the southeast, the valleys of the Kedron and Jehoshaphat unit, and the waters flowed through the broken mountains in a southeasterly direction to the Dead Sea, some 15 miles distant.  Jerusalem is 34 miles southeasterly from Jaffa (the ancient Joppa which is its seaport), and 120 miles southwesterly from Damascus.

The best view of the city of Jerusalem is from Mount Olivet on the east, the mountains in the east being somewhat higher than those on the west.  The city was anciently enclosed within walls, a part of which are still standing.  The position of the walls has been at various times changed, as the city has been both larger and smaller, or as it has extended in different directions.  The wall on the south formerly included the whole of Mount Zion, though the modern wall runs over the summit, including about half of the mountain. 

In the time of the Savior, the northern wall enclosed only Mounts Acra and Moriah north; though after his death Agrippa extended the wall so as to include Mount Bezetha on the north.  About half of that is included in the present wall.  The limits of the city on the east and the west (being more determined by the nature of the place), have been more fixed and permanent.

The city was watered in part by the fountain of Siloam on the east, and in part by the fountain of Gihon on the west of the city, which flowed into the vale of Jehoshaphat; and in the time of Solomon by an aqueduct (part of which is still remaining), by which water was brought from the vicinity of Bethlehem.  The "pools of Solomon," three in number, one rising above another, and adapted to hold a large quantity of water, are still remaining in the vicinity of Bethlehem.  The fountain of Siloam still flows freely, though the fountain of Gihon is commonly dry.  A reservoir or tank, however, remains at Gihon.

Jerusalem had probably, its highest degree of splendor in the time of Solomon.  About 400 hundred years after, it was entirely destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, and lay utterly desolate during the 70 years of the Jewish captivity.  Then it was rebuilt, and restored to some degree of its former magnificence, and remained about 600 years, when it was utterly destroyed by Titus in 70 a.d.

In the reign of Adrian the city was partly rebuilt under the name of AElia.  The monuments of Pagan idolatry were erected in it, and it remained under Pagan jurisdiction until Helena, the mother of Constantine, overthrew the memorials of idolatry, and erected a magnificent church over the spot which was supposed to be the place of the Redeemer’s sufferings and burial.

Jerusalem continued in the power of the Eastern emperors until the reign of the Caliph Omar, the third in succession from Mohammed, who reduced it under his control about the year 640.  The Saracens continued masters of Jerusalem until the year 1099, when it was taken by the Crusaders under Godfrey of Bouillon.  They founded a new kingdom, of which Jerusalem was the capital, which continued eighty-eight years under nine kings.

At last this kingdom was utterly ruined by Saladin, and though the Christians once more obtained possession of the city, yet they were obliged again to relinquish it.  In 1217 the Saracens were expelled by the Turks.  Jerusalem has been taken and pillaged 17 times, and millions of people have been slaughtered within its walls.  The streets are narrow, and the houses are of stone, most of them low and irregular, with flat roofs or terraces, and with small windows only toward the street, usually protected by iron grates.

Today, 2015 ... Jerusalem is still a divided city.  It is considered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions ... Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The above description has been obtained from a great variety of sources ...

As Christians, we are instructed to pray for the peace of Jerusalem ... which to my mind will only happen when Jesus returns to rule from His Holy mount with a rod of iron.

Watch and pray therefore ... for His return.