Pomp & Circumstance

This last weekend was an eventful one. My daughter has been studying at Calvary Chapel Bible College and has attained her Theology Degree. Although she’s spent the last two semesters in York, England, we traveled to the main campus in Murrieta, California, where she spent her first year, to attend the graduation ceremony. The other big event was my daughter turned twenty, no longer a teenager. Two more milestones that say she’s heading out on a life of her own. I told her that she was supposed to stay four years old and not grow up on me. She laughed, probably not realizing that I meant it.

Part of the anxiety of my little girl growing up is she’ll be striking out on her own soon. It’s hard to let go of her and put her completely in God’s hands. I’m one of those fathers that would sit up and wait for her, when she was out with her friends, until she got home, regardless of the time. Just for the record, I’m not any better regarding my son. A married man of 24, in my mind he’s all of five years old. It’s been difficult to let go knowing that he and his wife need to strike out on their own.

I’m really going to have to put I Peter 5:7 to the test. You know the passage:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Solomon writes in I Psalm 127:3 that children are a reward from the Lord. I thank the Lord for rewarding me with such wonderful children. A reward that lives on regardless of age.

That's The Power of Prayer

Our pastor gave a very compelling sermon last Sunday. One of his points was that if prayer is important to a believer, then the believer will make time for prayer and prioritize higher in their lives. Just as we ensure we’re at work on time, cook our meals, & maintain other essential things in our lives, we should devote and prioritize prayer to be important in our lives.

But why should prayer be considered as important in our lives as other necessities of life?

Leaders of great nations have called out you God for help and comfort. King David wrote:

But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Psalm 88:13

National leaders have also asked God for the direction their nation should take.

Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.Jeremiah 42:3

Our Lord spent many, many hours in prayer. InLuke 6:11-13, Jesus asks for guidance in picking the men that would be carrying on his ministry after he has gone back to heaven.

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles

He also gives his followers a warning:

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,Luke 22:39-41

After he returned to heaven, his followers continued on with the practice of prayer, knowing the importance of it.

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.Acts 1:13-15

So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs."Acts 1:23-25

Prayer builds our relationship with God. Cornelius the centurion’s prayers were considered a memorial offering to God & in Proverbs, we’re told the prayer of the upright pleases him.

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, "Cornelius!"
Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked.

The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.Acts 10:1-4

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.Proverbs 15:8

We are to be faithful in prayer (Romans 12:11-13) and the writer of Philippians encourages us by writing:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6