Mission of Time With Christ est. 25 Dec. 2008

You can find similar prayer in the Gospels of Matthew Chapter 6:9-15 and Luke Chapter 11:2-4. It was Jesus who said how we should pray to 'the Father' (God). This prayer can be used to supplement your personal prayers. You can always talk to God/Jesus as a friend and confidant as prayer is communication to build a relationship.

Make God/Jesus a part of your family.

The picture was taken by KT and the Lord's prayer inserted.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” Psalms 34:8 NIV

It is a beautiful morning. Very early a storm came through and brought some much needed rain. Now I am able to sit outside with my coffee and bagel to enjoy a glorious time of low humidity and bearable temperature under an overcast sky.

About three bites into my bagel I finally experience a hint of cinnamon. I realize that I have been consuming my treat and not tasting the flavors of what I am eating. There are raisins in my bagel, I have spread cream cheese on the top but have not tasted either. The texture of the bagel differs from the texture of the cream cheese, even different are the raisins that were baked in.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good” echoes in my soul.

How long has it been since I have truly tasted the Goodness of God?

I consume Him daily. I read His word, listen to uplifting music daily, enjoy the beauty of the earth He created. Just like the bagel, I consume these things but have not been enjoying what nourishes me.

How long has it been since I have tasted the sweetness of His Grace or felt the depth of His Love for me? The peace that comes from Him alone has been consumed, but when do I rest in it completely?

God’s provision for my life is evident; how often do I stop to enjoy it and sincerely thank Him for the abundant life that I enjoy?

Consumption. A cold stark word that lacks satisfaction.

Taste. An experience that delights the senses.

Father, please help me to taste the goodness of You. Help me to see when I am only consuming the nourishment You provide and not experiencing the fullness of it.

Devotion by V.C. Thanks V. for an insightful devotion to God.

The Greater Truth-A Devotion to a Son in Need of Guidance

The question you asked is about as old as mankind itself. Through generations, people have been in search of the Truth. And it has been elusive especially when it comes to our being, our souls, and our hearts. Yes, there are truths in science that can be proven empirically or mathematically. But those of human subjections are much more difficult. Why? Not sure this question can be answered in human terms. It is subject to prejudice and bias of each of us. For starters we look at the dictionary to only begin our grasp of its meaning. First look at Truth then at True.

From the Dictionary

Pronunciation:*tr*th

Function:noun

Inflected Form:plural truths \*tr**z, *tr*ths\

Etymology:Middle English trewthe, from Old English tr*owth fidelity; akin to Old English tr*owe faithful— more at TRUE

Date:before 12th century

1 a archaic : FIDELITY, CONSTANCY b : sincerity in action, character, and utterance

2 a (1) : the state of being the case : FACT (2) : the body of real things, events, and facts : ACTUALITY (3) often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality b : a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true *truths of thermodynamics* c : the body of true statements and propositions

3 a : the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality b chiefly British : TRUE 2 c : fidelity to an original or to a standard

4 capitalized , Christian Science : GOD

–in truth : in accordance with fact : ACTUALLY

Main Entry:1true

Pronunciation:*tr*

Function:adjective

Inflected Form:tru£er ; tru£est

Etymology:Middle English trewe, from Old English tr*owe faithful; akin to Old High German gitriuwi faithful, Old Irish derb sure, and probably to Sanskrit d*ru*a hard, d*ru wood— more at TREE

Date:before 12th century

1 a : STEADFAST, LOYAL b : HONEST, JUST c archaic : TRUTHFUL

2 a (1) : being in accordance with the actual state of affairs *true description* (2) : conformable to an essential reality (3) : fully realized or fulfilled *dreams come true* b : IDEAL, ESSENTIAL c : being that which is the case rather than what is manifest or assumed *the true dimension of the problem* d : CONSISTENT *true to character*

3 a : properly so called *true love* *the true faith* *the true stomach of ruminant mammals* b (1) : possessing the basic characters of and belonging to the same natural group as *a whale is a true but not a typical mammal* (2) : TYPICAL *the true cats*

4 : LEGITIMATE, RIGHTFUL *our true and lawful king*

5 a : that is fitted or formed or that functions accurately b : conformable to a standard or pattern : ACCURATE

6 : determined with reference to the earth's axis rather than the magnetic poles *true north*

7 : logically necessary

8 : NARROW, STRICT *in the truest sense*

9 : corrected for error

If you will read carefully through these definitions, you will find contradictions of what is true and what is righteous. Not necessarily the same. Again we humans are doing our best to define something that is elusive in the non-science realm. This leads to one of the more serious theological aspects of human behavior in their feeble attempt to define God and His purpose. Simply cannot be done. But we continue trying anyway to seek our own understanding. It is because of the quest for truth that some ascribe our belief in a higher power (God). I believe this to be so. Acceptance of God is more on Faith than by definition. But to some degree “definition” allows us humans to relate in human terms. And we define the True God from whom all Truth stems. When we define the truth of God we subject that definition to our own composite being. i.e. we are a product of what we have learned in life through our family, our friends, our culture, our ability to reason, and our belief system. Skewness of any of these factors will and does cause differing views. This is the basis for all cultic thinking and persuasion. And at this stage then the progress toward the real truth, which we all seek, is now ended. Orville Wright said it so well “If we accept what is true is really true, there would be little hope for advancement”. Seeking truth is a journey. You do not “Arrive” at a truth. Growth never stops for us humans. I suppose that is the wonderful mystery of it all. I believe when you get to a point in life that you say “This is it!” then you have “died”. There are many wonderful things we all shall discover about the truth of our lives and I believe it will be found in the growth of our search and not in the individual events. Each event leads one to another. The search for truth abounds in all aspects of our daily life. If we fixate on just one or two things we miss so much around us. It is very difficult for most of us to open our minds and hearts to seek the truth because it often becomes unpleasant, as it does not necessarily conform to OUR definition. And therein lies the problem for us poor mortals. And we make mistakes. And we find love. Ahh yes, Love. Another one of those elusive words that we can experience more so than giving definition. And Love can play such cruel tricks upon us when it is separated from Truth. This is not say that Truth and Love are not present in our lives and can give us great joy but it also has a dark side that is deceptive. (You may want to read some basic philosophy of Yin and Yang, which might help your understanding.) This is essentially the premise of good and evil in all we do and experience. We humans can only do the best we can to separate these things. Thus our own frustration comes what and who do we trust. Many times the answer is within us and other times it will come from sage advice. There are no rules and guides here. Do the best you can then go on. There is a saying that was given to me by a dear friend at Southern Airways (A retired Naval Aviator who flew the Corsair now deceased) and it is this: When faced with a decision, make it wisely as possible, then forget it, because the moment of absolute certainty never arrives. Again this philosophy leads us on a growth path and not an event.

With these short words I have put down on paper is what people greater and wiser than I have explored all through the ages. And you will also. What I have found is that truth emerges generally in retrospect. And it is generally the insignificant events (not major) that give us clues to our life.

Love, DAD

October 4, 2001

St. Francis Day

In The Still

By Angela Posey-Arnold

'3:30 A.M.? Wait, let me find my glasses and make sure the time is right', I thought to myself.

'Yep, 3:30 A.M. Well, why am I wide awake then? Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You for a good night's rest and no bad dreams. Today is the Sabbath, the Blessed Sabbath Day.'

I began going about my regular morning routine. Silently rehearsing the song our choir prepared for worship in just a few hours. The stillness of the morning before the dawn is a perfect time for prayer and devotion. I quickly made a pot of coffee.

Radar, my Chihuahua, woke when he heard me. Patiently, he held his little bladder while I unlocked the front door. I turned on the porch light and let him outside in the crisp cool Alabama air. Not far behind I coaxed my 14 year old Pug who reluctantly emerged from his warm bed.

Coffee made, dogs in, my husband sleepily walked in the den where I'm settled in my recliner.

"Are you okay? Are you cold? Want me to light a fire?" he said rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"I'm fine, Not a lot of pain this morning, I just woke up and don't feel sleepy anymore. I lit the fire. I'm fine."

"Okay." he sleepily kissed the air in my direction and shuffled back to bed.

For a few minutes I sat in my recliner. Just still. Listening to the sounds of the morning. The cats outside started moving around as our big dog barked at something in the pasture. This was followed by a prolonged rhapsody from the donkey in the field next to ours. Joy filled my heart.

Then I remembered the problems and concerns of life. My heart sank. They began naming themselves one by one, again. Still there, ever present but so nice to escape and forget them for a little while. I began to talk to Jesus again to ask for strength and help to adorn God's armor.

I've read how others pray and talk to the Lord. I remembered how my Grandmother prayed and taught me how. But mostly I talk to Jesus like he is my best friend. He is my best friend. He says I can talk to Him anytime and I do. I know He hears me, too. How do I know? Because He answers prayers. He has proved it to me time after time.

Most of the time I do all the talking, but not this morning. This crisp cool autumn morning I listened more than I talked. How He communicates with His own is determined by the personal relationship we have with Him. The conversations you have with Jesus are just that, between you and Him.

God speaks to us through His Word, through other people and in our hearts. He speaks to us in that still small voice, but sometimes the voice is so clear inside my heart I know without a doubt it is Him. I am one of His sheep. God’s children understand. Sheep know the voice of The Shepherd.

God tells us in His Word, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10 KJV)

In the quiet and peacefulness of a Sabbath morning I remained still. Grasping the grace, and holding on to His love.

Before the dawn I could only hear the clock pendulum, the fire crackling and popping in the fire place. Praise and thanksgiving in my heart I relaxed focusing all my attention on being still.

"My heart is so heavy Lord. I am weary of the problems of our country…." I don't think I said the words out loud.

'Read My Word.' In my spirit I heard Him, "Get into My Word, you have a hunger for it, eat."

"Yes, Lord. Your Word is the answer. I will do that."

"Now."

"Oh? Now? Okay." He wasn't kidding.

Looking around my recliner for my Bible it wasn't near. I woke the dogs who were asleep in the recliner with me. Then unwrapped the quilt I cocooned myself in. Quiet, so not to wake my husband, I quickly found my Bible on the kitchen table.

Situating myself into my comfy place again and I opened the Living Word of God. Not knowing where to start I didn’t have a specific book, chapter or verse in mind. Opening to Zechariah my eyes fell to Chapter 14:1 "Behold, the day of the Lord cometh. And thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee" (Zechariah 14:1 KJV)

I felt comforted by the first part but the second line reminded me of the money we lost in the stock market meltdown. Somebody divided our spoil alright. I am just not sure who. No matter who, it is gone. What was to be our retirement disappeared into thin air. It was nice to know we had it if an emergency arose, but it is gone. Poof. Gone.

Closing my Bible I pondered the Scripture for a few minutes.Behold, the DAY OF THE LORD cometh. The spoil won't matter then.

Opening His Word again this time to the New Testament the first words I read were, "Be ye therefore ready also; for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not."(Luke 12:40 KJV)

I looked out the big window toward the east. The sun was rising. The colors of the sky were incredible. Only Jehovah God could paint such a sky. Comforted and awe inspired I watched the sun come up and imagined what it will be like when the Eastern Sky opens and Jesus we see. I was still and I know He is God. The Sovereign God creator of all the earth and He cares about me. Amazing Grace!

Imagine the day, the hour when He comes. The old hymn came to my mind, "What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see. When I look upon His face, the One Who saved me by His Grace. And forever I will be with the One Who died for me. What a Day glorious day that will be. When He takes me by the hand, and leads me to the Promised Land, What a Day, Glorious Day that will be."

Jesus is coming to get His church and I am graciously comforted. Among all the uncertainty and chaos of Wall Street, Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue as Christians we can be comforted by the truth. Jesus is coming again. He is coming.

We must be about the Father's business.

Another hymn writer penned these word, "Until then, my heart will go on singing, until then with joy I'll carry on, Until the day my eyes behold that city, Until the day, God calls me home."

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20 KJV)

Every person, every human will have a choice to accept Jesus or reject Him. My prayer for you my friend is that you believe and accept Jesus as your Savior. Ask Him to come and live in your heart. You will be comforted and know peace beyond measure.

No man knows the day or the hour. Not even the angels in heaven know. What we do know is Jesus IS coming. How do I know? He reminded me early one morning, around 4:00 A.M.