The Lord's Prayer (Intro, Part 5)

Finally, Jesus instructs His disciples to not use vain repetitions when they pray.
I don’t believe Jesus is necessarily against repetitious prayer in general, especially when it comes to certain prolonged matters (ex: illness, a person’s salvation). The keywords  are “vain repetitions”.
Heathens and those who do not consider what they’re saying and whose presence they are in repeat useless, conceited and foolish words. This does not please God and again, God is not listening. The Holy Spirit is not present and active, only our flesh is. Sometimes short, intentional, Spirit-directed prayers move the biggest mountains in our lives. - JSS

The Lord's Prayer (Intro, Part 4)

Jesus wanted his disciples to go in a different direction when it came to prayer. He told them to “enter into thy closet” and “shut thy door”. In other words,  get alone, in secret, with God.
God operates best when His disciples give their fullest attention to Him. God does not accept divided loyalties from within or without. He wants our whole being, 100%, when we are in His presence. This is especially true when we are engaged in contemplative prayer.
The  disciples’ reward? Jesus does not say. He only stated, “and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly”. A promise that essentially says, the sky’s the limit! Since God is limitless we can only conclude that His rewards or blessings are limitless. And we don’t have to wait until we make it to Heaven to receive His limitless rewards. We can have them now, here on earth as well as in a future Heaven. Wow! - JSS

The Lord's Prayer (Intro, Part 3)

The same applies today. This may explain why many prayers in the Church do not get answered or at best, are delayed. God may not be listening. He’s waiting for us to get our heart right, to come humbly before Him in earnest prayer.
Additionally, instead of receiving the reward (blessings) of Heaven, the reward becomes self-glorification, self-importance, recognition from others, which always feeds the flesh. The ego is stroked and is naturally pleased. - JSS

The Lord's Prayer (Intro, Part 2)

These two paragraphs are a continuation of Jesus’s famous Sermon On The Mount that began in Chapter 5 of Matthew’s Gospel. I have included both paragraphs because although I wish to eventually focus on The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:5-8 seems to serve as an appropriate introduction.
Jesus began with “when thou prayest”, acknowledging the importance and common practice of prayer among his followers. Also, Jesus prayed both privately (Matthew 14: 23, Mark 1:35)  and publicly (John 11:41-42, John 12:27-30). So at a quick glance it seemed as if Jesus was condemning public prayer. This, however, was not the case. He was  condemning public prayer done in pride for he continued, “thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.” When public prayer became an exhibition filled with pride and for others to see, it seemed worthless in God’s eyes. - JSS

The Lord's Prayer (Intro, Part 1)

Matthew 6:5-8 KJV
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

I Wish You Enough (Part 3)

"When you were saying goodbye I heard you say, "I wish you enough." May I ask what that means?"

He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. "When we said 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them," he continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much
bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."

He then began to sob and walked away.

- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

I Wish You Enough (Part 2)

They kissed and she left. He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?"

"Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me.

Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me.

So I knew what this man experiencing.

"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?" I asked.

"I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, the next trip back would be for my funeral," he said.

- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

I Wish You Enough (Part 1)

On one of my recent business trips, when I arrived at the counter to check in, the woman said, "How are you today?" I replied, "I am missing my wife already and I haven't even said goodbye."

She then looked at my ticket and began to ask, "How long will you...Oh, my God. You will only be gone three days!" We all laughed. My problem was I still had to say goodbye.

But I learn from goodbye moments, too.

Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together.

They had announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, "I love you. I wish you enough." She in turn said,

"Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy."

- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

I Wish You Enough (A Poem, Intro)

I never really thought that I'd spend as much time in airports as I do. I don't know why. I always wanted to be famous and that would mean lots of travel. But I'm not famous, yet I do see more than my share of airports.

I love them and I hate them. I love them because of the people I get to watch. But they are also the same reason why I hate airports. It all comes down to "hello" and "goodbye. "I must have mentioned this a few times while writing my stories for you.

I have great difficulties with saying goodbye. Even as I write this I am experiencing that pounding sensation in my heart. If I am watching such a scene in a movie I am affected so much that I need to sit up and take a few deep breaths. So when faced with a challenge in my life I have been known to go to our local airport and watch people say goodbye. I figure nothing that is happening to me at the time could be as bad as having to say goodbye. 

Watching people cling to each other, crying, and holding each other in that last embrace makes me appreciate what I have even more. Seeing them finally pull apart, extending their arms until the tips of their fingers are the last to let go, is an image that stays forefront in my mind throughout the day. 

- Written by Bob Perks at www.BobPerks.com. Used with permission.

Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God (Part 3)

4. That the reason why they are not fallen already, and do not fall now, is only that God's appointed time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or appointed time comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight. God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go he immediately falls and is lost.

The observation from the words that I would now insist upon is this. "There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God." By the mere pleasure of God, I mean his sovereign pleasure, his arbitrary will, restrained by no obligation, hindered by no manner of difficulty, any more than if nothing else but God's mere will had in the least degree, or in any respect whatsoever, any hand in the preservation of wicked men one moment.

- Written by Johnathan Edwards. This excerpt is in the Public Domain. To access the complete sermon in written form, please click here. To access it as an mp3 download, please click here.

Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God (Part 2)

2. It implies, that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction. As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning: Which is also expressed in Psalm 73:18, 19. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!"

3. Another thing implied is, that they are liable to fall of themselves, without being thrown down by the hand of another; as he that stands or walks on slippery ground needs nothing but his own weight to throw him down.

- Written by Johnathan Edwards. This excerpt is in the Public Domain.

Sinners In the Hands Of An Angry God (Part 1)

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
Enfield, Connecticut
July 8, 1741
--Their foot shall slide in due time.--
Deuteronomy 32:35

In this verse is threatened the vengeance of God on the wicked unbelieving Israelites, who were God's visible people, and who lived under the means of grace; but who, notwithstanding all God's wonderful works towards them, remained (as ver. 28.) void of counsel, having no understanding in them. Under all the cultivations of heaven, they brought forth bitter and poisonous fruit; as in the two verses next preceding the text. The expression I have chosen for my text, Their foot shall slide in due time, seems to imply the following doings, relating to the punishment and destruction to which these wicked Israelites were exposed.

1. That they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall. This is implied in the manner of their destruction coming upon them, being represented by their foot sliding. The same is expressed, Psalm 73:18. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction."

Please note: This and a few following entries are just an introduction to Jonathan Edward's famous sermon, "Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God". It will not be presented in its entirety due to its considerable length. A link will be provided in Part 3 to give the opportunity to read/listen to it as a whole. This excerpt is in the Public Domain.

Start Over (A Poem)

When you've trusted Jesus and walked His way,
When you've felt His hand lead you day by day
But your steps now take you another way,
START OVER.

When you've made your plans and they've gone awry,
When you've tried your best 'til there's no more try,
When you've failed yourself, and you don't know why,
START OVER.

When you've told your friends what you plan to do,
When you've trusted them but they didn't come through,
Now you're all alone and it's up to you to
START OVER.

When you've failed your kids and they're grown and gone
When you've done your best but it turned out wrong,
And now your grandchildren have come along
START OVER.

When you've prayed to God so you'll know His will,
When you've prayed and prayed but you don't know still,
When you want to stop 'cause you've had your fill,
START OVER.

When you think you're finished and want to quit,
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit,
When you've tried and tried to get out of it
START OVER.

When the year's been long and successes few,
When December comes and you're feeling blue,
God gives a January just so you can
START OVER.

Starting over means victories won,
Starting over means a race well run,
Starting over means the Lord's "Well done,"
So don't just sit there,
START OVER.
- Words by Woodrow Kroll. Taken from www.backtothebible.org. Used with permission.

A Birthday Message

13 years ago a beautiful, talented, and awesome girl was born. She has blessed the lives of her proud parents, Joe, Debi and Tim. Her compassionate, confident, and often quirky character has brought tremendous joy into the hearts of others. God has certainly given the world another precious gift. He has offered a shimmer of hope in that infectious smile and life has not been the same. She has captured her sister's affections and has found a permanent home in their hearts. A foundation has been set. Her journey has begun. Her steps are being guided by a loving God. The world eagerly waits to see what she will become.
Happy 13th Birthday Kathleen Danae Schroeder!
- JSS