SHOW UP

My prayer life is not where I would love it to be.  I can say that because I have again been encouraged and taught how it should be by The Pray Without Ceasing Friend.  We exchange prayer requests often.  She shows me by her example by responding with all these bold requests for which she entreats the Lord.  And I want that kind of boldness.  I REALLY want it.   Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."  And that's only one time in the Bible where we are taught to be bold.  There are more.  

Something The Pray Without Ceasing Friend said in her response to me last night that she was praying for  God's people to show up in this particular area of need.  That has stuck with me and my thoughts have realized what a wonderful request that is....

Show up when someone is hurting and needs encouragement.

Show up when someone just needs a little grace.

Show up when you need a little grace.

Show up to listen closely when God speaks to you.

Show up when someone says, "Pray for me". 

Show up with thanksgiving and rejoicing when the Lord answers a prayer.

Show up when it's time to spend some time in the Word.

Show up when someone just needs a listening ear.

Show up when you just need to acknowledge the Lord's presence.

Show up for everything!

Consider....

FORGETFULNESS

For the first time in days, I am sitting for a minute at my computer while I wait for church worship to begin.  Yes, I am online worshipping today.  I had another surgery last week and am still in recovery mode.  This one has not been a walk in the park.  My nurse remains strict but even if he wasn't, I would still be in recovery mode as I feel like doing little else.  I do look forward to full recovery and feeling better than I have in the past two months. 

This surgery's anesthesia has affected my memory seeming more than in the past.  The first couple of days were very foggy and The Husband tells me many things I can't do for a couple of weeks that I don't remember hearing.  But if I can't trust his word after 43 years, I'm in trouble so I will follow his instructions.

I was blessed this morning to receive a video text of The Girl and The Grandbaby singing their duet during revival...Tis' so Sweet to Trust in Jesus (see last post)...and I was again blessed.  I tend to take blessings for granted.  I want to stop that.  It seems each surgery gives me the incentive to "do better"....this time maybe I will be successful hopefully. 

I just wanted to share a card I got from The Pray Without Ceasing Friend last week.  She has sent me the card before.  It's actually a favorite of mine but I had never looked at the back of it so I want to share what it says with you blog readers.  I hope you are blessed also.

  

Consider....

YES, TIS' SWEET....

Today is the next to last service of my church's annual summer revival.  You blog readers might remember that is the one that has services twice daily for the whole week.  While I don't tire of the worship and the blessings, my body has tired because it's my body, it's aging, and that's just how the body works.  

The best I can calculate, this is my 48th year of summer revivals at this church.  48 years.  It seems in this blog lately I calculate a lot in years.  Could that be an age thing, too?  There have been a lot of revival memories in those 48 years.  There's been a lot of changes in those 48 years but the main thing is that the Lord has not changed nor will he ever change.  Praise HIM for that!  If you want to read any of my numerous salvation testimonies on this blog, the most recent is titled "Moments" (March 27, 2022) and my oldest is titled "Revival" (July 5, 2012).  You get a photo of my baptizing in that one.  Just as the Lord has not changed, neither has my precious salvation testimony.

There are many good old gospel songs that I have grown up with and many newer contemporary ones that I have grown to love.  I'm from the world of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, There Shall be Showers of Blessings, and How Firm a Foundation.  One of the dearest of the older songs to me is Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus.  The Girl has sang that often as a solo and The Husband has lead it for the congregation as well.  

This year it took on  a new blessing for me as The Girl AND The Grandbaby decided to sing it as a duet.  The Grandbaby and The Girl have sang it at home a lot.  The Grandbaby rode to church with me the other morning and we arrived a bit early so I sat at the piano and found the good key for her to sing it.  I admit that I got really teary-eyed when she got to the chorus that says "Jesus, Jesus PRECIOUS Jesus" and that precious came out of her mouth with force.  Isn't that what Jesus truly is?  I know HE is to me.

Thursday morning The Girl took a little stool for The Grandbaby to stand on, they wore their matching dresses (The Grandbaby is such a fashionista and loves those matching dresses), and they sang Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus. 

I don't think there were many dry eyes in the building when they finished.  I know that the Savior had to be beaming down from heaven above and pleased with HIS girls.  

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus here in my world years ago, now, all the years in between, and all the years ahead.  For all of you who may not be familiar with the treasured song, here's how it goes....

"'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord!"

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood
And in simple faith to plunge me
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

I'm so glad I learned to trust Him,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend
And I know that He is with me,
Will be with me to the end."

I pray that all reading this blog post do know Jesus and the sweetness of trusting HIM for all you need.  If not, know that you can know Him.  The Bible says "that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved".  

(Romans 10:9, KJV)

Consider.....