Prayer request--The story of the strategy for getting Baby Isabella Lafferty safely from her mother's womb

I received this in an email from a reputable source.
It's a blog style prayer request and update.
I don't know what I can reaaly say that they don't say better-
Exit Strategy

Another Quote on Prayer

I don't get tired of good quotes on prayer, as long as they truly are good quotes-ones that are biblical and cause you to think about how you pray.

Were our every wish God's immediate command, Christ's glory would not remain our priority. Christians already struggle to keep Jesus' name our aim. It's hard to imagine how a "get rich quick" mentality could be suppressed by anyone if prayer assured instant personal gratification.

Bryan Chapell

An Answer to a Question I was Once Asked About Prayer

Back when I was recovering from my medical emergency and posted several times about it, I was asked how I feel about Roman Catholics praying for me. I meant to address this question here, but never did. In fact I know Roman Catholics were praying for me, as I was born and raised in it, and most of my extended family would still claim some level of allegiance to it. Some are quite devout, some are more nominal.

Basically I would not support the idea of prayer to Mary or any saint. But I did tend to focus on the concern and love that was shown by people taking time out of their day to pray for me. I know God's will would be done, and it would not be thwarted or changed by people praying in a way I believe is incorrect at best. So my hope and trust was in God all along, but I also was encouraged that people would take time to pray for me. So while I would discount some of the prayers said for me, I would never discount the person who did the praying. Some who said they prayed for me would not call themselves Christians of any sort. They prayed to an impersonal god or force of some sort. I would definitely discount that prayer, but again not discount the person.

I think it's important to make that distinction. No matter what disagreements you have with another person--they are still a human being, and deserve to be treated as one. So if you prayed for my health, to any god, being, person or whatever--I may strongly disagree with you and your prayer, but I do appreciate the time you took and concern and love that shows. (If you prayed for me not to be a Christian/Protestant/Presbyterian/Reformed believer, etc--well, I would disagree with that as well.)

For more on this, with a different reason behind it, see this post on the Beggars All blog.

Quotes on Prayer

"The purpose of prayer is not to convince God to think in our terms but to bring us to think as He thinks and to desire those things which are according to His will."

"In asking for daily bread, forgiveness for our sins, and protection from Satan's devices, we must do so with a desire for the glory of God."

"Satan is not overly interested in disobedient, rebellious sinners; they are already under his control. The servant of God who seeks to glorify God, on the other hand, will, like Job, be subjected to his subtle devices and attacks--attacks which no man has the wisdom or strength to withstand by himself."

(All quotes by Linleigh J. Roberts)

These quotes are from Roberts' booklet "To Seek and to Save that which is Lost." It is from his series, "The Biblical Foundations for Missions Series." The booklets in this series are well written and valuable information for serving God and seeking His glory. You can check out more information on them here, at the Biblical Foundations International website.

Presbytery Time Again

Actually it's come and gone.

It was a very good Presbytery overall. It was mostly good news, with some exciting news for the future. God was praised, prayers were made, God's Word was opened and read and exposited. I was encouraged, and so were others. The host church did a great job.

We're a young Presbytery in the PCA, and so a meeting like this one was helpful in our growth.

Some things were sort of bittersweet, some we'd rather not ahve had to hear, but overall a very positive experience.

Some of the people there were great encouragers. Some of these were brothers and sisters who had praying for me in my recent trials, and were encouraged by how I have recovered-(And that I was able to attend.) That is one thing I love about Presbytery-the chance to encourage one another face to face.

Some things there gave me ideas for possible posts down the line, and hopefully to encourage those who read them. They won't be specifically about the people or events that gave me the ideas, but looking at a bigger picture.

And so to all who planned and rpepared for Presbytery, to all the people I spoke with and enjoyed fellowship with, and to all who had been praying for me, I'd like to thank you.

A Christmas Prayer

Well, not a specific prayer you can read out, but just what I hope for all of you. Since the only true hope is in Christ it is a prayer as well.

While there is no perfect Church here on earth, I pray that each one of you is either in a faithful, Bible believing Church with good teaching. And if you're not, that either you will find one soon, or you current congregation will become one.

And I pray that not only is your congregation faithful in doctrine, but also in practice. I pray you would see the love of Christ in the people there. And if not--again that your congregation finds that balance so neither doctrine nor practice gets slighted. That they would realize if you have the doctrine right--the practice should follow. And if not, again that you would find one.

I'm not here to boast--but I think the congregation I belong to has both.
For them I thank God. Amen.

Another Quote on Prayer

This one is by Arthur W. Pink. It speaks of God's sovereignty and our need of Him.

Prayer is not appointed for the furnishing of God with the knowledge of what we need, but it is designed as a confession to Him of our sense of the need. In this, as in everything, God's thoughts are not as ours. God requires that His gifts should be sought for. He designs to be honoured by our asking, just as He is to be thanked by us after He has bestowed His blessing.
—Arthur W. Pink

Prayer and One More from the Hospital

If you can indulge me for one more direct reference to my time in the hospital. I was going to post this sooner, but then I had other stuff to post.

Toward the end of my stay a new patient was brought into the same room (There were four beds in it), and he had a visitor shortly after that. I wasn't intending to listen in, but he had a booming voice that carried well. I was trying not to listen as his experience was quite similar to mine, and I wasn't into reliving it at that time.

He told his visitor that the pain was so bad couldn't meditate.

I reflected on my own experience, and felt sorry for him in a way. He may have been in too much pain to meditate, but no matter how much pain I was in I could pray. In fact later I realized I was in so much pain--I HAD TO PRAY.

This is one of the big differences between Christianity and other forms of faith and religion. True Christianity looks to Someone else. Others tend to look to self, and some of those look for the "god" within. So on one hand I am thankful God is not within, that I can look outside myself in faith for help. On the other I feel sorry for those who try to look within-becasue the help they desire is not there.

Unfortunately I never got a a chance to discuss this with the other patient, but he may have overheard some of my conversations with my visitors about the true God. I hope some of that made him think, and God will help him. I also hope that it rubbed off on me. It would be easy to be like the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14, but I pray I am not. I hope this is another reminder to pray with the proper perspective.

I Love this Quote on Prayer

I had already planned and written the previous post when I came across a wonderful statement on prayer. I debated putting it in the post itself, but it spoke so powerfully to me I decided to give it it's own post. It is related to what I wrote.

"Prayer does not relieve all suffering, but it assures us that no difficulty comes without a purpose."

Bryan Chapell

Let that soak in.

If you want to know more about Bryan Chapell, I have included a link to his site.

Prayer as a Talisman

First I would like to state I endorse prayer, and do not discourage it. But sometimes we get off track and treat prayer in a way we ought not to. We may not mean to do that, but it's easy to do.

One way we do this is by treating prayer as if it were a talisman. The second definition of talisman on that link to Merriam-Webster's online dictionary is the one I'm using.

Something producing apparently magical or miraculous effects

It's not just those who "name it and claim it" that use prayer this way.

I've heard well meaning Christians who encourage others to start their day with prayer--this is not a bad thing--but the thinking goes off base when they say that your day will go better if you pray. Conversely, if you do not pray your day will go worse. This, unwittingly, is saying we have power over God and His plans for our day. I have had days where I spent much time in prayer at the start and the day went horribly from my perspective. I have had wonderful days when I have forgotten to start my day in prayer.

Whether or not we have a good day is not the purpose of prayer, nor should it be the focus. We pray because it is commanded. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) We pray because it is a form of communion with our Lord. We pray because it can change us, and is a means God does use. But prayer is not a means to guarantee a good day, or even to increase our chances of having one.

So by all means start your day in prayer. That may mean the second you wake up, or at some point after your head clears. End your day in prayer, as you fall asleep. Pray in between. Do all this, but please don't think your prayer gives you a guarantee of a good day. Your day is in the Lord's hands. Give your day to the Lord, no matter how it turns out. If you are His it will work out for the good.(Romans 8:28-30)