True contentment

 

Take a moment to think about your own level of contentment. Do you have all that you need? Do you have the basics of life (not the extras that we can all live without)? Do they bring you contentment? Satisfaction?
     It's okay if the answer is 'no.' We're human, and it's our human nature, or rather our sinful nature that keeps us wanting more. Or is it?
     The poorest people of Lima, Peru live in what we would consider squalor. Their houses are built out of whatever materials they can find. They don't have clean drinking water. There's trash everywhere. Yet, they're happy and content. If you were to tell them they're poor, they wouldn't know what you're talking about. They may covet their neighbor's electricity (and may take it upon themselves to tap into it), but that's the extent of their "want."*
     Every time I think about them, I feel ashamed of my own occasional dissatisfaction with life. I have God in my life; I don't need anything or anyone else. But, there are times I find myself longing for this or that. Sometimes the longing is over a relationship, or having time, or needing direction and I take all of those types of things to God. Sometimes it's more materialistic like escaping to a foreign country. That I just keep to myself because I realize it's not a need.
     Whatever is keeping you from contentment, examine it and then let it go. Count your blessings. Praise God for His mercy, love, and grace.

The Bible verse of the day just popped up on my phone, and how fitting:
   Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 ESV

I absolutely love what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians. It really stops me in my tracks and makes me realize how difficult his life was, yet he said time and time again that he considered his life gain. Dwell on verse 10 below.

6 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
          “In a favorable time I listened to you,
               and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
2 Corinthians 6:1-10 ESV

*This description is from what I've learned from Missionaries who've been in Lima and from the photos I saw of the area where they were serving.

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Please join me this week in praying for contentment for ourselves and others. May we rest in the hope of Jesus Christ. Pray that those who do not have a personal relationship with Christ come to know Him. Pray that we recognize the daily blessings that God bestows on us. He provides for all of our needs. Let us be thankful for having food, water, shelter, and clothing. Praise God for His unfailing love and grace.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #contentment #peace #hope #prayer #faith #love #sufficient #needs #ChristAlone #poor #humannature #Corinthians #GospelOfMark #want #covet

Philippians 4:19

 

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe

Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #assistance #praywithoutceasing #strength #prayer #seekGod #Lord

1 Peter 5:7

 

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe

Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #assistance #praywithoutceasing #strength #prayer #seekGod #Lord

Do this when you need help

 

Do you ever think something is too trivial to take to the Lord in prayer? Or, do you think something is so huge that God must have allowed it, therefore won't help you through? Do you feel like God must hate you or is punishing you?

     Whatever your thoughts are along those lines, put them aside. Hear me when I say: God wants you to take everything to Him in prayer.

     When you need help, hope, strength, love, pray about it. When you've lost your keys, pray about it. When you are living with chronic pain, pray about it. 

     Our Father loves us. We are His children. Ask Him for help. He may send another of His children to lift you up. He may even remind you where you left your keys. He may strengthen you to see you through another day.

 

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV 

You may also like:

- "A life of prayer"

- "In Jesus' name"

- "Say it loud"

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe

Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #assistance #praywithoutceasing #strength #prayer #seekGod #Lord

Help from your church family

 

I know this doesn't always work, but it's a place to start if you require assistance. Your local church family may or may not have all of the resources to meet your needs, but maybe they can direct you to someone or somewhere that can help.
     We're blessed to have a loving, caring church family. We're also blessed to have several services set up specifically to minister to our church body or even to the surrounding communities. However, some of these ideas could be instigated in smaller churches as well:
- Meal Train: people volunteer to deliver a meal to people recovering from surgery or going through debilitating medical treatment. See mealtrain.com
- Counseling: a service normally provided by the pastor can be expanded by training other church members with tools to help them counsel those in need.
- Discipleship Groups: when a new believer comes to faith, it's important that they be discipled right away so that their new-found faith is made stronger with knowledge of what God's word says, what the church believes, etc. It's also important because we want new believers to become part of the church, serving, encouraging others, sharing their testimony. Today's converts could be tomorrow's church leaders.
- Physical Needs: money could be budgeted to help people who have trouble paying a bill or handling an emergency.
- Cards of Encouragement: our church has a list of people who would benefit from receiving a card once in a while. Maybe they're sick or grieving or lost their job, whatever the situation, it's a wonderful way to minister to those in need.
- Food Pantry: some churches partner together to stock a food pantry within the community.
- Transportation: members could volunteer to take people to doctor's appointments and/or run errands.

     The opportunities to serve are endless. If you have an idea for a way to meet a need, talk to your church leaders. If you have a need, talk to your church leaders. Either situation is a way to connect with your church family.
     If you are able, find a way to serve within your church. Everyone has the ability to do something, whether it's sending an encouraging text or card to someone who's going through a rough time, or making coffee on Sunday morning, or mowing the lawn, or being on the prayer chain. Of course, some tasks are harder than others. Some take more of a time commitment but find something you can do and be a part of the solution.

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

James 5:13-18 NKJV

You may also like:
-"Isolation"
-"Pray for the health of The Church"
-"Peter is the rock"

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #churchfamily #serve #prayer #services #churchelders #assisance #church #servantsheart #hope #counseling

Peace of God

 

Every so often I like to ask, "what's your go-to Bible verse or passage in times of dispair?" One of mine is Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV):

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

     This life is trying. Accepting Christ as our Savior doesn't mean that we'll have an easy time of it, but it does mean that we'll carry with us the peace of the Holy Spirit and the hope of eternal life with our Father. He created us for the express purpose of bringing glory to Himself and to share His love with one another during our time on Earth. We're here to love and serve one another and to build relationships. He doesn't want us to walk this journey alone.

     Reach out to others. Be there for each other. Love one another, as Christ loves us.

You may also like:

- "Compassion and Grief" about when my dad passed away. I was able to rejoice in knowing that I'll see him again in Heaven.

- "Walk the Walk" 

- "Don't be anxious about anything" has an image with the Philippians 4:6 verse that you can share with someone who needs to see it today.

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #independant #strong #prayer #relationship #anxiety #isolated #lonely #peace #hope #salvation

When you ask but do not receive

I was reminded yesterday by a friend that not everyone is willing to help others. She wrote:

 In the past, I was always made to feel guilty asking for help. I go to the Lord with EVERYTHING but with people? Anytime I tried, I was made to feel bad. So...kept it at the throne.

- Elizabeth B.

It honestly didn't occur to me until after I posted that not everyone wants to help others. Elizabeth's post confirmed it. 

- Unfortunately, those people are perfectly fine with living out their lives, wrapped up in just themselves. Of course, the day will come when they'll need help and at that point may find themselves up a creek without a paddle.

- Still, others are too busy to help (I shamefully find myself in that category a little too often).

- There are people who believe that we should each be self-sufficient and therefore won't help anyone out of principle, so to speak. 

- There are those who expect something in return.

     Yeah, the more I think about it, I can understand why some people don't ask for help. So, I guess we should pray for the unhelpful people, too. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds; that He gives them servants' hearts and show them that that's how He wants us to interact with each other, as loving, caring brothers and sisters.

     I didn't use to have a servant's heart until a true servant of Christ set me straight. I'm so thankful to her. She changed how I thought about serving and it's made a huge impact on my walk with Christ. I hope you can take a couple of minutes to read that post: "Acquiring a servant's heart" where I talk about the experience.

     Like Elizabeth wrote, she keeps "it at the throne." At least there, we can always find help and strength.

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:2 ESV

     Please do ask for help when you need it. Ask God to send you fellow Christians who will lift you up in your needs. Ask Him to help you through the valleys.

You may also like:

- "Help others help themselves" about supporting small businesses

- "Will you be my neighbor?" a lesson from Fred Rogers that everyone is our neighbor

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them. Let's also pray for those who refuse to help, for whatever reason. Pray that God softens their hearts and minds, that he give them servants' hearts so that they may know the joy in working together as one body of Christ and the reward of knowing they are doing God's will.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #independant #strong #prayer #relationship #anxiety #isolated #lonely

 

Ask for help

 

Do you know someone who never asks for help? And maybe that someone raised you to never ask for help, either? They taught you to be "independant," "strong." I want to assure you (and by you, I mean the person who doesn't ask for help), it is NOT a sign of weakness to ask for help. In fact, the people around you would probably appreciate knowing what you need, when you need it, instead of trying to guess.

     Yesterday was Father's Day, and my nephews spent the day with their dad putting together an above-ground pool. My brother said it was the best father's day he could remember. Having his sons there, working together on a project that was important to him, ran a lot deeper than his need for help installing the pool. He also had a need to spend time with them.

     Sometimes I feel drawn to reach out to someone, but beyond that prompting by the Holy Spirit, I'm often in the dark as to what the people around me need.

     Of course, there are people who just flat out refuse help, and I have to honor those requests, but in their desire to not appear needy, they're inadvertently adding stress to my life because there's nothing I can do about any of it.

Since I was raised to be "independent," it's hard for me to ask for help as well. As a manager, I can delegate responsibility to different people, but I feel awkward about even asking in my day-to-day life. 

The same is true in my spiritual life. Until a few years ago, I felt funny asking the Lord for things for me. I didn't consider asking for guidance, answers, encouragement. God wants us to come to Him with our needs and even our wants. We pray for others, but we're also constantly building a relationship with Him by being in conversation (which includes listening to Him). So the topic of ourselves is going to come up.

I just see so much stress, anxiety, and loneliness in the world. How awesome would it be to just be able to share what's going on with each of us to deal with each other honestly; that would get rid of the need to wonder or worry. We wouldn't have to feel guilty for not doing something we didn't even know that we should be doing. (I know that sentence will make sense to a few of you).

This may just be a crazy ramble, but I'll try to break it down throughout the week. I guess it's my plea to those in my life who don't ask for help when they need it.

The Bible speaks about asking for God's help instead of each other, but I believe the Bible verses can be applied to both scenarios.

You desire and do not have, so you murder.* You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

James 4:2 ESV

*Remember "murder" is also defined as "anger" (see Matthew 5:21-22)

You may also like:

- "I’ve had a bad day" from January 7, 2013

- "If you need Someone to lean on" from July 27, 2014

- "Disappointment" from June 18, 2015

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Please join me this week in praying for those who need help but don't ask for it. Pray that they see the benefits of allowing others to help them. Pray that they have good experiences as a result of opening up to others. Pray that they are served by Christians who show Christ to them.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe

Instagram @7DegreesOfMe
Pinterest Prayer Group #7thHourPrayerPower

Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

#7thHourPrayerPower #bibleverse #bible #help #ask #need #independant #strong #prayer #relationship #anxiety

Light in the darkness

If you pour yourself out for the hungry 

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, 

then shall your light rise in the darkness 

and your gloom be as the noonday.

Isaiah 58:10 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the poor. Ask God what you can do to help and to make a difference in the life of someone in need.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

Share the gifts

Give, and it will be given to you. 

Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, 

running over, will be put into your lap. 

For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Luke 6:38 ESV

You can test God on this...not to sound like the for-profit "ministers" who preach "prosperity gospel" on television, though.* God isn't rewarding us but rather He gives back to those who give so that we can and will give even more. I believe He wants us to be active in taking care of His children in need.

*Honestly, these people scare me. They twist the gospel and extort money from those who don't have it to lose. Beware of these types of so-called Pastors. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says: For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 
     Doesn't that just send chills down your spine?! That's exactly what's happening! We're here to build relationships, help one another, spread the Gospel, and to bring glory to the Lord. 1. Love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. 2. Love your neighbor as you love yourself/do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (paraphrasing).

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Please join me this week in praying for the poor. Ask God what you can do to help and to make a difference in the life of someone in need.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

What can I do?

We all know (hopefully) that it's better to give than to receive, so why is there so much want in the world? Are we all doing our best, giving joyfully and selflessly as Jesus taught us?
     This time of year, we maybe think about it more than we do the rest of the year, which is fine, but it's my prayer that we start a momentum that carries on into 2020.
     I really love my church. Just this past weekend, we held our annual car clinic where church members worked on cars for those in our community who maybe can't afford an oil change and are unable to take care of their vehicles themselves. We check windshield wiper fluid, tire pressure, turn signal bulbs, etc. and the youth vacuum the cars and clean the windows. While people wait for their cars they have the opportunity to find some gently used items for themselves or others. We provide food and haircuts and nail painting while the people wait on their cars. We minister to these people and talk to them, get to know them, and love on them. It's an amazing experience for everyone, those giving and those receiving.
     We're also collecting food to give the needy for a Thanksgiving meal, coats and other items for Target Dayton, filling shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. We're sending out missionaries to Peru and the Dominican Republic.
     I don't say all of this to boast but rather to show that there is so much each of us can do to touch the lives of those who are less fortunate. We can't all be missionaries, but we can reach out to someone and simply listen to their story, have a cup of coffee with them, say a prayer with them. If you can't give financially, maybe you can donate items that you no longer need. If you have no time, money, or anything like that, you can become a prayer warrior for those in need. There's always something that needs to be done, someone who needs help. Look around you and see what you can do. It will warm your heart and leave a positive impact on those you touch.

In all things I have shown you that by working hard 

in this way we must help the weak and 

remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, 

‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 20:35 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the poor. Ask God what you can do to help and to make a difference in the life of someone in need.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power

A loving gift

Have you ever been truly poor? I have. We did well to just get by. Looking back there are a few places we could have cut back and other places where we made bad decisions. We robbed Peter to pay Paul and used credit cards to get us through particularly bad months (which just made things worse). We spent $20 a week on groceries.
     I wasn't accustomed or prepared to be so poor and honestly didn't know how we would ever survive, but we did, of course, often due to the kindness and generosity of others. Since I've been there, I can empathize with those I meet who are in need. This time of year is especially difficult. You want to be as "normal" as possible for your children and have a big meal for Thanksgiving and gifts under a tree for Christmas.
     One Christmas I had been saving change in order to be able to buy a Christmas tree. A live tree at that time was $20 (the equivalent of a whole week of groceries) so we were making sacrifices here and there in order to buy one.
     One day my brother and his wife drove up with a Christmas tree on the roof of their car. It took a moment to sink in what they were doing as they loosened the rope. My heart felt like it could have burst at that moment. I have never felt so loved. That was such a thoughtful gift, purchased with love, and given freely.
     Jesus has given all of us the ultimate gift. The price was paid with His blood and it is given freely to anyone who accepts Him. Those of us who've accepted this gift should be sharing the Good News of it to those in need. One way to reach out to people is to give freely of ourselves and help wherever we can. Be generous. Think outside the box and do something that shows Christ lives in you.

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. 

Therefore I command you, ‘

You shall open wide your hand to your brother, 

to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’

Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV

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Please join me this week in praying for the poor. Ask God what you can do to help and to make a difference in the life of someone in need.

I'll post daily reminders on:

twitter @7DegreesOfMe
Instagram @archadia27
Facebook group 7th Hour Prayer Power