We will be talking about Prayer. God is always listening. Keep on praying.
If you are looking to expand your Prayer Circle – below are some suggestions on who to pray for. Praying for your enemies or those people who you just don’t like or rub you the wrong way – those are the people you need to pray for the most. Rise above, God can do big things thru prayer – even if it isn’t blatantly obvious.
Spouse Mom Dad Your Kids Siblings Aunts Uncles Cousins Step Dad In-Laws Step Mom Neighbors – Especially those who do not talk to you The School Janitor Your Kid’s Teachers Step Siblings Co-workers Leadership at Work Clients Vendors Local Government Your Pastor Church Clergy State Government Federal Government Author of a book you just read Pets Local Fire Personal Police Department Deceased Family Members and Friends The person who cut you off in traffic Your Starbucks Barista Your Doctors That person who stole your parking lot space Mom or Dad with a Screaming Child The person you need to forgive A friend going through a hard time Friend that is ill The person who has not forgiven you Mailperson Your Amazon package deliverer The customer service agent you were on the phone with Waitress or waiter Friend’s Family Walmart Greeter The family on the news Non-profit Organizations Celebrities (They even need a Prayer too) Flight attendant Pilot News anchors Single Mom or Dad Someone who lost their job today Foster Families – Talk about doing God’s work Ukraine Russia
Any other people that I may have missed? I am sure there are a million others to add to the list, but I feel as though this is a good start!
The function of Prayer is not to influence God but rather to change the nature of the one who Prays.
Tips to remember when praying for People
Don’t feel like you have to tell someone you are praying for them. Pray for the unknown, don’t be getting all in someone’s business in the name of Prayer. Use this practice to grow spiritually
If you would like to submit a prayer request to use, you may reach out to Pastor Rod Smith at (724) 601-6546 or by emailing resmith666@gmail.com
We will be talking about what we are giving up for lent. Although Ash Wednesday was yesterday, God doesn’t care about when you start Lent. While yes, there is an “official date” for Lent, Lent is about is about pursing God and abstaining, putting something needless away and focusing your energy on Jesus.
Lent Rules – Write your own
It is not so much just Jesus, but being like Jesus. Being the hands and feet of Christ. For instance, if you are not scrolling Facebook for that two hours a day and using that time for something good, that is sufficient. As long as your heart is in the right places, and your intentioned are focused you can write your own Lent rules.
Lent isn’t so much about the discipline of fasting or about giving something up, or even about identifying the suffering of Jesus, because let’s face it: temporary craving of an ice cream sundae brownie doesn’t even come close to the suffering our Lord endured for our salvation. It’s so much more.
Lent is meant to bring us face-to-face with our sinfulness and our weakness, and bring us to our knees and recognition that we need a savior, even after all these years of being a weekly church service attendee.
What to give up for Lent? Below is a list of some possible ideas.
Soda Wasting time – perhaps use that time for volunteering / community involvement Endless Facebook Scrolling Starbucks – rather than buying yourself a coffee, pay it forward and buy someone else a coffee! Eating out – perhaps try doing meal prep at home procrastination Self doubt – you are good enough, smart enough, and people like you! worrying – leave it to God Snacks in-between meals Fast food Swearing Negativity- In a world full of negativity, find a way to spin things to be positive Comparison – you are writing and living your own story, do not compare it to others
What are things we can do for Lent? Besides giving something up, there are other ways to honor this holy season of Lent
Give things you no longer use away to someone in need Buy extra groceries for a local Food Bank Join a Feed the City Event Listen more – Rather than being a voice, be an ear to whoever needs it Be a Prayer Warrior – Text some friends and ask “How can I Pray for you.” There are so many things to Pray for today Donate cookies – perhaps to a local fire station, school front office, etc. A cookie always brings a smile Send a thank you or thinking of you card Make an extra meal for someone in need Gatorade or water for the delivery person – Leave water or Gatorade on the front porch for the delivery person Talk to your Neighbors Be kind to yourself Let someone go in front of you in line
Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you will not be applauding.
Matthew 2-4 “When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure – ‘play-actors’ I call them – treating prayer meeting and street corners alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get the applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it – quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helping you out.
Whether you are giving it up for Jesus, or being the hands and feet of Christ, be intentional and use these days of Lent to grow. I hope these ideas spark something in regards to what to give up for Lent and other ideas on what to do for Lent.
Ash Wednesday is the beginning of 40 day Lenten season. Lend ends the day before Easter on Holy Saturday, which is April 16, 2022. The next six and a half weeks is one of the most important, if not the most important in Christianity. It is during Lent that we remember the life of Jesus Christ – specifically his temptation, suffering, death, and resurrection. It is invaluable to take time to reflect on out sinfulness in confession and prayer as an individual, as we as corporately. Many times, the church emphasizes grace, but we grasp a better concept of grace when we realize how sinful we are and how much God has loved us in the midst of our disobedience.
Lent is traditionally a 40-day fast – a reference to the time Jesus spent being tempted in the desert that seeks to prepare the heart of the believer for the solemn remembrance of Jesus’ death. It concludes and is followed by a joyous Easter Sunday celebration of the resurrection of Christ.
We cannot completely appreciate the reality of where we are heading until we sit in the truth of where we are going. This is not only a day of thinking on Christ’s death but each of our own deaths. All of our hope was ashes until Jesus. All of our future was hell until the empty tomb. But because of Christ’s sacrifice, all of our sins have been removed as far as the East is from the West (Psalm 103:12).
Romans 3:234 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ash Wednesday is a day to focus on sin in preparation of the celebration of the gift of Christ on Easter Sunday.
2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” This is a time of remorse and gratitude for the great love and mercy our Father has on us. Ashes could denote our death, but instead, they represent Jesus’ death and our life.
When we participate in focusing our hearts on the cross, we can step into the season of Easter in its entirety. It takes discipline to slow down and center our thoughts on the weight of death. It is not a fun topic, but it is important. Ash Wednesday is the springboard to the time of fasting in Lent. When we realize how much of a sacrifice Christ made on our behalf, it provides a confidence boost as we prepare to enter our 40 days of sacrifice.
Ash Wednesday is simply one day of the year, but the attitude of today needs to be carried through the entire calendar. These moments should simply be springboards to our faith and reminders of Christ’s love for us and for the world.
The bible tells us that God’s love is everlasting, strong, powerful, life-changing, and is for everyone. We can trust in God’s love and believe in His love for us through the gift of salvation. We can rest in God’s love knowing that he wants what is best for us and has a plan and purpose for all that we face. We can have confidence in God’s love knowing He is faithful and sovereign. Below we have collected some love quotes from the Bible to affirm and remind you of the love God has for you.
Because of God’s great love for us, we are able to love others and be an example of what love looks like. It is forgiving, enduring, patient, kind, and so much more. We can take what we learn about God’s love for us and use it to build a better marriage, better friendships, and to love ourselves better! The bible has a quote about love for whatever area of life you are looking to experience a better relationship. May these love quotes from the Bible strengthen your faith and improve all aspects of love in your life.
Bible Quotes About God’s Love for Us:
“See what great love the father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1
“And we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is Love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” 1 John 4:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” 1 John 3:16
“Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:26
“But God demonstrates his own love for is in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“Through the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10
Bible Quotes About Loving Others:
“Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7
” We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder.” “You shall not steal.” You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:8-10
“Little children, let us not love in word but in deed in truth.” 1 Johns 3:18
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13
Bible Quotes on the Power of Love:
“There is no fear in love. But perfect loves drive out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” 1 John 4:18
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 2:43-44
Bible Quotes on the Love We Possess:
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“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our Sins.” 1 John 4:10
“Do everything in love” 1 Corinthians 13:14
“Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” Proverbs 10-12
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Give thanks to the Lord. Happy Valentine’s Day from Mountain Ministries!
It is that time of year again when children, and some adults put on their costumes and knock on every door that leads to the possibility of getting a handful of goodies! This holiday is known as Halloween. In our part of the world, Halloween is popular. There are hundreds of kids that walk the alleys and neighborhoods searching for treats, and for the most part residents sits on their front porches to hand out candy. This is truly a great time for a community. But have you ever wondered where the word “Halloween” came from and what its original meaning is?
What is the definition of Hallowed? According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, hallowed is defined as holy, sacred, consecrated, or revered. Hallowed has old English roots. We can trace the word back to the old English word halig which means holy. In the Middle Ages, this word referred to what early Christians called All Hallows’ Day. Today, this is called All Saints’ Day. The day before All Hallows’ Day was called All Hallow Even – or what we call Halloween today.
Where Do We See Hallowed Used in the Bible?
All translations are not created equal; therefore, you will not find the word hallowed in all the same verses in each translation. The primary difference is the usage of hallowed in the Old Testament. Early versions of the Bible all use hallowed to describe a holy or sacred event, place, or person. If one would read the 1611 King James Bible, they would encounter this word frequently in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament. One will only find hallowed used in the Lords Prayer found in Matthew 6:9 Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name Here we find Jesus teaching about prayer in what is known as the Sermon on the Mount. He is harkening back to the ten commandments and what God said about himself. God said He was the Lord, your God, and there were to be no other gods before him. When we pray, we are to give God the reverence and praise He deserves before all other requests.
What Things are Hallowed? While we make many objects and people in our life Hallowed, there are only two things that are truly hallowed. The first is hallowed ground. All ground or land is hallowed. The land we walk and live on belongs to God. He is the creator and has given us a loan to use His land for His purposes. The Bible is the story of God’s people as they traverse God’s land. Hallowed ground is also the place where we sow love, mercy, and reconciliation. This sacred ground is what we will nourish the seeds and prepare for a harvest of faith. Secondly, God’s name is hallowed. To hallow God’s name is an outward action of reverence. It is active praise. Not using God’s name in vain or defiling His creation is just a small way we can show how sacred and holy God is.
In Conclusion When we understand that hallowed means holy or sacred, we can understand the necessity of purification and making ourselves ready for worship. The Lord’s prayer reminds us that we are to make the name of God holy. We are to show our praise and adoration to our Lord. Christians are not making blood sacrifices or building temple courts today. What we are doing is understanding that we must hallow the name of the Lord in remembrance of what He has done for us. It is an outward response that tells the world we are working daily to purify our hearts and minds so we may express to this sinful world the need for a Savior. We should actively make our God a sacred part of our lives. We should understand that our God has created a hallowed ground for us to live on. Our time on this hallowed ground should be spent glorifying Him
