By Annette Bridges

Change — some people dread it, and others can’t get enough. It may be much like the idiom, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” When it comes to what we would alter or why we would make a modification, the answers vary because we all have different things we value, want, need and consider important.

Unlike some empty nesters, I’m one of those who can’t get enough change. Even when I’m not actively seeking it, I feel a hunger for it. And this often results in my imagination working overtime, wondering what I could change — replace, remodel, reorganize or improve and do differently.

Certainly, there are things I would never trade about my life. I adore my husband — one fact that is firm and fixed. Unfortunately, my dear husband is one of those folks who dreads change, so there are times his feelings impact the possibilities of what I would and can change in my own life.

Furthermore, sometimes what I think I might like to change and what I feel I can or would are different. When this happens to any of us, I think it’s important to examine why we feel we can’t or wouldn’t make a change.

What’s stopping us?

When I mention to my husband something I’m thinking about changing, he often responds with, “Why now?” And my response to him is always, “Why not?”

I think it’s the “Why not?” question that must be answered when we’re hesitant to make a change. And when I find my hesitancy is based on a fear, that’s when I become determined to conquer the fear.

Many times in my life I’ve let fear stop me from reaching some goal or aspiration. Since I can’t go back and change all the things I wish I had done, and living in regret is completely pointless, today my resolve is fierce when I’m faced with a fear that is trying to hold me back.

In short, I simply can’t allow fear to be what stops me from making a change!

Now, I do believe in making informed and educated decisions. And there could be information that might stop me from making a change.

It could also be that certain changes really are better at one time than at another. So, if a desired change shouldn’t happen today, it doesn’t mean that at some point in the future, that desired change couldn’t or shouldn’t happen.

But one thing is for sure, my friends — do not let fear paralyze you with uncertainty, indecisiveness and inaction. We must stop fear before it stops us.

It’s helpful to look at your fear straight on and examine what it is telling you. Perhaps your fear is saying, “You can’t do it or it will be too difficult.” “You’re afraid of what others will think.” “You will fail.” “You will be wrong.” “You won’t like the outcome.”

Some people say that fears can be rational and logical and are a helpful instinct that protects us from danger. I don’t think it is fear that makes decisions and actions rational, logical and safe, but rather knowledge, understanding, common sense as well as divine inspiration and revelation that serve us well.

At least from my own experience, I’ve found that fear is irrational and baseless. It is some illusive belief that would stop me from making my life better — happier, more satisfying, more interesting, more productive, more fun.

Changes are a natural — and can be a progressive — aspect throughout our life. Making a well thought-out change need not be feared but welcomed, explored and enjoyed.

Asking ourselves “Why not?” when considering some change can be very telling. We just may find that there really isn’t a good enough reason not to!

By Annette Bridges

Being the youngest in my family with three big brothers, I must admit that I always seemed to find something to tattle about. Was my tattling a ploy to get attention? I suspect so — at least some of the time.

Whatever my reason, some might say my childhood job was to be the family informer. Sometimes I think I tattled because I was mad at one of my brothers, and I wanted to get him in trouble. Of course, this particular brother usually did something worthy of getting in trouble for. I just passed along the incriminating information.

Many children fear the label of rat, squealer, fink or blabbermouth, but there are things children should feel free and comfortable to tell.

Children may be embarrassed or ashamed of the inappropriate behavior someone has had toward them. Their confusion can make them hold their tongue when they should in fact tell what was done.

Sometimes our friends confide in us, and it can be difficult for us to know the difference between secrets that we should keep and those that we need to share with another.

I had a young childhood friend who vowed me to secrecy about an adult’s inappropriate behavior toward her. And I have to tell you that her secret was one I kept her entire life. My friend passed on several years ago, but I’m still sad because she may have endured much pain and unhappiness, and I never did anything to stop it.

It had been so easy for me to snitch on my brothers. Yet I can’t explain why I couldn’t blab about my friend’s experience to my mother or some other authority figure.

When I think back on all the tattling I did on my brother, I think that in fact, this brother was doing things that he shouldn’t have been doing. At the time I didn’t understand why I needed to tell on him — that it wasn’t to get him into trouble but to help him stop doing things that were harmful to his health.

Children need to be taught the difference between senseless tattling and a legitimate complaint or concern. As in many areas of our lives, an examination of our motives is paramount.

Is what we feel compelled to share something that affects ours or others’ physical or psychological safety? Is our motive with the intent to protect? Is there an emergency — when danger is imminent?

When I was eleven, I had a friend tattle on me that resulted in my suspension from school for three days. I don’t think I ever thanked this friend for her brave actions. It was clearly her concern for my safety as well as that of others that she snitched. I was at first humiliated and angry. But I can tell you now that her tattling completely altered my life. I was forced to make some needed changes that put me on a better path for the rest of my life.

If you have a child who never hesitates to keep you informed, don’t discourage the line of communication. We don’t want to teach our children to shut up. The era of children seen and not heard has long ended. Let’s teach our kids how to evaluate and process information so they know what’s important and know how and when to tattle.

Your child may end up saving another child’s life just like my friend saved mine.

By Annette Bridges

Blame can be contagious — a conclusion reached by a recent study published in The Journal of Experimental Psychology. This was no surprise to me, since we live in a culture of blame and see “blame” played out in the news every day.

I dare say we’ve all pointed fingers at some point in time to a person, place or thing as an excuse for our misery or a problem. And whether or not you or I believe we were justified in that blame doesn’t matter.

In the book of Genesis, we read that Adam blamed Eve when the Lord confronted him about eating the fruit he had been told to stay away from. (Genesis 3:12) But did Eve cram the fruit in his mouth? Did she force him to eat it? At least Eve told the truth and owned up to her mistake. Adam made a choice as surely as Eve did!

If we are ever going to learn to be good problem solvers, then we need a shift from finding fault to taking responsibility.

Pointing a finger is a way to pass the buck in an attempt to protect our own self-image perhaps — another finding in the study. Yet blame becomes an excuse, a justification, a defense — a bad habit — and keeps focus away from making the effectual changes that solve a problem.

“The dog ate my homework” excuse doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your homework. Whether the excuse is truth or lie is inconsequential. Either you get your homework completed and turned in for a grade or you get a zero. The consequence is going to be the result of the choice you make.

Noted Jewish-American trial lawyer, Louis Nizer once said, “When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself.” We must sooner or later own up to our own mistakes and learn the lessons needed to not repeat them. Maybe the dog really did eat our homework, but maybe we left our homework on the floor in the first place.

But again, where the fault lies is not of immediate importance. What matters most — or at least first and foremost — is what we do to correct and resolve what needs fixing. We must get our homework done even if we have to start over from scratch!

Getting trapped in a cycle of blame distorts objectivity, clouds reason and almost always results in a power struggle. Problem solving demands respect for other viewpoints, along with a recognition that there is not just one way to reach a solution. So we must break the blame chain in order to make any needed changes.

We need to move beyond the “It’s not my fault” victim mentality and imbibe the humility, grace and courage to do whatever it takes to accomplish change, progress, and success. As long as we think of ourselves as victims, we remain so and accomplish little or nothing.

Parents often blame their child’s teachers, friends, television or music for a behavior problem or for a learning difficulty. And they often blame themselves and ruminate over what they have done wrong. Again, the problem with all the blaming is that it takes the attention and focus away from where it should be — on the child and meeting the child’s needs.

My approach to teaching as a public school teacher and as a homeschool teacher was the same. I believed that anything could be learned. If my children were failing or having difficulty mastering a skill or subject, then it was the teaching method that needed to be changed to better meet the child’s learning style and needs. It wasn’t that the children were dumb or incapable of learning. It wasn’t that I was a bad teacher. The solution was to adapt and continue to try a new approach until mastery was achieved.

Opportunities are available, and success can be reached. The road may appear easier or faster for some than for others. It may or may not be fair. Some may have more hurdles to overcome. So be it. I’ve often said and proven in my own life, difficult does not mean impossible.

There is much that needs fixing in our country and world today. My prayer is that we stop playing the blame game. Stop the excuse making and start problem solving. Nothing is so hard that it can’t be done. When we open our hearts and minds to believe that anything is possible, solvable and attainable, then it will be so.

Gifts of Grace Resale Store located at 110 Triple Creek Dr. Suite 32 (off Judson Rd. next to Pasado’s Cafe) will celebrate its grand opening Friday, July 16  and  Saturday, July 17 from 9am to 6pm.

Furthermore, the Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting is slated for Friday, July 16 at 4pm.

The White Chocolate band at www.wcministry.com will entertain the audience on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

All proceeds go to support the House of Disciples Life Recovery Center which helps homeless men or struggling with addictions. Currently, there are 25 men residing at the Center and participating in the program.

For more information, please call 903-234-2341or visit gog@wisemanministries.com

As we look at the Parables and Miracles of Jesus recorded by Matthew, I’m including the colorful metaphors Jesus used to teach people about relating to God.
I’m calling this “The Parable of Stones and Snakes,” because Jesus paints the preposterous picture of a son asking his father for bread and a fish, and instead his father gives him a stone and a snake.
You’ve probably heard the question, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” Somebody sent me some humorous answers to that question given by famous people.
“The problem we have here is that this chicken won’t realize that he must first deal with the problem on ‘THIS’ side of the road before it goes after the problem on the ‘OTHER SIDE’ of the road.” — Dr. Phil
“Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road; but why it crossed I’ve not been told.” — Dr. Seuss
“Imagine all the chickens in the world crossing roads together–in peace.” — John Lennon
“Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?”— Albert Einstein
“I invented the chicken!” — Al Gore
“Did I miss one?”— Colonel Sanders
“I did not cross the road with THAT chicken.” — Bill Clinton
“Why did the chicken cross the road?” really isn’t an important question. But there is a question. I’ve been asked hundreds of times since I’ve been a pastor, “Why aren’t my prayers being answered?” If you stood before Jesus and asked Him that question I think His answer might be, “Because you stop praying too soon.” We’re going to learn from Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 7:7-12 that there is great power in persistent praying.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
I’ve always been fascinated by prayer and I’m still a student in God’s school of prayer. I’ve accumulated hundreds of great quotes about prayer and these are some of my favorites.
“You can do more than pray AFTER you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray UNTIL you have prayed.” — A.J. Gordon
“Satan laughs at our toiling, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” — Watchman Nee
“Prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.” — Martin Luther
“Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” — Corrie ten Boom
Jesus was a great teacher and a wonderful healer, but we never read that His disciples ever said, “Lord, teach us to heal, or teach us how to teach.” But we read that they asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” There was something about the prayer life of Jesus that caused his disciples to want to pray the way He prayed. Let’s learn three lessons Jesus teaches us about prayer:
Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” The New Testament was written in the Koine Greek language, which has many more nuances than English. The tense Jesus used for “Ask, seek, and knock” is called the present imperative which literally means: “Ask—and keep on asking; Seek—and keep on seeking; Knock and keep on banging on heaven’s door.”
The reason more prayers don’t seem to be answered is that people stop praying. A little boy named Bobby asked his dad if he could pray for God to give him a puppy. His mom was expecting a new baby, so his dad said, “Not now, son, but why don’t you pray and ask God for a little baby brother? That’s a prayer that God will answer in a couple of months.” Bobby prayed for a couple of weeks, but nothing happened so he stopped praying. A couple of months later Bobby’s mom went into the hospital. Bobby came to visit his mother after she had delivered and his dad pulled the cover back to reveal not one baby brother but two—twins. The daddy said to Bobby, “Son, aren’t you glad that you prayed and asked God for a baby brother?” Bobby said, “Sure, dad, but aren’t you glad I stopped praying when I did!”
I can honestly remember my first experience with prayer as a child. I went to first grade Sunday School and my teacher taught us that if we asked God for something He would give it to us. That got my attention, because it sounded like a good deal. At this time my family was living in Dothan, Alabama, which is located just a few miles from Fort Rucker where the army trains all their helicopter pilots. So every day dozens flew over our house. Whenever I heard one I would run outside and wave my arms for them to land and take me for a ride. My favorite television show was “Whirlybirds,” which was a show about policemen who used a
helicopter to catch criminals.
More than anything else I wanted to fly in a helicopter, so after I heard that Sunday School lesson, I decided I would see if prayer really worked. One night I got on my knees and said, “Okay, God, my teacher told me I could ask you for something and you’d give it to me. I want a real helicopter to land behind my house in the empty field, and I want to get in fly it over our neighborhood. My teacher had said to be specific in my prayers, so I even described what kind of helicopter I wanted it to be. “God, make it one of the small ones with the glass bubble that carries two people.” I can tell you with all honesty that I got into bed that night with simple childlike faith fully expecting God to answer my prayer. The next morning, I got up and dressed to go on a helicopter ride, because I totally expected there to be a helicopter in the field behind my house. I ran out my back door and looked at the vacant field. Would you believe that earlier that morning an army helicopter had made an emergency landing and was sitting in that field?

I didn’t say there was one there, I just asked you if you would believe it: Don’t. At first I remember thinking, “This prayer thing isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” But as I grew older God used that first prayer experience to teach me lessons about how to pray.

This morning I made myself do my Bible study. I’ve been struggling the past few weeks with “feeling like” reading and studying God’s Word. Doesn’t sound like much of a Christian, does it? The truth is that I long for those times when I feel like God and I are walking hand in hand. However, those times come and go in this world. In between the lush oasis of life, water, and growth are the desert places.
God’s word tells account after account of people being out in the desert for certain periods of time. Abraham lived most of his life in the desert with his sons. Moses fled Egypt and remained in the desert for years. The Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years. John the Baptist was found in the desert preaching and eating locust. Jesus remained in the desert 40 days before He began His Earthly ministry. In each of these instances, God used the time to prepare them for the purpose for which He created them.
“As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?”
(Psalms 42:1-10, NASB)
The very nature of the desert causes not just thirst, but desperate thirst. The heat, the dryness, the desolation all cause a person to “pant” for water. This is a different feeling than just being without. This is knowledge that one will not survive if they continue without that which brings them life.
Jesus said to the woman at the well: “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:10-14)
“Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” (John 7:37-38)
Jesus describes Himself as the living water. I wonder sometimes when I thirst if I have not been abiding in Christ. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:6)
I got my answer this morning as I made myself do my Bible study. As I read God’s word and thought about its meaning, it was like I someone pouring cool refreshing water into my mouth. My soul seemed to awaken and say, “Oh THERE you are!” as I was able to take fresh air into my lungs.
I believe I have been struggling with sin in my life. Rather I had succumb to sin I was tired of struggling against. “For the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23) If I allow myself to be separated from God through my choice to sin, then it will feel as if my soul is dying. Maybe God allows us to feel lost and thirst for Him for a time if we indeed need to be called back to His side. With as stubborn as I am, I appreciate God providing me with reminders of what life is like separated from Him.
If you ever feel in a desert place I want to encourage you. Continue to seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. You will feel His comforting presence again. If you’re like me, you will then have a great appreciation and wonder of His glory – At least until the next time I am weak. Father, thank you for your ever loving patience. There is a reason you liken us to sheep.
Jennifer Young, LPC is a Local & Telephone Christian Counselor. For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com

Ray Coates, a teacher in the Body of Christ, opened his sermon by thanking his Savior and Deliverer Jesus Christ for setting him free from bondages, his Healer who has healed his life in several areas, and in general the One he calls Lilly of the Valley and several other names attributed to the Savior. Yet he is quick to concede mere language cannot adequately describe Our Lord. Jesus Christ is beyond verbal description!
He also thanked his grandmother for praying for him behind the scenes, and thanked several pastors who have positively influenced him. These include the Reverends Les Wooten, Russell Craft and Bob Cammack, all from his church–Longview Christian Fellowship. He also thanked other local pastors for giving him opportunities to actively work for the Lord. These were James and Joetta Taylor, Lamar Jones, Homer Rockmore and Timothy McNeil and many others.
Most of all, he thanked his wife Carol Coates for always cheering him on to victory.
“She has lived with me through what most women would have left,” he said. “She is my biggest fan.”
Lastly, though, he thanked Growing Valley Baptist Church Pastor Charles Faulks for inviting him to preach. Coates took his sermon from Romans 3:4. “…Let God be true, and every man a liar.”
Coates told the congregation this means God will keep His promises, His Word will do what it says even if the rest of the world is lying through its teeth. Coates agrees it is OK to have an opinion, but always remember the Word of God endures forever. Some have asked him how the Word of God can still be the solution when the world has changed so much since the scriptures were written? Others say the Word is not for every situation, or that it does not apply to some people. This is far from the truth, and Coates did not mince words when he declared: “If your opinion does not line up with the Word of God then there is something wrong with your opinion and you must go back to the Word of God.”
This servant of the Almighty does not beat around the bush. He sees everything in black or white.
“You do not end up in someone’s bed having sex and call it an accident, and by the way this is happening to people in the church,” he said.
He described how his own younger days he was perceived as harsh, and his training in the United States Marine Corps did not make his life any easier with that perception. But, having a wonderful wife helped immensely. He was angry with himself and projected the anger to those around him, but His Lord’s blessings of mercy came through his wife. Today Coates is still direct but gracious.
“Having a good wife who is gifted in mercy helped me,” he said.
Coates teaches that the Bible’s text makes it clear that it is up to the individual to decide whom he will believe. Everyone has two choices.
Listen and follow the world’s standard, or listen and follow the Word standard,” he admonished. “Get into the Word. The Word will work in any situation for anyone who consistently studies and applies it to their life.”
Furthermore, the world’s standards are in conflict with the Word’s. The world is always changing, but the Word, like the Lord, changes not. He used the family to demonstrate these opposites. He compared what the world says to what the Word says.

1. The world says marriage is a 50-50 contact. The Word says it is a Covenant.

2. The world says the one who makes the most money makes the decisions, while the Word says the husband is the head of the household. If he does not know how to be the head, he simply needs mentoring. He is still the head.

3. The world says that if a marriage does not work out, no big deal–just get a divorce. The Word says the husband is responsible for the condition of his family. He sets the standard via the Word regardless of how he was raised. The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. Divorce is not a Christian option. The wife is to submit to her husband. In no way does this mean she is to be his personal slave. It means recognizing his position as the family’s head and putting him ahead of all others.

On raising children:

1. The world says if you spank a child you hurt his psyche.

2. The Word says raise a child in the way he should go, and when he is older he will not depart from the true path. This means taking into account what a child is like, and shaping and molding him into what is right, including spanking for stubborn and disobedient children. However if a parent takes a child with, say, an artistic inclination and tries to force him to be, for example, an athlete this child may become rebellious and reject God altogether.

There is nothing in the Word about standing children in corners or taking away their privileges. Also, in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy there are outlined the consequences for our own misbehavior. Truly, we reap what we sow. We make our own choices. Neither God or Satan forces us to sin. You decide whether you are blessed or cursed, and you choose what you want.

“Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.’ Jesus answered, ‘Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.’” (John 13: 37-38, NASB)
“Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:10-11, NASB)
“Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’” (John 18:17)
“Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself so they said to him, ‘You are not also one of His disciples, are you?’ He denied it, and said, ‘I am not.’ One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with Him?’ Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.” (John 18:25-27)
Peter, Peter and his pride
Swore he’d lay down his life before Jesus died
Tried to make good on his oath by attacking a slave
But soon Satan’s sifting was pointing him to the grave.

If the story ended there
Peter and Judas one fate they would share
But Peter repented, His sin Christ did bear.

Peter was attacked
But not with sword or with stone
It was when he was off- guard, afraid, and alone.

Beware all us sinners
We must learn from Peter’s life
Though we feel close to Jesus and ready for strife
Be on guard for the pride that makes us so weak
Lest Satan succeed to sift us like wheat.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)
Jennifer Young, LPC is a Local & Telephone Christian Counselor. For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23, NASB)
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)
There are several ways in which we use God’s name in our present age. Some use it while cursing, which is most often thought of as the violation of the third commandment listed above. However, there are other uses which can be just as much of a violation, perhaps even more so.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.” (John 16:23)
“Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
Repeatedly in Scripture there are references to using God’s name or praying in “the name of Jesus Christ”. When we pray in this manner we are promised that what we ask will be provided. Starting out as a new person in prayer this confused me. I knew that there were things that I had prayed for “in Christ’s name” that did not happen. What was I doing wrong?
Clarity began to form when I read Psalm 37:4. I had read it several times before, adding to my confusion. However this day, for the first time, my understanding of it was entirely different. Instead of interpreting it as “and He will give me whatever I want,” I understood it to mean “and He will place His desires, His will in my heart”. I began to realize that I prayed for those things that were in my heart. If God was placing those things in my heart, then of course He would answer my prayers.
In times past, when a person said that they came in the name of another person, such as the king, it meant that the person was acting in accordance with the will and authority of the king. It is the same way with using the name of God and Jesus Christ. When we pray in His name, we are saying that we are praying the will of God and asking God to bring His will to earth.
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Luke 11:2, NKJV)
I was not using the name of Jesus Christ appropriately. I was praying that my will be done, not His. My motives were selfish and out of fear, not faith. Presently I am in the process of learning to understand His will so that I may use His name to bring it to earth. What a wonderful journey! To learn and understand His will is to delight myself in my Lord, to love, focus, and hunger for more of Him.
God listens to our heart as we pray, not our words. As we pray in the name of His precious Son, Jesus Christ, is our heart truly aligned with and in acceptance of His will? If not, what do you need to do so that it is?
Our Father wants us to move and act in His name, but; we must be clear about what that means. The Jewish tradition does not write or say the name of God because it is so sacred. Let us understand the weight and authority of praying in God’s name as He intends.
Jennifer Young, LPC is a Local & Telephone Christian Counselor. For more information visit www.Thy-Kingdm.com