When is the first time prayer is used in the Bible?

I bet you probably can't answer that. Some of you may even begin to search the concordances in the back of your Bibles or one that you have on a shelf.

I would say the Number one reason most people can't answer that is that they are looking for the first time the actual word “Pray”, “Prayer”, “Prayed”, “Praying”, is used in scripture. The Number two reason most folks are unsure how to answer that question is that they are looking through RELIGIOUS lenses. They are thinking when was the first time someone bowed their head, knelt down and recited a prayer like:

“now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.

If I should live for other days, I pray the Lord to guide my ways.

Father, unto thee I pray, Thou has guarded me all the day,

Safe I am when in Thy sight, Safely let me sleep tonight.

Bless my friends, the whole world bless;

Help me to learn helpfulness;

Keep me ever in thy sight, So to all, I Say, Good Night.

Amen

` A Children's Bedtime Prayer~ Henry Johnstone¹

The first time we are introduced to prayer in scripture it is found in Genesis 3:8-10.

⁸ They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" ¹⁰ He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself." (Gen 3:8-10 NAU)

This isn't prayer you may be saying to yourself right now. This doesn't mention someone getting on their knees and reciting any ritualistic words and closing their eyes or anything of that nature. You're right. It doesn't. That is what makes prayer so unique and powerful and amazing. Prayer is simply talking to God like any other conversation you have had with anyone else on Earth. This passage represents the first recorded conversation between Adam and Eve and God. I am sure there were other conversations they had had, but this is the first one recorded for us to begin to understand how we should communicate to God.

Don't make prayer hard, or scary. It's simply talking to the loving God who created you, saved you, and empowers you. Why not start a conversation right now?

1https://www.beliefnet.com/prayers/other/bedtime/a-childs-bedtime-prayer.aspx

Good morning loved ones,
I haven't written for awhile for a couple of reasons:

#1 - When your taking classes for your Master's degree you don't have a lot of free time to write that isn't consumed by assigned papers.

#2 - I have been feeling a bit frustrated at the Fat Lazy Cat Syndrome of disciples of Jesus in general.

Let me define the FLCS - this is when as a disciple of Jesus I slowly but deliberately allow my life to become the standard by which I judge everything spiritual. It slowly but surely develops into I'm tired, I'm offended, I'm too busy, I'm not interested. I'm ...you fill in the blank. It proceeds to " I just need to take care of me, my family, my interests, My....again you fill in the blank. Then it slowly begins to find sympathetic ears and little groups form and slowly conversations of subtle criticism form, not overtly but in the form of " well if I were going to do it I would, or I've heard a lot of people say that.... or, "We really should do this or that but I'm not sure I can help". There is more subtle wall building and distancing in these disciples lives till the fire of a life saved by grace fueled by the throne of heaven itself, and encouraged by the Almighty King of Kings, Jesus, Himself slowly peters down to a flickering flame on a match head struggling not to go out by a gentle breeze and starving for more fuel that that found on the head of a match. This then reveals a disciple that in most forms looks like a Fat Lazy Cat that has found its contentment in lying in the window looking for its pleasure selfishly only when it pleases and enjoying the fact that its food + water dish is never empty and when they get good and ready they will meander over and paw around in the food and eat what they want but they are in no hurry because they know it will always be there. Hence, my Fat Lazy Cat Syndrome found in disciples of Jesus.

I could become very discouraged and disgruntled about this. To be honest, as a Pastor in New Hampshire one of the greatest mission fields of our modern world, I have, and even thought; "why bother keep trying nobody cares not even my leaders? Why work so hard why why why?"

Let me tell you why I can't stop and why every disciple of Jesus needs to stop today and reevaluate how they are following after Jesus.

14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.
17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."
18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.
20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. (Mar 1:14-20 NAU)

The number 1 reason I can't stop is that Jesus has called me. When Jesus called me He transformed me. My life was worthless and and wasted time. I had a list of excuses about plans that were never fulfilled and dreams that disappeared in to the vastness of each night. Each morning I rose to what should have been, what I hadn't done, Where I could have gone. I was so frustrated with what I, I, I had done with my life that when Jesus transformed me I CANT EVER GO BACK! I have met the purpose, the power, the presence, the passion, and my perspective for the rest of my life for eternity and I want more of Jesus. He has given me such an insatiable thirst for Him and His service and greatness that for me to go back the FLCS I would die. I don't want to die, I have life now and more abundantly than I have ever had it before. If you are offended by my comments because you think I am speaking about you as a FLC then GOOD! Maybe just maybe this will be the wake up call you need to get off the couch, outside your door, out of your yard and LIVE. Remember I never mentioned anyone's names so maybe this is the Holy Spirit's conviction that what I said is true of you.

Reason number 2 I can't Stop - When Jesus transformed me He gave me love for people I never had. A FAT LAZY CAT has love only for them-self and their own pleasures. A love like Jesus is so great, so huge my heart and life can't contain it all it MUST be given away to those who need it. The more I give away the more I know God loves me and the more I know other people love me. What I find Ironic is that Fat Lazy Cats complain about feeling unloved, unwanted, ill treated, but their the ones that never leave their window seats, their homes, their lives to love anyone but themselves. What is more truth is that the more I love myself the more I find I feel unloved. Crazy how Jesus designed love the more we give it away and invest in other people the more we experience and feel and know we are loved.

Reason #3 I can't stop - Jesus gave a command in these verses. He said follow me and I will make you fishers of men. He didn't say hey if you would like to come to church once a month or when its convenient we can go fishing for already disinterested full sel-fish in a 5 gallon tank that never gets changed. NO - following Jesus is an adventure that demands perseverance, courage, stamina, strength, passion, and creativity. Every single day is like being on Safari in the Kilimanjaro or fishing the Amazon River for piranha. No two days are ever alike and not day ever goes by with out seeing the hand of Almighty God my savior Jesus Christ moving in and through me in such powerful ways to touch other peoples lives so they they too can experience what real life is truly like the way God the Father created it to be.

NO - you can have your FLCSyndrome. I would rather lay my head on my pillow each and every night completely exhausted because I served the Lord with my whole heart than to ever lay it down weary because of a wasted day again. Don't think that I get to do this just because I am a pastor and get paid to do this. No, I haven't always been a pastor, this adventure started for me when I was 18, I've been an EMT, a Mental Health Worker in the state hospital on emergency admissions units and child psychiatric units, I've worked at SEARS selling tools, I've worked at A+B lumber as a yard worker, sales associate in the showroom, and even as the Paint guy, I have not always been a pastor but since I met Jesus like these disciples did I've never had a boring day. I've had some tough days to be a disciple is a call that transforms us from Fat Lazy Cats to passionate fully devoted followers of Christ who never give up, never go back, and never stop loving this adventure of Grace we are on.

I hope I have encouraged some, offended others, and possibly pushed more to one of those two positions, because if you are not moving at all you are actually going backwards.

God Bless you folks I really do love you or I wouldn't have shared this.

Pastor G

Samuel Bagster's title: It pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell

Hey, good morning folks,

A new week, A new beginning, A new opportunity to serve our great God.

Take a look at what Bagster put together for this mornings devotional thought.

It pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell.1

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.2 God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.3 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.4 By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.5

Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.6 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.7 Of his fulness have all we received.8

______________

1Col 1:19; 2Joh 3:35; 3Phi 2:9-11; 4Eph 1:21; 5Col 1:16; 6Rom 14:9; 7Col 2:10; 8Joh 1:16;

This is a great resource among devotionals. It is a compilation of full verses not parts of a verse; He keeps on topic, and these are not any of his words just all of scripture. If you look at the numbers in the text they correspond to the references at the bottom so you can look up the reference and verify if they are taken out of context or used inappropriately.

Dwell on these passages and you will transform your view and understanding of God.

Here is the web address for those who might like to use it.

http://www.dailylightdevotional.org/

I'm praying for you God Bless and enjoy the beautiful sunshine.

Blessings -

Pastor G

Good Morning folks,
Thanks for joining me today. Grab your Tea or better yet go grab some gogo juice (coffee), your bible, and come sit awhile with me and Jesus.

I've prayed already but you might want to stop now and talk with HIM, just sharing your thoughts and dreams and thanking HIM for giving you one more sunrise, one more pain to know for sure your alive, for giving you one more breath to experience His awesome love and creation. I've asked Him to show me what He wants me to learn and do today; what do you need to ask of Him?

I've been reading through the gospel of Mark and so I am going to meditate on the next passage I am reading. You may have a different way or system that you do your so go ahead and read your passage.

I have a bunch of questions I begin to review the passage I read with, so that I can understand it better and begin to apply the principles to my life that I have learned from that passage. You may have a study you are already doing, but if you do not you may try this. Review the passage you have read all the 6 questions words: What, Why, How, When, Who, Where. Keep a note book and record what you learn from this. You will be amazed after a week how much you will have learned from your reading that week.

This morning I have read :
21 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear results.
22 "No one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins." (Mar 2:21-22 NAU)

The greater context is Mark 2:13-22.

What was the reason for this statement? Jesus is spending time eating and enjoying himself with the friends of Matthew who were tax collectors and sinners.

Who is involved in this conversation? Jesus is the one who gives this answer to the question directing it at the Pharisees. The scribes of the pharisees who were scrutinizing and criticizing Jesus and his disciples for their completely unorthodox religious behavior.

Why did Jesus answer the question this way? Jesus answered the question this way because the Jewish spiritual leaders and law-setters had established rules and regulations that made it impossible for the average person, the sinner, and the extreme case of wickedness(the tax collector) to get forgiveness and have a relationship with God. Why did the scribes of the pharisees ask the disciples and Jesus this question? They asked this question because they had built a society of religious duty and pious behavior over the past 400 years since God had last spoken. Their religious traditions and status and life stile were being directly assaulted by Jesus behavior as a Rabbi. A Rabbi was a respected religious teacher of the law. A Rabbi was a member of the pharisees.

Not every time as your reading will you use each of the questions sometimes you will get very short specific answers such as:

When did this happen? The evening the Jesus called Matthew to be a disciple.

Where did this interaction take place? This all took place at Matthew's house. He threw a dinner party to have all of his friends meet this Jesus who changed his life.

Many times after going through the questions more questions are raised.

What difference did it make if one Rabbi didn't follow the traditions? It caused a great stir and much dissension because tradition and social order were all that held the pharisees world together. If someone bucked the system and you could get the teaching of the law and get to God another way then there really was no use for the pharisees at all and their life, livelihood, popularity, social order was crushed and destroyed. It scared them that they would lose everything.

How does this statement answer the pharisees question? Jesus explained that if you are going to fix a problem you don't make it worse by adding new laws. You create a whole new way of dealing with the problem.

What is the problem then? The problem was how do we get rid of sin and have a relationship with God? The pharisees would just make a new law or rule or regulation and the only thing that would do would be to cause people to just rip away from anything to do with God because they were already frustrated and alienated from HIM because of all the traditions the pharisees enforced. Jesus said this isn't working and I don't want to make it impossible and estroy any hope of people even trying to get forgiveness or having a relationship with Me and the Father. So Jesus made a complete new and different way that met these needs to accomplish what was supposed to be happening in the first place.

This brings me to where I begin to try to apply this to my life so that I can use it today and from now on. I ask the SO WHAT question. So what, what do I need to do with this information now that I know this?
#1 - Am I following any traditions that have nothing to do with what scripture tells me I need to do to get forgiveness and have a relationship with God?
#2 - Am I creating any traditions for other people to have to follow that are unscriptural?
#3 - Am I critical of other people, other churches because they are reaching people for Christ or seem to be growing and they don't do it MY WAY? But it is still scriptural.
#4 - Am I scared of obeying God and stepping out in faith because I'm afraid of what others might say to me or think of me?
#5 - Is God challenging me to begin to reevaluate how we DO church and asking me to make a new "wineskin" for a new generation so that others find forgiveness and a relationship with God without all the traditions my generation has built?

I usually spend some more time in prayer asking the Lord to help implement this information and these changes into my life because these are revolutionary and I do not have the ability or the power to do it.

I hope if you are reading this you do not just focus on the HOW TO of doing a quiet time. I pray that you actually are also wrestling with the text as I have this morning and are really asking that SO WHAT question. That you are reevaluating what the scriptures tells us is vitally important to forgiveness of sin and a relationship with God, and what is irrelevant. The praying to cut the waste and focus on the meat and heart of the matter. I am praying that you will join me and making a new "WINESKIN" to reach this generation for Christ and open the door for their healing, their forgiveness, their hope, and their relationship with God.

If you still have questions or thoughts you would like to share keep them positive and appropriate but ask and share away.

Praying for power and creativity through the Holy Spirit in you -

Pastor G

"Who Do You Love"-?"

Good morning -
I am sitting here this morning chuckling to myself. I am truly whacked in the head. I had a thought about what to share with you this morning and got the passage and then just started thinking about how best to relate it. This is where I am laughing at myself, not only am I dating myself I also am just amazed at what pops into my mind sometimes. Well any way here it is... Goerge Thorogood and the Destroyers - "Who Do You Love" . I'm sorry I am the source of that song being stuck in your head all day now; not really but anyway.
I've got a couple of questions for you today:
#1 - How do you best communicate love to those you care most about without using any words?
#2 - How would those closest to us feel if we never read anything they wrote to us, never listened to what they said, and never did any thing they requested of us?

21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." (Joh 14:21 NAU)

Jesus answers both of my questions in this passage. We say "I love you" the loudest and best with our actions and obedience to requests. And for the second we would have to say they would feel unloved and disrespected, ignored.

One of the most often questions or statements people make to me are I don't understand the Bible, Why should I read what doesn't make sense to me? That's a great point and really does impact our ability to communicate our love in ways those we care most about would understand.

#1 - There is nothing in life worth doing that doesn't require time. It is going to take a period of time to learn and practice; and you are going to have to set time aside to do what we will talk about.
#2 - Like time if it's worth doing it's worth the effort put into it. You will have to work not just half heartedly try.
#3 - Pray and ask God to help you by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is probably the most important step because this will directly impact the first 2 and everything else.
#4 - Plan - plan your work and work your plan. Without a plan of what to do you will give up frustrated and disgusted in short order.
Sooooo here is a plan that Martin Luther (of the reformation Luther) gave to his barber who asked something very similar to our  questions this morning.
   A - choose a bible reading plan - I will try to post several different ones a little later today.
   B - Rejoice - from the passage I have just read, ask yourself what can I rejoice about God from this passage?
   C - Repent - From this passage what has it revealed to me that I need to repent over?
   D - Recount - look at this passage and ask yourself how through the Gospel has Jesus made a way to do what the passage is asking of you?
   E - Request - Pray and ask God to help you do what it is you are learning in the power of the Holy Spirit.
   F - Rethink - Now ask yourself, how must I think, speak, and act differently because I know this now?
   G - Reflect - Stop and ask the Father to show you why HE is bringing this to your mind and life circumstances at this time in your life and not some other time? Why Now?

Practicing this will now help you understand the Bible so that you can obey the Bible; in so doing you will be practicing what Jesus told us... "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." (Joh 14:21 NAU).

If you have any questions or comments feel free to post or inquire -
Blessings -

Pastor G

I grew up listening to a song called "pour some sugar on me" by Def Leppard. I'm not sure why that was in my head today as I was reading except that if I were going to entitle this Thought today I would Call it "pour some Gravy on Me".

When have you spoken with your spouse last, your children, your parents, maybe your best friend? Important relationships demand time and communication. Those relationships that are most important are like frosting on a cake or gravy on your taters. They just add so much more that the staples. Their is the intangible blessings of just knowing someone is in your corner and loves you literally NO MATTER What. That's why I need prayer -

"A prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father’s face, and live in thy Father’s love."Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.

Good morning, do I have your attention now!?

" 19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. (Joh 5:19 NAU)

23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. (MT 14:23)
In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying
there. (MK 1:35)
12 It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. (LK 6:12)
16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. (LK 5:16)

Jesus priority was doing the Father's will - In fact it was not just the Father's will it was to do, act, and say, and think ...to BE just like the Father. I'm wondering this morning how many of us still view prayer as a mundane task of repetition? When our FATHER views it as pure joy just to talk and speak to us. To reassure us to encourage us, to prepare us for what is on His agenda for us today, to strengthen us for the unexpected or the unholy.

You see; how would your conversation change with the Father if you knew what Jesus knew about prayer - 20 "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. (Joh 5:20 NAU)

Now you know why Jesus "would often slip away to the wilderness and pray." It was great having my oldest daughter home for Christmas and just being able to talk about her hopes and dreams and future with her wonderful husband. It filled me with hope for the future, it moved me to action to see her living and then returning for advice and encouragement and funny as it may sound, just to make sure that her Dad hadn't lost his little girl. She is all grown up but still needed her daddy. No more to do for her but just for pure LOVE and affection and encouragement. That's gravy !!!!!
Have you spoken to your DADDY (Abba) today? Maybe you should HE's just waiting to poor GRAVY all over you.

May the giver of everything good and every perfect gift from above; the Father of lights, Bless you and poor gravy all over your life today as you just talk with HIM -

Pastor G

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Mt 14:23). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Mk 1:35). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Lk 6:12). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Lk 5:16). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

" 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will rejoice,
19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

(New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Php 1:18–21). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.)

Paul speaks here of a sure and certain sea of joy that wells up in his soul when Jesus is preached, teached, praised, adored, exalted, and at the very least even when someone is trying to extort or selfishly fulfill their desires Jesus is still proclaimed. Therefore he will find joy in that. Not only that Christ is preached but that the preaching of Christ's death resurrection according to the scriptures will lead to His ultimate freedom for he was taken in chains for preaching the gospel. Paul wasn't anticipating walking these earthly streets or eating a good meal or drinking a vintage wine Paul was relishing in the fact that even should the chains that bound him on this earth presently never be loosed these chains would never ultimately fill his soul with despair because even if he remains bound till death, He know because of the preaching of Jesus He will be free. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

We all love that last verse but I believe many of us do not understand the pain and suffering behind it. Paul is ready to die because it means ultimate freedom for him and peace, but if he must draw breath one more time on this side of eternity then it will be exhaled as a proclamation of the gospel of the one who owns his life, JESUS.

So folks, my take away from this passage today:
#1 - what is it that motivates me to breathe; if it is not Jesus is it really worthy of all the other breaths I breath? Then I need the gospel today because it really is the best thing about my day.
#2 - Am I enjoying life? Because Jesus lived and died so that I might have life and have it more abundantly. If not then I need the Gospel today; because the gospel really is the best thing about my life today.
#3 - have I become so focused on my life, pain, situation, etc. that I have missed the release and freedom found in Jesus? Have I really become so selfish that I am not even willing to let the ONE who has saved me use me to bring HIM glory and others to the same freedom I have been given? If so then I need the gospel today because that is the best thing about my day.

Is "for to you, to live is Christ and to die gain" ? Really.... think about that then live like the gospel has changed your life.

May God bless you and keep you today.

Pastor G