Prayer

What better place to study for a midterm than on a blog? 

From the book - The Essence of the New Testament:  A Survey By Elmer L. Towns & Ben Gutierrez

Luke is the most prayerful Gospel:  He (Luke) shows Jesus in prayer more than any of the other Gospels.

• Jesus prayed at His baptism
• all night before selecting the 12 apostles
• over the fish and loves before feeding 5000
• before announcing His coming death to the disciples
• at His transfigureation
• when the 70 returned from their mission
• just before the disciples asked him to teach them how to pray
• in Gethsemane before his arrest
• and twice on the cross he prayed

How much do I want to be like Jesus?

 Not only did Jesus give us his example in prayer He also exhorts His followers to pray:

• for their enemies
• for workers to be sent into God's harvest field
• for needed things
• always
• to avoid tempation

Excitement

 

It's always good when you can feel the excitement in the air and have joy in your heart!

We all need things to look forward too!   

I've heard people rejoicing because of the Fall weather.   I'm thinking, "But it's so cold".  But then also hear people complaining because a few stores have a few items out for Christmas already.  Now, I'm rejoicing!  Call me strange but I plan to have 3 months of Christmas.  Yes, that's me you see at LifeWay Christian Store admiring the Christmas display!   I'm pretty sure that since it is now October I can begin enjoying Christmas in earnest.   Oh yes, I have not had a real true American Christmas Season in 6 years so I'm going to enjoy the whole process.  

• The decorations
• The songs
• The anticipation 
• The Santa at the Mall (I promise I won't sit on his lap)
• The candles/smells of cinnamon and other Christmasy things
• The greenery
• Window shopping
• Fun toys (in stores only/I can't afford to bring them home) 
• Christmas Programs
• Christmas Dramas 

Oh yes, I am going to bask in the joy of Christmas for 3 whole months!   

And amid my selfish enjoyment of All Things Christmas I hope to learn more about the true meaning of Christmas.     



Merry Christmas EVERYONE!!!