NextGenKent

HAVE YOU EVER FASTED? I mean as a part of your spiritual disciplines ... perhaps for Lent? Did fasting pay off? Read Matthew 26:36-46 then reread verse 41. Let’s get the context by reviewing a little bit: Matthew prepares us for the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread starting and ending on a Sabbath (v17) which ends with Passover > Jesus spends Passover with the disciples > Judas leaves to betray Jesus > He institutes the Lord’s Supper (akin to the removal of leaven was the forgiveness of sins) > Jesus predicts Peter’s denial > Peter (and the others) denies he will deny > and Jesus arrives at the garden in Gethsemane. < INSERT GETHSEMANE PRAYER TIME > > Jesus is betrayed by Judas > swords are swung > an ear is healed > Jesus is arrested > the disciples flee the scene > Scriptures are fulfilled as Jesus goes to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin > Peter denies Jesus in the courtyard > the rooster crows. Again, in between these even...

Do you know someone who always seems to be sharing answers to his or her prayers? When was the last time you had one prayer answered? When it has been awhile it can sure seem like the heavens are closed. Especially when others are sharing God is answering. Read James 5:17-18 and then ask yourself, "How hard can it be to pray?" “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” Let's face it, some prayers are more powerful and effective than others. Powerful prayers are obviously those that work, and effective prayers mean those that work the right way. James says powerful and effective prayers come from a certain type of person = a righteous person. So it seems fit to ask, when my prayers are not answered, "Am I not a righteous person?" I must not be. *cricket *cricket *cricke...

Don’t hold back  in prayer. James 5:13-20  Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.   Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.   14  Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders   of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil   in the name of the Lord.   15  And the prayer offered in faith   will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.   16  Therefore confess your sins   to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.   The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17  Elijah was a human being, even as we are.   He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18  Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19  My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someon...

Today I was reflecting on that story about the Axe head that dropped into the water by a prophet Habitat for Humanity volunteer (2 Kings 6). Elisha hears the concern "it was borrowed" and helps out BY MAKING THE AXE HEAD FLOAT! That's cool in itself but there as something that stuck me this time unlike before: There is no concern I have that is too small for God. That truth hit me so hard tears came to my eyes because of the beauty in its contemplation, "My God cares ... About everything ... About me." I can imagine the Axe head came off by stupidity, but perhaps it didn't, maybe it just came off. I can imagine the prophet whispering "Uh-oh!" To his friend and both fishing for it in their hands and perhaps stepping on it like idiots and pushing it under even further like I would do. However, let's say it was the worse case scenario and everything bad and wrong and screwed up did happen--I was an idiot and stood too close to the water and ...