Our Father

    Often we pray words mechanically and perfunctorily and fail to grasp the meaning behind them. How often have you prayed, “Our Father who art in heaven…” and repeated a prayer without even thinking of what you were saying?
  
    When the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Lord teach us to pray,” Jesus began by saying, “Our Father!” Of all the terms which Jesus could have used-Almighty God,” or “Great Creator,” or “Oh Though, Maker of heaven and earth,” He chose simply to use the word “Father?” But what an interesting word, a word that is warm, intimate, and personal.
  
    Yet for some that word is troublesome because their earthly fathers disappointed them. But God is not a man; He is God, and He unlike some earthly fathers, will never take advantage of you nor mistreat you.
  
    In pondering the meaning of that word, notice that the term Father implies a relationship patterned after that which you probably had with your earthly father. All prayer is based on a relationship of a child with his father. In the prologue of the Gospel that bears his name, John wrote, “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12); wrote to those words to the Galatians, saying that we are adopted into the family of God. He wrote “Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6). As God’s children, we can call upon our heavenly Father, because we have been adopted into the family of God.
  
    Notice, too, that the term Father is a term of reliance. When John F. Kennedy was president of the United States, his son, affectionately called John-John, was then four years old. Cuba was much in the news, and people were concerned about the missile crisis. The president had called a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House when a side door opened and had a little your-year-old boy wandered into the room. It was the president’s son. The press conference stopped as a father put aside the lofty affairs of government because his child needed his attention. That Is a picture of your heavenly Father’s concern for you. He is never so busy running the world that He doesn’t hear or have time for the most insignificant cry of His children.
  
    The third though is that the term Father is a term of respect. Periodically I hear God referred to as the “The Man Upstairs” or even terms of less dignity. Twice Scripture says that the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
  
    He we lost sight of the awe and even the fear of the Almighty? Has God’s Name become so common that we no longer care when it is used so profanely? In the days of old the Name of God was so holy that ancient scribes would not even write that Name, but substituted lest they be guilty of profaning the holiness of God.
  
    When you pray, remember the warmth which comes through a personal relationship with god, as you say, “Father!” When John McNeil, the Scottish preacher of another generation, was a lad, he was crossing a mountain pass often frequented by robbers when he heard footsteps behind him. Frightened, McNeil tried to walk faster, but he couldn’t elude the person behind him. Finally he heard the voice of his own father saying, “John, it’s me, your father.” And as you listen carefully you will hear His voice as well.
  
    Unlike some earthly fathers, your heavenly Father will never disappoint you or lie to you. He will always be there for you.

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Lord, Teach Us to Pray

Those of you who are familiar with computers are aware of pull-down menus. When you touch one item, a whole series of possibilities opens next. Such is the way with 57 Greek words which, when translated into English, constitute a prayer we commonly refer to as the Lord's Prayer. Each phrase in this dynamic prayer pattern opens powerful vistas of spiritual insight and potential.

But before we reflect on these words, let us look at the background. One year had passed from the time Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist at River Jordan. Luke 11 tells us that in the months the disciples had walked with Jesus, they had often heard him pray. They were deeply impressed that his prayers were so different from those of the Pharisees. When Jesus prayed, His prayers were warm, intimate, and personal. In contrast, when the Pharisees prayed, their prayers were cold and impersonal. This prompted the disciples to come to Him with the request: "Lord, teach us to pray..."

Today we need to re-voice the request of the disciples long ago. Prayer for many has become the sending of night letters to God (to use Peter Marshall's expression), or in more contemporary terms, the spiritual e-mailing of our wants and wishes to our heavenly Father. Prayer is one of the most neglected elements of our relationship with God, without which we remain impoverished and isolated from the warmth of His presence. The prayers of Jesus form the back-drop of a relationship with God, which we desperately need today.

In public, Jesus' prayers were short; in private, quite long. Our prayers ten to be just the opposite-rather lengthy when we wish to impress people but very short or none at all in the privacy of our bedrooms.

In response to the disciples' request, Jesus said, "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Quoted from the book of Matthew 6:9-13.

Now let's begin with the first phrase, "Our Father." First notice the possessive pronoun our. At least 75 times Jesus used the term "My", often saying, "My Father." But in praying "Our Father," Jesus reminds the disciples that God is the Father of all who have come to peace with His Son through His blood on the cross. When you pray, "Our", you step into the fellowship of the disciples who walked with Jesus. You are also in the spiritual company of the Christians in the early church who met in catacombs. You worship in the same spirit and fellowship of brothers and sisters meeting behind closed doors for fear of the authorities. You are in the invisible company of the redeemed of all ages who have prayed that same prayer.

Notice, too, there is selflessness in this term "Our." Not "I," "me," or "my"... but "Our Father." Much of our prayer focuses focuses on the fulfillment of our selfish nature instead of searching out broader path of need for our families, our neighborhoods, and our brothers and sisters around the world. "God bless us four and no more!" One of the great, undiscovered truths is that the Church of Jesus Christ is a living organism which crosses cultures, prejudices, languages, and barriers. It can fairly be said that no nation in the world is devoid of some who name the name of Jesus Christ and pray to the Almighty as Sovereign Lord and God. These are your brothers and sisters.

The Church of Jesus Christ knows no geographical, racial or temporal boundaries. All who have trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior are brothers and sisters.

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Find Out About Prayer

Charles Steinmetz

Charles Steinmetz was a gifted scientist and inventor who discovered the principles of direct current. He took his place in the halls of science alongside Thomas Edison who invented the incandescent bulb, Alexander Bell who invented the telephone, and Enrico Fermi who split the atom.

Steinmetz was of slight build, and as the result of a spinal injury stood slightly bent. Towards the end of his life, he was asked what field of scientific research offered the greatest promise in the future. His surprising answer was, "Prayer. Find out about prayer!"

The man who discovered direct electrical current, also was interested in spiritual current. "Find out about prayer," he said. "When I accidentally touch a live wire, I know it. There is no question I discovered the current. My hair stands on end and I quickly jump."

Does prayer work the same way? When Jesus prayed, the request and the answer seemed to flow along the same lines, the same current. It was not a leave-your-request-at-the-door-and-I'll-get-back-to-you-as-soon-as-possible sort of relationship. When Jesus prayed, things happened. That's why the disciples came to Jesus with the request, "Lord teach us to pray!"

In time, the disciples found out about prayer. They prayed in all kinds of circumstances. In homes where they met for fellowship, in the temple, in prison where they had been thrown for preaching the Gospel, in confronting disease and illness. They prayed in almost every conceivable situation, giving us a pattern to follow. "Find out about prayer," urged Charles Steinmetz.

One way you can find out about prayer is to simply pray!

There is no great volumes of theology you must master before you can pray, no flowery language which you must use, nothing which you must do as a prelude. Prayer is talking with your heavenly Father; the conversation should just flow out of your heart.

To learn about prayer, Steinmetz suggested, I would encourage you to get a notebook and divide it into two sections. In the first section, make at least three columns: One for dates, another for what you are praying for, and third, leave blank where you can record in which God answered your prayer. This course, is an encouragement to pray about specific things or situations. Putting the dates down like driving a stake in the ground so you can measure the distance between the request and the answer and the way in which God answers.

Now, what about the second section of your notebook? Start reading your New Testament and note the remarkable promises which God has made, promises which tell you that He is a God who hears and answers prayer. When you discover one of these remarkable promises, copy it into your notebook. As you pray, remind God of what He has promised and ask Him to honor His Word.

God is a gentleman who honors His Word. Though some of His promises are made specifically to certain individuals or groups, most of the promises regarding answered prayer are simply made to God's children. And being His child is the only requirement.

An electrical genius believed that prayer offered the greatest promise of reward. Would you agree? Or in your personal life this discovery is yet to be made?

Don't wait until disaster or difficulty drives you to your knees in desperation. Learn about prayer by praying. Whether it is for a nation, a church, a family or an individual, when someone prays, God's hand reaches out and touches lives. And when He answers, your life will truly be blessed.

The story above came from a book written by Harold J. Sala.

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Help Others in 5 Ways

Helping others is one way of gaining confidence in yourself, because I know that every person is created from good, therefore he is good. Seeing other people's misfortune hurts us also and we always wish we could do something to help. There are people who truly needs our help, they just want to look strong because they know that the right help will come. Sometimes, we give alms to people if we have some extra to give, and believe that it is better to give than to be the one who is asking for some help.

Helping is one way of making the world a better place to do living, because if you help others in any way you can, it can also lighten up your heart and inspire you that, you as a person also needs help in other things, have helped others. If you lend a hand to other people, you are helping yourself also.

Simple ways to help others

1. Share some encouragement

Patting someone's back and tell him "you can do it," is a simple way to share and lift their baggage in life. To feel that there is someone who is cheering you up and knows what you are going through gives us inspiration and strength to continue. This little effort can change the life of other people. You can either tell him some advice if you know something or share some Bible texts to him.


2. Smile

To walk down the streets with a frowning face makes the day darker. Smile, and make your day better, who knows you, will make other's lives brighter, too. Seeing someone smile gives you encouragement or hope that everything is going to be fine. Smile is a sign of hope, that the world is going to be better soon enough.




3. Teach

There are many ways to teach other people. Doing little things and to show the world that you care is also a way of teaching. Just be an example and show them how to be a good person, they will mimic you soon enough. Be natural and be an example of a good person.





4. Show some patience

The world we live in today forgets how to be patient these days. We can see in the news that two people argue with each other just because of the traffic. Be patient and learn to control what is inside you, you may not be able to control what is going on outside but you can certainly control what is going on inside you. It takes two to tango.



5. Send them a free book

Sending them free books about God or anything that is evangelistic or appropriate is another way to help others. There are people out there who seems hopeless, spark some inspiration and give them hope by giving them free books to read. It is not always necessary that you will be the one to tell them stories and stuff, but simple effort just to show that they are not alone can change everything.

If you want to share some encouragement to others by giving them the right book to read, or you can ask someone if they know a book that can help in certain kind of situation, then you can freely visit http://booksforevangelism.org/ and get them to recommend a book to someone who needs inspiration.