Michelle Duggar's Post on Bitterness

Michelle Duggar recently wrote an excellent post on the root of bitterness. Here's the link: 

http://duggarfamily.com/2017/6/the-root-of-bitterness

Bitterness and God's Grace

I apologize for my sporadic posts. Summer has been somewhat busier than I had anticipated.

Bitterness! Ugh it's such an ugly word. Bitterness can cause a person to act ugly, do ugly things. It just makes the person" bitterugly". And no one wants to be around bitterugly people.

Ephesians 4:31-Let all bitterness,and wrath,and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you,with all malice.

Hebrews 12:14-15-Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man can see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.

 There's many more scriptures that deal with the subject of bitterness.
Why am I'm posting about bitterness you may be wondering?
Because I'm harboring bitterness towards a group of Christians mainly the  ladies in our community. The reasons are rather dumb but after doing some research, listening to a topic about them, reading other people's experience with this particular denomination, I sort of understand why they behave the way they do. But it's rather hard when you come across one of the ladies and they either act like you don't exist or they try to avoid you at all costs.

I have had to repent several times because it is not Christlike at all to have such bitterness toward them. I don't want to have the "I don't like those ladies" attitude but instead I need to pray for them because they believe they are the "true church" of Christ. As a result of this belief they don't appear to be very friendly.
Another reason I want to watch my attitude is because when people see me, I don't want to be mistaken for this group and because of our similarity in dress. When I'm out I try to be friendly and let the love of Jesus shine. You can't point people to Jesus if you act like they have "cooties"

Well I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Stay in the Word and be nice to those you see when you are out.  You may be the only "Bible" people see.

Sweet Hour of Prayer by William B. Bradbury

I sang this hymn this morning during my prayer time and I just love it so much I want to share it with you all. This is from The Cyber hymnal.

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!

Make Singing Part of Your Praying Time

Good afternoon dear ladies! Summer is going strong here witn temperatures in the mid to upper 90s.

Lately I've been singing as part of my devotion/ prayer time. I have several hymnals that I like to sing from. My favorite one is Hymns of the Church compiled by John D. Martin. There are many classic hymns and the text is large.  I appreciate that the most! I also use The Christian Hymnary compiled by John D. Overholt.

Anyway, I  think singing is a wonderful way to start your private time with the Lord. The nice thing about it the Lord doesn't care if you sound like a cat in pain! Just sing for Him!

I've found that by singing, it really gets me focused on God and what He has to say to me. As I mentioned I have hymnals because I personally prefer hymns over today's contemporary Christian music. Don't get me wrong, there are a few really good contemporary Christian songs out there. I love Ten Thousand Reasons and In Christ Alone. But the old hymns just has sometning today's Christian music just doesn't have. Even today's black gospel music, which I grew up listening to, just can't compare to Mahalia Jackson, Rev. James Cleveland and others of their era.

I hope you dear sisters will include whatever style of Christian music you like in your prayer and devotion with God. I really believe it helps to prepare your heart for that special time with Him.

When God Seems Slow

Lately when I've been going into my war room, I look at my prayer board and I get discouraged. On one side I have all these sticky notes of prayers requests. That side is practicully full. I've had to crowd some of the sticky notes for everyone I'm praying for.

The other side is answered prayer sticky notes. The answered prayer side is though not empty, it is noticably less full. Actually there are only about six answered prayer sticky notes.

When I see that, I  wonder why is God taking so long to answer my prayers or if He is even going to answer them.

 I confess at times I feel like Veruca Salt from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. She always wanted things NOW! Okay perhaps that's a bit extreme but I you get the picture.
I'm afraid that patience is not a fruit of the Spirit I possess. I hear people jokingly say  "Never pray for patience!" But I genuinely need to pray that way.  I want to pray with expectation but avoiding the whole "Name it! Claim it" doctrine or even worse Word-Faith doctrine.
So I wait. I wait patiently for the Lord to move according to His will. I think that is something we all need to do.