Everyone Who Asks Receives

Greetings from The Inspiration Cafe!

Everyone Who Asks Receives

By Adele M. Gill

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;

knock and the door will be opened to you. 

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;

And, to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." 

Luke 11:9-10   [NIV]

____________________________________

Does prayer really change things? I think so, but consider this…

I have a close friend who prays about just about everything. She is very connected to God in prayer, and has had many prayers powerfully answered in miraculous ways. Once I asked her for the reason for her peace and joy, and she did not hesitate: 

"God is the reason for my very being. Everything I have, everything I am, everything I am able to do is because of the love of Jesus."

It is easy to wonder how someone can have such simple faith in this turbulent world. But today's Holy Scripture goes a long way to explain the life-changing power of prayer...In fact, this Bible passage is Jesus' invitation to you and to me to come to Him. There is no need for eloquent words or long explanations. Simply turn to Him with all that you have on your heart and in your mind, all that you are.

Though it is not always easy to pray in times of adversity, I have found it is even harder in good times. The truth is, that we as humans are easily distracted. Distracted by worries, distracted by relationships, distracted by pleasure, distracted by ruminating thoughts, distracted by what our children do and don’t do, and by our own sins, both of commission and omission. Whatever the scenario, we are always on the go, and rarely take the time to stop and ask God for what we need. As Christians, to really discover and possess peace and joy in this life, we need to embrace God’s outstretched hand in prayer, and by so doing, we are entering into a personal relationship with Jesus that is like no other on earth.

Truly, it is vitally important to stop and take a minute to invite Jesus in in good times and bad. Trust me, there is no one who knows you better! He knows when you are reeling from disappointment, and dealing with abandonment issues. He knows when you need healing and comfort. He knows what you need and don't need. He knows about your all your relationships, everything you do and even your unspoken motivations. Unlike anyone else, He knows it all!

Interested in taking the first step to accept Jesus’ invitation? According to this Scripture, here is the prayer pathway suggested in this Scripture to follow when you pray to God for or about something or someone:

1)       “Ask and it will be given to you.” Ask for whatever you need in earnest. No request is too great or too small for God.

2)       “Seek and you will find.” Seek God with all your heart and your failings and misgivings will fall to the wayside as you place your focus on Him rather than your problem(s).

3)        “Knock and the door will be opened to you.” When you seek God with all your heart and mind, you are answering the greatest invitation for all times—God’s call.

The second part of this Bible passage refers to what you can anticipate.

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;

And, to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." 

And what a joy it is when you realize your prayers are heard and answered as only God can! Yes, clearly prayer changes worry to wonder, cynicism to joy, and brokenness to blessings. It can ease any pain and bring healing to the sick, and companionship to the lonely. It can bring light to your days when before you lived in stark darkness.

There are times in life when circumstances and relationships are beyond our control and we feel like we are careening out of control. Give it all to Jesus, for He is the greatest hope the world has ever known. Like someone waiting for you to call, He is there for you just waiting for you to hand over your next “God job” –you know, the thing that keeps you awake at night. 

Accept Jesus’ invitation from today’s Scripture, and your life will never be the same as He will change things for the better for you! He died on the cross for you and me to be present to us for all of eternity!

Adele M. Gill   |   Copyright 2016   |   www.theinspirationcafeblog.net

Truth Famine in the Media Age

^{The Inspiration Cafe Blog}

^{Truth Famine in the Media Age}

^“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

____________________________________

Like many people, some days I get my news on the run, other days I track down specific stories in my quest for corroborative “truth,” and the gravity of the collective negativity seems all consuming. Yet, in this age of information technology, why is it that finding truth seems like an impossible task? We are, indeed living in what I call the TRUTH FAMINE.

Sometimes it is so easy to get swept up in the tumultuous culture we live in election campaigns, politics, terrorism, urban violence, etc…However, it is extreme folly to think we can truly understand and change this sordid world on our own. We need God’s help to effect positive change in this world. It is noteworthy that the present day media is filled with negativity, half-truths, and extreme political slants. This is making ‘real’ news ever harder to recognize, as we are in the midst of a TRUTH FAMINE in the new media age. So what can ordinary people do to sort out fact from fiction and effect positive change? Perhaps change in this world can best be accomplished by following three simple steps:

1)      Always cross reference your news.

2)      Pray for discernment and specifically for your concerns.

3)      Faithfully read the Bible daily

Some years ago, I stopped watching the news on TV, however, I do admit that I have been known to get my cross referenced daily news updates from a combination of online sources: MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, and of course, one of my favorite global sources, the BBC. The BBC seemingly provides a fresh perspective, as it is external news, generally provided by news sources outside of the US. Yet, these news outlets all seem to permeate our daily lives, and pummel us with a wide array of turbulence and negativity. Just how important is it all anyway, for those who have chosen the Christian life, one of serenity, peace and service to others?

News today is really more like entertaining people’s theories, even gossip, at times. It used to be that news was news. Now it is more often than not pundit’s spinning endless commentary and conspiracy theories from one day to the next. With a smile and a sigh, I often catch myself reveling in the news of the day, and realize that I am looking for truth in all the wrong places. It is at that point that I stop and pray for discernment of God’s divine will.

At a point, it finally dawns on me, and I remember yet again that my only real truth is what matters to my Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Churned up to distraction by the news of the world, I return to prayer again and again, as well as my Bible, for eternal wisdom, the kind of wisdom that is enduring, and that promotes abundant, radiant peace and profound joy from within.

Like it or not, the ways of this world will likely continue on the path of mayhem into the unforeseeable future. Paradoxically, we as Christians, are called to be in the world but not of the world. We are called to step away from worldly drama and havoc, into a life of simplicity. But how can we do that when life is moving so fast and furious for us all? Well, consider this biblical Word, a holy recipe for a sound mind and a humbled soul:

 ^“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

Clearly, as Christians, we are all called by God to find the good in ourselves, others and every circumstance. We are asked to live gratitude-filled lives that look for the good as we seek Jesus in earnest, and seek truth with great fervor, through prayer. Perhaps it is time to put on the biblical armor of God, turn off the daily news, and embrace the great blessings of each new day as we grow in faith-filled simplicity. More walks…More family time…More gardening…More sewing and knitting…More prayer…More daily Bible reading, and More volunteering to help others in need…

There is precious little we can do to change this world, the news and the people in it on our own. But “with God, all things are possible!” [Matthew 19:26]

This is my prayer for you, my friend:

May the peace that surpasses all understanding be with you and yours through these tumultuous times. May you seek the Holy Spirit in all things, and grow in appreciation for the subsequent peace that surpasses understanding. May you come to believe that “the joy of the Lord that is your strength.” [Nehemiah 8:10] May you grow in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Savior of the world. Be not afraid, Jesus is with you and me, and He has overcome the world!

“For if you proclaim with your mouth that Jesus is Lord,                                                                        and that He rose from the dead, you will be saved!”

[Romans 10:9]

Adele M. Gill    |   Copyright 2016   |   Distributed by News Consortium

Orlando: Finding Peace in Tragedy

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." John 14:27

____________________________________________________________

It is hard to be at peace watching the news these days, especially after seeing the coverage of the Orlando Shooting that just killed 50 innocent people and injured 53 more. As the world seems to be spinning out of control with mayhem, hatred, evil, and increased violence, we may need to have a paradigm shift from fear to faith--consciously, actively working for peace—in our own lives, our communities, and our nation.

The hardest and most difficult truth about the Orlando Shooting is that it could have happened anywhere in the US and the global community, as terrorism defies authority and borders and is fueled by unbridled extreme hatred. So many questions press forward in the aftermath of this heinous crime, the worst shooting in American history, and there are no easy answers. This tragedy surely evokes and provokes anger and fear in all of us. How did this happen in this age with so much American and global vigilance towards terrorism? Could this happen in my own community? It makes us wonder, is there no place that one can go to escape and avoid the throes of hatred and terrorism in these days of radical extremist hatred and ISIS?

“I have told you this so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”  John 16:33

Though unsettled by the violence, we need to look into our own hearts and minds and pray fervently for an outpouring of love and peace in our own personal lives, for love and peace can only come from trusting in Jesus, our Almighty Savior, Protector, and Comforter. In as much as Jesus is Lord and we are not, it is important to leave room for Him to move as He will, as only He can handle the evil we encounter. But this much. And this much I know for sure—

What occurred was not a case of mental illness, but of abject evil gone awry.

Our knee jerk reaction may easily be one of a surge of negative emotions, pressing questions, fear and even hatred for the shooter. Most unsettling, perhaps there may seem to be nowhere to hide from such extreme acts of hatred and terrorism, but there is. For believers and non-believers alike, it is an illusion to think we are in this world all alone. For God is with us, and in earnest prayer, we all need to place this nation, this world squarely in the hands of God! Consider this profound biblical promise:

“He [God] will shelter you with his pinions, and under His wings you may take refuge; his faithfulness is a protecting shield.” Psalm 91:4

It is not our place to judge, but it is our job to love others to the best of our abilities. Faith and fear cannot coexist, and the peace of Jesus Christ transcends all adversity and evil.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

Worry and fear can never touch, quell and/or eradicate hatred and evil, but quiet personal and collective prayer to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, can eliminate them both in the blink of an eye, giving us an unshakable peace. Prayer can also help us more easily identify prejudice, hatred and evil for what they are in ourselves and others, and assist us swiftly to higher ground—to love one another as God’s children. In striving for peace, the Bible tells us we need to pray not only for ourselves, but also, even for our enemies, those we fear, and those who have hurt us. Our peace is only found in Jesus through prayer and reading Holy Scripture:

When you are able to boldly pray for your enemies and those who have hurt you this way, internal and external peace is the end result. When you believe that you are not alone in this world, with Jesus at your side, you are free to love the unlovable—able to concurrently hate the sin, AND love the sinner as Jesus does, with uncommon compassion, paving the way to peace.

Please pray with me now…

Dear Father God,

You are the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end. In You there is no darkness at all. Our nation is in dire trouble, and we need you desperately now. We lay this good nation, the United States of America in Your almighty, healing hands this day. Help us to work tirelessly for peace in our families, our communities and our nation, and purge all hatred from our hearts. Look with favor on your people, Lord, those who seek You in earnest. Give us peace in our days, and joy-filled hearts filled with gratitude in You, and keep us safe from all harm. Amen!

www.theinspirationcafeblog.net

Adele M. Gill     |    June 15, 2016   |     Copyright

Wait Upon the Lord & Renew Your Strength

                                                       Adele's Inspiration Cafe Blog
                                                     www.theinspirationcafeblog.net

             "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength"                                                                   Isaiah 40:31

 

One of my favorite parts of being a Chaplain, is that sometimes I get to visit people who are sick, grieving, or hurting in some way at the hospital, a rehab center, or at home. Several months ago I started visiting a 50 year old woman named Cathy from Manna House, who is in a rehabilitation center who was there because she fell down a flight of stairs and was declared "a quadriplegic." For two full months, she laid in bed without the benefit of regular, daily physical therapy because she was deemed having no rehabilitative potential. This was the scenario the first time I went to visit her as she lay almost motionless in her bed at the rehab facility.

During the first visit with her, she could barely move at all, and even needed help to sip water sitting up in bed. We talked, I prayed with her and laid my hands on her arms and legs for God's holy intervention in the name of Jesus, that He would heal her cervical spine and restore her to full health and movement once again. After we prayed, I started to leave the room but saw something startling and wonderful out of the corner of my eye...

As an old neurology nurse, I recognized that her arms and feet were twitching slightly, clearly a time for celebration, and time for her medical team to begin regular therapy! I turned around and went back into her room to encourage her to talk with her doctor about her progress. You see, twitching is a great sign that the neurons in her arms and legs were activated and firing, which is necessary prior to movement.

Before my second visit, she was able to see her doctor, and told him what was going on, so he ordered one half hour a day of exercise. The second time I visited her, she was sitting up in bed stretching her legs and arms purposefully. "What are you doing?" I asked with a smile. "If they aren't going to exercise me more each day, I'm going to do it myself because I can."

The third time I visited her, she had big news for me. And she met me at the front door sitting up in a wheelchair she was propelling with her feet by herself in the lobby. What a wonderful surprise! Her doctor had recognized her great motivation and significant improvement: "They are sending me to Kernan Rehab. Hospital in Baltimore for three hours a day of physical therapy!!! I'll be there for two to four weeks."  I stood and got teary as she told me the plans for her recovery. All I could think of was, quadriplegic no more, quadriplegic no way! She said her baffled doctor asked her if she'd been spending a lot of time at Church lately...For he knew the Lord's hand was upon her!

So what happened to Cathy to make her go from quadriplegia to this??? Well, I am believing that God heard her impassioned pleas for healing to the cellular level, and those of all her friends and family. She placed her hope in God and will not be disappointed! We are trusting He will complete what He has started in her and she will, by the grace of God, for the glory of God, walk again!!! We will continue to claim full healing for her in the name of Jesus Christ, from whom all blessings flow.

Meanwhile, I can hardly wait to see her again to see her progress in the Lord. This time, I have a special gift to deliver to her from myself and some praying friends. It was handmade with the loving help of my good friends, Donna C. and Pat Grahe.

Special thanks to all who read this and begin praying for Cathy. May you and yours be profoundly blest with all that is good in Jesus' mighty name. Amen!

~ Copyright   |  Adele M. Gill   |  2016 ~

www.theinspirationcafeblog.net

God Resists the Proud, Gives Grace to the Humble

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” 

James 4:6-8

_____________________________________________________________________

After months of doing well, I am experiencing a temporary setback. Humbled by muscle weakness, PTSD from childhood and clinical depression, some days, like today, I find it hard to get my bearings. In fact, everything seems difficult: breathing, swallowing medication and some foods, walking, talking with garbled speech. On those days, for me, joy in the Lord fades a bit, personal pride feels bruised, days seem bleak and the Lord seems ever so far away. Sometimes I wonder if God allows this condition to keep me humble. It is not unusual on such days for me to pray for an ‘Attitude Adjustment’…and soon, by the grace of God, it arrives, often by the third day!

As a believing Christian, I am often reminded during these times of this encouraging Bible passage:

 “…For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7  

For when we walk by faith, rather than by sight, we are no longer subject to the whims and ways of this world. Pride, greed, lust, being self-made, unwarranted competitiveness, getting ahead of others, keeping up with the Jones’, success at all costs, and quick fixes for life’s problems, amoung other things that get in the way of a grateful heart betrothed to Jesus.

The great temptation is to think at such times that Jesus is no longer with me, and it is a significant temptation for me to throw in the proverbial towel, and give up. Yet experience tells me that is not the best or right option. Could it be that giving up while in the throes of a ‘depression temptation’ is exactly what The Enemy desires to happen???                                         

Well, I say…Not on my watch!!!

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.⁷ So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”James 4:6-8

Worldly Ambitions vs. Godly Aspirations

Worldy ambitions call us to enhance our mind with ego-driven thoughts and intellect; while Godly Aspirations call us to grow in heartfelt love and deeper compassion for others.

The ways of this world promote dependence on one’s self, while God’s way beckons us to give it all over to Him. Every grief, every hurt, every failure, every loss laid at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ.

This world celebrates pride in health & fitness, beauty, riches and professional accomplishments, that is, your value is driven by appearances and what you do. Of course these things are not inherently bad, they just should be balanced to make room for God’s ways, and put Him above all.

The Holy Bible, however, teaches us to focus more fully on the 9 Fruits of the [Holy] Spirit: Love, joy, peace, compassion, kindness, faithfulness, patience, persistence, and constancy. And the cyclical nature of these 9 gifts is indisputable…The more you pray and invite the Holy Spirit into your heart, the more you experience God’s presence in your life as evidenced by the presence of these “fruit.” In the latter, what you are in the eyes of God matters most.

This world focuses on survival of the fittest, while Jesus’ Beatitudes’ clarion call to Christians is clear: “Blessed are the meek.”

****************************************************

The Sermon on the Mount. “^1 aWhen he saw the crowds,^[b] he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. ² He began to teach them, saying:”

The Beatitudes^[c]

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
⁶ Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,^[g]
    for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.                                                                                                                                           ¹¹ Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.                                                        

^12 jRejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5: 1-12  [New American Bible]

___________________________________________

Adele M. Gill  |  Copyright 2016                                                                                 www.theinspirationcafe.net

The Caretaker Generation

             “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.                 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”      Matthew 11:28-30

I have a very dear friend named Nancy, who is extremely busy and is presently struggling. Like so many women, at 58, she has run the gamut in her adult lifetime from raising her children as a working single parent, to caring for her 87 year old mother who is now on hospice at home. And of course that also includes looking after her 88 year old Dad, as well. The doctors say her mom's prognosis is about a month, but in the meantime Nancy and her family are trying their best to stay positive and keep her as comfortable as is humanly possible.

For Nancy, and so many other women in the "Sandwich Generation," being ever available, so "on" for loved ones over the years that it has left her feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, weary, and frankly, somewhat cynical at times as she often asks at the end of her hectic days:

"Is this all there is to life? Is there more to life than care-taking for the generations???" 

Life is full of opportunities. Opportunities to choose your purpose, opportunities to pray, opportunities to love and be loved, opportunities to stand with Jesus or walk away...Yet, we always need to remember everyone has choices and purpose(s) in life. In fact, a blessed life often entails a series of God-given purposes throughout one's life.

Sometimes I find that my first purpose is serving God through family, other times my purpose involves completing a task or project and /or helping people through my chaplaincy. I consider serving God with all my being as my primary purpose in this life, and at the present time, my secondary purpose seems less altruistic than other times in my life...

Squarely focused on improving my personal wellness to regain muscle strength and good health after decades of living with disability and infirmity. In this purpose, I am fully dependent on Jesus for all my needs ~ fortitude, patience and strength. As I pray throughout the day, and am getting stronger by the day, I am growing in gratitude to Jesus for the signs of healing great and small that He is bringing, and in that way, prayer does not disappoint. Actually, I am growing in gratitude as my prayers are answered in due time as only God can.

Regardless of what your chosen purpose is at any given time, ongoing gratitude to God is essential for a peace-filled and joy-filled life. Gratitude to God is so important that it can even be the deciding factor in how you decide your purpose. It also allows you to put aside all negativity to embrace Jesus and your subsequent purpose with fervor and open arms. Clearly, some jobs/tasks are easier to accomplish than others. Sitting at the bedside of a loved one can be most difficult, as can three decades of care-giving while caring for a growing family. However, one who embraces each God given purpose prayerfully will find the work load lightened and enabling one to accomplish each purpose with greater ease, regardless of what must be done.

"We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose."  Romans 8:28
************************************************
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8  /  NABRE Version
There is an appointed time for every affair under the heavens.
2 A time  give birth, and a time to die;
    a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal;
    a time to tear down, and a time to build.
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
    a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
    a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
6 A time to seek, and a time to lose;
    a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew;
    a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
8 A time to love, and a time to hate;
    a time of war, and a time of peace.

Adele M. Gill  |   2016 Copyright